Board of Directors

Courtney Hughley, President

Courtney Hughley is the Media Relations manager with KCP&L. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri—Columbia and also holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri—Kansas City.

A lifelong resident of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Mrs. Hughley has a passion for children and education because of the opportunities her education has afforded her. She also enjoys venturing out and finding new things to do around the city. Mrs. Hughley and her husband Ron welcomed their first child, Ronald III, in January 2014.

Patricia Vichareli Crawford, Secretary

Patricia Vichareli Crawford is currently an Early Childhood Educator in the Park Hill School District. Ms. Vichareli Crawford has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. She received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Rice University and her master’s degree in School Administration from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. She holds TESOL certification and works with English language learners. Ms. Vichareli Crawford is currently working toward National Board Certification.

Richard Moore, Treasurer

Richard Moore recently retired as President of Commerce Mortgage and the Director of Consumer Risk for Commerce Bank, where he worked for nearly 30 years. He received BA in History and a BS in Elementary education from the University of Kansas. His past board memberships include the Missouri Mortgage Bankers Association, Kansas City neighborhood Alliance, Pacific Primary School, Oakhill Day School and Gordon Parks Elementary School.

Ron Cattelino, Board Member

Ron Cattelino retired as Executive Vice President for Administration from Kansas City Art Institute, where he worked for 42 years. He received a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in accounting from Pittsburg State University. Ron is also a member of the board for the Women’s Christian Association and has served on this board for over 30 years. While at Kansas City Art Institute, Ron was also active in both the National and Central Association for College and University Business Officers and the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design.

Diane Charity, Board Member

Diane Charity recently retired as the Community Liaison for Cristo Rey Kansas City High School. She has been a community activist for over 30 years. Her experience includes project coordinator, team leader, program instructor / facilitator, program director, research analyst and neighborhood leader. Ms. Charity is a member of KCPT’s Community Advisory Board, the Full Potential Project, the Black Agenda Group and St. Monica Catholic Church Parish Council. She has been a member of the Board of Directors for Parade Park Homes, Inc., Kansas City/St. Joseph Diocese Campaign for Human Development, National Community Building Network, Safe Cities Initiative, Church Community Organizing Committee, Kansas City/St. Joseph Central City School Fund and Kansas City Harmony’s Congregational Partners Planning Committee: “Sons and Daughters of Abraham”.

David Francis, Board Member

David Francis is a Kansas City native who graduated from Barstow School in 1976 and earned a BSBA from Rockhurst University in 1991. After high school, he attended flight school in Florida to become a commercial pilot and then returned to Kansas City in 1978, where he has continued his flying career for the past 36 years. David has also developed and owns two golf courses in the Kansas City area. He serves on several nonprofit boards and is a member of the Francis Family Foundation Board of Directors. David is married to Janis Francis and they have two children, Emily, 24, and John, 22.

Beth Sweetman, Board Member

Beth Sweetman is Chief Human Resources Officer for the DST Enterprise. In this role, she provides strategic vision for the entire Human Resources organization representing over 12,000 associates in 10 countries around the world. Mrs. Sweetman’s responsibilities include Training and Organizational Development, Employee Relations, Benefits, Compensation, Payroll, Talent Acquisition and Development.

With more than 20 years’ experience working with large Human Resources departments, Mrs. Sweetman has expertise in corporate recruiting, compensation and benefits programs, succession planning, internal communication strategies, associate engagement programs, policy and procedure management, charitable trust management, leadership development, employee relations, and training.

Prior to joining DST in 2013, Mrs. Sweetman was SVP for Furniture Brands International, parent company to some of the best known and respected brands in the furniture industry. She previously was the VP of Human Resources International for Monsanto Company.

Mrs. Sweetman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Creighton University, and was awarded a Master’s degree and PhD in Research and Organizational Psychology from St. Louis University. She has worked with several non-profit organizations, including her current board position at Crossroads Academy of Kansas City, and formerly, she sat on the board of Metropolitan School in St. Louis.

Advisory Council

Shelli Allen, Dean of Student Development, MCC – Maple Woods

John Crawford, Economic Development Corporation (Retired)

Jamie Kapke, American Century Investments

Al Mauro, Vice President, Kansas City Southern (Retired)

Cherie Mericle, Behavioral Consultant, Ozanam

Sean O’Byrne, Downtown Council of Kansas City

Albert Ray, Architect, Hollis & Miller

Tim Sweeny, Praxis Nonprofit Strategies