The announcement comes as construction is about to begin on Lockton's new headquarters campus in Leawood.

Hornaday begins her second year as CEO amid changes for both the agency and its industry as a whole.

More than global athletes will be in KC during the World Cup. International business players will be, too, and networking venue KCHouse intends to connect them with key metro-area businesses.

The city aims to put interested small businesses into empty storefronts during the World Cup. The grants and subsidies from the Open Doors program may have a side benefit: Those operations could stay put after the tournament.

Hordes of soccer fans will descend on Kansas City for the World Cup. These businesses, including neighbors of Fan Fest, are making sure they're ready to engage on non-match days.

Allen Swan steered Panasonic's efforts to develop its EV-battery plant in De Soto. Now, he leads a European joint venture producing batteries for electric vehicles.