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Business Development Group Honors Tom Burkhart

Salisbury City Superintendent Tom Burkhart (l) accepts an award for his service to Moberly Area Economic Development from Dr. Jeff Lashley. Burkhart was the first Board member outside of Randolph County when the group transitioned to being a regional agency.

City of Salisbury Superintendent Tom Burkhart was honored at the November Board meeting of Moberly Area Economic Development for his service to the regional business development group. Mr. Burkhart completed a three-year appointment to the Board of Directors as the representative of Chariton County to the organization.

“Tom has been a valuable member of the team,” said Dr. Jeff Lashley, PhD, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “He has a vision and understands how communities working together to develop new business opportunities can benefit the entire region.”

Mr. Burkhart was an important part of the movement that led Moberly Area Economic Development into a new era that benefits central and northeast Missouri. “Tom was the first to help us to become an organization that works on behalf of all the people in the region,” said Corey Mehaffy, President of Moberly Area Economic Development. “He helped to transform the agency into what it is today.”

During Mr. Burkhart’s tenure with Moberly Area Economic Development the agency grew from representing only Moberly and Randolph County to representing Chariton, Monroe and Cooper Counties. The service area during that time included the Cities of Salisbury, Keytesville, Brunswick, Paris, Monroe City and Boonville.

“Tom volunteered countless numbers of hours helping us to tell the rest of the world that this is a great place to live and do business,” said Mehaffy. “He was directly responsible in assisting us with not only bringing new business to Chariton County but to the region as well.”

Mr. Burkhart had a hand in the development of Kaitlynn’s Deli in Brunswick, the expansion at Hampton Feed Lot into renewable energy and bringing JC Solutions to Salisbury. Over the past three years Chariton County had the opportunity to complete for millions of dollars in new business investment that may not have been possible without the benefit of the regional concept.

Mr. Burkhart plans to continue supporting the concept of multiple counties working together to develop new business opportunities. “We really valued Tom’s vision of the future and the potential success of the region working together,” said Dr. Lashley. “He will definitely be missed.”