LINC Commission

The LINC Commission is the governing board of a community collaborative that includes business and civic leaders, community and neighborhood representatives and involved citizens.

The commission is involved in various initiatives aimed at developing comprehensive neighborhood services. The initiatives include welfare-to-work, training for family child care providers, school-based health and human services along with professional development of state and community providers.

The Commission was formed in November 1992. Read the speech from the first meeting given by LINC founder Bert Berkley.

Bert Berkley, Founder

Bert Berkley is the founder and a past chairman of the Local Investment Commission (LINC). He has made numerous presentations on the LINC model across the country and around the world, including the Netherlands, Israel, and Taiwan.

Berkley served on the board of the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and is currently on the boards of the Institute for Educational Leadership and Center for Leaders (both in Washington D.C.) as well as state of Missouri and several local boards.

Landon H. Rowland, Chairman Emeritus

Landon Rowland, who led LINC for 21 years, died on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015.

Rowland was on the initial LINC Commission established in November 1992 and succeeded Bert Berkley (LINC's Founder) as chair in December 1995.

Rowland's exuberance, wide-ranging interests, and deep sense of social justice encouraged the young organization to act on opportunities, be highly accountable to the community, and be stalwart stewards of the funds received.

While highly connected, Rowland deeply valued LINC's grassroots commitments to "serve the community in need" and its "bottoms up" approach.

LINC Commission Members

Co Chairs

David Disney † (2018)
Retired, J.E. Dunn Construction

Ken Powell † (2016)
Retired, Federal Government

Bob Bartman (2021)
Retired - Educator

Bert Berkley † (1992)
LINC Founder
Tension Envelope Corp.

Sharon M. Cheers (2002)
Neighborhood Leader

John (Jack) C. Craft † (1992)
Lathrop GPM

Shalonn “Kiki” Curls (2023)
Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City
Former MO state senator

Aaron Deacon † (2013)
KC Digital Drive

Shawn G. Foster (2023)
Preuss | Foster Law

SuEllen Fried (1992)
Civic Leader

Rob Givens (2008)
Businessman

Anita Gorman (1992)
Civic Leader

Matthew G. Haase (2023)
Kansas City University

Tom Lewin (2011)
Retired, University of Kansas

Mary Kay McPhee † (2002)
Civic Leader

Marge Randle (2019)
Retired

David Rock (2002)
Civic Leader

David Ross † (1996)
David P. Ross LLC

Patricia Scaglia (2024)
Scaglia Law Firm LLC

Marjorie Williams (2012)
Retired, Educator

Quinton Lucas (2019) Ex-Officio
Mayor Kansas City, Mo.

Frank White (2015) Ex-Officio
Jackson County Executive

† Executive Committee members

Commission Meetings

The LINC Commission meets monthly to inform board members, community partners, and the public on current LINC initiatives as well as topics of community interest such as education, health, child care, and other family and neighborhood supports.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo. Current scheduled meetings are:

2024 LINC Meeting Schedule

January 22 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
February 26 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
March 25 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
April 15 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
May 13 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
June 18 (Tuesday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
July 15 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
August – no meeting
September 16 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
October 21 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
November 18 (Monday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
December – no meeting