Linda Browning Weis, Chairman — Manhattan

A long-time participant and supporter of the arts, Kansas Arts Commission Chairman Linda Browning Weis earned her bachelor's degree in performing arts and music education from the University of Kansas. Her master's degree in music is from the University of Denver, where she did in-residence study at the Santa Fe Opera Company and masters' thesis at the Aspen Contemporary Music Institute. Her Ph.D. coursework in choral conducting was from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York. Linda taught music at all levels from college through pre-school in both public and private schools, and founded and maintained a private music school for 13 years. A career change at age 50 to real estate sales took off within a few months. Two years later Linda opened her own brokerage which she and her husband continue to oversee today.

Linda's leadership roles in Manhattan and Kansas have included the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Chairman, the Chamber Foundation Board and Executive Committee; Leadership Kansas, where she has served on the Selection Committee; the Governor's Military Council for Governors Sebelius, Parkinson and Brownback; and the Kansas State University College of Business Character-Based Leadership Board. A patron of the Symphony in the Flint Hills since its inception, Linda serves on the Governing Board of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, the Advisory Board to the KSU Department of Music, and as President of the Kansas Arts Foundation, Inc. She also maintains corporate sponsorship for the Friends of numerous Arts organizations, including KSU's McCain Performance Series as well as memberships in both alumni associations of KSU and KU. Her husband, Jerry S. Weis, Ph.D., serves on the Board of the Manhattan Arts Center and was President and Founding Member of the original Manhattan Arts Council. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Kathy Herzog, Vice-Chair – Wichita

Kathy Herzog is a skilled leader with an impressive array of professional and community experience. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She served numerous nursing administrative positions including Assistant Director of Nursing, Supervisor, Head Nurse and various clinical positions from 1978-1982. Since then, she has served as the CEO of Delaware Hospice, as VP of the Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, TX, as Director of the Cancer Treatment Programs at Humana Hospital in Houston, TX, and is currently the co-owner of a small business.

Sandra Hartley, Secretary-Treasurer –Paola

Sandra Hartley is a lifelong resident of Kansas from Paola. She earned her BA and MA in public administration/political science from the University of Kansas. After her undergraduate education and prior to returning to KU to get a law degree, she worked for two years at KU, interned for Bob Dole and was employed as security analyst for the National Security Agency. She served as an assistant district attorney in Johnson County, KS and for more than 25 years as a partner in the Hartley Nicholson & Hartley law firm in Paola, KS. Hartley was the incorporator of the Miami County Arts Coalition and currently serves as secretary of the Coalition. 

Christopher Burger – Lawrence

Christopher F. Burger is a partner with the law firm of Stevens & Brand L.L.P. in Lawrence. Specializing in construction law, he provides legal counsel to designers, contractors and construction company owners and teaches the Construction Law and Litigation class at the University of Kansas’ School of Law. Chris is a past president of the KBA Construction Law Section and a graduate of the University of Kansas (B.A. 1991, J.D. 1993). He serves on the Lawrence Public Library Board of Trustees, the Lawrence Public Library Foundation, Downtown Lawrence Inc., and other organizations and causes for the betterment of growing the Lawrence/Douglas County community.

David Lindstrom – Overland Park

David Lindstrom currently serves on the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners and is a member of DML Properties LLC. The ex-Kansas City Chiefs defensive end majored in education and graduated from Boston University in 1976. After his football career, Lindstrom was a registered NASD Broker and commercial real estate associate in Kansas City. He then spent 23 years as a franchisee of four Burger King restaurants in the Kansas City area.

Larry G. Meeker — Lake Quivira

A life-long Kansas resident and avid collector of contemporary art, Larry G. Meeker, Ph.D., holds a master’s in business administration and a doctorate in business from the University of Kansas. Dr. Meeker is a professor in the School of Business at Western New Mexico University where he teaches economic development. He is widely published in academic and professional journals; his article “The Arts as Economic Development” was published in the January 2004 issue of Bank News. Dr. Meeker is active in his community, serving in elected and appointed positions and leadership roles. He currently serves as the mayor of Lake Quivira, the president of the Johnson County Museum, chairman of the Johnson County Public Art Commission, a member of the Kansas-Missouri Metropolitan Culture Commission, and a member of the Johnson County‘s Citizens Visioning Committee. He is also a past president of the Arts Council of Johnson County and the Kansas City Jewish Museum of Contemporary Art. Dr. Meeker is also president of Meeker Consulting, a financial institutions and economic development consulting firm, which places special emphasis on the needs of economically disadvantaged populations.

Ellen Neufeld — Inman

Ellen Neufeld spends her the days practicing law as an attorney with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, and she spends her evenings performing music. In her 30th year as principal oboist with The Hutchinson Symphony, she also performs as the principal oboist with the Bethany College-Community Orchestra, performs with the Messiah Festival Orchestra at Bethany College as the oboe soloist in Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion and is a member of the woodwind trio Trablas.

In addition, she serves as a church organist at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Inman and the First Congregational Church in Hutchinson. Ms. Neufeld has been a member of several different organizations, including the Hutchinson Symphony Association, the Hutchinson Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Legal Services Board, the Kansas Women Attorneys Association and the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Board.

Ronda Rodman – McPherson

Ronda Rodman is a native Kansan from McPherson. Mrs. Rodman’s professional experiences include work in the floral and landscape industry and animal agriculture industry. She was very involved in local school and charitable fundraising as well as her children’s actives, including coaching soccer. Living in many areas across the United States, Europe and Asia, she and her family experienced the cultures and lives of people of different backgrounds, religious practices and traditions. She is married to Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman.

Henry Schwaller, IV — Hays

Cynda Wright – Hutchinson

Cynda Wright has a wide variety of not-for-profit leadership experience. She served two years as President of the not-for-profit agency Cancer Council of Reno County, Inc. and is currently serving as an at-large member of the executive board. Wright served on the Board of Directors for Altrusa, an international civic and service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in local communities, from 1996-2011 including serving as District Eight Governor (covering the states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas) for more than ten years. She also served on the Board of Directors and was President of the Reno County Historical Society, Inc.