2017 Proposed Slate of Candidates for Board of Directors
Steve Dillard, c’75
Wichita
Life Member and Presidents Club donor
Nominated by Dale Seuferling with supporting letters from Janet Murfin, Jeff Kennedy and Kurt Watson
Steve, president of Pickrell Drilling Company, earned his bachelor’s degree in personnel administration. He is a longtime volunteer for the Wichita Network and served on the network’s board as well as committees for the Jayhawk Roundup. As a member of Jayhawks for Higher Education, Steve is involved as a Steering Committee member. He is also a member of the Williams Education Fund for Kansas Athletics. He is married to Gena Gunn Dillard, ’77.
Michael Flowers, c’77
Apollo Beach, Florida
Life Member
Nominated by Mike Denning and Randy Masten, who lead the KU Veterans Alumni Network
Michael is president of Leadership, Defense, Asia Consulting, where he has conducted seminars and assisted customers in leader development and defense. He also is vice president of aerospace and special operations for DigiFlight. He retired in 2008 as a brigadier general in the U.S. Army after 31 years of service, including deployments in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In addition to his bachelor’s degree in general studies, he earned a master’s in public administration from Shippensburg State University, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College. He is an advisory board member for the Veterans Alumni Network and a mentor for KU Office of Graduate Military Programs.
Michael Happe, j’94
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Life Member and Presidents Club Member
Nominated by Julie Steele with supporting letter from Teri Harris
Michael is president and CEO of Winnebago Industries. He has led Winnebago since 2015, after 19 years in senior leadership positions with Toro. He majored in broadcast news at KU and earned his MBA from the University of Minnesota.
Kate Harding Pohl, f’04, m’08
Findlay, Ohio
Life Member and Presidents Club Member
Nominated by Dr. Charles Pohl with supporting letters from Sydnie Kampschroedrer and David Mucci, director of KU Memorial Unions
Kate co-owns and manages Putnam Family Dental, with her husband, Brad, a 2005 KU graduate. They moved to Ohio from Lawrence, where Kate was an architect with Treanor Architects. She earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial design and her master’s in architecture. She volunteered for the Lawrence Network and served five years as the Association’s representative on the Kansas Memorial Unions board.
Rosa Aguirre Mitchell, s’85
Elkhart
Life Member and Presidents Club Member
Nominated by Debbie Nordling
As a social worker, Rosa directs the Geo Psychological Unit in Elkhart after retiring from Morton County Hospital. She and her husband, Brian, b’86, are longtime volunteers with the Southwest Kansas Network. For KU Endowment, she served on the advisory board for Women Philanthropists for KU. She also volunteered for the School of Social Welfare advisory board.
Adam Wray, c’93
Medina, Washington
Presidents Club Member
Nominated by Jim Bredfeldt
Adam leads Basho, a cloud database company, as CEO.As a longtime entrepreneur and executive, he also serves on the boards for several other technology firms. He earned his KU degree in English and went on to complete his MBA at the University of Washington. Working with the Association and KU Endowment,Adam and his wife, Amanda Stroth Wray, d’93,hosted in their home a gathering for more than 20 alumni executives with major companies and the Gates Foundation.