The sales director at the Kansas Lottery is out as the agency restructures the staff with the change in administrations.
Stephen Durrell, the acting executive director of the Kansas Lottery, said in a statement that the sales director position was eliminated as part of a reorganization at the lottery.
Durrell said the sales and marketing departments were consolidated and the research department was eliminated. The sales director position was held by Michael Strand, who earned about $78,700 a year.
“As with any administration change, some departments go through a restructuring process,” Durrell said in a statement.
“This consolidation resulted in the elimination of some positions including the sales director position,” he said. “We cannot comment specifically on the individuals whose positions were eliminated, since it is a personnel matter.”
Spokeswoman Courtney Ryan said there were fewer than five employees affected by what she described as “phase one” of the restructuring process.
“There could potentially be a phase two of restructuring, however that is to be determined.,” she said.
Gov. Laura Kelly already decided to let go of former Lottery director Terry Presta, an appointment of former Gov. Sam Brownback.
The new governor installed Durrell as the acting lottery director in his place.
The lottery employs about 100 people and has a budget of about $370 million, none of which comes from the state general fund.
