The board of directors serves the entire Beacon network, including The Wichita Beacon and The Kansas City Beacon, but doesn’t influence editorial content or day-to-day newsroom operations. The editorial independence of our editors and reporters is critical to the mission of The Beacon. The standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News are our guide. 


BRITTANY BARRIENTOS is a partner at Stinson LLP, practicing environmental law. Between dealing with Clean Water Act provisions and environmental health and safety issues, she has been active in the community, volunteering with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Greater Kansas City United Way, Junior Achievement, Operation Breakthrough, and Brookside Mothers’ Association. Barrientos has also been heavily involved in pro bono efforts internationally on policy issues with Advocates for Human Rights and locally co-captaining a nonpartisan election protection call center. She was a member of the Chamber of Commerce’s Centurions Leadership Class in 2019. A Texas native, she holds a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech.

Tami Bradley

TAMI BRADLEY is an experienced strategic communications professional, with a background in journalism and a long history of service to the Wichita community. Bradley received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in communications, both from Wichita State University. She served as vice president of communications for the Kansas Health Foundation early in her career, focused on social marketing efforts to promote healthy behaviors across the state. In 2004, she became a managing partner of Bothner and Bradley Inc., where she regularly tackles Wichita’s most pressing community challenges. Currently, Bradley is working as a consultant with the Greater Wichita Partnership to address the city’s changing post-pandemic workforce needs. She previously served as a member of the Wichita Foundation board. She becomes the second member of The Beacon board from Wichita, joining Shelly Prichard, CEO of the Wichita Foundation.

LAURIE ELLINGHAUSEN CALLAN is the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Professor of English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she facilitates planning, design, and compliance for new programs and courses. Her research focuses on Renaissance/early modern English literature and culture (Tudor and Jacobean), with special emphases on issues of class, labor, and early empire. She also researches and writes about Shakespearean pedagogy. When not in the library or the classroom, she teaches yoga and meditation at a local studio and throughout Kansas City. Originally from Texas, she holds a doctorate from the University of California-Santa Barbara.

MARK HORVIT is an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where he teaches investigative reporting, and is director of the school’s State Government Reporting Program. He previously served as executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR), where he conducted training in investigative reporting and data journalism throughout the world. Horvit worked as a reporter and editor for 20 years before joining IRE. He serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Nonprofit News.

DAVID OLIVER is an attorney at the Kansas City law firm Berkowitz Oliver LLP, specializing in litigation, class action defense and accounting and professional liability. He also has a consulting practice helping companies diversify and strengthen their boards and implement best practices in board/management relations. His civic activities include serving as a board member of AlignED; board member and board chair of MRIGlobal; board member of William Jewell College; board member and chair of DeLaSalle Charter High School; board member of the UMKC Trustees; board member of the UMKC Enactus Business Advisory Board; board member of Teach for America – KC; board member of DIBS for Kids; board member of the Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation; advisory board member Spencer Art Museum at the University of Kansas; advisory board member of the AUP+D Department at UMKC; advocacy committee member of ArtsKC; and advocacy committee member of Nonprofit Connect. He is on the board of The Francis Family Foundation; the board of The Cross Foundation; and is a Trustee of the Murphy Charitable Fund. He is a graduate of Haverford College and Boston University School of Law.

MICHAEL OUIMETTE leads the Strategy and Startups team at the American Journalism Project. Previously he led the domestic direct-to-consumer businesses at VICE Media. In that role, Michael spearheaded efforts to diversify revenue streams and content formats through launching VICE’s first subscription product in the U.S., and managing its experiential business. Prior to that role, he led strategy and operations for VICE’s digital division, driving efforts to grow audiences and profitability among VICE’s collection of digital brands. Michael is based in New York.

ANURAG PATEL is founder of Helix Health, a clinical data analytics tool that supports decisions for healthcare providers and payors  use their own data to improve patient population health outcomes and lower the cost of care. He currently leads primary research in healthcare data analysis and health outcomes. His education was in Medicine at UMKC – School of Medicine and Healthcare Administration at KU – School of Medicine and his relevant work history includes work at the KU Medical Center as a clinical assistant professor and director of strategy in information security and COO of a local tech startup. He is also a board member at Startland and the KC Social Innovation Center, and enjoys biking and tacos in his free time.

SHELLY PRICHARD is the President & CEO of the Wichita Foundation, which manages $106 million in assets. Prior to the community foundation, Shelly was the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, serving 80 counties in Kansas, and managing the business merger of seven Girl Scout councils. Shelly grew up on a farm outside of Newton, Kansas, and earned a BA degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from K-State. She also serves on Kansas 4-H Foundation Board of Directors, and is active in Wichita Rotary and her church, St. Thomas Aquinas. Shelly is married to Cameron, and has three stepchildren. She loves to cook, read, travel, play the cello, and spend time with their rescue dog, Lando.

KERRI VOYLES is founder/CEO of Flourish Creative, a brand strategy and design studio. Her passion is equipping purpose-driven brands to grow through inclusion, design, and resiliency. She enjoys speaking, training, and serving on the Connext: Emerging Nonprofit Leaders board. A Nebraska-native, Kerri holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.