Kansas Global Trade Services Announces Anne Dewvall as CEO and President
Wichita, KS – (September 15, 2023) – Kansas Global Trade Services, Inc. today announces the appointment of Anne Dewvall as its new CEO. Dewvall is assuming leadership of the international trade nonprofit effective September 18, following the appointment of its previous CEO, Laura Lombard, as head of the International Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce.
“I am excited to utilize my experience and knowledge to assist my state to grow economically via trade and foreign direct investment,” Lombard said. “Kansas Global will be a trusted partner in doing so over the coming years, and I have the utmost faith in Anne’s abilities to take Kansas Global and Kansas’ exports to new levels. I look forward to continuing to work with her in our respective new roles.”
Dewvall brings fifteen years of entrepreneurship and economic development experience to the role, having worked previously as a Director at the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, where she excelled in training and program development, focusing on building entrepreneurship capacity in rural and underserved communities and expanding programs for youth, rural, women, and minority-led businesses. Most recently, she has led Kansas Global’s market research department, serving as Associate Vice President since spring 2022.
Dewvall will oversee the strategic direction of the organization by developing and implementing plans to grow the organization’s business, expand its services, and reach new markets. Her key goals include increasing the number of Kansas businesses that export, in particular expanding access to the export resources that are available to rural businesses and women and minority-led businesses; encouraging Kansas startups to develop an export vision early and “grow global”; and cultivating a global mindset among Kansans by deepening cultural awareness and appreciation.
“It is an honor to continue the Kansas Global tradition of providing specialized trade resources to help businesses grow,” Dewvall said. “Kansas is a dynamic state filled with innovative businesses, and it is my goal to create more opportunities for these Kansas companies to thrive through expansion on a global scale.”
Dewvall graduated from Fort Hays State University with a master’s degree in English literature and a B.A. in history from Wichita State University. In addition to her public sector economic development background, Dewvall has worked extensively in the private sector, providing marketing strategy, market research, and product development for small-to-medium-sized companies and nonprofit organizations.
“The Kansas Global board of directors is pleased to be able to promote such an accomplished and talented member of our team to the CEO position,” said Doug Keesling, Kansas Global Chair of the Board. “We believe Anne will lead the organization strategically, creating new export programs to help Kansas companies grow international sales.”
We are eager to embark on this new chapter under Dewvall’s leadership and continue our commitment to promoting international trade opportunities for the benefit of Kansas businesses and communities.
About Kansas Global Trade Services, Inc.
Kansas Global Trade Services is an international trade consulting firm that provides customized consulting and export services to help businesses, governments, and other organizations establish, expand, and strengthen their presence and participation in international markets. Since 1987, our experienced export assistance professionals have helped our clients design market-entry strategies that cut through red tape, identify, and leverage partnership opportunities, overcome documentation challenges, and fast-track sales and relationships abroad. For more information visit, www.kansasglobal.org.
