WHO WE ARE

What We Are About

Our MISSION is to improve the economic quality of life for the working families of the community.

We will do this by:

Creating jobs, through retention, recruitment and expansion of businesses

Strengthening workforce through recruitment, education and training

Improving and increasing the number of living wage jobs

Expanding the tax base through increase capital investment

2022-2023 Annual Report

Great Bend Economic Development

The Great Bend Economic Development, Inc. is a public/private partnership focusing on the economic development efforts in Barton County, KS. The board is made up of City Council members, County Commissioners, Chamber Representatives, various leaders in the community, and the general public. We are a dedicated group of business sector stakeholders. This board employs an Executive Director to implement and oversee the efforts of the Economic Development.

Charley Sander

Meet Our Marketing and Events Intern

Hi! I’m Charley Sander, the newest addition to the team at Great Bend Economic Development. Born and raised in Great Bend, I am continuing my academic career at Barton Community College with a focus on marketing. I hope to further my skills in marketing while I learn alongside my new team! I’m excited to be a part of something so big and have the opportunity to give back to my hometown.

Meet Our Board

Paul Snapp

President/CEO at First Kansas Bank

Ryan Fairchild

Tech Specialist at Innovative Livestock, Services, INC. and Co-Founder at Dry Lake Brewing.

Dennis Neeland

Coldwell Banker Real Estate full-time independent sales associate.

MelEesa Stueder

Owner/Corporate Officer at Stueder Contractors.

John Worden

PharmD, MS, BCPS, Interim Great Bend Campus Administrator and Executive Director System Integration for Clinical Operations at The University of Kansas Health System.