December 4, 2007
For more information contact:
Rachel Girt
Manager, Marketing and Public Relations
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2851
Cell: 307.631.4681

Wyoming Business Council names new Director of
Investment Ready Communities Division

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council today announced the appointment of Shawn Reese as the new director of the Investment Ready Communities Division, replacing Steve Achter who will retire in March 2008.

“We are grateful to Steve Achter’s leadership in the development of the community assistance programs at the Wyoming Business Council,” said Bob Jensen, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council. “With his experience managing the Business Ready Community Program, Shawn Reese is the right choice to lead the Investment Ready Communities Division.”

The Investment Ready Communities Division works to help Wyoming communities become “business-ready” by administering the Community Development Block Grant Program, the Business Ready Communities Grant and Loan Program and the Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program.

“I am very pleased with the selection of Shawn Reese as the new director,” said Steve Achter. “The Investment Ready Communities Division is in good hands.”

“Wyoming’s local economies face many opportunities and challenges,” Reese said. “I look forward to working with the cities, towns, counties and our Regional Directors as they put together the plans, partnerships, infrastructure, amenities and housing needed to be successful.”

Reese currently manages the Business Ready Community Grant & Loan Program. He will take over the Investment Ready Communities director position, effective December 1. Achter will continue through March to help with the transition of duties. The Wyoming Business Council will undergo a search for the new Business Ready Communities Program Manager.

SHAWN REESE’S BIO
Since joining the Wyoming Business Council in 2003, Shawn Reese has worked closely with Wyoming’s local governments and businesses to improve Wyoming as a place to live and work. Reese initially managed the Community Development Block Grant Economic Development program within the Wyoming Business Council. He helped develop and manage the Business Ready Community program, which was created by the Wyoming Legislature in 2003. Since its creation, the Business Ready Community Program has granted more than $100 million to Wyoming’s communities for economic and community development projects ranging from business parks to child care facilities.
Reese is a third generation native of Wyoming. He received his Bachelors of Science in Sociology from the University of Wyoming and performed Master’s work in urban planning. He has also worked in planning development for the city of Cheyenne. He and his wife Aimee have two children.

STEVE ACHTER’S BIO
Steve Achter has served as the director of the Investment Ready Communities Division since the creation of the Wyoming Business Council in 1998. He started his city planning career as the associate city planner for the city of Maplewood, MN, a suburban community of St. Paul. He served as the director of planning and community development for Platte County. In 1979, he took a planning position with the then Wyoming Department of Economic Planning and Development. Since that time he has served with every economic development predecessor state agency of the Wyoming Business Council.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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