Your Chamber at Work - May 30, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

We’re just a couple of weeks from one of my favorite events the KC Chamber holds all year – the Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon. What began in 1987 has grown into one of the biggest and most prestigious small business award celebrations in the country.

One June 14, the Chamber will announce the 2023 Small Business of the Year. We started with 70 candidates at our Showcase back in April, named our Top 10 Small Businesses just over a month ago, and now it all comes down to this. Past winners include some of KC’s most recognizable businesses like Boulevard Brewing, Pro Athlete, Charlie Hustle, and last year’s winner Chicken N Pickle to name a few.

The KC Chamber also presents our Specialty Awards: The Emerging Business Award, Small Business Equity Award, Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year, and the Legacy of Kansas City Award.

You’ll want to hear from this year’s special panel focusing on access to capital and creating more opportunities for excluded and often under-resourced minority business owners. I’m pleased to welcome our friends from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to lead this important discussion. And special thanks to the Kauffman Foundation for serving as our Presenting Sponsor.

Make sure you get your tickets by June 12. And remember to #celebratesmallbiz every day.

ATHENA AWARDS KICKOFF NETWORKING EVENT

Get your list together. On June 1, nominations open for the ATHENA Leadership Awards! The ATHENA Award is one of the most prestigious honors for women’s leadership in our community. It is presented to someone who stands out in professional excellence, community service, and actively assists women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Additionally, the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recognizes emerging female leaders. Join last year’s recipients Dr. Marjorie Williams and Pooja Shah for a special event with the Executive Women’s Leadership Council June 1 to celebrate nominations. Register for the ATHENA Awards Kickoff Networking Event, 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the Chamber Board Room. You can submit your nominations that day or just come to enjoy coffee and a light breakfast as you learn more about the ATHENA awards and connect with other professionals across Greater Kansas City.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: NEURO REHABCARE

Welcome to the neighborhood! We’re meeting for Neighborhood Networking at Neuro Rehabcare on Friday, June 9, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at their Shawnee location, 13021 W. 55th St. Neuro Rehabcare specializes in residential treatment for individuals with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and catastrophic injuries. This event is free for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Register here. Thanks to our 2023 Neighborhood Networking Sponsors Rock CFO, Southwest Airlines and Unbound. The KC Chamber's 2023 overall networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

HEALTHY KC WORKPLACE WELLNESS

There’s a new resource to help companies with mental health in the workplace. For Mental Health Awareness Month, Healthy KC has released the Mental Health At Work Action Guide. This guide focuses on best practices, what leadership can do to support employees, where to find resources, how to build a robust plan, and more. Healthy KC’s 2020 Workplace Mental Health Assessment determined that most workplaces in KC did not have a mental health action plan in place. We know there’s no one-size-fits all approach because every business and organization is different. The guide is designed to be adaptable to your individual needs. Special thanks to our Healthy KC Presenting Sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. If you have questions about the guide, reach out to Grace Dolan at the Chamber, gdolan@kcchamber.com.

INCLUSION SUMMIT: AMPLIFYING INTERSECTIONALITY

You only have a couple of days to get the early registration special for the 2023 Inclusion Summit: Amplifying Intersectionality this September. The KC Chamber is proud to partner with the Center for Disability Inclusion, the Diversity Inclusion Consortium, and NAAAP Kansas City for this multi-day Summit, September 28 and 29 at The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Attendees will be inspired to amplify inclusion efforts in their workforce, workplace, marketplace, and community. The Summit brings together people who want to advance inclusion, equity and belonging for all underrepresented groups. Early bird is $249 if you register before May 31. After June 1 it’s $299. Register here. Get a look at the schedule here.