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. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
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 FonkertOffice dog
|
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
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