Black Chamber appoints new executive director

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Greater Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce has named Cecilia Belser-Patton its new executive director.

The position of Executive Director has remained vacant since the departure of A. Marie Young.

“Not only will he bring experience, enthusiasm and great communication skills, but he will also provide the intuitive, youthful leadership we need,” said Kelvin Perry, Back Chamber CEO.

Previously, Belser-Pattton served as Program Director at the Surge Institute, Principal/Senior Trainer/Curriculum Developer at Kauffman Foundation SPARK Heartland, and Director of Equity and Inclusion at Healthcare for Missouri (Medicaid Expansion).

“My goal is to be strategic, purposeful and instrumental in supporting entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in the Kansas City economic ecosystem,” Belser-Patton said.

Belser-Patton earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She is currently working on an Executive MBA at Rockhurst University.

He will take up his new role on August 1.