Board of Directors
Amanda Adkins
President, SOCI BOARD
Amanda Adkins joined SOCI Communities after her retirement as Vice President and General Manager in Population Health at Cerner. Amanda’s passion for systemic change in health and education led to her gubernatorial appointment (2011-2018) to chair the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. Amanda’s previous public experience includes leadership posts in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House; and having run national and state political organizations including Co-Founder of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Series.
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Janice Suzanne Smith, Ed. D
Executive Director, SOCI COMMUNITIES
Janice Smith joined SOCI Communities after serving as the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund’s Executive Director for five years. Previously, she was Executive Director of The Opportunity Project (TOP) in Wichita and has been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative early childhood programs proven to have strong positive longitudinal outcomes for at risk children. Prior to joining TOP, Janice was a classroom teacher and administrator for the Mulvane and Wichita Public Schools.
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Melissa B. Frerking
Secretary, SOCI BOARD
Melissa Frerking, as Vice President, Executive Director of the First Hand Foundation, established innovative models for a healthier tomorrow and empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Melissa has developed and deployed population health programs in Kansas City and helped replicate them around the world. During her 30-plus years at Cerner, Melissa has had a number of executive roles in IP development, consulting, support, and marketing.
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Doug Gaumer
Treasurer, SOCI BOARD
Doug Gaumer is currently the Market President of Great Western Bank and previously spent 20 years in leadership roles for various firms, including Security Global Investments, Westar Energy, and Koch Industries. Doug is actively involved in the community serving on the KU School of Business Board of Advisors, the Kansas Chamber Board of Directors, the Leadership Kansas Board of Directors, and the Information Network of Kansas Board of Directors.
Jeanette Prenger
Member, SOCI BOARD
Jeanette Hernandez Prenger is the Founder and CEO of ECCO Select, an award-winning IT consulting and professional services firm and one of the top Hispanic Businesses in the United States. During her professional career she has committed to bettering her community by focusing on business, education and the arts, and serves on several local and national boards.
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Maureen Mahoney
Ex-Officio Member, SOCI BOARD
Maureen Mahoney has served as Chief of Staff to both Mayor Mark Holland and Mayor David Alley at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. A fourth-generation Wyandotte Countian, Maureen has worked as a prosecutor, then practiced law as General Counsel for KVC Behavioral Health. Her practice was centered around child welfare, and she served seven years as a Guardian ad Litem representing children in foster care in Wyandotte County before joining Mayor Mark Holland’s staff in April 2013 and Mayor Alvey’s staff January 2018. She has served as a director on the boards of numerous organizations, and currently serves as a board member of Lead Bank, the Kansas City Area Development Council, KCK PAL, Donnelly College, and Arts KC.
Kate Banks
Member, SOCI BOARD
Kate Ferrell Banks provides the SOCI board steady leadership with a wealth of wisdom culled from two decades running an investment firm and the entrepreneurial confidence to take calculated risks when necessary. She serves as a member of the Aligned board of directors were she channels her strong support for children and business acumen to improve education in Kansas and Missouri. She co-founded Ferrell Capital, a private investment holding company and worked as a project coordinator at Ferrellgas, an 80-year business started by the Ferrell family that has grown into one of the nation’s largest propane retailers. Today, Kate blends her business sense with her love of baking so lead VAIN foods, a premier producer of exceptional vanilla extracts in fine specialty food stores across the United States.
AbdulRasak Yahaya
Ex-officio Member, SOCI BOARD
AbdulRasak Yahaya is an award winning leader and small business owner, with a professional background in Civil Engineering. Abdul was born in Ilorin, Kwara Nigeria and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Rockhurst High School, where he graduated with Honors. He continued his education at Kansas State University to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a minor in Leadership Studies in 2008. Upon graduation from K-State he accepted a job with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) as a Highway Designer. He moved on to work for the City of Gardner, Kansas managing the city’s infrastructure. After 10 years working in engineering, Abdul entered full time into entrepreneurship in early childhood education as co-founder of Open Minds Child Development Center with his wife, Alicia Yahaya.
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