U.S. Consultants

Barbara manages the business recruitment operations for the Kansas Department of Commerce. She has worked in business recruitment and expansion for 15 years and has coordinated successful projects with key names such as Farmers Insurance, Quintiles, Kiewit Power, Interstate Bakeries, Royal Caribbean and Capital One. Barbara is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council and an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council. She is also a licensed real estate agent in the state of Kansas. Barbara participates in CoreNet Global, Industrial Asset Management Council, Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) and Kansas Economic Development Alliance. She serves as a board member and instructor for the Heartland Economic Development Council. Barbara is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and Washburn University with bachelor's and master's degrees in business.

Bill has managed Commerce's East Coast office since 1996. He has coordinated successful projects ranging from 10 employee firms in rural Kansas to major companies such as Caterpillar, United Health Care Services, Foot Locker, T-Mobile and FedEx Ground. Bill's Kansas experience was preceded with more than 25 years with New York economic development agencies. He participates in CoreNet Global, Industrial Asset Management Council and Kansas Economic Development Alliance. Bill is a Certified Economic Developer (CED) through the International Economic Development Council, as well as an instructor for the organization's basic economic development course. Bill holds bachelor's and master's degrees in geography from Middlebury College and the University of Vermont, respectively.

Ron manages site selection and business recruitment duties in the western United States. He has represented the Kansas Department of Commerce for over 10 years. Successful projects include Guardian Financial, Grundfos Pumps Corporation, United States Postal Service Remote Encoding Center and Bus & Coach International. Ron has a diverse background that includes professional athletics in Australia and France, as well as political consulting. He participates in organizations such as CoreNet Global, Industrial Asset Management Council and Kansas Economic Development Alliance and is also a member of the House of Blues Foundation. Ron holds a bachelor's degree in social science from Emporia State University and an MBA from Baker University.

Alicia manages site location and business recruitment projects in the central and southeast United States. She has a broad range of economic development experience working in both the state of Texas and the state of Kansas. Successful projects include The Coleman Company, Generali and the headquarter relocations of BATS Trading, and Specialty Fertilizer Products. Alicia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas, and is a graduate of Leadership Lawrence and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. She has prior experience in business park management and was the co-creator and vice president of sales for the EcoDev Tracker.

Teresa manages site location and business recruitment projects in the Great Lakes area. She has 15 years experience as an economist and economic developer. Teresa holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration degree, both from Central Michigan University. She is a certified economic developer and a graduate of University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. She has served as an economist with the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, where she analyzed federal tax and budget legislation and co-authored the 1991 Luxury Tax Impact Study which focused on job loss and retention, and with Paragon Decision Resources as an economic development consultant on labor market and workforce analysis, target marketing, strategic planning, commuter patterns, business retention and expansion and economic development marketing strategies. Teresa was the first Executive Director of the Montgomery Economic Development Corporation and founded Nortillo and Associates, Inc. focusing on labor and workforce analysis, business attraction and retention strategies.