National WWI Museum and Memorial Announces Appointment of Five New Board Members

Elaine Drodge Koch, partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, will be the second female to serve as Board Chair for the Museum and Memorial.
12/21/2020

Contacts: Karis Erwin, National WWI Museum and Memorial, (816) 888-8122, kerwin@theworldwar.org

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The National WWI Museum and Memorial is pleased to announce the appointment of five new board members who bring a diverse set of experiences and skills to its Board of Directors. These individuals are all deeply dedicated to the organization’s mission of remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.


New Board Members
Andrew Deister, Russell Stover Chocolates, President and CEO
Katrina Henke, Milbank Manufacturing, Board Chair
Dale Klose, PNC Bank, Executive Vice President and Kansas City Regional President
John Thomson, PayIt, Founder and CEO
Thomas F. Whittaker, J. E. Dunn Construction Company, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

These five new leaders join 17 existing board members. Elaine Drodge Koch, partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP has been appointed to Board Chair. She will be the second female to serve in this role at the Museum and Memorial.

2020-2021 Board of Trustees Officers
Board Chair: Elaine Drodge Koch, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, Partner
Vice Chair: Marty Nevshemal, MRIGlobal, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Treasurer: Ram Shankar, UMB Financial Corporation, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Secretary: Julie Wilson, Global Business Executive

2020-2021 Board of Trustees
Dan Crumb, Kansas City Chiefs, Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Deister, Russell Stover Chocolates, Chief Executive Officer
Peter deSilva, Financial Services Executive Leader
Dr. James C. Dyer, IV, Global Energy and Commodities Professional
Dave Ebbrecht, Transportation Executive
Christopher Goode, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Owner and Operator
Mark D. Henderson, Lockton Companies, LLC, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Andrea Hendricks, Cerner Corporation, Senior Executive Director - Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Katrina Henke, Milbank Manufacturing, Board Chair
Jack Holland, Stifel Financial Corp., Managing Director
Mark Jorgenson, Financial Services Executive
Mary Jane Judy, Polsinelli PC, Co-Office Managing Partner
Dale F. Klose, PNC Financial Services Group, Regional President, Kansas City
John Sherman, MLP Holdings, LLC, Chief Executive Officer
John Thomson, PayIt, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Scott Van Genderen, Edward Jones, Principal
Thomas F. Whittaker, JE Dunn Construction, Executive Vice President
Richard B. Young, Jr., Benefit Trust Company, Principal

About the National WWI Museum and Memorial
The National World WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.