Our Team

Lynn is the current and a past president of Spiva and served on the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex Joint Executive Committee. Member and past chairman of the Friends of St. Avips. Member and past president of P.E.O. Chapter FI and Wednesday Study Club. Graduate of MSSU, retired from UMB as Sr. VP and served 12 years on the Joplin Schools Foundation Board. She has also served on the Governing Board of Joplin First Church and several sub committees.

Lance is the retired Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Leggett & Platt, Incorporated. He is very active in Joplin and the arts community along with his wife, Sharon Beshore. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Freeman Health System since 1988 and as Chairman since 1992.

Matt is the owner of MacCo Builders and has served on various Joplin Non-Profit and community boards in the past. Currently serving on the Harry M Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex Joint Executive Committee, he believes that the Arts are key to a successful community, and he is glad to serve Spiva as they continue to grow.

Kat has held numerous positions as a banker for the past 11 years and is currently serving as Community Bank Lender at Arvest. She firmly believes that you should find something that you are passionate about, and a tribe that supports your work-life balance. Kat currently lives in Carl Junction with her husband, Jordan, and their two sons who love spending time outdoors. She is passionate about building relationships and finding creative solutions to meet the community’s needs.

Angela A. Vorhees, J.D. is a past president of Spiva and served on the Harry M Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex Joint Executive Committee. She was appointed Family Court Commissioner of the 29th Judicial Circuit in January 2019. She served as a Family law mediator as well as an adjunct Instructor for Missouri Southern State University for more than ten years. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and the Jasper County Bar Association.

Kathy serves as the Treasurer of Missouri Walnut Group, Jia Communities, and is a long-time avid supporter of the community. She is a collector of contemporary art and, with her husband, Honghong Chen, is deeply involves in developing international art connections. She is passionate about discovering new talent and providing access to art and education. She enjoys sports and, is committed to promoting global sustainability.

Brandon is founder of Davis CPA Group, LLC. Brandon is a member of the AICPA and the MO Society of CPAs. He has over 10 years of experience in public practice working for a top 10 national CPA firm. Brandon has broad experience in several industries working with clients in construction, manufacturing, medical and dental offices, and professional individuals. Brandon is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University and actively involved in the community serving on several boards.

Charlie was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2011-2019, and began his term as Jasper County Clerk in January, 2019. Mr. Davis served in the US Navy and is an active advocate for military veterans and veteran’s affairs. Along time business owner, he has been a member of area Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, the VFW, American Legion, and the Missouri Association of Military Organizations. Mr. Davis has been a Spiva board member since 2018.

Gabby teaches at Webb City HS, but she has also taught at Thomas Jefferson, McDonald County, and Crowder’s Upward Bound. She received her undergraduate degree from MSSU, her master’s from Missouri State University, and her specialist from Lindenwood University. She’s lived in the area for over 22 years and is always looking for ways to promote cultural experiences in the community.

Dr. Kennedy is the Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Integrated Learning at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine and one of the founding 5 female members of the program in Joplin. She graduated from Ohio State and Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine, completed a general practice residency through the Veteran’s Administration, and earned her board certification in public health dentistry and an MMSc in Dental Education from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine; she also serves as an expert spokesperson for the American Dental Association.

Ann, creator of Sea Sisters Spirit Dolls, serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees, is a weekly gallery docent, and serves on the Marketing and Education committees. A recently retired therapist, Ann continues to coach, write, and create in her own business. Ann is expanding our CALM (Creative Arts for Mindful Living) program and is passionate about the arts as a healing-enhancing modality. Ann has lived in, and served in Joplin for twenty-four+ years.

Fredrick works at Leggett & Platt as a Director of Human Resources. He received a bachelor’s degree in business management and MBA from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, he now lives in the Joplin area with his wife, Meaghan, and three children. Fredrick loves art in all its forms and is passionate about helping the arts flourish in our area and beyond.

Lauren is a long-time governing board member and volunteer for Spiva Center for the Arts. She uses her wonderful connection skills as chair for the Spiva Membership Committee. Lauren is an Independent Certified Public Accountant and does work for many companies and individuals in the community.

Annette is recently retired as the founding and first Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States. Annette is a graduate of Colorado State University. She has 28+ years executive level management and administrative experience working with both professional and volunteer staff, including program development, evaluation, and implementation. Skilled in securing and administering funds to maximize organizational impact. Annette continues to serve on several non-profit boards.

Ann has served on many non-profit boards including St. Phillips Episcopal Church, the Joplin Museum, the YWCA and the Joplin Women’s Club. Ann has three children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She has lived in Joplin for more than 60 years, has had a long association with Spiva and is passionate about sharing Spiva’s programs and exhibits.