Your Chamber at Work - October 12, 2020

FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, JOE REARDON

I’ve heard from a lot of people about how they’re ready to see 2020 end. I don’t blame them. Yet despite the challenges of this year, there are so many men and women in our community who showed us acts of leadership, service, conviction, compassion, bravery and more this year. They were the best parts of 2020 and a big reason why KC is unstoppable.

Come celebrate these men and women at the KC Chamber’s 133rd Virtual Annual Dinner, Tuesday November 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. It’s not even a dinner this year, but that won’t stop us! In fact, our theme this year is Unstoppable KC.

You’ll still get that full hour of great Chamber networking you've come to expect, but this time you’ll be hopping into virtual rooms and visiting friends at virtual tables. We’ll also surprise our Kansas Citian of the Year virtually -- you’ll want to see how we pull that one off! And we’re so excited to welcome our two featured speakers, both representing Unstoppable KC talent:

  • Heidi Gardner, actor and Saturday Night Live cast member from Kansas City, MO
  • Aaron Thomas, producer and award-winning television and film writer for Friday Night Lights, CSI: NY, and S.W.A.T., from Kansas City, KS.

If you need another reason to get your tickets right now, early bird pricing is just $20 through October 27. Register now. You can tell all your friends, too, because non-members are welcome. Start Thanksgiving week with a new twist on a KC tradition. And celebrate why we truly are Unstoppable KC.

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION VIRTUAL AWARDS EVENT

After months of preparation, delays related to COVID, and the most challenging economy in our lifetime, one of KC’s best small businesses will find out if they’re the 2020 Small Business of the Year. Register now for the Small Business Celebration Virtual Awards Event, October 15, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We’ll announce the winner of the Mr. K Award, as well as our Specialty Awards. You’ll definitely want to hear from keynote speaker David Sax,  journalist and author of The Soul of an Entrepreneur, The Revenge of Analog, The Tastemakers and more, as he talks about the truth behind entrepreneurship, and why the cliché of Silicon Valley and Mark Zuckerberg isn’t reality – something KC knows all about. Thanks to our 2020 Small Business Programming Presenting Sponsors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Evergy, and our Presenting Sponsor for the Virtual Awards Event the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

KANSAS AND MISSOURI 2021 STATE AGENDA LISTENING SESSION

Chamber members are invited to join the Kansas and Missouri 2021 State Agenda Listening Session, October 27, 8 to 10 a.m. This is the final opportunity for members to share their voice on the 2021 KC Chamber Kansas and Missouri Legislative Agendas. This is for KC Chamber members only. Register here to give your expertise, input, and guidance before the agendas are sent to the Board for final approval.

ECONOMIC FORECAST

Join the KC Chamber and Mid-America Regional Council for our Economic Forecast Virtual Event, Tuesday October 20, 9 to 10:30 a.m. MARC’s Frank Lenk will present his annual economic forecast and explain why 2021 may present an opportunity to help economically distressed communities rise. You’ll also hear from business and community members as they share what their own road to recovery looks like in a panel moderated by Armada CI’s Chris Kuehl, author of the daily Business Intelligence Brief. Register now for this free event. Special thanks to our Economic Forecast Cornerstone Sponsor for 2020, BMO Harris Bank. Our Impact Sponsors for 2020 are Black & Veatch Corporation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and SS&C.

VOTE AT THE NATIONAL WWI MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL

The National WWI Museum will serve as a polling location on November 3. The location will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kansas City, Missouri residents who live in Ward 1, Precinct 6 will be able to cast their ballot at the well-known museum. Voters can park in the museum’s U-shaped Drive, West Visitor’s Lot, and Southeast Lawn. Click here for more information.