Biography of Commissioner Kelvin Simmons

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Kelvin Simmons Commissioner of Administration on Nov. 18, 2008. The Missouri Senate confirmed his appointment on Jan. 21, 2009.   His position is a cabinet post in the Nixon Administration.

The Office of Administration is the administrative and managerial arm of Missouri State Government and the commissioner is the chief executive.  Commissioner Simmons oversees the eight divisions of the Office of Administration which include: Accounting, Budget and Planning, Facilities Management & Design and Construction, Information Technology, General Services, Personnel, Purchasing and Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity.

The commissioner has had a distinguished career in public service.  Three different Missouri governors have appointed him to five high level appointments; he has served in four Governor’s administrations. The late Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed him as a senior staff member and later named him as a commissioner on the Missouri Public Service Commission.  Gov. Bob Holden appointed him Chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission in 2001.  Gov. Holden would also appoint Mr. Simmons to the cabinet post of Director of Economic Development in 2003.  The Missouri Senate has confirmed Mr. Simmons on three different occasions.

Commissioner Simmons has been elected to local state government.   In 1997, he was elected to the Kansas City, Mo., City Council and was re-elected without opposition in 1999.  During his tenure on the city council, he served on the Finance and Audit Committee and the Neighborhood Committee.

Commissioner Simmons has also been involved in the not for profit community.  In 2005, he became the Vice-President of Government Relations for Swope Health Services, the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Missouri and Kansas. In 2006, he became the president and CEO for Swope Community Builders; one of the largest community development corporations in Missouri.

In the business world, Commissioner Simmons founded A.M. Development Company, LLC.  The consultant company specialized in real estate and recruitment services.

The commissioner has two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.