KC SmartPort officially elected Erik Hansen, vice president of sales and marketing, intermodal for The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, as chairman of the KC SmartPort Board of Directors. Hansen is joined by 26 additional members of the 2018 board of directors.
“It is an honor to have a leadership role on KC SmartPort’s board,” said Hansen. “KC SmartPort is a great organization that is focused on attracting freight-based businesses to the Kansas City area. One of our main focuses for 2018 will be job creation and workforce development to help elevate the overall community.”
Hansen succeeds Al Figuly, president of The Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone, who served as KC SmartPort’s chairman of the board for the past two years.
During Figuly’s two-year term as chairman, the Kansas City region gained $796.51 million in capital investment, resulting in nearly 5,636 new jobs and $186.68 million in payroll for freight-based projects. Notable announcements included more than 1.5 million sq. ft. for the location of two Amazon.com distribution centers in the region; and strategic locations for Dollar Tree, CVS Pharmacy, Hy-Vee and more.
Chris Gutierrez, President of KC SmartPort, expects 2018 to continue on the positive trajectory.
“Automotive, metals, plastics and food product related manufacturers are evaluating the KC market, many with a global base of operations," said Gutierrez. "The local real estate development market will continue to build spec industrial buildings of all sizes in 2018”.
KC SmartPort also elected officers for the Executive Committee, including: Mark Goode, DSI; Al Figuly, The Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone; Tim Cowden, Kansas City Area Development Council; Ron Achelpohl, Mid-America Regional Council; Jim Roy, QPS Employment Group; Chris Gutierrez and Elli Bowen, KC SmartPort.
About Kansas City SmartPort:
KC SmartPort is a non-profit economic development organization that works to attract freight-based companies, such as manufacturing, distribution and warehouses, to the 18 county, bi-state Kansas City region.