Board of Directors

Peggy Schwendeman, President Community Representative: Peggy Schwendeman is a community representative. She received an Associate in General Studies degree from BCC, and has been in various management, sales, and marketing positions with local companies. Her passion for the well being of all children and their families is one of the many reasons she became involved with the CACSC. She believes that the continued effort and collaboration of all professionals and partner agencies, along with the ongoing educational outreach to the community, will result in helping to eliminate the suffering of abused children.
Steve Edgar, FACHE, Vice-President Wesley Medical Center: Steven Edgar serves as Chief Operating Officer for Wesley Medical Center. He received a degree in physical therapy and a post-graduate degree in health care administration from the University of Missouri. He has a growing interest in safety and welfare of children, as many of the injured receive their care at Wesley. He believes advocacy is important for the children and those who provide their care and assist in their recovery. Edgar appreciates the forum that the Child Advocacy Center offers our community to speak to multiple stakeholders about these issues and opportunities to improve the lives of our children.
Vonda Wilson, CPA, TreasurerPeterson Peterson & Goss, L.C.: Vonda is a certified public accountant with over 30 years' experience in public accounting. After working in various jobs for three years in Topeka upon graduating from Emporia State University, she then moved to Wichita and joined the firm of Peterson, Peterson and Goss in 1980 and has been there since. She has been a Principal of the firm since 2003 and has worked with a variety of clients over the years providing both audit and tax services. Vonda is a member of the AICPA, KSCPA, American Society of Women Accountants, Petroleum Accountants Society of Kansas, and Wichita Estate Planning Council. Vonda became a board member in May 2012 and immediately took an active role in providing accounting expertise to the executive assistant who maintains the accounting records for CACSC and also assisting with the monthly financial presentation to the board. Vonda is excited to be a part of an organization whose primary role is advocating for the welfare of children.
Deb Cook, LBSW, Secretary Community Representative Partner, Bob Cook Homes: Deb Cook is a licensed Social Worker with a degree in Social Work and Psychology from Bethany College in LIndsburg, Kansas. She first experienced her keen interest in the safety and welfare of children with her first job - at Rainbows United. As her involvement in the child welfare and safety grew, she served six years on the Board of Directors at Family Consultation Services. In addition to her efforts on behalf of children, Ms Cook is a member and bookkeeper for her husband's construction company, Bob Cook Homes. Deb says that she is very excited to see all the founding members' hard work come together and to be a part of creating a premier child advocacy center in Sedgwick County.
Marc Bennett Office of the 18th Judicial District Attorney: Marc Bennett is the newly elected District Attorney, 18th Judicial District Sedgwick County, Kansas. Marc has been a prosecutor in Kansas since 1995. Prior to his election, Marc was the Deputy District Attorney in charge of Trial Division II, devoted to the prosecution of sex crimes, human trafficking, domestic violence, and elder abuse. He remains the Sex Crimes Section Chief for the Kansas County and District Attorney's Association as well as a member of the Board of Directors. He is an appointee to the Kansas Prosecutor's Grievance and Ethics Committee. Marc has made presentations to the Kansas Legislature; the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina; the FBI annual C.O.D.I.S. symposium in Washington DC (Fall 2006); the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center; the Mid-States Homicide Investigator's Association (regarding Sexual Homicide, 2007), Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, Texas (2010); the Attorney General's Crimes Against Children Conference, Cheyenne, Wyoming (2011), The Crimes Against Children Conference, "Protect Our Children," Wichita, Kansas (2011); The 2012 Human Trafficking Conference, Wichita; Marc is a member of the board of directors of the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center (WASAC); the Sedgwick County Child Advocacy Center; a member of the Kansas Attorney General's Human Trafficking Advisory Board (HTAB), and a faculty member of Finding Words Kansas.
Marilyn Cook COMCARE of Sedgwick County: As Executive Director of COMCARE of Sedgwick County, Marilyn Cook oversees operations of the largest community mental health center in the state. Ms. Cook earned her undergraduate and Master's degrees from Michigan State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Specialist Social Worker and her responsibilities include those of clinician, administrator and educator. Ms. Cook currently serves on the state level as Chair of the Mental Health Consortium Board and a member of the Associate of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas' Public Policy Committee. Locally, her committee involvement includes the Sedgwick County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and serves as mental health representative to Team Justice, Sedgwick County's juvenile corrections advisory board. As an expert in community mental health concerns, Ms. Cook frequently presents testimony on these and other mental health issues.
Marty Gilchrist, CCIM, SIORJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.
Katherine Melhorn KU School of Medicine - Wichita: Dr. Katherine Melhorn is Board Certified in General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the AAP Section on Child Abuse and Neglect. Dr. Melhorn is frequently called upon for her expertise in patient care, consultation, testimony, and education in the areas of child physical and sexual abuse and child neglect evaluation, investigation and management. She is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics with the University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita and a member of the State Child Death Review Board. In 1997, Dr. Melhorn received the Kansas Medical Society Auxiliary Award recognizing dedication to education in child abuse and child sexual abuse. She is also the recipient of the 2005 and 2009 Department of Health and Human Service Commissioner's Award for Kansas recognizing significant contributions in the area of child abuse and neglect. Also in 2009, she was named the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Outstanding Front Line Professional - recognizing a front-line professional (e.g. child protection worker, law enforcement personnel, mental health counselor, medical professional) who demonstrates extraordinary dedication and skill in his or her direct care efforts on behalf of children and families.
Michael Stover Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office: Colonel Michael Stover joined the Sheriff's Office in 1989 as a Detention Deputy and was selected as a Law Enforcement Deputy in 1992. He has worked in practically every area of the Sheriff's Office in the last 19 years. Recently Sheriff Hinshaw named Colonel Stover as Undersheriff. In this capacity and as second-in-command, his duty is to assist the Sheriff in the operational aspects of running one of the largest Sheriff's Offices in Kansas. In addition to the day-to-day operations, he oversees the personnel functions of hiring and discipline. His responsibilities also extend to the oversight of the Professional Standards Unit. Colonel Stover holds a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University, is a graduate from University of Louisville's Administrative Officer's Course as well as the Executive Development Program from Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs at WSU.