Task Force Members Biographies
Brad Williams, Lawrence, serves as the task force chair. He is the chief information officer for the Kansas Board of Regents, which governs six state universities and supervises and coordinates 19 community colleges, five technical colleges, six technical schools and a municipal university. He is also the executive director of Kan-ed, where he facilitates technology solutions for higher education institutions, libraries, hospitals and K12 schools.
Randall Allen, Topeka, serves as the task force vice-chair. Randall is the executive director for the Kansas Association of Counties, a quasi-public agency that seeks to advance the public interest by promoting effective, responsive county government in Kansas. As executive director, Allen helps to uphold the association’s mission of advancing public interest by providing representation, education and leadership to Kansas counties. Beyond his administrative duties, Allen works as an advocate and representative for the interests of counties located both within and outside the state.
Stan Ahlerich, Topeka, is the president of Kansas, Inc., a public-private partnership that conducts evaluation reviews and provides oversight of economic development programs to benchmark economic development efforts in Kansas. Ahlerich is also a past president of the Kansas Farm Bureau.
Jay Allbaugh, Wichita, is the vice president of governmental affairs at Cox Communications for the state of Kansas and a member of the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association.
Joanne Budler, Topeka, has been the Kansas State Librarian since January 2010. Previously, Budler was the Ohio State Librarian.
Steve Davis, Medicine Lodge, is the chair of the State Independent Telephone Association, which establishes partnerships between rural telephone companies and ensures quality telephone service throughout Kansas. He is also the president of SC Telcom, which provides telecommunication services to rural communities in South Central Kansas.
Jennifer Findley, Topeka, is the director of education at the Kansas Hospital Association, an organization of hospitals working together to improve access, quality and affordability of healthcare for Kansans. She is also a liaison to the Kansas Healthcare Education Council and the Kansas Association of Medical Staff Services. Additionally, Findley is a member of the Kan-ed User Advisory Council and the Kansas Digital Learning Advisory Board.
Jessica Frye, Topeka, serves as the geographic information system coordinator for the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office. Frye also serves on the North Central Region Homeland Security Support Team.
Joe Hennes, Topeka, currently serves as chief information technology officer for the Executive Branch of Kansas State Government. In 2009, Hennes was named as director of the Division of Information Systems and Communications. He is also a member of the Kansas Partnership for Accessible Technology.
J.D. Lester, Chanute, is the city manager for Chanute. Before that, he worked as a city administrator for Hermann, Mo., and with a statewide Missouri organization representing member utilities for legislative and regulatory issues. Previously, he worked as the marketing and public relations director for a local utility company in Indiana.
Guy McDonald, Topeka, works as a senior telecommunications analyst for the Kansas Corporation Commission.
David Rosenthal, Topeka, serves as president of the Kansas Telecommunications Industry Association, an organization aimed to represent and advocate for the interests of telecommunication companies and the public they serve. Before joining KTIA, Rosenthal worked for Southwestern Bell for 17 years.
Bill Roth, Topeka, is the chief information technology architect for the State of Kansas and the secretary to the Information Technology Executive Council. Roth also serves as a member of the Kansas Partnership for Accessible Technologies where he helps to address Web and information technology accessibility issues and provides related policy, standards, guidelines and procedural recommendations.
Gabe Schlickau, Wichita, is an economic development manager at Black Hills Energy. Schlickau serves on the board of directors of the Kansas Economic Development Alliance and was a past president of the Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance.
Josh Svaty, Topeka/Ellsworth, was appointed secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture by Governor Mark Parkinson in July 2009. Svaty is the fifth generation of his family to farm in Ellsworth County. Svaty served as the State Representative of the 108th District in Kansas for seven years. He has spoken nationally, testified before the United States Congress and served on various committees on matters of energy, agriculture and water policy.
Cindy Swoboda, Topeka, is the manager of regulatory relations at AT&T, and is a member of CTIA-The Wireless Association, an international nonprofit membership organization representing the wireless communications industry.
Bill Thornton, Atchison, was appointed Secretary of Commerce in 2009 by Governor Mark Parkinson. As Secretary, Thornton heads the state’s lead economic development organization in its mission to empower individuals, businesses and communities to realize prosperity in Kansas. Prior to joining Commerce, Thornton served on the Kansas Chamber of Commerce for eight years as Chairman and a member of its Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Thornton has previously served in leadership roles at MGP Ingredients, Hallmark Cards and as an attorney with Duncan-Senecal Law Offices in Atchison.
Dan Yunk, Manhattan, is the chief executive officer of the Kansas Farm Bureau, a non-profit advocacy organization representing grassroots agriculture. Dan is a past superintendent of Manhattan-Ogden USD 383. Yunk received his bachelor’s and master’s in secondary education, as well as his doctorate in educational administration from Kansas State University.
