Our Team

Kansas Appleseed works statewide, with staff members based in Lawrence, Wichita, Pittsburg, Iola and Holcomb.

Our Team hero image here.
  1. Staff
  2. Board
  3. Careers
  1. Image of Mike Fonkert (he/him)
    Mike Fonkert (he/him) Campaign Director

    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.

  2. Image of Lori Johns (she/her)
    Lori Johns (she/her) Director of Operations

    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.

  3. Image of Haley Kottler (she/her)
    Haley Kottler (she/her) Campaign Director

    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.

  4. Image of Paige Olson (she/her)
    Paige Olson (she/her) SEKS Thriving Advocate

    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.

  5. Image of Christina Ostmeyer (she/her)
    Christina Ostmeyer (she/her) Communications & Development Director

    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.

  6. Image of Jami Reever (she/her)
    Jami Reever (she/her) Executive Director

    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.

  7. Image of Caleb Smith (he/him)
    Caleb Smith (he/him) Inclusive Campaign Director

    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.

  8. Image of Tajahnaé Stocker (she/her)
    Tajahnaé Stocker (she/her) Thriving Campaign Advocate

    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.

  9. Image of Martha Terhaar (she/her)
    Martha Terhaar (she/her) SWKS Thriving Advocate

    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.

  10. Image of Teresa Woody (she/her)
    Teresa Woody (she/her) Litigation Director

    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.

Board of Directors, Leadership

  1. Gaye Tibbets, Sedgwick County President

    Gaye is a partner at Hite, Fanning, and Honeyman, LLP, and enjoys trying civil cases, as well as advising and representing employers and employees in employment law matters. Much of her work involves individuals in cases related to discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage or contract disputes.

  2. C. Edward Watson, Sedgwick County President elect

    Bio of C. Edward Watson goes here.

  3. ​Etta Walker, Wallace County Secretary

    Etta Walker bio goes here.

Board of Directors

  1. Teresa Anderson, Johnson County
  2. Samuel Blatnick, Johnson County
  3. James Concannon, Shawnee County
  4. Mitch Engel, Johnson County
  5. Karen Griffiths, Norton County
  6. Martha Hodgesmith, Douglas County
  7. Pedro L. Irigonegaray, Shawnee County
  8. Lynn R. Johnson, Johnson County
  9. Steve Morris, Stevens County
  10. David Rebein, Ford County
  11. Nicki Rose, Sedgwick County
  12. ​Eric Rosenblad, Crawford County
  13. Larry Rute, Shawnee County
  14. Richard Seaton, Riley County
  15. Joy Springfield, Johnson County
  16. William Kassebaum, Chase County
  17. David Wing, Johnson County

Working with us

Kansas Appleseed works statewide, with staff members based in Lawrence, Wichita, Pittsburg, Iola and Holcomb and beyond.

Learn more about us

Careers

If there's not a position for you, view our resources page to find different ways to serve your community and please join our newsletter mailing list to learn about the next opening.

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