Commerce Deputy Secretary Recognized as Top Economic Developer

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced Commerce Deputy Secretary for Business Development Joshua Jefferson was named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect.

The annual recognition honors outstanding economic development professionals who are nominated by peers in the economic development and site consulting industries. Nominees are selected for their exemplary leadership, innovative strategies and measurable impact in building thriving communities.

“Our state’s dominant run of economic successes has been made possible by the dedicated team we have working on behalf of Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “I’m pleased to see Joshua recognized for his outstanding work, which is also an enormous credit to the team of business development professionals he leads at Kansas Commerce. They show up every day to hustle and outwork the competition — all with the goal of making Kansas the best and most prosperous state in the nation.”

Jefferson has been at the Kansas Department of Commerce since January 2024. He oversees business attraction, retention, expansion and strategic economic initiatives across the state. With more than 17 years of experience in economic development, commercial real estate, aviation management and workforce development, Jefferson leads a high-performing division focused on driving private sector capital investment, fueling job creation and fostering a business-friendly environment for the long-term economic prosperity of Kansas.

“Our committed team and our strategic approach to economic development have helped Kansas land more than $23 billion in committed private business investment in the last six years,” Deputy Secretary of Business Development Joshua Jefferson said. “Being nationally recognized by Consultant Connect is not only a tremendous professional honor, but it is further proof Kansas is doing it right and we’re seeing tangible results all across the state.”

The 2025 Top 50 recipients will be officially recognized and presented with awards during the ECONOMIX event, hosted by Consultant Connect on November 12 in Lake Nona, Florida.

“At Consultant Connect, we believe economic development goes beyond infrastructure and investment — it’s about creating opportunities that transform lives,” said a spokesperson from Consultant Connect. “We’re honored to shine a spotlight on these exceptional leaders who are driving meaningful change across North America.”

For more information about the award and the 2025 honorees, visit consultantconnect.org.