Your Chamber at Work - June 14, 2021

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Nominations are now open for the KC Chamber’s annual ATHENA Awards, honoring our community’s outstanding women leaders. The awards are named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and warfare.

We presented the first ATHENA Award 20 years ago to civic and civil rights activist Beth Smith. Since then, we’ve honored Kansas City women who have “achieved the highest level of professional excellence, devoted time and energy to the community, and, especially opened the doors of leadership opportunity to women.” Over the past two decades, we’ve honored outstanding women leaders like Dianne Cleaver, Adele Hall, Mamie Hughes, Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn, and Julia Irene Kauffman. Our 2020 ATHENA Award was presented to Royals co-owner, former Chamber Board Chair, and retired Black & Veatch executive Karen Daniel. (Click here to hear from Karen on the importance of inclusion.)

In 2010, we added a second award – the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, which honors emerging women leaders in our metro area for their exemplary leadership. The 2020 award was presented to Chelsea Laub, founder of Crossroads Wealth Management. She’s also the President and Co-Founder of Underground Social, an organization that unites the next generation of Kansas City’s female leaders.

The Chamber started the ATHENA Awards in the belief that it’s important to highlight and affirm the impact and contributions of women leaders in our community.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION VIRTUAL AWARDS EVENT

We will name the 2021 Small Business of the Year in just over a week. Register to watch the Small Business Celebration Virtual Awards Event, Thursday, June 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’ll not only name the Mr. K Award winner, but also the winners of the specialty awards, including Legacy of Kansas City, the Small Business Equity Award, Emerging Small Business Award, and Weida Award for International Small Business. This event is in-person for the candidates, but virtual for the public. Not to worry, you can register here to watch the free livestream. You’ll also hear from keynote speaker Elizabeth MacBride, award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and author of The New Builders. Thanks to our overall 2021 Small Business Programming presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Evergy. The Awards Luncheon Presenting Sponsor is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING PATIO SERIES: HOTEL KANSAS CITY

After more than a year, we invite you to enjoy Neighborhood Networking with us face to face! Join us this at Hotel Kansas City this Friday, June 18, 8:30 to 10 am for our upcoming Neighborhood Networking Patio Series.  Register here. This in-person event is free for Chamber members and just $15 for non-members. Bring your colleagues and friends as you enjoy coffee and reconnect at one of KC’s most popular new hotels. Rumor has it that the chef has plans to impress you! Thanks to our 2021 overall networking sponsors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Delta Dental, and Mazuma, and our 2021 Neighborhood Networking Sponsors Menlo and Unbound.

APPOINTMENTS PROJECT INFORMATION SESSION

Learn how to bring more women on civic boards by registering for the Appointments Project Information Session, Wednesday, June 23, Noon to 1 p.m. You’ll hear from United WE’s fast-growing Appointments Project, a research-based, tested and systematic approach that has resulted in more than 150 women being appointed to civic boards and commissions, and women of color representing 34% of applicants.  Hear from women who have been appointed to boards and commission through the initiative, including Carolyn Watley (Jackson County Pension Plan Board of Trustees), Niki Lee Donawa (KC Health Care Foundation Community Advisory Committee), and Jennifer Ingraham (Missouri Community Service Commission). This virtual event is free. Thank you to our 2021 Women's Leadership Presenting Sponsors, Bank Midwest and KPMG.

TAKE THE 2021 REGIONAL TRADE ASSESSMENT

COVID-19 shifted buying habits, supply chains, and redefined how businesses operate in the global marketplace. We want to hear what it meant for KC businesses in the international market. Take the 2021 Regional Trade Assessment to help us gauge the current and future global trade needs of the regional business community. The Chamber, World Trade Center – Kansas City, and the Mid-America District Export Council have teamed up for this survey, looking for your input on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges your business faces relating to global trade. You have from now through June 30 to take the survey. We’ll share the responses during WTC-KC's signature event, Go Global KC on September 23, 2021. One lucky survey taker will win two round trip travel vouchers from American Airlines.