Together in Service: MARC's 2025 Regional Assembly and Leadership Awards

Jun 16, 2025
| Posted in
News
The Regional Leadership awards on the stage at the 2024 Regional Assembly

On Friday, June 13, MARC held its annual Regional Assembly and Leadership Awards at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.

More than 600 people from across the region attended the event.

The program included a luncheon, an overview of MARC’s focus areas, a keynote presentation and recognition of the 2025 Regional Leadership Awards honorees.

View all event photos

Event Recap

Janeé Hanzlick, commissioner for Johnson County, Kansas, and chair of the MARC Board of Directors, led the program. 

"What makes this gathering special is that it is a regional event," said Hanzlick. "Every county in the metro is represented here today. While we come from different communities, we all work together through the Mid-America Regional Council to serve our residents and the region."

David Warm, MARC's executive director, introduced the year in review, recapping the work the region has accomplished together in the past 12 months.

"Our theme today of 'Together in Service' underscores the power of collaboration motivated by a commitment to serving and advancing our communities," said Warm. "The civic capacity to work together in service is a benchmark of any successful community, but it is even more essential in this era of profound change and uncertainty. We are all aware of the extraordinary shifts in our political, economic, technological, and social systems. Yet, looking around this room, we are reminded that we have each other. We are a community working together to build trust, set goals and take action."

Keynote: Together in Service

Wally Bobkiewicz, city administrator of Issaquah, Washington, gave a keynote presentation.

Bobkiewicz has extensive experience serving in local governments across the country. He's held various leadership roles with ICMA and was active in Local Government 2030, which brought together 51 local government administrators under the age of 40 from across the country — including some from Kansas and Missouri — to discuss the grand challenges facing public administration and help shape the future of local government.

In his remarks, Bobkiewicz challenged everyone in the room to think about what they can do to deliver the ideal local government.

View keynote presentation slides
Janeé Hanzlick and David Warm with the 2025 Regional Leadership Award honorees

Regional Leadership Awards

MARC also honored the recipients of the 2025 Regional Leadership Awards. The 2025 Regional Leadership Award recipients are:

Dr. Kristin Feeback

Executive director, CommCARE

For regional leadership in mental health, including raising awareness about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and advancing efforts that provide support to people in need, saving lives and fostering valuable partnerships.

KCUR

For serving as a valuable community asset and building partnerships that result in award-winning journalism critical to residents and decision-makers across the region.

Kristin Riott

Retired executive director, Bridging The Gap

For steadfast leadership on environmental issues affecting the Kansas City region and skill in leveraging partnerships to advance creative programs that make a real and visible difference for residents.

Community Services League

For exceptional and long-standing impact on the quality of life in communities throughout Eastern Jackson County by serving as a regional voice to promote economic mobility and supporting individuals and families as they advance up the economic ladder.

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