Lynelle Shubert is the Main Street & Tourism Director for WaKeeney, The Christmas City of The High Plains. Raised in Colorado, she moved to Trego County, Kansas in 1999 and felt like she moved home. She took on the role of WaKeeney Tourism Director in 2021 and also took on the responsibilities of Main Street director in 2023. Lynelle has served on her local tourism board since 2006. Her passion for Kansas Tourism spans 20 years.
WaKeeney recognizes how tourism dollars can impact a community for the economic good of their Main Street downtown, as well as the entire Northwest Region. Lynelle serves as the President of Northwest Kansas Travel Council, and is active in KS I-70 Association, and Travel Industry Association of Kansas.
Cheryl Gibson serves at the WaKeeney Main Street & Tourism organization President. She is also the chair of the Economic Vitality sub-committee of this organization. Growing up in Colorado, Cheryl moved to WaKeeney in 2020 from the Denver-Metro area. Currently she is employed as the Trego County Economic Development Director since 2021.
She brings with her knowledge from her previous career in administration at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She also owns a small downtown business and serves as Trego Chamber of Commerce President.
Charlene Schumacher serves as Vice President/Board Member on the Main Street & Tourism Board of Directors. She has lived in the area for over 20 years and is the Cemetery Manager of the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney.
She joined the committee to help promote activities and events in the area and bring awareness to what Trego County has to offer to residents and visitors to the area that makes Trego County a destination that people want to visit.
Kent Heckman serves as the WaKeeney Main Street & Tourism organization Design Committee Chair. He brings to the Design Committee years of expertise with extensive background in art and design. He has also enjoyed the "hands-on" side of architecture and is a skilled iron worker. He enjoys bringing this knowledge and his knowledge of construction to assist in beautification efforts to WaKeeney. He enjoys volunteering where his services are needed.
Janeen Brown serves as the WaKeeney Main Street & Tourism Organization & Structure Committee Chair. Janeen has lived in WaKeeney for over 40 years and is a retired school teacher. She has shared her skilled working as a Teach Consultant with hands-on science curriculum. She is very involved in the community, serving on different civic organizations. She brings to Main Street organization her love of this community and has joined WaKeeney Main Street to help insure it continues to thrive for generations to come.
Abraham Pfannenstiel serves as a Board member. He is a lifelong resident of WaKeeney, graduated from Trego Community High School before earning his bachelor's degree in political science science at Fort Hays State University and his juris doctorate at the University of Kansas School of Law. Admitted to practice law in the State of Kansas and the Federal District of Kansas in 2021, Abraham served for three years as a Government Affairs Attorney in Topeka, Kansas before moving back home. In 2024, Abraham founded Pfannenstiel Law, P.A., in downtown WaKeeney, was elected Trego County Attorney, taking office in January 2025.
Jacque Vice serves as a Board member. Currently working as the Administrative Specialist at Cedar Bluff State Park with KS Department of Wildlife and Parks. Cedar Bluff State Park sits along the Smoky Valley scenic Byway, which is a WaKeeney Tourism attraction. Jacque brings to the Board her abilities to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and community partners to enhance visitor experiences, strengthen community connections, and support programs that encourage families and youth to enjoy Kansas’ natural and recreational resources.
Max Dirks serves as a WaKeeney Main Street & Tourism Board Member. Max has lived in WaKeeney for close to 40 years. He is retired from Kansas Department of Transportation. Max has always been involved with local community efforts, having served over 8 years on our local school board, as well as being a past Trego Chamber of Commerce president. Max volunteers on this Board because he would rather be a part of making things better than sitting back and complaining about how things are.
Candice Beuttenmuller serves as a WaKeeney Main Street & Tourism Board Member. Candice is a TCHS graduate and boomeranged her way back to WaKeeney to reopen a closed small business with her husband and raise her two sons. Candice is a very active community member being involved with Trego County chamber of Commerce, Trego County Foundation of Educational Excellence, TCFFEE, the Cedar Bluff Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and her church. Candice chooses to serve on this Board because as a business owner she can offer a perspective of how important community support is. She believes that for a community to grow, business owners need to be involved, not only in events, but in the decisions being made to grow our community.
Steve Dreiling serves as a WaKeeney Main Street & Tourism Board Member. Steve was born in WaKeeney, graduated from Morland HS, FHSU and then joined the Army. After military retirement he and his wife opened a small business in Colorado. In 2021 they moved their business and themselves to WaKeeney. They currently own a Main Street business specializing in custom woodworking, pottery, hands-on ceramics and laser engraving. Steve serves on this Board because “As a small business owner, in a small town, I understand that any small change to the business climate has a big influence on my business. I like to know as much as I can about what is in the works and if possible, I wish to have an influence on those changes.”
Tasha Malay – Board Member – Tasha has volunteered on the WaKeeney Main Street and Tourism board since 2017. With her mother, she owns Malay's Market, WaKeeney's only grocery store; as well as the 1906 Cottage Garden B&B. She also volunteers for other local organizations and events held in WaKeeney. Tasha recognizes the value in promoting WaKeeney and bringing tourism to the area, and enjoys working with the committee that has the same views. Because she has chosen to raise a family in WaKeeney, she has made working towards strengthening our economy, improving the comfort, level of happiness, and over well-being of our community a focus.
Irene Dirks – Mayor of WaKeeney – Ex-officious member. Serving her 2nd term as Mayor, Irene is very involved in the community. She is a retired teacher and coach from TCHS where she taught for 32 years. While having been on City Council and Mayor she has spearheaded many improvement projects in the community. She brings her enthusiasm and “Can Do” attitude to the Board and serves as a liaison between the Board and WaKeeney City Council.
