ST. LOUIS – Greater St. Louis, Inc., a regional economic development organization, has named Ron Kitchens as its new CEO after nearly a year-long search.
Kitchens, a native of Ozark, Missouri near Springfield, comes to St. Louis from Wichita Falls, Texas, where he served as the President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kitchens has more than three decades of economic development experience working with organizations in Michigan, Texas, Alabama, and Missouri.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ron back to Missouri and look forward to the impact he will have on the St. Louis region,” said Andrew C. Taylor, Executive Chairman of Enterprise Mobility and Founding Chair of GSL. “Ron is a proven leader who has the strategic vision, operational expertise, and deep passion required to lead Greater St. Louis Inc. into our next chapter.”
Kitchens, a graduate of Missouri State University, takes over after previous Greater St. Louis, Inc., Jason Hall, left for a similar job in Columbus, Ohio late last year.
In Wichita Falls, Kitchens spearheaded three of the largest private-sector investments in the city’s history, projected to generate a fivefold expansion of the local tax base.
“Over the course of my career, I have had the honor of helping communities rediscover hope, reignite growth, and reimagine what is possible,” said Kitchens. “St. Louis is near and dear to my heart, and I am excited to play a role in building a prosperous future for this region.
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