Tom Seth Smith, President & CEO of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) has been selected to serve on the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The Council advises the Federal Reserve Bank on current developments and emerging issues in community and economic development. Council members are community and business leaders from the Tenth Federal Reserve District including Oklahoma, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico. The mission of the Federal Reserve Bank is to promote community development and fair and impartial access to financial products in the Tenth District.
Smith, who is in his 21st year with REI, says this is a great opportunity to represent Oklahoma entrepreneurs and communities to help identify workforce needs and encourage small business and microenterprise development.
“What an incredible opportunity this is for Oklahoma,” said Clayton, Taylor, REI board of directors chairman. “REI has successfully been serving Oklahoma entrepreneurs and communities for over 25 years with business and community development services, and under Tom’s leadership, REI is recognized at all levels as a model for entrepreneurship and microenterprise advancement. Tom’s experience and his unquenchable passion for economic development will certainly be a great asset to the Advisory Council.”
In the economic development field, REI is best known as a leader in business lending and innovative community development. For more information and a complete overview of services, visit www.ruralenterprises.com.