FROM THE KC CHAMBER’S PRESIDENT AND CEO
Our biggest night of the year is a little more than a month away, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you. On Tuesday, November 25, the KC Chamber’s 138th Annual Dinner returns to the Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom (301 W 13th Street, KCMO) with an evening that’s pure KC Made: a lively reception that sparks new connections, a shared meal with friends from across the region, and a program that honors the people and partnerships shaping our future. It’s a tradition that reminds us why this community leads with collaboration, optimism, and a relentless drive to make Greater Kansas City better for everyone.
We’ll revisit how Kansas City became a global soccer capital with a special conversation featuring our World Cup honorary co-chairs Clark Hunt and Cliff Illig, then look inside how KC arrived as a World Cup match site in 2025 with leaders from FIFA and our own Kathy Nelson. Along the way, you’ll hear reflections from outgoing Board Chair Charlie Shields on what we’ve accomplished together this year, and a forward-looking charge from incoming Chair Jeff Simon on where we’re headed next. We’ll cap the night with a treasured tradition: the surprise reveal of the 2025 Kansas Citian of the Year. Music from the Ad Astra Chamber Orchestra will set the tone throughout.
There are many ways to be part of the night: join us with colleagues, host a table, or bring a client who deserves a “this-is-Kansas-City” experience. However you participate, you’ll be in the room with the business and civic community that makes this region run. I hope you’ll plan to be there, celebrating what we’ve built, and energizing what comes next for a region on the rise.
KC STREETCAR EXTENSION OPENS
Kansas City’s Streetcar is rolling farther than ever: the Main Street Extension officially opens for passenger service on Friday, Oct. 24, following a 10:00 a.m. grand opening ceremony at the Plaza streetcar stop. After the ribbon is cut, you can hop on from any stop between the River Market and UMKC and explore new connections to jobs, schools, shops, and cultural destinations. The celebration continues all weekend with business specials and neighborhood activities: live music, raffles, dining deals, and more. Festivities are designed to showcase the vibrancy along the line, so get the full slate of opening-weekend activities, read FAQs and plan your ride.
CENTURIONS INFORMATION SESSIONS
Centurions equips emerging leaders to understand Greater Kansas City’s biggest opportunities and challenges through issue-focused learning days, site visits with regional changemakers, hands-on service projects, and a powerful cross-sector network. Pick a session that fits your schedule and get the inside scoop on how the program works and what it can do for your leadership journey:
- Thursday, October 30, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., at Behavioral Health Allies – Register
- Wednesday, November 12, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at Walz Tetrick Advertising — Register
- Tuesday, December 2, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., at The Salvation Army — Register
- Monday, December 15, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., at Chicken N Pickle in NKC — Register
Applications for the Pinnacle 2026 cohort are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2026.
SMALL BUSINESS SUPERSTAR SUBMISSIONS
Kansas City’s small businesses are the heartbeat of our region: the makers, problem-solvers, and neighbors who keep this community humming. Now’s the time to lift them up. The Small Business Superstars program is accepting submissions through November 5.
Any for-profit business with 1–250 employees in the Greater KC region is eligible. Think of the coffee shop that knows your order, the contractor who always shows up, the creative studio pushing fresh ideas, the tech team building the next solution — if they make your day better, they deserve a nod. Submitting is quick, and the recognition helps shine a wider light on the people and places that make Kansas City special. It all starts with your submission, so take a few minutes and help celebrate a small business today.
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING – LINDA HALL LIBRARY
Build new relationships and get inspired as Neighborhood Networking travels to the Linda Hall Library (5109 Cherry St., KCMO), one of the world’s premier science and engineering research libraries, on Friday, November 7 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Enjoy coffee and conversation, brief remarks and a raffle, plus optional behind-the-scenes tours that showcase this renowned institution. Come meet fellow members, swap ideas, and leave with a few new contacts (and maybe a fun fact or two). Thanks to our 2025 Networking Sponsors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Delta Dental, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Southwest Airlines, and UMB Bank for making these connections possible. Learn more and register now.