Stephenie Smith, MSW
Chair
Ms. Smith was appointed to the board in December 2016. She was elected chair in 2021. She is the Managing Partner of Sophic Solutions, LLC.
Irene Caudillo
Vice Chair
Ms. Caudillo was elected to the board in December 2018. She was elected vice chair in 2021. She is the president and CEO of El Centro.
Geoff Jolley
Secretary
Mr. Jolley was elected to the board in December 2020. He was elected secretary in 2021. He is the executive director at LISC Greater Kansas City.
Nikki Newton
Treasurer
Mr. Newton was elected to the board in December 2020. He was elected treasurer in 2021. He is the president of UMB private wealth at UMB Financial Corporation.
Pat Contreras
Mr. Contreras was elected to the board in December 2017. He served as treasurer in 2021. He is the director of business development at McCownGordon Construction.
Timothy Duncan
Mr. Duncan was elected to the board in December 2019. He is a vice president and retirement plan consultant at Mariner Wealth Advisors.
Stacey Daniels-Young
Ms. Daniels-Young was elected to the board in December 2019. She retired after having served as director of Jackson County Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax (COMBAT) and chief executive officer of Black Health Care Coalition.
Ed Ellerbeck
Dr. Ellerbeck was elected to the board in December 2018. He is the chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, as well as a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Kent Hawkins
Mr. Hawkins was elected to the board in December 2018. He is the senior director of financial and offsite analysis at NeighborWorks America.
Ned Holland
Mr. Holland was elected to the board in December 2019. He is a retired senior executive and former government official, having served as the assistant secretary of administration for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Naiomi Jamal
Dr. Jamal joined the board in December 2021. She is a physician with Swope Health Services in Independence, Missouri.
Siobhan McLaughlin Lesley
Ms. McLaughlin Lesley was elected to the board in December 2021. She is executive director at Gilda’s Club Kansas City.
Jim Pryde
Mr. Pryde was elected to the board in December 2017. He served as chair in 2021. He is a lawyer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
Lisse Regehr
Mr. Regehr was elected to the board in December 2021. She is president and CEO of Thrive Allen County.
Kim Riley
Ms. Riley was appointed to the board in January 2016. She served as secretary in 2019. She is a community advocate for WellCare Health Plans.
Dred Scott
Dr. Scott was elected to the board in December 2020. He is the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.
Awais Sufi
Mr. Sufi was elected to the board in December 2020. He is the president and CEO of SchoolSmartKC.
Terry Trafton
Mr. Trafton was elected to the board in December 2020. He is an executive consultant helping build organizational and individual health and wellness.
Lynette Wheeler
Ms. Wheeler was elected to the board in December 2018. She is the chief operating officer of Truman Medical Center – Lakewood.
Tonia Wright
Ms. Wright was elected to the board in December 2017. She served as secretary in 2020. She is president and chief executive officer of Grace Advertising and Consulting.
Ex Officio Members
Qiana Thomason
Health Forward President and CEO
Board Committees
Ad Hoc Permanent Home Committee
Tonia Wright, Chair
Tim Duncan
Irene Caudillo
Ed Ellerbeck
Terry Trafton
Awais Sufi
Jim Pryde
*Brenda Calvin, Staff
Audit Committee
Kent Hawkins, Chair
Stacey Daniels-Young
Ned Holland
Pat Contreras
*Nikki Newton, Ex-Officio
*Christena Diven, Staff
Ad Hoc Equity Committee
Tonia Wright, Chair
Tim Duncan
Irene Caudillo
Ed Ellerbeck
Terry Trafton
Awais Sufi
Jim Pryde
*Brenda Calvin, Staff
Compensation Subcommittee
Stephenie Smith, Chair
Irene Caudillo, Vice Chair
Geoff Jolley, Secretary
Nikki Newton, Treasurer
*Qiana Thomason, Ex-officio
Executive Committee
Stephenie Smith, Chair
Irene Caudillo, Vice Chair
Geoff Jolley, Secretary
Nikki Newton, Treasurer
Tim Duncan
Lynette Wheeler
Tonia Wright
Stacey Daniels-Young
*Jim Pryde, Ex-officio
*Qiana Thomason, Staff
*McClain Bryant Macklin, Staff
Finance and Investment Committee
Tim Duncan, Chair
Pat Contreras
Nikki Newton
Kent Hawkins
Geoff Jolley
*Christie Briscoe Zarkovich, Staff
Governance Committee
Lynette Wheeler, Chair
Ned Holland
Jim Pryde
Kim Riley
Tonia Wright
Geoff Jolley
Terry Trafton
*Lana McKinney, CAC Liaison
*Qiana Thomason, Staff
Program and Grants Committee
Irene Caudillo, Chair
Stacey Daniels-Young
Ed Ellerbeck
Lynette Wheeler
Dred Scott
Awais Sufi
*Angie Williams, Staff
*Graciela Couchonnal, Staff
*Non-voting committee member