Email from Leavenworth County Development Corporation

Economic Development Leadership

LCDC Executive Director Named to State Economic Development Board of Directors

LCDC Executive Director Lisa Haack has been selected to sit on the Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) Board of Directors. Lisa has been a member of KEDA since 2017, the same year she started at LCDC.

“Kansas Economic Development Alliance is a statewide, non-profit organization focused on economic growth and development in Kansas. KEDA aims to expand Kansas’s economy through united legislative advocacy and providing educational opportunities for those practicing economic development in Kansas.” – excerpted from the KEDA website.

Site Selection Conference

LCDC along with a delegation of Kansas City regional economic development professionals attended the Southern Economic Development Council’s (SEDC) Meet the Consultants conference in Atlanta. Panel discussions with site selectors and economic developers covered topics including project demands and trends, the energy transition, how to leverage supply chain and logistics, developing in-demand sites, changes in incentives, and workforce initiatives.

Chamber Economic Development Forum

LCDC Executive Director Lisa Haack participated in the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Council's Economic Development Forum. The various state, regional, and local economic development organizations and practitioners of Leavenworth County were invited to give a presentation on their organization's area of economic development. The keynote speaker for the event was Kansas Secretary of Commerce, Lt. Governor David Toland, who spoke about the vision of the Department of Commerce for economic development within the state and recent projects here in Leavenworth County.

Community Engagement

Spring Job & Career Expo a Success

More than 50 jobseekers came through the Heritage Center to meet with 26 employers, colleges, and training programs at the spring LCDC Job & Career Expo. Many applications were filled out, resumes were collected, interviews were scheduled, and there was at least one on-the-spot hire! Be on the lookout for the next LCDC career fair coming this fall.

LCDC Assistant Director Graduates from Chamber Leadership Class

Assistant Director Diana Dodd graduated from the Leavenworth-Lansing Area of Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Class along with 15 other community leaders from around Leavenworth and Lansing. The course is designed to help community members in positions of leadership learn about the history, government, and service organizations of Leavenworth and Lansing so that they may better understand and serve their communities. Congratulations to the Leadership Class of 2024!

Economic Development is a Team Sport

LCDC Board Member Spotlight

Meet the newest member of the LCDC Board of Directors and a founding member of Alcove Development, Dustin Baker. At Alcove, Dustin is responsible for all aspects of the real estate development business including analyzing new opportunities, sourcing debt and equity funding, managing and cultivating relationships, as well as overseeing daily progress of projects.

Prior to starting Alcove Development, Dustin held positions such as Director of Business Development and Human Resource Director for R.D. Johnson Excavating and Chief Financial Officer for Pine Landscape Center. He also had a 10-year career in commercial banking as a Regional Vice President at a community bank.

Dustin graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and from the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado.

Thank you for your support for LCDC, Dustin. We appreciate your service on our board.

LCDC Q2 In-Person Board Meeting Features Panasonic Update

The Q2 In-Person Board Meeting and Luncheon included guest speakers Julie Sailors and Kristen Walters from Panasonic North America who provided an update on the construction of Panasonic's new plant being built in DeSoto and what impact Leavenworth County can expect from having such a huge manufacturer and employer located close by.

Thank you to Deer Ridge Estate for providing the venue and to Evergy for being the lunch sponsor.