North Kansas City News
December 2021
Welcome the North Kansas City Business Council's Newest Members
Brew Church is a faith community committed to authenticity, inclusivity, asking the difficult questions, and embracing abundant life. Being a part of Brew Church, you’ll experience some typical elements of church such as music and a message. You’ll also experience unique elements such as authentic dialogue as a part of the service. They’ve found that some of the deepest conversations and moments of growth can happen around a drink -- whether coffee or beer or a craft cocktail. The hope is to break down the wall between the sacred and the secular, because we can encounter God in a variety of places. That's why they meet in an entertainment venue called The Rino.

Click here to learn more about Brew Church.
Cardinal Crest Homes, established in March of 2011, has since built over 100 luxury homes with detailed and intricate scopes. Meet a custom home builder that provides true custom experiences. From the in-house architectural services, to the step by step interior design consulting, we strive to make the home building process memorable. Cardinal Crest creates timeless homes that will focus equally on design and function. Utilizing the newest technologies we put as much emphasis on the aesthetics as the structural components to ensure a quality built home.
Transitioning to high end commercial projects has proved to be a natural fit. Cardinal Crest Commercial, although its own entity, maintains the reputation and prestige the Cardinal Crest brand has established.

Click here to learn more about Pure Design.
Female owned & operated, PlantLyfe Oasis offers beautiful assortment of high-quality plants, pots & more. PlantLyfe Oasis is a place where like minded individuals can meet and talk all things plant related. Come check it out.

Click here to learn more about PlantLyfe Oasis.
Many, many thanks to the following North Kansas City businesses and organizations that “got into the holiday spirit” and helped to spread some Christmas cheer by sponsoring and decorating a North Kansas City Winter Wonderland Christmas Tree.
Accent Controls
Arkema
Blue Oak Technology Solutions
Brew Church KC
Cardinal Crest
Cinder Block Brewery
Clayco Electric
Colamark USA
Donut King
Elite Roofing Supply
EverReady Service Decorated by HOSA
Express Employment Professionals
First Missouri Bank
Fry & Associates (Decorated by Asian Student Union)
Garney Construction
Harrah's Casino & Hotel
Indigex
K. Warman Architecture & Design
Kansas City Hospice
Life Unlimited
Major Brands
Mid-America Contractors
Midwest Aortic & Vascular Institute, P.C.
MTS Contracting
MWD Construction
NKC Dental
NOCIX/KCFiber/liNKCity
North Kansas City Business Council
North Kansas City Electric
North Kansas City Hospital - Accounting
North Kansas City Hospital - Community Health & Wellness
North Kansas City Public Library
North Kansas City YMCA
NT Realty
Park Lofts
PlantLyfe Oasis
ProPrint Digital
Safe Haven Security Decorated by National Honor Society
Sail Away Wine
Stor Safe Warehouses
Tnemec Company
Vocational Services, Inc.
We would also like to extend a very special thanks to the City’s Municipal Services Department for their hard work and dedication for installing, lighting, and maintaining the trees each year, and the North Kansas City High School National Honor Society, Asian Student Union, and the Health and Occupation Science (HOSA) Club for serving as “Elves” to help decorate trees for businesses that were unable to decorate their own trees.

With 42 businesses participating this year, creativity and decorating talents were at an all-time high! The competition was extremely stiff and it was a very difficult task for our panel of judges, “Local Legend” Jim Chappell, local artist, GK Callahan, and local artist and NKC Parks & Recreation Instructor, Heather Garrett.

2021 Winners
Business Related Category
1st Place
Harrah's Casino & Hotel
Business Related Category
2nd Place
Mid-America Contractors
Business Related Category
3rd Place
Blue Oak Technology Solutions
Favorite Fictional Character Category
1st Place
MWD Construction
Favorite Fictional Character Category
2nd Place
Elite Roofing Supply
Favorite Fictional Character Category
3rdPlace
NT Realty
North Kansas City High School Club Decorated Category
Winner
Fry & Associates, decorated by Asian Student Union
NKCBC "Big Event" a Big Success!
The North Kansas City Business Council “Big Event” Holiday Reception & Online Silent Auction was held last Thursday, December 2nd at Harrah’s and it was a “Big Success”! After pivoting to a completely virtual experience last year, being back “live and in-person” this year provided an important and very welcome opportunity to gather to commemorate and celebrate the accomplishments our members, as well as our organization, made throughout the year.

In addition to being a very fun and festive way for our members to gather and usher in the holiday season, the “Big Event” is one of the Business Council’s most important fund-raising events. Funds raised through sponsorships, table and ticket sales, proceeds from the silent auction, and donations are critical for our ongoing efforts to achieve our mission “to be an advocate for businesses and quality of life in North Kansas City” and to provide a high level of service and support to our members.

Sponsorships are always critical to the success of any event, and we received tremendous support from our 2021 Sponsors. We deeply appreciate and thank each of them for their exceptional generosity in supporting this event and the ongoing efforts of the North Kansas City Business Council.
2021 Sponsors
North Kansas City Hospital Underwriting Sponsor
Tnemec Company Investor Sponsor
Harrah’s In-Kind Investor Sponsor
NOCIX and KC Fiber/liNKCityTechnology Sponsor
Midwest Aortic and Vascular Institute Executive Sponsor
Country Club Bank Executive Sponsor
Garney Construction Executive Sponsor
Aloft North Kansas City and Element North Kansas City Hotels
and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom (part of KMG Hotels properties) – Executive Sponsor
NT Realty, Inc.Holiday Sponsor
We had a great turnout for the event and attendees noticed a few changes from past events. When we moved to a virtual experience last year, we implemented an online mobile auction platform for the silent auction. We had such a good experience using the online mobile platform we decided to continue using it moving forward. This allowed us to streamline check-in, the bidding process, and check-out resulting in a better experience for everyone. It also allowed us to extend our reach for the silent auction to “virtually” everyone!

In the past, North Kansas City restaurants have generously provided a variety of tasty treats for a “Taste of North Kansas City” sampling style format for refreshments. However, with many restaurants facing staffing shortages and supply issues related to the pandemic, we decided to make another change so as not to impose a hardship on any of our restaurants. Harrah’s catered the event and provided an outstanding selection of delicious hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and a dessert.

Traditionally, the Business Council has presented awards for the Business of the Year and Director of the Year. However, this year we recognized the need to restructure the awards portion of the ceremony for broader recognition and celebration of our member businesses’ achievements throughout the year. With that in mind, four North Kansas City Business Council member businesses whose contributions throughout the year have had a significant impact on the business community and the North Kansas City community were recognized. A committee will be formed and begin work in early 2022 to develop a new awards program. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Rich or Paula.

The four 2021 Award Recipients included:
Future Workforce Award: Shawn Torrez, Plant Manager, Arkema Chemical
Arkema is a global coatings company, with international headquarters in France. Shawn is the Plant Manager of the North Kansas City plant located at 901 E 16th Ave.

Under Shawn’s leadership, Arkema has been involved in creating opportunities for students and teachers to be more aware of career possibilities and creating opportunities for improving the work-based skills of students. This has been accomplished by partnering with Northland CAPS, supporting the North Kansas City School district’s transformation to the Career Pathways curriculum, Junior Achievement, a Science Teacher program, job shadowing, and coordinating the North Kansas City YMCA’s expansion of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center.
Spirit of Giving Award: Tina Weaver, Executive Director, North Kansas City YMCA
Through a partnership with the City of North Kansas City, the Y operates the former North Kansas City Community Center. The partnership allows the YMCA and the City to work together to serve more people and provide more programs to improve quality of life for people of all ages in the North Kansas City community and beyond. 

As first Interim Executive Director and then Director, Tina has worked enthusiastically and tirelessly to lead a series of significant accomplishments for the Y and the North Kansas City Community including establishing the North Kansas City Y as a “New Americans Welcome Center”, creation of an urban farm with a green house and raised growing beds using some of the spare acreage behind the building, creation and expansion of the teen tech center, multiple programs for addressing food insecurity, and championing the cause of equity and inclusion.
Community Service Award: Kathy Warman, Owner of K Warman Architecture + Design
K Warman Architecture+Design is an architecture firm in North Kansas City, Missouri, offering comprehensive architecture services, including design work, programming, presentation, construction documentation, illustration, and permitting. Kathy recently donated her services to help the North Kansas City High School design “The Brickyard”, a coffee shop operated by students within the Library/Media Center. Kathy collaborated with one of the Business teachers and a group of students at North Kansas City High School to design the coffee shop. Her role also involved helping to implement an online ordering system along with creating signage and developing a line of merchandise. The project provided participating students a “hands-on” experience on launching a business from conception to completion. 
Problem-Solving Award: Randy Edge, Owner of InStore Design Display
InStore Design Display is a nationally recognized custom product display and retail environment company. In April 2020, InStore Design Display pivoted its design and manufacturing of custom retail displays to personal protective equipment to respond to the global shortage of PPEs for medical professionals at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. They partnered with Dimensional Innovations, The Center for Design Research at the University of Kansas, and the University of Kansas Health System to design and manufacture a face shield made from a single material and donated the intellectual property rights by publishing the design as an open source so anyone could make it.

When reopening began, they developed a three-sided desk barrier and custom reception shields for local and regional school districts such as Kansas City and Blue Valley Public Schools. They also designed custom protection barriers for banks, retailers, and insurance companies needing a protective separation between workers and customers.

By refocusing its expertise in the design and fabrication of acrylic in the early stages of the pandemic, InStore Design Display preserved 35 full-time and 5 temporary jobs in North Kansas City. They called upon their core values of Diverse Knowledge & Expertise, Unwavering Dedication, and Evolving Ingenuity, along with their “Get S**t Done” mentality, to problem solve, advance their business, and contribute to the community during an extremely challenging time. 
If you were unable to attend the event this year, we hope you will be able to join us in 2022!
ProPrint Digital celebrated it's 40th Anniversary on December 7th.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Don't forget to
for the holidays!!!
The North Kansas City Police Department will host their inaugural Chat with the Chief event on December 15 from 6-8 p.m. in the Police Community Room located on the City Hall campus. Topics will include year in review information, an introduction of their new community crime map, and an open Q & A for those in attendance.
Upcoming Events & Activties
NKCBC
Calendar of Events

Due to the holidays, there will be no NKCBC Monthly Luncheon in December.

Visit the North Kansas City Business Council Events Calendar for more information and to register for NKCBC events and activities.
Have information you'd like to share? Call or send an email to Paula Brooks, North Kansas City Business Council Member Services and Events Coordinator.

(816) 538-3111
There are lots of holiday events and activities taking place during the holiday season in North Kansas City! Check out the RiverNorth Calendar of Events for all the details!
The North Kansas City Parks and Recreation Board is committed to providing the residents and business community of North Kansas City with the best possible environment for family recreation and leisure time enjoyment.
Click the image above for the North Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department full fall catalog of programs for all ages.
Quote Notes

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”

-- Buddy the Elf
Paula Brooks | (816) 472-7700 | 405 E. 19th Avenue | paula@nkcbusinesscouncil.com