Kevin Wilkins has been engaged in rural economic development since the 1980’as a small town newspaper publisher in Nebraska and Colorado, serving in leadership capacities on local economic development efforts.

After leaving the newspaper industry in the early 90’s, Wilkins began a career in economic development as the Executive Director of the Belle Fourche South Dakota Chamber of Commerce assisting Belle Fourche, South Dakota, charged with enhancing industry retention and attraction activity, in addition to extensive efforts  within the Black Hills visitor industry.

Wilkins took the reins of a struggling public/private economic development organization in Chadron, Nebraska restoring fiscal health, cleaned up a million dollar loan portfolio and developed a small industrial park.

Fremont, Nebraska recruited Wilkins as CEO of the Greater Fremont Development Corporation in 2000, where he earned a CEcD designation in 2001. During his tenure in Fremont, two industrial parks were developed, with a third “data center” park in development when he left in 2009. The Greater Fremont Development Council averaged unprecedented number major projects per year from 2002 to 2009.

Wilkins left Nebraska for a short stint in Colorado within city government before accepting a position in Arizona with the City of Yuma as an administrator, prior to returning to Colorado as the Executive Director of the San Luis Valley Development Resource Group.

Wilkins has been an active member of state economic development organization in South Dakota, Nebraska Colorado and Arizona; as well at the Mid America Economic Development Council and International Economic Development Council.