Mercy Community Health Foundation
Leadership
The greatest gift is the gift of time. Volunteers from many sectors make up the Mercy Community Health Foundation Board of Directors.
BOARD CHAIR: Dr. David Pauls
VICE CHAIR: Dan Messelt
SECRETARY/TREASURER: Dave Rogers
BOARD MEMBERS:
John Armbrust
Richard Baker, MD
Solveig Brant
Ruth Dyer, PhD
Andrew Ellis
Susie Grier
Mark Gros, MD
AUXILIARY REPRESENTATIVES:
Karen Brokenicky
Eileen Hinkin
New Board Member Andy Ellis
Born in Prairie Village, Kansas, 1986, Andrew (“Andy”) Ellis is originally from Overland Park, Kansas. He graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Political Science, with minors in Business and Leadership Studies from Kansas State University in 2008 and was awarded a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2011. Andrew was admitted to the Kansas bar and joined Arthur-Green, LLP in August of 2011. He practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, corporate transactions, real estate, tax, and business entity formation. He is a member of both the Kansas Bar Association and the Riley County Bar Association, where he serves as President-Elect. Andrew is also currently the President of the Board of Directors for the Manhattan Area Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the Board of Directors of Homecare and Hospice. He has formerly served on several other charitable boards, including the Friends of the Sunset Zoo, Konza District Boy Scouts of America and the Kansas Academic Decathalon, and is a founding member of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation Young Trustees. Andrew is married to Courtney Ellis, a CPA and Partner at Sink, Gordon and Associates, LLP, and together they have two children, Hadley (5) and Burke (2). They are active members of the K-State Alumni Association and St. Thomas More Catholic Parish. They enjoy attending K-State sporting events and spending time with their friends, family and their dog, Ruxin.
New Board Member Susie Grier
Senior Foundation Development Director
Tina Rockhold
Tina joined the Mercy Community Health Foundation as Senior Development Director in December 2018. She brings over ten years of extensive foundation experience and is passionate about cultivating philanthropic support for healthcare. In her role, Tina provides leadership for fundraising strategy including annual and planned giving, capital campaigns, donor relations, special events, grant proposals, and numerous other fundraising opportunities.
“In what often seems to be a world tainted with self-centeredness, I have the privilege every day to discover ‘gems’ – those that give of themselves for a purpose of helping others through a time when they are ill, weak, scared, and most vulnerable. I can’t imagine a more rewarding way to connect people.”
Tina earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in journalism and public relations from Texas State University and a master’s of arts in education administration from University of Missouri – Kansas City. She has worked in hospital administration since 2004. Beyond her work with the Foundation, she thrives in helping others through volunteering, enjoys spending time with her three grown kids, and taking in the beauty of the Flint Hills.
Susan ( Susie) was born in Durango, Colorado in 1951. She moved with her parents to Wichita, Kansas in 1954 and graduated from North High School. After attending girls school in Georgia, she attended Kansas State University and graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelors of Arts and Science in 1994.
Her family encouraged her to pursue volunteerism. She devoted countless hours as a school volunteer and worked as a community volunteer with the Wichita Junior League, the Wichita Children's Home, a homeless shelter, and food pantry to name a few.
She and Chuck were married in 1972. Chuck is Chairman and CEO of UCI, Inc., based in Wichita, Kansas. They are parents of Jeff, President of UCI, Inc.; and Evan, owner and operator of restaurants in Manhattan,Kansas; Bret, manager of UCI, Inc., Rocky Mountain Region; and Scott, attorney with a law firm in Leawood, Kansas specializing in litigation, business, and construction law. Along with their sons they enjoy four daughter-in-laws and eleven grandchildren. All of the sons and daughter-in-laws are graduates of Kansas State University.
In addition to their home in Wichita, Chuck and Susie have had a home in Manhattan since 2001. In 2015, they became permanent residents in Manhattan
Susie and Chuck are grateful for the community in Manhattan. They very much appreciate the wellness initiatives in the community and Susie looks forward to facilitating future efforts.