For Kelly McDowell Kinnett, business has always been about more than transactions. As co-owner of ACA Business Club Northland, she is helping executives, entrepreneurs and professionals across Kansas City North and Liberty build meaningful relationships rooted in trust, service and shared growth.

Kelly operates two private networking and co-working locations alongside her husband, Lyle. Together, they serve local business leaders by providing intentional spaces where members can connect with purpose, develop professionally and support one another in practical ways. Kelly brings a strong educational foundation to that work, with a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University and a master’s degree from Rutgers University. She and Lyle also enjoy a full family life with four adult children, four “granddogs,” and, as Kelly jokes, “we are impatiently waiting for grandchildren of the human variety.”

The ACA Business Club’s mission is to serve executives, professionals and business owners who value deep relationships, professional growth and high-trust marketing. Its story reaches back to a long Kansas City tradition of business and civic connection. The American Club Association traces its lineage to the Kansas City Club, founded in 1882 as a premier social institution for business and civic leaders. Serving early titans of industry, politicians, and civic figures, notable members included U.S. Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, and political boss Tom Pendergast. Plagued by declining membership, it merged with the University Club in 2001 and moved to 918 Baltimore Avenue; the original 1922 building later reopened as the luxury Hotel Kansas City.

Over the years, that legacy evolved from an exclusive social club into a modern, relationship-driven network designed for today’s professionals. ACA launched its first Kansas City-area business club in Overland Park in 2012 and has since expanded across the metro area and beyond. Members of Kelly’s Northland clubs enjoy full membership privileges across ACA locations, including clubs in other states such as Colorado, Florida and Illinois. For Kelly, stepping into ownership was a chance to use her God-given talents as a connector, advocate and problem solver to lead and serve others.

ACA Business Club Northland offers structured weekly club coffees, specialized business development teams, interest groups, strategic coaching and access to private workspaces. The clubs also provide beautiful event spaces for member use, including weddings, galas, private gatherings and other special events.

What sets ACA apart, Kelly says, is its emphasis on authentic relationships rather than quick sales pitches. Members are not there to simply exchange business cards or deliver rehearsed pitches. Instead, the culture begins with a more generous question: “What can I do to help you today?” That mindset shapes the club’s approach to mentorship, referrals, professional development and business advocacy.

Community service is woven into the club’s identity. Kelly describes the ACA community as one focused on blessing and serving others, with many members actively involved in local churches and nonprofit organizations. Each month, the club selects a nonprofit to support and helps raise funds toward a specific need, with a goal of contributing $15,000.

The club also serves as a bridge for small businesses seeking greater visibility and trusted local referrals. By bringing business leaders into the same room on a regular basis, ACA creates opportunities for collaboration that extend beyond any single meeting.

Like any business, ACA Business Club Northland has faced challenges. For Kelly, one major step was moving into ownership while aligning multiple regional communities. That work has resulted in a stronger, more collaborative network across the Kansas City metro area…one that continues to support members through connection, encouragement and practical business development.

Kelly’s vision is to continue building the most robust, high-trust business networking infrastructure in the Kansas City Northland area. Upcoming events include an ACA club-wide gala at the Liberty location on November 7 and murder mystery dinner theater performances by a local acting troupe, with another event planned for October. Members of the public are welcome to attend ACA social events, and the full calendar is available on the club’s website.

Through every program, event and conversation, Kelly hopes ACA Business Club Northland will remain a place where professionals feel known, supported and equipped to grow. Her advice to residents and business owners is reflected in the club’s daily practice: build trusted relationships, look for ways to serve and ask how you can help someone else today.