Greater St. Louis Inc., has named Ron Kitchens as its new CEO.
He was serving as president and CEO of the Wichita Falls, Texas, Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has more than three decades of economic development experience working with organizations in Michigan, Texas, Alabama and Missouri.
Kitchens is a graduate of Missouri State University and worked as a staffer for former U.S. Sen. John Danforth.
“Over the course of my career, I have had the honor of helping communities rediscover hope, reignite growth, and reimagine what is possible,” Kitchens said. “St. Louis is near and dear to my heart, and I am excited to play a role in building a prosperous future for this region.”
Kitchens will begin working at GSL in early November. Dustin Allison, the company’s chief real estate investment officer, has served as interim CEO since December 2024.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ron back to Missouri and look forward to the impact he will have on the St. Louis region,” said Andrew C. Taylor, executive chair of Enterprise Mobility and founding chair of GSL. “Ron is a proven leader who has the strategic vision, operational expertise and deep passion required to lead Greater St. Louis Inc. into our next chapter.”
Since being established in 2021, GSL has focused on:
- Attracting new investment and growing jobs and population across the 15-county bi-state St. Louis region.
- Supporting the transformation of St. Louis Lambert International Airport into a world-class destination.
- Revitalizing downtown into a thriving, vibrant and safe area.