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About Our 2026 Ballard Board

Steven Koprince - Chair

Steven Koprince is a former attorney and small business owner who now serves as an educator, legal analyst, and corporate board member. Steven, his wife Anne, and their two children are deeply committed to giving back, and his favorite part of serving Ballard is helping create lasting, positive change for families in Lawrence and Douglas County.

Jill Steuve - Vice-Chair

Jill Steuve serves as Ballard’s Board Vice-Chair and brings a people-first, community-rooted perspective to the Board’s work. A Lawrence-based real estate professional with Keller Williams Integrity, Jill is passionate about helping families find stability and build a future. Jill currently volunteers on a weekly basis helping provide healthy snack options for the kids in our care!

Major General (Ret) Greg Garder - Secretary

General Gardner’s life reflects a deep commitment to service, from leading roles in the Kansas Air & Army National Guard, Kansas Emergency Management & Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security to decades of civic leadership across many nonprofit and government boards. At Ballard, Greg has worn many hats: hands-on volunteer, former treasurer, campus problem-solver, and trusted advisor on major projects including the solar-powered addition. What matters most to him, though, is seeing Ballard children thrive, especially on the safe playgrounds he helped build.

Elly Claussen - Treasurer

Elly Claussen brings both lived experience and thoughtful financial stewardship to her role as Treasurer of the Ballard Board. As a former single parent, she understands firsthand how close many families live to the edge, and how life-changing it can be to know where to turn for support. Elly is deeply committed to Ballard’s dual approach of nurturing children while stabilizing families, and she brings a disciplined, long-term mindset focused on sustainability, risk awareness, and intentional growth.

Michelle Chronister - Past Chair

Michelle Chronister, Ballard’s Past Chair, has long been a steady, energetic force behind the scenes, especially when it comes to rallying community support. Alongside her husband Steve, she has helped lead annual fundraisers, raising significant support for Ballard over the years and reflects the Chronisters’ deep commitment to local giving. She has provided support, mentoring, and leadership to the Ballard throughout the years. As Board Chair, Michelle has also been a public advocate for protecting Ballard’s ability to serve children and families without disruption.

Kim Rack

Kim Rack is a hands-on Ballard champion who shows up with creativity, consistency, and a “how can I help?” spirit. She’s known around Ballard for bringing art to life, serving as a weekly volunteer art teacher and stepping in to make sure staff and kids feel celebrated in tangible ways. Her service has been recognized beyond our walls as well, including being named a 2024 Galluzzi Volunteer of the Year honoree for her work with Ballard.

Wint Winter Jr.

Wint Winter, Jr. is a proud fourth-generation Lawrencian whose life and career have been defined by service. A former Kansas State Senator, longtime attorney, and past President and CEO of Peoples Bank, Wint continues to serve Kansas through his legal practice, the Kansas Board of Regents, and numerous local nonprofits. He and his wife Mary raised three daughters in Lawrence and now enjoy time with their nine grandchildren, keeping family and community at the center of all he does.

Dr. Scott Thellman

Dr. Scott Thellman lives just down the road from Ballard on a small farm in Grant Township, where he spends much of his free time helping at Juniper Hill Farm. A plastic surgeon at Lawrence Plastic Surgery, Scott also serves on several local boards, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital and SOS Kaw Valley Foundation. His work reflects a commitment to health, sustainability, and strengthening the community Ballard serves.

Jessica Mooneyham

Jessica Mooneyham believes that when the opportunity arises to support children and community, stepping forward is simply the right thing to do. A University of Kansas graduate and former portrait photography studio owner, Jessica returned to Lawrence and found Ballard, falling in love on her very first visit. Serving on the Board has allowed her to deepen community connections, involve her children, and share in the joy that seems to follow everyone who walks through Ballard’s doors.

Dr. Scott Robinson

Dr. Scott Robinson brings a lifelong dedication to community health and service to the Ballard Board. After 31 years practicing emergency medicine, wound care, and hyperbaric medicine at LMH, he retired in 2025 and continues to support organizations that strengthen families through education, food security, and stability. Scott and his wife Linda live in Lawrence near their children and grandchildren, firmly rooted in the community they love.

Walt Jamison

Walt Jamison is drawn to Ballard because of its refusal to give up when challenges feel overwhelming. He is inspired by Ballard’s willingness to step in, take on difficult situations, and help families reach outcomes that once seemed impossible. For Walt, supporting Ballard means standing alongside an organization defined by hope, persistence, and deeply caring people.

Chris Schmid

Chris Schmid has been connected to Ballard since his children attended the Pre-K program in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and his involvement has grown steadily over the years. A lifelong Lawrence resident, Chris has seen firsthand the lasting impact Ballard has on children and families, and he continues to support the organization through community connections and event leadership. Watching Ballard grow and hearing its many success stories has been both an honor and deeply rewarding for him.

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