Greensburg

Through their stories the overall story of the rebuilding of Greensburg will be told.

STEVE HEWITT – The “Idealist”

Steve Hewitt is the City Administrator of Greensburg, Kansas. He was born in Greensburg where he lives with his wife Kim and their two-year-old son. As city planner, he’s leading the charge for rebuilding his town as a “green” town. Hewitt has dedicated himself to creating Greensburg as a model for the future for other towns across America.

MAYOR JANSSEN – The “Sage”

With deep roots in the community, Mayor Janssen commands great respect. After replacing the outgoing mayor, who felt that Greensburg’s rebuilding was too daunting of a task, he’s helped energize and focus the town on its immediate goals of rebuilding “green.”

JOHN PICARD–The “Prophet & The Futurist”

John Picard is one of the preeminent environmental consultants in North America. Since his start as a residential builder in the 1980s, John has pioneered a philosophy of natural systems and sustainable design in his work as a green building engineer, corporate strategist and executive advisor. John is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a long-standing member of Interface’s Dream Team and an environmental advisor to EarthPark, Greensburg, KS, and a number of corporations around the world.

BNIM – Architectural Firm

One of the leading firms in the Midwest. A pioneer in sustainable design. BNIM has become a national leader in design, constantly implementing the delivery of strong design-driven solutions that are respectful of context and the environment. Their main focus is on sustainability with an emphasis on heritage of place. Two of its youngest members, Stephen Hardy and Rachel Wedel are working with John Picard to help Greensburg realize their dream for rebuilding.

STEPHEN HARDY, Architect - BNIM

Born and raised in Salina, KS and is Harvard educated. Stephen began his professional career working for the United States Congress. After his stint on Capitol Hill, Stephen spent three years as a land planner and project manager for The Conservation Fund in Washington, D.C. where he specialized in handling environmentally sensitive land planning and real estate issues for large institutions, city governments and private individuals nationwide. Rather than work in a New York architectural firm, Stephen made the decision to return to his home state and begin his career with BNIM. Will his young shoulders be able to carry the responsibility of rebuilding “Greensburg”?

RACHEL WEDEL, Architect – BNIM

Like Stephen, Rachel was born and raised in Salina, KS. She and Stephen were high school friends. While Stephen went off to Harvard, she for a time pursued a career in dance. They later reunited at BNIM. She too will be doing some heavy lifting with Stephen on the “Greensburg” project.

Entrusted with the caring and education of the town’s children. The school is the anchor and the hub of this small town.

DARIN HEADRICK– Superintendent

Was one of the first Greensburg citizens to rethink the town and go “green.” He recognized the need to establish some sort of school facility in order to keep the town and families intact. He’s forward thinking and dedicated to leading the students of Greensburg into the 21st century.

RANDY FULTON – Greensburg High School Principal

Principal Fulton is young, handsome and very popular with the students. Along with Darin Headrick, Randy recognized the need to establish some sort of school facility in order to keep the town and families intact. He also shares Headrick’s commitment to making the new high school green and sustainable. He has two daughters.

SUSAN STAATS – Teacher at Greensburg High School and Connor’s mother

Susan is actively involved in the school and community. She is one of the more progressive teachers and along with Darin Headrick and Randy Fulton, is very dedicated to leading the students of Greensburg into the 21st century. She, her husband Roger (who also is a teacher) and their daughter Connor are rebuilding in Greensburg.

Getting businesses going would create a “beacon of hope” for Greensburg

MIKE AND KELLY ESTES – Brothers

The Estes brothers own the local John Deere dealership and they want to develop a state-of-the-art “total green” dealership. The Estes are extremely successful businessmen and are very active in local politics. They don’t live in Greensburg, but own the John Deere dealership in Greensburg.

WYLAN FLEENER – Chairman of Greentown and business owner

The Fleener family furniture business has been in Greensburg for 100 years. Wylan is a single father helping to raise Alexsis and Harrison. They currently live in FEMAville. Wylan is the chair of Greentown and like Daniel Wallach, he’s passionate about building “green.” As a business man he’s concerned about the slow pace of businesses coming back to Greensburg.

JOE AND REBECCA KILDUFF – The newlyweds

The Kilduffs are newlyweds and are filled with lots of hope and energy. Rebecca grew up in Greensburg and she and Joe met in college. They moved back to Greensburg in October of 2006, built a new home and lost it to the tornado. They are graphic artists and want to open up a print shop and studio in the Business Incubator.

SCOTT AND SUSAN REINECKE – The artists

Pre-tornado Scott operated a body shop and Susan had her own antique shop. Like a lot of people post-tornado, Scott and Susan decided to follow their dream of opening up a stained glass business. They are trying to juggle the financing of the business with the rebuilding of a green home in Greensburg.

DWANE, ESTHER AND RON SHANK – Family-owned GM dealership

The Shanks have owned the dealership for years and 74-year-old Dwane was ready to move away from Greensburg after the tornado. His son Ron was committed to staying and rebuilding. The Shanks have partnered with GM to build a flag-ship “green” dealership.

DANIEL WALLACH – Director Greensburg Greentown

Probably one of the most progressive members of the community. He had made it his personal mission to help every member of the business community and residents know about “green” and get them to act on it.

THE FAMILIES

The fabric and glue of Greensburg. All they want is to get back to normal, but with an eye to the future.

THE BROWNS – Quintessential Kansas Family

Marilyn and Robin Brown and their daughter, Kodi Lynn, live in a FEMA trailer and are in the process of rebuilding their home green. Marilyn works in the county appraiser’s office. The family is having financial issues with getting their home finished. Their contractor has disappeared with their money and there’s a warrant out for his arrest.

BOB AND ANN DIXSON

The Dixson family has deep roots in the community and is very active in all kinds of organizations and committees devoted to rebuilding Greensburg. Ann is a magistrate judge for Kiowa County and Bob is a retired postmaster. They have two daughters, Ashley (Dixson) Petty and Stacy (Dixson) Barnes. Ashley is a massage therapist and is dedicated to helping to heal her community. Stacy is also interested in healing, but through the arts.

STACY (DIXSON) AND TRAVIS BARNES

Stacy and Travis moved back to Greensburg to help Bob and Ann rebuild their own home. They need to get a loan for their new home, which they want to start to build in the spring and build it “green.” Stacy is an Administrative Assistant for Steve Hewitt but is an accomplished ceramic artist. Stacy has formed the 5.4.7 Art Board and is working with University of Kansas, Studio 804 architectural students in bringing the first LEED platinum structure to Greensburg. Her husband, Travis works for the Emergency Management office.

RICK, RHONDA AND SHANE ENGELKEN

Along with the Allisons, the Engelkens are planning on building one of the most “green” houses. Rick works for the railroad and Rhonda hopes to re-open her hair salon in the new business incubator. Their son, Shane, is a junior and along with Eric White is busy documenting the lives of Greensburg’s teenagers.

PAM MUNTZ AND MARY MERHOFF – Mother and Daughter

Mary is a single, young mother of three and works at the Methodist church daycare center. Pam, Mary’s mother, is a family science agent for Kansas State University. They live together with the Mary’s three small children in a FEMA trailer and hope to move into their new home soon. Both are life-long residents of Greensburg.

TAYLOR AND SHARON SCHMIDT

Taylor and his mother live in FEMAville. Sharon is a single mother and works at one of the local insurance agencies. Taylor is the light of her life. They were renting prior to the tornado and are committed to rebuilding in Greensburg – somehow. Their deep faith and commitment keep them rooted there.

The children of the town.

SHANE ENGELKEN - High School Junior

In addition to being one of Greensburg’s star athlete’s, Shane is a member of the GreenClub and also an aspiring filmmaker/editor. Along with his friend and fellow teammate, Eric White, Shane is documenting the lives of Greensburg’s teenagers.

ALEXSIS FLEENER – High School Sophomore

Alexsis’ ties to Greensburg run deep. The Fleeners have been in Greensburg for over 100 years. Along with her father and uncle, Alexsis is committed to helping to rebuild Greensburg. Alexsis lives in FEMAville and is an active member in the GreenClub along with Taylor and Levi. After becoming involved in the GreenClub and speaking at Greensburg’s own version of GreenBuild, Alexsis wants to attend college at Kansas State and study green architecture.

TAYLOR SCHMIDT- High School Junior

Taylor was recently elected to the student council. Prior to the tornado, Taylor had every intention of graduating high school and leaving Greensburg for college never to return. Since then, he’s become involved in local politics, attending city council meetings and is committed to rebuilding Greensburg. He currently lives in FEMAville with his mother, Sharon. They currently are rebuilding in Greensburg. Taylor lost his grandfather in the tornado but his strong faith keeps him buoyant.

CONNOR STAATS – High School Sophomore

Connor is one of the popular girls in her grade. Like Taylor, she was recently elected to the student council. Both her parents are teachers at Greensburg High School. Along with Taylor, Levi Smith and Eric White, Connor is committed to helping to rebuild Greensburg and in a way to make it attractive to the young people of the town. The Staats are rebuilding and their new home incorporates some green elements.

LEVI SMITH – High School Junior

Since the tornado, Levi has been interested in local politics. He went with Steve Hewitt to Topeka to speak about rebuilding for the youth. Levi, like his best friend Taylor, is committed to helping his town rebuild. He also shares with Taylor a deep spiritual devotion. Levi lives in a house that survived the tornado with his mother and father.

ERIC WHITE – High School Senior

Eric is one of the most popular senior guys and captain of the basketball team. His mother is a speech therapist at the junior high and high school. His father is a teacher and is the coach of the Greensburg basketball team. Eric is interested in filmmaking and along with his friend, Shane Engelken, they are involved in telling the story of Greensburg’s youth.

FARRELL AND DEBBIE ALLISON – Soil Consultant and Librarian

Farrell is a soil consultant and Debbie is the head librarian of Kiowa County. They lived in a beautiful Victorian home that was destroyed in the tornado. Farrell had just completed a two-year project on their barn that also was destroyed. They currently are building one of the most “green” homes in Greensburg. Their home is constructed out of ICF blocks and they are going to be using geo-thermal heating. Farrell is the contractor on this project. He’s very supportive of the town’s effort to go “green.”

JOHN AND JANICE HANEY – moved to the country

The Haneys are building a new home next to their daughter’s existing home out in the country about eight miles north of Greensburg. John is a wheat farmer. Janice has been collecting written and video accounts of tornado survival stories that she hopes to compile into a book. They moved to the country because their property is now going to be the site of the new “greenspace” and they are angry about it. Janice calls the city council a dictatorship. Like the Allisons, they are building green on their own terms. Their home is an earth home constructed out of Eco blocks which are mostly concrete, and like the Allison’s they will be using geothermal energy for heating.

KATHLEEN SEBELIUS – Governor

Governor Sebelius is very supportive of town going green and is excited about the prospect of a new footprint that looks to the 21st century and beyond for Greensburg.

CHUCK BANKS- State Director for USDA

USDA is the lead federal agency that supports a wide range of programs in rural America, ranging from infrastructure to water projects.