Board of Directors
Board President
Chuck Karpf resides in Mitchell and is the Executive Director at Panhandle Area Development District in Gering. He is also involved in the management of several small businesses in the Nebraska Panhandle including; the weekly newspaper The Index, the Nebraska Rural Community Federal Credit Union, and CK Construction, Incorporated. Chuck received his BA in History from Grinnell College and completed numerous professional schools during his career, including Leadership Scottsbluff. Chuck has served as President of the Morrill Rotary Club and the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, and Vice President of the Morrill Board of Education. Chuck currently serves as a Commissioner and Executive Committee Member of the Nebraska Rural Development Commission, Board Member and Treasurer of the Center for Rural Affairs, and a Trustee for the Nebraska Public Asset Investment Trust.
Board Treasurer
Richard (Dick) Campbell resides in Lincoln and is the President of Campbell’s Nurseries and Garden Centers, a position he has held since 1979. He is also the current President of Northwoods, Managing Partner of Village Gardens Development Company, on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry (since 1995, Chairperson in 2009), and a member of the 2015 Vision for Lincoln’s Growth and Future. Previously, Dick served as Chair of the Citizens for Jobs and the West Haymarket Arena (2010), the Mayor’s Arena Task Force (2005-6), and Chairman of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce (2006). Dick is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Board Secretary
Douglas German resides in Eustis where he manages agricultural properties in Nebraska and Costa Rica, and consults for the Legal Service Corporation. He has more than 35 years experience in law, business management, organizing, planning, and teaching while serving as the Executive Director for Legal Aid of Nebraska, Managing Partner for Costa Rica’s Santa Lucia Coffee Company; a Partner in the Bacon, German, and Vinton Law Firm, Chief Bar Counsel for the Supreme Court of Arizona, Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Community Organizer for Great Plains Organizing Project, Staff Attorney for the Lincoln-Lancaster Legal Aid Office, and a Volunteer in the Peace Corps.
Mary Bills-Strand resides in Lincoln and has 31 years experience in real estate sales and management, including having served as Executive Vice-President for Woods Bros. Realty. Prior to entering real estate, Mary taught in the Lincoln Public Schools. Mary served as Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Commissioner from 2001-2007, and as a member of the Realtors Association of Lincoln Board of Directors, she served as Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Affordable Housing Committee (President in 2006). Mary has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 2003 for the Child Advocacy Center, Realtor of the Year in 2003, and Volunteer of the Year 2001 for the Women’s Council of Realtors. Mary is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Howard W. Buffett is the Executive Director of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which strengthens food security for vulnerable populations throughout the world. He previously served in the U.S. Department of Defense, overseeing agricultural reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior roles include Policy Advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council and Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Before entering government service, Howard worked for the United Nations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has a BA from Northwestern University and an MPA in Advanced Management and Finance from Columbia University. Howard is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, where he operates a four hundred acre no-till farm.
Joel Johnson resides in Kearney and is an active community volunteer. Joel received his MD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and practiced General Surgery from 1969-2000. He established the first out of state helicopter service in Nebraska at Good Samaritan Hospital and taught the very first EMT class in the nation. From 2000-2008, Joel served as a Senator in the Nebraska Legislature, and held the position of Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee during his tenure. Joel is the recipient of the J.G. Elliot Award from UNMC for Improving the Health of Nebraskans.
Annette Smith resides in Omaha where she is an active fundraiser and community volunteer. Annette has given her time assisting with the service and fundraising efforts of several Omaha non-profit organizations which include: The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Film Streams, Omaha Conservatory of Music and The Bemis Center for Contemporary Art. Annette currently serves on the board of directors for The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, College of Saint Mary, Kent Bellows Studio and Nebraska Academic Decathlon Foundation. Annette has been a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs Family Guild Board since 2006 and currently serves as president of this board. Annette is an alumnus of Dana College, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration. She also holds a degree in architecture from the University of Nebraska.
Kristin Williams resides in Omaha and joined The Sherwood Foundation in September 2006. As the Director of Community Initiatives she is responsible for managing the grant making activities in the areas of poverty alleviation, foster care, social, and racial justice for state and national initiatives. Kristin has spent the last 14 years of her career as a public servant and nonprofit manager. Her experience includes Public Relations Officer for former Governor Ben Nelson, Legislative Aide to Senator Elaine Stuhr, Public Information Officer for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, and Communications/Marketing Director for the Nebraska Hospital Association. After receiving a Master’s of Public Administration and Social Work at University of Nebraska-Omaha, Kristin spent four years as Development and Marketing Director for a local nonprofit before transitioning to philanthropy.
David Spinar resides in Lincoln where he has been a financial adviser for RBC Wealth Management since 2009. Previous to his work at RBC, David was Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Securities America, Inc., and Security American Advisors Inc.; and a financial adviser at A.G. Edwards and Sons. He is well-regarded for his combination of expertise in law, regulatory compliance and investment management. In 2004, he was named to the Midlands Business Journal “40 under 40” list, which honors 40 high-achieving Omaha professionals who are younger than 40. David earned a bachelor’s of arts degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his law degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
