Department of Commerce Bolsters Business Recruitment Team with Appointment of Peter Ruiz

Topeka, Kan. –Secretary of Commerce Toland announced today the addition of Peter Ruiz to the Kansas business recruitment team.

Ruiz will serve as a business recruitment representative for the West Coast territory, a position that has been vacant for five years. Based out of Los Angeles, Ruiz joined the Commerce team Nov. 4 to focus on recruiting businesses from the western half of the United States.

“Kansas has been without a West coast recruiter for far too long,” Secretary Toland said. “Peter is a talented eco-devo professional who will play a vital role in recruiting high-quality businesses to our state from the west coast.”

Ruiz brings more than 20 years of professional business experience to this position. Prior to joining the Kansas Department of Commerce, he served as vice president of business attraction for the Arizona Commerce Authority, where he worked to develop and secure new businesses for both urban and rural portions of Arizona.

Prior to his time with the State of Arizona, he was responsible for business attraction, retention and expansion for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. He has also served as economic development advisory commissioner and a planning commissioner for the city of Monterey Park, California.

Ruiz received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and MBA in International Business from California State University, Los Angeles. He continued his education with graduate level programs in real estate, urban development and public administration.