Author Archives: Laura Phillips
Cultivating Community, One Heart at a Time
By Weston Owen
There’s no denying that Kansas City is a special community — supportive, welcoming and proud of the hidden gem that we call home. So, it’s no surprise that Kansas Citians have rallied around the Parade of Hearts, a public art exhibition representative of, and dedicated to, our diverse and eclectic region.
Parade of Hearts was born during the COVID-19 pandemic and intended to help raise funds and awareness for the industries that had suffered the most. Yet this annual installation has achieved an even grander vision in the years since its inception, combining the iconic and beloved KC heart logo with the unique stories, art and design of the Midwest.
The hearts, each measuring about five feet tall, are placed around the Kansas City metro area, interweaving a narrative of hope and inspiration. From healthcare to hometown pride, each tells a different story. Showcasing local artists’ abilities, every installation embodies a unique viewpoint and perspective, all with the goal of bolstering our community.
The culmination of the parade is an auction, where every dollar raised is donated and recirculated to specific facets of Kansas City. Those include focused areas of arts and culture, health and wellness, hospitality and tourism, education and minority-owned businesses.
Now entering its third year, the he(art) installations have become an integral component of the community — spotted in parks, next to local businesses and alongside busy streets throughout the region. And while the amount of talent and creativity in Kansas City is remarkable, what’s even more inspiring is our ability to band together, as one community, around a common cause. To date, Parade of Hearts has raised more than $2.5 million for local charities.
That’s what the Parade of Hearts is truly about — supporting one another through the tough times and the good, giving a voice to worthy causes and elevating everyone that makes Kansas City great.
Fueled By Success, Kansas City Streetcar Extends Its Reach | Engineering News Record
2026: The Year of Clarity
After years of bold ideas, momentum and intention, TeamKC is embracing 2026 with focus and confidence. This is the Year of Clarity.
As the talent landscape continues to evolve and the region steps further into the global spotlight, our opportunity is clear: make it effortless for talent to see how KC works and why they belong here. That clarity guides everything we do this year, from the experiences we create to the partnerships we strengthen.
This year, TeamKC’s work is grounded in three clear areas of focus:
The KC Story | With the launch of our refreshed website under the OneKC brand, TeamKC is helping present a clearer, more unified regional narrative — one that reflects the power of our region working together. TeamKC and our partners play a critical role in attracting, retaining and supporting talent across KC, and now that story is easier to find and to share.
The Audience | This year, we’re doubling down on clarity around our audience — from interns and early-career professionals to experienced talent and the employers working hard to attract them. By providing clarity on who we’re building for, we can design programs, resources and moments that feel relevant and welcoming.
The Experience | From events and resources to partnerships and programming, TeamKC is focused on creating experiences that feel intentional, seamless and human. No extra noise. No guesswork. Just meaningful touchpoints that help talent engage with KC — and help our partners tell that story with confidence.
Everything we do this year is rooted in helping people see Kansas City — and their place in it — more clearly than ever before. With a unified story, a focused audience and experiences designed with purpose, TeamKC is ready to lead the way forward.
Want to get involved or learn more about what the Year of Clarity looks like in action? Let’s connect.
Putting AI to Work: What’s Now and What’s Next
It’s one of the most pressing topics in hiring today: how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way organizations attract, evaluate and onboard talent.
At a recent TeamKC Roundtable, the network explored real-world examples of what’s working, what still needs human oversight and what policies teams need to drive forward as AI accelerates. Moving far beyond an interesting tool, AI has evolved to become a true thought partner, shaping talent strategies in profound ways.
Key Takeaways:
- Before diving headfirst into AI, clearly define a problem in order to select the right tool.
- Do your homework – understand the tool, its limits and how it fits your team.
- Maintain the human element – treat AI as an enhancer (not a replacement) for the relationships and judgment that define effective talent work.
Dive Deeper
Leaders are increasingly using AI to test tone, translate experience, identify personality traits aligned with team needs and help pinpoint what hiring managers may be overlooking. “If you’re not evolving, you’re moving toward extinction” — a reminder that as candidate expectations shift and applications surge, integrating AI thoughtfully is becoming a necessity, not a luxury.
High-growth organizations are leaning on AI to streamline manual steps, including interview scheduling, resume ranking, sifting for specific skills and matching candidates to the right teams. Many are actively training their platforms so systems better understand company philosophy and the nuances of successful hires. Others have opted to build their own tools for stronger security, consistency and the ability to flex for different workflows.
The rise in efficiency also brings new risks.
A flood of applicants, many of them fraudulent or AI-generated, has made it harder to separate genuine, qualified people from bots or impersonators. Leaders emphasize the importance of combining AI with human intuition to find the best candidates possible.
Despite the challenges, AI is already reducing headaches.
AI can be great at handling tasks like automated email and communications plans, drafting/consolidating job descriptions, pulling market data, translating military or technical jargon and compiling interview transcripts. This frees up recruiters to stay focused on tone, personality and connection.
Taken together, these principles provide a roadmap for using AI thoughtfully, maximizing its benefits while keeping human judgment at the center of talent decisions.
Unlock insights, resources and connections to elevate your talent strategy — connect with TeamKC today!
When an Industry Shows Up, a Generation of Potential Grows
One of the questions we hear most often about our workforce priorities is: How do you measure the impact of talking to middle school and high school educators about career exploration in animal health? It’s a fair question and one we’ve reflected on deeply.
The truth is, it’s nearly impossible to draw a clean line from a single conversation with a teacher to a student ultimately stepping into a career in our industry. There’s no dashboard, no tidy funnel, no tracking mechanism that tells us which young minds were influenced by the resources, stories and insights we share.
But does that mean we stop? Absolutely not.
In a world where organizations rely on KPIs and measurable outcomes to justify their time, it’s easy to overlook the kind of work that shapes long-term possibility rather than short-term metrics. Inspiring future talent doesn’t fit neatly into a spreadsheet and that’s exactly why it requires leadership, commitment and collective effort.
In early December, we attended the National Association of Agricultural Educators Conference (NAAE) in Nashville. We spoke with more than 500 educators, from seasoned teachers to students preparing to enter the classroom for the first time. No matter what their level of experience, their reactions were strikingly consistent. Their first question was: “Are these resources free?” And when they learned that an entire industry rallied together to create, brand and share tools designed specifically to help them guide the next generation, they were amazed.
In that moment, the measurement became clear. Not in data points, but in human moments.
Not in metrics, but in momentum.
When educators feel supported, students feel possibility. When an industry shows up, a pathway appears.
We may never know exactly how many students choose animal health because of something they heard, saw or explored through the resources we have developed on exploreahcareers.com. But we do know one thing with absolute certainty: doing nothing guarantees we lose future talent to industries that consistently show up in classrooms.
If educators, students and parents only hear about careers in crop science and equipment, which are excellent careers, then we risk offering young people only a narrow snapshot of what agricultural innovation looks like. Our field has so much more to give. From science and technology to business, care, innovation and global impact, animal health holds a world of opportunity.
Building the next generation of talent isn’t the job of one company. It’s the responsibility and the opportunity of an entire industry.
By standing together, investing together and showing up together, we are shaping not only who enters animal health tomorrow, but how they see themselves today. And while we may not be able to measure that in numbers, we can measure it in purpose.
And purpose is what builds an industry’s future.
BRR Architecture Crafts Biophilic Hotel Experience
2026 World Cup + $2B Power Expansion: Why KC is Rising | KC SmartPort PULSE
KC’s 2026 World Cup Lineup is Locked In
Seven national teams. Six KC matches. One global spotlight on Kansas City.
FIFA has announced the group-stage matchups for the 2026 World Cup, and Kansas City will welcome seven national teams to play in the Soccer Capital of America next summer: Argentina, Algeria, Ecuador, Curacao, Netherlands, Tunisia and Austria.
In total, six matches will be played in KC, with an additional Round of 32 match and a Quarterfinal later in the tournament.
Why it matters:
Kansas City will be one of just a handful of U.S. metros showcased on the global stage — a once-in a generation opportunity to elevate the region’s economic momentum. The influx of fans, media and global attention will drive major tourism activity, international exposure for KC’s infrastructure assets and long-term branding impacts for the region.
New Power Investments Boost KC’s Competitiveness
Independence Power & Light (IPL) has unanimously approved a landmark $2 billion natural gas generation project in Independence, MO. The development will add up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of new power capacity, with construction potentially starting as early as next year. This expansion positions Independence to better attract power-intensive users and strengthen long-term grid stability across the region.
Combined with other major power-generation investments – including Evergy’s two new 705 MW high-efficiency plants – this announcement demonstrates how the Kansas City region is scaling its energy capacity to meet rising demand and stay competitive for large-scale projects.
Register Now for the 2026 Annual Industry Briefing
Learn more about registration and sponsorship opportunities for the Midwest’s premier industrial event on April 8.
Innovation Shop Talk: Designing Spaces for Human Connection
KC Global Design’s latest Innovation Shop Talk brought together leaders across workplace strategy, real estate and design to explore how the next era of the built environment will be defined — not by square footage or capacity, but by connection.
As organizations navigate new expectations around culture and employee experience, one message is clear: spaces that foster belonging create lasting value.
Key Takeaways
Designing for Belonging
Traditional markers for real estate success no longer reflect what employees need most. Instead, intentional design that prioritizes comfort, inclusion and a sense of welcome is reshaping how companies think about their spaces.
A hospitality approach — conversation-friendly spaces, amenities that bond and details that encourage people to engage — helps employees feel rooted and supported.
Connection as a Cultural Strategy
Connection is not a byproduct of culture; it’s a strategic decision. People may choose a job for opportunity, but they stay when they feel they belong.
Surveys show employees feel most connected to their organization’s culture while in the office, emphasizing the role of physical space in talent retention. Elements like food, coffee, art, music and natural light aren’t luxuries; they’re catalysts for everyday changes that build culture.
Measuring the Emotional Experience
The emotional side of the workplace is no longer just an abstract moving target. Organizations are leaning into surveys and engagement data to identify where connection naturally occurs, then intentionally enhancing those moments through thoughtful design.
Flexible Spaces for a Multi-Generational Workforce
With five generations now sharing the workplace, flexibility is essential. Successful environments offer a spectrum of options: places for deep focus, areas for collaboration and informal settings for conversation. Designing for this range ensures that every employee can find a space that suits their work style, fostering comfort and independence.
Looking Ahead
The future of workplace design is rooted in one belief: life runs on the rails of relationships. When organizations invest in spaces that make connection easy and authentic, they strengthen not only productivity but community, well-being and long-term retention.
As companies continue adapting their spaces, the commitment to thoughtful, people-first design will shape workplaces that inspire, support and keep talent rooted in Kansas City.
We’re grateful to JE Dunn for hosting this event in their brand new space designed by Helix Architecture + Design. And thank you to our moderator Sarah Brengarth (Gensler) and our panelists Chris Harren (Country Club Plaza), Tom Herzog (Netsmart) and Sara Greenwood (Greenwood Consulting).
KC Global Design: Elevating A/E/C Thought Leadership
This session is part of a series that brings together thought leadership to stimulate innovative design thinking across KC’s design + construction industry and the broader business community.
How to Engage Community in a NIMBY World
Guest Authored by Jeanine Jerkovic
No, you’re not imagining it: Anti-development and anti-growth sentiments are on the rise nationally. Whether it’s feelings of areas being ‘good as they are,’ overdevelopment concerns or just not trusting local government, 26% of Americans reported actively opposing a new development in a January 2025 Emerson College Polling survey.
In the face of NIMBYism (Not in My Backyard), economic developers must master authentic community engagement, partnerships and public relations like never before. It’s time to rethink our approach and reenergize communities around the opportunities that come with local growth.
Rethinking NIMBYism
The environmental NIMBY resistance to nuclear power plants and landfills of the ‘50s and ‘60s is past. Today, the concerns are more far-reaching and the backyard is larger.
- A wider lens: Today’s NIMBY covers public health, social justice and impact on property values.
- All about the Backyard: Opposition is not necessarily to the project, housing, retail or otherwise on principle as much as it is location-based.
- Who benefits from growth: Community members may not feel a personal benefit to themselves or their community — only the developers’ interests.
- More challenging than ever: As public concerns about growth become more organized and vocal, economic developers must rise to the occasion with bold, creative strategies, including persuasive communication.
Reframing the Conversation
Reframing development and growth can be a tall order, but getting the community invested in new housing and retail projects, showing up and participating, can balance out naysayers to shine light on the overall vision. Here’s how:
- You have to care first: Consistently show residents, through actions, direct outreach and candid conversations that you care about them and are empathetic to their concerns. All opinions stem from people caring about their community.
- Ease friction through open communication: Simplifying confusing project attraction processes turns support and participation into easier asks.
- Listen up: Host public work sessions and forums to gauge community sentiment and empower them with information. Use tools, including social media, to shape narratives and counter resistance.
- Leaders set the tone: Prep civic leaders with the facts – their visible actions and energy shape the way community members feel about development and growth.
Reenergize your Community
Harnessing local energy and strategic engagement can turn big dreams into real progress.
- Identify a community’s rallying point: Identify a shared communal value to use as a foundation for framing the overall benefit to residents.
- Make the process enjoyable and inclusive: Invite residents to fall in love with the vision and contribute unique insights.
- Activate the power of social media: Give residents tools to engage and champion efforts online. Spreading the long-term benefits to fearful neighbors from the mouths of those they trust the most: each other.
Even anti-growth voices often stem from a desire for a better future. By listening and involving residents and voters, we can build communities ripe for growth — shaped and supported by the people who live there.
Jeanine Jerkovic is the Economic Development Director for Surprise, AZ, bringing new retail and employment opportunities to the community. Connect on LinkedIn.
Ready to turn community resistance into community momentum? The KCADC team and our partners are here to help you navigate local engagement with confidence and clarity. Contact us to learn more.