Board of Directors

Clarence Zugelter began his career with First Federal Bank in 1971. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1988, and elected Chairman of the Board in 1999. He retired from active management in 2014. Clarence brings a breadth of experience to the board relating to bank operations and historical perspectives of the banking industry, in addition to the unique culture of a mutual institution represented by its mission, vision and values.

Clarence received his bachelor’s degree from Baker University, his MBA from Avila University, and graduated from the Graduate School of Banking in Norman, Oklahoma.

He and his wife are actively involved in the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and its ministries.

Other leadership roles:

• Served on multiple boards, including the Missouri Savings and Loan League and the Heartland Community Bankers Association
• Elected to America’s Community Bankers board, where he served on the legislative committee
• Elected board member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and served as the Chairman of the bank’s Affordable Housing Committee
• Selected to represent the thrift industry on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors under Chairman Alan Greenspan

Richard Merker held various roles with Inter-State Federal Savings from 1974-2015 including Loan Officer, Vice President and President before merging with First Federal Bank of Kansas City in 2016 and joining the board of directors.

He graduated from the University of Kansas with majors in Political Science and Economics.

Other leadership roles:

• Project committee member with Build WyCo
• Previous Board Member of Kansas City, KS Lenders’ Consortium
• Kansas Licensed Real Estate Appraiser, 1980 – 2015
• Missouri Certified Real Estate Appraiser, 1980 – 2015

Stephen Hilliard served more than 40 years in the financial services, insurance and banking sectors including as a Senior Vice President of State Street, a Fortune 500 company. He also brings to the board leadership experience in human resources, legal, compliance, information technology, data management and property development functions.

Stephen received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri and his MBA with an emphasis in Accounting and Control from Rockhurst University.

Other leadership roles:

• Volunteers with Once City Café, Morning Glory Ministries, Parkville Women’s Clinic
• President for Serra Club of Kansas City North
• Previous Trustee for Mid-Continent Public Library
• Previous Board member and chair of Alphapointe
• Previous Board member and president of Neighborhoods of Hope

J.R. Buckner is the president and CEO of First Federal Bank of Kansas City, the largest independent depositor-owned community bank headquartered in Missouri. He joined the board in 2014 and leads an executive team focused on creatively meeting the capital and cash flow needs of businesses, helping individuals realize the American dream of home ownership and partnering with technology companies to deliver banking products and services in innovative, safe and secure ways .

J.R. has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Management from Park University and as a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado with over 30 years of community banking experience, he brings a wealth of strategic and operational knowledge to the board.

Prior to joining First Federal Bank of Kansas City in 2012 as Executive Vice-President, J.R. served in executive leadership roles at Bank of Lee’s Summit and First Community Bank.

Through service to various Kansas City-based nonprofits and leadership roles at The Summit Church in Lee’s Summit where he and his family attend, J.R. actively gives of his time, talents and resources to make Kansas City a better community.

Other leadership roles:

• Serves on the Government Relations Committee and the Mutual Advisory Committee to the American Bankers Association
• Past Chairman and Board member of the Missouri Bankers Association. and current board member of the Missouri Bankers Foundation
• Board member of Mutuals Matter
• Co-Chair of the Asset Funders Network
• Mentor for the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado’s Executive Development Institute

Angela Hoffman serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance at Black & Veatch. During her 32 years with Black & Veatch, Angela has engaged in various financial leadership roles across the organization in both Corporate (Treasurer, VP of Finance) and other business roles in Power Delivery, Telecom, Water UK (including London assignment) and Federal.

Angela received a bachelor’s degree in Business and Accounting from Emporia State University and holds a master of business administration in Finance from Rockhurst University.

Other leadership roles:

• Breakthrough 1D (former JDRF) of Greater Kansas City, Board of Directors and Greater Kansas City Family and Community Walk Chair
• United Way Tocqueville member, Past United Way Cabinet member and Past Chair of Women United
• Past Board member of Junior Achievement of Greater KC
• Emporia State University Trustee Emeriti

Andrea Allison-Putman serves as the Senior Director of Education and Y Relations with the YMCA Retirement Fund where she facilitates retirement educational experiences and builds relationships with key constituents within YMCA’s throughout the United States. Previously, Andrea served the YMCA of Greater Kansas City as the Chief Development and Equity Officer. During Andrea’s 10+ years of leadership in that role, she oversaw staff and volunteer leadership, fund development, payroll, benefits, inclusion and diversity, communication, training, recruitment and the Y-USA regional training and human resources partner efforts. Her background combines human resources management with community relations expertise, bringing extensive operational and organizational administration knowledge to the Board.

Andrea holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development and received her BSBA from the University of Missouri. Andrea resides in Kansas City, MO with her husband Andre’ and they have three adult children.

Other leadership roles:

• Volunteers with the International Relations Council, LevelUp Kids and Greater KC Hispanic Collaborative
• Active member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, Urban League of Greater Kansas City and Mizzou Alumni Association

Debe Gash is a seasoned healthcare technology executive with over 25 years of experience leading information technology and cybersecurity programs in the healthcare industry. She currently serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Missouri.

Prior to joining Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Debe served in senior executive and consulting roles, including Interim CIO Consultant with Korn Ferry, and previously as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer (CIO) for Saint Luke's Health System. During her tenure at Saint Luke's, she led enterprise-wide digital initiatives, implemented strategic IT roadmaps, and advanced a culture of innovation across the health system.

Debe began her career in healthcare managing physician offices and patient accounting. In 1989, she relocated to Kansas City and joined Baird, Kurtz and Dobson, CPA, as a healthcare consultant where she conducted operational assessments for hospitals and physician practices and delivered educational presentations on healthcare compliance and regulatory topics.

Debe joined Saint Luke's Health System in 1992 where she held leadership roles including responsibility for physician services for Saint Luke's Medical Group, Project Manager, and Director Application Development within Information Services.

Debe is a gradate of the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Health Services management and a master's degree in Business Administration.

Other leadership roles:

• She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
• Member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)
• Member of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
• Member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE)

She holds the following certifications:

• FACHE, CHCIO, CDH-E, FHIMSS, and CPHIMS.

Kyle Turner is the Chief Growth Officer at Life Science Connect. His current role includes the go to market strategy and growth plans to deliver b2b solutions that connect readers and advertisers, providing a value exchange between both that drives mutual business

outcomes. Additional responsibilities include sales process, the underlying growth platform and developing new growth markets at vertical and strategic partner levels.

Prior to Life Science Connect, Kyle served as EVP, Growth Officer for Americas for iProspect in multiple leadership roles across iProspect and Merkle in data, technology, and media during his 10-year tenure.

Roles included leading the new business growth team at iProspect as well as growth teams for Experience and Commerce, Media Activation and Strategic accounts at Merkle.

Prior to joining Merkle, Kyle served as the Chief Marketing and Growth Officer for Cobalt Ventures, a private equity subsidiary of Blue Cross Kansas City where he was responsible for the sales and marketing for 7 companies in the private equity portfolio. Additionally, Kyle has served in leadership, growth, and account management roles for The Allant Group, on the senior leadership team as SVP of Sales from 2008 until 2014 and worked for Acxiom from 2001 to 2008.

Kyle serves as an advisor for Freedom Hoops, a non-profit organization in Kansas City and is active in their Next Steps program.

Chuck Robb served as Chief Financial Officer at BJC Health System where he oversaw finance-related functions including finance, supply chain, treasury, revenue cycle and managed care.

Prior to the 2024 merger of BJC with Saint Luke's Health System, Chuck had served as Saint Luke's CFO since 1999. Before joining Saint Luke's, Chuck was with Ernst & Young. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and is a Certified Public Accountant. Chuck’s professional honors include being named among the Kansas City Business Journal’s CFOs of the Year for 2021.

Chuck is a member of numerous professional organizations and has served in board positions including:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Missouri Society of CPA’s
• Metropolitan Ambulance Service Trust
• University of Missouri-Kansas City Accounting Advisory Board
• John Knox Village