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Jill Johnson
Budget and Events Manager
Jill Johnson began her career with the Center for Economic Development and Business Research on March 28, 2016.
A native of Kansas, Jill is a graduate of Wichita State University. She is also a graduate of the following leadership programs in Southlake (TX), Jefferson City (MO), Lenexa (KS) and Fort Scott (KS).
Jill’s brings to CEDBR her experience in the chamber of commerce, tourism and hospitality industries. Most recently she served as vice president of operations for the Southlake Chamber of Commerce, in Southlake, Texas.
One of Jill’s primary responsibilities was managing and promoting an annual 3-day festival that boasted more than 50,000 people. She also served as the program facilitator for Leadership Southlake.
Jill’s role will involve event planning and special project management assignments. Her principal role will be managing the CEDBR’s annual Kansas Economic Outlook Conference (EOC), where more than 700 attendees meet to learn about the latest economic news. She will also manage the 5 regional outlook conferences in Pittsburg, Emporia, Hays, Salina and Dodge City; as well as the Wichita Area Outlook Team (WAOT) and the Wichita Industry Research Exchange (WIRE) events.
Mike Busch
Senior Research Economist and Instructor
Mike Busch in a senior research economist at the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University. Mike began working at CEDBR in July 2013. He attended graduate school at Michigan State University with a focus in labor economics. He performs econometric analysis and economic forecasting for CEDBR and teaches economic forecasting courses in the W. Frank Barton School for Business at Wichita State.
Jeremy Hill
Director
Center for Economic Development and Business Research
Wichita State University, W. Frank Barton School of Business
Jeremy Hill is the director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research. He came to Wichita State University from Georgia Southern University, where he was the director of the Coastal Rivers Water Planning and Policy Center.
Hill leads the CEDBR in its mission to provide accurate, reliable information and analysis to inform decision making in the public and private sectors. The center provides market research, fiscal and impact analyses, and employment forecasts for the regional and state economies.
He has also contributed to innovative research, analysis and planning in collaborative ventures across Kansas. His research focus has been on business analysis and community development, as well as workforce, tourism and retirement dynamics. This variety of research has required economic impact modeling, cost-benefit analysis, forecasting, data analysis, and survey development and design.
Hill has been involved in a number of national and regional organizations, including the Association for University Business and Economic Research, for which he served as president in 2015, the National Association for Business Economics, and the Kansas Economic Development Alliance. Hill was a part of the 2015 Leadership Kansas class.
Jonathan Norris
Research Economist
Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR)
Education: Master of Informatics (Quantitative Economics Concentration), Emporia State University, Bachelor of Science in Economics, Emporia State University
Jonathan Norris is a Research Economist for the Center for Economic Development and Business Research. He joined the team in January 2022, after graduating summa cum laude from Emporia State University, with primary foci at the CEDBR including econometric modeling, forecasting, and data visualization. Prior to college, Jonathan served in the United States Marine Corps with specializations in telephony, cybersecurity, and cryptography. He has research interests in public policy, food security, energy, and labor trends.