REACH Board Elects Six Members

In March, the REACH Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors elected six individuals with diverse professional experiences to begin board terms on June 1, 2021. The REACH Board annually solicits applications from individuals who bring diverse professional experience and live and work within the foundation’s six-county service area. Board terms are three years, and individuals are eligible to serve up to two terms.

The newly elected board members include:

Katherine Ferro – Senior Clinical Program Consultant for United Healthcare, focusing on social determinants of health. Ferro previously worked in health systems improvement and policy for New Directions Behavioral Health, TransforMED and Perceptive Software. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Economics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center, respectively. She has served one term on the REACH Board, including on the Program and Policy Committee. Ferro is a resident of Johnson County, KS.

Jermee Jones – Vice President, Specialized Deposits at Enterprise Bank & Trust, where he manages a deposit portfolio of more than $140 million. Jones has more than 20 years of financial services experience, including commercial banking, fiduciary management and treasury management. He currently is responsible for the client experience encompassing escrow transactions for attorneys, advisors and principals, handling private M&A transactions, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Deposit Control Agreement Accounts. He has served on the boards of area nonprofit organizations, including Niles Home for Children and Kansas Action for Children. Jones earned a degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He is a resident of Jackson County, MO.

Jerrihlyn McGee, D.N.P., R.N. – Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for KU Medical Center. McGee is also a nurse and clinical associate professor in the KU School of Nursing. Her scholarly works have focused on diversity, civility, healthy work environment, cultural competency, mentoring and health and educational equity. McGee has presented locally and nationally on issues addressing equitable and inclusive learning and working environments and systemic racism. McGee earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice at the KU School of Nursing. She has served one term on the REACH Board, including the Program and Policy Committee. She is a resident of Wyandotte County, KS.

Wendy Neal – Human Resources Manager at MW Company in Jackson County, MO. Neal previously served as Assistant Director of Human Resources, Director of Safety, Director of Manufacturing and Quality Coordinator for Sioux Chief Manufacturing. She has worked with employee benefits, safety audits and quality improvement. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Operations at DeVry University and holds OSHA trainer certification. She has served one term on the REACH Board, including the Program and Policy Committee. She is a resident of Cass County, MO.

Todd Pleimann – Managing Director at RubinBrown’s Kansas City office and partner in the Assurance Services Group. Pleimann has been a CPA for nearly 30 years and brings extensive auditing, accounting, internal controls and income tax preparation experience. He served on the board of the United Way of Greater Kansas City, the KC Area Development Council and the Downtown Council of Greater Kansas City. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Missouri State University. He has served one term on the REACH Board, including the Finance Committee. He is a resident of Johnson County, KS.

Lynette Sparkman-Barnes, Psy.D. – Clinical Psychologist and Multiculturalist Specialist for the University of Kansas Medical Center. Sparkman-Barnes previously served as Psychologist and Associate Director of Counseling Services at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Sparkman-Barnes has presented on issues of diversity and its interface with mental health and theology. She is an ordained minister in the AME Church and with her husband pastors a congregation in Wyandotte County. She earned a Bachelor of Psychology at Northwestern University and Doctor of Psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She has served one term on the REACH Board, including the Program and Policy Committee and Executive Committee. She is a resident of Wyandotte County.

Each year, the REACH Board selects members who reside within the foundation’s service area to fill seats on the 17-member board. Applications for 2022 will be accepted in the fall with a deadline of December 3, 2021.