KBS Group today announced that Shad Burner joined the company as a principal, expanding the company’s far-reaching expertise in public and private economic development.

KBS founder, former U.S. Senator Kit Bond said, “Shad has extensive experience in federal and state programs and has worked closely with businesses, communities, and organizations from the Bootheel and rural communities to St. Louis, Kansas City, and our urban centers. Across the state and beyond, Shad is a well-respected professional we are excited to have join the KBS team.”

Welcoming Shad to the team, Chairman of the firm, former U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof, said, “Shad has a track record of success when it comes to connecting people, businesses, and communities to available funding and cutting through bureaucratic red tape. Our clients will benefit from his wealth of experience and knowledge.”

“Helping Missouri businesses and communities identify new opportunities and foster economic development is work I am passionate about,” said Shad. “I am excited to continue these efforts as part of the KBS team.”

Burner served on the leadership team of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) as the Director of Federal Initiatives. He was responsible for building a team of 20 to oversee the development of nine new grant programs that deployed more than $500 million of Missouri’s federal Covid-19 relief. His team awarded more than 650 grants focused in areas such as community revitalization, workforce development, tourism asset development, small business support, broadband expansion, nonprofit support and more.

Burner was appointed by Governor Mike Parson to serve as the Missouri Designee to the Delta Regional Authority and served as the Director’s designee on the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) Board of Directors. Additionally, Burner was the department’s liaison to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and served in a lead role for the department on the federal CHIPS program, Opportunity Zones, and development of an international flight incentive. He also worked dozens of businesses and community expansion projects representing thousands of new jobs, hundreds of millions in private investment, and millions in grant dollars for local communities.
Previously, Burner served as the Director of Alumni Services at Southeast Missouri State University, the VP of Business Development at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, and as VP of Business Development and investor at carGO, a ride-share and delivery startup.

Burner is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a 2020 Delta Leadership Institute graduate, and a 2021 graduate of Missouri Leadership Academy. He sits on the board of the Missouri Economic Development Council. Burner holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Southeast Missouri State University.

After more than 40 years in public office serving the State of Missouri as Governor and United States Senator, Kit Bond formed the company in January 2011 with key members of his former staff. Former U.S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof joined KBS in 2015 after 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2021, former U.S. Congressman John Shimkus joined the firm after two decades in Congress. Jason Klumb left the General Services Agency, where he managed federal employees and customers across four Midwest states as regional administrator during the Obama administrator, joining KBS as a principal in 2022. Most recently, George Redden, from senior Kansas Senator Jerry Moran’s office joined the firm in February of this year. The firm has office locations in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.