Board of trustees
Stacie Eichem
City Manager, City of Wamego
President
Stacie Eichem has been with the City of Wamego since 2010. Prior to taking the position of City Manager in 2019, she also served as City Treasurer and Assistant City Manager. Stacie is active on the KMU Board of Directors, KMEA Executive Committee and Wamego Area Chamber Board of Directors.
Stacie graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Master of Business Administration. Both Stacie and her husband, Paul are Wamego High School graduates. They have three grown children: Jake, Josh and Cambrey and a granddaughter, Sutton.
Stacie was first elected to the Board in 2021.
Ron Marsh
City Manager, City of Abilene
Vice President
Ron Marsh is the City Manager of Abilene, Kansas since June 2021. Previously he spent 3+ years as the City Administrator of Clearwater, Kansas and 18 years as an administrator in the Sedgwick County Public Works Department. Ron has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy, and is a former Army officer. He has been active on numerous boards and committees throughout his career, including 8-year school board member, 2-year city council member, and treasurer of the Wichita Chapter of the West Point Alumni Organization. Ron is a member of both ICMA and KACM. He and his wife Amy have 2 grown children, Chuck (Danae) and Bonnie, and one grandson, Calvary Kinder.
Ron was first appointed to the Board in February 2022.
Michael Ort
City Administrator, City of Jetmore
Treasurer
Michael is the City Administrator of Jetmore. He has served in that role since Aug. 2015. Additionally, Michael serves as an EMT with Hodgeman County EMS beginning Jan. 2019. In 2011 Michael returned to school finishing a BA in History from Columbia College before pursuing a MPA from American Public University. Prior to city management Michael drove commercial vehicles, mostly local delivery of chemicals and solvents in the Kansas City region.
Michael is married to Jennifer, and they are the parents of four children—1 son and 3 daughters. Empty nesters as of last summer, they look forward to doing some traveling, both domestic and international. Jennifer teaches Spanish at Hodgeman County High School in Jetmore and coaches Forensics.
Michael also serves on the KACM Board of Directors, serving as that association’s Ethics Committee Chair, and is a member of the ICMA, Kansas Association of Public Information Officers (KAPIO), and KSGFOA.
Michael was first elected to the Board in 2021.
Kristi Carrithers
City Clerk, City of Valley Center
Kristi Carrithers has been the City Clerk for the City of Valley Center since July 2015. Prior to working as City Clerk, she was the Admin. Assistant at the Dodge City Public Library handling all the Human Resource, accounts payable and open Board Meeting functions. She has a Bachelor of Science in Management and Organization from Tabor College and has earned the title of Certified Municipal Clerk. She is a member of IIMC, CCMFOA and IMPA-HR. Kristi and Lance have 2 daughters, Sydney and Taylor, and enjoys spending time wither their families including 2 very active grandsons.
Kristi was first elected to the Board in 2020.
Beth Linn
City Administrator, City of Edgerton
Beth Linn has been the City Administrator for Edgerton, Kansas since 2011. During her tenure in Edgerton, Beth has overseen the development of a new community building called The Greenspace, more than 16 million square feet of industrial space at Logistics Park Kansas City, several major multimillion dollar infrastructure projects, and a new housing development that will increase Edgerton’s housing stock by 40%. Beth previously worked for the City of Raytown, Missouri, and for the City of Merriam, Kansas. Prior to city government, she spent three years in corporate marketing for a Kansas City area engineering firm. When she is not working, Beth enjoys spending time with her family at the lake.
David Cowan
Assistant City Manager, City of Independence
David Cowan has been with the City of Independence since December 1986. Starting work in the EMS Department, David obtained his paramedic certification and nursing license, and was promoted to Director of EMS in 1996. In 2012, David was promoted to Public Safety Director for the City of Independence and in 2020, to Assistant City Manager and Director of Safety. David has served on numerous boards, including appointment to the State 911 Coordinating Council in 2016, as the LKM representative. David and his wife have two grown children and several grandchildren.
David was first elected to the Board in October 2023.
Kent Brown
City Manager, City of Goodland
Kent Brown is the City Manager of Goodland, Kansas since October 2021. He has previously served as a city or town administrator in the towns of Georgetown and Milliken Colorado and the city of Clearwater Kansas. He also served as city clerk in Ulysses Kansas. Kent has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from Colorado State University and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. He has been active on numerous boards and committees throughout his career, including county wide leadership programs, community foundations and a number of regional economic development organizations. Kent is a member of both ICMA and KACM. He and his wife Julie have 2 grown children, Danielle (Jeff) with grandson Edgar and Nathan (Sophia) with granddaughter, Aspen.
Kent was first appointed to the Board in October 2023.
Luke Grimes
City Administrator, City of Ulysses
Luke Grimes became the City Administrator of Ulysses in 2023. Luke holds a BS in Business Management from Pensacola Christian College. He began his career working in finance and real estate before coming home to Kansas to take the role in Ulysses. Luke and his wife Malina have two young children, Saxon and Luciana.
Ethan Reimer
City Manager, City of Halstead
Ethan Reimer has served the City of Halstead since 2014, first as the City Clerk before being appointed to the City Manager position in 2017. Ethan holds a Master of Public Administration degree with certificates in City/County Management and Public Finance and is a proud graduate of Wichita State University’s Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. He also holds certifications as an ICMA Credential Manager, Certified Public Manager, Public Sector Human Resources Association Certified Professional, and a Certified Municipal Clerk and is a member of several professional organizations.
Ethan currently serves on the boards of the Kansas Association of City/County Management (KACM), the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency (KMGA) Executive Committee, Harvey County Economic Development Council, Public Wholesale Water Supply District #17, United Way of Harvey and Marion Counties, Halstead Community Foundation, and Halstead Chamber of Commerce and is a member of and volunteer for the Halstead Lions Club.
Ethan and his wife Katie have two boys, Marshall and Marcus, who keep their parents’ days, nights, and weekends full of activities, laughter, and some occasional mischief.