BOARDSOURCE
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WICHITA’S BOARDSOURCE INITIATIVE
The JLW Wichita BoardSource Initiative began in 2018 as the result of consultant training offered by BoardSource – a national organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit boards through trainings and resources. JLW currently has 7 BoardSource certified trainers including Rachel Banning, Judy Frick, Sara Garrison, Martha Linsner, TeOndra Phillips, Betsy Redler, and Laura Roddy. We volunteer our time, and the funds received from conducting board retreats are contributed to the League for projects and consultant training.
Since 2018, more than 800 attendees have participated in JLW BoardSource trainings and community development activities. In addition, nearly 300 board members serving 19 boards have benefitted from JLW training conducted at their nonprofit’s board retreat. We have also partnered with the Nonprofit Chamber of Service and the Chamber of Commerce to offer Board University and board development trainings.
A participant in our training, Penny Olsen, the former Pando Initiative Executive Director noted: “As a newly appointed Executive Director six years ago, I found the JLW Board Development training extremely valuable for board leadership and me. We used much of the material to restructure board committees, making for a stronger and more functional board. We also developed an annual calendar using the JLW Board University Modules for additional training during monthly board meetings. I would highly recommend this training for all non-profit leadership.”
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is essential to our world. JLW BoardSource is continuously striving to promote DEI education and development efforts in our community to support diversity of thought, demographics, and ethnicity on nonprofit boards. Activities include hosting multiple DEI panel discussions to promote DEI in the community. Last fall, JLW BoardSource hosted a board member matching session to promote connections between local volunteers and nonprofit organizations.
Consultants
Rachel Banning, JLW BoardSource Consultant
Rachel Banning is a dedicated community volunteer, nonprofit executive, small business owner, and writer with a deep passion for Wichita. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Wichita State University and has been widely recognized for her leadership and contributions. She was named a Woman of Distinction in 2008, honored as a 40 Under 40 leader by the Wichita Business Journal in 2012, participated in the Chamber’s 2018 Leadership Wichita class, and is currently engaged in Advance Kansas.
With a 20-year career in the nonprofit sector, Rachel has extensive experience leading executive teams, fundraising, training, operations, personnel management, bylaws, and budgeting. She is well-versed in strategic planning and has successfully developed annual work plans in collaboration with nonprofit boards. Known for her ability to break down complex initiatives into actionable steps, she excels in fostering teamwork and collaboration to drive impactful projects forward.
Rachel is especially passionate about empowering women and supporting families raising children with exceptionalities. She currently serves on the Phillips Fundamental Learning Center board of directors and as the president of Rainbows United. She is a past president of the Junior League of Wichita, an active member of Wichita Rotary, and was recently recognized by the Wichita Business Journal as an Executive to Watch in 2025.
Judy Frick, JLW BoardSource Consultant
Judy Frick spent 17 years as a “career volunteer child advocate” before becoming the founding executive director of Communities In Schools of Wichita/ Sedgwick County, Inc. in 1990 (currently, The Pando Initiative).
CIS, which became a local nonprofit in 2014 called Pando, has experienced steady growth in helping children and families succeed from one school and 71 students in 1991 to 31 schools and thousands of students in 2007. A 1997 National CIS review stated that “services for students and families are comprehensive and high quality, and program administration and management are exceptional.” A few CIS highlights during Judy’s 17 -year tenure:
- Facilitated the development of the Healthy Children Center, the first health center at an elementary school in Kansas.
- Chosen as one of 50 teaching examples nationwide to exhibit at the President’s Summit for America’s Future in 1997. All living presidents participated.
- Collaborated with the school district and corporations to create alternative learning options for students: the CIS/Burger King Academy for middle school students; the Towne East Education Resource Center for high school students in 2000 and the Towne West Education Resource Center in 2004.
- Collaborated with mental health providers to increase mental health services in the schools through Campus Connections.
- Inaugurated Reality U, a financial literacy project, in 2002, which now serves students all over Kansas and continues to grow.
- Served thousands of students and families in a major truancy prevention project with Sedgwick County.
After she retired in 2007, Judy pursued a 2009-10 Communities In Schools National Baldwin Fellowship and developed a paper and toolkit to address Leadership Transition & Succession Planning and then consulted with several Communities In Schools sites across the country. She continues to serve as an independent consultant in this area.
Having served in leadership positions on numerous boards and as a nonprofit executive director, she has a unique perspective on board/staff relationships. She decided to focus on nonprofit board development in her retirement. She participated in a BoardSource Consultant training in 2015 and has served as an independent consultant and as a consultant for the WSU Community Engagement Center. When she became a member of the Junior League of Wichita governing board, she helped establish a board development initiative through trained League BoardSource consultants. The group collaborated with the Nonprofit Chamber of Services to provide board development training for League members and for community boards.
Sara Garrison, JLW BoardSource Consultant
Sara Garrison has worked professionally for the last 21 years in the Public Relations/Marketing industry. She has spent much of her career working for non-profit organizations including the American Cancer Society, Kansas Children’s Service League and Children’s Mercy Hospital. In 2008, Sara started her own Public Relations and Marketing consulting company, Garrison Creative. In 2009, Sara was named a 40 Under 40 Business Leader in Wichita by the Wichita Business Journal.
Getting involved and giving back to the community, has always been an integral part of Sara’s life. Her professional non-profit experience has given her the unique perspective of working as a non-profit employee and as a non-profit volunteer.
Sara’s philanthropic experience includes serving in numerous leadership roles for the Junior League of Wichita (JLW) including Recording Secretary and Director of Nominating for the organization’s Board of Directors. As JLW Director of Nominating, Sara learned the essential aspects of slating a non-profit board. Over the years, she has served as Sustaining Advisor for many JLW committees and as a BoardSource consultant. Additionally, Sara has served in numerous leadership positions on many local non-profit boards including Kidzcope, Music Theatre Wichita, Arts Partners and Exploration Place. Sara chaired the Arts Partners Board of Directors in 2015-2016 where she mentored a new Executive Director. Sara is currently an active member of the Exploration Place Board and most recently served as Board Chair, assuming her role in July 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, during her role as Exploration Place Board chair, Sara chaired the Strategic Planning committee, consisting of board members and community volunteers, as they participated in an intense 10-month process to develop a new Strategic Plan that will guide the organization for the next five years.
Martha L. Linsner, C.T.F.A., JLW BoardSource Consultant
Martha L. Linsner has worked professionally in the banking and trust services field since the mid-late 80’s. She has been with The Trust Company of Kansas since 1994 and was named President in 2009 and President & Chief Operating Officer in 2023. Martha holds a Bachelor of Science from Friends University and has successfully completed the American Bankers Association (ABA) National Graduate Trust School, which focuses on developing essential skills needed by today’s trust professionals. In 2002, Martha earned the designation of Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). This line of work has afforded her many opportunities to give back to her community by staying active through various networking opportunities with area non-profits and professional affiliates.
Whether serving on a local nonprofit board or contributing in various ways to improve and enhance the trust/wealth management industry, Martha is a real maximizer. She seeks to transform something strong into something superb. She takes immense satisfaction in being busy and productive. Team building is important to her, yet she is independent and a master at prioritizing projects based on how much influence they will have on the organization or people around them. She can organize but also has a flexibility that complements an organizer. She likes to determine how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.
Martha’s proudest service experiences include leadership positions for the Kansas Bankers Association-Trust Division, on the Treasurer’s Advisory Council for the State of Kansas’ 529 Learning Quest Savings Plan at the invitation of past State of Kansas Treasurers, and President of the Wichita chapter of Executive Women International (EWI), Arts Council, Wichita Art Museum, Junior Achievement, and Junior League of Wichita.
In addition to becoming a BoardSource Consultant in 2017, the Wichita Business Journal recognized Martha in 2004 as a “40 Under 40” recipient, named to the “40 Under 40” Hall of Fame in 2023 and recognized in 2015 as a Women in Business honoree. She is a 2005 Leadership Wichita graduate and an Advance Kansas participant.
TeOndra Phillips, CPA, JLW BoardSource Consultant
TeOndra Phillips has worked professionally as an accountant for 20 years. As a CPA, with a BBA in Accounting from Wichita State University, she spent 15 years working with local nonprofit organizations, preparing 990s and auditing financial statements. Now as a successful business owner, she offers consulting and accounting advisory services to a range of clients.
TeOndra has served on several local boards including the Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum (2019-2025), Junior League of Wichita (2018-2020 and 2022), Storytime Village (2016-2019) and the National Association of Black Accountants – Wichita Chapter (2010). She currently serves as Vice Chair of the board of Wichita Art Museum.
Betsy Redler JLW BoardSource Consultant
Betsy Redler has been a volunteer her entire life. Her mother would “volunteer” her to work community events. Betsy is currently active in the Junior League of Wichita as a BoardSource consultant, having served as their Board president along with involvement in their many fundraisers. She was named Sustainer of the Year in 2016.
Betsy also served in board leadership positions for Exploration Place, Arts Partners, and has served on the boards of WASAC, Arts Partners, Butler Community College Foundation Board, the Wichita Art Museum, and the University of Kansas Hillel. She has gained experience in board governance, recruiting, and training new board members and has participated on national search committees placing area non-profit executives.
Laura Roddy, JLW BoardSource Consultant
Laura is Exploration Place’s vice president for advancement. Laura joined Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, in 2021 after five years as the director of marketing and development at Mark Arts, a nonprofit arts center.
She is also a former president of the Junior League of Wichita and has worked as a contributing editor for The Journal of the Kansas Leadership Center, copy editor for the Dallas Morning News and public information officer for the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature.
Laura earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in communication from Wichita State University.
Laura helped Junior League of Wichita’s board transition into a governance-management model. She also is experienced in rebranding, digital marketing strategies, capital campaigns, membership growth and strategic planning.
Board University Modules
These brief modules with accompanying tools can be used at board meetings for board development purposes. They were developed in collaboration with the Nonprofit Chamber of Services which no longer exists. Longer versions are used at board retreats.
Board Roles & Responsibilities
Board Roles and Responsibilities provides a brief overview of the major roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members: establishing organizational identity; ensuring resources; and monitoring.
Building the Board
Building the Board provides an overview on how to find, recruit, and engage nonprofit board members as well as how to improve board composition and effectiveness.
Board Building Cycle
Board Profile Matrix
The Board’s Role in Fundraising
The Board’s Role in Fundraising provides an overview of the nonprofit board’s role in fundraising: the three stages of fundraising, friendraising activities, and donor motivation.
Fundraising Communications Toolkit
BINGO! Understanding Nonprofit Financials
BINGO! Understanding Nonprofit Financials provides an overview of the fiduciary responsibilities of nonprofit board members, including understanding financial statements, the audit, and the 990.
Evaluation & Assessments
This short video will give you an overview on the board’s role in evaluation and assessment of the functions of a nonprofit organization.
Annual Board Functioning Self-Assessment
Sample Evaluation Dashboard
Individual Board Member Engagement Plan
Succession Planning & Leadership Transition
Succession Planning & Leadership Transition provides an overview of succession tools needed and the Executive Transition Management model which includes the steps and activities needed during each phase of the transition.
Executive Transition Management Description
Emergency Succession Plan Template
Contact Us
To learn more about the League’s BoardSource offerings or request customized training for your board, contact the League’s BoardSource Coordinator, Judy Frick, at judyfrick7@gmail.com.