The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center (Innovation Center) is pleased to announce the addition of Joe Leroux as the business support program director of the Kansas Small Business Development Center. Joe will work directly with existing businesses and entrepreneurs on issues such as business planning, financial planning, and succession planning.

The Innovation Center is now serving as the Small Business Development Center for the 26-counties in Northwest Kansas. Housing the KSBDC within the Innovation Center will help develop and sustain businesses in the region, thereby making the economy stronger and more resilient. This expansion was made possible through the K-State 105 Initiative and Fort Hays State University.

“It’s typical for a business owner or an entrepreneur to be very good at building the widget or building the piece that they want to take to market, but it’s uncommon for them to have all the aspects of business they need,” said Scott Sproul, Innovation Center President/CEO. “This enhanced suite of services we are rolling out for Northwest Kansas is designed to strengthen those businesses. Joe will be an important resource in this work.”

Currently living in Victoria, Kansas, Joe is retired from the Kansas Army National Guard and is a graduate of Barton County Community College, Villanova, and Golden Gate University in management and financial planning. Joe is also an alumnus of the state chamber of commerce’s Leadership Kansas program.

Leroux has a background in manufacturing as both an operations manager and human resource manager at Hess Services, Inc. in Hays, and as a human resources/safety manager with Natoma Corporation in Norton. He has also worked in retail as an analyst with Payless ShoeSource, a distribution planner with Collective Brands, and an inventory planner with Alco Stores.

Community involvement is also important to Joe. He was an Ellis County commissioner, northwest district commissioner and governing board member for the Kansas Association of Counties, and state chief elected official board member for Kansas WorkForceOne. He also served on boards and advisory boards for the Hays Chamber of Commerce, Imagine Ellis County, Grow Hays, Seward County Community College, North Central Kansas Technical College, and Barton County Community College.
The Innovation Center serves a 26-county area including: Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Phillips, Smith, Rooks, Jewell, Republic, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Lincoln, Ottawa, Ellsworth, and Saline Counties.

We are excited to welcome Joe Leroux to head Innovation Center Business Support!