For more than 20 years, Director Kimiko Black Gilmore has been helping shape Kansas City’s national and international footprint.

Gilmore began her career with the City in 2000 as a council aide and went on to build her professional portfolio in leadership positions in community development and as a U.S. Senate staffer. She returned to the City in 2009 as assistant to the City Manager and progressed to Assistant City Manager in 2012. After a stint as the Chief of Staff at her alma mater - the University of Missouri - Kansas City - she returned to City Hall as Deputy City Manager. As a city management professional, she has provided oversight in the areas of housing, health, human relations, legislative affairs, emergency management, corrections and neighborhoods. Gilmore helped lead the city’s efforts in several initiatives including the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and Events, the Royals 2015 World Series Parade and worked closely with representatives from the Kansas City Sports Commission to craft the city’s bids for the 2023 NFL Draft and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.