Superstars pack KC Chamber celebration with gratitude; thankful for a space to belong when many feel lost

Julie Cortes beamed as she took in the energy of Kansas City’s small business community Tuesday evening — surrounded by hundreds of her fellow Small Business Superstars and a crowd eager to build an emerging spirit of entrepreneurship.

Julie Cortes, founder of Freelance Rockstar, center, chats with fellow KC Chamber honorees during the Small Business Superstars reception at the Zhou B. Art Center in the historic 18th and Vine district; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“It feels so amazing to be here,” Cortes, founder of Freelance Rockstar, said from inside the packed Zhou B. Art Center in the historic 18th and Vine district. “It’s great that we can support one another.”

The annual Superstars reception honors small business owners making a lasting impact. It celebrates members of the Small Business Superstars program, created by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, to recognize for-profit businesses with fewer than 250 employees in the metro area.

About 1,300 businesses earned the distinction for 2025.

Click here to check out the full list of Superstars.

“This night is for you,” Vicky Kulikov, the KC Chamber’s Small Business Director and lead coordinator of the program, told Tuesday night’s crowd. “It’s a celebration of your hard work, your resilience, and your impact on the Kansas City business landscape.”

Beyond recognition, the event cultivated networking and collaboration, bringing together business leaders, support organizations, and fellow entrepreneurs.

[Editor’s note: Startland News is the media sponsor of the Small Business Superstars program.]

A crowd of Small Business Superstars surges into the Zhou B. Art Center for a KC Chamber reception; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Clark Rooseveltte, founder of CLVR World, networks at the Small Business Superstars reception; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Clark Rooseveltte, founder of goods and apparel store CLVR World, valued the sense of community reflected in the program and reception.

“I’m grateful, got to be grateful,” he said. “Sometimes you feel lost, so to come into a space where everybody here feels lost and is figuring it out, it’s like I’m on the right track.”

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Jeff Randolph, chief marketing officer at EAG Advertising and Marketing, the event’s presenting sponsor, emphasized the power of storytelling in business.

“It’s just a way that we can help tell your story and make sure that everybody else hears about your journey,” he said, inviting honorees to share their experiences on EAG’s podcasts.

Vicky Kulikov, lead coordinator of the KC Chamber’s Small Business Superstars program, speaks during the Superstars reception at the Zhou B. Art Center; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Kulikov acknowledged the challenges small businesses have faced in recent years, from inflation to staffing shortages.

“But through it all, you’ve shown grit, creativity, and determination, and that’s exactly why we’re here, to celebrate and uplift you,” she said.

The KC Chamber’s Small Business Celebration continues, with Superstars eligible to apply for the Small Business of the Year “Mr. K” Award until March 14.

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They can also join the Chamber and compete for specialty awards, including Emerging Business of the Year and the Luminary Arts and Creative Small Business Award. Kulikov encouraged attendees to stay engaged and take advantage of such opportunities.

Click here to read more about the KC Chamber’s specialty awards and Small Business Celebration.

As the event wrapped up, Superstars lingered as they indulged themselves in extended networking, as well as soaking in the recognition. For many, the evening was a reminder of why they started their entrepreneurial journeys.

“I will say I’m absolutely nowhere where I thought I could be,” said Cortes. “But I’m everywhere I’m supposed to be.”