KATHY NELSON

President & CEO
SHE/HER

 A native Kansas Citian, Kathy Nelson serves as the President and CEO of both Visit KC and the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation. She is a strong believer in the economic, social and community-building benefits of sports, meetings, tourism and events of all kinds. 

She works to promote Kansas City locally and nationally with the goal of attracting, retaining and facilitating sports programming, business events and leisure travel across the region. Most recently, Kathy has been behind the success of such high-profile achievements as the 2023 NFL Draft & bringing FIFA World Cup 26™ to Kansas City. 

Nelson joined the KC Sports Commission in August of 2010 as the WIN for KC Director, then moved into the role of President & CEO of the KC Sports Commission in November 2011. 

Nelson expanded her responsibilities to take the helm at Visit KC in January 2022 while continuing to lead the KC Sports Commission. She previously served Visit KC on the organization’s board of directors beginning in 2015. 

Prior to joining the KC Sports Commission, Nelson served in senior management roles in marketing, sales and promotions at Time Warner Cable and Metro Sports and held a number of roles at FOX 4/WDAF-TV in Kansas City including creative services manager, producer, reporter and editor. 

Along her career path, Nelson has received numerous Telly, Emmy and cable television awards for television production, specifically sports production. She was the first woman to win a regional Emmy for the production of an NFL game in the early 2000s. 

Nelson has been honored with many additional accolades over the years in recognition of her service. She has been named the 2024 Executive of the Year by the Sports Events & Tourism Association, the 2023 USA Today’s Women of the Year Missouri Honoree and recipient of the 2022 Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe Women of Achievement award. 

The Kansas City Star included Nelson on their 2020 list of the 50 Most Influential People in Kansas City Sports History, ranking her at #38 and making her 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 (CEO/owner of the Kansas City Chiefs), Dayton Moore (Kansas City Royals general manager), Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City’s Coach/Technical Director) and David Glass (former owner of the Kansas City Royals). In 2020, Nelson was enshrined into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. 

In 2019, Kathy was selected to receive the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Leadership Award. In 2018, Nelson received the Sports 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. In 2017, Kathy and the Sports Commission were honored as Sports Commission of the Year from Compete Magazine. And in 2016, Nelson was selected to serve on the Sports ETA (formerly known as the National Association of Sports Commissions) Board of Directors. 

Recognition

  • 2024 - GKCAA Individual Achievement Award

  • 2024 - Milt Adams Achievement Award

  • 2022 - MARC Regional Leadership Award

  • 2022 - Lieutenant Governor’s 2022 Women of Achievement

  • 2022 - TeamKC & KC Area Development Council MVP Award Winner

  • 2021 - KC Urban Youth Academy Diamond Award

  • 2021 - Ingram’s 250: The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Greater Kansas City (Also included in 2020, 2019, and 2018 lists)

  • 2020 - Enshrined into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

  • 2020 - KC Downtowners Jim Davis Achievement Award

  • 2020 - WeKC Women Executives - Kansas City Award by Ingram’s Magazine

  • 2020 - Named One of the 50 Most Influential People in Kansas City Sports History (#38)

  • 2020 - SportsETA All-Star Team

  • 2019 - ATHENA Leadership Award Winner

  • 2019 - Kansas City Business Journal’s Power 100 List (Also included in 2018 list)

  • 2018 - John J. “Buck” O’Neil Diamond MVP Award – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City

  • 2018 - ConnectSports Game Changer

  • 2018 - Included in They Shoot…They Score! by Dr. Patrick Rishe

  • 2018 - Sports Tourism Executive/CEO of the Year

  • 2018 - Dancing with the Kansas City Stars Grand Champion

  • 2017 - Sports Commission of the Year, Eighth Annual Compete Sports Diversity Award (Petey Award)

  • 2017 - Inducted in to the KC Business Journal Women Who Mean Business

  • 2017 - Named One of the 20 Most Influential Sports Figures in Kansas City (#5)

  • 2015 - Hotel Lodging Associations Hospitality Leadership Award

  • 2014 - Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2013 - Winnetonka High School Hall of Fame Inductee

  • 2013 - KC Magazine Influential People: Who Make Kansas City a Great Place

  • 2004 - Alex George Volunteer of the Year Award, KC Sports Commission

  • Numerous Emmy & Telly television production awards

Professional and Civic Activities

  • AdventHealth Korn Ferry Championship Tournament Advisory Council (2021-Present)

  • Kansas City Chambers of Commerce Board of Directors (2019-Present)

  • Visit KC Board of Directors (2015-Present)

  • Convention Management Advisory Authority Board (2012-Present)

  • National Association of Sports Commissions Board of Directors

  • National College Basketball Hall of Fame Steering Committee

  • Chancellor’s Advisory Board for the UMKC Women’s Center

  • Kansas City Representative to the 2013 Xi-an City China Marathon

  • Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Keynote Speaker

  • Certified Kansas City Tourism Ambassador

  • Women Leaders in College Sports Member

  • National Association of Sports Commissions Member