Amy Watson
Chair
Amy WatsonX
Amy Watson is a partner at Gerding, Korte & Chitwood CPAs, where she has built her career since 2005 and rose to partner in 2014. With nearly two decades of experience, Amy has become a trusted advisor to nonprofit organizations and government entities, combining her technical expertise with a passion for community impact.
Amy’s commitment to strengthening Mid-Missouri’s nonprofit sector led her to join CFCM, where she saw “an opportunity to broaden my impact on Mid-Missouri's nonprofits.” She admires CFCM’s ability to connect resources with causes, noting that while many know CFCM for CoMoGives and its incredible spirit of philanthropy, the organization also provides nonprofits with lasting support through grants and dedicated funds that secure their futures.
A natural leader who finds joy in helping others, Amy also devotes her time to serving on the board of the Day Dreams Foundation, and she is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Missouri Society of CPAs, and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Outside of her professional and philanthropic work, Amy’s greatest passion is her family. She and her husband love raising their two boys in Columbia, where she can often be found enthusiastically cheering them on from the sidelines of their many sporting events. A lifelong sports fan herself, Amy brings the same energy and dedication to supporting her community as she does to rooting for her sons.
Nathan Jones
Vice Chair
Nathan JonesX
As an estate and business attorney, Nathan's drivers in life are helping people achieve peace of mind by getting their estate planning in place, assisting families as they navigate through legal issues after losing a loved one, and working with business owners as they start, buy, and sell their companies. Nathan also believes strongly in local leadership and being a giver in the community.
He joined the CFCM board to help make central Missouri a better place to live by spreading the idea of philanthropy and to share the word of the unique role the Community Foundation holds as it helps hundreds of organizations and thousands of donors in our service area. Nathan has also learned from board service that anyone can start giving now.
Dawn Shellabarger
Treasurer
Dawn ShellabargerX
Dawn comes to us with a great history in banking, starting from a position of Senior Loan Review Analyst and growing into her role as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking with Central Bank of Boone County. Among other things, she has built and managed diverse, challenging clientele from small town businesses, farms, non-profits, and home construction to multi-million-dollar businesses and construction projects. In her work, she has fostered an environment of collaboration and respect by sharing ideas, building innovative solutions, and connecting clients with the bank’s strengths. She earned Central Bank’s Presidential Caring Award in 2021. Dawn’s educational experiences are diverse, with degrees from the University of Missouri, the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Sustainable Futures Institute in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Dawn’s community involvement is also diverse, including her work with the Rotary Club, Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates, P.E.O, Audrain County 4-H programs, St. Brendan’s School Home & School Club, and the Miss Missouri Organization. Dawn enjoys spending her free time on the family’s farm with husband Jacob and children Eric and Audrey.
Scott Miniea
Secretary
Scott MinieaX
D. Scott Miniea, CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive), is currently the Executive Director of Missouri Connections for Health and of the Missouri CLAIM Program. Scott’s wide-ranging background includes entrepreneurship, fundraising, community health, K-12 teaching and administration, higher education administration, and volunteer and nonprofit management. Scott brings to the Board his great expertise in marketing, fundraising, and social media, along with active engagement in local and regional community activities.
Eric Sappington
Executive Director
Eric SappingtonX
Eric joined CFCM as its Executive Director in April of 2024, having come from 15 years' experience as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Missouri Valley College in Marshall. There he led successful capital campaigns and enriched the institution in many ways, such as through mentoring the Alumni Advisory Board and overseeing the offices of alumni, development and marketing during his tenure. As our E.D., Eric looks forward to building on the Foundation’s successes while discerning and reaching for his own unique vision for CFCM. He comes to us having witnessed firsthand the transformative power of philanthropy, and is deeply aligned with our mission to inspire and nurture giving for the public good.
Eric is an avid sports fan and he and his wife, Heather enjoy spending time with their children Ethan, Evan and Faith.
Adonica Coleman
Adonica ColemanX
Adonica Coleman is a dynamic entrepreneur, media personality, and community leader dedicated to uplifting Columbia, Missouri, and its surrounding areas. She is the visionary behind The Como 411, a digital media company focused on local news and events.
As the host of the daily talk show The Daily Blend w/AC, airing on KBIA, PBS, KOMU and social media, Adonica has become a trusted voice in local media. Her deep commitment to community service is reflected in her roles as a past board member at Granny’s House, The BOLD Academy, and REDI. From 2020 to 2022, she served as a part-time business coach with the Missouri Women’s Business Center where
she developed relationships with clients that she maintains to this day. Currently, she is the current executive director of The Day Dreams Foundation.
In 2022, Adonica and her husband, Demarko, served as community co-chairs for the Heart of Missouri United Way campaign, further demonstrating their dedication to making a lasting impact on the Columbia community.
A devoted wife of close to 23 years and mother to four daughters, Adonica is passionate about her family, friends, business, and community. She thrives on building meaningful connections and continues to make a difference through her work.
Sarah Dubbert
Sarah DubbertX
Dubbert leads the business banking team across Commerce’s Central Region and oversees the Columbia advisory board and the bank’s community engagement initiatives. Dubbert began her career with Commerce Bank in 2008 in Treasury Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Missouri–Columbia and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP).
An active community leader, she currently serves as Vice President of Finance for the national council of Kappa Delta Sorority, Treasurer for the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation, and sits on the boards of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Girls on the Run.
Meichele Foster
Meichele FosterX
Meichele Foster is an accomplished advancement leader with more than 20 years of experience in higher education. She currently serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor at the University of Missouri, where she leads a high-performing team focused on corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, regional advancement, and campus-based fundraising efforts. Meichele has a strong record of fundraising success, securing multiple seven- and eight-figure gifts for key university priorities, including student scholarships and the NextGen Precision Health initiative.
Known for her strategic thinking and collaborative leadership, Meichele has built and led teams to consistently exceed goals, even in challenging environments. Her career includes senior roles at Stephens College, where she secured the largest gift in the institution’s history, and significant accomplishments in building partnerships, launching campaigns, and creating sustainable fundraising infrastructures. Meichele holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Columbia College and a master’s in public affairs from the University of Missouri’s Truman School. She lives in Columbia, Missouri, with her wife, Rose Hayden, and is active in the community, having served on the board of the Columbia Art League, the vestry of Calvary Episcopal Church and currently serving on the board of the Ragtag Film Society.
Carlos Graham
Carlos GrahamX
Carlos Graham brings deep dedication to community and public service through dual careers at Lincoln University and UPS. At Lincoln, he currently serves as Senior Director of Campus, Community & Government Relations, a role he’s held after more than two decades of leadership on campus. He’s also spent 24 years working overnight shifts at UPS, where he is a dispatch supervisor.
Carlos holds degrees in sociology and criminal justice, along with a certificate in fundraising management. His passion for helping others was inspired by his grandparents, who adopted him as a baby. That drive shows in his extensive board service, including leadership roles with Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Association, Capital Region Medical Center, United Way of Central Missouri, and more. A former Jefferson City Council member, Carlos continues to be a trusted voice for progress and connection in Mid-Missouri.
Connie Haden
Connie HadenX
Connie S. Haden is a partner at the Law Firm of Haden & Colbert where she practices in the areas of estate and business planning, trust and probate administration, elder law, and tax-exempt and non-profit organizations – all with a passion is to assist clients in developing and implementing the best possible plan to achieve their goals. Ms. Haden received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the UMKC Law Review and was a member of the Christian Legal Society, the Federalist Society, the Student Bar Association, and the Order of the Bench and Robe. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia with degrees in Agriculture Business Management and Business Economics. Having grown up on a farm near King City, Missouri, where her parents continue raising cattle and farming row crops, she now lives outside Columbia with her husband and their three young sons, where she stays busy keeping up with her family and participating in their church and community.
Sarah Hanneken
Sarah HannekenX
Raised in Washington, MO., Sarah moved to Columbia in 2012, and fell in love with the community, residents, and gorgeous landscapes. Sarah graduated from Missouri State University, with her B.S. in Interpersonal Communication focusing on Human Development and Family Science. She acquired her certificate in mediation training through the Washington University School of Law Alternative Dispute Resolution, and earned her Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation through the Cannon Institute Trust School.
Sarah currently serves as a Vice President and Private Client Advisor at Commerce Trust. She oversees the administration of trusts and estates, retirement accounts, as well as Corporations, Foundations, and Endowments. Prior to Commerce Trust, Sarah served as VP and relationship manager with Central Trust Company for over 10 years. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Cradle to Career Alliance, and is a member of the Mid-Missouri Estate Planning Council and Women’s Network. She is passionate about financial literacy, and has volunteered her time teaching those wanting to learn about investments and financial planning.
Sahba Jalali (OD)
Sahba Jalali (OD)X
Raised in Columbia, Sahba Jalali graduated from Hickman High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his Doctor of Optometry from University of Missouri-St. Louis. He interned at Washington University and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. Jalali has extensive post-graduate training and experience in the areas of laser vision correction from the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Jalali founded Advanced Vision in 2003, which has grown to one of the largest solo practices in central Missouri. His commitment to service in the community and dedication to an equitable and inclusive work environment that promotes just relationships within the workplace earned Dr. Jalali the Stephen’s College Dr. Martin Luther King community service award in 2009. To refresh and renew, Dr. Jalali enjoys cycling and spending time with his family.
Kara Linnemeyer
Kara LinnemeyerX
Originally from the St. Louis area, Kara graduated from Truman State University with a BA in Political Science and then from Depaul University College of Law. After 11 years in Chicago, she moved to Columbia in 2006 with her husband and two children where they started Beacon Street Properties, LLC, a real estate and residential development company. Kara’s husband, Scott Linnemeyer, grew up in Mexico, MO, and also attended Truman State where he played college basketball. Both Kara and Scott have deep roots in Missouri and have generously offered their time and talents in the community. Kara has served on the Board of the Home Builder’s Association of Columbia for 15 years. Kara is looks forward to serving the mid-Missouri community in a new way through her role on the CFCM Board.
Heidi Ross
Heidi RossX
Heidi Ross has been a licensed CPA for 20 years and has spent the majority of that time with the firm of Gerding, Korte & Chitwood, providing accounting services and support to individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in the central Missouri area and beyond.
In addition to her work with the public through GKC, Heidi enjoys giving back to her community whenever she can. She has participated on advisory boards, volunteered with local nonprofit organizations, been a troop leader for scouts, a room parent coordinator and served on various school committees, but has primarily served in behind-the-scenes roles, lending a hand wherever its needed most. Heidi lives with her husband and two mostly grown sons on a farm just outside of Harrisburg. With both sons preparing to embark on adult adventures of their own, Heidi is excited to explore new opportunities to give back and deepen her involvement in community service.
Amy Susán
Amy SusánX
Amy is the Director of Public Relations and Communications for EquipmentShare, a Columbia-based construction tech company employing over 4,000 team members nationwide. Amy is passionate about bringing people together to accomplish big things and serve others. At EquipmentShare, Amy helped establish the company’s first-ever non-profit organization, The EquipmentShare Foundation, as well as a program where all employees receive 16 hours of annual volunteer time off to make a difference in their communities. Amy’s experience includes communications and marketing for the state’s Manufacturing Extension Program, PR work at various government departments and offices including the Secretary of State’s Office and the Department of Economic Development, and investigative reporting and anchoring for NBC and CBS affiliates. Amy and her husband proudly hold the record for raising the most money as King and Queen for The Rainbow House. You may find Amy on a tennis court with her daughter or friends, at the gym watching her son play basketball or on the MKT trail near her home. She is an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish.
Frank Thompson
Frank ThompsonX
I am from Bardstown, Kentucky. I received my bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Kentucky Wesleyan College. After a tax season with H&R Block, I started my career as an insurance agent with Shelter Insurance in Frankfort, Kentucky.
I celebrated my 30th anniversary with Shelter Insurance this past July. During this time, I have spent 27 years in the Marketing department and three years in Reinsurance. I have worked in operations and sales for both departments. For the past 14 years, I have been the Vice President of Marketing. On January 1 st , I was promoted to Executive Vice President. My current responsibilities are HR, Government Relations, Reinsurance, and Marketing. I have been active with the Show Me State games for 14 years on their advisory board and am currently the chair.
I have been married for 27 years and have four children. Columbia has been our home for the past 26 years. Our children attend Father Tolton High School, and we are active members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. I have been extremely active over the years coaching my children in soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball.