We’re honored and excited to share that encompas has been awarded the 2026 “Legacy of Kansas City” Award and is a 2026 “Top 10 Small Business” with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

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encompas team on stage at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce event after being named a 2026 Top 10 Small Business and Legacy Award winner — *encompas team members on stage at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Awards Luncheon after being named the 2026 “Legacy of Kansas City” Award winner*

This recognition is part of the KC Chamber’s annual Small Business Celebration, a program that highlights and promotes organizations shaping the future of our region through innovation, leadership, and community impact. To be included alongside so many creative and hardworking businesses makes us proud to be Kansas Citians.

*KC Chamber 2026 Top 10 Small Businesses*

A Celebration of the Whole Community

While we’re incredibly proud of this moment, what makes it even more meaningful is the company we’re in.

This year’s Top 10 includes:

Blue Symphony
Café Corazon - 2026 Small Business of the Year and Mr. K Award
EAG Advertising & Marketing
encompas - 2026 Legacy of Kansas City Award
Kansas City Catering
MADE MOBB - 2026 Small Business Spirit of Inclusion Award
Pantheon Moving
RK Contractors
She Hauled It
Slattery Design + Architecture

Each of these organizations is doing something unique and important for Kansas City. From hospitality and logistics to design, construction, and creative services, it’s a reminder that “small business” doesn’t mean small impact.

We’re grateful to be part of a group that represents such a wide range of talent, perspectives, and ways of building something meaningful.

Our Small Business Celebration Journey

*Julie Sayers and Carole Ollivierre are given news that encompas is a 2026 Top 10 Small Business with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.*

Something we learned right away is the effort behind the Small Business Celebration isn’t just a simple application with a single announcement —it’s a multi‑month process that gives businesses the opportunity to look critically at their internal processes and culture and share more about who they are and how they operate.

This Spring, we had the chance to participate in several key moments along the way:

February 19, 2026 – Application
As a team, we tackled a robust application of over 50 questions that challenged us to advocate not just our business and our services, but who we are as an organization.
March 4, 2026 – Candidates’ Showcase at Union Station
We joined fellow candidates in the Grand Hall to connect with the community and share more about our work and our team. Following the showcase, we received news that we were one of the Top 25 businesses chosen to move forward in the competition.
March 31, 2026 - Top 25 Happy Hour and Top 10 Announcement
Under the guise of a happy hour gathering, we were surprised with the news that we made the Top 10 Small Business list!
April 21, 2026 - Judges’ Visit
Each Top 10 business had the chance to visit with this years’ judges in person at their place of business and convince them why they should win the Mr. K Award! We won’t divulge our secrets, but it was certainly no ordinary showroom tour! Following the judges’ visit, we had the pleasure of welcoming Social Apex to our showroom to capture video of us to use at the May awards luncheon.
May 5, 2026 – Top 10 CEO Panel
Our leadership team participated in a candid conversation with other Top 10 companies, sharing insights on growth, challenges, and what it takes to lead a small business today.
May 27, 2026 – Small Business Awards Luncheon
The celebration culminated at the Loews Kansas City Hotel, where award winners (including the Mr. K Small Business of the Year) were announced.

*Principal Melissa Morley speaks at the Top 10 CEO Panel*

Each step has been an opportunity not just to talk about encompas, but to reflect on the people and partnerships that have gotten us here.

A Different Approach to Our Industry

As a contract furniture dealership, we sit at the intersection of design, construction, and client experience. Our work often unfolds over long timelines, across multiple teams, and with a lot of moving parts.

From the beginning, encompas was built to operate a little differently.

encompas teammates in front of branded display at the 2026 KC Chamber's Small Business Candidates' Showcase at Union Station — *encompas teammates at the Small Business Candidates’ Showcase*

Instead of a traditional handoff model, our Project Lead + Project Manager structure keeps teams closely connected from early concepts through installation. It’s a more collaborative, more accountable way of working, and it allows us to function as a true extension of our clients’ design and construction teams.

That mindset is rooted in who we are:

Founded in 2006
Headquartered in Kansas City’s Crossroads District
100% women‑owned and operated
Backed by a team of designers, architects, and project managers
A Haworth Best in Class dealer for 14 consecutive years

In 2023, ownership transitioned to Julie Sayers, Amy Wright, Melissa Morley, and Susan Kidd, continuing the company’s commitment to thoughtful leadership and long-term growth. Just two years later, encompas ranked among Haworth’s Top 10 Dealers in North America.

Rooted in Kansas City

Over the past two decades, encompas has had the opportunity to work with organizations that shape Kansas City every day; from major employers to deeply community-focused nonprofits.

That includes partners like the Federal Reserve Bank, HNTB, American Century, Hallmark, and JE Dunn, as well as organizations like Reconciliation Services, The National WWI Museum and Memorial, MOCSA, United Way of Greater Kansas City, and BlaqueKC.

What connects all of that work is a shared goal: creating environments that support people —whether that’s a workplace, a campus, a government facility, a hospital, or a community space.

Built on People

If you ask us what this recognition really reflects, the answer is simple: our team.

We’ve worked hard to create a culture grounded in transparency, respect, and trust. That shows up in the big things (like career growth and collaboration) and in the smaller, everyday moments: sharing wins, learning from mistakes, and making space for people to be themselves.

It’s also what allows us to navigate a complex industry with empathy and a problem‑solving mindset, especially in moments where flexibility and creativity matter most.

Thank You

To The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and this year’s Small Business Program sponsors, thank you for creating a platform that celebrates and supports small businesses in such a meaningful way.

To Union Station, thank you for being an iconic backdrop for this entire experience.

To Social Apex Media, thank you for being so professional and capturing us in our element.

To our team, our clients, and our partners, thank you for trusting us to be part of your lives for the past 20 years.

And to the entire Kansas City small business community (especially our fellow Small Business Superstars and Top 10 honorees) thank you for continuing to push this city forward in such a positive way.

We’re proud to be here with you!

encompas Celebrates Legacy Award with Kansas City’s Top 10 Small Businesses