400 talent leaders gather as TeamKC reinforces its long-standing role helping Kansas City employers attract and retain top talent
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Feb. 26, 2026 – TeamKC, the talent-focused initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), convened hundreds of HR executives, recruiters and business leaders today at The Abbott for its annual Training Camp talent summit — unveiling new recruiting tools, sharing fresh workforce data and spotlighting a year of major economic momentum for the region.
The event reinforced TeamKC’s nearly two-decade legacy as Kansas City’s authority on attracting and retaining top talent, supporting more than 300 major employers and a network of 1,100+ talent leaders across industries in the region.
“Strong data and insights elevate our work and give us credibility — and that’s what talent leaders need to have a seat at the table alongside their business partners,” said Erin Roebuck, TeamKC co-chair and senior talent acquisition leader, global, at Hallmark Cards, Inc.
The program featured nationally recognized speakers, including best-selling author Diana Kander and sportscasting legend Joel Goldberg, alongside regional business leaders sharing insights on workforce trends and building trust in an evolving talent environment.
New and Expanded Tools to Strengthen Talent Growth
A central theme of Training Camp 2026 was a sharpened focus on clarity — in messaging, in data and in the candidate experience.
TeamKC highlighted four cornerstone resources designed to give Kansas City employers a competitive advantage:
- TeamKC Scouting Report: A data-driven snapshot of national workforce trends, the Kansas City region’s talent landscape and actionable recruitment and engagement strategies.
- KC Options: TeamKC’s award-winning lifestyle and career publication, showcasing the people, places and culture that define life in Kansas City. KC Options remains the most widely utilized resource among employers recruiting to the region.
- New KC Hype Video: A high-energy, shareable video asset designed to help employers showcase Kansas City’s momentum, vibrancy and opportunity.
- TeamKC Relocation Guide: A new 50-page guide for KCADC’s 300+ investor companies, delivering clear, practical information — from housing and taxes to neighborhoods and community resources — to help new hires transition seamlessly to life in Kansas City.
Together, these assets create a full-cycle recruiting toolkit, supporting employers from initial outreach through long-term retention.
“We know what works,” said Danielle Hilton, managing director of TeamKC. “Vibrant visuals. A confident story. And practical tools that make it easier for talent to say ‘yes’ to Kansas City.”
KC Streetcar Authority Honored with 2026 TeamKC MVP Award
At the event, TeamKC presented its 2026 TeamKC MVP Award to the KC Streetcar Authority for its transformative impact in connecting people and places across Kansas City.
Awarded annually at Training Camp, the TeamKC MVP Award recognizes an organization that has significantly advanced Kansas City as a top destination for talent. Through expanded access and mobility, the KC Streetcar continues to elevate Kansas City as a place where talent wants to live and work — strengthening urban vibrancy, accessibility and regional connectivity.
Business Growth and Talent Pipeline Move in Lockstep
Training Camp also reinforced the direct connection between business attraction and workforce strategy, celebrating marquee investments TeamKC helped to attract to the region in recent years:
- Panasonic Energy’s EV battery manufacturing plant, which recently celebrated hiring 1,500 employees.
- Fiserv’s strategic fintech hub — the largest office project announced in the United States in 2025 — projected to create more than 2,000 jobs in the region.
As a key component of KCADC’s mission, TeamKC supports companies as they expand and invest in the region. Over the past decade, KCADC — together with state, community and business partners — has helped attract projects resulting in more than 30,000 new jobs in the Kansas City region.
“These wins are about more than headlines,” Hilton said. “They strengthen our talent base, diversify our workforce and reinforce Kansas City’s reputation as a place companies — and people — choose.”
TeamKC also highlighted its support for KC employers as they invest in the next generation of talent. In 2025, the TeamKC summer intern program engaged more than 1,000 interns across industries, providing “KC 101” programming, peer networking and immersive experiences designed to connect young professionals to long-term careers in the region.
A Proven Partner for Kansas City Employers
As national competition for talent intensifies, the 2026 TeamKC Training Camp reinforced a clear takeaway: Kansas City’s workforce strategy is coordinated, data-driven and built for scale.
“People show up when they know the why, and feel proud to be part of it,” said Alicia Bacon, TeamKC board co-chair and director of talent acquisition at Netsmart. “Now, more than ever, it’s great to be in KC. We have a swagger. An energy. We are the place to be. You just have to be here.”
About TeamKC
TeamKC, an initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council, is the regional authority in positioning KC as a premier talent destination. Working alongside regional partners, TeamKC serves as an extension of recruiting and HR teams at more than 300 major employers, supporting a network of 1,100+ talent leaders — providing the insights, tools and data needed to compete in a rapidly evolving talent market. As the region’s unified talent attraction initiative, TeamKC helps ensure top candidates say “yes” to growing their careers in KC. | teamkc.com
About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)
The Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the OneKC region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort, TeamKC and KC Global Design. | onekc.org
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