Name: Luke Brown
Company or Retired: Immanuel Lutheran Church
Phone or Email: lukebrown@eaglecom.net
Job Title or Retired: Pastor
Summarize your work experience: I have served Immanuel since 2016, serving in eastern Kansas before then. Lifelong Kansan, I worked in newspapers before going to the Seminary. After getting out of K-State, I worked for the Great Bend Tribune for several years, including two years as Sports Editor. Worked for the Hutchinson News for one year before my wife and I purchased the Hoisington Dispatch. We owned it for 17 years before selling. My wife, Kerri Lynne, and I have been married for 40 years. One daughter, one son and two grandsons.
College or Tech School: Kansas State University
Name: Murray Marston
Company or Retired:
Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office
Phone or Email
murray.marston@ellsworthsheriff.org
Job Title: Sheriff
Summarize your work experience:
1974–1978 United States Marine Corps 1980-2011 Trooper, Kansas Highway Patrol 2011-2017 Civilian DOT Auditor, Kansas Highway Patrol 2017-Present Ellsworth County Sheriff
Name: CYNTHIA M BENDER
Company or Retired: Long & Associates Pubic Accountants Inc.
Phone or Email: 7854724936
Job Title or Retired: Secretary
Summarize your work experience: Have worked in the accounting world for 28 years.
Past Governor of Kansas District of Kansas Kiwanis. Currently Secretary of the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation.
Name: Kurt Spachek
Company or Retired: The Bennington State Bank
Phone or Email: 719-313-3333
Job Title or Retired: Vice President
Summarize your work experience: I was raised in Marion County on the edge of the Flint Hills. After graduating from Kansas State University, I worked for the State of Kansas for three years before moving into banking. Other than a few years in Colorado Springs as an insurance agent, I have primarily been an agricultural lender. I am currently employed by The Bennington State Bank and oversee the branches in Sylvan Grove and Lucas. My wife, Linda, and I have 4 children ranging in age from 18 to 25.
College or Tech School: Kansas State University
Gary Urbanek
Company or Retired: Retired
Phone or Email: urbanek.gary@gmail.com
Job Title or Retired: Retired
Summarize your work experience: Retired 30 year State Farm Agent
College or Tech School: MIT
Name: Roger Pearson
Company or Retired: Retired
Phone or Email: 785-531-2987
Job Title or Retired: Retired
Summarize your work experience:
33 Years in Hospital Administration following 20 years of dry land wheat and cattle farming in Western Kansas
College or Tech School: MHA University of Minnesota
Carolyn E Graves
Company or Retired:
Ellsworth Correctional Facility
Phone or Email:
Job Title:
Policy & Compliance/PIO/PREA Compliance Manager
SUMMARIZE YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE
I have worked at Ellsworth Correctional Facility since 09/07/1993 within Security, Classification, the Business Department and currently as Policy & Compliance/PIO/PREA Compliance Manager. I have been a resident of Ellsworth since 1992, and my husband and I have raised our family in this community. My husband Bill and I have five children, and nine grandchildren. We enjoy leisure time at the lake and are members of the Assembly of God Church in Ellsworth.
College or Tech School:
Fort Hays State University
Name: Stacie Schmidt
Company or Retired: Ellsworth County Economic Development
Phone or Email: 7858108303
Job Title or Retired: Executive Director
Summarize your work experience: Currently the Executive Director for Ellsworth County Economic Development, Stacie is an "Ellsworthian" at heart with a passion for the community where she was born and raised. Stacie is an active advocate for the community as past president of both the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ellsworth Childcare & Learning Center, board member of Ellsworth Cowtown Days, facilitator of Leadership Ellsworth County, and founder of NexGen Ellsworth County. She currently also serves as a board member for the Ellsworth County Medical Center and the Ellsworth representative for North Central Regional Planning Commission. Stacie has two children, Britain and Brooklyn, and loves to read and spend time with family and friends.
College or Tech School: Washburn University
Name: Alan Byerley
Company or Retired: Retired
Phone or Email: 785-531-0409
Job Title or Retired: retired
Summarize your work experience: Worked in the heating&aircond trade for 40 yrs. Was co-owner of B&B Plumbing,Ht,&Air Conditioning from 1987 to 2018 when I lost a leg. I served part time as an EMT for the Ellsworth Co ambulance. I now play a lot of golf and spend time with my wonderful wife Linda
College or Tech School: Fort Hays
First Name: Tom Ruth
Company or Retired: Western Cooperative Electric
Phone or Email: tomr@westerncoop.com
Job Title or Retired: General Manager
Summarize your work experience: Tom is graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla and a professional engineer. Tom has over 46 years’ experience in the areas of electric utility field operations, business operations, construction, safety, communications, and engineering. In addition to working as GM for Western Cooperative Electric, Tom also serves as a Board Director for Sunflower Electric Power Corporation. Tom is a past President in Rotary and served on several non-profit Boards such as United Way and NeighborWorks America. Tom is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. Tom and his wife, Christine, also reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
College or Tech School:
University of Missouri-Rolla
Name: Anita Hoffhines
Company or Retired: Millwood Realty-Ellsworth Office & Hoffhines Properties
Phone or Email: 785-531-0160
Job Title or Retired: Kansas Realtor and Property Manager
Summarize your work experience: Our family has been in Ellsworth County since 1991. My husband, Ed, and I moved here for a small town atmosphere and great schools to raise our sons, Adam and mark. We live in Kanopolis and own our business building in downtown ellsworth. I enjoy helping people buy homes, land and commercial property. I also enjoy assisting investors by managing their rental properties. we belong to the First United methodist Church. I've been a Kiwanis member for 15 years or so and have served a term as president. I'm currently the treasurer for our club and on the board of directors. please call me with any questions about our club or to learn more about volunteer opportunities! p.s. we have 3 dogs...Jordy, Max and Pepper. Feel free to friend me on Facebook!
College or Tech School: Fort Hays State University
Name: Derril Gwinner
Company or Retired: Retired Optometrist
Phone or Email: drderril@yahoo.com
Summarize your work experience: Began practice in 1966
College or Tech School: University of Houston College of Optometry
Name: Mark Hoffhines
Company or Retired: Millwood Realty
Phone or Email: markhoffhines@millwoodrealty.com
Job Title or Retired: Realtor
Summarize your work experience: In November 2019, I obtained my real estate license and became an agent for Millwood Realty. I have enjoyed getting to "learn the ropes" of real estate, and I love that I get to help people find their dream homes, right here in Ellsworth County! I also serve as the sports information director for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), which is based out of Wichita. The KCAC is a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and currently has 13 member schools in four states. I have interned/worked for the KCAC since August 2018, and love being able to be a professional in sports, an area I am very passionate about. The conference has been generous enough to allow me to work remotely, and that gives me the opportunity to raise a family here in Ellsworth while still doing something I love. My wife and I, both born and raised here in Ellsworth, have loved the opportunity to come back and make an impact in our community. By being part of Kiwanis, I hope to reach out even more and help as many people as possible here in Ellsworth County.
Name: Ronnie Svaty
Company or Retired: Retired
Phone or Email: 785-531-1250
Job Title or Retired: Retired
Summarize your work experience: I was a practicing lawyer in Ellsworth Kansas from 1968 to 2003 and a district judge from 2003 to 2017
College or Tech School: Kansas State University for undergraduate and Stanford Law School for post grad.
Webmaster Note: Ron was one of the original members of our Kiwanis Club when it was formed. Thank you Ron for your years of service!