Your Chamber at Work - June 1, 2021

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Congratulations to the KC Chamber’s 2021 Top 10 Small Businesses!

• Artisan Technology Group
• Charlie Hustle
• Chicken N Pickle
• Crux KC
• Hartline Construction
• Love to Smile Dentistry
• Menufy
• Midwest Recovery Centers
• Parrish & Sons Construction
• Swell Spark

We had great fun notifying each of the ten businesses this past Friday, surprising them with the news in the middle of what they thought was a routine Zoom call. (We’ve recorded and shared those calls on the Chamber’s social media if you’d like to check them out.)

These ten businesses are now the finalists to be named the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year and recipient of the Mr. K Award. Criteria for the Award are based on many of the business principles Ewing Kauffman followed – growth or sustainability in business, outstanding employee relations, strong service to the community, while prioritizing diversity and inclusion.

We’ll announce the Mr. K Award winner and honor several other companies with Small Business Awards on Thursday, June 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon. This luncheon will be in-person for candidates and sponsors, and live-streamed to the public. We hope to see you there.

TAKE THE 2021 REGIONAL TRADE ASSESSMENT

Global trade is a critical economic driver for our region, helping businesses grow, creating jobs, and elevating Kansas City as a premier place to do business. To gauge the current and future global trade needs of the regional business community, the KC Chamber, World Trade Center Kansas City, and the Mid-America District Export Council want your input on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges your business faces relating to global trade. Take the regional trade assessment survey and tell us your story. You have from now through June 30. We’ll share the responses during WTC-KC's signature event, Go Global KC on September 23, 2021. Survey respondents who share their name and email address will be entered into a drawing for two round trip American Airlines ticket vouchers!

GROW TO GENKC 2021

Are you or do you know a young professional looking to grow your experience? Join us for Grow to genKC, June 9, 3:30 to 5 p.m. This free event is a great opportunity for young professionals and interns to gain career insight from a panel of their peers, virtual networking, and hear a keynote from Carolyn Watley, Vice President of Community Engagement at CBIZ and KC Chamber Board Chair. Register now. Special thanks to Title Sponsor JE Dunn Construction.

DIVERSE VOICES MATTER: WOMEN ON BOARDS OF DIRECTORS VIRTUAL EVENT

Having a diverse group of voices makes your board of directors – and your bottom line – stronger. Join the KC Chamber as we welcome some of KC’s most successful and well-known women for Diverse Voices Matter: Women on Boards of Directors on June 9, 2 to 3:15 p.m. Participants  in this free event include Karen Daniel, Member of the Kansas City Royals Ownership Group, 2020 ATHENA Award Recipient and retired Black & Veatch CFO; Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE; Luann Feehan, President & CEO of Nonprofit Connect; and Nicole Jacobs-Silvey, President & Founder of Connection Coach KC. Register now for this free event. Special thanks to our Women’s Leadership Presenting Sponsors Bank Midwest and KPMG.

VIRTUAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION WORKSHOP: OVERCOMING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Register now for Overcoming Unconscious Bias, June 22, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Join the KC Chamber and Blue Springs Chamber as we co-present the latest in our diversity and inclusion workshop series: Overcoming Unconscious Bias, June 22, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Register here for this free workshop. Recognizing, overcoming, and learning to avoid implicit biases in business interactions is essential to creating a strong and diverse workforce. Implicit bias counselor Henry E. Lyons will teach the four steps people and businesses should take to manage implicit bias. Thank you to our 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Sponsors. Our Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Series Presenting Sponsor is Commerce Bank. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Presenting Sponsors are CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy and Hallmark.