Coffee Connect

Our weekly Coffee Connect has become the virtual place to be to stay informed and connected to the built environment in KC!

What started as an opportunity to connect with colleagues in a casual setting has evolved into lively, substantial discussion about the changing landscape of the built environment in Kansas City and beyond. From engineers and architects to those in development and finance, people across the community convene for an hour to exchange best practices and share ideas.

Each week a leading industry expert kicks off a topical discussion, followed by 20-minute breakout sessions for in-depth conversation. Register once to receive a virtual meeting link you can use each week. More details on our Events page.
Here’s a recap of recent Coffee Connect speakers:
  • 5/15/20: Dennis Strait, Gould Evans | Joe Perry, Port KC | Kevin Klinkenberg, Midtown KC Now
  • 5/22/20: Jill McCarthy, Kansas City Area Development Council
  • 5/29/20: Dustin Schafer, Henderson Engineering
  • 6/5/20: Michael Collins, JE Dunn Capital Partners | ULI Leadership
  • 6/12/20: Kevin Collinson, CityScene KC
  • 6/26/20: Diane Cleaver, United Neighborhood Initiative
  • 7/10/20: Elizabeth Rosin, Rosin Preservation
  • 7/17/20: Jeffrey Williams, City of KCMO | Anne Holliday, Imagine Downtown KC
  • 7/24/20: Katherine Carttar, Unified Government of KCK-WyCo | Tim McKee, Olathe | Rick McDowell, Lee’s Summit
  • 7/31/20: Tom Gerend, KC Streetcar Authority | Joe Perry, Port KC
  • 8/7/20: Jim Erickson, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City
  • 8/14/20: Terry Rynard,  KC Parks and Recreation
  • 8/21/20: Gregg Lombardi and Gail Lozoff, Lykins Neighborhood Association | Rick Howell, Plaid Collaborative
  • 9/4/20: Shalaunda Holmes, Urban Neighborhood Initiative | Todd Lieberman, Brinshore Development | Jennifer Tidwell, KCMO Housing Division
  • 9/11/20: Tom Gerend, KC Streetcar Authority | Gib Kerr, Cushman & Wakefield
  • 10/2/20: Chouteau Courts TAP Panelists: Abby Kinney, Gould Evans | Ave Stokes, Alive and Well KC | Bill Crandall, CBC  Real Estate Group | Bob Langenkamp, Community Builders of Kansas City | Brien Starner, Ride KC Development Corporation | Doug Stockman, Helix KC | Jason Carter-Solomon, Enterprise Bank | Katherine Carttar, Unified Government of KCK-WyCo | Kevin Klinkenberg, Midtown KC Now | Kelley Hrabe, Prairie Fire Development | Leonard Graham, Taliaferro & Browne | Mark Irkin, KC Mass Services | Tanece Tyler, Northeast Economic Development Corporation
  • 10/9/20: Brien Starner and Frank White III, Ride KC Development Corporation
  • 10/16/20: Geoffrey Stricker and Daniel Moylan, Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate
  • 10/23/20: Amy Slattery, Odimo | Joyce Raybuck, BNIM | Erika Winters-Downey, McCownGordan
  • 10/30/20: Dr. Melissa Patterson Hazley, Central City Economic Development (CCED) Sales Tax District
  • 11/6/20: Shannon Jaxx,  Kansas City Public Schools | Dr. Terry Ward, Doolin Ward Consulting
  • 11/13/20: Phil Glynn, Travois
  • 12/4/20: Katy Ryan Schamberger, Downtown Dish KC | Barry Tunnell,  Tannin Wine Bar and Kitchen
  • 12/18/20: Sly James, Wickham James, former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
  • 1/15/21: Tom Jacobs, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) | Mike Kelly, Climate Action KC, Mayor of Roeland Park, Kansas
  • 1/22/21: Tom Gerend, KC Streetcar Authority | Chris Cline, Confluence
  • 1/29/21: Leah Fitzgerald, VanTrust Real Estate | Amy Slattery, Odimo | Andrew Ganahl, Linden Street Partners | Kevin Klinkenberg, Midtown KC Now | Kevin McGinnis, Keystone Innovation District
  • 2/5/21: Tim Schaffer, AREA Real Estate Advisors
  • 2/12/21: Andrea Bough, KCMO City Council
  • 2/26/21: Segregated by Design watch party and discussion
  • 3/5/21: Hines Competition jurors Joe Perry, Port KC | Amy Slattery, Odimo
  • 3/12/21: Hines Competition jurors Randy Bredar, JE Dunn Construction | Jill McCarthy, KC Area Development Council
  • 3/19/21: Karen Hogan, Stephanie Gorman, and Allan Person | Turner Construction
  • 3/26/21: Ruben Alonso III, AltCap | Stacey Johnson-Cosby, Reece & Nichols Realtors, Jackson County Board of Equalization | Kevin McGinnis, Keystone Innovation District
  • 4/2/21: Kelley Hrabe, Prairie Fire Development Group | Sara Copeland, City of North Kansas City | Eric Kronberg, Kronberg Urbanists + Architects | Kevin McGinnis, Keystone Innovation District
  • 4/9/21: Jeffrey Williams and Morgan Pemberton, KCMO City Planning and Development