#BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors
President
Kate Giessel
Kate is a Kansas City-based attorney with a passion for serving clients in the food, agriculture, and sustainability sectors. She attended college at the University of Kansas where she studied Linguistics, Theatre and Film, and Latin American Studies. Upon graduation, she worked briefly at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. before moving to NYC in 2010. While in New York, she worked at the Helmsley Charitable Trust before returning to school to get her law degree. She attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School at Yeshiva University in NYC, served as the Legal and Policy Fellow at the National Farmers Union offices in Washington D.C., and worked at the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School. Following her graduation, Kate worked at GrowNYC, the largest and most established sustainability nonprofit in NYC. She moved to Kansas City in 2019 and worked with a local non-profit, The Giving Grove, throughout 2020. She currently serves as vice-chairperson for the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition Steering Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Rural Center.
Kate Giessel
Kate is a Kansas City-based attorney with a passion for serving clients in the food, agriculture, and sustainability sectors. She attended college at the University of Kansas where she studied Linguistics, Theatre and Film, and Latin American Studies. Upon graduation, she worked briefly at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. before moving to NYC in 2010. While in New York, she worked at the Helmsley Charitable Trust before returning to school to get her law degree. She attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School at Yeshiva University in NYC, served as the Legal and Policy Fellow at the National Farmers Union offices in Washington D.C., and worked at the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School. Following her graduation, Kate worked at GrowNYC, the largest and most established sustainability nonprofit in NYC. She moved to Kansas City in 2019 and worked with a local non-profit, The Giving Grove, throughout 2020. She currently serves as vice-chairperson for the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition Steering Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Rural Center.
Vice President
Christine Metz Howard, Director of Strategic Communications, KU International Affairs
Christine brings to the board nearly 20 years of communication experience. She currently serves as director of strategic communications at KU International Affairs. Starting her career as a journalist, Christine wrote for community newspapers in Colorado and Oregon before moving to Kansas to work for the Lawrence Journal-World in 2007. In 2014, she moved on to higher education and has previously served in communication roles for the KU School of Music and KU News Service. A passionate believer in the power of mentorship, Christine was a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sister Program for more than 10 years. Christine, a Pennsylvania native, loves living in Lawrence and is consistently amazed by its residents’ strong sense of community and commitment to building a better city. In her downtime, Christine enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening and spending time with her husband Cody and five-year-old daughter Julia.
Christine Metz Howard, Director of Strategic Communications, KU International Affairs
Christine brings to the board nearly 20 years of communication experience. She currently serves as director of strategic communications at KU International Affairs. Starting her career as a journalist, Christine wrote for community newspapers in Colorado and Oregon before moving to Kansas to work for the Lawrence Journal-World in 2007. In 2014, she moved on to higher education and has previously served in communication roles for the KU School of Music and KU News Service. A passionate believer in the power of mentorship, Christine was a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sister Program for more than 10 years. Christine, a Pennsylvania native, loves living in Lawrence and is consistently amazed by its residents’ strong sense of community and commitment to building a better city. In her downtime, Christine enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening and spending time with her husband Cody and five-year-old daughter Julia.
Past President
Audra Fullerton, Director of the Peaceful Families Program, Topeka Correctional Facility
Audra is a trained musician with experience as a professional musician and music educator. She has 15 years of non-profit management experience in areas of performing arts management and domestic violence public education and outreach. She is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, justice for incarcerated peoples, and Waldorf education. She is currently the Director of the Peaceful Families Program, a trauma-recovery and violence reduction class provided by the Family Peace Initiative at the Topeka Correctional Facility (Kansas’ only state prison that houses women). She appears periodically in Shannon’s basement karaoke lounge.
Past President
Audra Fullerton, Director of the Peaceful Families Program, Topeka Correctional Facility
Audra is a trained musician with experience as a professional musician and music educator. She has 15 years of non-profit management experience in areas of performing arts management and domestic violence public education and outreach. She is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, justice for incarcerated peoples, and Waldorf education. She is currently the Director of the Peaceful Families Program, a trauma-recovery and violence reduction class provided by the Family Peace Initiative at the Topeka Correctional Facility (Kansas’ only state prison that houses women). She appears periodically in Shannon’s basement karaoke lounge.
Treasurer
Sadie Stanclift
Sadie has had a passion for volunteer work since she was young and in Girl Scouts. She brings accounting experience to our board with degrees in accounting (BSB-Acct, MAcc) and experience in non-profit auditing. Her love for accounting started during Girl Scout cookies sales and she is thrilled to combine her joys accounting and volunteer work together while serving on this board. Sadie has served on many Board of Directors in various capacities and enjoys the opportunity to give back to organizations throughout the community. She is currently a stay at home mom with 3 young boys and primarily spends her nights and weekends at the soccer and baseball fields with them.
Sadie Stanclift
Sadie has had a passion for volunteer work since she was young and in Girl Scouts. She brings accounting experience to our board with degrees in accounting (BSB-Acct, MAcc) and experience in non-profit auditing. Her love for accounting started during Girl Scout cookies sales and she is thrilled to combine her joys accounting and volunteer work together while serving on this board. Sadie has served on many Board of Directors in various capacities and enjoys the opportunity to give back to organizations throughout the community. She is currently a stay at home mom with 3 young boys and primarily spends her nights and weekends at the soccer and baseball fields with them.
Secretary
Derek Kwan, Executive Director, KU Lied Center
Derek serves as the Executive Director of KU’s Lied Center and has worked in the performing arts industry for the last twenty years. He and his family moved to Lawrence from New York, where he served as Vice President of Concerts & Touring for Jazz at Lincoln Center. Prior to working in the arts, he worked for the IT consulting firm, Accenture. When not at the theatre, you’ll find Derek enjoying his kids’ sports and music activities, watching pro football and college basketball, and consuming chips and salsa. Derek is passionate about serving the community and truly believes in #BeMoreLikeClaire’s guiding principles.
Derek Kwan, Executive Director, KU Lied Center
Derek serves as the Executive Director of KU’s Lied Center and has worked in the performing arts industry for the last twenty years. He and his family moved to Lawrence from New York, where he served as Vice President of Concerts & Touring for Jazz at Lincoln Center. Prior to working in the arts, he worked for the IT consulting firm, Accenture. When not at the theatre, you’ll find Derek enjoying his kids’ sports and music activities, watching pro football and college basketball, and consuming chips and salsa. Derek is passionate about serving the community and truly believes in #BeMoreLikeClaire’s guiding principles.
Claudia Quigg
National Training Faculty, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Claudia is passionate about children and families and has committed her work to them through education and nonprofit service. Founder of Baby TALK (a nonprofit model now used in over 35 states, serving families of very young children), Claudia has taught Early Childhood Education at Millikin University and written prolifically about families, including 4 published books and a weekly syndicated newspaper column as well as a weekly Illinois NPR segment. She is Shannon’s cousin and loved Claire from the day she was born.
National Training Faculty, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Claudia is passionate about children and families and has committed her work to them through education and nonprofit service. Founder of Baby TALK (a nonprofit model now used in over 35 states, serving families of very young children), Claudia has taught Early Childhood Education at Millikin University and written prolifically about families, including 4 published books and a weekly syndicated newspaper column as well as a weekly Illinois NPR segment. She is Shannon’s cousin and loved Claire from the day she was born.
Ben VanLandingham
Tax Director at Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP
Ben is Claire’s oldest brother. He holds a B.A from Santa Clara University, a MAcc from the University of Kansas, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. During the day, he advises clients on tax planning strategies and at night he avidly watches any televised sporting event he can find. Even cricket. After spending several years in the Bay Area, he wanted to be closer to family and so recently returned to the Midwest to live in St. Louis... and coming soon to Kansas City! Ben joined the #BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors in hopes of continuing his sister’s legacy of community service. He will not, however, continue his sister’s legacy of being a good dancer. You might recognize him as the emcee of our annual fundraiser, the Give Back Bash.
Tax Director at Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP
Ben is Claire’s oldest brother. He holds a B.A from Santa Clara University, a MAcc from the University of Kansas, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. During the day, he advises clients on tax planning strategies and at night he avidly watches any televised sporting event he can find. Even cricket. After spending several years in the Bay Area, he wanted to be closer to family and so recently returned to the Midwest to live in St. Louis... and coming soon to Kansas City! Ben joined the #BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors in hopes of continuing his sister’s legacy of community service. He will not, however, continue his sister’s legacy of being a good dancer. You might recognize him as the emcee of our annual fundraiser, the Give Back Bash.
Whitney Webber
Sales and Marketing Manager for Sports Turf Managers Association
Whitney joins our board with over 8 years of event planning and management experience. She first connected with Shannon during the planning of Claire’s celebration of life services in Lawrence. Whitney felt a strong connection to Shannon and was honored to help support her during that time. She joined the event planning committee for the first annual Give Back Bash and had a blast working with the #BeMoreLikeClaire team planning this fantastic event. Whitney works for the Sports Turf Managers Association as their Sales and Marketing manager and is a proud wife to Aaron and mother to Grace. Previously, Whitney has served on the Board of Directors for the Douglas County AIDS Project and the Cottonwood Salute planning committee.
Sales and Marketing Manager for Sports Turf Managers Association
Whitney joins our board with over 8 years of event planning and management experience. She first connected with Shannon during the planning of Claire’s celebration of life services in Lawrence. Whitney felt a strong connection to Shannon and was honored to help support her during that time. She joined the event planning committee for the first annual Give Back Bash and had a blast working with the #BeMoreLikeClaire team planning this fantastic event. Whitney works for the Sports Turf Managers Association as their Sales and Marketing manager and is a proud wife to Aaron and mother to Grace. Previously, Whitney has served on the Board of Directors for the Douglas County AIDS Project and the Cottonwood Salute planning committee.
Executive Director, Founder of #BeMoreLikeClaire
Shannon VanLandingham
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in leadership and non-profit volunteering. Throughout her life she has served as a trainer, facilitator, and educator, while organizing leadership programs, planning events, and honing her skills in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family and friends, music, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue her daughter's legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
Shannon VanLandingham
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in leadership and non-profit volunteering. Throughout her life she has served as a trainer, facilitator, and educator, while organizing leadership programs, planning events, and honing her skills in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family and friends, music, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue her daughter's legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
