Business Council Selects Chief Executive Officer

The Wyoming Business Council has selected its new chief executive officer. The agency announced yesterday that Shawn Reese, Governor Matt Mead’s policy director, will take the position.

Reese was selected from a pool of 38 initial applicants and three finalist. The selection committee held three rounds of meeting before announcing the finalists. The three contenders (Joan Evans, Hal Herron and Reese) answered questions for Business Council staff on Tuesday in Cheyenne and were publicly interviewed by the full board on Wednesday in Laramie.

Board Co-Chairman Rex Lewis said that the terms of the position have not yet been negotiated. The position will pay between $120,000 and $150,000.

Reese has a bachelor’s of science from the University of Wyoming and has performed master’s coursework in planning at UW. He worked for the Business Council from 2003-2011, where he developed the Business Ready Community Program. In the governor’s office, he oversees a staff of advisors and analysts who serve the governor on a variety of issues. He was also the lead architect of Governor Mead’s energy strategy, “Leading the Charge.”

Governor Mead says he is happy for Reese, but will miss him in his staff.

“Congratulations to Shawn. I will miss his presence on my staff but look forward to his work as head of the Business Council, which plays such an important role in Wyoming’s growing economy. Shawn is a strong manager who can bring diverse interests to the table to find solutions for complex problems,” Governor Mead said.

Reese is taking the place of former CEO Bob Jensen, who served as an advisor for the selection committee. Jensen, who resigned in March, is currently working in private business.