SBA hires director for KC district

The U.S. Small Business Administration has hired a new director for the Kansas City district, which oversees the Springfield SBA operation.

The SBA tapped Roderick Cox to lead the district office, which provides programs and services in 89 counties, 28 in eastern Kansas and 61 in western Missouri, according to the news release.

Cox succeeds David Ross, who retired from the SBA in December, according to SBA spokeswoman Barbara Caldwell.

Prior to joining the SBA, Cox worked as an officer in the U.S. Army for 31 years, retiring at the rank of colonel.

“His military background includes extensive successful senior-level experience developing, communicating and implementing organizational strategies, visions and directions," said Patricia Brown-Dixon, SBA Region 7 administrator, in the release. "Rod’s challenge will be to get people to think of SBA whenever they think of small business."

At the Springfield office, two SBA specialists retired last week, leaving branch manager Suzanne Stearman as the sole employee serving the office's 28-county area.

Economic development specialist Janice Bowman and lender relations specialist Brent Jones retired June 27 after a combined 45 years with the SBA.