Shawnee Chamber of Commerce

10/23/2026

Nominations are now open through December 7th for the Shawnee Chamber Heart of the Community Award presented by Heartland Seating Inc.

Nominate a person, group, or project that you feel embodies the heart of Shawnee. The winner will be honored at our Annual Dinner, Velvet & Vice - a Shawnee Speakeasy, on Saturday, January 23rd, 2027.

Nominate now: https://www.shawneekschamber.com/heart-of-the-community-award/

10/22/2026

Our Board of Directors were treated to a McLain's Market lunch thanks to Gorilla Exteriors Contracting, LLC and McLain’s Market.

There’s a lot happening in Shawnee and we are grateful to have the support of our local businesses!

10/21/2026

Happy Support Your Local Chamber Day! Our team is proud to serve the Shawnee and surrounding community to make it a great place to live, work, and play.

We have many ways for you to stay involved. Our TRC program is going on for another week. Check your emails for a message from your TRC representative and sponsor one of our many events in 2027 at a discounted rate by turning in your sponsorship contract by October 30th. Visit www.shawneekschamber.com/be-a-sponsor for more information.

We also accept committee applications year-round. Join one of our many committees to get more involved in the Chamber and have a say in our programming. Visit https://shawneechamberofcommerce.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Form/FillV2/P2XVYS2r to apply.

Don't just take it from us. See in the carousel what a few of our friends at McLain's Market, Patrick Moltane - Financial Advisor at Edward Jones, and Friction B**r Company have had to say about their partnership with the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce.

10/20/2026

The Shawnee Economic Development Council and City of Shawnee, KS Government visited Schier for manufacturing appreciation with some Andy's Frozen Custard!

Schier is a 100% employee owned speciality manufacturer located in Shawnee who produces grease interceptors. You’ll find Schier’s grease interceptors at restaurants all across the country. Learn more at schierproducts.com.

10/20/2026

❓ The Shawnee Chamber Trivia Trophy is leaving its home for 2025-26 at the McCownGordon Construction office in downtown Kansas City in search for a new home in 2026-27!

There are still team spots available for this year at The United States of Shawnee - All American Game Night on Friday, November 13th from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM at the Shawnee Civic Centre. 6 rounds of trivia, 3 rounds of red, white, and music bingo, and side games and prizes throughout the night.

$400 for a team of 8 players. Sign up now: https://business.shawneekschamber.com/events/Details/united-states-of-shawnee-all-american-game-night-1908372

10/19/2026

It's election season in Kansas. The Johnson County Public Policy Council, a collaboration of 10 Johnson County area Chambers of Commerce, has posted candidate forums to help you learn more about the candidates running in Shawnee and Johnson County.

Johnson County Chair Forum (Karen Crnkovich and Mike Kelly): https://youtu.be/cWjPo5U6BW4?si=2H5NxLmSLoT1pRkG

Kansas House District 17 (Jim Eschrich and Jo Ella Hoye - parts of Lenexa, Shawnee, and Lake Quivira): https://youtu.be/S9AfP12q2ZM?si=3-ND-DeLUS9dA-NE

Kansas House District 18 (Cindy Neighbor and Robert Whitman - parts of Shawnee and Merriam): https://youtu.be/N4mpFmHS6zY?si=9hsn6JFhRU3DXZXM

Kansas House District 30 (Amelia Wiederaenders and Laura Williams - parts of Lenexa, Olathe, and Shawnee): https://youtu.be/0kZ49BQtEdY?si=cn5jbWcBcrH7L1lb

Kansas House District 39 (Zach Maier and Angela Stiens - portions of Bonner Springs and Shawnee): https://youtu.be/dq_KXQ7UEX4?si=O5Qn2wLBmySCTCY7

Visit VoteJoCo.com for more election resources. VoteJoco is sponsored by area chambers of commerce that serve Johnson County, providing information about public policy issues impacting area businesses.

These videos are for informational purposes only and are not an endorsement of any candidate.

10/19/2026

Envirotech Heating & Cooling made the news with their annual First Responder Breakfast! Owner James Gallet and several Envirotech employees have close family and friend ties to police and fire departments and invited entire departments to a free breakfast served by Chris Cakes. 🥞

Shawnee business honors first responders with pancakes and gratitude

MORE >>> https://www.kctv5.com/2026/10/16/shawnee-business-honors-first-responders-with-pancakes-gratitude/

10/15/2026

The BEST CHEF in Greater Kansas City is right here in Shawnee! Congratulations to Chef Bryan Sparks and Wandering Vine on winning the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association 2026 Chef of the Year!

If you haven't made your reservation yet for the historic castle experience in Shawnee, do so now: https://www.wanderingvine.com/

🏆 CHEF OF THE YEAR!🏆

We’re incredibly proud to share that our very own 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 has been named the 2026 Chef of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association as part of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁/𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀!

The annual Gilbert/Robinson Awards celebrate the incredible people who make Kansas City’s restaurant and hospitality community so special, while also recognizing and supporting the next generation of culinary talent through scholarships awarded to deserving culinary students.

For those of us at Wandering Vine, we get to see Bryan’s talent, creativity and dedication every day — in every menu, every plate and every experience he creates for our guests. To see him recognized by his peers in Kansas City’s restaurant community is an incredible honor and one we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate.

Please join us in raising a glass to Chef Bryan Sparks, 2026 Chef of the Year! 🥂👏

Congratulations, Chef. So very well deserved. ❤️

10/15/2026

October holds a special place in the history of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce. This month established two pillars of our Chamber: the Shawnee Economic Development Council and Visit Shawnee Kansas.

In October 1994, the Shawnee Economic Development Council was established to provide economic development services to Shawnee. Mayor Jim Allen, City Council leaders, and the Chamber joined forces to create a unique public-private partnership.

The SEDC drives growth by attracting, retaining, and expanding businesses while developing a strong workforce. Since the fall of 1994, the SEDC has grown from a handful of members to a membership of more than 80 businesses.

Each year, the Shawnee Economic Development Council holds the annual Shawnee Business Awards. This year's Business Awards take place on Thursday, November 19th:

https://business.shawneekschamber.com/chamber-events/Details/shawnee-business-awards-luncheon-1930109

The Shawnee Economic Development Council is led today by SEDC Chair Matt Ledbetter, Executive Director Ann Smith-Tate, Director of Business Development & Retention, Eric Ely, and Programs Manager, Amy Niemann.

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In October 1999, the Shawnee Convention and Visitor's Bureau (later called Visit Shawnee) was formed to provide convention and tourism services.

For over two decades, Visit Shawnee has put our city on the map by drawing sports tournaments (like the Top Gun Invitational and George Brett 4x4 Volleyball Showdown), conventions, and regional visitors to our local hotels, restaurants, and historic Downtown Shawnee.

For 14 years, the tourism wing of the Chamber was championed by the beloved former Executive Director of Visit Shawnee, Kevin Fern, up until his passing in 2022. Kevin brought unmatched passion to promoting his hometown; you could often find him blowing up balloons at local festivals, cheering on sports teams, or greeting visitors with a warm smile.

Visit Shawnee is led today by Visit Shawnee Chair Jim Neighbor, and Executive Director Beth Ansell. You can find Visit Shawnee in action this week! Stop by their booth at the Moonlight Market: Halloween Hoopla in Downtown Shawnee TONIGHT, Thursday, October 15th, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM to grab local guides, say hello, and celebrate the fall season with our tourism team!

10/14/2026

A.M. Connect was hosted by Edward Jones-Financial Advisor: John Jacoby this morning with a full house at McLain's Market!

Thank you to everyone who joined us! We’ll be back with our next A.M. Connect at Kansas Estate & Elder Law on Wednesday, November 11th at 8:00 AM.