WYOMING – Shawn Reese announced his resignation yesterday as Wyoming Business Council (WBC) chief executive officer. Reese did not set a specific date for the end of his tenure as head of the state of Wyoming’s economic development agency but said it will be by the end of the year.

The Cheyenne native and University of Wyoming graduate plans to prioritize time with his family, who has recently moved to Laramie. His wife, Amiee, is newly employed with the UW Foundation as a director of development.

Reese rejoined the WBC in June 2014 as CEO after serving as former Governor Matt Mead’s policy director for 3 1/2 years. He said this is an opportune time for change personally, and at the agency’s CEO level.

“The Wyoming Business Council has never been more ready to take it to the next level,” he said.

Governor Mark Gordon is a non-voting co-chairman of the WBC board. He added, “Shawn and I have worked together since my time as treasurer and I have always appreciated his steadfast leadership. His work at the Business Council, particularly in reforming the Industrial Development Bonds program and establishing the Economic Development Large Project Program, has been terrific. We appreciate his contributions to Wyoming and eagerly await his next step.”

WBC board cochair Megan Goetz said Wyoming’s greatest resource in economic development well may be its people and Reese was a prime example of strong intellectual capital.

“Shawn has been the ultimate model of this resource through his steadfast consistency, loyalty and dedication to the Wyoming Business Council for 15 years. We are so appreciative of the efforts led by Shawn at the WBC and wish him all the best in his new ventures,” Goetz said. “The future is very bright, thanks to Shawn.”

Reese twice held leadership roles during critical moments in the WBC’s 21-year history.

“I offer my sincerest thanks to the wonderful, hardest-working, and most dedicated staff I could ever have hoped for,” Reese said. “I am grateful to Governors Mead and Gordon and the Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors for allowing me to steer this big and important ship. We have done great things. Thank you to all the friends and partners from across the state who have guided me along the way.”

Board cochair Goetz said she has talked with Governor Gordon and the two will work with the board to develop a process for hiring a new CEO, including the establishment of a search committee.