FarmHouse International Staff
Chad Harris
Iowa State '98
Executive Director - FarmHouse International Fraternity
Responsible for Risk management, Conclave, FRMT & other insurance, financial, Pearls & Rubies/Inside FH/Flash, housing/associations, policy interpretation, RLCs, Leadership Academy
W: 816-891-9445
Cell: 816-674-1147
E-mail: Chad@FarmHouse.org
Chad Harris (IA '98) is the current Executive Director of FarmHouse Fraternity, Inc. A former Iowa State FarmHouse chapter president, and past director of Campus Relations with the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association in Madison, Chad has previously worked for the Indiana University Foundation and as a resident leadership specialist for residential student life programs while completing a master's degree in higher education administration at Indiana University.
Chad graduated with a master's degree from Indiana University in 2003, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Iowa State University in 2001. As an alumnus, he has served as a FarmHouse Regional Advisory Council volunteer consultant, on the UW Chancellor's Commission on Fraternities and Sororities and the UW Chancellor's Commission on Risk Management and Emergency Response.
Originally from Shenandoah, Iowa, where he was a nine-year 4-H member, Chad is also very active in the Madison community serving on two local non-profit boards, singing in his church choir and is an accomplished speaker.
Seth Zilverberg
South Dakota State '02
Educational Leadership Consultant - Recruitment & Expansion
Responsible for Expansion efforts
W: 816-891-9445
C: 816-210-4558
E-mail: Seth@FarmHouse.org
Seth Zilverberg (SD '02) grew up in central South Dakota on his family's beef cattle ranch. Hearing FarmHouse stories from his father, Don Zilverberg (SD '67), all the while growing up, Seth elected to join FarmHouse as a freshman and served the chapter in several capacities including vice president. After graduating from South Dakota State University in 2006 with a degree in Animal Science, Seth raised purebred Polled Hereford and Limousin cattle with his family. Seth joined the FarmHouse International staff in August 2007. Today his responsibilities encompass expansion of the International Fraternity as well as membership growth at existing chapters.
In his hometown, Highmore, Seth worked with the local FFA chapter and church youth group. In leisure time he enjoys riding his Honda Shadow, showing cattle, hunting, reading, swimming, singing karaoke, and dancing.
Jordan Moore
Oklahoma State '05
Educational Leadership Consultant
W: 816-891-9445
E-mail: Jordan@FarmHouse.org
Jordan Moore (OK ¹05) is the newest addition to FarmHouse Headquarters
Staff. Originally from Midwest City, Okla., Jordan will serve as an
Educational Leadership Consultant. He graduated from Oklahoma State
University in May 2008, earning a degree in marketing. Jordan served the
Oklahoma State Chapter of FarmHouse as a vice president of recruitment,
director of new member education and social chair. He was selected as the
chapter¹s Doane Award recipient for the 2007-2008 school year.
On campus, Jordan served as the Interfraternity Council¹s external vice
president and was a member of Blue Key Honor Society, Order of Omega and
President¹s Leadership Council, serving as a small group facilitator for the
organization. He enjoys being active, traveling, watching OSU sports and
playing with his two Labrador dogs..
Andy Gigstad
Kansas State '06
Summer Intern
E-mail: Andy@FarmHouse.org
Andy Gigstad (KS 06') is a junior majoring in agricultural economics and
finance at Kansas State University. Andy has served as the chapter Secretary
and on the chapter Standards Board. He has also served as the
Interfraternity Council Vice President and is currently in the middle of his
term as IFC President. He has been the Director of Diversity Programs for
the College of Agriculture Ambassadors and is currently a member of the
K-State Student Alumni Board. Selected as the Greek New Member of the Year
in 2007, Andy devotes much of his time to promoting and improving the greek
experience at his university.
With a degree in agricultural economics and finance, Andy hopes to either
pursue a career in the financial industry or explore opportunities to work
in higher education. Hailing from a small town in northeast Kansas, Andy is
a country kid at heart and loves every aspect of the outdoors. In his free
time he enjoys watching and playing sports, listening to music, snow skiing,
reading, taking road trips with his FarmHouse brothers, and relaxing with
his family.
Lorie Widdice
Office Manager
Responsible for financial, database coordination (alumni mailing labels/lists), Regional Advisory Councils, chapter support/resources, website content, Conclave/conference registrations, term/initiation reports, jewelry orders, exhibit display reservations, additional insureds
W: 816-891-9445
E-mail: Lorie@FarmHouse.org
Lorie Widdice joined the
staff of FarmHouse Fraternity in June 1993 when headquarters
moved from St. Joseph, MO to its current location in Kansas
City, MO. She completed courses in Modern Business Technology
at the Northland Career Center where she received the Outstanding
Student Award and also became a member of the Vocational National
Honor Society.
In August 2000 she was made an Honorary Member
of Ceres Fraternity and currently serves as the Vice President
of the Ceres International Board.
She is the mother of three children. Lindsey
is active in cheerleading and barrel racing, Elijah
plays baseball & football, and Quincey participates
in Brownies. Lorie also barrel races and the whole family enjoys
spending time with the horses. She and her children reside in
Leavenworth, Kan.
Brian
McCann, Ph.D.
Mississippi State '95
Website Administrator
Responsible for web site design and web assistance for chapters
W: 662-325-8494
E-mail: Brian@FarmHouse.org
Brian McCann (MS '95) has
been with the FarmHouse International staff since
1996. He began his service to FarmHouse while still an undergrad
at Mississippi State with the development of International's
first website, which at that time was a new technology.
While at Mississippi State, Brian served the chapter as Treasurer
and Kitchen Manager. He also was a member of the Famous Maroon
Band, President of the Council of Student Organizations, Vice
President of Omicron Delta Kappa, and member of the Executive
Board of Golden Key Honor Society. As a student broadcaster,
Brian hosted his own talk show on the campus radio station and
was an anchor/reporter for the evening newscasts.
Brian graduated from MSU in 1998 with a degree in Broadcast
Meteorology, and took a job in Corpus Christi, TX as a television
weatherman. He returned to Mississippi State in 1999 to take
over the News Director's position at WMSV radio and pursued
a Master's degree in Agricultural Meteorology, which he completed
in 2000. Brian now works for the Extension Service
of Mississippi State, where he is employed as an Assistant Research Professor.
He recieved his Ph.D. in Agricultural
and Extension Education in 2005.
Brian has served as the faculty advisor for
the Mississippi State chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity since
1999, and has been a member of the local Association Executive
Board since 2000. He works at home with his golden
retriever "Sandy Ann ".
FarmHouse Foundation Staff
Allison
Rickels, CRFE
Executive Director - FarmHouse Foundation
Responsible for all fundraising activities & administration of the Foundation, in particular face-to-face alumni visits, major gifts, planned & deferred gifts; gifts of stock, tangible personal property & real estate; monitor & supervise fundraising by the local Foundation Councils; approve & authorize distribution of Foundation Council funds; approve & authorize all Foundation grants; Educational Portion of Chapter Housing; Chapter Housing Loan Program; scholarship funds; website content; Pearls & Rubies, especially layout & design, and the Foundation section of each issue.
W: 816-891-9445
E-mail: Allison@FarmHouse.org
Allison Rickels, CFRE, is Executive Director/CEO of The FarmHouse
Foundation, in Kansas City, Mo. Allison has been a part of the FarmHouse
International Office staff since July 2001, starting as the director of
annual fund and communications, and more recently serving as the senior
director of the annual fund and assistant secretary to the Board of
Trustees. She also is the design editor for Pearls & Rubies, FarmHouse's
quarterly membership magazine.
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Allison graduated in 2001 with Honors from
the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) majoring in public relations, and
minoring in marketing and journalism. She earned the designation of
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in the fall of 2006 and is one of
only 4,800 fundraising professionals to hold this international credential.
She is a member and leader of the MidAmerica Chapter of the Association of
Fundraising Professionals (AFP), currently serving on the chapter's board of
directors. She is secretary of the College Fraternity Editors Association
(CFEA), the professional organization for those men and women who produce
and edit the magazines and other media for social and professional
fraternities. She recently received CFEA's Marilyn Simpson Ford Award, for
outstanding service to the association.
As an undergraduate, Allison was a leader on campus and in the UNI chapter
of her sorority, Alpha Phi. She has been an advisor to the Alpha Phi Chapter
at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., and is an active member of the
alumnae chapter for the Kansas City area. She also serves on two committees
at the international level of Alpha Phi. In short, she believes in the Greek
experience.
Allison and her husband, Nick, live in Kansas City, Mo. and have one child, Sydney Michelle.
Andrea Geist
Annual Giving & Communications Coordinator - FarmHouse Foundation
Responsible for
annual fundraising activities and initiatives, particularly direct mail,
phone-a-thons, special events, undergraduate and young alumni giving, the
electronic funds transfer program, non-member appeals, electronic
solicitation, website content, internal and external communication materials
and publications for the Foundation.
W: 816-891-9445
E-mail: Andrea@FarmHouse.org
Andrea began work January 21, 2008 as the FarmHouse Foundation's Annual Giving & Communications Coordinator in Kansas City, Mo.
Originally from Plevna, Kansas, Geist graduated from Kansas State University in December of 2007 with a degree in marketing and a minor in leadership studies. She is an alumnus of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, and as an undergrad served as chapter president and risk management chair, and was involved in various other KSU student organizations and honor societies.
Bob
Off, CRFE
Colorado State '64
Executive Director Emeritus - FarmHouse Foundation
Responsible for major gifts, chapter housing capital campaigns & building funds.
W: 816-891-9445
E-mail: Bob@FarmHouse.org
Robert "Bob"
Off (CO '64), Past Executive Director of FarmHouse Foundation,
worked for FarmHouse for over 30 years.
Bob was an undergraduate member of FarmHouse's Colorado State
chapter, initiated in 1964. He graduated with a bachelor's degree
in English Literature in 1965 and his master's in English Literature
in 1967 from Colorado State. After graduation he worked as Assistant
Director of Student Housing at South Dakota State University.
Bob served on staff at SDSU for two years before his career
was interrupted with a 3-year stint in the U.S. Army. He was
an intelligence officer with rank of captain from 1968 to 1971,
serving 12 months in Korea. When Bob returned from Korea he
returned to his position at SDSU. In 1973 he accepted his position
with FarmHouse as Executive Director of FarmHouse Fraternity
and Foundation.
In 1997, he began working full-time as Executive Director of
FarmHouse Foundation. In the years since that move, annual giving
to the Foundation Annual Fund has doubled, and the Foundation
has surpassed a $2.8 million endowment.
Bob has served as the President of the Fraternity Executives
Association in 1988-89; as an FEA Advisor to the National Interfraternity
Council Board; and as President of the College Fraternity Editor's
Association in 1979-80. He also is a member of several community
and philanthropic organizations.
Bob and his wife Linda live in Santa Fe, NM. Their daughter Karlene lives in
Phoenix, AZ.
Jo Berryman
Administrative Assistant
Responsible for Foundation administrative services, address changes
W: 816-891-9445
E-mail: JBerryman@FarmHouse.org
Nancy "Jo" Berryman
joined the FarmHouse staff in May 2002 as part-time secretary
for the FarmHouse Foundation. Before coming to FarmHouse, Jo
retired from Honeywell in Kansas City where she worked for 31
years. She is a native of Lincoln, Neb.
Her volunteer activities include the Red Cross,
King of Kings Church and tutoring for Laubach Literacy Program.
She and her husband, Bill, reside in northern
Kansas City, Mo. She enjoys walking, hiking and family activities.
FarmHouse Fraternity and Foundation International Headquarters
7306 NW Tiffany Spring Parkway, Suite 210
Kansas City, MO 64153
Phone: (816) 891-9445
Fax: (816) 891-0838
E-mail: FHHQ@FarmHouse.org
