Leadership

Director of Broadband Development

Bill Abston serves as the Director of Kansas Office of Broadband Development. He will oversee the state’s broadband initiatives that are expanding high-speed internet access across Kansas. Abston has more than three decades experience working on large-scale infrastructure projects, including fiber optic network development and utility construction. 

Abston has proven expertise driving revenue growth, delivering projects on time and within budget, and leading cross-functional teams. He is adept at fostering public-private partnerships, optimizing processes, and aligning organizational objectives with project outcomes. 

Abston has served as Principal at BBS Consulting, LLC in Tennessee; CEO of Hoosier Networks in Indiana, and President of OPALO, SAS in the Dominican Republic. He is a graduate of Northeast State Community College in Tennessee with an AAS degree in Design Drafting.

Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer

Romaine Redman serves as the Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer for the Kansas Department of Commerce. He oversees the alignment of the Office of Innovation’s initiatives with the state’s broader economic goals, drawing upon his expertise and partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure the department plays a vital role in creating a prosperous future for Kansas. He is helping create an agile and forward-looking economy where innovators and innovative businesses can flourish in the Sunflower State

Redman is a Certified Economic Developer and innovation ecosystem builder with a proven track record in fostering innovation ecosystems, driving transformative economic development, and cultivating collaborative partnerships. He has a master’s degree in Economic Development and Innovation, along with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science.

Director of Performance and Programming

Hugh Carter serves as the Director of Performance and Programming at Commerce. He has more than a decade of workforce development and government relations experience at the local, state, and federal level. He was appointed to the Lawrence/Douglas County Metropolitan planning commission before being elected to serve as a Lawrence City Commissioner. As Vice President of External Affairs for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Hugh headed up government relations and oversaw the development of the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center. He also provided leadership to METL, a regional coalition of the Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka, and Lawrence Chambers of Commerce. Before entering the Chamber world, Hugh received his Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and opened several hotel, casino, and convention center properties in eight different states as a hospitality executive.

Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of Commerce David Toland

Works earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Kansas State University, majoring in Food Science and Industry with a minor in Business Administration. She also received a master’s degree in Advanced European and International Studies from Centre International de Formation Européenne. Prior to beginning work at the Department of Commerce, Works was an Agribusiness Development Coordinator at the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Director of the International Division

Laura Lombard is the Director of the International Division for the Department of Commerce. The mission of the International Division is to expand Kansas’ exports and attract foreign direct investment to the state.

She was previously the President & CEO of Kansas Global Trade Services. Laura participated on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC-9) on Small, Minority, and Women-Led Businesses. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Mid-America District Export Council. Laura graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies with a master’s degree in international relations and economics. She also has a B.A. in political science and international studies from the University of Kansas.

Deputy Secretary of Business Development

Joshua Jefferson serves as the Deputy Secretary of Business Development for the Kansas Department of Commerce, where he oversees business attraction, retention, expansion, and strategic economic initiatives across the state. Jefferson leads a high-performing division focused on driving private sector capital investment, job creation, and fostering a business-friendly environment. His leadership spans diverse sectors, including aviation, advanced manufacturing, technology, and logistics and distribution, positioning Kansas as a hub for innovation and growth.

With over 17 years of experience in economic development, commercial real estate, aviation management, and workforce development, Jefferson has established himself as a transformative leader. Notably, he played a pivotal role in attracting major aerospace projects to the Greater Phoenix Metro area, including Gulfstream Aerospace’s West Coast Service Center and Virgin Galactic’s Delta Class Spacecraft manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona. These projects significantly contributed to the region’s economic vitality and reinforced its status as an aerospace industry leader.

Jefferson’s expertise in workforce development, site selection, and strategic planning has made him a trusted advisor to businesses, government leaders, and community organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Real Estate Planning from Arizona State University and has been recognized for his contributions to economic development through numerous awards and accolades. His dedication to cultivating long-term economic prosperity continues to make a lasting impact on Kansas and beyond.

Assistant Secretary of Quality Places

Matthew Godinez serves as the Assistant Secretary of Quality Places for the Kansas Department of Commerce. He is responsible for providing oversight, management and direction to divisions that include Kansas Main Street, Community Development Block Grants, Housing, The Office of Rural Prosperity, and The Office of Broadband Development. His work entails setting the strategy for the Quality Places division and drive internal administrative improvements related to agency operations and ensures Quality Places programs are aligned with the Kansas Framework for Growth.

Matt previously served as the Executive Director of the Chanute Regional Development Authority and the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. Matt has been named one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America, Top 40 under 40 in Economic Development and Leadership Kansas Class of 2019. In 2022, Matt received his Master Economic Development Practitioner designation from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Special Assistant

Kelsey Haile currently serves as Special Assistant, providing strategic support for the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce.

Prior, Kelsey served as the Operations and Logistics Coordinator for two years within the Department of Commerce before being promoted. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with a certificate in Economic Development from Wichita State University.

Director of Arts Commission

Curtis Young serves as Director of the Kansas state arts agency, the Kansas Arts Commission. He leads a team dedicated to supporting, promoting and expanding the role arts and culture play in education, workforce development and community well-being in our state. Prior to joining Commerce, he spent nine years with Florida’s state arts agency, the Florida Division of Arts & Culture. A practicing theatre artist, Curtis holds a B.F.A. in Performance from the University of Memphis and an M.F.A. in Directing from Florida State University.

Director of Legislative Affairs

Rachel Willis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washburn University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communications. She also received a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus in non-profit leadership from the University of Kansas. Rachel has over a decade of experience in educational nonprofit management and most recently was a lobbyist advocating for a variety of interests at small public affairs firm in Topeka.  

Director of Marketing and Communications

Patrick Lowry joined the Department of Commerce team in June 2022. He helps promote the best Kansas has to offer with the purpose of enticing new businesses into the state and retaining existing businesses.

A long-time newspaper editor and publisher, Lowry also has led marketing/communications efforts at the Kansas Health Institute and the Community Care Network of Kansas. He earned his bachelor’s in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University and an Executive MBA from Benedictine College.

Deputy Chief of Staff

Ryan Wills is Deputy Chief of Staff at the Kansas Department of Commerce. Wills previously served as Special Assistant to Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce, Manager of Constituent Services and Hospitality Industry Liaison. He was also a project coordinator on the Back to Business Team where he helped with the administration of Small Business Working Capital Grants. Previous to Commerce, Wills held various management roles within the hospitality, restaurant and music industries.

Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity

Trisha joined Commerce in 2021 as the Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity. Trisha previously held rural economic developer leadership roles in both city and county-levels for over a decade.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare, focusing on public policy, from the University of Kansas (KU). She also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from KU, concentrating on local government management as a part of the Kansas University City Managers and Trainees Alumni Organization program.  A native of Kansas, she grew up in the small town of Kiowa.

Director of Tourism

Bridgette Jobe is the Director of the Kansas Tourism Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce where she leads a dedicated staff of tourism professionals whose mission is to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas. As Director, she oversees the state’s marketing to visitors, the publication of KANSAS! Magazine, the Kansas Agritourism program, and the Kansas Byways program. 

Bridgette joined Kansas Tourism in 2019.  Previously, she spent over twenty-one years with the Kansas City Kansas Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is a past president of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas and served as chairman of the Kansas Governor’s Council on Travel and Tourism.  Bridgette is a life-long Kansan and an Original Dotte. 

Director of Human Resources

Sandy Brown joined the Department of Commerce in 2004 as a Human Resource Professional.

Before joining Kansas Commerce, she served as a Human Resource Professional with Kansas Department of Human Resources. Previously, she served as JTPA Case Manager in Emporia. She studied business at Wichita State University.

Chief Counsel

Bob North serves as Chief Counsel for the Kansas Department of Commerce. Bob is responsible for Commerce operations and has served as Chief Counsel for Commerce since 2004. He has extensive experience in public financing, bond-funded economic development programs and other economic development incentives. Prior to joining Commerce, he was in private practice.

Chief Fiscal Officer

Sherry Rentfro joined Commerce in June of 2014 as Fiscal Analyst and became the Chief Fiscal Officer in February 2018.

Prior to Commerce, she worked for over 10 years managing the accounting and finances of a non-profit association that serves the telecommunications industry in Kansas. She earned a BBA in Finance from Washburn University and MBA from Baker University.

Director of Community Engagement

Kayla Savage is Director of Community Engagement at the Kansas Department of Commerce. She provides engagement on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce and Lieutenant Governor with communities across Kansas for various Commerce initiatives. She also represents the Secretary on various Boards and Commissions, including the Kansas Water Authority, Kansas State Fair Board, Business Hall of Fame and the Information Network for Kansas.

Kayla has nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, community development and public service administration. She earned her BFA in Communications-Public Relations from Emporia State University and Master of Science in Community Development from Kansas State University

Executive Assistant to Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of Commerce David Toland

Leisa has been with Commerce since 2019 and oversees scheduling and administrative functions for Lt. Governor/Commerce Secretary Toland. Prior to joining Commerce, she held various administrative roles with prominent Topeka employers including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. She also has several years of executive-level administrative experience with an association management/lobbying firm and just prior to joining Commerce, with Topeka Metro. Leisa studied business management at Washburn University and is a proud lifelong Kansan.

Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of Commerce

David Toland is the 52^nd Lieutenant Governor of the State of Kansas and also serves as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. A seventh-generation Kansan, Toland was appointed Secretary of Commerce by Governor Laura Kelly in January 2019 and Lieutenant Governor in January 2021.

As Secretary of Commerce Toland has led Governor Kelly’s efforts to transform the state’s economy, directing a top-to-bottom overhaul of the Kansas Department of Commerce. His efforts at Commerce have included rebuilding its in-state, domestic and international business recruitment teams; launching the state’s Office of Broadband Development; re-establishing the Kansas Main Street Program; revitalizing the state’s Registered Apprenticeship program; designing and implementing the Kansas Framework for Growth strategic plan; and shepherding passage of the APEX Megaproject Bill, which gives Kansas one of the most aggressive economic development incentives in the country. Toland also led Governor Kelly’s successful recruitment of the largest private sector investment in Kansas history, Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion Electric Vehicle Battery plant in De Soto.

These efforts have resulted in back-to-back record-breaking years for Kansas economic growth—including 2021, when Kansas had the most private sector investment of any state in the nation on a per capita basis.

Toland has extensive experience in urban and rural economic development, having worked at the local level in both Washington D.C. and in his hometown in Allen County, Kansas. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Kansas.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce

Mike Beene serves as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, overseeing Workforce Services, Human Resources, Building Services and Workforce AID for the Kansas Department of Commerce. Beene started with the agency in January 2007 as a Regional Director in Southeast Kansas (Workforce Services Division). His duties include oversight of all federal workforce programs and grants, in addition to the 23 workforce centers located across the state.

Beene received a Master’s degree in Education from Kansas State University. Prior to his career with the Department of Commerce, he was an educator and administrator in both secondary and postsecondary institutions in Kansas.