RevitalizeYC Board of Directors
Gary Morris - President
Gary Morris, a fourth-generation native of Yates Center, currently serves as President and Social Media Chair of RevitalizeYC. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Kansas State University in 2010 and holds certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). In 2013, he completed his Master's Degree in Instructional Technology from Fort Hays State University.
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After teaching fifth and sixth grades for the Kinsley-Offerle School District in Kinsley, KS, Gary and his wife, Nicole (Kress), returned to his hometown of Yates Center. He now works as a fourth-grade elementary teacher in the local school district. Alongside his teaching career, Gary and Nicole established their own lawn care business in Yates Center. They have also renovated one of the downtown buildings, with plans for future development projects. Gary believes that fostering entrepreneurship is key to the community’s economic growth.
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His passion lies in seeing Yates Center return to its former vibrancy, while creating new traditions and innovative opportunities for the future. In his free time, Gary enjoys spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, attending auctions, antiquing, and going to concerts and comedy shows.
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Contact: president@revitalizeyc.com
John Atkin IV - Vice President & Tech Support
Heather Curry - Treasurer
Heather Curry recently joined the Revitalize YC Board of Directors and currently serves as Treasurer. She graduated from Wichita State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. While attending college, Heather began her banking career in 1994 as a part-time teller. She currently works at the Piqua State Bank as the President and CEO going on five years. Piqua State Bank also has a Branch in Yates Center, where Heather has been involved in the community off and on over the years. Heather would like to see the Yates Center community thrive and prosper through economic development, education and tourism. She believes in the future of rural communities, likes the slower pace of life, and all the friendly, helpful people. With her skills and knowledge, Heather wants to help the community attract young people to come back or stay, raise their families, and be a part of a growing, prosperous, and generous community. Heather grew up in Iola, Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and three children. When not working, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, attending her sons’ sporting events, going to movies with her daughter, reading and exercising.
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Contact: treasurer@revitalizeyc.com
John Martin - Secretary
John Martin is a third generation product of Southeast Kansas who graduated from Yates Center High School and currently serves as the board secretary. He graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in Biology/NRES and began working in the IT field. He additionally graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from Baker University in 2008. John moved around for work, eventually spending almost a decade in North Carolina where he became involved in local politics. While serving as an elected official, he helped rewrite municipal unified development ordinances as well as land use plans as well as negotiating and approving hundreds of millions of dollars in new development, including a community hospital.
John moved back to Kansas in 2021 and currently resides with his son in Lawrence while continuing to work in IT Finance. His passion for Yates Center drives him to serve on the board, hoping to apply his experience in working with communities to help facilitate growth opportunities and revitalization for the town he grew up in.
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Contact: john.martin@revitalizeyc.com
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Amanda Mulsow - Advertising and Marketing Chair
Amanda Mulsow is a native of Yates Center and was the 5th generation raised on the Mulsow farm northwest of Yates Center. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Wichita State University. Amanda has professional experience in marketing, as well as traditional & digital advertising. She currently works as an Advertising Account Executive for Cox Media in Wichita, specializing in digital marketing. Amanda previously served on the Board of Directors for the Wichita Family Crisis Center for over 7 years. She assisted in the organization's re-branding, re-branded & planned their annual gala, served as Special Events Chair, Communications Chair, and has extensive fundraising & event planning experience. Amanda is one of the founding Board members of RevitalizeYC and serves in the role as Advertising & Marketing Chair. She has a passion for working with entrepreneurs, helping their businesses grow. Amanda also has a passion for helping others, which is a trait she credits to growing up in the caring, generous community of Yates Center. She is proud to have been raised there and wants to help preserve the small-town qualities that make Yates Center unique, while providing opportunities for growth and economic development for future generations. With her daughter, Tianna, having recently flown the coop, Amanda is now enjoying empty-nesting by spending time with family, listening to live music, road-tripping exploring new places, and trying new restaurants and cuisine.
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Contact: marketing@revitalizeyc.com
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Deborah Mikulka - Grant Manager
Debra Mikulka is excited to be using her skills and expertise serving as the Grant Manager for the RevitalizeYC Board of Directors! New to the Yates Center community, she has worked as project director/principal investigator on federal and state grants; a school psychologist; counselor; PreK-12, university and community college instructor; K-12 and university grants administrator; and independent evaluator and consultant. Debra has been the primary author of more than $53M in funded grants as well as had the opportunity to collaborate on many more funded grant applications. She has worked across the country with public-school districts, community colleges, universities, state and local entities, and non-profits. Her professional preparation includes an A.A. from Neosho County Community College; B.S. in Education from Emporia State University; M.S. in Counseling and Ed.S. in School Psychology and Educational Administration from Pittsburg State University; and doctoral work in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Kansas. Debra sees the great potential for the community to grow and take advantage of funding opportunities as a rural, under-served community. Her and her husband are currently remodeling their residence in Yates Center and look forward to being a part of this amazing community. In her free time, she loves to garden, read, cook, and enjoy the outdoors.
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Contact: grantmanager@revitalizeyc.com
Cara Walden - Health Advisor
Cara Walden, joined the RevitalizeYC Board of Directors in 2020 as the Healthy Communities Advisor. In addition, she also serves as the Events and Fundraising Coordinator. Cara was born and raised in Yates Center, graduating from Yates Center High school in 2000. After high school, she attended Neosho County Community College in Ottawa, KS and became a Registered Nurse. For many years, she was the Woodson County Public Health Nurse serving the community at the Woodson County Health Department. Cara has worked in the health industry for over 18 years and continues to work as needed for SEK Multi-County Health Department. In addition, she is very active in the community and enjoys helping various organizations with event planning.
Cara joined the RevitalizeYC Board of Directors because she has a passion to see her hometown grow and thrive. She hopes to play a vital role in cleaning up the county, bringing new families into the community, and supporting new businesses. She firmly believes this type of economic growth will help the area become an even better place to live! Cara currently resides in Iola, Kansas with her husband and two boys. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling.
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Contact: cara@revitalizeyc.com
Karen Faulkner - Member At Large
Karen Faulkner (Stockebrand) was born and raised in Woodson County. She serves on the board as the print media specialist and is one of three at-large board members. Karen's generational roots run long and deep in Woodson County. She graduated from Yates Center High School, and Allen County Community College. She then married her husband, a soldier in the United State Army. Together they traveled the world serving their country. Karen's education changed from books to service, and living life through trial and error. She and her family have lived in Germany, Texas, and Georgia. While in Texas and Georgia, she was a substitute teacher. Upon her husband's military retirement they chose to return to Yates Center, and make it home. Karen has spent the last 20 years employed by USD366, as an At Risk Tutor. Her classroom is the Alternative Learning Center which supports ages pre-K thru 8th grades. Karen strongly believes in the importance of God, Country, and Family, spiced up with a little cooking, crafting, and green glass collecting. Woodson County's major strengths are its beautiful land, lakes and natural beauty; its location, and its residents. Karen believes Woodson County is a special place with an unfinished story where the best is yet to be built.
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Contact: karen@revitalizeyc.com