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