Heartland Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members, Honors Outgoing Leaders

The Heartland Community Foundation is proud to announce the addition of five new members to its Advisory Board, recognize recent leadership transitions, and welcome new grant committee co-chairs.

Heartland’s Advisory Board plays a vital role in guiding the Foundation’s mission to improve quality of life across Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties. Board members serve as local ambassadors, advocates, and decision-makers — ensuring that community needs are understood and represented in every discussion. Each member brings unique insights from their home county, helping Heartland remain grounded in the communities it serves.

Welcoming New Board Members
The Foundation is excited to welcome five newly appointed board members who bring a broad 
range of expertise and strong community ties:

• Julie Glendening, Stockton – Julie serves as a Strategic Communications Specialist with the Kansas Department of Children and Families and brings a strong background in public service and community engagement. She has previously served on the Stockton Recreation Commission Board, Rooks County 4-H Board, Stockton Area Arts Council, and the Stockton Zoning Board of Appeals. Julie is passionate about ensuring that Heartland continues to grow its resources while remaining responsive to local needs. She and her husband, Nate, have two daughters and are deeply invested in the future of the Stockton community.
• Ryan Lichter, Victoria – Ryan is the Assistant Director of the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services and currently serves his third term on the Victoria City Council. He is also a member of the St. Fidelis Finance Council and participates on the Barton County Employee Engagement Committee, in addition to serving as a board liaison for the Kansas Juvenile Officers Association. Ryan hopes to deepen his understanding of Heartland’s work and share that knowledge within his community to support Victoria’s continued growth. He and his wife, Tammy, have two daughters.
• Bryant Muir, Stockton – Bryant is Vice President of First State Bank and Branch Manager of the Hill City location. He has served on the Rooks County Airport Commission since 2013 and is a member of the Northwest Kansas Planning & Development / Pioneer Country Development Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Bryant is eager to better understand community needs and identify opportunities that can be strengthened through collaboration and resources. He and his wife, Danielle, have three daughters and strong ties to Rooks County.
• Pat Parke, Hays – Pat is a longtime energy executive and community leader based in Hays and a native of Trego County. He serves as Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Energy, where he has worked since the 1980s and advanced through several leadership roles. Pat also serves on the board for Hays Medical Center Foundation and is deeply engaged in conversations around rural infrastructure, energy policy, and community sustainability. A longtime Heartland supporter and Match Month donor, he and his wife, Kathleen, have adult children.
• Kelly Richardson, Hays – Kelly is a Hays native and Customer Service Representative at Bank of Hays. She has previously served on the United Way of Ellis County Board and Care Council, chaired Hays Young Professionals, and remains active with the Hays Chamber Ambassadors. Kelly is passionate about strengthening donor relationships and increasing awareness of Heartland’s mission across Ellis County and the region. She and her husband, Jaden, have two children.

Celebrating Board Leadership
As part of this transition, the Foundation is also pleased to announce new board officers:

• Cristi Werth, Rural Trego – now serving as Board Chair for new fiscal year
• Mari Tucker, Plainville – now serving as Vice Chair
• Jude Fox, Hays – continues as Treasurer
• Justine Benoit, Damar – continues as Secretary

A Fond Farewell and Deep Appreciation
Heartland also celebrates a bittersweet milestone — saying farewell to four dedicated board members whose terms have come to a close.

• Josh Dreher, Hays – Josh joined the board in 2019 and served in leadership roles including Treasurer, Vice Chair, and most recently Board Chair. His steady leadership, thoughtful governance, and commitment to strengthening Heartland’s visibility and credibility made a lasting impact. Josh has been a strong ambassador for the Foundation and a trusted voice during a period of growth.
• Kayla Hilbrink, Stockton – Kayla joined the board in 2020 and also served on the Grants Committee. Her thoughtful leadership and strong advocacy for Rooks County — particularly Stockton — helped move key initiatives forward and ensured rural perspectives were well represented.
• Donna Hudson-Hamilton, Stockton – Donna joined the board in 2020 and contributed meaningfully through her service on the Grants Committee. Her insights, collaborative spirit, and commitment to community needs helped strengthen Heartland’s grantmaking work across the region.
• Joslyn Brungardt and Joleen Fisher, both of Hays – Joslyn and Joleen joined the board in 2023, bringing valuable Ellis County perspectives to Heartland’s work. Joslyn also served on the Grants Committee, contributing to thoughtful review and decision-making. Both offered meaningful service during their tenure and helped advance the Foundation’s mission.

We are pleased to share that Josh, Kayla, and Donna will remain involved as Board Emeritus Members, continuing to offer guidance and support.

Heartland Committees
We are also welcoming two new co-chairs of our Grants Committee, joining Cristi Werth of WaKeeney. This is a critical committee at Heartland, helping to oversee allocation of nearly $400,000 annually across the region to a diverse group of organizations. Joining her are board members: Jessica Kerr, of Hays, and Mari Tucker, of Plainville. The committee will be tasked with evaluating and updating our grant guidelines and application process. We will announce that information at a later time, but plan to expand our grant deadlines in 2027 to include more opportunities for obtaining grant dollars. Stay tuned for that information later in 2026. 

In an effort to broaden community participation and invite even more voices to the table, the Foundation also maintains Heartland County Engagement Committees in Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties. These committees include both board and community members and meet every other month to share insights, surface local opportunities, and expand the Foundation’s connections across the region. Community members and Heartland supporters who are interested in serving on a County Engagement Committee are encouraged to reach out to the Foundation for more information at heartland@gscf.org.

Current Advisory Board Members
In addition to welcoming new members, the Heartland Community Foundation recognizes the ongoing contributions of its current Advisory Board:

• Michael Baxter, Hays
• Justine Benoit (Secretary), Damar
• Jude Fox (Treasurer), Hays
• Neva Hendrix, WaKeeney
• Jessica Kerr, Hays
• Aaron Satran, WaKeeney
• Cynthia Steeples, Palco
• Mari Tucker (Vice Chair), Plainville
• Cristi Werth (Chair), Rural Trego

And these supportive Board Emeritus members:

• Katie Dorzweiler, Hays, Emeritus Member
• Kelli Hansen, Plainville, Emeritus Member
• Hardy Howard, WaKeeney, Emeritus Member
• Sandy Jacobs, Hays, Emeritus Member
• Nikki Pfannenstiel, Hays, Emeritus Member
• Kathy Ramsay, Plainville, Emeritus Member

The Heartland Community Foundation is honored to work alongside such dedicated and thoughtful leaders and looks forward to what’s ahead as it continues building a stronger future for the Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County region.