Meet the People of Greensburg

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 using geo-thermal heating. Farrell is the contractor on this project and he is very supportive of the town’s effort to go green.

Chuck Banks, State Director for USDA
Chuck Banks is with the USDA, which is the lead federal agency that supports a wide range of programs in rural America, ranging from infrastructure to water projects.

Stacy (Dixson) Barnes And Travis Barnes, Artist and Emergency Manager
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 the green way. Stacy is an accomplished ceramic artist. Stacy has formed the 5.4.7 Art Board and is working with architectural students from the University of Kansas in bringing the first LEED platinum structure to Greensburg. Her husband, Travis works for the Emergency Management office.

BNIM, Architectural Firm
One of the leading firms in the Midwest and 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 to help Greensburg realize their dream for rebuilding.

Marilyn, Robin, and Kodi Lynn Brown, FEMAville Residents
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. For starters, their contractor has disappeared with their money and there's a warrant out for his arrest.

Bob Dixson, Mayor
Bob Dixson started working as a community leader in Greensburg as a member, then president, of the town's school board. He has been promoting green building, and rebuilding, since taking office as mayor of Greensburg in May 2008. City resolutions, implemented by Dixson, have laid the groundwork to transfer the town to 100 percent wind power and bring all government buildings to a LEED platinum standard.

Ann Dixson, Magistrate Judge
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 is married to Bob, a retired postmaster and now mayor of Greensburg. 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.

Rick and Rhonda Engelken, Railroad Employee and Hair Stylist
Along with the Allison's, the Engelken's 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 who along with Eric White is busy documenting the lives of Greensburg's teenagers.

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

Mike and Kelly Estes, John Deere Dealership Owners
The Estes brothers don't live in Greensburg but they own the local John Deere dealership there 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.

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.

Wylan Fleener, Business Owner and Chairman of Greentown
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.

Randy Fulton, Greensburg High School Principal
Principal Fulton is young, handsome and very popular with the students. A father to two daughters, 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 green and sustainable.

John and Janice Haney, Farmers
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.

Stephen Hardy, City Planner with BNIM
Born and raised in Salina, KS and educated at Harvard, 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.

Darin Headrick, School Superintendent
Darin was one of the first Greensburg citizens to rethink the town as an entirely green town. 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.

Steve Hewitt, City Administrator
After the tornado, when many people thought the town of Greensburg would be abandoned, Steve Hewitt demonstrated his conviction that the town could be rebuilt by taking the reins and helping to organize the effort. Leading a team of volunteers and townspeople, Hewitt helped coordinate the early stages of recovery. Hewitt also helped put the "green" in Greensburg by supporting an early resolution guiding the green-building process. Hewitt was named the 2008 City and County Magazine Municipal Leader of the Year for his efforts to rebuild his community in a sustainable direction.

John Janssen, Former Mayor
With deep roots in the community, former Mayor John Janssen (mayor in season 1) commands great respect. After replacing the outgoing mayor, who felt that Greensburg's rebuilding was too daunting of a task, he has helped energize and focus the town on its immediate goals of rebuilding as green as possible.

Joe and Rebecca Kilduff, 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.

Thomas "TJ" And Julie Lawson, Religious Leaders
TJ is the new pastor in town for First Christian Church and Julie is his wife. After learning about the town of Greensburg being destroyed by a tornado and deciding to rebuild green, the young couple took a leap of faith and moved to Greensburg to be part of the amazing process. They've been warmly welcomed and are now working hard with their new community to create the greenest town in America.

Pam Muntz and Mary Merhoff, Science Agent and Single Mother
Mary is a single, young mother of 3 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 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.

Ashely Petty, Local Business Owner
Ashley Petty grew up in Greensburg and even though she is now married and living just south of town she still considers it her home. All of Ashley's family are active in the community. Ashley's father is Mayor Bob Dixson, her sister Stacy Barnes runs the 5.4.7. Arts Center and the Big Well Gift shop and her mother Ann Dixson is a local judge. Ashley has a Spa business that is currently being run out of a trailer that she is considering moving to the Business Incubator when it opens.

Scott and Susan Reinecke, 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 biggest dream. Together, they opened up a stained glass business and are trying to juggle the financing of the business with the rebuilding of a green home in Greensburg.

Sharon Schmidt, Mother and FEMAville Resident
Sharon Schmidt lives with her son, Taylor, in FEMAville. She is a single mother and works at one of the local insurance agencies. Sharon was renting prior to the tornado and is now committed to rebuilding in Greensburg—somehow. Her deep faith and commitment keeps her rooted there.

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.

Edward Schoenberger, Local Historian
Ed has lived in Greensburg since 1972, but his knowledge of the town's history goes back to its origin in 1886. People in town know that if you are looking for any historical information of photos Ed is usually a good place to start. Ed has been recycling all his life. He never thought of it as being "green", he said "it's just done out of necessity, and it's fun to do". Ed has been working in found art projects for years. You can find many of his works of art in the homes around Greensburg or at the local cemetery where he builds headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of loved ones. Ed is helping the Green Club build a community bench out of tornado debris.

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

Dwane, Esther, and Ron Shank, GM Family Dealership Owners
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, so the Shanks subsequently partnered with GM to build a flag-ship "green" dealership.

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 with his mother and father in a house that survived the tornado.

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.

Susan Staats, Teacher at Greensburg High School
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, she 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.

Lisa Stout, Single Mother
Lisa Stout is a single mother who lost everything in the tornado. She loves the people in Greensburg and wants to stay in the community, but economic conditions are threatening her ability to rebuild her home and open a coffee shop.

Daniel Wallach, Director of Greensburg Greentown
Probably one of the most progressive members of the community, Daniel made it his personal mission to help every member of the business community and residents know about the issues involved with going green and he got them to act on it.

Rachel Wedel, Planning and Urban Design with BNIM
Like Stephen, Rachel was born and raised in Salina, KS, where she and Stephen were high school friends. While at BNIM, Rachel has done extensive research on sustainable community design and revealed how to implement sustainable solutions at the community scale. Rachel has acted as the project planner for Greensburg’s Sustainable Comprehensive Plan and in the process has been inspired by the tenacity of the people and the progress of the initiative.

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, and 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.

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