KCBS Board of Directors Regular Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM Central

KANSAS CITY BARBEQUE SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 6:00 PM CST

Membership Requests to Address the Board:

None

Call to Order – Paul Buob

Roll Call:

Carol Bigler, David Qualls, Donna Fong, Jeanne Titus, Blake Moore, Paul Buob, Randy Todd, Thomas Gearhart; KCBS Office: Rod Gray

Absent: Luke Darnell

Board Pledge:

Recognizing barbeque as America’s cuisine, the mission of the Kansas City Barbeque Society is to celebrate, teach, preserve, and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, sport, and art form.

I accept my duties as a KCBS director to further the KCBS mission so that truth, justice, excellence in barbeque, and the American way of life may be strengthened and preserved forever.

Declaration of Quorum

Consent Agenda:

Notice concerning Committee Reports. Some committees do not meet monthly. If a report is presented, it will be included as an attachment to the agenda.

Minutes of previous BoD meeting
Contest Report
Sanctioning Committee
Judging Committee
Contest Representative Committee
Rules Committee
Technology Committee
Foundation Committee
Nominating Committee
Hall of Fame Committee
Working Groups:
- Organizers Working Group
  - Membership Subcommittee
- Backyard Working Group
- Sponsorship Working Group
- World Invitational Working Group

Discussion of any items removed from Consent Agenda:

Chief Executive Officer’s Report:

CEO Report attached.
The Board may take actions based on Topics and Discussions from this report as New Business.

Old Business:

None

New Business:

Email Bounceback Issue - Rod Gray
Approve Contest Representative - Rod Gray
KCBS Board Special Election Update - Blake Moore
Board recommendations regarding a CBJ Town Hall meeting - Blake Moore
Technology Update - Paul Buob
Board approval of a new Contest Representative - CBJ Committee

Closed Session Agenda:

Discussion of legal, financial, personnel, and real estate.

Membership Dues

After Closed Session:

The Board may take any necessary actions, including motions on any or all matters discussed in closed session

Board Comments

Adjourn or Suspend

Attachments and Reports

Contest Report

Contest	Date		City	ST/Country
Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 1)	8/7/2026	8/8/2026	Felton	CA
Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 2)	8/8/2026	8/9/2026	Felton	CA
Smoke on the Bay BBQ Cookoff	8/22/2026	8/23/2026		CANADA
Wings 4 Water 10 (COMPETITOR SERIES)	9/10/2026	9/10/2026	Lee's Summit	MO
NorUt KCBS BBQ Championship	9/18/2026	9/19/2026	Ogden	UT

Sanctioning Committee

Committee Members: Jeanne Titus

No report for this period.

CBJ Committee

Committee Chair: Blake Moore

Members: Blake Moore, Loudon, TN, Committee Chair; Bill Jones, Richmond,

Va; Kent Harriss, Lake City, FL; Joe DeBella, Henrico, VA; Andrew Peercy, Franklin, TN:

Kim Waddell, Clinton, MS; Tony Ucciferri, Concord, CA; Debra Gage, Germantown, TN;

Mike Curtis, Kennesaw, GA; and Ron Keefover, Secretary. Also attending were ex

officio members Paul Buob, President, KCBS Board of Directors; and Donna Fong,

BOD member, Alameda, CA.

Meeting summary - June 24

Members in attendance:

Members Attending: Blake Moore, Loudon, TN, Committee Chair; Bill Jones, Richmond, Va; Kent Harriss, Lake City, FL; Joe DeBella, Henrico, VA; Kim Waddell, Clinton, MS; Andrew Peercy, Franklin, TN; Tony Ucciferri, Concord, CA; Debra Gage, Germantown, TN; Ron Keefover, Secretary

Also in attending were ex officio members Rod Gray, KCBS CEO; Paul Buob, President, KCBS Board of Directors; and Donna Fong, BOD member, Alameda, CA

Quick recap

The KCBS Judges and Contest Committee meeting focused on addressing issues with judge performance and scoring consistency. Blake opened the discussion by announcing that the CBJ Town Hall meeting would be moved from July to August due to a special called election for Randy Todd's board resignation. He also presented top priorities including a high school/college series, judge education, improved social media presence, Friday night ancillary competitions, and review of judge feedback and accountability practices. The committee extensively discussed problems with scoring outliers, with multiple members sharing experiences about judges who consistently score significantly lower or higher than their peers. Paul Buob suggested developing a judge-tiered system with incentives and tracking improvements through future technology platforms. The group also discussed the need for better continuing education programs, including mandatory viewing of scoring explanation videos and recorded judging discussions to help new judges understand proper scoring methods. Bill Jones raised concerns about the lack of tracking for experienced judges' performance history, noting that without proper documentation, it's difficult to incentivize long-term participation or address performance issues. The conversation ended with Blake challenging all committee members to think about ways to incentivize continuing education and encourage collective improvement in judging standards.

Contest Representative Committee

Committee Chair: Carol Bigler

Committee Members:

Rules Committee

Committee Chair: Carol Bigler

Committee Members:

No report for this period.

Finance Committee

Committee Members: Thomas Gearhart, Paul Buob, Luke Darnell, Jeanne Titus, Rod Gray.

Overall Financial Update

The Finance Committee has shifted its meeting schedule to the end of each month to

better align with the availability of monthly financial statements. Meetings are now held

on the 4th Wednesday of every month. This change ensures the committee has

complete and accurate data for more informed discussions and decision-making.

June 2026 YTD Financial Highlights

Throughout the first half of 2026, KCBS recorded total income of $581,177, compared

with $641,620 in the same period last year. The variance was driven primarily by lower

Membership Dues and the timing of World Invitational entries, partially offset by

continued strength in Contest Income. Contest Income showed resilience, rising to

$144K (up from $132K), demonstrating healthy event activity. Sponsorship revenue

normalized after the large US Soy recognition earlier in the year.

Gross profit came in at $342,953. Operating expenses increased to $359,447, reflecting

elevated Team of the Year payouts, travel, and the full impact of World Invitational-

related costs flowing through in the second quarter. As a result, the organization

reported a Net Operating Loss of $16,494 and Net Income of -$16,348 for the 6-month

Period.

The year-over-year shift to a first-half loss is largely timing-related, with major event

costs front-loaded in Q2 while Contest Income is up year-over-year at $144K (up from

$132K) and several sponsorship and contest revenue streams are expected to build

momentum in the second half. Payroll, professional fees, and other core operating costs

stayed well controlled. While Membership trends warrant continued monitoring, the

organization’s expense discipline and strong cash/liquidity position provide a solid and

resilient foundation heading into the peak summer contest season, supporting

expectations of recovery toward full-year budget targets.

Foundation Committee

Committee Chair: Paul Buob

Committee Members:

Nominating Committee

Committee Chair: Blake Moore

Committee Member:

No report for this period.

Technology Working Group

Committee Chair: Luke Darnell

Committee Members: David McAllister.

No report for this period.

Hall of Fame Workgroup

Committee Chair: Thomas Gearhart

Committee Members: Carolyn Wells.

No report for this period.

Organizer Working Group

Committee Chair: Donna Fong

Committee Members: Organizer Kathy Trainor (Taunton, MA), Organizer Christie Vanover, Organizer Jim Palmer (Riverside, CA), Organizer/Rep Bill Jones (Richmond, VA), Representative Julie Poe (Sacramento, CA), Chair Donna Fong, and CEO Rod Gray.

The Organizer Workgroup did not meet during the month of July but continued to work on establishing an Organizer Hall of Fame criteria. Thanks to input from Representative Dave Druetzler we have removed the suggestion of adding mints to judges' goodie bags in the Organizer Guide, as palate altering items are not allowed during judging. Lastly, KCBS has now posted details on how KCBS members receive a 15% Wyndham hotel discount on its perks page.

The next meetings are scheduled for 8/4/26, 10/6/26 and 12/1/26 at 6:30pm Central. We will continue our efforts to reach out to organizers who need assistance. Anyone needing Organizer support can email dfong@kcbs.us.

Marketing and Membership Workgroup

Committee Chairs: Donna Fong and Blake Moore

Committee Members: MCBJ Kent Hayes (KS), MCBJ Mark Tuttle (ID), MCBJ and Rep Debbie Spray (TX), CBJ John Serpico (MA), and MCBJ Royce Johnson (CA)

The Marketing & Membership Workgroup met on June 16, 2026. Members present were Co-chair Blake Moore, Loudon, TN, Co-chair Donna Fong, Alameda, CA; Mark Tuttle, Meridian, ID; Debbie Spray, Coppell, TX; Kent Hayes, Olathe, KS, Royce Johnson, Hayward, CA; Gemi Carter, Belton, MO ; Rod Gray, ex officio, KCBS CEO, Leawood, KS; and Paul Buob, ex officio, President, KCBS, Chillicothe, IL.

Our top priority was to finalize the Nonprofit Organizer Outreach Package with Promotional Video. The final package has been delivered to an external target group for their review and comment before re-edit and final submission to the board for their approval. The workgroup would like to thank Anna Simbeck and Mark Tuttle for their significant contribution to the strength of the package. The May Lifetime Membership Promotion was highly successful, bringing in $14,550 in revenue. The workgroup continues to build out the travel, lodging and brand discount portfolio for membership. This includes establishing a regional vendor in Europe to purchase KCBS gear. Another priority is to educate members who have difficulty receiving contest notifications, navigating website functions and other common website tasks. The workgroup will continue to monitor comments from the Monthly Experience Survey and forward issues to the pertinent committee.

The next monthly meeting is scheduled for 7/21/26 at 6:00pm Central.

World Invitational (Public Facing) Working Group

Committee Chair: Blake Moore

Committee Members: Paul Buob, Jason Cole, Eric Cantrell, Cliff Brockman, Rod Gray.

No report for this period.

KCBS Competition Enhancement Working Group

Committee Members: Thomas Gearhart, Blake Moore, David Puckett, Josh Yagel, Pat Larisey, Garry Edwards.

There are no changes since the last update presented to the board. We confirmed that

no technology updates are required for SCORE to accommodate the upcoming rules

Change.

We are requesting Rules Committee support to draft a single unified rules document

that applies to the 2-meat/4-meat formats. We respectfully request that draft rules be

available to the Board for review NLT August 1.

The Board will need to review options for how to score/record points for ONE MEAT

events.

Monthly Experience Survey (MES) Results – No Report

CEO Report

Key Highlights

Following the 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational, separate surveys were distributed to competing teams and judges to evaluate the event. Both groups reported strong overall satisfaction with the World Invitational and, notably, both reported an identical 82% positive intent to return in 2027. The surveys suggest the event has reached a point where operational execution is consistently strong. Going forward, the greatest opportunities for improvement are no longer fundamental event operations, but refining logistics and enhancing the overall experience for competitors, judges, sponsors, spectators, and potentially the local community. Summaries of each survey follow.

KCBS World Invitational Team Survey Summary

Following the 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational, participating teams were invited to complete a post-event survey. Thirty-nine teams responded, representing approximately 26% of the field.

The survey indicates the event has moved beyond simply being a well-executed barbecue contest. Teams rated virtually every operational aspect of the World Invitational between 4.6 and 5.0, suggesting that execution is no longer the primary challenge. Going forward, the greatest opportunities lie in enhancing the overall experience by expanding spectator engagement, vendor participation, entertainment, and activities outside the competition itself.

Overall, the event received a 4.69 out of 5 satisfaction rating.

The highest-rated aspects of the event were:

Contest Representatives, KCBS staff, and volunteers: 4.95
Hospitality (goodie bags, breakfast, ice cream, coffee vendor, knife sharpening): 4.85
Award ceremony: 4.82
Contest site and amenities: 4.77
Ancillary contests: 4.76
Registration process and pre-event communication: 4.74
Onsite communication: 4.72
Prize payout structure: 4.69

While every category averaged at least 4.46, the Cook's Meeting, Check-in/Arrival, Awards/Trophies, and Kid's Que received the lowest scores, though each still averaged above 4.4.

When asked about returning in 2027:

21 teams (54%) said they will definitely return.
11 teams (28%) said they will probably return.
4 teams (10%) were unsure.
3 teams (8%) said they probably or definitely would not return.

This represents an 82% positive intent to return.

Open-ended responses were overwhelmingly positive. The most common compliments included:

Professionalism, friendliness, and accessibility of KCBS staff and Contest Representatives.
Hospitality provided throughout the weekend.
The awards ceremony, particularly Eric Cantrell's emceeing.
The new World Chicken and Rib Finals format.
Fellowship among teams and the overall atmosphere.
Efficient registration and check-in.
The quality of the swag bags.

Constructive feedback centered around several recurring themes:

Reduce public address announcements during peak cooking hours.
Improve audio quality and speaker coverage (excluding awards).
Continue refining communication regarding arrival, check-in, and event schedules.
Expand the event atmosphere with additional vendors, activities, and opportunities for teams and judges to socialize.
Increase promotion of the event to local spectators and the surrounding community.
Review policies surrounding cancellations and entry fee transfers for teams experiencing unforeseen circumstances.

KCBS World Invitational Judge Survey Summary

Following the 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational, judges were invited to complete a post-event survey. Fifty-eight judges responded, representing approximately one-third of all judges who participated during the weekend.

The survey reflects a strong overall experience, with every major operational category scoring 4.45 or higher. The highest marks were awarded to the contest site, KCBS staff and Contest Representatives, pre-event communication, and the judges' meeting. Most opportunities for improvement centered on logistics, including check-in procedures, shuttle operations, parking, and ancillary category assignments rather than the judging experience itself.

Overall, judges rated their experience 4.45 out of 5.

The highest-rated aspects of the event were:

Contest Site: 4.81
Contest Representatives, KCBS Staff, and Event Volunteers: 4.72
Pre-arrival Communication: 4.66
Judges' Meeting: 4.64
Hospitality: 4.55
Ancillary Category Judging: 4.51
Parking and Shuttle Service: 4.50
Judge Registration Process: 4.45

The lowest-rated operational category was Check-in/Arrival (3.95), making it the clearest opportunity for improvement in 2027.

When asked about returning next year:

38 judges (66%) said they will definitely return.
9 judges (16%) said they will probably return.
5 judges (9%) were unsure.
6 judges (10%) said they probably would not return.
No respondents indicated they definitely would not return.

This represents an 82% positive intent to return, identical to the teams' survey.

Open-ended comments were generally positive and frequently praised:

The James E. Ward Agricultural Center as an outstanding venue.
The fellowship among judges, teams, and volunteers.
KCBS staff, Contest Representatives, and local volunteers.
The Friday World Chicken and Rib Finals.
Awards presentations and hospitality, particularly the goodie bags and ice cream.
The overall organization and atmosphere of the event.

Constructive feedback focused primarily on operational logistics:

Streamline judge check-in and table assignment to reduce wait times.
Improve handicap parking and shuttle service for judges with mobility challenges.
Better coordinate ancillary category assignments and staffing to avoid unnecessary waiting.
Improve audio quality and microphone announcements.
Expand the onsite KCBS merchandise presence.
Consider enhancements to judge hospitality, including goodie bag contents.
Improve communication regarding parking, RV locations, and event logistics.

Several judges also commented on judging policies and procedures, including judge selection for invitational contests, use of comment cards, seating assignments, and judging consistency. While these comments were important and deserve continued review, they represented a relatively small number of respondents compared to the broader operational feedback.

Overall Takeaway: Together, the team and judge surveys paint a consistent picture. The KCBS World Invitational has evolved into a well-executed, professionally managed event with high satisfaction among its primary stakeholders. Rather than identifying significant operational deficiencies, respondents focused largely on refining logistics and enhancing the overall experience. This represents an important shift. As the event continues to mature, future improvements are less about correcting problems and more about building the World Invitational into an even stronger destination event for competitors, judges, sponsors, spectators, and the local community.

KCBS International

The International Operations group traveled to Poland last month for a CBJ class and contest. We continue to see increased interest from South American countries anxious to bring KCBS style events. The IO team heads to Brazil this week to host a CBJ class, a contest, and begin training a new Contest Representative. Here are the current 2026 numbers for our international events:

Master Series - 53

Backyard Series - 6

One Meat - 26

Competitor Series - 1

CBJ Class - 8

Total Events - 94

This group deserves recognition for the tremendous work they have done rebuilding KCBS's international presence following the pandemic. Expanding our international contests has required an extraordinary amount of effort, and their commitment has been instrumental to that success. At the same time, we have begun early discussions about succession planning for our current International Operations team. Their knowledge, relationships, and dedication have been invaluable, and replacing this group will be one of the organization's greatest future challenges.

KCBS Website Back Office

Lighthouse Software Group (LSG Canada) has completed updates to the back office side of the KCBS website. These changes are significant enough to affect the look and fundamental operation, causing some confusion and frustration of Contest Representatives, Contest Organizers, and especially KCBS staff. We continue to work through these changes. We received an email communication of pending price increases in August, but it is indicated there will be a meeting ahead of the increase. Staff continues working with LSG to resolve issues and improve user familiarity during the peak of contest season. While the transition has created short-term disruption, we expect the improvements to benefit operations once users become accustomed to the new interface. The new Artificial Intelligence feature is far more helpful than originally anticipated.

Overall, KCBS continues to make measurable progress in the areas identified as organizational priorities: delivering high-quality events, expanding our international footprint, improving operational systems, and strengthening the value we provide our members.

Membership

As of July 10th, 2026, KCBS membership stands at 14,964, up from 14,959 reported on June 5th.

May’s expired-member postcard campaign resulted in 64 renewals. Postcards for June expirations were mailed this week.

Contests

180 events completed in 2026

361 events scheduled for 2026

24 events canceled in 2026

CBJ & Table Captain Classes

26 CBJ classes scheduled in 2026

14 Table Captain classes scheduled in 2026

Marketing & Communications

Bullsheet
The July issue of the Bullsheet was sent to 13,252 recipients. The digital publication was opened by 6,872 (up from 6,542) members as of 7/7/26, reflecting a 51.86% open rate (up from 49% last month). The July issue is a recap of the 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational, and is an 87 page outstanding issue of our digital publication, in my opinion.

Social Media (as of 7/7/26)
Engagement and audience growth continue across all platforms.

Current Follower Counts

Facebook	79,818 followers, up from 79,763
Instagram	27,742 followers, up from 27,608
X	22,233 followers, down from 22236
Total social media followers:	129,793, up from 129,607 (+186)

Facebook Performance

Views: 167,397, down from 352,953, reported as a 50% increase in the previous 28 days via Facebook
Engagement: 8,575, a 53% decrease from the previous 28 days
New followers: -82 net new followers in the previous 28 days (uncertain of the discrepancy in reporting)

Website Performance (per Google Search Console - July 2026)

10,693 total clicks (down from 13,334 last month) from Google Search
108,883 total impressions, (down from 112,205 last month)
Top-clicked pages:
- Homepage: 9,007 clicks, up from 7,551 last month
- Explore Events page: 1,331 clicks, up from 1,088 last month
- World Invitational page: 670 clicks (not registered the previous month)
- Judging Classes page: 376 clicks, up from 272 last month
- Judging Requirements page: 180 clicks, down from 200 last month
Top search queries:
- kcbs 4,315, down from 5,547 last month
- kcbs bbq 1,756, up from 1,716 last month
- kcbs events 460, down from 620 last month
Device usage:
- Mobile: 8,039, down from 10,399 last month
- Desktop: 2,427, down from 2,651 last month
- Tablet: 227, down from 284 last month
Top countries:
- United States: 9,214 clicks, 86,465 impressions
- Canada: 628 clicks, 3,644 impressions
- Italy: 271 clicks, 1,108 impressions