Last night, our team attended a Kansas City Business Magazine Top 10 Companies Dinner and Reception - it was an incredible evening with the staffs of the “other” Top 10 Companies in KC…  We were at Cafe Trio on the Plaza - food, company and networking was awesome!

We were so humbled to be part of this incredible group of awesome companies.  Each company representative got up and gave a brief summary of their business and our commitment to the Kansas City Community.  It was fun to hear each story, and to also share our vision and our service project at Liberty Memorial earlier this year.  Highland won the “Community Stewardship” award for its efforts, along with PBI/Gordon and several other green industry companies and vendors.

They also unveiled the August 2009 issue of Kansas City Busines Magazine, which had a profile of each of the Top 10 Companies.  Ours is below.

Some of you may know that I tend to end up at Kokopelli’s Mexican Cantina in Prairie Village at least once a week.  Several of my good friends and I start our weekends there to chat up the weeks happenings, eat some great food, have some drinks, and we usually end up making fun of one another…

I got an email from my friend, and Kokopelli’s owner - Kevin Lyman - about his restaurants July can food drive.  We spoke about it, and he reminded me that because of the economy, many food pantries in town had more need, and less donations.  I asked him to send me the graphic to throw up on our blogs and through our Social Media network to get donations to local food pantries.

Now, I’d love it if you’d come into Kokopelli’s and drop off your cans there (there is a big round barrell right inside the front door) - and Kevin incentivized it by giving $5 off a check of $20 or more with a donation of 5 cans…  What a bargain…  (And the food and margaritas are the best in KC!)

I decided that Highland Outdoor would participate as well… SO:

1.  For every signed contract in July, we will donate a CASE of canned goods to the Food Drive

2.  For those clients who bring canned food to our office, we will enter you in a drawing for $50 worth of Kokopelli’s Gift Certificates - just bring them by the office during regular business hours (M-F, 8-5) - and we’ll put your name in the hat.  The first week of August, we’ll pick one.

Let’s make a difference in our community by giving canned food at a time where its needed more than ever.

PS - If you go into Kokopelli’s, ask if Kevin is there - and say hi.  You’ll be glad you did…

Top com•pa•nies \`täp `kәmp-nē\ (noun).

Etymology: The area’s prestigious award program.