Centurions Leadership Program

Centurions Leadership Program The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce's Centurions Leadership Program spends two years explorin

Since 1976, Centurions Leadership Program has earned its reputation as an unequaled training ground for future Kansas City leaders. Today, the two-year program has more than 80 active Centurions who join more than 2,000 alumni. We are a close-knit group of women and men from diverse backgrounds, expanding our personal and professional networks within the group and throughout the community we serve.

Connor Stangler believes Kansas City is at its best when it’s bragging about the things that are singularly KC. We don’t...
09/01/2026

Connor Stangler believes Kansas City is at its best when it’s bragging about the things that are singularly KC. We don’t need to be the Paris of the Plains. We’re Kansas City, and that’s enough. He gets involved in his community because he knows the whole point of life is to make things better for those around you. The secret to happiness is not to pursue happiness itself; you find it out in the world through making others happy. To paraphrase Vonnegut, there’s only one rule I know of: you’ve got to be kind. When he’s not working, Connor loves laughing with his wife, playing chess with his son, and going on walks with his daughter.

Christine Leyva believes great leadership starts with authenticity and clarity. As Chief Operating Officer at Infinitas,...
08/31/2026

Christine Leyva believes great leadership starts with authenticity and clarity. As Chief Operating Officer at Infinitas, she values creating environments where people feel empowered to contribute their ideas and strengths.

For Christine, the Kansas City community is special because it’s a place where relationships truly matter and people show up for one another. She’s passionate about creating opportunities for others and helping people realize they can achieve more than they imagined. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, spending time with family and friends, caring for her growing plant collection, and cheering on her sons as they navigate young adulthood. Christine celebrates the impact of connection and believes even small moments can make a meaningful difference.

This August, we’re proud to celebrate Black-owned Business Month by shining a spotlight on the incredible Black-owned bu...
08/28/2026

This August, we’re proud to celebrate Black-owned Business Month by shining a spotlight on the incredible Black-owned businesses and leaders making an impact in our community. 🩵

Today, we’re highlighting Shawnna Murrell, CLHMS, CEO of Murrell Homes Real Estate Group! Shawnna’s leadership and commitment to her clients and community are a wonderful example of the impact Black-owned businesses have across Kansas City.

Through Murrell Homes, Shawnna is not only helping families navigate the real estate journey, but also working to promote homeownership, financial literacy, and lasting generational impact within our community. Join us in celebrating Shawnna and the work she’s doing!

Looking for ways to support Black-owned businesses in Kansas City? Follow their work, share their stories, recommend their services, and find ways to support the entrepreneurs helping our community thrive.

Ahead of our upcoming Lunch & Learn, Connor Stangler, Centurions Pinnacle Class of 2027, shares his reflections and insi...
08/25/2026

Ahead of our upcoming Lunch & Learn, Connor Stangler, Centurions Pinnacle Class of 2027, shares his reflections and insights on the Centurions experience.

We look forward to connecting with new faces and discussing how Centurions can positively impact your personal journey, professional development, and community leadership at the next Lunch & Learn session on weds August 26th, from 11:30am-1:00pm, @ Busey Bank, 4622 Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 1500, KCMO, 64112.

A winning lineup: Royals baseball, a homemade shrimp boil, and a tailgate full of Centurions. ⚾🦐💙 Afternoons like these ...
08/24/2026

A winning lineup: Royals baseball, a homemade shrimp boil, and a tailgate full of Centurions. ⚾🦐💙 Afternoons like these remind us that leadership starts with community.

You know what’s kinda chic? The people you met along the way.Maybe it was your Task Force crew. Your Committee team. Som...
08/22/2026

You know what’s kinda chic? The people you met along the way.

Maybe it was your Task Force crew. Your Committee team. Someone you got to know better during Trip. Or maybe it was the Centurion you met at Retreat and developed a lifelong friendship.

After 50 years of Learn. Serve. Lead., there are a lot of Centurions stories worth telling.

Tag the Centurions you’d want at your table for our 50th anniversary celebration and tell us how you met. 👇

But don’t just tag them, make plans!

Golden Legacy: Centurions at 50
📅 October 8
📍 Union Station
https://bit.ly/4gdGxcx

Grab your tickets, rally your Centurions crew, and come celebrate 50 years of friendships, leadership, and memories.

Our August Centurions Task Force Day challenged us to look more closely at the complexities of criminal justice and inca...
08/18/2026

Our August Centurions Task Force Day challenged us to look more closely at the complexities of criminal justice and incarceration in our community.

Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to hear from people who experience the justice system from many different perspectives…prosecutors, judges, public defenders, law enforcement, advocates, community leaders, individuals impacted by incarceration, and families.

We began at the UMKC School of Law with a conversation about the justice system, followed by a visit to the Kansas City Police Department’s East Patrol Division, where we heard from Police Chief Stacey Graves and toured the KCPD Crime Lab.

Our afternoon at Husch Blackwell brought some of the day’s most personal and thought-provoking conversations, including Patty Prewitt and Jane Prewitt Watkins sharing their family’s experience with wrongful conviction and incarceration, as well as community perspectives from Miracle of Innocence, AdHoc Group Against Crime, Jackson County Family Court Services, and Ossco Bolton III.

There is no way to fully understand a subject this complex in a single day, but the experience gave us an opportunity to listen, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and better understand how our justice system impacts individuals, families, and the Kansas City community.

Thank you to every speaker, organization, host, and Task Force member who made this meaningful day possible.

As Chief Operating and Experience Officer at Delta Dental of Kansas and Surency, Kristen Hoffman believes effective lead...
08/10/2026

As Chief Operating and Experience Officer at Delta Dental of Kansas and Surency, Kristen Hoffman believes effective leadership begins with communication. She knows that how leaders communicate shapes trust, inspires others to follow, and ultimately determines whether great ideas become meaningful action.

Although she's a recent transplant to Kansas City, Kristen has quickly fallen in love with the community, crediting its welcoming spirit and the kindness of its people for making the region feel like home. She stays actively involved because giving her time and energy to the causes that matter isn't something she has to think twice about – it's simply part of who she is. Outside the office, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, planning memorable gatherings, hiking, reading, attending concerts and sporting events, and discovering great local restaurants.

One of the best parts of the Centurions experience? Once you're a Centurion, you'll see Centurions everywhere. 💙At netwo...
08/04/2026

One of the best parts of the Centurions experience? Once you're a Centurion, you'll see Centurions everywhere. 💙

At networking events, community gatherings, local businesses, volunteer projects, and even your favorite coffee shop, the connections you build through the program have a way of showing up wherever you go. And even if you've just met a fellow Centurion, you already have something in common. That shared experience creates an instant connection and opens the door to a network of people invested in the future of Kansas City.

The next time you're at Café Corazón, Equal Minded Café, or the next big community event, keep an eye out. It won’t take long to find your people. And if you do, don't be surprised if a new connection feels like an old friend.

Jen Poppe, Philanthropy Director at NKC Health, leads with trust and compassion, believing those qualities create the st...
08/03/2026

Jen Poppe, Philanthropy Director at NKC Health, leads with trust and compassion, believing those qualities create the strongest foundation for meaningful leadership and lasting impact. Her passion for serving others extends beyond her role, driven by a deep sense of responsibility to help shape a stronger future for Kansas City through community involvement.

For Jen, one of Kansas City's greatest strengths is its unwavering civic pride. She loves being part of a community that enthusiastically shares what makes the region such a special place to live, work, and give back. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending quality time with her family or getting lost in a good book – especially if there's a pool nearby.

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Greater Kansas City Chamber Of Commerce, 30 West Pershing Road, Suite 301
Kansas City, MO
64108

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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
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