Your Chamber at Work - October 23, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

The KC region is on a roll, so this year’s Annual Dinner theme is especially appropriate: ‘Keep it coming KC.’ We’ll learn how the KC business community is preparing for a surge of power, progress, technology, and people that will lead our region to generational change. Our 136th Annual Dinner meeting will be held Tuesday, November 21 in the Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom at the KC Convention Center. Networking starts at 4 p.m. followed by dinner and the program at 5:30.

We’re excited about our keynote speaker, David Pogue, New York Times bestselling author and contributor, beloved CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, and NOVA host on PBS. He is the go-to expert on disruptive tech and science in a fast-changing world. He’ll give us his insights on how tech impacts our work, businesses, health, society, and connections with each other – now and into the future. Following his keynote, Pogue will moderate a panel of local Kansas Citians as they discuss AI and technology within our community.

Kansas City native Kate Cosentino will be our musical entertainment for the evening. She’s well-versed in the art of puns and guitar-shredding.

We’ll also hear from incoming Chamber Chair Lisa Ginter and outgoing Chair Mark Garrett. I may have a few things to say as well.

Registration is still open! If you’d like to attend, email annualdinner@kcchamber.com. Many thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

CENTURIONS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FORUM

At the 2023 Centurions Women’s Leadership Forum on November 2, you can enjoy networking and happy hour with women who will share their stories of growth and success. They include Deonne Christensen, President and CEO of Mazuma Credit Union, and Sarah Tourville, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial and Community Impact Officer for the Kansas City Royals. This free event will be from 4 to 6 p.m. in the KC Chamber Board Room at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, on the first floor next door to Pierponts. Register here. If you have questions, reach out to Lindsay Jarquio, jarquio@kcchamber.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING

Keystone Innovation District’s CoLAB space at 800 E 18th St. is designed to serve as a collision platform for Kansas City’s innovation community. On November 3, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., it will also serve as a networking platform for KC Chamber members, non-members, and their partners at Goodwill. This networking event is free for KC Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Be sure to bring your business cards and stay for the tour. Register here. Neighborhood Networking is presented by Rock CFO, Southwest Airlines and Unbound. The KC Chamber’s overall networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Remember…Neighborhood Networking makes making new connections easy and fun.

D&I ALLYSHIP SERIES

Get your allyship plan turned into practical, strategic action.  Each participant develops a personalized plan to use to work on weaknesses and grow strengths. Self-assessment will help you find areas for improvement and cultivation. This workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on November 14, in the KC Chamber Board Room in Union Station, 30 W Pershing Road, next door to Pierponts. This event is free to attend but please register. The KC Chamber’s DEI work is made possible by Presenting Diversity Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union; our Allyship Series Presenting Sponsors are Evergy and Hallmark.

CHILDCARE CRISIS

The KC Chamber and United WE invite area employers, legislators and childcare professionals to engage with an informative panel on the childcare crisis. This event will be held November 15, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Union Station, 30 W Pershing Road, next door to Pierponts. Moderated by Cathy Bennett of the KC Chamber and Joni Wickham of Wickham James Strategies & Solutions, the panelists include Wendy Doyle of United WE; Melissa Rooker of the KS Children’s Cabinet & Trust Fund; Dinah Sykes, Kansas Senator and Senate Minority Leader; and Laura Williams, Kansas State Representative. Paula Neth, president and CEO of The Family Conservancy will present a childcare tax credit calculator to help businesses understand how much they can save by utilizing the childcare tax credit available in Kansas. There is no cost to attend. Please RSVP here.