Staff and Board of Directors
Emporia RDA staff, guided by our Board of Directors policies, serves as a confidential single point of contact for companies considering the Emporia region for a competitive business expansion or location.
The Emporia Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas (RDA) carries out its mission under the policies developed by a seven-member voting board of directors, appointed by the four member organizations City of Emporia, Lyon County, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Emporia Enterprises. The City of Emporia and Lyon County appoint two board members each; Emporia Enterprises and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce appoint one board member each. Those six board members then elect a board member at large.
The Board of Directors has seven ex-officio non-voting board members who are Emporia City Manager, Emporia City Attorney, Lyon County Counselor, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, the Emporia Main Street Director, Emporia State University President, and Flint Hills Technical College President.
OFFICERS
Jim Kessler RDA Chair | Rick Tidwell RDA Vice-Chair President, Valu-Net Fiber |
Mark McAnarney RDA Treasurer Emporia City Manager | Jeanine McKenna RDA Secretary President/CEO Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce |
Kent Heermann CEcD, RDA President |
DIRECTORS
Carla Barnett President, Community National Bank & Trust | Rick Tidwell President, Valu-Net Fiber |
Dan Slater Lyon County Commissioner | Jon Geitz Emporia City Commissioner |
Jim Shepherd Retired Business Owner | Jim Kessler Retired Business Owner |
Jamie Sauder Coldwell Banker Real Estate
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EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS
Dr. Allison Garrett President, Emporia State University | Christine Montgomery Emporia City Attorney |
Marc Goodman Lyon County Attorney | Casey Woods Executive Director, Emporia Main Street |
Dr. Dean Hollenbeck President, Flint Hills Technical College |
RDA STAFF
620-342-1600 x 16
719 Commercial St
Emporia, Kansas 66801