KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 8, 2019) – Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), the area’s largest urban core developer, announced the retirement of its CEO, Art Chaudry. Chaudry has been with the organization eight years.
“With the recent completion of a new exciting and expansive strategic plan and the development of a succession plan by the board, I felt it was the right time to retire and transition the leadership of the organization to the next generation of leaders,” said Chaudry. “A strong, dedicated and talented team is in place to continue the rich and important impact of Community Builders of Kansas City.”
Chaudry joined Swope Community Builders in April 2010 as its chief operating officer. He was promoted to become the president and CEO in January 2014, concurrently assuming the duties of president of Swope Community Enterprises as it restructured and spun off Swope Health Services and consolidated its operations. He successfully responded to the challenging times to carve out a new identity for one of the oldest and most successful community development organizations in Kansas City.
CBKC has built a strong portfolio of high performing retail, commercial and residential assets primarily focused on serving the unmet needs in the urban core. A balance sheet of $85 million has been created and a community transformed. A thriving campus where its flagship offices, institutions and shopping center are located is the crown jewel that is embraced by the many neighborhoods that surround it, providing a range of products and services. It also has become a hub for many not-for-profits that deliver critical services for the community.
“Under Art’s leadership CBKC has accomplished some amazing pillars of work including getting the real estate portfolio performing to profitability, elimination of constrictive debt, effective rebranding and completion of CBKC’S new, ambitious strategic plan,” said former state Sen. Yvonne Wilson, chair of the board. “The board, community and city recognize and are appreciative of these generative achievements.”