Community

The owner and staff of Thinking Bigger Business Media recognize that in order for businesses to be successful, they must have a successful community in which they can do business. Keeping in mind that the organization’s mission is to help small businesses grow, Thinking Bigger Business Media is committed to creating a successful community in which businesses have access to the information and resources they need to flourish. Here is a sampling of the programs, events and organizations that Thinking Bigger Business Media supports:

Memberships

• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; publisher is member of Small and Emerging Business committee
• Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce
• Independence Chamber of Commerce
• Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
• Olathe Chamber of Commerce
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Kansas City chapter member and former National Board Chair
• Entrepreneurs Exchange 2
• Catholic Business Network
• Founding Member of StartKC

Boards & Committees

• National Association of Women Business Owners, National Board of Directors; national chair, 2010-2011; chair-elect, 2009-2010; director, 2008-2009; National Advisory Council, 2008-2011
• National Association of Women Business Owners, Kansas City Board of Directors; national liaison, 2010-2011; immediate past president, 2005-2006 & 2008-2009; president, 2004-2005 & 2007-2008; programming chair, 2006-2007; president-elect, 2003-2004; corporate partners chair, 2002-2003
• National Association of Women Business Owners, Midwest Membership Services Council Chair, 2005-2007
• National Association of Women Business Owners, National Governance Committee, 2005-2006
• The X Coalition to Acceleration Women’s Enterprise (The X Coalition), 2011 to present
• Enterprising Women Advisory Board, 2010
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council, 2004-2010; Business Growth Network Executive Committee, 2010-2011
• Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW-KC) Planning Committee, 2010-present
• University of Missouri’s Bloch School of Business Advisory Board, 2002-2010
• Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 2005
• Entrepreneurs Exchange 2, board member & programming chair, 2007-2009
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Advocate Award Sub-Committee 2006
• Johnson County Extension program, Economic Development Committee, 2006-2009
• Judge for U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2003 Advocate Awards
• Arts & Recreation Foundation Board of Overland Park, KS, 2006-2008
• Judge for MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council’s annual awards, 2005-2008
• Small Business Summer Sizzle event at Kansas City T-Bones, planning committee, 2004-2008
• Athena PowerLink Advisory Board member, 2004-2005
• Kansas Women’s Business Center’s Annual Fundraising “Women of Influence” Dinner Steering Committee, 2004
• Rockhurst University Small Business Development Center’s Advisory Board, 1997-2001; chair 1999-2001 (disbanded after 2001)
• Home Business Connection, advisory board member, 1998-2003
• Women in Communication; Board Member, programming committee, 2002-2003
• Energizing Entrepreneurs advisory board member, 2000
• Small Business Day at the Royals, planning committee, 1998-2002

Sponsorships

• Exclusive Media Sponsor of Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours, Face2Face, 2005-2010
• Corporate Gold-level sponsor of Kansas City chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners, 1999 to present
• Corporate sponsor of Kansas City Council of Women Business Owners
• Co-sponsor of monthly GSA Networking Breakfast for Small and Minority-Owned Businesses, 1998-present
• Corporate sponsor of Midwest chapter of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1999 to present
• Co-sponsor of the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council’s Business Investment Expo, 1999-2000
• Exclusive Media Sponsor of Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation annual golf tournament, 1999-2005
• Exclusive Media Sponsor of Kansas City, Kansas Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business Expo 2002-2006
• Sponsor of Independence, Missouri Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Technology Expo 2002-2005
• Corporate sponsor of Kansas City T-Bones 2003-2005
• Sponsor of First Step Fund Annual Dinner, 2004-2005
• Sponsor of Overland Park Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business Expo 2000-2003
• Sponsor for Small Business Legislative Roundtable Program, produced by Rockhurst University Small Business Development Center, 1999-2002
• Corporate sponsor of Kansas City Blades Hockey Team, 1999-2001 seasons
• Media sponsor for Small Business Day at the KC Royals, 1998-2002
• Media partner with local SBA for National Small Business Week, 1998-2001
• Member of advisory board for Energizing Entrepreneurs Conference, sponsored by Kauffman Foundation and Greater KC Chamber, April 2000.
• Media sponsor for Small Business Day at the KC Wizards, 1999
• Sponsor of 7th Annual Small and Home-Based Business Conference, produced by University of Missouri Outreach and Extension, October 30, 1999, Kansas City, MO
• Media Partner for 1st annual Kansas Technology Showcase, held June 16-17, 1999 in Topeka, KS