John Powers, Executive Director

      Powers brings a deep background in business, public service, and economic development to Kitsap County.  Elected Spokane’s first full time mayor in 2001, Powers established the city’s first office of economic development to more effectively partner with the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and Regional Economic Development Council - Greater Spokane Incorporated; and, he led a sustainable economic development initiative, One Spokane, to focus and expand the region’s employment base in advanced manufacturing, technology, defense, health care, clean energy, and natural resource development and management.

    A former commercial law partner in Spokane law firm Paine Hamblen, Powers was recruited to Seattle to become the CEO of the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County.  Under his leadership he restructured, recapitalized, and re-branded the 35-year-old organization.  As part of the sweeping change he led over a three-year period, the organization changed its name to enterpriseSeattle and played a strategic role in developing and executing the regional economic development strategy for the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District.

Phone: 360-377-9599 • Email: powers@kitsapeda.org

Kathy S. Cocus: Director of Business Development

Kathy served as the KEDA Business Recruitment and Retention Manager from October of 2001 through June of 2006 when she became Interim Executive Director. She previously taught vocational education, guided the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce as its Executive Director for a decade, and came to the KEDA from her position as Director of Development for the Kitsap Humane Society.  She has additional background in retail sales, as well as in the marketing of Kitsap County as a past board member of the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Phone: 360-377-0180 • Email: cocus@kitsapeda.org