Chamber Board of Directors

Executive Board of Directors

Susan Mergen, President
Development Director
The Center for Human Services/Children’s Therapy Center

As the Development Director for the Center for Human Services since 1996, part of my job is to spread our mission, Overcoming barriers to achieve a fulfilled life. I have served on the Sedalia Chamber Board since 2013 and the Executive Board since 2014, the Women’s Service League since 1996, and the Quisenberry School House Community Club. Rick and I are the proud parents of our son, Christopher. “I believe in supporting our local businesses and area not for profits.”

William Weibert, President Elect
Publisher
Sedalia Democrat

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I am the Publisher of the Sedalia Democrat and oversee the daily operations from our daily print products, our printing facility, carrier force and web-site. I came to the Sedalia Democrat in 2017 from the Rapid City Journal in Rapid City, South Dakota. Prior to the Rapid City Journal, I was the sales manager for the Scotts Bluff Star-Herald, a Berkshire-Hathaway newspaper, from 2004-14.
I was born and raised in Western, Nebraska and am a graduate of Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska where I received a bachelor’s degree in Business Finance and Economics and wrestled for the Chadron State Eagles. After college I moved back to my home town and I was involved with several community boards and coached football, wrestling and baseball. I am currently a member of the Lions Club and Rotary in Sedalia.
I am married to my beautiful wife, Shala, and we have five very active children, Cara, 20, Joe 19, Alan, 18, Avery, 13, and Nikolas, 10

Mykel Schlotterbeck, VP Business
Owner/Operator
Comfort Inn Sedalia Station

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I was born and raised in Sedalia; and graduated from Smith Cotton High School. I have been involved in the day to day activities of three award-winning hotels in the west-central Missouri area. I have been in the hospitality industry for over twenty years. In addition, I am an elected delegate, and past Comfort Inn Committee Chair of the Choice Hotels Owners Council. I have been active with Sedalia’s Chamber of Commerce and CVB for over seven years, as well as with the Chambers and Visitors Bureaus in Warrensburg and Marshall. I have been married to my husband, Dave, for 25 years and am the proud mother of two boys.

Lauren Thiel-Payne, VP Community
Executive Director Bothwell Foundation
Bothwell Regional Health Center

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Lauren Thiel is the executive director of the Bothwell Foundation. Thiel spent five years working for the American Heart Association (AHA),which included nearly four years as the corporate marketing and event director in Springfield, Missouri, and more than one year supporting marketing and event planning in AHA’s Columbia, Missouri, office.
Prior to joining AHA, she spent two years working for Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri as the special events manager.
Thiel earned a bachelor of science degree in business and a bachelor of science degree in Spanish from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. She is originally from Marshall, Missouri.

John Meehan, Past President

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I spent thirty years in the banking and finance industry in Sedalia before my first retirement. Then, Pettis County folks gave me the opportunity to serve them for four years as their county presiding commissioner. I realized early in my career that Sedalia was a great place to live, work, worship, raise a family, serve, and retire. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife, Mary and two daughters, Katie and Kelly. They are both married with families of their own. We are very proud grandparents of three grandsons, Matthew, Andrew (A.J.) and Jack.

Craig Hahn, Treasurer
Market President & Chief Revenue Officer
Townsquare Media

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Craig Hahn is the Market President and Chief Revenue Officer for the Sedalia Townsquare Media Inc. Prior to joining Townsquare, Hahn was General Manager at First Media Radio in North Carolina, and notably was the Regional Director of Interactive Sales and Training for Citadel Interactive as well as VP Sales Development for Cox Radio Interactive. Manager at First Media Radio in North Carolina, and notably was the Regional Director of Interactive Sales and Training for Citadel Interactive as well as VP Sales Development for Cox Radio Interactive.

Katie Shannon, VP Membership
Community Relations Coordinator
Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre

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I enjoy the finer things in life. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate and an extremely driven individual. I have been married to my husband Trafton for 12 years, he is a fourth-generation farmer from the Marshall community. I am a proud mother to Dexter my, awesomely humorous, 9-year-old son. And I have been a Marshall native for the past 19 years. I came to Marshall in 2000 to attend Missouri Valley College and was on the rodeo team for four years. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Marketing and Management in 2004. Then attending Lindenwood University at MVC, attaining a Master of Arts Management. Throughout my college years I was fortunate enough to continue working for my family’s business from Wisconsin, where I would attend Markets around the U.S. and select specialty items for Burnstads’ European Village.

I have had the privilege working with the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre for the past 4 years. Coming on board to sell advertisements, then working my way up the ladder to the Special Events Committee, then the Community Relations Coordinator, and now as a Lyceum Board Member. The theatre has given me the opportunity to build close relationships throughout Missouri and beyond. By hosting events like our Children’s Production, I was able to contact over 100 different schools in the surrounding area and successfully uniting a passion of the arts by having them attend our annual show.

I am proud to call Missouri my home. And I look forward to continuing to do my part throughout the community, by continually striving to make a positive and elaborate impact.