They recognized Kansas City’s promise and potential early — helping usher in a new era of global sports opportunity for the region. Now Cliff Illig and Kathy Nelson are the latest community shapers crowned Kansas Citians of the Year.
Honored Tuesday night during the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, the two were celebrated for their long-running work in sports, business, and civic partnerships that helped position Kansas City as a rising global destination ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
Nelson — who has helped steer Kansas City’s surge in sports tourism as president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation and Visit KC — said the honor reflects a collective effort.
“This is not about me,” she said. “This is about my team at the Sports Commission, my team at Visit KC, and all of you. My heart is Kansas City, and everything I do is from the heart.”
Illig, co-founder of Cerner and a driving force behind Sporting Kansas City’s transformation into a modern MLS model, emphasized that major regional successes continue to depend on collaboration.
“This is a very special honor,” he said. “I strongly believe in the power of teams to get big things done.”
The Kansas Citian of the Year Award, one of the Chamber’s most prestigious honors, is given annually to individuals whose civic and business leadership has brought about significant and lasting impact on the community. Past Kansas Citians of the Year include Peggy and Terry Dunn, Charlie Shields, Bill Berkley, John Sherman, David Warm, Alvin Brooks, Mayors Kay Barnes and Carol Marinovich, Don Hall, Jr., Ewing Kauffman, Lamar Hunt, Anita Gorman, Buck O’Neil, Lucile Bluford, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and Jim and Virginia Stowers, among others.
Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the KC Chamber; Terry Dunn, 2024 Kansas Citian of the Year; Kathy Sheldon and Cliff Ilig, 2025 Kansas Citians of the Year; and Peggy Dunn, 2024 Kansas Citian of the Year; pose together after the latest honors were announced at the 2025 KC Chamber annual dinner; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Cliff Illig, a native Kansas Citian, co-founded Cerner Corporation and helped build it into one of the world’s leading health care information technology companies, creating thousands of jobs and cementing Kansas City’s place on the map as a hub for health innovation and high-tech growth. He is also a principal owner of Sporting Kansas City and a driving force behind the ownership group that revitalized the club, invested in world-class soccer facilities, and helped position Kansas City as a premier soccer city in North America. His philanthropic and civic leadership span entrepreneurship, life sciences, and education, reflecting a long-held belief that bold ideas, backed by long-term investment, can transform an entire region.
Kathy Nelson serves as president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation and Visit KC, leading the teams responsible for bringing some of the nation’s highest-profile events to the region, including the 2023 NFL Draft and FIFA World Cup 26 matches. Under her leadership, Kansas City has become a powerhouse in sports tourism, attracting NCAA and Big 12 championships, national championships, and signature events that drive economic activity while showcasing the region’s hospitality, creativity, and passion for sport. A champion for women’s sports and inclusive community engagement, she has been widely recognized as one of the most influential leaders in Kansas City sports and a trusted ambassador for the city on the national stage.
KC’s momentum on display
This year’s annual KC Chamber dinner — themed “KC Made” — highlighted the people and ideas fueling the region’s push to become an international soccer hub. Chamber leaders pointed to decades of work by civic and business officials who pioneered Kansas City’s evolution from a Midwest soccer market into a host city for the world’s largest sporting event.
Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the KC Chamber, opened the program with a conversation featuring World Cup honorary co-chairs Clark Hunt and Illig. They reflected on the long arc of planning, investment, and strategy that helped Kansas City secure its place among the 2026 host cities.
Illig added that Kansas City’s current progress represents a significant model for the future.
“If there’s a single word, it’s potential,” he said. “We’re poised to make significant growth in this region, and ultimately, we have the potential to build a community that will be impressive for all.”
A look ahead to 2026
A second panel conversation turned to what’s next. Nelson moderated a discussion with Amy Hopfinger, chief strategy and planning officer for FIFA World Cup 2026, and Dan Flynn, senior executive advisor, who outlined the scale of global attention Kansas City is preparing to receive.
“You put the world’s largest sporting event in North America, and it is like a steroid,” Hopfinger said. “We are expecting six billion people from around the world to watch the World Cup, and Kansas City gets to be a part of that.”
Flynn noted that the city’s hospitality will matter as much as its infrastructure.
“Kansas City has a certain friendliness. It is absolutely critical,” he said. “And that airport as a platform welcoming the world is a wonderful opportunity to get that right.”
Flynn added that preparation for KC’s businesses will be essential.
“Think of it as soccer consumers coming into Kansas City,” he said. “‘What is the communication? What do you want to be on game day?’ Be ready with a strong, complex plan.”
Countdown to the final draw
Hopfinger pointed to the coming Dec. 5 Final Draw event as the moment global planning accelerates. The broadcast will assign the 48 qualifying teams to groups and matchups in specific host cities. Once teams know where they will play, fans can begin booking travel.
“It is really what kicks off the buildup to the World Cup,” she said.
Reardon closed the evening by encouraging civic and business leaders to maintain the cooperative spirit that helped Kansas City reach this milestone.
“A night like this reminds us that the progress we are making is built by relationships, powered by hard work, and aimed at a future we are proud to share,” he said.
