Board of Directors

Our board is comprised of a passionate group of mental health advocates, representing voices from our community and within the mental health center. This allows for each individual’s strengths, perspectives and experiences to come together with the rest of the group to create collective impact. Learn more about each of our board members below.

A group of board members sitting at a table smiling at the camera.

Tim DeWeese

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Liz Worth

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Katherine Melton

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Susie Gurley

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Cathleen Panowicz

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Steve Wise

Steve Wise

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Sonia Khosla

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Image of Susan Rome

Susan Rome

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Doug Sander

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Jane Wang

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Kaleb Stoppel

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We all have a role to play in improving mental health.

Our board members are examples of dedicated advocates, but there’s a role for everyone in this work. How will you use your gifts, talents and time to improve the mental wellness of our community? Connect with us to learn more or explore ways you can support our efforts.

Tim is the Director of Johnson County Mental Health Center. The Mental Health Center is a department of Johnson County (KS) Government and employs more than 360 staff who provide behavioral health services to nearly 12,000 county residents annually.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Missouri Southern State University and a Master of Social Work Administration degree from the University of Kansas. He is a Licensed Mental Health Professional in Kansas and has over 30 years of experience in community mental health, where he has worked in various capacities.

He possesses extensive knowledge and experience in the public mental health delivery system, client-centered leadership, and program design/development. Tim also served more than 10 years as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve and National Guard.

Liz Worth, LSCSW is the Deputy Director at Johnson County Mental Health Center. She holds a BS in Sociology from Baker University and a Master of Social Work from the University of KS. She is a clinically licensed Mental Health Professional and has worked in Community Mental Health in Kansas for 23 years.

Liz is a passionate leader with a deep commitment to empowering individuals to take control of their well-being and lead fulfilling lives. With her background in mental health treatment and advocacy, she has dedicated her career to promoting a whole health approach – addressing the interconnectedness of mental, physical, emotional and social health. Drawing from wellness philosophies in both personal experience and professional expertise, she strives to inspire others to cultivate resilience, practice self-compassion and build strong support networks.

As an advocate for accessible mental health resources, she has worked with diverse communities to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, while fostering environments that prioritize healing, growth and self – care. Liz’s leadership style focuses on collaboration, creating spaces where others feel heard, valued and empowered to take proactive steps toward mental wellness.

When not working, Liz enjoys reading, being outdoors, running and spending time with her husband and their dog.

Katherine has more than 10 years of experience working in both public health and community mental health. She worked with Johnson County Mental Health Center for four years as a Community Prevention Coordinator. In addition, she started and led a local mental health nonprofit.

Through her professional roles, she has worked closely with Olathe Communities That Care Coalition doing prevention work and previously worked with Johnson County school professionals and students around the areas of mental health promotion, substance use/misuse, and suicide prevention. Personally, Katherine work through the nonprofit to improve and assist with access to care, provide support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide or overdose, and support to those in recovery and their loved ones.

In addition to the Friends Board, she also serves as a board director for NAMI Johnson County.

In Katherine’s words:

“[The work of] Johnson County Mental Health Center matters to me because no one deserves to be on their journey alone. Whether it is someone with lived experience or an individual supporting a loved one, support, empathy, and a safe and nonjudgmental environment to process through their journey is important to their healing. Being a part of an organization that helps provide this support and space is humbling. I serve on the Friends Board as a way to give back to the Johnson County Mental Health Center community, whether that be the clients or staff. I’m proud to be part of an organization that strives to make a lasting impact on those that they work with and the community-at-large.”

Susie has spent the past 25 years raising three children with her husband of 30 years, Dan, and serving as a community volunteer. She launched the Just A Mom podcast in September 2022.

In the podcast, Susie talks with moms and dads who have parented a child with mental health issues so other parents know that they are not alone and there is hope. Susie also interviews mental health experts and resources to help parents know what help is available.

Susie is also the Executive Director of the You Matter Festival, a music festival raising awareness about teen mental health and suicide prevention founded by her son.

In addition to her work with the You Matter Festival, Susie is on the Board of Directors at the Hope Center in Kansas City. She served as the Board Chair of Johnson County Fellowship of Christian Athletes for 8 years and was Co-President of the Blue Valley High School Touchdown Club in 2014-15. She has also served in a variety of roles at Christ Community Church.

Cathleen Panowicz is a longtime Johnson County resident who raised her family in Leawood, Kansas. She works at Netsmart Technologies, an Overland Park-based healthcare technology company focused on behavioral health and post-acute care.

Her connection to the Friends Board began nearly a decade ago through her work with county governments, where she met Tim DeWeese, Director of Johnson County Mental Health Center. That experience opened her eyes to the critical services the county provides to residents living with mental illness.

Cathleen is honored to serve on the Board and is committed to supporting Johnson County residents and the dedicated staff of JCMHC.

Steve is a licensed architect, practicing commercial architecture with a focus on client relationships, project management, mentorship and business development for over 32 years, primarily in the Johnson County area. Steve graduated from K State University and married Chris, his wife of 29 years several years after graduating. They have 2 wonderful adult children, Megan living in KCMO and Ryan in Austin TX. Steve and Chris recently moved to Olathe, KS and enjoy the new house.

Chris has been involved with the In Place, offering social engagement opportunities for adults with mental illness, for more than 22 years. Steve stepped in to take over as the assistant for the In Place more than 5 years ago and continues to enjoy engaging with the clients on a variety of activities 2 times a month. Steve became involved in community activities with Shawnee Tomorrow Leadership many years ago and continues to volunteer in the community. He is excited to engage on the Board, working with the team to explore opportunities to provide sufficient community resources for those struggling with mental illness.

Sonia is a Kansas City native, blogger, and communications professional at Health Forward Foundation, where she leverages her marketing and communications expertise to amplify the messages of nonprofits and local governments. Dedicated to fostering thriving communities, Sonia focuses on building a more equitable and just society for all. A mental health champion and advocate since her teenage years, Sonia bravely shared her journey with anxiety and depression on her blog, jemappellechanel.com. After graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in apparel and textiles, she returned to Kansas City, where she honed her digital marketing skills at Yelp and Visit KC, all while pursuing her MBA, which she completed in December 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a career shift, leading her to Johnson County Mental Health Center, where she spent nearly four years. There she demonstrated her expertise by developing and implementing internal and external communications strategies using digital and traditional media, co-managing the @jocomnh social media presence, leading website redesign projects for jocogov.org, jocogov.org/mentalhealth, and friendsofjcmhc.org, and implementing, managing, and evaluating communications for local and federal grants.

Her passion for mental health advocacy continues to drive her work, with a particular focus on raising awareness and increasing access to resources in the community where she grew up.

Susan is the Clinical Manager at the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of KS, providing clinical expertise for program and policy development, and training.

She previously worked at Johnson County Mental Health Center for 31 years in various roles, including Deputy Director, CSS Director, Mobile Crisis Team Leader, and Clinician. She was the project lead for CARF accreditation and CCBHC certification.

Susan has a special interest in supporting first responders and those who intersect in the mental health and criminal justice systems. Her passion for helping others expands into other volunteer work in her community such as visiting homebound individuals and serving houseless individuals in our community.

Doug is an Executive Loan Officer for Rocket Mortgage. He lives in Olathe with his wife and daughter.

In his own words, “Receiving mental health treatment was a turning point in my life — it gave me the tools, support, and perspective I needed to heal and grow. Through that journey, I gained a deep understanding of the challenges many face in silence, and it sparked a genuine passion in me to help others navigate their own mental health paths. Today, I’m committed to advocating for awareness, reducing stigma, and offering support to those who are struggling, because I know firsthand how transformative the right help can be.”

Jane is a licensed professional engineer specializing in renewable energy. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas.

During her time at KU, Jane worked closely with international students and underrepresented minorities, an experience that deepened her understanding of the cultural and social barriers that can limit access to mental health support. This experience inspired her passion for advocating for accessible, inclusive mental health resources for all communities.

Jane brings this perspective to the Board, where she hopes to help expand awareness and access to mental health services for those who need them most.

Dr. Kaleb Stoppel brings over fifteen years of experience in education, leadership, and community advocacy. A former assistant principal and athletic director, his journey through trauma and healing has shaped a deep commitment to mental health awareness and resilience.

Kaleb strives to foster understanding, connection, and hope through his advocacy, storytelling, and community partnerships. He works as a financial advisor with Edward Jones and lives in Olathe with his wife and two sons, where he enjoys the small, meaningful moments of everyday life that remind him what truly matters most.

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