CHEYENNE, Wyo. (For Immediate Release) — The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to our Board of Directors: Mark Christensen of Gillette and Katie Legerski Druse of Casper. Both leaders bring decades of experience in workforce development, infrastructure, and private-sector growth to the WBC as we continue to sharpen our strategic focus on statewide resiliency.
The new members will join the Board for a special meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 2 p.m. to take action on critical infrastructure awards and discuss the recent legislative session and next steps for the interim.
Special Meeting Highlights & Agenda
The WBC Board will convene a special meeting via Zoom on April 1, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The session will focus on high-leverage investments and provide a transparent update on the Council’s path forward following the 2026 Legislative Budget Session. Key agenda items include:
- Broadband and BEAD Program Awards: The Board will consider and vote on individual awards for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This action item is a major step in the WBC’s commitment to connecting the “last mile” of Wyoming’s digital infrastructure.
- BRC Planning Block Grant: The Board will consider a staff recommendation for a $1.6 million Planning Block Grant. This funding is a cornerstone of the evolved Building Resilient Communities (BRC) program, aimed at helping communities collaborate to identify and solve local barriers to growth.
- Legislative Session Debrief & Interim Roadmap: WBC CEO Josh Dorrell will provide a comprehensive update on the outcomes of the 2026 Legislative Session. This discussion will outline the FY 2027 budget landscape, the upcoming interim legislative timeline, and the audit.
A full agenda and board materials are available at wbc.pub/WBC_Board.
How to Join: Anyone interested in joining the meeting virtually may do so at wbc.pub/WBC_Meeting or by calling 1.669.900.6833 (Meeting ID: 295-704-768; no PIN required; press # when prompted).
Public Comment: Members of the public who wish to speak during the meeting must email [email protected] before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, stating their name and the topic they wish to address. In accordance with the special meeting format, comments will only be received for the specific items listed on the agenda.
New Leadership Perspective
The addition of Christensen and Legerski Druse adds significant depth to these discussions.
Mark Christensen (Gillette)
A Gillette native and self-employed entrepreneur, Mark Christensen joins the board with a deep background in local government and natural resource management. A former Campbell County Commissioner and member of the ENDOW Executive Council under Governor Matt Mead, Mark has a proven track record of building diverse teams to tackle large-scale challenges.
Mark manages his family’s multi-state ranching operations and mineral leasing activities, while also maintaining a background in real estate development. His vision for the Council focuses on the intersection of education, business, and community.
- Why Mark joined the Board: “I understand how to put together diverse teams to do big things. I believe Wyoming’s greatest export isn’t minerals or products, but our Wyoming-educated young people. We need to do more to bring them back. We accomplish that through investments in community, maintaining quality services, and making Wyoming a place with workforce opportunities. I want to work with (the WBC) team to lower the percentage of UW and Wyoming graduates who leave Wyoming and don’t return.”
- His Vision for Wyoming: “I want to live in a Wyoming that supports its young people with the best schools in the nation, makes good investments in UW and its community colleges, is open to business, and takes on difficult problems. It needs to be a place that recognizes you’re either growing or dying (there is no ‘staying the same’).”
Mark holds degrees in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University of Wyoming and an M.S. in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver. He and his partner, Steph, live in Gillette with their four children.
Katie Legerski Druse (Casper)
A fifth-generation Wyoming native from Lander, Katie Legerski Druse brings more than 35 years of government affairs, infrastructure, and industrial experience to the WBC Board. Currently the purchasing and inventory specialist for Black Hills Bentonite, Katie manages complex supply chains across five plants and 10 mining sites throughout the state.
Katie previously spent 17 years with the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming, including a decade as Executive Director. Her deep commitment to Wyoming is evidenced by her extensive board experience, having served on the Wyoming Workforce Development Council, Wyoming Taxpayers Association, Wyoming Business Alliance, American Red Cross Wyoming Chapter, United Way, and Race for the Cure, among other local and county organizations.
- Why Katie joined the Board: “Being able to assist in shaping Wyoming’s economic future while fostering workforce and infrastructure development, job creation, and bringing our youth back to Wyoming. I have an extensive background in Wyoming’s contracting and infrastructure, in addition to workforce development needs, as well as legislative and regulatory affairs knowledge.”
- Her Vision for Wyoming: “To have livable and sustainable communities where not only our grandchildren can excel, but their grandparents can live comfortably as well. We all love Wyoming for different reasons, and we are all proud to call it home.”
A University of Wyoming graduate with a degree in Applied Mathematics, Katie is a recipient of the Wyoming Women of Influence award. She lives in Casper with her husband, Todd, and their Bernedoodle, Willow.
