New members added to board of directors

New Kennett Chamber of Commerce Board members for 2008, from left, include Lanny Geary, John Gamble, Shawn Sando, and Sarah Jo Morgan. Not picured Charley Hilburn. Photo provided [Click to enlarge]

Five new members have been added to the 15-member Board of Directors of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

The new directors replace retiring directors Darren Harris, Randy Caldwell, John McClellan, John T. McMullan and Diane Risner.

Certified at the December board meeting were John Gamble, Lanny Geary, Charley Hilburn, Sarah Jo Morgan, and Shawn Sando.

John Gamble is the sales manager at Ken-MO Agriculture Center. He has been in the business for 12 years.

Gamble is a member of the Kennett Park Board and chairman of the Dunklin County Extension Council.

He is an active member of the Kennett Lions club and served as president in 2006-2007. He serves on the Chamber Agribusiness Committee.

Before his retirement, Dr. Lanny Geary operated a successful medical practice in Kennett for 28 years. Geary serves on the Board of Directors of Kennett National Bank and is an active member of the Kennett Lions Club.

Geary and his wife, Lynne, have two daughters: Katelyn, 19 and Samantha, 16.

He serves on the Chamber's Transportation Committee.

Charley Hilburn has been the president of Baker Farm and Hardware for the past 15 years. Hilburn is involved in the Kennett Lions Club and Kennett Booster Club. He is also a part of the American Rental Association and a member of the First United Methodist Church.

He and his wife, Charolyn, have 3 children: Anna Kay, 13; Bud, 11; and Hadley, 9.

Hilburn is chairman of the Chamber Agribusiness Committee.

Sarah Jo Morgan is the owner of Sarah Jo Morgan, CPA, P.C. in Kennett.

Morgan has been in business for seven years. She is a member of the Kennett United Way, Holcomb Booster Club, Kennett Lions Club, and a member of Varner River Baptist Church.

She is also a part of the Missouri Society CPA's and AICPA.

She and her husband, Scotty, have one child: Eli, 6.

Morgan chairs the Chamber Tourism and Marketing Committee.

Shawn Sando has been the chief financial officer for the Family Counseling Center for 15 years.

He is a member of the Slicer Street Church of Christ where he serves as a deacon and Mission Chair. He also participates in the ACS Relay for Life team.

Sando has a masters degree in business administration and is a certified non-profit administrator. He is involved in the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers, CMHC Systems, User Group Region 7, Association of Behavioral Healthcare Management, American Telehealth, and Netsmart User Group Regional Treasurer.

He and his wife, Tonya, have two children: Holly, 13; and Hayden, 4.

Other Chamber Board members are: President Freddie Graham, Vice-President Joe Stillman, Treasurer Doyle Privett, Marsha Blanchard, Bob Green, Patrick McHaney, Jerry Noble, Patti Riggs, Steve Sokoloff and David Wilkins.