WKCF - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Community Development Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Benjamin Fuentes was born and raised in Southwest Kansas. The proud son of immigrants, the Fuentes family chose Satanta, KS, to set down roots and call home. Benjamin graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Business. He is a city Council member for the town of Satanta and is also involved in his local Lion's Club chapter. He is currently working at Satanta District Hospital and has grown a passion in helping sustain rural healthcare. He is married to his lovely wife, Michelle, of Wamego, Kansas. They have a four-year-old son named Julian. The Fuentes family enjoy traveling and supporting small and local business whenever possible.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director of Greeley County Community Development
Christy Hopkins is the director of Greeley County Community Development in Tribune. She is the secretary for Growing the Vision: A Foundation for the Future of Greeley County and treasurer of The Star Theater of Tribune, a community-owned movie theater. Christy serves on the Kansas Sampler Foundation board and is a core-team member of the PowerUps, a Kansas Sampler initiative dedicated to the empowerment and connection of Kansans aged 21-39 who are rural by choice. She holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications and film from Southwestern College in Winfield.
Conny Bogaard joined the Western Kansas Community Foundation in 2015. With a museum background in Holland and the U.S., Conny acquired specialized development skills, especially in the areas of strategic planning and fundraising. The growing WKCF offers a stimulating environment to pursue her objectives of building stronger communities through sustained citizenship and partnership-building.
Prior to moving to Garden City, Conny served as executive director for the Rocky Flats Institute and Museum in Arvada, CO, and was curator for both the Hotel de Paris Museum in Georgetown, CO, and the McAllister House Museum in Colorado Springs, CO. As a museum consultant, she assisted in the development of several start-up museums. Conny also taught art history and museum studies in the Denver Metro area, and arts and cultural management at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.
Currently, Conny serves as the immediate past chair of the Kansas Association of Community Foundations (KACF), and she is a member of the executive committee of the Humanities Kansas board. She continues to teach also as a special faculty for the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA). In her spare time Conny enjoys visiting museums, reading, writing, traveling, and playing the piano.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Cynthia (Cindy) Davis moved to Ulysses, Kansas after her dad was transferred from Texas to Kansas with Columbian Chemicals Co. in the mid-1970s. Ulysses has been her home ever since that move. She started working for Grant County Bank in 1984 and took classes from both Seward County Community College and Garden City Community College. In 1992, she graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a BBA degree, emphasizing in secondary education. Soon after graduation, Grant County Bank offered her the opportunity to develop a real estate loan program to target the demand for 30-year, fixed rate home loans in Southwest Kansas. She currently manages the GCB Consumer Loan Department and serves on the bank's Executive Committee. Soon after graduation, she also pursued her desire to teach by opportunities presented through SCCC Outreach for accounting and various other business classes. Community involvement has been a high priority for her over the years through attending Grant County Leadership in 1999, developing the Junior Leadership group, participating in Grant County Ambassadors, as well as the Grant County Chamber of Commerce Board as both member and officer, and serving on the Grant County Community Foundation Board for several years as a board member, plus various committees and officer roles. In 2001, she graduated from the School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado. Plus, she received a Master of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Services, with a Personal Financial Planning Certificate, from Kansas State University in 2015. She and her husband, Larry, have two daughters and five grandchildren. Her favorite activities include singing and worshipping at church with her husband and two daughters, traveling and spending time with her entire family - especially the grandchildren, helping families realize their dream of homeownership and pursuing activities that fuels her passion for life-long learning!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Josh Biera received his Bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University, KS in 1992. He was also a student athlete during his collegiate years. Josh is a Lieutenant with the Kansas Highway Patrol and resides in Garden City. He has served on the St. Dominic school board, Fort Hays State University Alumni Association, Department of Public Safety with Garden City Community College, Real Men Real Leaders as well as several other organizations. Josh is married to Jeanine, who is a native of Sublette, KS and they have two children, Lincoln and Tylee. Josh and his family have been residents of Garden City for almost 20 years and he is excited to assist with the WKCF.
Kathy Diehl is an active volunteer within the community. Not only does Kathy serve on the Board of Managers of WKCF Holdings, but she also serves on Lee Richardson Zoo's Advisory board. She has also served as Chairman of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce's Ambassador group, as well as serving on various other Boards of Directors, including those of the Chamber, Western Kansas Community Foundation, and Finney County United Way. Kathy is employed with American State Bank and is involved with various community outreach projects.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Owner of Eisenhour & Graff Accounting
Kathy Graff is the owner of Eisenhour & Graff Accounting and Tax Services, which has offices in Leoti and Scott City. After graduating from Olathe High School, Kathy attended Kansas State University. She finished her Bachelor's degree at Fort Hays State University. Kathy has served as treasurer for the Wichita County Community Foundation since 2006. She is very involved with the Public Accountants Association of Kansas, where she has served as a board member, Secretary and President. Kathy's husband, Greg, recently retired from a lifetime of farming and ranching in Wichita County. Greg and Kathy have a daughter, Becky, and a son Chris, son-in-law Jay, and two grandsons, Camdon and Wyatt. Kathy has enjoyed following her grandsons' sports over the years and is an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Katrina Lowry was born and raised in Garden City, Kansas. She is currently a Program Director at Russell Child Development Center (RCDC) and oversees the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, Learn & Play Parent Project, Attachment and Bio-behavioral Catchup (ABC) Program, and HealthySteps Program in 19 Southwest Kansas counties.
Katrina has 17 years of experience working in the early childhood and child development field. Prior to working at RCDC, Katrina spent four years as the Assistant Program Director for Project LAUNCH at the Finney County Community Health Coalition. Previously, she worked at Fisher Early Learning Center on the University of Denver campus as a Toddler Teacher. While there, she earned her Master's Degree in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in Arts and Literature. Prior to that, she was a Child Life Specialist, both at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, and at Shriners Hospital for Children in Houston, TX, where she moved after completing Bachelor's Degrees at Manhattan Christian College (Bible/Educational Ministry) and Kansas State University (Family Studies and Human Services) in Manhattan, KS.
Katrina lives in Garden City with her husband and her three (very spoiled) dogs. She and her husband enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, live music, Colorado Rockies baseball, and Dallas Cowboys football.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Linda grew up on a farm south of Garden City. She graduated from Kansas State University in 1996 with a degree in English Literature and from Washburn School of Law in 2000. Linda has practiced law in Garden City since 2001 in various roles including as a prosecutor, a legal aid attorney and general private practice. Linda is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, Finney County Bar Association, the Southwest Kansas Bar Association and is currently serving as a member of its Board of Directors. In her spare time, Linda can be found serving on local non-profits boards, writing poetry, spending time outdoors and singing at St. Dominic Church with the Choir.
Job Titles:
- Operations Director
- CEO of Epitome Enterprises
Liz Sosa, Operations Director | Western Kansas Community Foundation | Garden City, KS Skip to main content
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Marvin was born in Colorado and raised in Syracuse, Kansas. His grandparents were farmers and ranchers, so he has a deep appreciation for the many challenges of living off the land and the ever-changing environment and conditions of Southwest Kansas. Upon graduation from the University of Kansas in 1982, he moved to Los Angeles and began a career in banking. After working at small independent banks in Los Angeles and at the World Trade Bank and Resolution Trust Company, he began working at Wells Fargo Bank where he has worked for the past 25 plus years. At Wells Fargo, he is currently in the role as Vice President, Business Systems Consultant in the Treasury Management, Virtual Solutions & Innovation group where the primary principle is developing banking products and automation to improve the customer experience. After living and working in Los Angeles and San Francisco, he moved back to Kansas and Garden City in 2017 to be closer to family who have resided in Southwest Kansas their entire lives. Marvin's current interests and hobbies include, doing what he can to actively support local music and arts, and being on the board of the annual Tumbleweed Festival. He enjoys visiting museums and art galleries of all sizes and varieties. Exploring art history, architecture and design, listening to most all types of music, traveling to destinations to see his favorite musicians perform, reading at least a book a week, driving rural back roads, catching up on the night sky and constellations and sharing all that life has to offer with his wife Christi.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Neal R. Gillespie was born and raised in Hugoton, Kansas. He went into the insurance business with his father after graduating from High School. Neal attained his CLU-degree from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1978. He enjoyed a successful career in insurance in Hugoton and Dodge City, KS for 26 years. In 1997, Neal was hired as Stevens County Economic Development Director. He served in that position for over nineteen years until his retirement in 2017. Since retiring, Neal has been enjoying traveling and catching up on personal and family business matters. Neal has always been active in his church and his community. He served as Mayor of Hugoton for 12 years from 1995-2007.
Job Titles:
- Team Member of Tyson Foods, Inc
Pat Sanders has been a team member of Tyson Foods, Inc. since 1984. Tyson Foods, Inc. is the largest employer in Southwest Kansas, helping to provide one in every five pounds of protein produced in the United States. She has served in Personnel, Recruitment and other areas in Human Resources. She is currently the Community Liaison of the Finney County facility. Having relocated to Finney County, Ks. in 1982, Pat has an insight to the rewards and challenges when relocating to a very different culture.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Paula Rowden is a lifetime resident of southwest Kansas. She was born in Dodge City and has lived in Hugoton for the past 40 years. Paula is a registered nurse with a master's degree in public health. She received her undergraduate degree from Newman University, Wichita, and her master's degree from the University of Kansas. Paula began her nursing career in 1989 working in long term care as a quality control nurse. In 1992 she accepted the position of Home Health/Community Health Director for Stevens County Hospital and remained in that position until 2006. At that time, she organized the Stevens County Health Department and has been the agency administrator for the past 16 years.
Paula has helped develop public health programs for Stevens County and has gained insight in grant writing which has helped support the growth and development of public health in Stevens County. She is passionate about public health and addressing the needs of underserved populations.
Paula and her spouse Jack have two adult daughters, who are both educators, and one grandson.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, listening to music, and playing the guitar as well as painting. Paula is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the mission of the Western Kansas Community Foundation and looks forward to promoting the foundation throughout southwest Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Program & Marketing Director
Stephen and his wife, Barbara, are residents of Hugoton, Kansas, where Stephen attended and graduated from Hugoton High School in 1964. He later went on to attend Kansas State University and graduated in 1969. Stephen has served in active duty military as a pilot in the United States Air Force from 1969-1974 when he moved into reserve duty until 1991. He served on the Hugoton Board of Education from 1977-1993, as well as the KSU Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1985-1991 and served as president of that board from 1989-1991. Stephen has also served as a Senator representing the 39th District of Kansas. He was part of the the Kansas State Senate for twenty years, between 1993 and 2013, during which he served as President of the State Senate from 2005-2013. Additionally, he has been a member of the Nation Conference of State Legislators during his 20-year span as a senator, and President of that group from 2011-2012. During his time as a senator, he was also part of the Council of State Governments, and additionally served on the executive board from 1997-2013.
Stephen and Barbara have three daughters, Stephanie, Susan and Sara Beth.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Yazmin Moreno is a lifelong resident of Southwestern Kansas, being born and raised in Garden City, and now residing in Liberal with her family. She graduated from Western Governors University with a Bachelors in Business Administration-HR Management. She is currently attending a graduate program to obtain a Masters in Business Administration from Western Governors University. She is heavily involved with assisting her community in Liberal, Kansas, by being an active member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, Emergency Operations Center, Joint Information Center, NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials), KHALD (Kansas Association of Local Health Departments), Kansas Leadership Center, SW Kansas Health Initiative, Liberal Area Coalition for Families and former board member of Seward County United Way. She also is a current member of IPMA-HR and SHRM national chapters. She has worked for State and Local Government for several years in Human Resources, Public Health, Emergency Planning, Community Relations, and Marketing. She has a natural desire to help improve the lives of at-risk populations in Southwest Kansas and hopes to make a larger impact by being a part of the WKCF board.