Leo Morton, chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has been named Kansas Citian of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Morton received the award during the chamber’s annual dinner on Tuesday night in the Kansas City Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom.

“Leo is the epitome of civic and community leadership, and everything he does is done with grace and style,” said Jim Heeter, the chamber’s president and CEO. “He has been personally involved in each of our Big 5 initiatives, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his leadership in what I know will be a successful effort to create a new downtown arts campus next to our fabulous Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.”

Morton has led UMKC as chancellor since late 2008. He previously served as chairman of UMKC’s trustee board. A graduate of MIT, Morton worked for companies such as AT&T Microelectronics, Bell Laboratories, General Motors and Aquila, where he was senior vice president and chief administrative officer.

Daymond John, the founder of FUBU clothing and a panelist on ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank,” gave the keynote address at the dinner. The chamber also saluted Roshann Parris, the outgoing chair, and welcomed Terry Dunn, the next chair.

“In 2015 and beyond, we will witness the collaboration of education, elected officials, foundations, businesses and others to develop a common entrepreneurial vision and a greater understanding, to act with clarity and focus, to continue the journey for Kansas City to achieve the Big 5 goal of becoming the most entrepreneurial city in the United States,” said Dunn. “This is our journey, and we will travel this road together.”