Events

A native to Los Angeles, Jesse has been a Kansan by choice for the last 20 years. He holds degrees from UCLA and Embry-Riddle; is an accredited airport executive; and is currently serving as a board member for the Kansas Aviation Museum and United Way of the Plains. 

With over 25 years of management and leadership experience in various industries, Jesse also has 12 years of teaching experience at both Baker and K-State University. Prior to Wichita, Jesse served as the Director of the Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan, Kansas (not to be confused with that other “Manhattan”); and he served as the Director of Aviation for the Kansas Department of Transportation.  He was most recently honored as an executive of the year by the Wichita Business Journal.

In 2003, Jesse began his career as an airport management intern at the Hollywood Burbank Airport; however, his aviation experience began in 1993 when he first attained his pilot’s license. That passion for aviation never leaves.  You can still catch him watching airplanes from his office.

Sarah was born and raised in Wichita. She attended Bishop Carroll High School. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from Newman University and her Juris Doctorate from the Washburn University School of Law. While studying at Washburn Law, Sarah had the opportunity to work for Kansas Legal Services in Wichita, the Department of Homeland Security in Kansas City, the Washburn Law Clinic in Topeka, and with the Honorable Judge Birzer at the United States District Court for the District of Kansas in Wichita. Sarah has been practicing law since September of 2018. She specializes in removal defense and humanitarian-based immigration. She is most known by clients and the community as understanding and willing to fight for her client’s best interests. In her free time, Sarah enjoys playing golf with her family.

DR. FRANK TRACZ is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University. He earned his B.M.E. from The Ohio State University, the M.M. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. He has public school teaching experience in Wisconsin and Ohio and has also served as Assistant Director of bands at Syracuse University and Director of bands at Morehead State University. Dr. Tracz has served as an adjudicator, clinician, speaker in various schools and conferences and has conducted All-State and Honor bands across the United States as well as in Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

At Kansas State he directs the Wind Ensemble and the Marching Band, teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting, advisor the Band Ambassadors, and administers and guides all aspects of a large BIG XII comprehensive band program. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at numerous State conferences, MENC, two CBDNA regional conferences, The Larry Sutherland Wind band Festival at Fresno State, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. The marching band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2015. The Wind Ensemble also performed at the International Convention of the American Bandmasters Association in 2019 in Loveland, CO.

Dr. Tracz is on the faculty of the Conn-Selmer Institute, adjunct faculty of the American Band College, past member of the Music Education Journal Editorial Board, contributor to the Teaching Music Through performance In Band series, and was recently appointed Chair of the Sudler Trophy Project of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. His honors include the Stamey Award for outstanding teaching, Kansas Bandmasters Outstanding Director award, Wildcat Pride Alumni Association award, the Tau Beta Sigma Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director award, named a Lowell Mason Fellow, and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Fraternity. He has also received the Conn- Selmer Institute Hall of Fame award, the Kansas State Professorial Performance award, and was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

He has also directly or indirectly raised over 5 million dollars for the construction of the West Stadium Band Hall.

Dr. Tracz is married to Geralyn, and has three daughters, Jessica Tracz Kelly, Kelley Tracz, and Carly Tracz Morris, and one grandson, Caden Tracz Kelly!

Steve is the President/CEO of the P.B. Hoidale company an eighty year old fourth generation family owned business specializing in fluid storage, movement, and management systems headquartered in Wichita, KS.

He graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate.

In addition to serving as board chair for Second Light Steve has extensive experience in the Wichita non-Profit community serving as past board chair for the United Way of the Plains and serving on the boards of The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coalition of Sedgwick County, Firm Foundations Ministries, Wichita Independent Business Association, and Lead Wichita.

“Community is one of Hoidale’s core company values stemming from our founder Pete Hoidale and taught to generations of team members that business has an important role to play in the wellbeing of the communities we serve.  Not only to provide quality career opportunities but to help build and support vibrant thriving communities that attract talent and truly care for our neighbors.” 

Dared Price is a respected pharmacy leader, entrepreneur, and advocate committed to strengthening community pharmacies and reforming the PBM landscape. As owner of a growing pharmacy group—expanding from two stores in 2010 to eight locations by 2025—he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to patient-centered care. Dared serves as co-owner and Chief Growth Officer of OreadRx, where he works to bring transparency and accountability to prescription benefit management while educating employers, policymakers, and the public about the impact of PBMs.  He has been invited to speak on such subjects at the White House and as well as many different Congressional hearings.

He is an active national and state leader, serving on the National Community Pharmacists Association Board of Directors, and in numerous Kansas Pharmacists Association roles including Past President. Dared also contributes to many different advisory and board positions.

July 1st marks the beginning of a new Rotary year! Thank you to Mindy Wagner for her leadership as our 2025-26 President and our Board of Directors for their service this year.

We will have a recap today of our activities this past year presented by our Committee Chairs, followed by our Past Presidents passing the gavel up through the years to this year's Club President Rick Ogelsby.

THE BUFFET LINE WILL OPEN AT 11:50 am THIS WEEK!

Our entire meeting time will be devoted to committee meetings so plan to sit with your committee (as listed below) when you arrive.
 

Club Service 
Jamie Wise - Chair
Sean Babjak, Christy Barnett, Jacob Beckman, Paul Blissett, Mark Chamberlin, Marv Fisher, Colin McKenney, Bob Nelson, DeAnn Sullivan, Mindy Wagner, Sharon West

Community Service
Jodi Barnwell – Chair
Meliss Hamilton – Asst. Chair
Shannon Bauer, Roger Bowles, Bob Broeckelman, Terry Gardner, Vern Klassen, Mike Ludlow, Tony Morrow, Dennis Nguutu, Bruce Pearson, Allan Sands, Lori Taylor, Ann Welborn

International Service
Mark Hazleton – Chair
Bob Beumer, June Costin, Diana Fredelake, Ed Frey, Brian Goudie, Mark Hansen, Lesley Hazleton, Maurice Linnens

Foundation
John Oswald - Chair
Monty Allen, Brent Groves, Cindy Hand, John Mosley, Dale Rein, Pat Walden

Membership/Public Relations
Colby Reynolds - Chair
Ryan Dugan, Gregg Greenwood, Misty Jack, Rick Oglesby, Joey Timmer, Wade West

Vocational Service
Randy Bowles - Chair
Dave Abbott, Dana Brewer, Stephanie Flaming, Scott Hinderliter, Brian Turney

Sheryl Wohlford, President and Co‑Owner of Automation‑Plus, Inc., is a proud Kansan and Wichita State University alumna with a degree in Health Care Administration. She joined Automation‑Plus in 1991, four years after her husband Doug founded the company.

Automation‑Plus manufactures identification marking systems with a strong niche in aerospace, with more than 2,000 systems installed across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company also operates an in‑house product marketing division. In early 2023, an electrical fire destroyed the company’s machine shop—an event that coincided with Doug’s consideration of retirement and marked a significant turning point for the business.

Sheryl’s commitment to civic engagement is evident throughout her career. She currently serves on the boards of the Sedgwick County Zoo, Fidelity Bank, Wesley Medical Center, and the WSU Foundation. Her past board service includes the Wichita State University Board of Trustees, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Wichita.

Her professional journey began at the Wichita Clinic after graduating from WSU. She later joined Koch Industries in 1989, supporting internal software reporting systems. Sheryl has been widely recognized for her leadership, including selection for the Wichita Business Journal’s Women in Business class (2003), the inaugural 40 Under 40 class (1998), and induction into the 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame (2015). She also served as president of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors in 2003.

The RITE (Rotary Intercountry Teacher Exchange) program was started in our District by Ralph and Armida Hight in 1996. It began as a joint project of the Rotary Clubs of West Wichita and West Sedgwick County–Sunrise and has grown to involve additional clubs in our District. The Outbound portion of the program involves selecting and sending teachers from the Wichita area to Panama for 4 weeks during their summer break. Today, our Outbound teachers will share about their experience in Panama this summer. 

Amanda Allen has served as a Spanish teacher at Andale High School since 2019. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Wichita State University (WSU), and she is trained and fluent in Spanish and French. She earned her teaching certification through WSU’s Transition to Teaching Program while working in her first teaching position at Nickerson High School. She actively seeks opportunities to promote language and cultural learning for learners of all ages. She led a seminar in David for teachers who work in the Comarca (reservation). Growing up with foreign exchange students sparked her interest in world languages, and she believes students need to be prepared to engage confidently in a global community. Amanda is an avid traveler and lifelong learner. In 2021, she began teaching beginning and intermediate Spanish courses for WSU as a Concurrent Enrollment Instructor. She taught English in France for one year and completed a six-week immersion program in Mexico. Her travels have taken her to Mexico, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and most recently, Panama. Amanda is committed to continuing her support of the RITE Program because it aligns closely with her personal values, professional goals, and belief in the importance of language and cultural education.

Perla Coyle is a first-grade teacher at Cloud Elementary School in Wichita Public Schools. She began her education career in Mexico, where she earned her first bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in her native Spanish language and completed her student teaching. After moving to the United States with her family, Perla worked in retail for several years before joining Wichita Public Schools in 2020 as a high incidence paraeducator. She served in prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms at Spaght and Colvin Elementary Schools, experiences that strengthened her commitment to early childhood education. During this time, she enrolled in Wichita State University’s Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP), an online program designed to prepare paraeducators to become licensed elementary teachers for birth through third grade. Through TAP, her paraeducator experience was recognized as a valuable foundation for her student teaching. Perla earned her second bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Wichita State University in May 2024. She is completing a master’s degree at Newman University in English as a Second Language Learning by end of summer 2026. Perla led a seminar in David with teachers of English in Chiriquí schools. She views her students as whole people and advocates for the potential within every learner she encounters. She brings a strong blend of professional excellence and personal warmth, making her an invaluable asset in any school. Perla has traveled between Mexico and the United States, and this experience marks her first trip to another country. She hopes her RITE experience will help her continue growing as a teacher leader in any school setting.

Isaac McNary is honored to lead the district as District Governor for the 2026–2027 year. A dedicated and deeply involved Rotarian, Isaac is a Past President of the El Dorado Rotary Club, a Past Assistant Governor for Rotary District 5680, and Chair for the District End Polio Now Committee. 

Isaac serves as the Vice President of International Development for The Outreach Program, an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe water, food, medical care, and education to vulnerable populations globally and domestically. Since 2009, Isaac has mobilized hundreds of thousands of volunteers to package over 60 million meals for food-insecure communities across America and in various developing nations. His work also focuses heavily on sustainable infrastructure, leading the development, production, and installation of water purification systems in rural Tanzania that now provide clean, safe water to more than 40,000 people.

Isaac lives outside El Dorado with his wife, Alana, their two sons, Isaiah and Aedric, and a lively pack of rescue dogs. Both Isaac and Alana are deeply passionate about civic leadership and animal welfare; they have volunteered for and served on the boards of numerous local non-profits, and have opened their hearts and home to foster over 70 rescue dogs over the last five years.

We welcome Isaac to our Rotary Club of West Wichita meeting today!

The Purple Line Project, led by ComfortCare Homes, is strengthening Wichita’s social fabric by helping local businesses become more welcoming to individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and their care partners. Through specialized dementia training and practical guidance—like simplifying menus, offering accessible restrooms, and allowing extra time for transactions—participating businesses make everyday outings less stressful and far more enjoyable for seniors and their families.

Businesses that complete the training display a recognizable Purple Line window sticker and QR code, making it easy for care partners to find supportive locations throughout the community.

With nearly 7 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s—and that number expected to double by 2060—the need for inclusive, dementia‑friendly environments has never been greater. ComfortCare Homes is proud to champion this effort, partnering with Wichita businesses that are committed to compassion, accessibility, and meaningful connection. Together, these Purple Line Project partners are making a difference one thoughtful interaction at a time.

Micala Gingrich Gaylord, President & CEO of ComfortCare Homes will join us today to share about The Purple Line Project.

Jennifer White is the Founder and Executive Director of ICT SOS. The organization has been the recipient of local, state, and national recognition including the Volunteer Leadership Group Award from the National Children's Alliance and the Director's Community Leadership Award from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Jennifer also serves on the Human Trafficking Advisory Board for the Kansas Attorney General's Office as well as the Human Trafficking Working Group for the US Attorney's Office. She is a statewide presenter for the Children's Alliance of Kansas. 

Jennifer is the mom of two awesome kids, a lover of people, tacos, and Mister Rogers. We welcome Jennifer to our meeting!

Gary Clark has been a professional photographer, writer, and communications specialist for more than four decades in various technology sectors. In addition, he is a genealogist and tracker of elusive ancestors since the mid-1990s. The merger of his professional skills with the passion for family history has taken him down multiple genealogy paths – most recently delving into artificial intelligence capabilities in rescuing and restoring old photographs.

Gary has spoken at regional and national genealogy conferences for more than 15 years. A native Kansan and resident of Wichita, Gary is a twelve-year member of the Wichita Genealogical Society, the Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society, the Topeka Genealogy Society, and the National Genealogy Society (NGS). He is the author of fourteen popular books on the subjects of old photographs,  gravestone preservation, and other genealogy topics.

His presentation is titled AI Photo Restoration and Enhancement. After a short introduction to this aspect of Artificial Intelligence, the steps and processes used to produce near-miraculous results will be shared. Many before-and-after examples will be shown, both in the presentation and in printed examples.His work can be viewed at www.phototree.com.

Steve Degenhardt graduated from Kansas State University in 2003 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.  He began his career at the City of Wichita and spent 21 years in the construction office.

In 2024 Steve became Assistant City Engineer and now has oversight of the development & design work on all public infrastructure projects for the City of Wichita.

Dr. Raquel Greer joined Maize USD 266 as its Superintendent of Schools on July 1, 2022. She has led the district in the development and implementation of the Lead Forward Strategic Plan, guiding toward key goals. She values connecting with students, employees from all departments, and community members to build relationships and collaborate.

Under her leadership, she has conducted listening sessions with employees and parents; engaged district stakeholder groups in shared leadership; participated in school and community events, which led the development of the Lead Forward strategic plan; strengthened partnerships with the City of Maize and the Maize Recreation Commission; and implemented new communications strategies. She meets regularly with the District Site Council, Maize Education Association, and Superintendent Student Advisory Team as a way to further strengthen communication and engagement with students, parents, and employees.

Dr. Greer has been an educator and community member in the Wichita area for more than 25 years. She and her husband, Jason, have four children.

Prior to joining Maize, Dr. Greer worked as the Mulvane Schools Assistant Superintendent since July 2018, and her work history also includes time as an elementary principal, elementary counselor, and third-grade teacher in Mulvane. She earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Masters of Education in Counseling and Leadership from Wichita State University, and Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Emporia State University.

Kim Hett is a 32-year veteran educator of Andover Public Schools whose career has been defined by innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to personalized learning. She began as an elementary teacher and later created a district writing coach role that elevated student writing and supported initiatives such as the Young Authors’ Conference. After serving as a district instructional coach, Kim helped launch Andover eCademy, which has become a leading blended online school in Kansas. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University and a Master’s degree from Baker University. Her accomplishments include being named Emporia State’s Kansas Master Teacher in 2017 and receiving the National Education Association’s Global Fellowship in 2022, an opportunity that took her to Peru to collaborate with educators from around the world.

Today, as Director of Khan Lab School Wichita, Kim continues to champion an educational model that combines academic rigor with whole-child development. She is deeply committed to the educational philosophy of Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy and Khan Lab School, which emphasizes mastery-based learning, personalized education, student agency, and real-world problem-solving. As the only other Khan Lab School in the country, the Wichita campus has provided a unique opportunity to bring this innovative approach to students and families in the Wichita community. “Wichita is our Classroom” has really become the mantra of the school.

Kim is now leading the school through an exciting new chapter as it transitions to its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Beginning May 31, 2027, the school will officially become Wichita Mastery School. Students will play an active role in helping shape the school’s new identity and rebranding, ensuring that the transition reflects the voice and vision of the community it serves. While the name and organizational structure will change, the heart of the school will remain the same: mastery-based learning, personalized instruction, meaningful relationships, and authentic, real-world experiences. The new Wichita Mastery School will also expand to include 11th and 12th grades, with the goal of celebrating its first graduating class in the spring of 2028.

Through this next chapter, Kim remains focused on creating a school where students are known, challenged, empowered, and prepared not simply for the next level of education, but for meaningful lives beyond the classroom.

Logan Bradshaw works at United Way of the Plains as the Director of Community Impact. In this role, Logan manages relationships with community partners and leads United Way initiatives with a focus on education and youth opportunity.

Logan has over eight years of experience in city government, community relations and project management. She brings a solid foundation in community engagement and a deep commitment to public service to this role. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology, both from Auburn University.

Cindy Chrisman, Principal at Lawrence Elementary, has been a principal for 11 years, and the last seven of those have been at Lawrence Elementary. She has worked in the district for 28 years. Her journey in education began as an elementary PE teacher, then as an Assistant Principal for 13 years at various elementary schools before moving into the Principal position. She believes that students should have every chance to learn that she had growing up and she strives to make sure that happens. She would not be where she is without the staff at Lawrence behind her doing the incredibly hard work that they do every single day to help their students be the best version of themselves that they can be.

Leslie Turner, Principal Benton Elementary, is in her third year as principal at Benton Elementary, prior to that she was at Black Traditional Magnet for five years and Christa McAuliffe Academy for four years.  Leslie works with students, staff and families is various capacities related to instruction, culture, personnel, family and community engagement and school improvement. Leslie’s goals for Benton are to create a safe, caring community where students, staff and families work together to help every child grow, learn and succeed.  She brings her own experiences as a WPS graduate, strong decision-making skills and a commitment to success.  Leslie holds a Bachelors in Exercise Science, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a Masters of Science Education in Building Leadership.

Brandt Wilson is the founder of Love Schools, a nonprofit dedicated to building meaningful, sustainable partnerships between local communities and public schools. Under his leadership, Love Schools grew from a grassroots effort supporting a single school into a dynamic network spanning 13 schools and 42 community partners, including businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. Love Schools is now part of the Wichita Public Schools Foundation, where Brandt serves as Program Specialist. Before launching Love Schools, Brandt spent 17 years as a children’s pastor, where he discovered his passion for equipping people and building community. Brandt holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the education field and uses his background in education, and experience building community to his role at the Wichita Public Schools Foundation. Brandt has been married for over 20 years to Jessica, his constant encourager, and together, they’re raising two incredible teenagers, Campbell and Grady. 

Greer Cowley is a native Wichitan and proud Wichita Public Schools graduate (go Aces!). A graduate of Westminster College in Missouri with a Bachelors in History and Political Science, Greer has spent nearly a decade in non-profit management, including most recently in fundraising development for HumanKind Ministries, and previously in education at Exploration Place. Greer and her husband Tyler reside in west Wichita with their young daughter, Sloane and rambunctious lab, Ace. They both see the value in public education, shaped by their own experiences graduating from Wichita Public Schools, and being part of a family of USD 259 educators.

Multi-Emmy Award Winning journalist and television personality Jemelle Holopirek has been in the storytelling business for nearly thirty years. After a long career as a television news anchor, producer and reporter Jemelle has continued her passion by sharing stories about her love of Wichita and the people who live here.

Jemelle is now the Director of Public Relations at Visit Wichita. She works with local, regional and national media to promote Wichita and the importance of tourism to our community. Jemelle is a native Kansan and has lived in Wichita for more than 30 years. She has three children Steele, Shaye, and Stratten. Her most important job is being a mother and supporting her children’s activities, goals, and future endeavors. In her personal time Jemelle attends many sporting events, loves to spend time at the lake and enjoys vacationing on a warm beach with her family.