Meet Our New Executive Director

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named a long-time legislative and community leader as the new executive director of LISC Greater Kansas City.

Geoffrey W. Jolley will lead LISC’s local staff, partnerships and community investment efforts, which to date have fueled nearly $1 billion in development activity focused on affordable housing, economic development, health, community safety and jobs. Nationwide, LISC has invested more than $20 billion to catalyze opportunity for residents and communities.

“Geoff will be instrumental in driving investment plans that reflect the character and rich culture of Kansas City’s diverse communities. Throughout his career, he has been remarkably successful in representing the interests of local residents on the national stage, while also working on the ground to make communities safe, healthy and strong,” said Maurice A. Jones, LISC president and CEO.

Before opening his own government affairs consulting firm in 2018, Jolley spent 13 years as district director and general counsel to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, whose 5th congressional district spans Kansas City, Mo., as well as suburban and rural communities to the East.

Over the years, Jolley shepherded a wide range of policy efforts that proved critical—from a Green Impact Zone that attracted vital capital to the district’s urban core to coordinating housing, transportation and economic development programs with federal agencies to developing budget proposals that elevated the diverse priorities of constituents.

Prior to joining the congressman's inaugural campaign in 2004, Jolley also worked with the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, on behalf of the University of Missouri’s Family Violence Clinic, and served as a law clerk in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

“It is an exciting time in our region, but there is still work to be done,” said Jolley, “I am truly humbled by the opportunity to not only help drive a broadly shared prosperity for local residents—regardless of race, class, or zip code—but to leverage LISC’s national resources and expertise to advance our local plans.”

In addition to his public policy leadership, Jolley has spent more than a decade as a firefighter and EMT in Kansas City. He has responded to numerous natural disasters across the country as a rescue specialist with FEMA's Missouri Task Force One, and had the unique experience of serving on the Antarctic Fire Department at McMurdo Station, a U.S. research hub on the world’s southern-most continent.

“Geoff is an experienced and dedicated public servant with a unique combination of leadership, communication and entrepreneurial skills needed to engage in community revitalization efforts that will positively impact the communities we serve. We are excited for the future of LISC Greater Kansas City under his direction and look forward to working with him to further advance our current strategic initiatives, as well as creating new opportunities,” shared Brian File, LISC Greater Kansas City Local Advisory Board chairperson.

A Kansas City native, Jolley earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Emory University. He is married to a Kansas City public school teacher and has two young daughters who both attend Kansas City Public Schools. Their family resides in the Historic Northeast neighborhood. Jolley started on September 23rd and can be reached at gjolley@lisc.org or 816-788-6999.