Tom  Cole serves as the chairman.
Tom is the Business Development Manager for S. M. Wilson & Co,. a national retail, healthcare, senior care, education and commercial general contracting / construction management firm.  He leads the firm’s business procurement and economic development initiatives, including assisting clients in identifying lucrative municipal or state tax incentives and real estate site selection. Cole also serves as an ombudsman between clients and city governing bodies.  S. M. Wilson & Co. is among the nations largest contractors and completes over $400 million of projects annually.

Cole has more than 14 years of experience in economic and business development, having served as executive director, regional director and vice president of business development for economic development agencies and construction management firms.  He received the Ec.D. designation from the International Economic Development Council – a designation that recognizes proven mastery of economic development skills. Cole earned his MBA degree and his bachelor of science degree in business management in 1997 and 1995 respectively from Northwest Missouri State University.

Russ Weathers serves as the vice-chairman.
Russ Weathers is President and Chief Executive Officer of Agriculture Future of America, a not-for-profit organization.  AFA was founded in 1996 and Russ became the organization’s first executive in January 1997.

AFA’s purpose is to identify outstanding young people in rural America who have an interest in agriculture.  AFA supports their college education through scholarships and assisting these young people with their personal and professional career development skills.

Russ and his family moved to Liberty in 1968 when he was employed by Farmland Industries.  Russ soon became active in various community organizations in Liberty and the Kansas City area.  Russ served as a member of Liberty’s Planning and Zoning Commission, was elected to the City Council in 1976 and later served two terms as Mayor of Liberty.  Russ is currently Chair of the Liberty TIF Commission, as well as a founding director of the Partnership for Community Growth & Development.

Tim Pence is the treasurer.
Tim is Platte Valley Bank. He has twenty six years banking experience in various capacities. Tim received his  B.S. degree fromthe University of Missouri-Columbia and is a graduate of the School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.  

He currently is board member of the Liberty School District Foundation, on the loan committee for the Clay Platte Development Corporation and a member of the East Clay Rotary Club. 

Larry Muck is the secretary.

Larry is with M & I Bank.    Full bio to follow shortly.

Pete Burney serves on the executive committee as the board member-at-large.

Pete is Vice President – Business Transformation and a corporate officer at Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Pete is responsible for leading Hallmark’s business transformation work, designed to build new capabilities that will help the company deliver positive long-term business results.

Pete joined Hallmark in 1990 after serving as an officer in the U.S. Army.  He has been a northland resident for over 15 years, having served as past general manager of Hallmark’s Liberty Distribution Center and as a board member of the Clay County EDC. He holds a BS degree in education from Louisiana State University and an MBA. from the University of Massachusetts.  Pete serves on the boards of directors for Junior Achievement and the Mid-America Minority Business Development Council and is

a member of the East Clay Rotary Club.

Larry Wepler serves as the immediate past chairman.
Larry has been a Liberty resident since 1960.  He is a graduate of William Jewell College.  Wepler owns Trophy Properties and Wepler Construction which gives him first-hand knowledge of economic development, its challenges and opportunities.  Civic involvement and shaping the community's future are long-standing commitments of Larry's.  He served for many years on the City of Liberty Planning & Zoning Commission, including a stint as its' chairman.  His vocation and avocation have helped Liberty grow and prosper.  Larry was a founding member of the Partnership.  Besides serving as its chairman, Wepler is also an advocate of a conference center and hotel for Liberty.