Chamber News
Verizon $10,000 Fall Grants Now Live
Verizon $10,000 Fall Grants Now Live The Fall Grant program is now live! Verizon is awarding $10,000 to 50 small businesses. To become eligible to apply, enroll in Digital Ready (for free!), complete 2 Digital Ready courses or events and complete the application by December 10, 2025. Will you be the next recipient? We’re excited…
Read MoreSmall Business Spotlight: Happy Faces Entertainment
Small Business Spotlight: Happy Faces Entertainment HAPPY FACES ENTERTAINMENT Year founded: 2001 Tell us a little about your business? Established in 2001, Happy Faces Entertainment and KC Mystery Players have brought smiles to thousands of people, across the country. Always looking to find the smile in every person, laughter is guaranteed at every performance. HFE…
Read MoreEmerge Recap: How Happiness as a Strategy Can Transform Leadership
Emerge Recap: How Happiness as a Strategy Can Transform Leadership Emerge: A Program for Young Professionals hosted an inspiring conversation with Jessica Lyonford, best-selling author of The Happy Leader Playbook: A Science-Backed Guide to Supercharging Energy and Impact. Together, we explored an energizing question: What if happiness isn’t the reward, but the strategy? Jessica guided…
Read MoreSmall Business Spotlight: Donutology
Small Business Spotlight: Donutology DONUTOLOGY Founder-Owner Andrew Cameron https://www.donutology.com Year founded: October 2016 Tell us a little about your business? As a donut lover and savvy entrepreneur, Andrew Cameron realized while growing up in Lansing, Kansas, that buying donuts wasn’t an interactive experience—something he always dreamed of changing. He imagined a more engaging way to…
Read MoreAugust Workforce SynQ Recap: Building Stronger ERGs
August Workforce SynQ Recap: Building Stronger ERGs Our August Workforce SynQ, hosted at Children’s Mercy, brought together Chamber members for a meaningful conversation overlooking a stunning view of downtown Kansas City. The session, led by Jay Bohanon, featured an engaging panel with Zach Rose-Heim, Jay Herron, and Sheri Johnson, who shared thoughtful insights and practical…
Read MoreExploring the Future of GenAI with Emerge
Exploring the Future of GenAI with Emerge Yesterday, Emerge: A Program for Young Professionals hosted an engaging and interactive discussion on Generative AI, led by Senior Intelligence Partner Ian Wohlstadter. Together, we explored where GenAI stands today, what the future might hold, and how professionals can best position themselves in this rapidly evolving space. The…
Read MoreJohnson County Honors LGBTQ+ Business Community with Pride Month Proclamation
Johnson County Honors LGBTQ+ Business Community with Pride Month Proclamation Left to right: Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand (6th District), Commissioner Julie Brewer (3rd District), Chamber Board Member Zach Rose-Heim, Chamber Board President Kate Nielsen, Johnson County Board Chair Mike Kelly, Chamber Board Vice President Jay Bohanon, Chamber Executive Director Tracey DeMarea, Commissioner Janee Hanzlick (4th District),…
Read MoreEmpower Your Business with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Empower Your Business with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready At the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, we understand the unique challenges faced by small businesses, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community. That’s why we’re excited to spotlight Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready program—a comprehensive, free resource designed to help you thrive in today’s digital economy.…
Read MoreApply Now – 2025 Own It! Program
Apply Now – 2025 Own It! Program Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Transgender, Gender Expansive, & Allied and Interested Individuals We are excited to share a virtual opportunity from nglccNY, the local LGBT chamber of commerce for the state of New York: The Own It! Program is a virtual entrepreneurial intensive designed for transgender, gender expansive, and…
Read MoreEMERGE Inspires with Tools for Navigating the Tough Stuff
EMERGE Inspires with Tools for Navigating the Tough Stuff Last night’s EMERGE session brought emerging LGBTQ+ and ally professionals together for a powerful conversation on navigating workplace conflict. Guest speaker Mike Allison, VP of Talent and Culture at Spotlight, shared real-world examples of professional conflict—and how those challenging moments became opportunities for personal and team…
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