Women in Construction Week Celebrates

Carol Marinovich graduated from the University of Kansas in 1982 with a master’s degree in education and was an educator with the Kansas City, Kansas School District for 23 years.

Elected as the first female to serve in city government in 1989, Carol served as councilwoman in Kansas City, Kansas for 6 years. In 1995, Carol was elected Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas. When the city and governments unified in 1997, she was elected as the Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, and served for two terms during which she led efforts to turn around the fortunes of the Unified Government. 

Among the list of her accomplishments is the creation of the Village West retail and entertainment development, which includes a combination of local and national retailers. 

The development increased the area’s property tax base to over $7 million annually, creating 4,000 new jobs. In addition, the development has brought eight to ten million visitors to Wyandotte County each year from throughout the Midwest region and beyond. 

Marinovich has received numerous local, state and national honors and awards including the 2005 Outstanding Kansas Citian award. She has received both the Community Leadership Award from the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Service National Network and the Mayor of the Year award from Kansas Mayors Association, among many others. Not only has she received many awards for her amazing work, but in 2005 an award, the “Mayor Carol Marinovich Good Neighbor Award” was created at the University of Kansas Medical Center to honor her as well.