The 2024 Heart of Kansas City Awards
were presented on Thursday, November 7, 2024
at the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field

Mike Becket is a long-time employee at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, having been there since 1989. Through the years, he has worked his way up from an assistant administrator to superintendent. He always goes above and beyond to assist the public during their visit. You can find him in period costume during special events, tending to historic breed animals on the farm, manning the front desk, assisting campers in the campground, mowing, doing maintenance work, and serving as a tour guide – he does it all! The hours he puts in are long, the weather is often extreme, and many times, his job is 24/7. No matter, he is committed to providing exceptional customer service!

Presented to honor an individual or organization who coordinated a unique event/program/campaign or adapted a current event/program/campaign to go above & beyond in furthering the goals, objectives and spirit of the tourism and hospitality industry.

Organized with an advisory group of Kansas City Black women, the "Portraits of Childhood: Black Dolls from the Collection of Deborah Neff" exhibition at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures features 135 handmade black dolls dated circa 1850–1940 from Neff’s extensive personal collection, along with almost 60 period photographs. Because little is known about handmade black dolls, the exhibition was conceived as a learning lab, an open space for conversation that invites ideas and perspectives to be considered through varied lenses. This approach encourages people from all disciplines to consider what the black dolls mean, observe changes to Black dolls over time, and consider how this has impacted meaning, audience, and use.

Community members have written interpretive text responding to the collection that sparked an idea, a memory, or a perspective on black identity; a timeline provides historical context and a reflection area invites the community to respond to the exhibition. As a result of this exceptional exhibit, the museum has seen significant increase in diverse audience engagement, including a notable increase in attendance from Eastern Jackson County.

Kathy Nelson, a nationally recognized leader in the sports and tourism industries, is the CEO and President of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Win for KC, where she has led her team for over a decade. Kathy is also the CEO and President of Visit KC. She has dedicated herself to promoting Kansas City on national and international stages, working tirelessly to attract, retain, and facilitate sports events, conventions, and organizations in the bi-state area.

Kathy embodies the Kansas City Sports Commission’s motto: Making Kansas City a better place through sports. Kathy and her team have brought all of these to our city: 2023 NFL draft; NCAA Division I Women's College Cup; United States Gymnastics National Championships; NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships...and in 2026, Kansas City will host the biggest international sporting event - the FIFA World Cup! Kathy’s commitment to sports and Kansas City is evident; she is a remarkable leader in our community and deserves this recognition for her dedication to improving Kansas City through sports, tourism and business.

The 2024 GKCAA Attraction of the Year - the Kansas City Current - aims to become the world’s leading women’s football club while setting higher standards for players, fans and the community. This year the Current continued building their reputation as a formidable team, making it to the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs. Since the opening of their CPKC Stadium - the first stadium in the world specifically built for a professional women’s sports team - the team has consistently drawn sold-out crowds. The stadium has become a central hub for the Current's enthusiastic supporters, and won the honor of hosting both the 2024 NWSL Championship Match and the NCAA Soccer Championships. One thing we know for sure...

IT'S TEAL TIME IN KANSAS CITY!!
Congratulations KC Current!!