Where It All Began
In 1978, civic leaders Beth Smith and Marjorie Powell Allen sat down for lunch together. Allen, at the time President of the Powell Family Foundation, wanted Smith’s help in creating a space for women to interact with each other and support each other in improving their careers. The two studied the idea for two years before they opened The Central Exchange in a Crown Center office.
At the time, women were prohibited from joining both the Kansas City Club and the University Club — places where business was conducted by men. They envisioned a place where women could exchange ideas and opportunities.
The pair set out to gather an intentionally diverse group, in ethnicity and in age. When The Central Exchange opened its doors for the first time, it opened with 12 initial members: Beth Smith, Majorie Powell Allen, Terry Satterlee, Kay Barnes, Anita Butler, Joan Dillon, Adele Hall, Mamie Currie Hughes, Dorothy Johnson, Linda Moore, Linda Hood Talbott, and Judith Whitaker.
“Women needed services to help them get on track; then they needed opportunities. Other women, with funds to contribute, could offer this specialized support.”
~Marjorie Powell Allen
Central Exchange History
1979
Marjorie Powell Allen and Beth Smith form a task force to determine how to make a difference for women in Kansas City
Crown Center
The Central Exchange opens in Crown Center, drawing 160 members in its first year — including Kay Barnes, Anita Butler, Joan Dillon, Adele Hall, Mamie Hughes, Dorothy Johnson, Linda Moore, Terry Satterlee, Linda Hood Talbott, and Judith Whittaker. Toni Watson was named Executive Director.
Radisson Muelbach
The Central Exchange moves to the Radisson Muelbach in May. The first Woman of the Year Award goes to Ruth Margolin, “a woman who epitomizes networking.”
Linda Doolin Ward
Linda Doolin Ward is named Executive Director
Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams cuts her first album at a Central Exchange fundraiser
1020 Central
The Central Exchange moves to 1020 Central, to the historic downtown fire station, in January. 250 members join over the course of this year and Casey Eike is named Executive Director
Savvy Magazine
Savvy Magazine reports, “There is no other place like it in the country; a club just for women, for meeting, eating, business entertaining; for sharing power…” (October issue)
Bobbi Herring
Bobbi Herring hired as Executive Director
Executive Director
Central Exchange Executive Director, Bobbi Herring, testifies before the Glass Ceiling Commission on the role of a professional organization to advance women in the workplace
Woman of the Year
The first public Woman of the Year event is held
Gabrielle Kaniger
Gabrielle Kaniger is named President and CEO
Women’s Foundation
The Central Exchange creates a leadership fund at the Women’s Foundation and a scholarship endowment at UMKC
Renovation
Renovation takes place at the downtown facility
Education Center
The Central Exchange turns 20, and opens The Central Exchange Education Center, a second CX facility in Overland Park. The Growing Season Campaign Council is formed to raise $500,000 for the facilities and services of both the Central Exchange and the CX Education Center. A $250,000 endowment established to honor Adele Hall — the Adele Hall Endowment for Advancement and Development (AHEAD) allows women in the community access to CX membership who could not otherwise afford it
CEO Series
Our most popular series, the CEO Series, kicks off with Landon H. Rowland, CEO of Stilwell Financial Inc. More than 200 new members join
Ellen D’Amato
The first CX website goes live. Ellen D’Amato is named President CEO
Women’s Lyceum
The Central Exchange launches the Women’s Lyceum, an annual leadership conference for women, founded by member Beth Zollars and chaired by Joan Strewler Carter. More than 900 attend the luncheon keynote, and nearly 500 attend the day-long conference.
A new dues structure enables members to attend unlimited programming at no additional charge. Program attendance increase 60 percent in the first year of this initiative. The first issue of the quarterly newsletter is published
Revitalization
The Revitalization of Kansas City series debuts, with underwriting from the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Silver Anniversary
The Central Exchange celebrates its Silver Anniversary with a stellar year. A record 775 attend the Women’s Lyceum. At the conference, a partnership with the Kansas City Star is announced to annually publish a scorecard of the number of women in executive positions and on boards of directors of the Star 50 regional public companies. A new series kicks off, “Opening Doors and Rising to the Top: Leadership Development for Women of Color.”
Emerging Leaders
In partnership with Right Management, The Central Exchange pilots an intensive, yearlong leadership development program called “Emerging Leaders”
Women’s Lyceum
The Central Exchange Women’s Lyceum celebrates its fifth anniversary with a sellout crowd of more than 1,000 women. Membership reaches an all-time in June
The Enlightened Leader
The Executive MBA program at the Bloch School-UMKC presents a four-part, eight-hour series called, The Enlightened Leader: Strategies for the 21st Century Professional, for which attendees receive a certificate of professional achievement. CX begins podcasting some programs, launches an e-mentoring program, and initiates a board intern program.
Social Media
CX groups form on LinkedIn and Facebook; a social media special interest group starts. Groundwork begins for a community-wide initiative to increase gender diversity at the top of area businesses and firms. The Executive MBA program at the Bloch School-UMKC presents another professional development series as does the Hauptmann School for Public Affairs at Park University, both offering certificates of professional achievement
30th Anniversary
The Central Exchange celebrates its 30th Anniversary. During this milestone year, a new state-of-the-art website was activated and the organization officially launched a community-wide initiative called “win | win, a business case for Kansas City.” The goal of the initiative is to increase gender diversity at the top results in greater profitability and more innovation.
New Logo
Central Exchange rebrands with a new logo, a modified name (dropping “the”), and a new tagline: Connect. Achieve. Transform.
WiSTEMM
Central Exchange launches WiSTEMM, an initiative designed to put a well-deserved spotlight on women in Kansas City working in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine. By focusing on successful STEMM leaders, WinSTEMM hopes to draw attention to the resource shortfall in these careers and provide inspiration for others to pursue careers in these areas.
CEO Ellen D’Amato retires and board member Joan Cohen steps in as interim President and CEO
CiCi Rojas
CiCi Rojas is named President and CEO
Courtney Thomas
Courtney Lee Thomas joins Central Exchange as President and CEO and later announces new tagline, “Where Women Shape the Future”
UMKC Bloch
Central Exchange enters a strategic collaboration with UMKC Bloch School. Ann Hackett, PhD, takes the helm as CX Bloch Leader. CX relocates to the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Central Exchange Today
Our membership of hundreds of women and men from the Kansas City metro includes managers and executives, business owners, nonprofit and civic leaders, and community volunteers.
With more hundred programs a year, CX offers a wide variety of professional development opportunities and networking events that provide resources and connections for members to advance their careers and build their businesses. Central Exchange leadership development programs create a pool of highly qualified leaders available for executive positions in the Kansas City area.
