GWCH Foundation Inc.Ensure the Future Healthcare of the Community

Janel Palmer

Janel Palmer is currently serving as the Greenwood County Hospital Foundation Chairwoman. She was born and raised in Emporia, Kansas and has worked at Greenwood County Hospital for over 20 years. Janel is married to Matthew Palmer for over 24 years with two daughters, Taylor and Kaylee. They have a Silver Labrador, named Jersey, a horse named Doc and lots of farm cats. When she’s not at a softball or basketball game cheering on the girls, Janel is very active in the Eureka Community. She has recently served on the Eureka Area Chamber of Commerce Board while holding titles of President and Vice President.

Tammi Burtin

Tammi Burtin has been the Board Clerk for the USD 389 Eureka for over 16 years. Originally from Eureka, her passion for healthcare started early as she worked for numerous doctors at Bluestem Medical Clinic. Tammi has been married to Monte Burtin for over 20 years but they have been together for over 30 years. One of their favorite things to do is spend time with their nieces and nephews that they love to spoil then send home!

Tyson Rucker

Tyson Rucker serves on the Foundation Board as the Treasurer. He works for Home Bank & Trust Company in Eureka since 2000. Born in Wichita but raised in Eureka.

Married to Faith Rucker since 1999. Braden, Blake and Brenna and has also served on the Greenwood Cattlemen’s Board of Directors.

Heather Huntington Fuesz

Heather Huntington Fuesz was born and raised in Eureka, Kansas. She is married to Cory Fuesz and has two sons Clinton Laflin and Cash Fuesz. Clinton is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Master’s Degree in International Agriculture and currently works as a Livestock Specialist at the Midway Extension District in Russell, Kansas. Cash attends Eureka High School and loves football, track and rodeo horses. They have two dogs, Jet and Caite and two cats, ZigZag and Peppy.

Heather is a proven contract fundraising/grant writer and has done work for many clients including Horses of Hope Riding Centers in Kansas and Missouri, Walters’ Pumpkin Patch and the Kansas Scenic Byways. Heather and her husband own and operate the Double Arrow C Ranch, primarily a cow/calf operation and also manage Spring Creek Guest House that is part of the ranch.

In her spare time, Heather volunteers with the Greenwood Preservation Society, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, Harmony Sunflower 4-H Club, Methodist Church, South Central Community Foundation Board and Miss Kansas Board.

Leslie Spillman

Leslie Spillman currently serves on the Hospital and the Foundation Board of Directors for Greenwood County Hospital.

Leslie retired from healthcare after 27 years of being a nurse and PA. However, before that, she was an Army Nurse Corps Officer for over 25 years before moving into the healthcare industry.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Leslie and her husband Jim Spillman enjoy living in Eureka. As they celebrate their 10^th wedding anniversary this year. Leslie also currently serves on the Eureka United Methodist Church Administrative Council.

Leslie and Jim have a big family of loved ones with two and four legs!

She has a step daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, Bailey and Brody. They have a family of 3 dogs; Doty, German Shorthair, Sam, Lab Chesapeake Bay mix and finally our baby girl Bandit, Patterdale, Jack Russel and Rat terrier mix.

Nancy McKenzie, PA-C

Nancy McKenzie was born in Yates Center, Kansas, and lived in Toronto, Kansas, until 1962, when her family moved to Eureka, Kansas. She graduated high school from Eureka High School. In 1974, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and History from Emporia State University. In 1976, she was certified as a cytotechnologist by the St. Francis Hospital Wichita School of Cytotechnology, and in 1980, she received a Bachelor of Physician Assistants Studies from Wichita State University.

Nancy has previously worked at: Lattimore-Fink labs in Topeka, Kansas, as a cytotechnologist; the Wichita Clinic (Eureka branch) as a physician assistant and surgical assistant; Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center as a physician assistant in the Emergency Room (ER); the Cancer Center of Kansas (Eureka branch) as a physician assistant; the Basham Clinic in Eureka as a physician assistant; Greenwood County Hospital as a physician assistant, surgical assistant, Infection Control Specialist (ICS) and ER provider, as well as serving as the hospital administrator on four separate occasions. 

Nancy has been married to Jay McKenzie for more than 35 years, and they have two children, Jacob and Kathleen. Nancy and Jay are long-time residents of Eureka.

In her spare time, Nancy loves to read, travel (especially to the beach), but mostly she just loves to spend time with family and friends. When asked about her extensive career, Nancy said, “I love my job, and I feel fortunate that I am still able to do what I love, take care of patients.”

Sandra Dickerson

Sandra Dickerson is currently serving as the CEO for the hospital. She attends all Hospital and Foundation Board meetings as a representative if there are any direct questions to come up, she wants each board to feel as transparent as possible.

Sandy has been the CEO of Greenwood County Hospital since 2017. Before arriving in Greenwood County, she was the CFO for 24 years at Labette Center for Mental Health and has been in the healthcare industry for over 27 years.

Sandy is married to Dale Dickerson and they have been together for over 16 years.

Shannon Sanders

Shannon (Schlotterbeck) Sanders serves as the Greenwood County Hospital Foundation Director, as well as the Director of Marketing and Education for the hospital. Shannon grew up in Hamilton, Kansas, and then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Education at Emporia State University as well as a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Emporia State University.

Shannon taught English Language Arts and coached volleyball in South Lyon County (Olpe and Hartford) and at Emporia Middle School between 2005 and 2013. She moved to Washington State where she served as a Training and Communications Consultant at the Office of the Attorney General from 2014-2019, a Management Analyst for the City of Tacoma from 2019-2020, and an Education Developer for the Association of Washington Cities from 2020 to 2021. She then made the move back to Kansas at the end of 2021 to work in the community she calls home. Shannon also served in the Army National Guard from 2009 to 2015.