Events

Amber Cox has served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Kansas City National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) since 2021, leading the club’s day-to-day business operations, including steering the team through their first season and the transition to the new KC Current brand.

Following graduation from William Woods University, Cox held positions in Columbia, Mo. with Visionworks Marketing and Columbia College. Cox then joined the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) Phoenix Mercury in 2004 as the director of marketing and promotions. During her tenure with the Mercury, Cox was a part of two WNBA Championship runs (2007, 2009) and became the team’s president and chief operating officer in 2011, a title she held for two more years. Cox then served as the women’s college basketball commissioner for the Big East Conference for two years before moving back into professional sports. She was named the chief marketing officer for the Houston Dynamo of the MLS and Houston Dash of the NWSL in 2015. Most recently, Cox was selected as the vice president of the New England Black Wolves and Connecticut Sun. While part of the Black Wolves, Cox won the 2017 National Lacrosse League Executive of the Year Award and helped guide the Sun to the 2019 WNBA Finals.

Cox grew up in Monett, Missouri and champions women’s sports throughout the country.

Kimberly Beatty, Ed.D., began her tenure as Metropolitan Community College’s eighth chancellor on July 1, 2017.  A champion of access and equity, she is devoted to the community college mission of providing access to higher education for all. “I am passionate about the community I serve and excited about the ability to provide higher education access to the underprivileged and underrepresented,” Dr. Beatty says.

Dr. Beatty’s commitment to workforce and transfer (academic) education has included establishing new partnerships in the region. Under her leadership, MCC in Fall 2019 launched a satellite site at Hillyard Technical Center in St. Joseph. In addition to workforce training programs such as certified nursing assistant and welding technology, this Buchanan County

At Metropolitan Community College, Dr. Beatty restructured the College’s five-year strategic plan; authored a new vision statement for the College and a new shared governance model; and is fostering a culture of innovation, including the creation of the MCC Innovation Council.

Dr. Beatty came to MCC from Houston Community College, the nation’s fourth-largest community college system, where she served as vice chancellor for instructional services and chief academic officer. She brought 28 years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education to MCC.  Her experience includes 21 years of progressive leadership experience at community colleges in California, Virginia and Texas.

As the first African-American leader in the 105-year history of Metropolitan Community College, and the only African-American CEO in the Missouri community college system, “I live and walk in the truth of who I am each day,” Dr. Beatty says.

Dr. Beatty is married to Kelvin Beatty. They are proud parents of three sons, Kelvin Jr., Michael and Ian. They also have five grandsons.

The Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club

Changing of the Guard Installation

The Culinary Center of Kansas City

7920 Santa Fe Dr, Overland Park, KS 66204

Chef’s choice of 4 heavy appetizers and full cash bar.

4-6 workstations set up with 4-6 participants at each station. Aprons will be provided, and casual attire is suggested.

Each station works as a Team to provide 6-8 pies.

Thursday, June 23, 2022

5:30 – Guest arrival to appetizers and beverages

5:40 – Welcome by Lisa Deatherage

5:45 – Intro by The Culinary Center of Kansas City

6:00 – Cooking activity & Pie Packaging

7:30 – Recognition of Past Board and Installation of Officers

8:00 – Event end time   

Cost per person $30 and spouses and guests are welcome.

Payment options include:

Checks to : The KC Plaza Rotary Club – note COG in the memo line

Mail to: PO Box 30359, Kansas City, MO,  64112-3359

Or bring to a Friday meeting

Venmo@KCPlazaRotary2021

Contact Denise Holt with questions:   dholt@linccc.com.  913-526-3381

Topic Title: An Exploration of the Johnson County Museum's Special Exhibit, REDLINED: Cities, Suburbs, and Segregation     The Johnson County Museum's newest special exhibit takes visitors on a deep dive of the history of redlining and how it both shaped and was shaped by Johnson County and the region.

Mary McMurray is the Director of the Johnson County Museum. She holds degrees in history from MU (Bachelors), UMKC (Masters), and KU (Doctorate). She is passionate about civic engagement and using lessons from the past to inspire, empower, and embolden people to make a brighter future. Prior to her role at the Johnson County Museum, Mary worked in various roles for two presidential library foundations and as Superintendent of Historic Sites and Outdoor Education for Jackson County. She lives in Prairie Village with her 4 year old daughter, Mabel, and husband, Sean.  

Karen French is a long-time Wyandotte County resident with broad experience in community engagement, education, and project management.  She recently completed her book, "Quindaro Township 1855-1943 – All Together Now"  and will be sharing excerpts and fascinating information about the Quindaro area and the extensive research which led to her book.  The culturally diverse books is a creative non-fiction book that tells the story of how people from all races and cultures came together.

Karen B. French is an administrative professional with 25 years experience in grant and technical writing, master planning, youth arts camp and landmarks commissioner.  She has taught as an adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix and  the University of Central Missouri and conducted seminars in Cultural Diversity and Community Engagement.  

At the University of Central Missouri, she was a Department administrator for student recruitment, retention and graduation, specifically for minority, international and nontraditional students where the institution maintained an 80% student matriculation rate.  She has conducted seminars, workshops, and College Residential Visits, Summer Camps for Kauffman Scholars and KCMO School Districts. 

While working for the Kansas City Missouri School District, she was the Director of Procurement.  She was responsible for a KCPS billion-dollar federal court mandated Desegregation Program for renovation and new construction, site selection and acquisition, architectural and engineer selection, contractor bidding process, construction phase, compliance, and project close-out. She also served as the District Diversity Officer, and monitored compliance of affirmative workforce, prevailing wages,  and penalty assessment.