Our Team
​Kansas Appleseed works statewide, with staff members based in Lawrence, Wichita, Pittsburg, Piqua and Holcomb. ​

Mike Fonkert (he/him)

Campaign Director
mfonkert@kansasappleseed.org
As Just Campaign Director, Mike works with directly impacted communities, policymakers, and legislators to identify needs in our communities that can be addressed through policy change, specifically focused on juvenile and criminal justice and child welfare. 

Lori Johns (she/her)

​​Director of Operations
ljohns@kansasappleseed.org
As the operations director, Lori's job encompasses several areas–finances, human resources, support for the executive director and board, planning, reporting, and office management. Lori also recruits and supervises student interns and volunteers.

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Haley Kottler (she/her)

Campaign Director
hkottler@kansasappleseed.org
Haley engages with Kansans across the state in anti-hunger advocacy, conducting (and building!) grassroots campaigns, as well as making the case for change through policy and legislative action. Haley's fight for justice is rooted in a devotion to equity and fairness for all.

Paige Olson (she/her)

SEKS Thriving Advocate
polson@kansasappleseed.org
Paige is a mother of three kids from Allen County, KS. Having experienced poverty and food insecurity, Paige believes food is a right and works with Southeast Kansas communities to combat hunger. Prior to joining our team, Paige helped establish a local soup kitchen, advocated locally for affordable utilities, and more. 

Christina Ostmeyer (she/her)

Communications and Development Director
costmeyer@kansasappleseed.org
Christina works with the Kansas Appleseed team to strategize and support the organization's work through effective messaging and communications, media management, resource development, and building issue-oriented campaigns. ​

Jami Reever (she/her)

Executive Director
jreever@kansasappleseed.org
As executive director, Jami works to advance our mission of building a more thriving, inclusive, and just Kansas by working effectively to lead and coordinate multiple strategies, including research, grassroots mobilizing, communications, lobbying, and litigation.

Caleb Smith (he/him)

Campaign Director
csmith@kansasappleseed.org
Caleb is motivated by seeing real change happen in local communities. Caleb directs Kansas Appleseed's integrated voter engagement work in Southeast Kansas, working with communities and partners to encourage participation in the political process and community-driven actions. 

Tajahnaé Stocker (they/them)

Thriving Campaign Advocate
tstocker@kansasappleseed.org
Tajahnaé works with communities to identify and act on hunger policy issues facing Kansans. As an organizer in the food justice movement in Wichita before joining Kansas Appleseed–including with the ICT Community Fridge–Tajahnaé’s work is rooted in racial and economic justice for all and believes food is a right, period.
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Martha Terhaar (she/her)

SWKS Thriving Advocate
mterhaar@kansasappleseed.org
Based in Holcomb,  Martha works with the Thriving Campaign team to address hunger in Southwest Kansas, particularly Stevens, Seward, Finney, Ford, and Grant counties. With strengths in active listening and community engagement, Martha is excited to connect to fight hunger.

Teresa Woody (she/her)

Litigation Director
twoody@kansasappleseed.org
Teresa oversees litigation filed by Kansas Appleseed and our partners, evaluates potential areas of litigation, and works with local and national pro bono attorneys and organizations on identifying legal issues and/or litigation that could affect systemic change in Kansas.

Bert Fonkert

Office dog

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Board of Directors
(with their county of residence)

William Kassebaum, President, Morris
Gaye Tibbets, President Elect, Reno
Teresa M. Meagher, Treasurer, Johnson
Etta Walker, Secretary, Wallace
Teresa Anderson, Johnson
Samuel Blatnick, Johnson
James Concannon, Shawnee
Mitchell Engel, Johnson
Karen Griffiths, Norton
Martha Hodgesmith, Douglas
Pedro L. Irigonegaray, Shawnee
Lynn R. Johnson, Johnson
Steve Morris, Stevens
David Rebein, Ford
Nicki Rose, Sedgwick
​Eric Rosenblad, Montgomery
Larry Rute, Shawnee
Richard Seaton, Riley
Joy Springfield, Johnson
​C. Edward Watson, Sedgwick
David Wing, Johnson