Start your Friday by building new connections at First Friday Coffee with the North Kansas City Business Council!

We’re excited to take a look inside Oakes Kia, one of NKCBC’s newest Executive-level members. Meet members of the Oakes team, explore their North Kansas City location, and connect with local business owners, professionals, and community leaders.

Oakes Auto Group is built on three simple commitments: transparency, relationships, and value.

What began as a small independent dealership has grown into one of Kansas City’s fastest-growing companies, with locations in North Kansas City, Olathe, and Downtown Kansas City. At each location, customers can expect straightforward pricing, no games, and a genuine investment in the people and businesses that make up our community.

Join us for coffee, conversation, and an opportunity to welcome Oakes Kia more fully into the NKC business community.

Friday, October 2
7:45–9:00 AM

First Friday Coffee is free to attend, and guests are welcome. Bring your business cards and come ready to make valuable new connections!

Coffee Connect at Tnemec Company

Join the North Kansas City Business Council for Coffee Connect at Tnemec Company, a longtime North Kansas City manufacturer continuing to invest in its people, facilities, and future.

Tnemec moved its manufacturing operations to North Kansas City in 1950 and has grown through multiple expansions at its world headquarters along 23rd Avenue. Over the next three years, the company plans to invest more than $30 million in plant upgrades, including a new raw-material warehouse designed to increase efficiency and capacity.

Come see Tnemec’s newly remodeled factory offices at its original facility, connect with fellow business and community leaders, and learn more about the continued investment shaping North Kansas City.

Location: Tnemec Company, 123 W. 23rd Ave., North Kansas City
Coffee & Donuts

 

Latte Life Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Join us on Monday, October 12, from 10–11:30 AM as we celebrate the grand opening of Latte Life with an official North Kansas City Business Council ribbon cutting.

Latte Life, powered by Life Unlimited, is more than a neighborhood coffee shop. This welcoming new Armour Road gathering place serves specialty coffee and light fare while creating meaningful, inclusive employment and hands-on workforce training opportunities for adults with disabilities.

During the celebration, enjoy complimentary drip coffee and cookies, meet the people who helped bring Latte Life to life, and help commemorate the opening with a few ceremonial espresso pulls. You may even get to meet Latte Life’s four-legged ambassador!

The café will be open during its regular hours, 7 AM–2 PM, with its full menu available. Stop by for the ribbon cutting (10 AM -11:30 AM), stay for the coffee, and help welcome this exciting new business and community resource to North Kansas City.

From AI Potential to Measurable Value: Effective Strategies for Integrating AI into Business Workflows

AI is evolving quickly—but deciding where it can genuinely help your business is not always simple. Which tools are worth the investment? Where can AI save time or increase capacity? And how can you move beyond experimentation without adding unnecessary risk or another disconnected tool?

Join the North Kansas City Business Council for Ideas on Tap, an after-hours event combining practical learning with meaningful business connections. This session features Jason Crowley, President and General Manager of INDIGEX, who will share a realistic look at where AI can create measurable value—and where it may fall short.

About the Presentation

From AI Potential to Measurable Value: Effective Strategies for Integrating AI into Business Workflows

AI has captured the attention of business leaders, but separating genuine opportunity from hype can be a challenge. This Ideas on Tap session explores how organizations are successfully integrating AI into business processes to improve efficiency, enhance decision making, and increase capacity. Through real-world examples and practical lessons learned, we'll discuss where AI drives measurable results, where it falls short, and how leaders can approach adoption strategically. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to move from curiosity and experimentation to tangible business outcomes.

About Jason Crowley and INDIGEX

Jason Crowley is President and General Manager of INDIGEX, a Kansas City-based technology management company helping small and midsized businesses use technology to increase productivity, control costs, and support growth. Learn more about INDIGEX.

This event is free to attend, and each registered participant will receive free appetizers and one complimentary drink ticket. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase from the host venue.
 

Thank you to our food sponsor: PROPRINT Digital

Check out their amazing work at 
https://www.proprintdigital.com/

Coffee Connect: The Bloom Collective

Join the North Kansas City Business Council for a free Coffee Connect on Wednesday, October 14th, featuring The Bloom Collective.

The Bloom Collective brings together North Kansas City wellness providers who support the community through mental health counseling and therapeutic massage. Learn more about their collaborative approach to helping clients restore their bodies, care for their minds, and feel supported along the way.

Enjoy coffee, make new connections, and meet local professionals and community members in a welcoming, casual setting. Whether you’re looking to build business relationships, expand your referral network, or learn more about The Bloom Collective, we invite you to join us.

Coffee Connect is free, and guests are always welcome. Come connect, collaborate, and grow with us—we’re stronger together!

Coffee and bagels will be provided by our Coffee Sponsor,
Express Employment Professionals.

Coffee Connect with Esteban Azevedo
Modern Physical Therapy
Wednesday, October 21 | 7:45–9:00 AM
Life Unlimited

Join us for Coffee Connect featuring Esteban Azevedo, PT, ScD—an entrepreneur, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and owner of Modern Physical Therapy, which serves the Northland through three locations.

Esteban’s entrepreneurial journey spans multiple businesses, including continuing education and photography, and most recently, becoming an author. He will share insights from his newest book, Communicate With Impact: How to Think Clearly, Speak Skillfully, Listen Fully, and Respond With Confidence.

This engaging conversation will explore why strong communication is a skill worth practicing and how it can help business owners, leaders, and professionals build stronger relationships, lead with confidence, and create better outcomes in their work and community.

Come connect with fellow North Kansas City professionals, enjoy coffee and treats, and hear an honest perspective on entrepreneurship, communication, and using new tools like ChatGPT along the way.

Join us for a morning of coffee, connection, and innovation as Coffee Connect heads to Vertical Aspect on Wednesday, October 28!

Vertical Aspect helps surveying, engineering, construction, and geospatial professionals put advanced technology to work in the field—from drones and LiDAR to mapping software and automated data collection.

During this Coffee Connect, we’ll tour Vertical Aspect’s North Kansas City offices and get a behind-the-scenes look at how drone technology is changing the way construction sites and other projects are mapped and monitored.

One of the highlights of the morning will be a live virtual drone flight demonstration featuring one of Vertical Aspect’s deployed “drone-in-a-box” systems. We’ll see how an automated drone can be remotely deployed to capture construction-site data and learn how that information can help teams track progress, improve efficiency, and make more informed decisions.

You don’t have to work in construction or technology to enjoy this one. It’s an opportunity to see innovation happening right here in North Kansas City while meeting local business owners, professionals, and community leaders.

Wednesday, October 28
7:45–9:00 AM
Vertical Aspect | iWerx1520 Clay Street, North Kansas City
https://verticalaspect.com/

Come for the coffee, make a new connection, and get an up-close look at technology helping shape the future of how we work.

Coffee Connect is free to attend, and guests are always welcome.

• Traditional Themed Christmas Tree
  Put your own creative spin on a classic holiday tree. Think festive colors, ornaments, ribbons, lights, and a cohesive seasonal theme—such as a winter wonderland, vintage Christmas, candy canes, woodland holiday, or elegant gold and silver. This category celebrates the timeless look and joy of the season.

• Business Themed Tree
  Showcase your business, services, team, or company story in a creative and memorable way. Use colors, products, tools of your trade, or a playful interpretation of what your organization does to create a tree that helps the community get to know your business.

• North Pole Meets North Kansas City
  Bring a playful, family-friendly North Pole scene to life with a North Kansas City twist. Think holiday workshops, reindeer routes, toy shops, gingerbread storefronts, elves at local landmarks, or your own imaginative version of a festive NKC destination.

From the World Stage to What’s Next: Kansas City’s World Cup Legacy

Join the North Kansas City Business Council for our November Monthly Luncheon as we look back at one of the most significant events in Kansas City’s history—and, more importantly, look ahead at what comes next.

Kansas City’s role as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup placed the region on an unprecedented global stage. Join Derek Byrne, Director of Content Strategy at Visit KC, for an overview of the economic impact, partnerships, infrastructure investments, tourism activity, and lessons learned from hosting one of the world’s largest sporting events.

Then, we’ll look beyond the final match to explore how Kansas City and the region can capitalize on the momentum, visibility, and investment generated by the World Cup to attract future visitors and strengthen the region’s position as a world-class destination.

For North Kansas City businesses and community leaders, this conversation offers an opportunity to better understand how major events can create lasting economic impact—and how continued collaboration, investment, and regional visibility can translate into new opportunities for businesses and communities throughout the Kansas City area.

Our Monthly Luncheons bring together NKCBC members, business professionals, civic leaders, and community partners for meaningful conversations about the issues and opportunities shaping North Kansas City and the greater region. Come for the insights, make new connections, and be part of the conversation about what’s next for Kansas City.

About Derek Byrne

Derek Byrne is the director of content strategy at Visit KC, the Kansas City area’s largest organization dedicated to tourism. In this role, he drives the messaging that celebrates all the Heart of America has to offer.

He is responsible for marketing and communications efforts in support of many significant sporting events hosted in Kansas City, including the development of tourism resources for travelers during FIFA World Cup 2026™. His position also involves service on local organizing committees for the Big 12 Basketball Tournaments, NCAA events and other major competitions.

Byrne’s previous experience includes communications roles at Texas A&M University and Development Counsellors International, where he supported marketing campaigns for domestic and international travel destinations.

He serves on the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Travel & Tourism executive committee and the Clay County Tourism Advisory Board. He is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

$35 for Members | $45 for Non-Members

Catering From:

NKCBC Annual Holiday Magic Dinner & Auction

Presented by NKC Health

The Magic of Giving

Where community spirit creates holiday magic!

The magic of the holiday season comes alive when our community comes together!

Join the North Kansas City Business Council for our annual Holiday Magic Dinner & Auction, an evening filled with festive fun, local flavors, entertainment, and the spirit of giving. This special celebration brings together business leaders, community members, and friends to celebrate everything that makes North Kansas City a wonderful place to live, work, and do business.

A Little Taste, A Little Fun, A Lot of Holiday Magic!

✨ A Taste of Holiday Magic – Enjoy delicious bites and specialty offerings as local North Kansas City restaurants showcase their culinary creations. It's a wonderful opportunity to discover new favorites while supporting our local dining community!

🎁 Bid on a Little Magic – Find something special in our exciting live and silent auctions, featuring unique experiences, gifts, and packages generously donated by local businesses and supporters. Our online silent auction opens Thanksgiving Day, giving you a head start on bidding for those magical holiday gifts!

🎻 The Sounds of Holiday Magic – Enjoy festive holiday music performed by the talented North Kansas City High School Orchestra, bringing the sounds of the season to our celebration.

🔐 Unlock the Magic – Put your problem-solving and teamwork skills to the test with Unlock KC's interactive mobile escape experiences! Gather your tablemates, challenge your minds, and enjoy a little friendly competition.

📸 Capture the Magic – Make memories with friends and colleagues at our festive photo booth experience provided by 360picKC. Strike a pose, share some laughs, and take home a little holiday cheer!

✨ And More Magic to Come! – Stay tuned as we reveal additional surprises and experiences leading up to the celebration!

The Real Magic Is in the Giving

Holiday Magic is more than a festive evening. It's the North Kansas City Business Council's premier annual fundraiser, helping support the programs, partnerships, and initiatives that strengthen our business community throughout the year.

Funds raised help NKCBC continue its mission of informing, supporting, connecting, and advocating for North Kansas City's businesses. From networking and educational opportunities to workforce development, scholarships, community partnerships, and business advocacy, your participation helps create a stronger, more connected North Kansas City.

Because the greatest holiday magic isn't what we receive. It's what we create together.

Join Us for Holiday Magic!

Thursday, December 3, 2026

5:30–7:30 PM

Harrah's North Kansas City

Bring your coworkers, friends, and holiday spirit for an evening of celebration, connection, and giving back.

Celebrate local. Give generously. Make magic happen!

Presenting Sponsor