KANSAS REGIONAL CENTER - Key Persons
Randy L. Speaker brings 39 years of real estate experience to the KRC team. This includes real estate sales, development, finance, marketing and management in twelve states as a private entrepreneur. He is a unique resource to public-private partnerships through his leadership in past employments within the public sector. These gubernatorial and mayoral appointments have included: Undersecretary in the Kansas Department of Commerce; Deputy City Manager, Public Works Director, Director of Housing & Neighborhood Development and Liaison for Economic Development. In addition, he has provided leadership and oversight to a city Planning Department, Development Services, Water and Water Pollution Control Divisions.
Randy is the originator of the nationally recognized "Stages Of Resource Targeting" (SORT) neighborhood revitalization concept. It is an investment strategy that maximizes the effectiveness of private and public capital to enhance personal and community wealth. It has proven to be successful even amidst the current economic climate. His innovative style helped leverage $180 million dollars of new economic activity annually for the state of Kansas. He orchestrated an agreement between federal and state agencies for Contract Administration of 25,000 rental-housing units; established the Kansas Accessibility Modifications Program; and implemented the first Housing Trust Fund offering for the State of Kansas where $1.5 million dollars leveraged over $20 million dollars of new development.
Job Titles:
- Chief Attorney for the Department of Commerce
Robert E. North is the Chief Attorney for the Department of Commerce, serving in that capacity since 2004. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Bob was in private practice and with another state agency practicing in the areas of bond finance, tax issues and litigation. In addition to managing the agency's legal and compliance efforts, Bob has focused on project development and financing, including complex bond transactions. He has worked extensively on STAR bond financing including the Wizards Sporting Kansas City soccer stadium and Overland Park Prairiefire development projects.