Civic veteran Bob Langenkamp to head Kansas City’s Economic Development Corp.

Bob Langenkamp, who has been leading Kansas City’s main development body temporarily, will be its permanent president and chief executive, Mayor Sly James and the board of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City announced Monday.

The development corporation oversees the efforts of six redevelopment agencies serving Kansas City.

Langenkamp has worked for the city since 1989, the announcement said, most recently as assistant city manager since 2009 and additionally as director of city planning in 2012.

In the announcement, James praised Langenkamp’s leadership, and Bridgette Williams, the head of the corporation’s board, said: “When it comes to business, nothing trumps intelligence, integrity and energy. Those are three key attributes that describe Bob Langenkamp, and we believe that Bob has what it takes to build a solid and strong economic development entity for Kansas City.”

James also announced that Jeff Krum would join the board, succeeding Clyde McQueen, whose term expired. Krum is vice president for corporate affairs at Boulevard Brewing and a founder of Ripple Glass, which collects recycled glass throughout the region.

The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City is a nonprofit agency that also staffs the Tax Increment Financing Commission, the Downtown Economic Stimulus Authority, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Boards, the Port Authority and the EDC Loan Corp.

The Star

This story was originally published March 2, 2015 at 2:13 PM with the headline "Civic veteran Bob Langenkamp to head Kansas City’s Economic Development Corp.."