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Special Assistant

Kelsey currently serves as Special Assistant, providing strategic support for the Lt. Governor & Secretary of Commerce.

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

Executive Director of Broadband Development

Bill Abston serves as the Executive 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.

[email protected]
(785) 296-9941

Executive Assistant

レイサは2019年からコマースに勤務しており、トーランド副知事／コマース長官のスケジュール管理および管理機能を監督している。コマース入社以前は、ブルークロス・ブルーシールド・オブ・カンザスやストーモント・ベイル・リージョナル・ヘルスセンターなど、トピーカの著名な雇用主でさまざまな管理業務を担当。また、団体管理／ロビーイング会社で数年間、またコマース入社直前にはトピカ・メトロで幹部レベルの管理業務経験もある。リーサはウォッシュバーン大学で経営学を学び、生涯カンザス州民であることを誇りに思っている。

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..

最高情報責任者

ジム・ハウは最高情報責任者として2016年12月にコマースに入社。コマース入社以前は、カンザス州でクラウドサービスアーキテクトを務める。

カンザス運輸省でシステム・ソフトウェア・アナリストとして7年以上を過ごし、エンタープライズ・プラットフォーム・サポート・スーパーバイザーとして退職。1992年、ミズーリ・ウェスタン大学でコンピュータ情報システムの学士号を取得。

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.

観光局長

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 Kansas 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 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.

事業開発担当副長官

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.

Director of Office of Rural Prosperity

トリシャは2021年に農村繁栄局局長として商務省に入社。トリシャは以前、10年以上にわたり市や郡レベルで農村経済開発者の指導的役割を担ってきた。

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.

商務次官補

マイク・ビーン氏は、カンザス州商務省の次官補として、ワークフォースサービス、人事、ビルサービス、ワークフォースAIDを統括している。2007年1月、カンザス州南東部（労働力サービス部門）の地域ディレクターとして同省に着任。彼の職務には、州内にある23のワークフォースセンターに加え、すべての連邦ワークフォースプログラムと助成金の監督も含まれる。

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.

副知事兼商務長官

デヴィッド・トランドは52歳^nd カンザス州副知事兼カンザス州商務省長官。カンザス州民7世であるトーランドは、2019年1月にローラ・ケリー知事によって商務長官に任命され、2021年1月には副知事に任命された。

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.

ワシントンD.C.と地元カンザス州アレン郡の両方で地方レベルの仕事に携わり、都市と農村の経済開発に豊富な経験を持つ。カンザス大学で学士号と修士号を取得。

立法担当ディレクター

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.  

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.

マーケティング・コミュニケーション部長

パトリック・ローリーは2022年6月に商務省のチームに加わった。彼は、カンザス州への新規ビジネスの誘致と既存ビジネスの維持を目的に、カンザス州が提供する最高のもののプロモーションを支援する。

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.

クオリティ・プレイス次官補

マシュー・ゴディネスは、カンザス州商務省の「質の高い場所」担当次官補を務めている。カンザス・メインストリート、地域開発ブロック補助金、住宅、農村繁栄局、ブロードバンド開発局を含む部門の監督、管理、指導を担当。カンザス州の「質の高い場所」部門の戦略を策定し、機関運営に関する内部管理改善を推進し、「質の高い場所」プログラムがカンザス州の「成長のための枠組み」と整合していることを確認する。

マットは以前、シャヌート地域開発局と南東カンザス地域計画委員会の事務局長を務めていた。マットは、北米の経済開発者トップ50、経済開発部門トップ40アンダー40、リーダーシップ・カンザス・クラス・オブ・2019に選ばれている。2022年、南ミシシッピ大学から経済開発実務修士号を取得。

最高財務責任者

シェリー・レントフロ氏は2014年6月に財政アナリストとしてコマースに入社し、2018年2月に最高財政責任者に就任した。

コマース入社以前は、カンザス州の電気通信業界を支援する非営利団体の会計と財務を10年以上管理していた。ウォッシュバーン大学でファイナンスのBBAを、ベーカー大学でMBAを取得。

チーフ・カウンセル

ボブ・ノースはカンザス州商務省の最高顧問を務める。2004年よりカンザス州商務省のチーフ・カウンセルを務める。公的融資、債券による経済開発プログラム、その他の経済開発インセンティブにおいて豊富な経験を持つ。カンザス州商務省入省以前は、個人事務所に勤務。

人事部長

サンディ・ブラウンは2004年、人事プロフェッショナルとして商務省に入省。

カンザス州商務省入社以前は、カンザス州人事局で人事プロフェッショナルとして勤務。それ以前は、エンポリアでJTPAケースマネージャーを務める。ウィチタ州立大学でビジネスを学ぶ。

コミュニティ・エンゲージメント部長

カンザス州商務省のコミュニティ・エンゲージメント担当ディレクター。商務長官および副知事に代わり、商務省のさまざまな取り組みについてカンザス州内の地域社会との関わりを持つ。また、カンザス州水道局、カンザス州フェア委員会、ビジネス殿堂、カンザス州情報ネットワークなど、さまざまな委員会の代表も務める。

非営利団体経営、地域開発、公共サービス管理で20年近い経験を持つ。エンポリア州立大学でコミュニケーションと広報の学士号を取得し、カンザス州立大学でコミュニティ開発の理学修士号を取得。