Economic leader assumes the helm
Lawrence resident Steve Jack to pursue development efforts
Leavenworth ? The new executive director of the Leavenworth County Development Corp. brings goals, a strong sense of teamwork and a wealth of experience with him.
Lawrence resident Steve Jack has been hired to take over the position last held by Lynn McClure, who resigned in the fall. Jack begins his new job today and said he was ready to hit the ground running.
His duties include working with existing businesses in Leavenworth County to make sure they are receiving tax benefits and training programs available from the state, as well as recruiting new businesses to the county and focusing on key issues.
Among the biggest: A push to attract a $451 million lab project from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which lists Leavenworth and Manhattan among 18 sites still under consideration.
“Certainly the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is the hottest project and most important project the county is looking at right now,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for the county.”
Jack said he was committed to working to bring new jobs to existing businesses and working closely with the Kansas City Area Development Council to recruit new businesses.
“It’s important to listen to what people have to say,” he said. “We may be able to do the job more successfully if we get the support, feedback and input from the community and leaders throughout the county.”
The Manhattan native has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas State University. His resume shows a long list of managerial and director positions related to work force development and training.
He completed a three-year course at the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. His most recent job, with the Kansas Department of Commerce, involved managing special projects.
Tony Kramer, the corporation’s president, said that he was looking forward to Jack building on McClure’s success and bringing a “high level of enthusiasm” to the job.”