 
JEFFERSON CITY (December 11, 2003) Gov. Bob Holden today named Public Service Commissioner Kelvin Simmons as the new Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Simmons replaces Joe Driskill, who resigned yesterday after ten years as the director.
Simmons, 40, was appointed to the Public Service Commission, which regulates Missouri utilities, by Gov. Mel Carnahan in June 2000 and served as the commission's chairman from July 2001 to Nov. 2003. He was previously a Kansas City Councilman for the Fifth District for nearly four years.
"I have every confidence that Commissioner Simmons will use his tremendous talents to build upon this state's recent surge in job creation and take economic development in Missouri in an exciting new direction," Holden said. "I made it clear that my number one priority for him is to recommend and implement immediate job producing strategies that will expedite our economic recovery."
Simmons currently serves on the Governor's Security Council, which is charged with advising the Governor and the state on homeland security matters. This year he received the Public Leadership Award from the St. Louis NAACP. Simmons received his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Executive Masters in Business Administration from university of Missouri-Kansas City.
"I can think of no other public service job that is as important right now than the Director of Economic Development," Simmons said. "I appreciate this opportunity to serve and believe that Missouri is poised for real progress. I understand the Governor's challenge for immediate action and I look forward to the task at hand."
Holden said that he continues to support investment for the state's long-term economic prosperity. However, he challenged Simmons to find ways to redirect existing resources to projects that immediately create jobs and benefit the state.
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