2023 Annual Luncheon Program
Downtown Council’s Annual Luncheon – Friday, April 14, 2023
Loews Kansas City Hotel
1515 Wyandotte
Welcome & Special Recognition
Dr. Kimberly Beatty, Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College
Mike Klamm, Senior Vice President, CBRE
Harvey Fried Award
Harvey Fried was a founding board member of the Downtown Community Improvement District and served as board secretary until his passing in 2018. The CID established the Harvey Fried Award in 2018 to honor outstanding service by our ambassadors.
Presented by: Mike Klamm, Senior Vice President, CBRE
Award Recipient: Belinda Ramirez-Leon, Downtown Streetcar Ambassador
Downtown CID – 20th Year Celebration
Sean O’Byrne, Vice President, Downtown Council and Executive Director, Downtown & River Market Community Improvement Districts
2023 Urban Hero Awards
Honorees are individuals who have improved the quality of life Downtown by enhancing the physical, social, business, retail, office, neighborhood, political, or work environment.
Presented by: Pat Contreras, Vice President of Business Development, McCownGordon Construction
Honorees: Rebecca Koop, Owner, Back Door Pottery; Shanita McAfee-Bryant, Founder/Executive Director, The Prospect KC; Edgar Palacios, President & CEO, Latinx Education Collaborative; Lisa Pena, Founder, Urban Hikes Kansas City; Brian Williams, Director of Development, Folly Theater
J. Philip Kirk Jr. Award
The award honors leaders whose vision, guidance, and commitment have contributed to shaping a stronger, better, more resilient community, and an equitable, inclusive, and vibrant Downtown KC. The award’s namesake, J. Philip Kirk, Jr. epitomized these qualities in both his professional and personal lives.
Presented by: Kay Barnes, Kansas City Mayor, 1999-2007 & Annual Luncheon Honorary Chair
Award Recipient: Mike Burke
Imagine Downtown KC Plan Update
Housing For All, Downtown Ballpark, and the South Loop Project
Keynote: How Big Things Get Done
Bill Dietrich, President & CEO, Downtown Council
Paul Neidlein, President, Midwest Region, JE Dunn Construction
Keynote Speaker: Dan Gardner, Author, How Big Things Get Done
Concluding Remarks
Bruce Miller, Managing Director, Populous
Mayor Quinton Lucas, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Mike Klamm, Senior Vice President, CBRE
Downtown Council of Kansas City
1000 Walnut, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64106
816.421.1539