Liderazgo ejecutivo

Director de Turismo

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. 

Subsecretario de Desarrollo Empresarial

Joshua Jefferson serves as the Deputy Secretary of Business Development for the Kansas Department of Commerce, where he leads statewide efforts to attract, retain and expand businesses while advancing strategic economic initiatives that promote long-term prosperity. He oversees a high-performing division focused on driving private-sector capital investment, creating quality jobs and fostering a business-friendly climate across Kansas.

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 in both the public and private sectors. He has played a pivotal role in securing landmark projects such as Gulfstream Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, Merck and Fiserv. Prior to his role in Kansas, Jefferson was instrumental in attracting major aerospace investments to the Greater Phoenix region, including Virgin Galactic’s Delta Class spacecraft facility and Gulfstream’s West Coast Service Center.

Jefferson’s leadership spans diverse and high-growth sectors, including aviation, advanced manufacturing, financial technology and logistics. His strategic oversight has helped position Kansas as a national hub for innovation and industry leadership. Known for his expertise in site selection, incentive structuring and transformational project delivery, he is a trusted advisor to businesses, policymakers and community organizations alike.

In recognition of his impact, Jefferson was named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect in 2025. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Real Estate Planning from Arizona State University and remains committed to strengthening Kansas’s economy through proactive, inclusive and forward-thinking development strategies.

Subsecretario de Comercio

Mike Beene trabaja como Subsecretario de Comercio, supervisando los Servicios de Mano de Obra, Recursos Humanos, Servicios de Construcción y Workforce AID para el Departamento de Comercio de Kansas. Beene empezó a trabajar en la agencia en enero de 2007 como Director Regional en el sureste de Kansas (División de Servicios de Mano de Obra). Sus funciones incluyen la supervisión de todos los programas y subvenciones federales de mano de obra, además de los 23 centros de mano de obra ubicados en todo el estado.

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.

Vicegobernador y Secretario de Comercio

David Toland es el 52^nd Vicegobernadora del Estado de Kansas y también es Secretaria del Departamento de Comercio de Kansas. Toland, que pertenece a la séptima generación de habitantes de Kansas, fue nombrada Secretaria de Comercio por la Gobernadora Laura Kelly en enero de 2019 y Vicegobernadora en enero de 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 cuenta con una amplia experiencia en desarrollo económico urbano y rural, habiendo trabajado a nivel local tanto en Washington D.C. como en su ciudad natal, el condado de Allen (Kansas). Es licenciado y máster por la Universidad de Kansas.

Chief of Staff

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.

Subsecretario de Calidad

Matthew Godinez es Subsecretario de Lugares de Calidad del Departamento de Comercio de Kansas. Es responsable de la supervisión, gestión y dirección de las divisiones que incluyen Kansas Main Street, Community Development Block Grants, Housing, The Office of Rural Prosperity y The Office of Broadband Development. Su trabajo consiste en establecer la estrategia para la división de Lugares de Calidad e impulsar mejoras administrativas internas relacionadas con las operaciones de la agencia y garantizar que los programas de Lugares de Calidad estén alineados con el Marco de Crecimiento de Kansas.

Matt se desempeñó anteriormente como Director Ejecutivo de la Autoridad de Desarrollo Regional de Chanute y la Comisión de Planificación Regional del Sudeste de Kansas. Matt ha sido nombrado uno de los 50 mejores desarrolladores económicos de Norteamérica, Top 40 under 40 in Economic Development y Leadership Kansas Class of 2019. En 2022, Matt recibió su designación de Master Economic Development Practitioner de la Universidad del Sur de Mississippi.

Abogado Jefe

Bob North es Consejero Jefe del Departamento de Comercio de Kansas. Bob es responsable de las operaciones del Departamento de Comercio y ha desempeñado este cargo desde 2004. Tiene una amplia experiencia en financiación pública, programas de desarrollo económico financiados con bonos y otros incentivos de desarrollo económico. Antes de incorporarse a Commerce, trabajó en el sector privado.