Board of Directors & Staff

Executive Committee

  • Mike Esser, Chair
    Edward Jones
  • Bill Dunn, Jr., Chair-Elect
    J.E. Dunn Construction Company
  • Tracy Foster, Secretary
    Hallmark Cards, Inc.
  • Scott A. Zajac, Treasurer
    Advantage Capital Partners

Directors

  • Marilyn Bush
    Bank of America
  • Marie J. Carmichael
    Missouri Development Finance Board
  • Larry Chapman
    Clayco
  • Bryan Cook
    Regional Business Council
  • Max Cook
    Missouri Bankers Association
  • Ron Coker
    Burns and McDonnell
  • Jack Craft
    Lathrop & Gage, L.L.P.
  • Jim Donahue
    Deffenbaugh Industries Inc.
  • Rudy Farber
    Community Bank & Trust
  • Richard C.D. Fleming
    St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association
  • Gib Garrow
    Neosho Chamber of Commerce
  • Keith Gregston
    Noranda Aluminum, Inc.
  • Jim Grice, Esq.
    Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP
  • Stacy Hastie
    Environmental Operations, Inc.
  • Byron Hill
    ABC Labs
  • Ben Jones
    Union Pacific
  • Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
  • Allan Kells
    Cerner Corporation
  • Steve Kidwell
    Ameren
  • Clyde Lear
    Learfield Communications
  • R. Dennis McClelland
    Missouri Association of REALTORS
  • Tom McDonnell
    DST Systems Inc.
  • Chris McKee
    McEagle Properties, LLC
  • Dan Mehan
    Missouri Chamber of Commerce
  • Oliver Merindol
    Lafarge
  • David Nichols
    AT&T
  • Michael F. Nichols
    University of Missouri System
  • David Queen
    Gilmore & Bell
  • Rodger Riney
    Scottrade Inc.
  • Bob Robuck
    Central Bank and Central Bancompany
  • Ellen Sherberg
    St. Louis Business Journal
  • Duane Simpson
    Monsanto
  • Michelle Sweeney
    Ingram’s Magazine
  • Ray Wagner
    Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Community Development Organization Members

  • Greg Gaffke
    CenturyLink
  • Gordon Ipson
    Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative
  • William L. McCoy
    Xaxax Analytics, NP
  • Rolla Regional Economic Commission
  • Dean Thompson
    City Utilities of Springfield

Ex Officio Members

  • James Anderson
    Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
  • David Kerr
    Missouri Department of Economic Development
  • John Mehner
    Missouri Economic Development Council
  • Kristi Wyatt
    Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

Board of Governors

  • Carl Casale
    Monsanto

Emeritus Directors

  • W.H. (Bert) Bates
    Lathrop & Gage     LLP
  • C.R. (Bob) Lock

Staff

  • Elizabeth Bax, Executive Director
  • Heather Grote, Director of Development