A Commitment to Care

Outstanding business and civic leaders always play a key role in the success of Treads & Threads. We thank our event chairs and honorary chairs – past and present – and our steering committee members for their efforts to make Treads & Threads one of Kansas City’s most memorable and successful philanthropic events.

About our chairs

Cancer has in some way touched the lives of all four of our 2011 Treads & Threads chairs. For Mark and Mary Jorgenson, the connection was beloved family: Mary's sister, aunt and grandmother all had cancer, as did Mark's grandmother.

For Tom and Judy Bowser, cancer hit even closer to home. In 2008, Judy was diagnosed with with stage II breast cancer. At that time, The University of Kansas Cancer Center was the only facility in the country with a clinical trial for the less common form of cancer she had.

She enrolled in the study. Her treatment included chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and radiation - and today she is cancer free.

Judy was impressed with every aspect of her care at the cancer center. "I love this place, love everything about it," she said. "I never once felt like a cancer patient here – I felt like a person, and that was really important to me. Everyone I came into contact with on the team was just wonderful, and their care and concern meant so much."

Prominent leaders

Our chairs are prominent business and community leaders with connections to our academic medical center. U.S. Bank Kansas City market president, Mark is also a member of The University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board and the Advancement Board. A fulltime volunteer, Mary serves on the national board of Presbyterian Women and other organizations.

Tom retired recently as President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. He serves on the Advancement Board and on KU Endowment's board of directors. Judy is a retired high school music educator.

Past Event Chairs

• 2010: Doug and Rozanne Gaston
• 2009: Mark and Holly Faber
• 2008: Greg and Deanna Graves
• 2007: Mark and Valerie Brandmeyer
• 2006: Frank and Barclay Ross
• 2005: Stu and Nancy Lang
• 2004: Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Gary Sebelius, John and Nancy Payne
• 2003: Senator Pat Roberts and Franki Roberts, Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson and Stacy Parkinson
• 2002: Kansas Governor Bill Graves and Linda Graves, Frank and Barclay Ross

Past Honorary Chairs

• 2010: Joe and Jean Brandmeyer
• 2009: U.S. Senator Bob Dole
• 2008: Clark and Tavia Hunt
• 2007: Annette Bloch
• 2006: Cheryl Lockton Williams
• 2005: James and Virginia Stowers
• 2004: Clay and Janet Blair
• 2003: Larry Moore
• 2002: Stephen and Susan Miller

Emcee

Larry Moore, KMBC-TV News anchor and cancer survivor, returns in 2011 for his tenth year as emcee.

2011 Steering Committee

• Mark and Mary Jorgenson, event chairs - U.S. Bank
• Tom and Judy Bowser, honorary chairs - Advancement Board
• Bruce & Sandy Allen*– Marketsphere
• Mitch & Christie Anderson* – Saepio Technologies
• Marty & Cherona Bicknell* – Mariner Wealth Advisors, LLC
• Annette Bloch – R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation
• Kenneth & Lisa Block* – Block Real Estate Services, LLC
• Mark & Valerie Brandmeyer - Allcrete
• Jeff Dobbs & Roshann Parris* – Parris Communications, Inc.
• Mark & Kathy Donovan – Kansas City Chiefs
• Gary Doolittle, MD – The University of Kansas Cancer Center
• Terry Dunn & Mayor Peggy Dunn* – J.E. Dunn Construction
• Mark & Holly Faber* – AEG Kansas City/Sprint Center
• Ramona Farris*– United Healthcare
• Mitch & Susan Fiser*– Fiser Group
• Dave & Geri Frantze* – Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP
• Doug & Rozanne Gaston* – BKD, LLP
• Larry & Jeanne Gates – Gates, Shields & Ferguson, P.A.
• Chris & Janie Gaunce – Grapevine Designs
• David & Linda Gentile* – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City
• Greg & Deanna Graves – Burns & McDonnell
• Bill & Carlene Hall* – Hall Family Foundation
• Michael & Cecilia Helmstetter* – Midwest Research Institute
• Scott & Tracy Hoisington* – Turner Construction Company
• Edwin J. Holland – Treat America Food Services/EBT Restaurant
• Bob & Emily Honse – Chair, The University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board
• Jay Howard & Michelle DeCiccio* – Polsinelli Shughart PC
• Jeff & Cheryl Jernigan – Chair, Advancement Board
• Betty Keim – The University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board
• Randy Larsen – Schifman, Remley Associates
• Rick & Renay Martin* – Populous
• Larry & Ruth Moore – KMBC-TV
• Bob Page – The University of Kansas Hospital
• Bob & Ann Regnier* – Bank of Blue Valley
• Frank Ross Jr. & Barclay Ross – Polsinelli Shughart PC
• Stu Stram – The National
• Kevin & Juanita Uhlich – Kansas City Royals
• Pat & Kellie Warren – Kansas Speedway
• Jeff Wright* – The University of Kansas Hospital
• Deryl & Paige Wynn – McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, PA
• Senator David Wysong & Kathy Wysong – Chair-elect, Advancement Board

* Indicates they also serve on the Sponsorship Committee