KC 2026 Staff
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering host city duties for FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 will plan, construct and implement all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history.
Staff Members
Pam Kramer
Chief Executive Officer
A proven leader in sports business, Kramer’s career includes 16 years at Sprint, where she played an instrumental role in developing and executing many of Sprint’s most successful and pioneering sponsorships, notably the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA, the last time the global event was held in the United States. Among her accomplishments is securing the placement of Sprint’s brand on the NFL coaches’ headsets, the first sponsorship of its kind by a consumer brand.
Following her tenure at Sprint, which culminated in leading the company’s $100-million annual advertising efforts and earning the highly esteemed Sprint Chairman’s Award, Kramer joined the Kansas City Chiefs to lead business communications and advise team leadership on communications strategy. In 2021, the Kansas City Current retained her as transitional CEO during its critical start-up phase where she helped steer the organization in its development of the Kansas City Current brand and assisted launching the team onto the national stage. Most recently, she provided strategic oversight and guidance to the Kansas City Sports Commission as Fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO) before transitioning to the KC2026 team.
Mallory Cage
Director of Fan Festival and Events
Mallory Cage is an accomplished event professional who, as Director of Fan Festival and Events, will bring an elevated, immersive focus to FIFA World Cup Fan Festival and Events across the region. Through her leadership, fans can engage with the excitement and energy of the FIFA World Cup™ beyond the stadiums, creating memorable moments before, during, and after the games.
With over a decade in event strategy and execution, Mallory has crafted impactful experiences for sports, community, and corporate organizations, including the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Augeo Marketing, and the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. Her early years as a collegiate swimmer fostered a deep passion for the unifying power of sports in communities, guiding her commitment to creating inclusive, transformative events.
Mallory is currently advancing her expertise with an MBA from Duke University and holds a Bachelor’s in Print Journalism from the University of South Carolina.
Lindsey Douglas
Integrated Operations Director
Lindsey Douglas is the Integrated Operations Director for KC2026. With more than 18 years of experience in government affairs and the transportation industry, Douglas is a proven implementation strategist for large initiatives and projects.
Douglas previously worked as Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. She helped create, and worked with the legislature to pass, the 10-year, $9 Billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program. She was also integral to the creation and passage of the T-WORKS Transportation Program in 2010.
Douglas has also served as Senior Director of Public Affairs for Union Pacific Railroad in Kansas City and in Chicago, representing the company in multiple states.
She serves on the Looking for Lincoln Board, the Student Activities Advisory Committee for the Blue Valley School Board, and the Advisory Board for Aligned.
Lindsey earned a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School and a Bachelor of Public Administration from Washburn University.
Kateri Hartman
Social Media and Content Manager
As the Social Media and Content Manager for KC2026, Kateri Hartman is focused on developing and executing social and digital strategies to help engage, inform, and communicate with our target audiences. In her role, she creates and curates content while collaborating with stakeholders and partners to elevate the destination, inform our communities and visitors, and amplify identified activations and events for FIFA World Cup 26™.
Before joining the team, Hartman gained valuable experience as the Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She created marketing strategies and campaigns for in-season events, including NCAA tournament appearances and world-record competitions. She helped drive unprecedented fan engagement opportunities for Omaha Athletics programs through social media, in-game promotions, community relations, digital media and more.
Hartman brings a diverse background with experience as a Copywriter/Media relations Associate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she supported university departments and initiatives. Her time on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s award-winning Bateman competition team honed her strategic skills, and fine-tuned her ability to manage social media and events.
Lori Kirchhoff
Director of Project Management
In her role as Director of Project Management, Kirchhoff will serve as the hub for what Kramer has described as a “team of teams” that will deliver FIFA World Cup 26™. An Oracle Cerner (previously known as Cerner Corporation) employee since 2001, Kirchhoff began as a Project Manager before becoming a Program Manager and ended her tenure there as Senior Director of Consulting, Engagement Management. In her most recent role she provided executive leadership, strategic planning, operational execution and client relationship and risk mitigation for 100+ healthcare IT project implementations, resulting in $200M+ in revenue per year. As the KC2026 Director of Project Management, Kirchhoff will provide structure and processes for all teams who are responsible for KC2026 projects.
Kyle Postell
Director of Safety and Security
In his role as Director of Safety and Security for KC2026, Kyle Postell will be responsible for planning, development, and implementation of comprehensive safety and security strategies for the event. He brings over 13 years of experience in security operations, critical infrastructure protection, and risk management, honed during his distinguished career with the U.S. Secret Service.
Kyle’s career in security began with the U.S. Secret Service, where he held multiple key roles, including Critical Infrastructure Protection Chairman for the United Nations General Assembly. He has extensive experience in security operations, cybersecurity, and explosive detection, having led critical security measures for high-profile events and protected vital infrastructure. His expertise also includes overseeing advanced surveillance systems and managing large-scale security teams, ensuring the safety of thousands during major events.
He also spent several years as a Uniformed Division Officer on the Explosive Detection Team, providing leadership in access control, crowd management, explosive detection and emergency response for over 100+ major events.
Known for his strategic approach to risk management and his ability to coordinate complex security operations, Kyle will apply his extensive background to ensure the safety and security of KC2026, creating a secure environment for all involved in the event.
Jason Sims
Director of Transportation
With more than 23 years of experience in the transportation industry, Sims is an established and respected leader in traffic management operations, safety, congestion mitigation and system development. Notably, he is credited with providing the operational vision for the Kansas City Scout Traffic Management Center, which has served the bi-state region of Kansas City since 2003. Sims currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA).
Matt Smith
Director of Marketing
In his role as Director of Marketing for KC2026, Smith will be responsible for planning, development, and implementation of the KC2026 marketing strategies. He brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing and experience as a former professional athlete. Smith’s marketing career began on the agency side where he worked with a broad group of clients including: the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority, Wendy’s, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Intel, and Gatorade. Smith is known for effective marketing principles and building strong relationships. Most recently, he was the Director of Marketing at Dimensional Innovations where he led all MarCom initiatives, and helped drive pipeline growth year over year.
Maria Tretinyak
Partnership Coordinator
Tretinyak joins KC2026 after graduating from Benedictine College in May. She will be a key part of the day-to-day Host City activities including stakeholder communication, event logistics and coordination with FIFA on project deliverables. She previously served as a Marketing and Events Intern for The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Shared Resources
KC2026 also announced an agreement with The Kansas City Sports Commission, to provide event services and expertise in support of delivering the FIFA World Cup 26™. The agreement will include leveraging general event support as well as specialized assistance in the areas of communications and accounting.
“We’re excited to remain actively engaged with the KC2026 team, building on our successful bid to bring the global event to Kansas City,” says Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission. “Every time we do a large sports activation – whether it’s the NFL Draft, an NCAA DI Championship or the Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships – we continue refining best practices, reaffirming partnerships with regional stakeholders and showcasing why Kansas City has earned its place on the world stage.”
In addition to overall support, Elliott Scott, Director, Marketing and Communications, is taking on additional responsibilities as KC2026 Director, Media Relations and Strategy, and Sarah Stanton, Chief Administrative Officer, is supporting KC2026 in finance and administration.