After several conversations Monday morning, mostly in executive sessions, and extended discussions for months, the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas are continuing an agreement with Interim President Lyle Butler to remain as the agency leader until a permanent president is hired.
Board members met for over an hour Monday as part of a special meeting. Board President Jeff Williams says Butler’s presence will continue “providing steady leadership and valuable insight” at a critical time for Emporia’s economic development. In a statement, Williams says the RDA is using a “deliberate and thoughtful process” to choose the right person for leading the city’s long-term growth.
To that end, Williams says work continues towards determining a new leader, saying the board is working to find the person “who shares our vision of a bright future for our area to lead the RDA.” Other details are pending.
For his part, Butler says Emporia is set up for growth.
Butler says Emporia enjoys several existing partnerships that can push the city forward.
Butler has said this is a time where the RDA’s economic development role — long-focused on medium- to large-scale industry — has seen some conversations about a possible evolution.
The RDA has seen its fair share of change over the last 18 months:
*In February 2024, prior director Chuck Scott resigned — about a year after replacing longtime president Kent Heermann — after being placed on leave for unspecified concerns.
*Jim Witt agreed to serve as interim director, doing so for about a year before Butler took over that role.
*Last summer, the city’s partnership with the external consulting group Vision First led to the city requesting significant structural changes to the RDA as part of larger changes to local economic development. For the RDA, that emphasis led to the addition of Emporia Main Street, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College as voting members on the RDA’s Board of Directors. Tentative plans for adjusting economic development by eliminating Emporia Enterprises have not moved forward.
Changes to Visit Emporia oversight, meanwhile, are also pending as the city of Emporia mulls options of keeping the tourism and marketing entity under the Chamber or moves it, perhaps to the city or Main Street.
The RDA leadership role isn’t the only one needing to be filled inside the Trusler Business Center. The Chamber is seeking a new president and CEO after Jeanine McKenna began directing the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation earlier this month. At Visit Emporia, Matt Fowler is serving as interim director until at least October as the city determines direction for that agency.
Williams’ statement is online at KVOE.com.
