Board of Directors

William R. (Bill) Docking, Chair, is president of Union State Bank in Arkansas City and chairman of the board of the City National Bank & Trust Company in Guymon, Okla. He also serves as managing member of Docking Development, an oil production company based in Oxford, Kan. Mr. Docking has served in many statewide leadership capacities. He is a former member of the Kansas Board of Regents, where he served two terms as chair, a former president of the Kansas Bankers Association, and served on the executive committee of the University of Kansas Endowment Association. He is also active in Arkansas City organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Salvation Army and Community Health Foundation.

Shelly Buhler, Vice Chair, was elected 1st District Shawnee County Commissioner in November 2006, and currently serves as the chairwoman of the commission. From April 2001 until her successful bid for the commissioner seat, she served as mayor of Rossville, Kan. She has served on the board of directors for Kansas PRIDE and is a Leadership Topeka graduate. Utilizing her degree in community services, which she received from Benedictine College, she is a past president and current member of the Rossville Community Development Committee, the Rossville Foundation and the Rossville Economic Development Committee. Ms. Buhler also serves on the Rossville Pool Task Force and helps facilitate the Rossville Leadership Initiative. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Kansas Health Foundation Leadership Award.

Gary Brooks is the Wichita District Superintendent for the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church. After graduating from Friends University with highest honors and receiving his Masters of Divinity at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Rev. Brooks ministered to many churches across Kansas. A fourth-generation pastor, he has played key roles on numerous United Methodist committees and has twice been honored with the Denman Evangelism Award. Rev. Brooks has also provided leadership to Habitat for Humanity and Kansas food banks in addition to serving on the boards of the Barton County Emergency Aid Council and Barton County Youth Care Inc.

Mollie H. Carter is CEO and President of Sunflower Bank, a Salina-based bank with 25 locations across Kansas and additional locations in Colorado and Missouri. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School, Ms. Carter is also vice president for Star A, Inc., a farming and ranching operation based in Manhattan, Kan. She also currently serves as a director of Archer Daniels Midland and Westar Energy. In addition to her business ties, Ms. Carter has been active in her community and state, currently serving on the board of directors for the Greater Salina Community Foundation and formerly serving on the board of directors for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

Ronald W. (Ron) Holt began work with Sedgwick County in 2002 and is an assistant county manager who focuses on the divisions of culture, entertainment recreation, public safety and community development. He is currently serving as project leader for the new Sedgwick County arena in downtown Wichita, and has responsibility for funding relationships with a number of community museums and attractions supported by Sedgwick County. Prior to joining Sedgwick County, Mr. Holt served in various roles for more than 20 years at Westar Energy, formerly KGE, including leadership positions in customer service operations, human resources management, community affairs and field operations. He has received numerous honors and awards and serves on several boards throughout the community.

Michael Lennen is vice president for regulatory affairs at Westar Energy in Topeka. A graduate of Southwestern College and Washburn University’s School of Law, Mr. Lennen has served our state as chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission and secretary of the Kansas Department of Revenue. Before joining Westar’s management team, he spent 20 years practicing law in Wichita and was repeatedly recognized in the publication “Best Lawyers in America.” Mr. Lennen also serves as president of the board of directors for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, and serves on the board of directors for the Independence Charitable Trust and the Brown Foundation.

Donna L. Shank is co-owner of Al Shank Insurance in Liberal. Ms. Shank served on the Kansas Board of Regents from 2002 to 2010. A political-science graduate of Seward County Community College and Wichita State University, she holds leadership positions on the Governor’s Economic Policy Council, the Kansas Prosperity Summit and the Kansas Business Hall of Fame Board. Ms. Shank was named Liberal’s Citizen of the Year in 2006 and was appointed by Gov. Bill Graves to serve on several advisory panels including the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, the Kansas Council for the Future of Post Secondary Education and the Hospital Closure Commission.

Andy Tompkins serves as president of the Kansas Board of Regents. Prior to assuming the position at the Board of Regents, he served as dean of the Pittsburg State University College of Education. Dr. Tompkins was an associate professor in the University of Kansas School of Education’s Educational Leadership Program. He also served as the Kansas Commissioner of Education from 1996 to 2005. Dr. Tompkins has a broad background in education throughout his career in Kansas, having worked as a high school English teacher, a high school principal, a district superintendent and a university administrator. He has received numerous honors and awards for his service to Kansas education, including induction into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame in 2001 and receiving the Jim Edwards Leadership Kansas Alumnus of the Year Award and the Kansas State High School Activities Association Governor’s Award. In addition, he was named Kansas Superintendent of the Year for the 1991-1992 school year.