Greg Steinhoff is returning to the private sector after nearly four years as director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Steinhoff to the post in January 2005, the first month of his administration. At the time, Steinhoff was vice president for franchise relations of Option Care Inc., a company that provides specialty pharmaceutical products and related services through a national network of 130 company-owned and franchise locations in 32 states. Prior to joining Option Care, Steinhoff was a pharmacist in Columbia.
Blunt announced Friday that Steinhoff was returning to the private sector. Steinhoff has accepted a position at Boone County National Bank as executive vice president and director of sales, according to an Oct. 6 report in Columbia Business Times.
Blunt has appointed Garry Taylor, a part-time economic development consultant and former state employee who lives in Jefferson City, to serve as interim director. In April, Blunt appointed Taylor to the Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees, which oversees the plan covering medical expenses for state employees, retirees and their dependents.
Steinhoff's last day is Oct. 17, at which time Taylor will step in until a permanent director is named, according to a news release from Blunt's office.
"I appreciate Greg's efforts to support Missourians' shared vision of economic strength for our state and appreciate that - while faced with the challenges of a slowing economy - we have worked to ensure Missouri is better off today than we were just four years ago," Blunt said in the release.
During Steinhoff's tenure, DED consolidated its business development and trade division and community development division and formed focus teams to work directly with business leaders throughout Missouri and the country. The teams focused on sales, marketing, financing and compliance.
Under Steinhoff, DED also created the Missouri Partnership, a nonprofit organization that receives a mix of public and private funding to further its mission of recruiting business and industry to the Show-Me State.[[In-content Ad]]
