Josh Dorrell to Step Down as Wyoming Business Council CEO

What this means

The Wyoming Business Council announced on October 14, 2026 that its board had accepted CEO Josh Dorrell’s resignation at a special meeting that day. Dorrell has led the state economic-development agency since 2020. The board will immediately begin seeking an interim CEO, then recruit a permanent leader with a target of summer 2027. The release says the leadership team will oversee divisions and agency services will continue during the transition; it does not identify a successor or give a specific last working day.

Official release

Source material from Wyoming Business Council. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

News

Josh Dorrell to Step Down as Wyoming Business Council CEO

Published:

October 14, 2026

Board to oversee leadership transition; agency’s work continues uninterrupted

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Josh Dorrell has announced he will step down as Chief Executive Officer of the Wyoming Business Council (WBC). The WBC Board of Directors accepted his resignation at a special meeting on October 14.

Dorrell took the helm in 2020, bringing private-sector leadership and a results-driven approach to the WBC. He guided the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic—including delivering CARES Act relief to Wyoming businesses when they needed it most—turned the Building Resilient Communities (BRC) program into a tool that delivers a positive return on investment for the state, led efforts to expand broadband access across Wyoming and championed innovative new programs such as Wyoming Venture Capital (WYVC) and Assessment to Action (A2A).

But Dorrell’s most ambitious work reached beyond any single program. He pushed Wyoming to confront a defining challenge—young people leaving the state for opportunities elsewhere—and helped shift the goal from funding projects to building an economy worth staying for. Just as lasting, he helped build and shape the team that carries that work into communities across Wyoming every day.

“Over nearly seven years, Josh has demonstrated a genuine passion for Wyoming and a steadfast commitment to the businesses and communities that make our state special,” said Derek Smith, Co-Chair of the WBC Board of Directors. “His leadership has made a meaningful and lasting impact, and we are grateful for the energy, dedication and heart Josh has brought to the Wyoming Business Council and its mission. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank him for his service sincerely and wish him nothing but success and happiness in what comes next.”

The Board will begin the search for an interim CEO immediately, with the goal of an appointment as soon as practical. The Board will then conduct a broad search for a permanent CEO, aiming to have the agency’s next leader in place by summer 2027. The WBC’s leadership team will continue to guide the agency’s divisions throughout the transition.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built over these past few years, and proud that Wyoming has a solid foundation to build on,” Dorrell said. “But what I’m most proud of is the strength, resilience and devotion of the team at the Business Council, and the committed coalition of thousands of people across Wyoming who have partnered with us in making real progress toward a bright future. The future of the organization and of Wyoming is very bright, and I know this team will continue to play a key role moving forward. I’m grateful I got to be a small part of it.”

The Wyoming Business Council’s work continues without interruption. Its regional directors, program teams and statewide partners remain focused on serving the communities and businesses that rely on the agency every day.

For media inquiries regarding this transition, contact Derek Smith, Co-Chair, WBC Board of Directors, at [email protected].

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Release text attributed to Wyoming Business Council. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.