Let's do this.
It takes a team to end hunger and we have the best.
WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wyoming Hunger Initiative is dedicated to finding and supporting sustainable, Wyoming-based solutions to hunger. The Initiative focuses on raising funds and awareness to strengthen the work of hunger relief organizations across the state. By investing directly in local efforts, Wyoming Hunger Initiative aims to reduce food insecurity for children and families in every Wyoming community. Through collaboration, innovation, and grassroots support, the Initiative continues to work toward the ultimate goal: ending hunger in Wyoming.
First Lady Jennie Gordon attended the University of Wyoming where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences. Jennie worked for 15 years as a Laboratory Medical Technologist at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. She later served as a field service representative for Abbott Laboratories where she traveled throughout the western United States repairing and servicing laboratory equipment at hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Her interest in fighting childhood hunger was sparked long before becoming First Lady when she learned about the issue of food insecurity among residents of Sheridan County. Since that time, she has volunteered at various Wyoming anti-hunger organizations and is passionate about shedding light on the good work that is being done throughout the state to reduce hunger.
Susan Samuelson is a University of Wyoming graduate, retired elementary educator, and ranch owner. She counts the introduction of Title IX during her senior year in high school as a turning point in her understanding and future interest in women’s equality, race relations, and the improvement of children’s lives. She has been an integral advocate for many community organizations and causes over the years, including the Laramie County Library System, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Children’s Village, Boys and Girls Club, Wyoming Community Foundation, United Way, Climb Wyoming, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and University of Wyoming athletics, libraries, and College of Education. Her experience brings valuable insight, support, and a passion to affect change throughout the state—as well as the know-how to get things done. She serves as Board Chair.
Laurie Box is a Colorado native; she moved to Wyoming in 1984 after meeting her husband Chuck and has now spent more of her life as a Wyomingite. Laurie worked in banking until her twin daughters were born. After welcoming a third daughter to the family, Laurie and Chuck started Rocky Mountain International, a tourism marketing company representing five states as a region to international tourists in 17 European, Scandinavian, and Pacific Rim countries. After 24 years, Laurie and her husband sold the company to their employees where it continues to thrive as a Wyoming business. She now manages the business of her husband’s novelist career, is a Director of the Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce, a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer, and a longtime CFD volunteer. She is an avid horsewoman, beekeeper, and grandmother. She serves as Board Treasurer.
Kathryn Boswell grew up spending her summers in the mining town of Morgan, WY and the academic year in Arlington Heights, IL. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, she retired from her work as the Hunter and Angler Participation Coordinator for the Wyoming Game & Fish Department in 2022, where she developed partnerships and events to help Wyomingites learn to hunt and fish. The former Chief of Staff to Wyoming First Lady Nancy Freudenthal is also an avid volunteer, and has chaired the Advisory Board of the Wyoming Women's Foundation, the National Advisory Board of the University of Wyoming Art Museum, and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Art Show. She is a 2010 Leadership Wyoming graduate and has always made serving people the guiding principle of her work. She and her husband Chris live in Cheyenne. She serves as Board Secretary.
Mary Ellbogen Garland is involved personally as a volunteer and professionally in service to the people of the State of Wyoming. She is the president and chair of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation. The focus of her work is in education and for the well-being of children families. She has given support to teacher quality, education leadership, early childhood care and education, civics education, student scholarship and basic needs for Wyoming communities. She currently serves on the College of Education Advocacy Board, Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors, Literacy Research Center and Clinic Advisory at the University of Wyoming. Mary has a marketing degree with a minor in finance from the University of Wyoming and is a Leadership Wyoming graduate, class of 2001. She was awarded Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa and Medallion Service Award from the University of Wyoming.
Lynn Kirkbride is a Wisconsin native who found her home on a cattle ranch in Chugwater. She holds a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. Lynn has worked in the field of disability and diversity for 30 years, having been originally inspired by her brother, a quadriplegic. She has served as the Chair of the Cheyenne Mayor’s Council for People with Disabilities, a member of the Wyoming Employment First Task Force, and is the founder of the Wyoming Business Leadership Network, helping in the development of the MentorABILITY youth program. She has been the Director of Affiliate Relations for Disability:IN (formerly USBLN) since 2011. Additionally, she has helped lead the Legislative Spouses group since 2012. She has five children and five grandchildren.
Kiel Harding embodies the enduring spirit of Wyoming ranching. Raised on his family’s cattle ranch in southeastern Wyoming, he now manages Harding Ranch, overseeing a cow-calf operation and custom meat sales. Since graduating from Albin High School in 2002, Kiel has become a strong advocate for landowners, serving on boards and negotiating pipeline easements. He currently serves on the Meriden Carbon board, promoting landowner rights and sustainable development. Kiel brings an unwavering commitment to excellence in everything he does. Known for his collaborative approach and readiness to support others, he has earned deep respect within Wyoming’s agricultural community. For the past seven years, he has also played an active role in combating food insecurity, partnering with hunger relief organizations across the state. Respected for his collaborative leadership, Kiel is deeply involved in Wyoming’s agricultural community and has supported hunger relief efforts statewide for the past seven years. He lives on the ranch with his wife, Kristin, and their two sons, proudly continuing his family's ranching legacy.
Kathleen McKinley grew up in Torrington, Wyoming. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a retired junior high teacher and served a short term as Education Policy Advisor to Governor Freudenthal. Having spent 25 years teaching, she saw firsthand how difficult it is for students to succeed when hunger gets in the way. She is proud to join a team that works to support Wyoming communities in fighting food insecurity. Her favorite time is that spent with her family. She and her husband John live in Cheyenne. They have three grown children with families.
JoAnn Skeim-True is a resident of Casper, a University of Wyoming graduate, and a Leadership Wyoming Class of 2018 graduate. She is a petroleum geologist and works in the oil and gas industry for AB Resources, LLC. Her family—husband Shane, six children, a daughter-in-law, and a son-in-law—all have the fortune of living in amazing Wyoming. She is always looking for ways to make Casper and Wyoming the best place to live, and is excited to serve on the Wyoming Governor’s Residence Foundation Board.
Diane Gore is the President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. With a lifelong dedication to health care in Wyoming and expertise in finance and risk management, Diane leads the oldest and sole health insurance company headquartered in the state. As President and CEO, she serves on multiple national boards, chairs important state health programs, and oversees the BCBSWY Caring Foundation, supporting youth, health, and education. She’s actively involved in local organizations such as Boys and Girls Club and Wyoming Hunger Initiative. Diane is deeply committed to making health care more affordable and accessible in Wyoming by positioning BCBSWY to adapt to the ever-evolving health care landscape and the needs of its members.
Tim Sheppard retired from the Army after a 40 year career which included serving as the chief of staff for the Wyoming Army National Guard. As an Army Engineer, he enjoyed completing construction projects throughout Wyoming and the world. Currently, he serves as the executive director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission. Additionally, he serves as the distinguished past governor for the Rocky Mountain District of Kiwanis and as past president of the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club; board president for Raising Readers in Wyoming and the Cheyenne Family YMCA; and, board vice president for the Cheyenne After School for Kids program. A 2007 Leadership Wyoming graduate, he currently serves as Vice Chair of its board of directors. The colonel is married with seven wonderful children to include two sets of back-to-back twins.
Susie von Ahrens was born and raised in Green River, Wyoming and moved to Rock Springs in 2014. She retired from FMC Corporation after 35 years of service and has dedicated her time since to volunteering for local and state-wide charities and boards. Susie has served on the advisory board for the Community Fine Art Center, the Arts and Cultural Committee, the Local Advisory Board for the Wyoming Community Foundation, and as the GOP Chairwoman in Rock Springs. At the state level, she has served on the Wyoming Community Foundation, the Wyoming Alzheimer's Association, and now she is proud to serve on the Wyoming Governor's Residence Foundation board. Susie enjoys fused glass art in her spare time as well as golfing, fly fishing, travel, and spending time with family and grandkids. Susie has two daughters, two step-daughters, and twelve grandchildren along with her husband Fred.
WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Wyoming Hunger Initiative Regional Directors are chosen by the First Lady to represent a region based on their awareness of food insecurity or role within their community that is directly related to food insecurity. Regional Directors have been assigned multiple surrounding counties to bring a network together to share ideas and voice concerns that may be solved on a regional level or be elevated to the Wyoming Hunger Initiative for statewide coordination. They work to create a platform for communication where food insecurity can be solved as a state, together.
Debbie Kelly works for the University of Wyoming Cent$ible Nutrition Program where she is a program educator for Park County and Northern Big Horn County. She teaches adult nutrition and cooking classes and goes into schools in Park and Big Horn counties that have 50% or more youth that qualify for 50% or more free and reduced lunch. Debbie has been part of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative Grow a Little Extra project for the past two years as she has garden space at the Park County Complex in Cody where she grows produce to donate to the local food pantries. Prior to serving as Regional Director, she was instrumental in the Food from the Field program where she picked up meat from her processor in Park County and got it to the local food pantries in her region to distribute. Debbie is a Wyoming native; she and her husband Gene have two children Dave and Julie who both live in Cody with their families.
Sierra Mitchell founded the Afton Food Pantry in 2016 with little knowledge of food pantries or how to operate one. A firm believer in the philosophy of “see a problem, solve a problem,” she decided she couldn’t stand by when she knew individuals in her community were going hungry. The Afton Food Pantry has grown to include refrigerators, freezers, fresh produce, meat, bread, and non-perishable food items that are distributed weekly. To date, over 29,000 individuals have benefitted from the Afton Food Pantry’s efforts. Sierra lives in Afton with her husband Michael and three children.
Greta Spencer is a native of Indiana but moved West in 1980 to attend the University of Wyoming where she studied Education. She retired recently from teaching after 32 years; teaching elementary in Title I schools for 9 years before she started Wyoming’s first McKinney-Vento Program (Homeless Education) for Natrona County School District #1. She worked with homeless students ages 4-21 for the last 23 years. These most at risk students are her passion. With guidance and support, she has seen many students flourish and reach goals they never thought possible. Greta is a mother to three adult children and is GG to six beautiful grandchildren. She is also a member of Rotary (past President), active in her church, and enjoys volunteering at the Unaccompanied Students Initiative (USI) youth house.
Deanna Trumble has lived in and served the Lander area for 35 years. She is currently the Executive Director of Lander's First Stop Help Center and has volunteered extensively in the fight against food insecurity in numerous local organizations as well as national and international ones, to include the Relief Bus in New York City and orphanages and schools in Haiti, El Salvador, and beyond. Additionally, she has served as a foster parent, exchange student host, Girl Scout leader, and is a long-time swimming teacher as well as swim officiant for the Wyoming High School Association. She is the recipient of Fremount County State Farm's #everydayheroes award in 2019 for working to make Lander a better place, one request at a time. She has a son, daughter, and son-in-law as well as three grandchildren.
Breean Waller is a Wyoming native with roots deep in the soil of a sugar beet farm in the scenic Big Horn Basin. After her days at Northwest College, she embarked on a vibrant journey in the Real Estate industry. Driven by an unwavering passion for aiding those in need, Breean dedicated years of her life as a compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant in hospice care. Breean champions the idea that access to healthy, nourishing food is a fundamental right for all. Currently serving as the Program Coordinator for Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends, she has found her true calling. Nestled in Buffalo with her husband Jim, two children, three cats, and two dogs, Breean considers herself blessed to call Wyoming home. Her belief in making the world a kinder, friendlier, and more compassionate place radiates through every aspect of her life and she is excited to be part of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative team to continue making a difference in the lives of Wyoming's citizens.
ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS
Wyoming Hunger Initiative's day-to-day operations and large projects are led by First Lady Jennie Gordon and her small but mighty team. Whether strategizing, fund raising, copy writing, preparing programs for launch, or managing any number of details that propel Wyoming Hunger Initiative's mission forward, everyone involved believes wholeheartedly that an effective solution to ending hunger in Wyoming is built upon an organized, efficient, and creative foundation.
Trista Ostrom is a Wyoming native and graduate of the University of Wyoming where she received her Bachelor's in Education and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. Trista is passionate about volunteering, civic responsibility, and making Wyoming the absolute best place to live. Prior to serving as Chief of Staff for First Lady Jennie Gordon, she was the Executive Director of the Wyoming Congressional Award Council and has logged thousands of volunteer hours of her own throughout Wyoming. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Wyoming State 4-H Foundation and as a volunteer for Dano Youth Camp. She is an avid outdoorswoman, frequent domestic and international traveler, and dedicated mentor to many Wyoming teens.
Willie Fowler is the founder and principal of CameraHead Media, a creative production company in Cheyenne. Originally an engineer, Willie now plans, shoots, and produces film projects for clients throughout the Mountain West and nationwide. His attention to detail and ingenuity in production paired with a belief that the story is the most important piece of any project allow him to deliver captivating results for his clients. He is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Willie lives in Cheyenne with his wife, four children, and one rambunctious puppy.