Mike Haug, SATC Board of Trustees chairperson, is president of Salina-based KASA Industrial Controls, Inc. He was nominated for the board of trustees by Saline County. Born in Cottonwood Falls, he is a graduate of Chase County High School. Haug earned an associate’s degree in police science from Hutchinson Community College, a bachelor’s degree in sociology and associate’s degree in social work from Marymount College and an associate’s degree in civil engineering from K-State at Salina. He served four years as a police officer in Salina, worked two years at Jarvis Corporation, Salina, and has been with KASA Industrial Controls, Inc. for 24 years in engineering, sales, as sales manager, vice-president, president and currently CEO and member of the board of directors for the company. Haug has been active in the community through Leadership Salina, Salina Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Salina Area United Way board of directors, St. Elizabeth’s council member, Marymount College Alumni member and AMBUCS. Throughout his professional career Haug has been a member of the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association serving as a board member and chief executive network member.

Ken Ebert, SATC Board of Trustees vice-chair, is the managing principal officer for the Salina, Kansas Waddell & Reed office and represents the service industry. He has been with the company for 20 years. Ebert is a Kansas native, and attended Westmoreland High School before earning a bachelor of science degree from St. Mary of the Plains College. He taught high school and coached for 10 years before joining the business sector. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance Agents and Financial Advisors. Ebert is active in both the Salina Downtown Lions Club and his church’s men’s group.

Carol Brandert, representing the Salina USD 305 Board of Education, retired in 2002 as an English teacher at Salina South High School. Brandert began her teaching career in 1963 in Freemont, NE. Following a stint as a graduate teaching assistant at Kansas State University, Brandert joined the staff of Salina USD 305. She also taught English classes for the Kansas Highway Patrol and at K-State at Salina. She was elected to the Salina USD 305 Board of Education in 2003 and is completing her second four-year term on the board. Brandert has served two terms as president of the board, and in June 2008 she was one of seven Kansas educators inducted in the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame.

Jayne Cornish, an at-large representative on the board of trustees, has been human resources manager for Exide Technologies, Salina for two years and has a total of 15 years of professional human resources experience. She previously worked for Case New Holland and Grede Foundries and has additional work experience in the economic development field, social services and elementary education. Cornish earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a master’s degree in industrial relations from Iowa State University, Ames. She has been a board member on the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, American Heart Association, Lakota Girl Scout Council, Private Industry Council, Governor's Committee for Workforce Investment Act, Regional Economic Development Board, and YWCA Battered Women's Shelter.

Thomas Mertz, nominated by the City of Salina, is an assistant professor at K-State at Salina in the engineering technology department and has held that position since 2002. Mertz teaches computer courses including database management systems and computer programming with the Java language. Mertz has also worked as an independent contractor for Exide Technologies and Geoprobe Systems. Mertz was born and raised in Salina and is a graduate of Salina Central High School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and a master’s of science degree in computer science from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Prior to returning to Salina Mertz spent 21 years in Lancaster, PA, teaching computer science courses at Millersville University, Millersville, PA.

Robert Miller, an at-large representative on the board of trustees, is president and owner of Busboom and Rauh Construction Company, Salina. He is a Salina native and graduate of Salina High School and the University of Kansas. Miller has been an active member of the industry advisory committees for both Salina Area Technical College and K-State at Salina and on the Dean’s Advisory Council at K-State at Salina. He has been a member of the board of trustees for St. John’s Military School, a past chairman and board member of the Salina Airport Authority and a past board member of the Associated General Contractors of Kansas.

Fran Paxton, representing the healthcare sector, is the executive director and administrator of Presbyterian Manor, Salina and has held that position since 1993. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Marymount College and a master’s of science in nursing from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Paxton is a registered nurse and a licensed adult care home administrator. She served as vice president of care services at St. John’s hospital for 20 years prior to assuming her position at Presbyterian Manor. Paxton is a member of the American and Kansas Associations of Homes and Services for the Aged and a past board member; a member of the Kansas Association of Care Executives; the American and Kansas Colleges of Adult Care Executives and has served as president of the Kansas Chapter; served on the boards of the Salina Chamber of Commerce and the Salina Noon Rotary Club; and is a current board member of the Sunflower Adult Day Care Center.

Tom Pestinger, nominated by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, is owner of Pestinger Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. He is a Salina native and a graduate of Salina Central High School. He interned and then worked in the heating and air conditioning industry until 1989 when he founded Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. He has been a member of industry organizations such as ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineering) since 1976, a member and past president of Homebuilders Association of Salina and Salina Construction Association, past director of the Kansas Homebuilders Association and past chairman of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. Pestinger has been involved in the community through Rotary, Salina Downtown Lions and AMBUCS. 

Katherine Platten, representing the manufacturing sector, is a partner in her family-owned and operated Solomon Corporation, headquartered in Solomon, KS. Her operational responsibilities include human resources, environmental compliance and risk management. Platten is a graduate of Salina Central High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. She currently serves on the boards of Catholic Charities and the Salina Art Center, is a member of St. Mary’s Church and volunteers at St. Mary’s School.