Crosby Gernon, Chairman

Dr. Gernon graduated from the University of Dallas in 1985 and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1989. From 1989 to 1990 Dr. Gernon did a residency in internal medicine at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa and from 1990 to 1994 was a resident in Diagnostic Radiology at Baptist Medical Center of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, serving as Chief Resident from 1993 to 1994. From 1994 until 2004, Dr. Gernon served in private practice in radiology and nuclear medicine at Medical Park West Building in Topeka, Kansas. Since 2005, Dr. Gernon has been on the faculty of Kansas University Medical Center.

Eugene R. Hillyer, Vice-Chairman

Mr. Hillyer graduated from Washburn University in 1966 with a BA in political science and economics. Since 1980, Mr. Hillyer has served as President of Hillyer Farms, Inc. and currently serves on the board of Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development and on the Board of Directors for Citizen’s State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha. He also served on the Board of Directors for the former Padonia Grain Farmers, Inc. and is a member of First United Methodist Church of Hiawatha. Mr. Hillyer served on the USD 415 Board of Education (8 years, 2 as President), the USD 415 Foundation Board, served 6 years on the Board of Trustees of Hiawatha Community Hospital and on the Hospital Foundation Board.

Stephen Smith, Secretary-Treasurer

Mr. Smith has owned and operated Steve’s Corner Drug for 37 years and has recently sold the pharmacy to devote more time to economic development in the community. Mr. Smith has also served on several boards, such as NEK Multi-County Board of Health (12 years); President of KANZA Mental Health Board (13 years); Hiawatha Community Hospital Board of directors (8 years); Hiawatha Community Hospital Foundation Board; 4-H Community Leader of Hiawatha Jayhawker’s Club (19 years); Chamber of Commerce member (35 years). Mr. Smith is currently serving as Treasurer of Kansas Pharmacy Foundation, is the Past President of Kansas Pharmacy Association, and previously served on Board of Directors for the Kansas Pharmacy Service Coop (8 years). Mr. Smith also serves on various committees at state level SRS Advisory Committee for Pharmacy and Kansas Governmental Affairs Committee for pharmacy. Mr. Smith has also been in the agricultural business since 1970 with both land and livestock holdings. He recently sold his beef herd and is converting his land to row crop production.

Jeffrey L. Swearingen, Board Member

Mr. Swearingen grew up on a farm northeast of Hiawatha, Kansas and attended Kansas State University and earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1992. He has worked at Schuetz Tool & Die, a machine shop in Hiawatha, for the past 10 years, programming and running computer controlled machines, and designing tooling for the steel forging industry. During 1998 and 1999, Mr. Swearingen also worked as an Associate Implementation Consultant for Parametric Technology, an engineering software provider. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Swearingen was Director of Engineering for RCI, a regulatory compliance firm that assisted grain elevators and small manufacturers with EOA and OSHA regulations. In this role, he consulted on air emissions, hazardous waste, toxic release inventories, storm water runoff, Tier 1 site assessments, and employee safety training, and also served as an expert witness in successfully defending a manufacturer who was sued by the EPA. During 1994, he also worked as an engineer for ERM-Rocky Mountain, an environmental consulting firm. Mr. Swearingen still helps out on the family farm when needed, plus owns 250 acres (corn/soybeans). He is a member of the Kansas Soybean Association.

John W. Reese III, Board Member

Mr. Reese graduated from Kansas State University in 1985 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He returned to northeast Brown County, Kansas after graduation, where he owns a large farming operation raising corn and soybeans. He was elected as Township Clerk for Irving Township, Brown County, Kansas, in 1996 and continues to serve in that capacity. His duties include participating on the Township Board, accounts payable, payroll and taxes, and employee supervision. He and his wife Sandy have invested in two agriculture related companies, Lifeline Foods, LLC, St. Joseph, Missouri and Regulatory Consultants, Inc., Horton, Kansas.

Robert G. Henry, Board Member

Mr. Henry is a third generation Brown County farmer, having farmed for 40 years. The family corporation farms 2400 acres of corn and soybeans. In the past, they have also finished hogs and maintained a beef cowherd. Mr. Henry is currently the Kansas Director of the American Soybean Association and a board member of the Kansas Soybean Association. He is a member of the Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development and currently serving as Vice-President of the Hiawatha Country Club. Mr. Henry has served on the Hiawatha Hospital Board (2 yrs. as President), the USD 415 Board of Education (2 yrs. as President) and has also served as a director of the Robinson Farmers Union Cooperative Board. Mr. Henry is a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church in Hiawatha and has served on numerous church committees as well. Mr. Henry holds a degree in Biology from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. Mr. Henry’s wife, Janis, is a music teacher in the Hiawatha School District, and they have two grown children and two grandchildren.

Charles Bebermeyer, Board Member

Mr. Bebermeyer has been a self-employed farmer since 1966. He currently grows corn and soybeans on 3000 acres in Northeast Kansas and Southeast Nebraska, and serves as farm manager on an additional 4000 acres in Richardson County and Jefferson County, Nebraska. Mr. Bebermeyer served on the Board of Directors of the former Padonia Grain Farmer’s, Inc. from 1985 to 2006 and is also a former Board Member of the Kansas Soybean Association. He is a member of the Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development. Mr. Bebermeyer is married and has four grown children.

Terence M. Reschke, Board Member

Mr. Reschke farms near Hiawatha, Kansas, with family and has been self-employed as a farmer since 1980. The operation consists of corn, soybeans, and feeder/finish cattle production. Mr. Reschke graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1973 and Kansas State University in 1977, with a degree in Business Management. From 1977 to 1980, Mr. Reschke was employed as a Loan Officer with Farm Credit Administration. In 1980 Mr. Reschke returned to Hiawatha to farm. Mr. Reschke is currently Secretary of the Kansas Soybean Association, a member of the Kansas Livestock Association, the National Corn Growers Association and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Hiawatha Community Hospital. He is a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and has coached high school basketball for 19 years.

Victor J. Menold, Board Member

Mr. Menold has been a partner in Menold Brothers, Inc. since 1991. Menold Brothers Inc. is a grain and cattle operation. Mr. Menold serves as a Trustee on the Hamlin Township Board. He is married and has four children.

Justin M. Lee, Board Member

Justin M. Lee is the founder and CEO of Nexsun Energy, Inc. He is an entrepreneur who actively serves on the Board of Directors of numberous bio-fuel companies. Mr. Lee is also the CEO and President of Nexsun China. Mr. Lee has a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), and MBA and Masters in Accounting along with a Bachelor of Science degree. Currently, he practices law in the State of California as a Managing Partner of the law offices of Lee & Kent, specializing in business and international law. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Mr. Lee also possesses working knowledge and experience in U. S. tax laws and regulations.