KACEE Board of Directors 2019-2021
Michael Hotz - President
Wyandotte High School, Retired
​
Keri Harris - President-Elect
Franklin County Conservation District
​
Delia Lister - Secretary
Pittsburg State University Nature Reach
​
Sylvia Davis - Treasurer
City of Topeka Utilities, WPC Division
​
Gina Penzig - Past President
Evergy
​
Ron Betzen - At Large
Kansas Farm Bureau
​
Dominick DeRosa - At Large
FL Schlagle High School
​
Sydney Hale - At Large
Greenbush - The Southeast Kansas Education Service Center
​
Marcel Harmon - At Large
BranchPattern
​
Ma'Ko'Quah Abigail Jones - At Large​
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation - Division of Planning and Environmental Protection
​
Melissa Kirkwood - At Large
Sunset Zoo
Ken Perdue - At Large​
Affinity Sustainability Partners
​
Marvin Wade - At Large​
USD 383 - Manhattan-Ogden
​
Robin Blume - Ex Officio ​
Kansas Department of Agriculture
​
Kim Bomberger - Ex Officio​
Kansas Forest Service
​
Janet Waugh - Ex Officio​
Kansas State Board of Education
​
Mike Rader - Ex Officio
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
​
Travis Sieve - Ex Officio
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Environmental Field Services Watershed Management
​
Kathleen Waters - Ex Officio
Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Bureau Of Air
​
Kirk TJ Tjelmeland - Ex Officio
Kansas Water Office
​
Katie Basiotis - Ex Officio Alternate
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Environmental Field Services, Watershed Management Section
KACEE STAFF
LAURA DOWNEY
With a life-long love of nature and a passion for education, Laura found her dream job when she joined the KACEE staff in 1998. Originally from Michigan, Laura has found her home in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas.
RACHEL WAHLE
Kansas Green Schools Coordinator
Rachel joined the KACEE family in 2009 and is the resident 'go-to girl' for Kansas Green Schools. Rachel loves being a mom, being in the outdoors, and inspiring others to make a difference & passing on that passion on to others.
JOLENE AMTOWER
Jolene joined KACEE back in 2004 and supports the Staff on their projects. Originally a western Kansas girl, she now lives in Manhattan with her husband, Kirk. They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. She enjoys going anywhere that involves being out in nature!
MORGAN BARRETT
Morgan joined KACEE in December 2019. She lives in rural Douglas County with her husband, she's a prairie fanatic, and she's passionate about treading lightly on Mother Earth!
ASHLYN KITE-HARTWICH
Director of Educational Programs
Ashlyn joined the KACEE family in 2007. She loves spending as much time as she can with her children and husband, playing and exploring in the outdoors and taking care of their family farm.
SANDY CHANDLER
Sandy joined the KACEE organization in 1994 as part-time business manager. She assists with accounting, membership, conferences and award events.
She is retired from Kansas Forest Service and enjoys spending time with her grandkids, outdoors, swimming and teaching them about the environment.
​
​
