Gov. Eric Greitens announced two appointments Friday:
Steve Corsi, current director of the Wyoming Department of Family Services, as the new acting director of the Missouri Department of Social Services.
Lee Keith as acting director for the Division of Financial Institutions, which is part of the Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration department.
Both appointments eventually must be confirmed by the state Senate - although both men can work on the job immediately because the Legislature's regular session ended a week ago.
Steve Corsi
Corsi succeeds Jennifer Tidball, who had been Social Services' acting director.
In the news release announcing Corsi's appointment, Greitens noted that, under Corsi's tenure in Wyoming, the Family Services department reduced its annual budget by almost $30 million while improving results for families and children.
The news release also noted Corsi's team in Wyoming reduced rules and policies by over 1,150 pages, and the state's child support program has ranked No. 1 nationally since 2013.
"Steve Corsi is a transformative leader with experience on the front lines in public service, business and the military," Greitens said in the news release. "In Wyoming, he cut costs for the taxpayer and got more results for families and children."
Corsi said in a statement: "I share Gov. Greitens' passion for transforming the Department of Social Services to provide more safety and security to the most vulnerable in Missouri, while also protecting taxpayer dollars. The opportunities for reform are endless."
Lee Keith
Keith succeeds Debbie Hardman.
In a separate news release, Greitens said Keith has had a "storied career" in turning around troubled Missouri banks in towns such as Sullivan, Columbia and Springfield, and has been adept at saving banks to ensure small-town communities are able to continue creating jobs.
Keith is the former president of Gold Bank in St. Joseph; First State Community Bank, Sullivan; and Mid-Missouri Bank, Springfield.
He's the former executive vice-president of Providence Bank, Columbia.
He recently finished his final turnaround for Mercantile Bank in Quincy, Illinois.
Greitens said: "Lee has been a fierce advocate for small towns. He's done multiple bank turnarounds. His experience is unmatched. I look forward to working with him to create an environment where small-town, Missouri-owned banks can continue to thrive."
Keith said, in a statement: "I'm excited to get to work with Gov. Greitens. Missouri's banks have been the life-blood for many small-town Missouri communities. I look forward to continuing to work with Missouri-owned banks to ensure families can obtain home ownership and small businesses can create more quality jobs."