RevitalizeYC Advsiory Board
Kendra Bickham - Community Development Consultant and Grant Writer
Kendra Bickham possesses over 17 years of executive-level leadership and consulting with nonprofits with budgets ranging from $180,000 all the way up to $25 million. She has written and received millions of dollars in grants that has helped many nonprofits develop sustainability.
Highlights of her experience include public policy and advocacy for The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities Initiative; board leadership with the Humboldt-Del Norte Healthcare District, with an emphasis on prevention for better health outcomes; homeless prevention and affordable housing development; forming the Continuum of Care for Del Norte County, California, where she also spearheaded the first point-in-time count of area homeless; food systems development, pioneering the first Food Policy Council in Del Norte County; child abuse prevention initiatives, including Differential Response; work with the Hmong refugee population; and healthy youth development. In her most recent role, Kendra served as the founding Executive Director, helping launch a new organization in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, providing support for homeless children and their families. Kendra helped provide support leading to the successful acquisition of historical preservation funding for one of the buildings in the historical downtown area in Yates Center, Kansas and recently agreed to serve on the advisory board, to provide support for Revitalize YC. She feels the work they are doing is vital for the economic viability of the area and will help create a more vibrant, sustainable community.
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JJ Edwards - Communications Director
Jeffrey (JJ) Edwards is a lifelong member of Yates Center and Woodson County. JJ is one of the founding Board Members of RevitalizeYC and served on the Board as the Communications Director for 3 years. He now provides valuable wisdom and insight as an Advisory Board Member in the areas of financial planning and insurance. JJ has a Master’s degree in Administration from Emporia State University and a Bachelor of Sciences Degree from Kansas State University in Animal Science and one in Secondary Education. He is also a certified Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist from the International Risk Management Institute and a Licensed Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow from the College for Financial Planning. JJ believes RevitalizeYC must be proactive in helping to support our local economy and its members in order to maintain the community’s existence and way of life for the current generation and for generations to come. His service in the Marine Corps has taught him the importance of commitment and sacrifice, which will be needed in order to preserve our unique community and protect its treasured past. JJ served the community as the Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent for 8 years and now provides services as the State Farm Agent. JJ enjoys working outdoors on their family ranch located in NW Woodson County. He has been married to his wife, Kristi, for 22 years and they have one son, Justice, who is 19.
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Contact: jeffrey.edwards@revitalizeyc.com
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Laura Douglas - Treasurer and CPA
Laura Douglas is a Woodson County native, currently serving on the Advisory Board as CPA. Laura is one of the founding board members of RevitalizeYC since April 2018 and served on the Board as the Treasurer and CPA for 4 years. Laura graduated from Emporia State University (Summa Cum Laude) in 2004, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. While working in the Public Accounting field, she went on to continue her education and began the Master of Business Administration program at ESU. Laura successfully completed the Certificate of Public Accounting Examination in 2009 and became a Certified Public Accountant. Laura has been employed with Citizens State Bank since 2008 and currently serves as Director, Vice President and Accountant to the organization. Laura believes in Woodson County and feels it has many unique attributes that make it a “Special Place!” Laura’s ancestors came to Woodson County in 1871. Her father, Glen Massoth, is a fourth-generation farmer in the Piqua Area. Laura currently resides in Yates Center with her husband, Wacey, and their two children, Gradyn and Adley. If she has free time, Laura enjoys spending time outdoors and enjoying new experiences with her family.
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Contact: laura.douglas@revitalizeyc.com
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Taylor Edwards
Bio Coming Soon!