About Us
The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that promotes the growth and development of existing businesses, and pursues quality new businesses to help sustain the economic vitality of the area. With the recent investments announced, Dodge City and Ford County have experienced an increase of 13.1% in job growth over the past five years, accounting for over 2,000 additional new job openings in all areas including accounting, health, manufacturing, hospitality, agribusiness, and education.
The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is a joint partnership between the City of Dodge City, Ford County, and several private businesses.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is to promote the growth and development of existing business and pursue quality new businesses in an aggressive, positive, and efficient manner that promotes the socio-economic viability of the region.
Staff Bios
Joann Knight
Executive Director
Joann Knight serves as the Executive Director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation and has been with the public/private partnership for 29 years. She is responsible for overseeing the organizations day-to-day operations including business recruitment and expansion, workforce, housing, rural community development, neighborhood revitalization and entrepreneurship.
Knight was instrumental in creating and now also oversees Main Street Dodge City, Dodge City Festivals, and the Community Housing Association of Dodge City. Knight was instrumental in building partnerships to successfully create and implement the Rural Education and Workforce Alliance (REWA), which is working to create stronger businesses education coalitions across Southwest Kansas and has developed the University/Training Center to bring degree and training programs to the region that meet the needs of the regions workforce. The University Center opened in August 2020. Recently Knight worked with the Kansas Small Business Development Center to host and locate an office in Dodge City covering a seven-county region including Kiowa, Clark, Comanche, Ford, Edwards, Hodgeman and Ness Counties. Knight was awarded the National Rural Economic Development Alliance 2019 Rural Economic Development Leadership Award.
Joann currently serves on several state and regional boards including currently serving as the President of the Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (wKREDA), board member of Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), Team Kansas Board member and was the 2018 Class Representative for the Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Series. She was the 2013 Kansas Representative on the Southern Economic Development Council Board of Directors and is a Past President of the KEDA.
Mollea Wainscott
Mollea Wainscott joined the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation in September 2015 as the Special Projects Coordinator/Housing. In June 2020, Mollea was promoted to Assistant Director of Economic Development. Mollea oversees projects for the Community Housing Association of Dodge City including the Abandoned Housing Program, Community Home Renovation Program and Paint Dodge. Mollea also focuses on community development for Bucklin, Ford and Spearville.
Coral Lopez
Coral Lopez is the Main Street Director for the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. As Main Street Director, Coral’s focus is the revitalization of Dodge City’s historic downtown distrcit through the development of new incentive programs, implementation of marketing and event promotions, and working with current and new small businesses to strengthen the downtown ecoomic environment. She hopes that her work with the Development Corporation as Main Street Director will help nurture a downtown district that will serve as an active, desirable, and sustainable public space for existing members of the community.
Coral graduated from Dodge City High School and Dodge City Community College and is currently working on her Bachelor of Business Administration. She is happily married to her husband of 10 years. Coral and her husband are proud of their three children. They stay busy with extracurricular school and sport activities.
Kyla Keller
Kyla Keller is the Rural Education and Workforce Alliance Coordinator (REWA) for the Dodge City/ Ford County Development Corporation. As the REWA Coordinator, her position is responsible for the continued growth and development of workforce opportunities. She will also focus on the University/Training Center and grant writing.
Kyla grew up in Falcon, Colorado before moving to Dodge City in 2014. She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Organizational Management from Ashford University’s Forbes School of Business and Technology.
Kyla is happily married with three children. She enjoys watching her oldest son wrestle, her daughter perform in gymnastics and chasing her four-year old son around. Kyla enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with her family.
Madison Tasset
Madison Tasset serves as the Housing and Special Projects Coordinator of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. She is responsible for the Community Housing Association of Dodge and is bringing housing opportunities to our community.
Madison grew up outside of Spearville, Kansas on her family farm and ranch. She graduated from Spearville High School and Fort Hays State University, receiving both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the institution. She stays active helping out on the farm and ranch, and enjoys doing outdoor activities in her free time. Living so close to Dodge City, this community has had a large impact on her life. Madison is eager to serve the community of Dodge City and Ford County.
Dalila Boys
Dalila Boys serves as our Childcare Rural Champion of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. I was born in Hastings, Nebraska from Mexican immigrants where I got my strong work ethic. I have been a Ford county resident for the last 18 years where we have raised our 3 amazing kids. Half owner of the Chris Boys Agency with American Family insurance where we have built our business. Early in my career I worked for The Buckle and helped opening several of their stores in Texas, then moved to Dodge City. Part owner of EZ Containers in Dodge City as well as having airbnb properties in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.