Cal Pendergrass

Associate Director, Florence CF

Cal grew up in the small village of Mohawk NY and Graduated from Gregory B Jarvis Jr/Sr high school. Upon graduating High School Cal enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to Fort Knox Kentucky for One Station Unit Training to become an M1 Armor Crewmember. Cal deployed to Kosovo KFOR 4B for peacekeeping operation in 2004-2005, and again to Iraq in 2005-2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. After returning to Germany Cal returned to Fort Knox KY to serve as a Tank Commander/Instructor for basic training Soldiers. Cal’s next duty station was in Fort Hood Texas where he deployed to Iraq again for the troop surge in 2008-2009. Cal was sent to Fort Carson Colorado in 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010-2011 in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Cal’s next duty station was Fort Polk Louisiana where he served as the Brigade Deployment Non-Commissioned Officer in the 162 nd Infantry Brigade (Tiger land). Cal moved to Fort Riley KS in 2014 and served as a Tank Commander with another rotation to the middle east. While at FT Riley he also served as a Platoon Sergeant, Protocol Events Coordinator, and capped off his time in the military as the 1st Infantry Division Barracks Program NCIOC.

Cal’s awards include:
Combat Action Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, 7 Army Commendation Medals, 6 Army Achievement Medals, Valorous Unit Award, 5 Army good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign medal with 2 campaign Stars, Iraq Medal with Campaign Star, 2 NCOES Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, 5 Overseas Service Ribbons, Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze service star, 2 NATO medals.

Cal also received the Honorable order of Saint George Medallion for demonstrating outstanding leadership, and exceptional teamwork while serving in Armor and Cavalry units.

Cal is currently serving on the Florence Kansas City Council, and is a member of the Marion VFW, and Florence American Legion.

Brandi Mast

Associate Director, Elk County CF

Brandi was born and raised in Kansas. She graduated from Andover Central High School and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Family Life and Community Services from Kansas State
University. She went on to earn a Master of Education degree in Counseling from Wichita State University. She is also a certified yoga instructor, teaching free weekly yoga classes in Elk County.
Brandi has worked for non-profit organizations in a variety of capacities for most of her career including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County and Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. She is
passionate about improving the lives of those around her and making her piece of the world a better place.

Brandi currently lives with her husband and two daughters on a cattle ranch near Fall River, Kansas. In her spare time, she enjoys helping take care of the animals on the ranch, fishing, gardening,
working in her flower beds, riding horses and spending as much time as possible outdoors. When the Kansas weather doesn’t cooperate for outdoor activities, she enjoys baking and riding her spin bike indoors.

Brandi is thrilled to embark in her new role as Associate Director of the Elk County Community Foundation. She hopes to make a lasting impact on her community by furthering the already amazing work that the foundation has accomplished.

Melissa Schreiber

Program Officer for Grants, CKCF

Melissa Schreiber recently joined Central Kansas Community Foundation as the Program Officer for Grants. Most recently, serving as the Program Manager for the Harvey County Drug-Free
Youth Coalition overseeing a federal grant, community relationship building, and sustainability, as well as many years in consumer and commercial banking.

She is a long-time Newton and Harvey County resident, a 1993 Graduate of Newton High School, and a 1997 Graduate of Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Finance with an
emphasis in Marketing. Melissa is passionate about community building and servant leadership. She serves on many community boards, is Co-Chair of the Healthy Harvey Coalition, Harvey County Interagency Coordination Council, an organization focused on early education, Tobacco Free Harvey, and a member of the Newton Lions Club and Newton Area Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the USD 373 Board of Education for four years, three years as Vice President, and is currently President of the Board.

Melissa is very excited to be part of the Central Kansas Community Foundation and help communities thrive.

Carrie Herman, Central Kansas Community Foundation Executive Director

Carrie Herman has been the Executive Director at the Kansas Learning Center for Health in Halstead since July 2016. Prior to that she spent almost nine years at Asbury Park (now known as Paramount Community Living) where she was most recently the Vice President of Operations.

A 1993 graduate of Halstead High School and a 1997 graduate of Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor in Business Administration, emphasis in Marketing, Carrie completed the LeadingAge Kansas Center for Leadership Program in 2012 and was a coach on the Design Team for the class of 2015. After receiving her certification in 2013 to be an Adult Care Home/Assisted Living Operator, Carrie went on to obtain her Adult Care Home Administrator license in February 2016.

Carrie enjoys getting involved in the community and is currently serving on the Harvey County Department on Aging Advisory Council, NetWork Kansas E-Commerce Committee, Healthy Harvey Coalition (Secretary), Harvey County D-FY Coalition, Halstead Chamber of Commerce (Secretary), and the Newton Lions Club (Past President). In addition, Carrie served almost eight years on the Central Kansas Community Foundation board. Carrie resides in Halstead with her husband Clint and two sons, Cole and Connor.

Carrie will serve as the CKCF Executive Director in support of the expansive staffing opportunity made possible by grant funding.

Kristie Diller – Hesston Community Foundation Associate Director

I was born and raised on a farm near Hillsboro, Kansas. After graduating from Hillsboro High School, I attended Bethel College. Since that time, I have worked in a variety of settings, including sales and property management. My most recent work has been at CKCF, as Program Director.

I am married to a Hesston native, Phil, and we live in Hesston. We have two sons, Colton, Freshman at Kansas State University and Hunter, Hesston High School junior. I enjoy the Colorado mountains, cooking/baking, being outdoors, shopping and spending time building relationships with family and friends.

I believe in the mission of Community Foundation work and am excited about facilitating philanthropic efforts with community partners and cultivating relationships in the community in which I live, as I begin as Associate Director for Hesston Community Foundation.

Kristie is transitioning from her role as Program Director to Hesston’s Associate Director effective April 1st.

BRANDI GARNICA: Program Officer- Scholarships

I am so excited to be the newest employee at CKCF, and the more I am learning about the job and the foundation, the more I feel like I have landed in the right place.

I was born and raised right here in Newton, Kansas, and after moving about the country for 10 years going to college, and managing Photography Studios, I decided to raise my own family here in Newton.

I have spent much of the last decade working in the Dental field and as much as I like teeth, I am looking forward to this new avenue of learning and growth with CKCF, doing work that makes me proud and feel good.

My wonderful husband (Derrick) and I, have FIVE beautiful children, Emerson (15y), Gray (12y), Lennon (10y), Cole (6y) and baby Isla (10 months). When we aren’t busy with all the sporting and school activities, we enjoy camping, music, vacationing, cooking, and just spending time as a family.

I can’t wait to meet you all and get to know everyone better!