Erik Bergrud serves as Senior Vice President, Public Policy at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he leads a team that represents Kansas City area businesses in their interactions with local, state, and federal elected officials, advancing public policies that promote regional growth and competitiveness.

 

His professional journey began with transformative graduate studies in public affairs at Park University, where he embraced a lifelong commitment to public service. He later served the University as Chief Strategic Communications Officer, guiding its public image, advising institutional leadership, and leading an award-winning communications team.

 

Erik is a nationally respected leader in the public administration field. A fellow of the Congressionally-chartered National Academy of Public Administration and a past president of the American Society for Public Administration, he has contributed to ethical reform and national policy dialogue, including leadership in revising ASPA’s Code of Ethics and co-leading the Memos to National Leaders initiative. From 2021–2023, he contributed to a NAPA panel study of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He received ASPA’s Elmer B. Staats Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Public Service in March 2026

 

His impact extends to civic and community life. He has chaired the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Missouri State Affairs Committee, served as president of the International Relations Council, and led the Parkville, Mo., Economic Development Council. He and his wife, Kimberlee, are active philanthropists who have co-chaired major fundraising events for numerous Kansas City nonprofits, most recently Wine & Roses 2025, a benefit for the city’s municipal rose garden.

 

Erik also brings his voice and energy to local sports and events as a public address and broadcast announcer for the Kansas City Comets (MASL), the KC Courage (WPSL), and Parkville community events. Along with broadcast partner Nick Vasos, he won the MASL’s 2022–23 Best Broadcast Production Award and currently hosts Ten for Ten, the league’s weekly interview series in its third season. He was inducted into the Park University Athletics Wall of Honor in September 2025.

 

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Kansas and a Master of Public Affairs with an emphasis in Government-Business Relations from Park University. He is a graduate of the Council of Independent Colleges’ Senior Leadership Academy and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Centurions Leadership Program.