Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Kimberly Young

Prairie Village,KS

Summary

Versatile business leader bringing 25 years of experience as an accomplished executive. Strategic problem-solver, change manager and visionary executive with success implementing plans to meet current and future needs. Key expertise in economic development, public policy, innovation, public speaking and media relations.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

President

KC Animal Health Corridor
Kansas City, Missouri
04.2011 - Current
  • Hired and managed employees to maximize productivity while training staff on best practices and protocols.
  • Developed and implemented new strategies and policies in collaboration with executive partners to establish and achieve long-term business objectives, providing company with strong and sustainable organizational leadership.
  • Initiated on-time, under-budget project management to optimize performance.
  • Achieved under-budget and on-time project management to adhere to project goals.
  • Increased company growth through collaboration with sales and marketing departments.
  • Attended trade shows and client meetings, promoting company brand and building rapport with prospects and partners.
  • Developed and maintained company's web presence, developing original text and working with marketing on image content for company website and email promotions.
  • Directed company's social media presence.
  • Developed company's media briefings and orchestrated positive media coverage and stakeholder relations as public face of company.
  • Public speaking at conferences, association meetings, board meetings, press conferences, live television and stakeholder groups.
  • Work with national and global C-level executives, public officials, service providers, academic/research institutions and financial/investment firms to position Kansas City as the thought leader in Animal Health.
  • Spearheaded cross-functional initiatives across departments to achieve business goals for bottom-line profits.
  • Fostered new business through participation in trade shows and initiating communications with prospective clients via phone and email .
  • Since joining the Corridor in 2011, over 70 new companies have relocated to the region and many existing companies have continued to invest and expand. This has resulted in over 4,000 jobs (only count years 1-3), over $369M in new payroll and over $2B in new capital investment.
  • The Corridor was instrumental in securing NBAF which will result in 300 plus jobs and is a $1.25 billion dollar investment. First BSL-4 facility in the U.S. dedicated to zoonotic diseases. I serve on their Community Liaison Group.
  • In 2019, led efforts for the relocation of two Divisions of USDA: Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City creating 568 jobs.
  • Have identified and worked with over 500 early stage companies from 21 countries connecting them to our ecosystem and helping them secure over $500M in investment as well as licensing deals and acquisition exits.

Vice President, Business Recruitment

Missouri Partnership
St. Louis, Missouri
05.2008 - 03.2011
  • Joined at inception of the organization. Hired and trained business recruitment and marketing team.
  • Selected CRM and lead efforts for database development.
  • Worked with Osborn Barr, outside marketing agency, to develop branding and messaging.
  • Developed performance metrics in partnership with Missouri Partnership Board, Hawthorn Foundation, State of Missouri and other executives at the Missouri Partnership.
  • Attended trade shows and client meetings, promoting company brand and building rapport with prospects and partners nationally and globally.
  • Exceeded organization goals each year during my tenure.

Managing Director

Greater Wichita EDC
Wichita, Kansas
05.2006 - 05.2008
  • Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
  • Spearheaded successful business development initiatives aligned with company's strategy and core competencies.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with regional and state partners both at the EDC level as well as the political level.
  • Media spokesperson, provided regular updates for the 6:00 p.m. news.
  • Brought together the competitive aviation and chemical industry to work on shared values- global messaging of Wichita's aviation and chemical strength, united front at global tradeshows, workforce training needs and development of supply chain locally.
  • Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to strategically affect operational direction.
  • Delegated assignments based on plans, project needs and knowledge of individual team members.
  • Assisted with creation of marketing strategy and advertising initiatives used to promote company to community members.

Prospects Manager

Kansas Department Of Commerce
Topeka, Kansas
05.2000 - 05.2006
  • Managed statewide workforce development programs providing grants to employers across Kansas. Each program had an annual budget of $2M.
  • Managed statewide bond program that provided funding for workforce training and capital investment for companies making large scale investments and hiring over 100 new employees.
  • Worked with educational providers (technical schools, 2-year and 4-year), WIB Boards and Kansas Board of Regents to ensure educational programs were aligned with the needs of business.
  • Worked with leadership on the development and passage of the KEGA legislation that created the Kansas Bioscience Authority.
  • Worked closely with the bond counsel and counsel for the Kansas Department of Commerce to ensure financial compliance with policies and statutes.
  • Worked with direct investment staff on the recruitment of new companies, jobs and investment into the State of Kansas.

Education

Bachelor of Science -

Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS
05.1997

Economic Development Certification -

OU Economic Development Institute
Oklahoma City, OK
12.2007

Skills

  • Operational Excellence
  • Opportunity and Risk Assessment
  • Product Development
  • Process Improvement
  • Effective Communicator and Public Speaker
  • Critical Thinking
  • Integrity and Transparency
  • Strategic Execution
  • Leadership and People Development
  • Complex Problem-Solving
  • Relationship and Team-Building
  • Stakeholder Relations

Timeline

President

KC Animal Health Corridor
04.2011 - Current

Vice President, Business Recruitment

Missouri Partnership
05.2008 - 03.2011

Managing Director

Greater Wichita EDC
05.2006 - 05.2008

Prospects Manager

Kansas Department Of Commerce
05.2000 - 05.2006

Bachelor of Science -

Pittsburg State University

Economic Development Certification -

OU Economic Development Institute
Kimberly Young