WEDA's Board of Directors

Kayla McDonald

President and Education committee chair

Board

Kayla McDonald is the Economic Development Specialist for the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition (SEDC) in Sweetwater County. Kayla was instrumental in the development and creation of the countywide economic development organization in 2016 which is a partnership with the City of Rock Springs, City of...

Liz Gagen

Ex-Officio

Board

Kayla Kler

Ex-Officio

Board

Brayden Connour

Vice President

Board

Brayden Connour, CEO of Goshen Economic Development. Brayden started with Goshen Economic Development as the Business Development Director in August of 2019 and took over as CEO in January of 2022. The biggest achievement to date is passing the ¼ cent sales tax for economic...

Kevin Kershirsnik

Treasurer, Officer

Board

Kevin has lived in Wyoming since 1995 and his relatives have lived here for generations. He has an MBA from the University of Wyoming, two engineering degrees, and a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Wyoming. He has been successfully working for and managing manufacturing companies...

Betsey Hale

Secretary- Legislative Committee Chair

Board

Betsey most recently served as the President of Three Rivers Development Corporation located in Corning, NY. Three Rivers is a 54-year-old economic and community development organization that serves a three-county region in the Finger Lakes Wine Country. Prior to her work in New York State,...

Jared Routh

Board Member

Board

Prior to accepting the High West Energy CEO position, Routh served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Cooperative Services at Shelby Energy Cooperative in Shelbyville, Kentucky, which has more than 17,000 accounts. Before working at Shelby, Mr. Routh served in a variety of capacities...

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Bill Hayes

Board Member

I was born in Laramie, WY where my parents were attending UW. My dad was a petroleum geologist, so we lived in MS, LA, and TX. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970 and started as Management Trainee with JCPenney and...

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Brandon Marshall

Board Member

Brandon has served the Economic Development Community in Wyoming for over two decades and bring a strong background and knowledge in the needs of the communities around the state. Brandon has worked to develop connections across the state and region that can be very helpful...

Andy Gramlich

Board Member

Board

Andy is a retired healthcare executive who serves on a number of business and community organizations. Experienced in strategic planning, business development and recruiting as well as grant writing, review and administration. Former President of Leader Corporation and currently a member of the Lander Economic...

Jon Conrad

Board Member

Board

Jon Conrad currently serves as the Environmental and Governmental Affairs Manager for Tata Chemicals in Green River Wyoming. Jon has been in Soda Ash manufacturing holding various leadership positions over 27 years. Jon serves on the Uinta County Economic Development Commission and as the Chairman...

Josh Dorrell

Ex-Officio Member

Board

As CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, Josh Dorrell provides leadership and strategic direction in all aspects of the state’s economic development agency.Dorrell’s extensive private industry experience in technical sales, business innovation processes, identifying customer needs and leveraging partnerships, along with entrepreneur/startup mentoring, are well-suited...

Ron Gullberg

Ex-Officio Member

Board

Ron Gulberg joined the Wyoming Business Council in March 2014 as communications director following a 25-year daily newspaper career. He was promoted to business development director in September 2017, where he managed the business relocation and expansion, finance, market development and agribusiness efforts, and the creation of...

Heidi Peterson

Ex-Officio

Executive Director Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce PO Box 418 Laramie, WY 82073

Brett Kahler

Executive Director

Staff

Brett Kahler joins WEDA from the University of Wyoming, where he was most recently an assistant director for UW’s IMPACT 307 business incubator, and previously served as a director of development at the UW Foundation. Brett has also held roles working with both state and...

Zachary Valerio

WEDA Client Services and Operations Specialist

Staff

Zach has joined WEDA as of May 2023. Zach is working as the WEDA Client Services and Operations Specialist. Zach has a variety of work experience from managing the Cheyenne Fitness 307 locations, an internship at Impact 307, and an internship with the Wyoming Business...

Board of Directors

Staff Listings

Liz Gagen

Kayla Kler

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