Plaza Area Council
Making way for a new century on the Plaza and surrounding neighborhoods in the heart of Kansas City
The Plaza Area Council is a private, nonprofit membership organization representing and collaborating with Plaza area stakeholders to support this iconic and historic district.
Why Us?
We’re a non-profit that believes the Plaza should be one of Kansas City’s most vibrant destinations. We coordinate public and private resources to restore the area as a crown jewel of Kansas City. Our leadership group represents some of Kansas City’s most dedicated philanthropists, business people, and community leaders.
What’s at Stake?
The Plaza faces challenges in terms of current trends in commercial real estate, aging infrastructure, safety and security concerns, and a legacy of exclusion and racism. It is time for a fresh start that includes new concepts for entertainment and placemaking as well as a welcoming, safe, and vibrant atmosphere.
Why Now?
The Plaza has the opportunity to shine during high profile events happening in Kansas City, including the NFL draft, Plaza Centennial, KC Current Stadium opening, KC Streetcar expansion, and FIFA 2026. We have the opportunity to build on the recent successes throughout the city including downtown, the Crossroads, and the River Market.
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Our Mission
To serve as a community convener, building an inclusive, activated and engaged Plaza area — a must-experience destination for residents and visitors, driving economic and social value.
Leadership
Kate Marshall
Founder
The Plaza Area Council has come to life as a passion project for Kate who fell in love with the Plaza from her first sighting, when moving from Monte Carlo, Monaco. As a connector and community advocate, through many conversations with stakeholders, Kate saw the Council emerge organically to fill a void.
Kate brings a background of experience in Kansas City philanthropy: as the first director of the Shirley and Barnett Helzberg Foundation, a founding board member of the Women’s Foundation (United WE), program director for the Central Exchange, and executive director of the St Joseph Hospital Foundation. She currently serves as South Plaza Neighborhood Association president, and is a business owner who interfaces with executives relocating to the area for work. Her appreciation for this world class city is boundless.
Tyler Enders
Steering Committee Member
Tyler Enders is one of the founders and owners of local retailer Made in KC. Tyler grew up in the KC metro, graduated from the University of Kansas, and is a Plaza resident. He serves as a City Planning Commissioner and Municipal Arts Commissioner.
Tom McGee
Steering Committee Member
Tom has been involved in urban core development in Kansas City for 30+ years with DST Realty and VanTrust Real Estate. He is also active in philanthropic and other civic pursuits. Tom has been a lifelong Plaza area resident and is committed to the value of making all areas of Kansas City a better place.
Matthew Mellor
Steering Committee Member
Matthew Mellor is a retired founder / CEO of a local health technology company as well as a Plaza area resident. Matthew is active in the Kansas City startup community, serving as a board member at Startland, and providing pro bono mentoring to a wide variety of women-owned and minority-owned businesses. A co-founder of Ride to Boulevardia, Matthew is also an advocate for creating safe and healthy alternatives to automobile transportation.
Dennis Strait
Steering Committee MemberDennis Strait is an architect, landscape architect, and a principal with Multistudio (formerly Gould Evans), a national planning and design firm based in KC. For the past five years he has led the Making a Great City speaker series in partnership with the Kansas City Public Library, helping our communities understand how development impacts the financial health of our city.
Beth Zollars
Steering Committee Member
Beth Zollars is an innovative urban strategist, businesswoman, academic and community thought leader. Currently, her work as an Urbanist, both in Kansas City and the Los Angeles area, target the city’s most challenging problems – affordable housing, homelessness, accessible transportation, and innovative economic development, all through the lens of equity, sustainability, and evidence-based research. In addition to her consultancy, Beth currently is an Adjunct Professor in Urban Planning, Policy, and Real Estate Development at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
Beth holds a BA in Political Science from Ithaca College and a MS in Policy, Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
She currently considers herself a “Kansafornian” splitting her time between the West Coast and the Midwest.
Kate Marshall
Founder
The Plaza Area Council has come to life as a passion project for Kate who fell in love with the Plaza from her first sighting, when moving from Monte Carlo, Monaco. As a connector and community advocate, through many conversations with stakeholders, Kate saw the Council emerge organically to fill a void.
Kate brings a background of experience in Kansas City philanthropy: as the first director of the Shirley and Barnett Helzberg Foundation, a founding board member of the Women’s Foundation (United WE), program director for the Central Exchange, and executive director of the St Joseph Hospital Foundation. She currently serves as South Plaza Neighborhood Association president, and is a business owner who interfaces with executives relocating to the area for work. Her appreciation for this world class city is boundless.
Tyler Enders
Steering Committee Member
Tyler Enders is one of the founders and owners of local retailer Made in KC. Tyler grew up in the KC metro, graduated from the University of Kansas, and is a Plaza resident. He serves as a City Planning Commissioner and Municipal Arts Commissioner.
Tom McGee
Steering Committee Member
Tom has been involved in urban core development in Kansas City for 30+ years with DST Realty and VanTrust Real Estate. He is also active in philanthropic and other civic pursuits. Tom has been a lifelong Plaza area resident and is committed to the value of making all areas of Kansas City a better place.
Matthew Mellor
Steering Committee Member
Matthew Mellor is a retired founder / CEO of a local health technology company as well as a Plaza area resident. Matthew is active in the Kansas City startup community, serving as a board member at Startland, and providing pro bono mentoring to a wide variety of women-owned and minority-owned businesses. A co-founder of Ride to Boulevardia, Matthew is also an advocate for creating safe and healthy alternatives to automobile transportation.
Dennis Strait
Steering Committee Member
Dennis Strait is an architect, landscape architect, and a principal with Multistudio (formerly Gould Evans), a national planning and design firm based in KC. For the past five years he has led the Making a Great City speaker series in partnership with the Kansas City Public Library, helping our communities understand how development impacts the financial health of our city.
Beth Zollars
Steering Committee Member
Beth Zollars is an innovative urban strategist, businesswoman, academic and community thought leader. Currently, her work as an Urbanist, both in Kansas City and the Los Angeles area, target the city’s most challenging problems – affordable housing, homelessness, accessible transportation, and innovative economic development, all through the lens of equity, sustainability, and evidence-based research. In addition to her consultancy, Beth currently is an Adjunct Professor in Urban Planning, Policy, and Real Estate Development at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
Beth holds a BA in Political Science from Ithaca College and a MS in Policy, Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
She currently considers herself a “Kansafornian” splitting her time between the West Coast and the Midwest.
Our Purpose
The Plaza Area Council represents the needs and concerns of residents, nearby neighborhoods, tenants, merchants, business owners, organizations, and visitors. They rely on the Plaza as a nexus of beauty, shopping, tourism, leisure, dining, history, exercise, and romance.
Our goal is to be the center point for Plaza-related planning and development projects, community issues, and placemaking activities.
As a collaborative organization, we strive to include a broad group of stakeholders and find common ground through active dialogue. We seek to understand varying perspectives and achieve a common vision for the future of the Plaza Area.
“We will bring diverse voices to the table to work towards acknowledging the past and creating realistic, inclusive, and productive ways to welcome ALL members of our community to enjoy the natural and architectural beauty of the Plaza and surrounding area.”
– Kate Marshall, Kansas City Champion & Founder
Donations & Support
We are a donor-based, nonprofit organization. The annual contributions from organizations and people like you enables us to do the work we do! To donate online, please use the button below. For founder-level, corporate, or in-kind donations, please contact Kate Marshall at Kate@plazakc.org.
Mailing Address: Plaza Area Council • 221 W 48th St, Suite 1101 • Kansas City, MO 64112-3173
