Chamber Board

Scott Walker,Chairman
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
702 W. Lincolnway
633-3150

Scott Walker is vice president of Marketing and Operations for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, where his responsibilities include advertising, production and systems. He is also a member of the editorial board and has been with the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle for over 10 years.

Walker has been a member of the LEADS Board of Directors and has served as a member of the Executive Committee and the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee. He has also served as the board’s secretary and chairman.

He and his wife, Deb, have two children: Josh and Cally.

 Kevin Paintner, Incoming Chair
First National Bank of Wyoming
2015 Central Avenue
634-2483

Kevin Paintner is the president of First National Bank of Wyoming. Before joining the First National team, he was with Community First Bank for more than eight years and has over 15 years of banking and financial services experience.

Prior to coming to Cheyenne in May 2001, Paintner was a Community First corporate vice president and responsible for bank operations for the state of Arizona. Paintner is an active member of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee.

Kevin is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where he received a degree in business administration. He and his wife, Lisa, have three children.

Merrie Elsberry, Vice President of Membership and Fundraising
A Thru Z Document Destruction 
4720 Ranch House Way
221-2825

Merrie Elsberry owns A Thru Z Document Destruction, Inc., with her husband, Tom. Merrie has extensive experience in positions requiring adherence to strict security regulations when dealing with confidential materials including several years in law enforcement communications as well as accounts payable, receivable, payroll and supervisory duties in new accounts for a major credit card company in the private sector. Both Merrie and Tom are veterans of the United States Navy. While living in South Dakota, they researched mobile document destruction as a possible avenue to allow them to move back toCheyenne.

As a business owner, Merrie has been an active member of the Chamber. She has served on the Red Carpet Committee, Small Business Council and the Youth Excellence in Service Award committee. She has volunteered for a number of MAC events that Tom has run as a committee member.

Both Merrie and Tom are graduates of the Leadership Cheyenne program. A Thru Z Document Destruction is a recipient of the New Business Challenge Award and will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2008.

Jim Hearne, Vice President of Finance and Administration
McGee, Hearne & Paiz, LLP
314 West 18th Street
634-2151

Jim Hearne has dedicated most of his life to living and working in Wyoming. Born in Hanna, he received his education in Laramie and graduated from theUniversity of Wyoming. He started his career with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, and climbed the ranks until becoming a partner and then purchasing the business in 2000.

Jim has excelled as a community leader, serving in Cheyenne Lions Club, the Laramie County Tourism Board, the Cheyenne Rotary Club, Cheyenne LEADS’ Board of Directors and the Cowboy Joe Club. He has been influential in Cheyenne Frontier Days, serving a number of positions including General Chairman. He was inducted into the CFD Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Chamber has recognized his contributions to the business community, naming him Person of the Year in 1988 and Small Business Advocate of the Year in 1999.

 Gregg Jones, Vice President of Prosperity, Development and Growth 

Jonah Bank of Wyoming
205 Story Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82009-3526
(307) 773-7780 (work)

 Gregg was born in 1956, he is a  4th generation Wyomingite.  He is married to Dorrie Jones and has three children: Tara, Hilary, and Chase and has one grandchild: Aria
Gregg’s hobbies include:  water sports, chasing cows on our family ranch and following his grandchild around. 

Career Information
Graduated Torrington High School, Torrington, WY  1974
Graduated University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY  1978
1979 – 1989    Converse County Bank, Douglas,  WY
            Responsibilities included lender, auditor and operations officer
1989 – 1993    Citizens National Bank, Torrington,   WY
            Responsibilities included commercial and ag lending
1993 – 1997    First Security Bank, Craig, CO
            Responsibility – Bank President
1997 – 2005    American National Bank, Cheyenne, WY
Responsibilities included commercial lending and acting as regional senior credit officer of WY region
2005 – 2006    Jonah, Inc.
Responsibilities included gathering information necessary to establish a bank charter
2008 – Current  Jonah Bank of Wyoming
Responsibilities include acting as Chief Credit Officer and EVP, as well as serving as Cheyenne market President

Community Involvement
Prior Service
            Chamber President, Torrington, WY
            United Way Board President, Craig CO
            Board member and Treasurer, Boys and Girls Club, Cheyenne
Numerous community board positions in Douglas, Torrington, and Craig

Current Service
            YMCA – current Board member
            Downtown Development Authority – Treasurer and Board member
            United Way – former co-campaign chair and current Board member
            Rotary – current directory chair and member
            Wyoming Bankers Association – Board member
           

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Ronald L. Van Voast, Vice President of Military and Governmental Affairs

Security First Bank
PO Box 129
Cheyenne, WY 82003-0129
(307) 775-6510

·          Raised on cattle ranch in central Montana; BS degree in Agriculture Business from Montana State University-class of 1972.
·          ARMY ROTC commission with 8 years service between active and reserve.
·          10 years employment with Production Credit Association  / Federal Land Bank.
·          23 years agricultural / commercial banking experience in Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming, with the past six years as President/CEO/Board of Director of Security First Bank in Cheyenne/Laramie.
·          Current volunteer, board member and past campaign co-chair of the United Way of Laramie County.  
·          Current chairman of the Military Liason Committee  and past Chairman of the MAC of the Chamber.
·          Board of Director of the Wyoming Bankers Association.
·          Board Member of the CFD Old West Museum.
·          Board Member of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
·          6 year volunteer with Cheyenne Frontier Days Ticket Committee.
·          Member and Elder of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
·          Married to LaVelle Van Voast with 6 grown children and step-children /2 grandchildren

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 John Balser
Western Vista Federal Credit Union
3207 Sparks Road
634-2197


John Balser has worked in banking for over 30 years. He is currently President of Western Vista Federal Credit Union, where he has served the community and credit union members since 1989. Western Vista Federal Credit Union has offices in Cheyenne and Casper.

John has been an active member of the community, serving as immediate past chairman of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee, chairman of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, parade assistant for Cheyenne Frontier Days and past treasurer of Cheyenne Kiwanis.

John and his wife, Cathy, have two children and four grandchildren.

 William Neidig
KJUA  AM 1380/KRND AM 1630
415 East 3rd Street
635-8787

William Neidig is President of La Familia Broadcasting in Cheyenne. He was raised in Lakewood, Colorado, and began his career in radio at the age of eight with a weekly radio show. At the age of 15, William took on a daily afternoon shift and three years later became Program Director. Within a year he became Vice President of the company for which he worked, continuing to develop and host a variety of community events.

In 2005, William and his family decided that Cheyenne was in desperate need of Spanish language radio, and decided to open the first and only (2) 24-hour Spanish radio stations in Wyoming.

The name, La Familia Broadcasting, was chosen because the business consists of four partners, all family; Kris, Andres, Andrea and William. Twelve year old Eduardo is in seventh grade and is beginning his radio career developing sports reports whenever he is on break from school. Along with Spanish language music, La Familia focuses on community events, the importance of education and stimulating economic development within the Hispanic community.

Mark Ruppert
Holland & Hart
2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 450
778-4200

Mark Ruppert is an attorney primarily practicing in the areas of environmental litigation, oil and gas litigation, and complex commercial litigation. Mark has been Of Counsel with Holland & Hart, LLP, in Cheyenne, since his retirement from active duty with the Air Force in January 2005. Mark currently serves on the Board of Directors and as a Deacon at Calvary Chapel of Cheyenne. Mark is also involved with the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark received his law degree from Ohio State University in 1981, graduating with Honors in Law and receiving the class trial advocacy award. Mark entered the Air Force as a judge advocate in 1983 through the direct appointment program, leaving the private practice of law with a large litigation firm in Lansing, Michigan.

Mark’s first military assignment, from 1983 to 1986, was F. E. Warren Air Force Base, where he met his wife, Julia, a Cheyenne native. The rest of his military career included a number of honors and commendations. In 2004, Mark led a team under combat conditions to Afghanistan to investigate detainee interrogations for the Secretary of Defense. Mark’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, seven Meritorious Service Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Mark and his wife Julia are proud parents of three children: Dennis (31), Casey (29), and Sarah (19). They make their home north of Cheyenne on the ranch where Julia grew up and are happy to call Cheyenne “home at last.”

Steve Farkas
University of Wyoming
College of Business
Dept. 3275
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY  82071-2000
(307) 766-6271

Steve Farkas is a Director for the University of Wyoming College of Business.Prior to joining the University, Steve was Chief Operating Officer and partner for a national specialty retailer.  As COO, he was instrumental in spearheading mergers, acquisitions, and start-up efforts to create the industry’s largest retailer with 140 locations throughout the United States.

Steve has been a featured speaker at Direct Marketing Association Conferences and has contributed to various national trade periodicals. In addition to serving as a business advisor and reference for Fidelity Investments, Steve assists the Wyoming Business Council and Cheyenne LEADS with state and local business development efforts.  Steve currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Steve is a graduate of the University of Florida.  He and his wife, Laurie, have two children.

Kevin Burke

Frontier Refining Inc.
PO Box 1588
Cheyenne, WY 82003-1588
(307) 771-8915

Kevin Burke is the Vice President and Refinery Manager of Frontier Refining Inc. Kevin recently moved to Cheyenne from the Wichita, Kansas area.  He has worked in the refining industry for more than 16 years in numerous different roles.  He has worked for numerous companies including: Merrick Engineering in Denver; Giant Refining in Gallup, NM; ExxonMobil in New Orleans; and Frontier in El Dorado, KS and Cheyenne.  His roles included chemical engineer, engineering manager, operations manager and refinery business analyst.
 Kevin is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines where he received a degree in Chemical Engineering. He and his wife, Traci, have three children.

Max Carre’
Burns Insurance Agency Inc
237 Storey Blvd Ste 200
634-5757

 Max Carre’ is manager of Burns Insurance Agencies Cheyenne branch. Max has over 18 years of experience in the insurance industry and specializes in business and commercial insurance products.

Born in Chicago Illinois Max grew up in Cheyenne from age five and graduated from Cheyenne Central High in 1976. Max served nine years in the US Army and is a graduate of the US Army Armor School’s M1 tank Master Gunner program. After completing his active duty service Max worked as a technical advisor on the M1A1 main battle tank and participated in operation Desert Storm. Max returned to Cheyenne in 1991 and began his career in the insurance industry.

Max is very active within the community and the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Military Affairs Committee, serving as the 2009 committee chairman, and is a member of the Small Business Council and Red Carpet Committee.

Max is the current president of the Cheyenne Depot Museum Foundation, vice president of the Association of Wyoming Insurance Agents, and is a past officer and current member of the Cheyenne Noon Lions Club.

Max and his wife Yvette have three children and two grandchildren.

Mike Sitzman
Spradley Barr Motors
2200 Westland Rd
(307) 638-3335
msitzman@spradleybarrcheyenne.com

Robert is the current General Manager of the Holiday Inn on Fox Farm Road. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Is a Certified Hotel Administrator and Certified Food and Beverage Executive. With over 30 years in the Hospitality industry. Robert has been involved in the Cheyenne community from 1998 as General Manager of the Hitching Post Inn to 2001 and then returning in 2004 at his current position.  In past he has been on various boards to include:  He is current Board
Chair of the Tourism Promotion Joint Powers Board, Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitor Bureau.   

 Past Chairman of the board of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitor Bureau, (Fairbanks Alaska), Chairman of the Board of the Alaska Hotel Motel Association, Board member of the Fairbanks down Town Association, Board member of the Alaska Red Cross, and a former board member of the Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Association. Bob has been a Rotarian for the past 15 years and is currently a member of the Cheyenne Rotary; He’s a 29 year member of the Nights of Columbus, both 3^rd and 4^th degree.

Robert has had many accomplishments with in the Business community and leadership within the tourism and hospitality industry. His representation and instinctive training ability has maintained guest satisfaction, development of employees, and repositioning of business where ever he has worked for the betterment of the community.

Robert has been married to his wife Mary for the past 30 years; they have 3 adult children and 3 grand children.  

Current Board member of the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce

Jody Levin