Governor's Cabinet

Cabinet Appointees

	Karin Brownlee, Secretary of Labor Karin Brownlee spent her 14 years in the Kansas Senate focused on economic development as well as business and family-friendly legislation. She has developed an expertise in labor issues such as workers compensation and unemployment compensation and is known as a committee chair that will bring all sides together to create a workable solution. Sen. Brownlee also is an active member of several Chambers of Commerce in her district and serves on numerous boards and councils, including the Kansas Small Business Development Centers Board and the JOCO Education Research Triangle Authority. She and her husband were small business owners for several years in Olathe.

	Pat George, Secretary of Commerce A true Kansas entrepreneur, Pat George has spent more than 25 years starting and building numerous successful business ventures in Southwest Kansas. His business experiences range from his family’s automobile dealership to real estate developments to professional sports. Representing the 119th House District in the Kansas House, Rep. George is Chairman of the State of Kansas Committee on State Employee Pay Plans and Vice-Chair of the House Vision 2010 Committee. He also serves on the House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and the Joint Committee on Economic Development; and is Vice-Chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures Health Committee. Rep. George is Chairman of the Valley Hope Association Board of Directors, President of the Dodge City Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

	Nick Jordan, Secretary of Revenue Former state Sen. Nick Jordan brings an extensive list of business and public service experiences to his role as Secretary of Revenue. Jordan became known as a “go-to guy” for economic development and taxation legislation during his 13 years in the Kansas Senate. He played a significant role in writing and implementing key economic growth and tax policies, including co-authoring the Kansas Economic Growth Act that created the Kansas Bioscience Authority and the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship. As a successful business owner, Jordan knows firsthand the impact tax policy made by the Legislature and Governor has on Kansas businesses.


	Dale Rodman, Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman has nearly fifty years of agribusiness experience that includes national and international agriculture business development and management experience. After graduating from Kansas State University in 1963 with an agricultural degree in feed milling, Rodman worked for Cargill, Inc. a total of 37 years in various management positions in Kansas, across the country and around the world. He also served as president of Tramco, Inc, a family-owned manufacturer of heavy duty dry bulk conveying systems in Wichita, Kansas. Since his retirement in 2002 from Cargill, Rodman has stayed active in agriculture with the management of two farms in Southeast Kansas and working as an agriculture business consultant. In all, he has lived and worked in more than 30 countries.

	Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli, Kansas Adjutant General, Director of Kansas Homeland Security and Director of Emergency Management Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli has served in the Kanas Army National Guard (KSARNG) for more than 30 years in numerous command and staff assignments, including deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a battalion commander. He also has been directly involved in the Guard's emergency response to natural disasters. As the adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Tafanelli oversees the activities of the Adjutant General’s Department. This includes providing personnel administration and training guidance for over 7,700 soldiers and airmen in the Kansas Army and Air National Guard. As the director of Kansas Emergency Management, a division of the Department, he is guiding a small professional core of personnel that prepare for and respond to disasters. In addition to the part-time soldiers and airmen, the Department he leads includes about 2,300 full-time State and Federal employees. Additionally, 105 county emergency managers and their staff receive guidance and training through the Department. Major General Tafanelli is also the Director of Homeland Security for Kansas, where he works to ensure security in the state is a top priority. For budgetary and administrative purposes, he is responsible for the Civil Air Patrol.

	Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Garcia, Ret.-, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol A native of Garden City and former Sr. Assistant to the City Manager of Wichita, retired Lt. Colonel Ernie Garcia has dedicated his life to the service of his fellow Kansans and countrymen. He served 35 years in the United States Marines in active duty and reserve roles - including deployments in Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and CJTF-Haiti. As Sergeant at Arms for the U.S. Senate, Garcia worked as the senate's chief law enforcement officier, managed overall security for Senate offices and supervised and provided training to 900 U.S. Capitol police officers. He also collaborated closely with the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, FBI, CIA and Secret Service. Recognizing his dedication to our country and strong leadership experience, Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Regan and U.S. Senator Bob Dole each selected him to serve in their administrations or on staff.

	Dennis Taylor, Secretary of Administration, Office of Repealer Dennis Taylor brings more than 33 years of public management experience to his role as Secretary of Administration. Known as a problem solver, Taylor has worked at the local, state and international levels of government, including serving twice as a cabinet secretary during the Hayden Administration and as Shawnee County Commissioner. An attorney by trade, he currently is the Performance Management Coordinator for the City of Topeka where he is working to make the capital city more efficient.

	Aaron Jack, Kansas Securities Commissioner Aaron Jack brings more than 12 years of experience in investment and securities management. He currently is the President of Heritage Consulting, based in Wichita. Jack joined the Kansas Legislature in 2009 as the Representative for the 99th House district. He has served on the House Judiciary, Commerce and Labor, and Health and Human Services Committees.

	Dr. Robert Moser, Secretary of Health and Environment Dr. Moser spent nine years in private practice before joining the Greeley County Health Services where he served as Medical Chief of Staff and Medical Director. He has served on numerous committees including the Kansas Primary Care Collaborative Coordinating Committee, the Kansas Legislative Physician Workforce and Accreditation Task Force and the Kansas Rural Commission. The 2006 Kansas Family Physician of the Year, Dr. Moser is currently the Director of Rural Health and Outreach at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.


	Robin Jennison, Secretary of Kansas Wildlife and Parks Robin Jennison brings more than 22 years of experience of serving in the Kansas Legislature, influencing state policy on behalf of Kansas interests, and promoting the state’s natural assets to expand outdoor recreations. Elected to represent the 117th House District, Robin quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Assistant Majority leader in his second term, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in his third term; before becoming House Majority Leader in his fourth term and then finally, Speaker of the House. As president of Jennison Government Services he has represented businesses, associations, groups and other entities before the state legislature and regulatory agencies of Kansas. Robin is a well-respected and knowledgeable hunter who anchored the Kansas Outdoors Radio Show for four years and assisted Governor-Elect Sam Brownback with the development of the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt. He has been a partner in the Jennison Ranch located near Healy for more than 33 years.

	Curtis Whitten, Commissioner of the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority Curtis Whitten has dedicated his professional career to law enforcement. He’s worked for the state's corrections department as a court service officer and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration as a criminal investigator. He spent 13 years as an investigator for the Sedgwick County Public Defender's office. He is president and CEO of VendTech Enterprise which provides armed and unarmed security for commercial and government facilities, does background checks and private investigations and serves subpoenas. He also serves on the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and The Governor’s Task Force on Racial Profiling. Curtis’ passion is helping youth stay focused on the right path to adult and is president of the Wichita Metro Youth Football League.

	Shawn Sullivan, Secretary of Kansas Department of Aging Shawn Sullivan is a visible and committed force in the local and national senior living industry. During his 18 years of retirement community service, Shawn has strived to change how seniors live out their golden years in nursing homes. The Kansas Department of Aging has recognized his efforts three times for instituting nontraditional models of care with the agency’s “Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas Nursing Homes” Award. He is the only executive director to receive the PEAK award at three different facilities. Currently, Shawn is executive director at the Kansas Masonic Home in Wichita. Under his leadership, the facility has benefitted from physical upgrades, technology investment and a service focused approach and – most importantly – enhancing services for residents. Among other initiatives, residents and visitors now enjoy wellness services, art exhibits, concierge services and greatly expanded dining options, including chef prepared meals and room service.
	Raymond Roberts, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections Raymond Roberts has a reputation of getting things done effectively and efficiently and working well with correctional stakeholders. Roberts has managed a variety of correctional facilities, inmate populations and programs during his 35 years of correctional experience. He began his career at the Mississippi State Penitentiary as a corrections officer in 1975. Since then he has served as a correctional counselor, staff development coordinator, deputy warden, director of faith-based ministry, warden of 5 correctional facilities and deputy secretary of facility management. He is currently the Warden of the El Dorado Correctional Facility. He partnered with two non-profit organizations at the Ellsworth and El Dorado Correctional Facilities to raise funds and construct spiritual life centers at little or no cost to Kansas taxpayers.

	Phyllis Gilmore, Gilmore is currently the Kansas City Metro Region Director for Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). Prior to joining SRS, she served as the executive director of the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB), based in Topeka, for more than 11 years. The BSRB licenses and regulates most of the mental health professionals in Kansas. She served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1994-2000 representing Johnson County. Her private sector experience is primarily within the areas of adoption and health care. Gilmore is a licensed specialist in clinical social work with a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis.