SAM BROWNBACK
Kansas Governor

Governor Sam Brownback has spent his life in the service of others. He was born in Garnett, Kansas, and raised on the Linn County family farm where his mother and father still live. At Prairie View High School, Sam was elected state president of Future Farmers of America. His interest in public service continued as he attended Kansas State University. During his senior year at KSU, Sam served as student body president. After graduation, Sam decided to attend law school at the University of Kansas where he was his class president before completing his law degree in 1982. Sam met his wife Mary while they were both in law school. They have now been married for 28 years and have five children.

In 1986 Sam became the state’s youngest Secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. During his stint as Ag Secretary, he also served as a White House Fellow in the first Bush Administration. At the age of 38, he was elected to represent the 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1996, he was elected to complete the term of U.S. Senator Bob Dole, followed by two more terms of his own.

As governor, Sam is focused on getting the state’s economy growing again through improved regulations, controlled spending, and lower tax rates. Governor Brownback is working with Kansas business and community leaders from across the state as well as current and former state legislators to craft policy solutions.

PAT GEORGE
Secretary of Commerce

Pat George has represented the 119th House District in the Kansas House of Representatives for seven years.  A true Kansas entrepreneur, he has spent more than 25 years starting and building numerous successful ventures in Southwest Kansas.  His business experiences range from his family's automobile dealership to real estate developments to professional sports.

George has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Benedictine College in addition to attending General Motors School of Automotive Management.

MARK MAYFIELD, CSP, CPAE

Mark Mayfield is one of America’s finest humorists. Content based yet comedy driven, it’s pretty simple what he does...he talks about VERY SERIOUS stuff in a VERY FUNNY way. If you want to learn about change, teamwork, stress or customer service for example, why not have a great time doing it?

Raised on a farm, Mark received two degrees Magna Cum Laude from Kansas State University, served as National President of the Future Farmers of America, and spent time as a teacher, lobbyist and nightclub owner.  Mark is the author of the popular book, “Mom’s Rules”, a comedic yet poignant look at those things Mom said to us as kids, and has been inducted into the “CPAE” Speaker Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association. From comedy shows to seminars, his philosophy is simple..... say it with humor and people will take the message home.

Mark's presentation of The Glass Ain't Half Empty, It's Just Too Big is a humorous approach to a very serious subject and emphasizes that creativity is the key component in coping with change. Learn change theory and creative exercises in this upbeat, fast paced program that will leave you laughing and leave you with change management skills.

KATHY HOWELL, RN, BSN, MBA
Post-Secondary Technical Education Authority

Kathy Howell is an accomplished health care executive and registered nurse with over 25 years experience in hospital operations, strategic planning, new business development, and women’s health product line management.

Kathy presently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park. Prior to her current position, Kathy was Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services for the Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Missouri and the Chief Nursing Officer for Saint Luke’s South Hospital.

Kathy received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marymount College in Salina, Kansas, and her Master’s in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois.

Kathy is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives, Kansas Association of Healthcare Executives, the Association of Women’s Health – Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing, and American Organization of Nurse Executives. In addition, Kathy currently serves on several community organizations including the Kansas Board of Regents Post-Secondary Technical Education Authority (currently serves as the Chairperson), MOCSA Advisory Council, Board Chairperson of the Health Partnership Clinic of Johnson County, Kansas Hospital Association Council on Health Care Delivery and chairs the mentoring committee of KAHCE.

STEVEN D. HENDRICKSON
The Boeing Company

Steve serves as the Director of Government Operations for The Boeing Company, leading public policy outreach in twelve states in the central region of the United States.  He joined Rockwell International (now Boeing) as an Industrial Engineer in 1982 and progressed through various leadership positions in facilities, industrial planning, business development, communications, and program management.

Steve earned a B.S. in Finance from California State University, Northridge, and an MBA in Strategic Management from the Peter Drucker Center for Executive Management at Claremont Graduate School. He completed the Executive Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He also completed the Advanced Industry Manufacturing Seminar at the University of Washington, holds a certificate in Corporate Community Involvement from Boston College, and graduated from the Public Affairs Institute.

Steve serves as Chair of the Oklahoma Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development and is Chair of the National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs. He also serves as Secretary of the National Association of Workforce Boards, as Chair of the Oklahoma State Chamber’s Manufacturing Committee, and is Past Chairman of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. He is a registered Oklahoma lobbyist and is a graduate of the Leadership Oklahoma and Leadership Tulsa programs. He serves in volunteer leadership positions in several community service organizations including the Tulsa Global Alliance Executive Advisory Board and the Oklahoma Aquarium Foundation Board.

KYLE BAUER
KFRM Radio

Kyle has been a lifelong resident of Clay County, Kansas. Graduating from Kansas State University in 1980 with a degree in Ag Economics, Kyle returned home to farm with his parents where he farmed wheat, corn, soybeans and sorghum on dry land and irrigated acres, and raised cattle and hogs.  Through the years, other projects have involved manufacturing, banking, fast food, and radio.

In 1994, Kyle and some local investors purchased KCLY radio in Clay Center and KFRM in l996. Since that time, Bauer has gravitated away from the other businesses, devoting his time to KFRM. KFRM has been built into the largest farm station in Kansas and northern Oklahoma by being the only full-time farm station in the nation. KFRM covers 120,000 square miles in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, representing over 64 million acres of agricultural land.

LAURIE MORAN
National Association of Workforce Boards

Laurie S. Moran is the President of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, a position she has held since January 2002. Laurie has previously worked as the Communications Manager for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Danville plant, as President of the Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, as editor of a weekly newspaper, and as a consultant to develop the strategic plan for Pittsylvania County Schools.

Laurie is the Chair of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). She has served on the Board of Directors of NAWB for the past seven years and previously held the positions of Vice Chair and Secretary. Laurie serves as Secretary and a Past President of the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board. She also chairs the Dan River Region Collaborative’s participation in the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.

Laurie is involved in multiple organizations including the Danville-Riverview Rotary Club, Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives where she was named VACCE Executive of the Year in 2005, United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County, Southside Business Technology Center, Council for Rural Virginia, Workforce Advisory Board of Danville Community College, Barkhouser Free Enterprise Center at Danville Community College, National College and Danville Regional Medical Center. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Gretna where she is a Deacon, a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Youth Committee, and a member of the handbell choir.

A graduate of Lynchburg College, Laurie was designated a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) in 2006.

RON PAINTER
National Association of Workforce Boards

Ron Painter is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Workforce Boards, assuming his role in July of 2009.

Ron was the founding CEO of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board in Pittsburgh.  Under his leadership, the organization focused on producing labor market research, working with public educators on improved student career information, supporting community leaders in the development of regional benchmarks, and establishing the Regional Workforce Collaborative whose membership includes community colleges, WIBs, employers, labor, and economic development professionals. Before joining the Three Rivers Workforce Board, he worked in Washington, DC, first on loan to the U.S. Department of Labor for the Enterprise Project, and then for the National Alliance of Business.

Mr. Painter holds an Undergraduate Degree in Political Science from Grove City College in Pennsylvania, a Master's Degree in Public Administration, and Advanced Graduate Coursework from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public & International Affairs, where he served as Adjunct Faculty.

DR. ANITA KRISHNAMURTHI
Afterschool Alliance

Dr. Anita Krishnamurthi is the Director of STEM Policy at the Afterschool Alliance.  In this role, she works to create and advance federal, state, and local opportunities and policies to expand resources and activities that provide students with access to a rich STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum in their afterschool programs.

An astronomer by training, Anita received her PhD from The Ohio State University and conducted her postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  She has been deeply involved in science education and outreach to a wide variety of audiences for the past decade.  She worked at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, in the Office on Public Understanding of Science and then at NASA.  She was a Program Manager for space science education at NASA HQ and then moved to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to become the lead for Education and Public Outreach in Astrophysics.

As a scientist, Anita personally feels the urgency of expanding STEM learning opportunities and providing equitable access for our children and youth and is passionate about promoting the afterschool space as an effective learning environment for STEM.  She joined the Alliance in June 2010 after serving as the John Bahcall Public Policy Fellow for the American Astronomical Society. 

LARRY ISAAK
Midwestern Higher Education

Larry Isaak served as President of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) from November 2003 to November 2010 and was re-appointed in April 2011.

Previously, Isaak was the Chancellor of the North Dakota University System nearly ten years. He also served as Vice Chancellor for Administrative and Student Affairs at NDUS, worked in the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget, the North Dakota Legislative Council, and in a private CPA firm.

Isaak, a CPA, received both his Master's Degree and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. He also completed the program at the Stanford University Business Management Institute.

Click here for complete biography.

STEVE MORRIS
President, Kansas Senate

Elected to the Kansas Senate in 1992, Steve Morris is in his fourth four-year term.  He was further honored in 2004 to be elected by his Senate Republican colleagues to serve as President of the Senate.  In this position, Senator Morris assumes even greater responsibility.

Senator Morris is an active member of a number of boards, committees and commissions at the local, state and national levels.  He serves on the Executive Committee of The Energy Council (a consortium of energy producing states and Canadian provinces and the country of Venezuela).  He is on the Executive Committee for both the Council of State Governments (CSG) and CSG Midwest.  He is currently Vice Chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee and is a member and Past Chairman of the CSG Agriculture Task Force.  In the past, he has been Chairman of the CSG Health Capacity Task Force and served on the NCSL Rural Policy Task Force Steering Committee.

LAURA KELLY
Kansas Senate

Elected in 2004, Laura is the Ranking Minority Member on both the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Public Health and Welfare Committee. In addition, she serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Health Policy Oversight Committee, the Home and Community Based Services Oversight Committee, the Health Care Stabilization Fund Oversight Committee, the Pay Plan Oversight Committee, the KPERS Study Commission, the Joint Committees on Pensions, Benefits and Investments, the Legislative Post Audit Committee, the Building and Construction Committee, and the Legislative Budget Committee.

Prior to serving in the Senate, Laura was Executive Director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association for 18 years.

MIKE O'NEAL
Speaker, Kansas House of Representatives

Speaker Mike O'Neal is a senior member of the Kansas House of Representatives. First elected in 1984, he is currently in his 11th term.  O'Neal is currently Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and was Chairman of the House Redistricting Committee during the 2002 session.  He has chaired the House Judiciary Committee three different times, totaling 13 years, and has served as Chairman of the House Education Committee.  He has twice been elected to the office of Republican Whip and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the House Select Committee on School Finance.

ANN MAH
Kansas House of Representatives

Representative Ann Mah has served in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2005.  She represents the 53rd House District, which includes portions of eastern Shawnee and western Douglas counties.

Mah obtained both an Undergraduate Degree and a Master's Degree in education from Emporia State University.  Mah participates in numerous organizations and holds leadership positions on multiple boards.  Presently, Ann is active on the United Way of Greater Topeka Board of Directors, the American Business Women's Association and the North Central Association State Committee.  She serves on the Kansas Advisory Committee on Career & Technical Education and was named the 2011 Policymaker of the Year by the Kansas Association for Career & Technical Education.

As a state legislator, Mah serves on the House Committees on Local Government; Elections; Veterans, Military & Homeland Security; and Health & Human Services.

MELANIE HOLMES
World of Work Solutions
ManpowerGroup

Melanie Holmes is Vice President, World of Work Solutions. In this position, she is dedicated to advancing ManpowerGroups’ position as the thought leader in the contemporary world of work. She shares Manpower’s research and extensive labor force knowledge while building strategic partnerships with government, universities and other leadership organizations across the country. Melanie is also responsible for community investment at ManpowerGroup, which includes volunteerism, community relations and philanthropy.

Melanie began her career at ManpowerGroup in 1982 as a temporary employee where her talents were soon recognized, and she earned a permanent staff position as Director of the Special Projects Group. In 1986, Melanie was promoted to Vice President of Product/Program Development and, in 1993, she was given additional responsibilities as Quality Officer for North America. She was promoted to Vice President of Customer Services in 1994 and to Vice President of Business Operations Support in 1996. Before joining Manpower, Melanie was employed at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in Milwaukee.

Melanie is very active in the Milwaukee community where she serves as chair of the board of the Milwaukee Area Technical College. Other boards include the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, the Milwaukee Urban League, COA Youth and Family Centers and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Melanie is a strong believer in life-long learning. In December 2005, she earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

ADELE M. GAGLIARDI
U.S. Department of Labor

Adele Gagliardi has worked for the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) for the past decade, where she has held a distinguished career providing leadership in addressing issues impacting the workforce system.

Currently, Ms. Gagliardi is the Regional Director for the Office of State Systems in ETA Region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. This office is responsible overseeing ETA grants to states for employment and training and Unemployment Insurance related programs. In this capacity, she works collaboratively with workforce system partners to support and promote workforce solutions which meet the needs of employers, workers, and communities.

Prior to her position as Regional Director, she served as the Division Chief for Policy, Legislation and Regulation in ETA’s Office of Policy Development and Research. She oversaw and conducted the analysis and formulation of, and development of recommendations for, legislative changes and policy initiatives for workforce programs. In addition, she coordinated the development of ETA regulations, and oversaw liaison responsibilities with external entities such as the Government Accountability Office.

Ms. Gagliardi has held several other roles within the agency, including participating in an international learning exchange with Human Resources Social Development Canada. She began her career at ETA as a Presidential Management Fellow, and is a proud graduate of Wayne State University Law School and of Michigan State University, and a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.

BLAKE FLANDERS
Kansas Board of Regents

Dr. Blake Flanders serves as Vice President for Workforce Development for the Kansas Board of Regents. In this role, he is the state leader for issues involving the postsecondary education and training system in the development of a skilled workforce. His scope of responsibility includes developing a policy agenda for postsecondary technical education, curriculum evaluation, system funding, benchmarks and accountability, and the management of federal initiatives. He also serves as a member of the KansasWorks State Workforce Board.

KARIN BROWNLEE
Secretary of Labor

Kansas Secretary of Labor Karin Brownlee served as a member of the Kansas Senate from 1996 to January 2011 when she was appointed Secretary by Governor Sam Brownback.

While in the Senate, she most recently served as chair of the Commerce Committee, Vice–Chair of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and as a member of the Assessment and Taxation, and Utilities Committees.

Brownlee was a member of the Leadership Kansas Class of 2003.

Karin graduated from Olathe High School and attended Kansas State University where she earned a B.S. in Microbiology. Brownlee was active in several local Chambers of Commerce, Olathe Rotary Club, Olathe South High School Site Council, Olathe Bible Church, P.E.O. and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association.

Karin also served on several local and state boards during her years in the Senate. These boards included Johnson County Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board, Small Business Development Centers State Board and Johnson County Research Triangle Board.

LORETTA SHELLEY
Kansas Department of Commerce

Loretta has worked with Employment and Training programs since graduation from Kansas State University in 1977. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Her work experience began with CETA and continued through JTPA and WIA. She is currently the Kansas Department of Commerce Apprenticeship Program Manager and has held that position since 1983. She was recognized as the 2010 Kansas Department of Commerce Supervisor of the Year.

Loretta is a member of the National Association of State and Territorial Apprenticeship Directors (NASTAD) Executive Board, NASTAD Treasurer, USDOL/NASTAD Partnership Team, Early Childhood Associate Apprenticeship Program (ECAAP) Executive Advisory Board, YWCA Career Assistance Network Board, and Kansas State Energy Sector Partnership & Training (SESPT) Committee.

PATTI BOSSERT
Key Staffing / Premier Employment Solutions

Patti Bossert, CME, CSP, founder and President of Key Staffing, is currently celebrating her 21st year in business in Topeka. Key is a certified woman-owned business specializing in clerical and light industrial temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire staffing. Patti also owns and operates Premier Employment Solutions in Topeka, and Key Staffing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Premier’s specialty is recruiting top talent for clients in Topeka and throughout the Midwest. Patti was awarded the 1998 Kansas Woman Owned Business of the Year Award by the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing. Governor Brownback has recently appointed Patti to serve on the Kansas Employment Security Board of Review and on the Governors Council of Economic Advisors.

Patti is a native of South Dakota and holds a B.S. in Education from South Dakota State University. She has served on the boards and committees of many local, state, and national organizations including: Vice-Chair of Valeo Behavioral Health, Kansas Inc. Co-Chair, Leadership Kansas-Topeka Chair, Rotary International, Topeka South Rotary, NFIB Leadership Council, Sales & Marketing Executives International, Society of Human Resource Managers, YEK, Washburn University SHRM advisor, American Staffing Services, United Way of Greater Topeka, and the Topeka Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Leadership Topeka and Leadership Kansas.

Patti attributes her business success to following her company mission statement, “To provide innovative employment solutions that will exceed the expectations of our clients and candidates.”