BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

A southeast Kansas man has been hired to serve as the director of the Montgomery County Action Council.
Brad Eilts, assistant city manager for the City of Chanute, has been hired to replace Dennis Pruitt as director of MCAC — a countywide economic development organization. The hiring of Eilts was announced on Monday by Geoff Collins, MCAC president. Eilts is expected to begin his duties next week.
Pruitt left the organization in May to assume the position of vice president of international business recruitment for The Missouri Partnership.
In the role of assistant city manager in Chanute, Eilts has been responsible for a variety of municipal functions, including all economic development as well as other programs and projects.
“I am excited about becoming MCAC’s director,” said Eilts. “Montgomery County also offers an exceptional quality of life. My family and I are anxious to move there and become engaged in the community and its success. I know that the previous director did a great job of leading MCAC, and I want to keep that positive momentum going.”
Eilts received his master of public administration degree from Wichita State University in 1999. He also holds an Economic Development Finance Professional Certification through the National Development Council and has attended the Leadership Academy through the Mid-American Regional Council and the University of Kansas.
The Chanute man described Montgomery County’s industrial base as “strong and diverse,” however the industrial sector across the nation is facing certain challenges.
“More and more businesses are finding it necessary to outsource products and services globally,” he said. “We need to continually find ways to help our businesses remain competitive through workforce enhancements, lower operating costs and any other means possible. I am also very concerned about energy costs and how that is effecting not just our businesses but our families. I also know that the effects of the flooding last summer still linger and that will be a challenge that needs to be continued to be addressed.”
Eilts and his wife, Janet, have three sons: Ryan, age 10, Matthew, age 8, and Brett, age 7. The family plans to move to Montgomery County as soon as their home in Chanute sells.