We are passionate about trails and the people who use them

Elizabeth Burger is the Senior Vice President of Programs & Strategy at Sunflower Foundation, a statewide health foundation. She leads initiatives focused on food access and nutrition security, integration of behavioral and primary care, nonprofit capacity building, access to nature and public trails, and education through Sunflower’s Nonprofit Center.

Elizabeth’s career began in broadcast journalism before she transitioned to health, earning advanced degrees and completing a post-doctoral fellowship in exercise science, health promotion, and obesity management. Her diverse background includes owning a personal training business, directing hospital wellness programs, teaching and conducting research at the university level, and leading evaluation for the American Academy of Family Physicians.

In addition to her professional work, Elizabeth is a certified firefighter and EMT, actively volunteering for her rural fire district and community boards. She helps steward a public nature preserve on her family’s land and serves on the national board of American Trails. Passionate about the outdoors, she’s also a fan of research that supports the health benefits of coffee, dark chocolate, and wine.

Crystal Cummins, a native of Barber County, has a deep appreciation for the beauty and values of rural Kansas. After relocating in her youth, she and her husband returned in 2006 to raise their two children in the countryside they love. Passionate about the outdoors, they enjoy camping and exploring Kansas’s back roads and trails.

Crystal has served as City Clerk for the City of Isabel since 2009, reflecting her dedication to supporting rural communities. In 2022, she deepened her civic involvement by joining the Barber County United Board, where she currently serves as Treasurer. Her work with BCU led to her role on the Medicine Lodge Memorial Peace Treaty Trails Committee, where she helps promote and preserve local heritage and outdoor access.

Crystal and her family are active members of their local church, regularly participating in ministry events and community outreach. Her personal and professional life reflect a strong commitment to service, faith, and stewardship of place. Through her leadership, Crystal works to strengthen the quality of life in Barber County and ensure that the spirit of rural Kansas endures for future generations.

I serve as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Kansas Trails Council, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization founded in 1974 to build, manage, and promote trails across Kansas. For the past 25 years, I’ve been actively involved in trail design, construction, and maintenance, working alongside dedicated individuals and communities to expand trail access statewide.

About a decade ago, we launched the Trail in a Box program, which provides groups with access to specialized trail-building equipment. This initiative has supported dozens of new trail projects across Kansas. Recently, we partnered with Thrive Allen County to co-manage the program and its fleet of seven equipment trailers, further expanding its reach.

In addition to hands-on trail work, the Kansas Trails Council also developed and maintains GetOutdoorsKansas, a comprehensive website and mobile app featuring over 4,000 miles of trails of all types. This resource helps Kansans and visitors explore the state’s vast outdoor opportunities and connects people with nature.

Through my work with the Kansas Trails Council, I’m committed to advancing outdoor recreation, empowering local trail builders, and preserving Kansas’s natural beauty for generations to come.

Debra “Deb” Kolb is a proud 6th-generation resident of Medicine Lodge in Barber County, Kansas, with a deep passion for community, heritage, and rural wellbeing. For more than 20 years, Deb has been a driving force behind countless community events and initiatives focused on historical preservation, tourism, and local development. Her creativity, leadership, and commitment to collaboration have helped shape Medicine Lodge into a vibrant rural hub.

Over the past five years, Deb has served as the Executive Director of Barber County United (BCU)—a wellness-focused coalition aimed at improving quality of life for all residents. Under her leadership, BCU has become a respected voice for rural wellbeing, earning recognition at both the regional and state levels. Her progressive and inclusive approach brings together diverse partners to create lasting impact in areas ranging from mental health and nutrition to recreation and community engagement.

Deb’s most recent work has centered on trail-based wellness through a partnership with the Peace Treaty Association. Together, they are blending history, nature, and health into a powerful, holistic vision for community trails that connect people to place and promote overall wellbeing. With energy and vision, Deb continues to champion the future of rural Kansas—one step, trail, and partnership at a time.

Myron Leinwetter lives just outside Rossville, Kansas, with his wife and brings energy, passion, and experience to everything he does. A retired Family Practice physician with a deep interest in public health, Myron now channels his efforts into community development and outdoor wellness. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Rossville Community Foundation and leads local trail efforts as the organization’s Trails Coordinator.

A lifelong Kansan, Myron was born and raised in Atwood and has always believed in the power of rural communities. He’s an avid long-distance runner and has completed multiple marathons—including the Boston Marathon. His enthusiasm for outdoor life extends to trail hiking, gravel biking, gardening, prairie restoration, and planting trees.

Myron is especially passionate about building trails that enhance both the environment and the wellbeing of his neighbors. He is currently leading the charge to design, fund, and build the Rossville Community Trail and the Toadstrangler Trail, projects aimed at boosting physical activity, mental health, and economic vitality in Rossville and the surrounding Shawnee County.

With his medical background, love for the outdoors, and strong belief in community collaboration, Myron is helping create a healthier, more connected Kansas—one trail at a time.

Kelli Mark is the Director of Healthy Communities at the Sunflower Foundation, where she leads initiatives focused on food and nutrition security and oversees the Sunflower Trails program. This program supports communities across Kansas in creating safe, accessible trails and outdoor spaces that promote physical activity and connection with nature. Kelli also helps guide the foundation’s Food is Medicine efforts, emphasizing the vital role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic disease.

Before joining Sunflower, Kelli worked for five years at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Family Health. During her time there, she held several leadership roles—including unit director, section chief, and director of administration and policy—before being named bureau chief. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade at St. Francis Health Center, further grounding her in community-focused health efforts.

A lifelong Kansan and Topeka native, Kelli brings a strong background in public health and a passion for wellness to her work. She holds an Associate of Liberal Studies from Barton Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition/Public Health from Kansas State University, and a Master of Public Administration from Wichita State University. Through her leadership, Kelli is helping build healthier communities across Kansas.

As a young professional and City Manager with five years of experience, Thatcher Moddie is proud to serve the community of Herington, Kansas. Since joining the city team in 2023, he has been energized by the community’s enthusiasm surrounding the completion of the Flint Hills Trail. That excitement quickly became his own, and he is now fully invested in planning and completing Herington’s trail connection and trailhead.

To Thatcher, recreational trails are more than just amenities—they are essential infrastructure for building healthier, more connected communities. He consistently prioritizes public health in local initiatives, viewing trails as a key part of that vision. Trails promote physical and mental wellness, encourage outdoor activity, and foster a strong sense of local pride.

When he was first introduced to the Kansas Association of Trail Towns (KATT), Thatcher immediately recognized the potential it held. The concept of connecting Kansas communities through a statewide trail network was both visionary and practical. Now, with the transition of KATT into Kansas Trails Inc. (KTI), his enthusiasm has only grown. KTI provides a unified voice for trail development, stewardship, and community engagement.

As a promising Kansas leader, Thatcher Moddie is proud to champion trails as a catalyst for health, tourism, and economic growth across the state.

Nancy Nelson retired in 2021 from Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas, after a fulfilling career in education and community service. In 2022, she relocated to Topeka, where she continues to bring her passion for the outdoors and civic engagement to new opportunities. Since retiring, Nancy has served as the Volunteer Project Coordinator for the Osage Cuestas Trail in Southeast Kansas, helping guide its development and promotion. She also currently serves on the Topeka Parks Advisory Board, where she contributes her insight and energy through July 2025.

An avid hiker, biker, kayaker, and outdoor enthusiast, Nancy brings a global perspective to her work, often incorporating ideas and inspiration from her travels across the U.S. and abroad. Her approach is practical and collaborative—rather than reinventing the wheel, she believes in learning from what others are doing well. She champions adapting successful models from other communities to enhance Kansas’s outdoor spaces, improve access, and secure creative funding.

Nancy’s energy, insight, and love for nature make her a powerful advocate for parks and trails. Whether it’s on a board or on the trail, she’s committed to making Kansas a more active, connected, and beautiful place to live and explore.

George Pretz is a lifelong resident of Miami County, Kansas, and has served as a dedicated Miami County Commissioner since 2005. Deeply rooted in agriculture, George has spent his life farming and raising dairy and beef cattle, proudly representing the values of rural Kansas. A graduate of Kansas State University, he brings both education and experience to his public service. Since 2004, he has also served on the Kansas Farm Bureau Board of Directors, advocating for Kansas farmers and ranchers across the state.

George has played a key role in promoting outdoor recreation in Miami County, most notably by working alongside Osawatomie citizens to establish Mile 0 of the Flint Hills Trail—a landmark that symbolizes Kansas’s commitment to trails and healthy living. He strongly supports the development of trails as a way to connect communities, encourage physical activity, and boost local economies.

At the same time, George is a vocal advocate for preserving the rights of landowners. He believes in striking the right balance—expanding public access to outdoor spaces while respecting private property and the legacy of agricultural stewardship.

George and his wife Marj have four children and seventeen grandchildren, and he remains committed to building a Kansas that future generations will be proud to call home.

With over 30 years of experience analyzing both private and publicly traded companies, George Semb brings deep financial expertise and strategic insight to every project he undertakes. Most recently, he served on the Investment Committee at Leawood Venture Capital, where he evaluated emerging companies and guided smart investment decisions. In addition to his finance background, George has conducted experimental research, focusing on data collection, statistical analysis, and sustainability studies. He also founded a software development company that led the creation of software platforms for college textbook publishers and the U.S. Navy.

George’s passion for the outdoors runs just as deep. In the late 1990s, he and his wife thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, a life-changing journey that inspired them to write two books: Day Hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon and Washington and Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail: California. George later served nine years on the Board of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, helping to protect and promote one of America’s great long-distance trails.

Today, George continues his trail advocacy by biking and exploring hundreds of miles of trails across Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He remains a strong supporter of expanding access to outdoor recreation and connecting communities through trails.

Mike Scanlon is a seasoned former City Manager with a dynamic career spanning mountain resort towns, college communities, urban hubs, and rural areas from Missouri to Colorado. No matter where he’s served, Mike has always had one constant—a trail project in the works.

His trail journey began as an intern in Columbia, Missouri, where he contributed to the creation of the MKT Trail, officially dedicated in October 1985 and envisioned as a future connection to the now-renowned Katy Trail. During his time in Merriam, Kansas, Mike led the acquisition of 40 acres for the Johnson County Streamway Trail, linking Overland Park to Kansas City. In Colorado, he helped develop key pedestrian underpasses and trail connections in Basalt, tying the town into the scenic Rio Grande Trail system.

Most recently, in Osawatomie, Kansas, Mike completed the Mile Zero trailhead and the final two-mile connection to the Flint Hills Trail, giving the project its long-awaited starting point.

Today, Mike continues to champion trails through his planning and consulting firm and as the Interim Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Trail Stewards (KATS). His career reflects a deep belief in the power of trails to connect people, promote health, and transform communities.