Kathy Nelson, President & CEO of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation

Kathy Nelson works to promote Kansas City sports locally and nationally with the goal of attracting, retaining and facilitating sports events and organizations. She helps the bi-state region realize the economic, social and community-building benefits of sports.

Nelson has become an influential leader in Kansas City. In recognition of her contribution, The Kansas City Star included Nelson on their 2020 list of the 50 Most Influential People in Kansas City Sports History, one of only four women represented.

Prior to that, she had been named one of the 20 Most Influential Sports Figures in Kansas City placing her at #5 behind Clark Hunt (owner of the Kansas City Chiefs), Dayton Moore (Kansas City Royals general manager), Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City’s Coach) and David Glass (former owner of the Kansas City Royals).

In 2019, Kathy was selected to receive the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Leadership Award. In 2018, Nelson received the national Sports Events and Tourism Executive/CEO of the Year award, a national honor.

She has also been named to Kansas City Business Journal’s Power 100 list (2018 & 2019) and was crowned Grand Champion at the Dancing with Kansas City Stars benefiting Cristo Rey.

Kathy is included in the book They Shoot…They Score! by Dr. Patrick Rishe as a national leader in sports.