Leadership

Board of Directors

Patty Reece, President, Treasurer

Jerry Reece, Vice President, Secretary

Betsey Solberg

George Terbovich

Advisory Council

Lynn Ewanow, Chair

Beau Bledsoe, Music Chair

Lorn Clement, Site Committee Co-Chair

Susanne Siepl-Coates, Site Committee Co-Chair

Raechell Smith, Art Chair

Staff

Woman with short brown hair smiles, red lipstick, white shirt, brick background.
Patty Reece, Founder, Executive Director

The granddaughter of a West Texas farmer, Patty learned to love the land at an early age and that affection has never abated. Moving to Kansas as a newlywed, she was captivated by her first experience of the Flint Hills. It felt like discovering a very old and primeval place of extraordinary beauty.


She spent her early years in Kansas in a city, a new and sometimes dazzling experience for a girl from a small town.


The historical structures, with their stories and architecture, fascinated her, but it was the land that continued to call.

Whether in the country or in a city neighborhood, Patty saw the skill and determination of those who had created structures and landscapes that served basic needs but never neglected beauty. The need for preserving this authenticity compelled her to complete project after project.


Eventually she found her way back to the Flint Hills, the place she had always admired. Patty’s involvement in Symphony in the Flint Hills, The Nature Conservancy, the restoration of a family homestead in Wabaunsee County, and The Volland Foundation have grown from the connection she has felt to the land for as long as she can remember.

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Ryan Jones, Director of Operations

Ryan joined the Volland Foundation first as a volunteer, then an intern, and in August 2021, Director of Operations. Graduating in 2019 with degrees in Microbiology and Art History at the University of Kansas, Ryan previously held volunteer/intern roles at the Washburn University’s Mulvane Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Spencer Museum of Art at KU. 


Hailing from Topeka, Ryan helped with the renovation of NoTo Arts Place, a building slated for demolition, but saved after its potential became clear. This early experience informs Ryan on the uniqueness of the Volland Foundation’s various sites. As Director of Operations, Ryan researches and writes on art/artists, assists with events, and occasionally does design work.


Beyond work, Ryan enjoys spending time outside and knocking around the Flint Hills.

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Madelyn Michaelis, Reservations Manager

Maddy has worked at The Volland Foundation since she graduated from Wabaunsee High School in Alma, Kansas. Her experience at Volland included hosting, staffing and managing events, and scheduling and training volunteers. During her college years at Kansas State University, she added management of reservations in the Loft and the Little House as a SuperHost on AirBnB, in addition to a part-time job on campus and participation in club volleyball. Her organizational skills, love of children, dependability, and resourcefulness now serve her well as a teacher of Family and Consumer Sciences at St. Mary’s Junior/Senior High School in St. Mary’s, Kansas – and we understand she is a fabulous volleyball coach!  Her students are incredibly lucky, and we are fortunate to have her participate as Reservations Manager for the Loft and Little House.

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Bridget Bryan, Digital Communications

Bridget Bryan inspires fellow pilgrims on life’s journey through watercolor illustration and writing. She was shaped by traveling along the Southeast coast as a military child. The beauty and history of her surroundings, a classical education, and the desire for a rooted, deeply-connected home heavily influence her creativity.


As a young adult in Kansas, Bridget balanced classroom education with a passion for writing, painting, and drawing. She learned privately from masters to refine her skills and began writing regularly for her blog. Bridget nurtured a love for history, storytelling, exploration, nature journaling, and encouraged students to discover their own gifts throughout her 12 years of teaching across the U.S.


In 2021, Bridget transitioned from traditional education to focus on her freelance career as a writer and watercolor artist. Her travel journaling, blending illustration and narrative, reflects a lifetime of seeking home, meaning, and connection. During a season of mental health and neurodivergent challenges, her art became a source of resilience and continues to help her stay present and find beauty and gratitude in the everyday moments.



Bridget looks forward to inspiring others on their own journeys through her watercolor illustrations, writing, and collaborations!

Gallery Hosts & Event Staff

Delaney Rockers | Delaney, a graduate of Art History, French, and Business at the University of Kansas began her internship at Volland in 2024, and continues to assist Volland with hosting and events.