FROM THE KC CHAMBER’S PRESIDENT AND CEO
It’s hard to believe we’re already two months into renovating the KC Chamber’s home on the third floor of Union Station. What began with demolition and a lot of dust is starting to look more and more like the reimagined office we envisioned. Continuing to anchor the Chamber to this Kansas City treasure in Union Station means we will continue to gather in this place that unites us all.
Walls are going up, paint is being applied to fresh drywall, and our new office is taking shape. Among the additions is a new conference room designed to complement our larger Board Room, providing a more intimate setting for smaller groups to come together for meaningful conversations and collaboration.
That spirit of connection is at the heart of this project. We aren’t simply renovating an office. We’re creating a place that better reflects how the KC Chamber works today — bringing our members, partners, community leaders and staff together to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships and tackle the opportunities and challenges facing our region.
And while construction continues, so does the work of your Chamber. Our team remains hard at work from our temporary home across the hall at Union Station and across the region. Our office may look a little different for now, but our mission hasn’t changed: convening, connecting and championing our members and this community.
There is still work to do, but we’re hopeful we’ll move back by the end of 2026 and start the new year in our new space. It’s exciting to see the vision becoming a reality, and I look forward to opening the doors and welcoming you back to a KC Chamber home designed to serve our members, strengthen connections and help us build a stronger Greater Kansas City. And I’m especially proud that our home will remain here at Union Station — a Kansas City treasure and a place that has long brought our regional community together.
GENKC PINS & PROFESSIONALS
Trade the traditional networking event for footballs, bowling pins and a little friendly competition at genKC’s Fall Wildcard: Pins & Professionals, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, September 24, at Fowling Warehouse (1020 W. 103rd St., KCMO).
If you’ve never tried Fowling, the concept is simple: football meets bowling as players compete to be the first to knock down all 10 pins with a football. Whether you’re ready to compete or just want to give it a try, the evening will feature both free-play and competitive lanes, along with plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with fellow emerging young professionals from across the Kansas City region. Your $25 ticket includes pizza, drink tickets and access to 10 Fowling lanes, plus arcade games, shuffleboard, pool, cornhole and more.
The evening also offers an opportunity to give back. Attendees are encouraged to bring gently used professional attire for UMKC’s Professional Closet, which helps students access clothing for interviews, internships and the start of their careers. Come ready to make new connections, support a great cause and find out whether your football skills translate to the Fowling lanes. Register today!
2026 ATHENA AWARD RECEPTION
Celebrate exceptional leadership at the 2026 ATHENA Awards Reception, presented by KPMG, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, in the Grand Hall at Union Station (30 W. Pershing Rd., KCMO). This year, the KC Chamber is proud to honor Angie Long with the ATHENA Leadership Award and Elaina Paige with the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
The ATHENA Awards recognize leaders who demonstrate professional excellence, give back to their communities and help create opportunities for others to succeed. Long, Chief Investment Officer of Palmer Square Capital Management and a Co-Owner of the Kansas City Current, and Paige, owner of The Next Paige Talent Agency and founder of the Next Paige Foundation, exemplify that commitment through their leadership and service.
The celebration will also welcome ATHENA International President & CEO Traci Costa. VIP ticket holders can attend a private reception with Costa and the award recipients from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., followed by the main reception at 5 p.m. Join us for an inspiring evening as we recognize two outstanding leaders and celebrate the impact they continue to make across our region. Register now!
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING – TREKK DESIGN GROUP
Some of the most important work shaping our region happens beneath our feet, along the roads we travel and through systems we rarely stop to think about. On Friday, October 2, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., Neighborhood Networking takes us to TREKK Design Group (1310 E. 104th St., KCMO), for a morning of conversation, connections and a closer look at a company helping build the infrastructure our communities depend on.
Since 2002, TREKK Design Group has provided civil engineering solutions focused on clean water, safe roads and reliable infrastructure, guided by a mission to improve lives and enable community and personal growth. Neighborhood Networking offers an opportunity to experience that work firsthand while doing a little building of your own — building relationships across Greater Kansas City’s business community. Whether you arrive with a stack of business cards or simply a desire to meet someone new, come ready to make connections, explore TREKK and start your Friday with people who are invested in our region. Register today!
FOUNDATIONS OF DISABILITY INCLUSION | BREAKING THE STIGMA: MENTAL HEALTH MYTHS AND REALITIES
Mental health is part of the workplace conversation, whether we talk openly about it or not. The words we use, assumptions we make and ways we respond to colleagues can all influence whether employees feel seen, valued and supported. On Tuesday, October 6, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., in the KC Chamber Board Room inside Union Station (30 W. Pershing Rd., KCMO), we invite you to Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health Myths and Realities, the third session in the 2026 Inclusive Leadership Workshop Series.
This highly interactive workshop moves beyond simply talking about mental health. Through digital, game-based activities, table discussions and storytelling, participants will confront common myths and explore how stigma can show up in everyday workplace culture. The conversation will also address misconceptions surrounding men and mental health, creating opportunities to build greater understanding and empathy.
Most importantly, you’ll leave with practical tools you can put to work. Participants will explore how language and actions can help reduce bias, strengthen inclusion and create an environment where employees feel more comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. Don’t delay – register today!