Carol Olson, Board Member of Allen County Multi-Agency Team
Carol was born and raised in Iola, graduating from Iola High School and Allen County Community College. She has 40 years of banking experience, with the last 14 years at Emprise Bank as Branch Manager. Carol has been involved with Allen County Multi-Agency Team (ACMAT) for 7 years serving as Treasurer and accepted the position as ACMAT Chair in Dec 2021. She is committed to ACMAT’s Mission of collaborating with community partners to pool resources to help meet the needs of children and families. She is an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, Grace LWML; serves on the Board of Friends of the Bowlus; and the Allen County Planning Board.
She enjoys camping, being on the water, hiking, walking, reading, music, and spending time with her family.
Marie Parker, Vice Chair
Marie was born and raised in Lawrence, KS (Rock Chalk!) and moved to Iola in 2022. She has worked with the special needs population in a variety of ways all her life. She has a degree in Criminal Justice and works for CASA of the 31st Judicial District (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and has volunteered with them for several years. She is committed to helping her community by being involved in multiple activities that will improve Allen County and SEK for years to come.
Marie is an active member of the Faith Assembly in Humboldt and enjoys serving in her church. She loves animals, being outdoors, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Kristin Wright, Treasurer
Kristin is a Neosho County native that moved to Allen County in 2011 and quickly fell in love with the community! She helped in the foundation ideas for our local Sunday Soups, joined the Humanity House board in 2019, and now acts as the ACMAT treasurer. Kristin’s tool belt includes twelve years of banking experience, which led her to her career in Humboldt as a Branch Manager for Emprise Bank. As cat mom to three and an aunt to fourteen, Kristin’s goals are to keep Allen County thriving so others can pick up on the beauty she did years ago!
Marcia Davis, Secretary
Marcia Davis works as the Director of Community Engagement at Thrive Allen County. She works with the community of La Harpe, Kansas to empower the residents to get involved in local government, speak out, building relationships and community. All to build a better City of La Harpe. Marcia is a graduate of the University of Kansas. Before moving to Iola and working at Thrive Allen County Marcia worked as the Minden, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Director and the Beloit, Kansas Parks and Recreation Director. Marcia enjoys gardening, biking, swimming, exploring Southeast Kansas, and spending time with family and friends.
Sandy Haggard, Chair of ACMAT 2025-present
Sandy Haggard works at the Southwind Extension District as Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health Agent. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in adult education. Originally from Stanberry, Missouri, she has worked in various educational and service roles, including teaching GED classes in Arizona, teaching English in Taiwan at university level, and working at a community blood center in Missouri.
Prior to her current role, Sandy served as the Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at Neosho County Community College for seven years. The program operated in Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson counties and supported local food banks, schools, and blood drives through nearly 200 volunteers age 55 and older.
Robin Griffin-Lohman, Board Member
Robin is a Kansas native that moved to Iola in 2019. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in English from Emporia State University, she traveled throughout the US surveying power lines for many years. In 2015, she transitioned into the non-profit world and worked with those that have an intellectual or developmental disability. Currently, she works as the Community Developmental Disabilities Organization Director at Tri-Ko and has a small survey business, Field Systems Contracting, LLC. Robin also has some passion for reducing stigma, especially surrounding substance use and misuse.
Jessica McGinnis, LMSW and former Drug-Free Community Coordinator
Jessica is a Kansas native who moved to Iola in 2012. She currently serves as the Drug-Free Communities Coordinator for Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and the Allen County Multi-Agency Team (ACMAT) coalition. In addition to her prevention work, Jessica is a licensed therapist at Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center. She has over seven years of experience in public health, focusing on substance use prevention, chronic disease reduction, and promoting healthy lifestyles in rural communities. Jessica is passionate about improving the quality of life for Allen County residents through strategic partnerships and intentional community engagement.
Jessica graduated from Allen Community College and earned a degree in Sports and Recreation from Ashford University in Iowa. She completed her Master of Social Work degree at Fort Hays State University in 2024.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking in nature, hiking, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, trying new recipes, and traveling. She firmly believes that everyone should have opportunities to live a healthy and active life.
Debora J Higginbotham, LMSW, LMAC, and former Drug-Free Community Director
Debora is an outpatient therapist located in Iola, KS. She spent eight years as a case manager and supervisor in child welfare in rural Kansas; and two years as a drug and alcohol counselor for outpatient setting level 1 and Intensive treatment with involvement in Drug Court. Debora received her education from The University of Kansas with a Master of Social Welfare and completed an Internship at Elizabeth Layton Center in Ottawa, KS with an emphasis in addition counseling completing the requirement for Certification in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. Her degrees are Master of Social Work/Licensed Master Social Worker State of Kansas and Licensed Master Addiction Counselor State of Kansas.
Teagan Kern, LMSW and former Drug-Free Community Coordinator
Teagan is originally from South Australia and moved to Southeast Kansas during her childhood. She has lived in Allen County since 2001. Teagan currently serves as both a licensed outpatient therapist and the Drug-Free Communities Coordinator for Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and the Allen County Multi-Agency Team (ACMAT) coalition.
She earned her Bachelor of Psychology from Fort Hays State University in 2021 and completed her Master of Social Work degree from Fort Hays in 2024. Teagan has worked at Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center for eight years in various roles, including as a Children’s Case Manager, and now provides therapy services while also leading prevention efforts in the community.
In her spare time, Teagan enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, and attending music concerts.
