Organization Sees Leadership, Department Role Updates
The NCRPC is pleased to officially announce several staff role updates that have taken place over the past year.
“When I was appointed Executive Director in May, my long-term vision was to create an organization leadership team, and we have done just that by defining new roles for Keegan Bailey and Pepper Roberg,” said Deb Ohlde, NCRPC Executive Director.
Keegan Bailey has been named Assistant Director. In this role, she supports the Executive Director and other department leaders, focusing on program delivery and project implementation. Bailey has been with the NCRPC since 2015 and will continue to serve as Housing Director, leading the organization’s housing programs and efforts to address regional housing needs.
Pepper Roberg has been named Director of Operations and Personnel. In this senior management role, she focuses on internal operations, physical assets, and financial management. Roberg joined the NCRPC in 2004 and has served as Office Manager since 2008. She continues to oversee office accounting, general administration, and personnel functions.
“Having Keegan and Pepper in these roles helps us benefit from multiple perspectives,” Ohlde said. “Our decisions are stronger when we work together.”
The Weatherization Assistance Program has transitioned to a collaborative management model, appointing Dell Gier as Technical Supervisor and Amanda Augustine as Administrative Supervisor to co-lead the program. Augustine, who first joined the NCRPC in 2014, brings 10 years of program experience to her new role. Gier has worked as a Housing Inspector since joining the NCRPC in 2002.
Other recent position changes include the naming of Kristina Harrison as Homeland Security Coordinator and Chelsea Smith as Administrative Manager. Harrison, who joined the NCRPC in 2024, oversees fiscal agent responsibilities and collaborates with project managers from each of six regional homeland security councils. Smith, who has been with the organization since 2022, provides in-house technical support and manages accounts receivable for the NCRPC affiliate, NCKCN.
Additionally, in 2024, Brett Beck was named Managing Technician for NCKCN and Lori Thielen was named Communications Director, recognizing their roles and long-time service to the organization. Beck has been a full-time employee since April 2006, and Thielen first joined the NCRPC in 2004.
“The organization is fortunate to have dedicated staff who are passionate about rural Kansas and helping communities achieve their goals,” Ohlde said. “We have a large amount of experience on our staff and that allows us to provide dependable and professional service to the region.”
This article appeared in the December 2025 NCRPC Newsletter.
Financial assistance provided through the third year of the NCRPC Housing Initiative enabled the completion of 90 housing rehabilitation projects across six Kansas counties: Logan, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, and Sherman.
Helping to reduce energy costs for rural small businesses and agricultural producers is one of the goals of the staff at the Kansas Energy Program, housed within the K-State Engineering Extension Department.
The newly established NCRPC endowment, officially named the Todd Tuttle Fund for Arts and Science, received a small boost through its participation in a one-day giving event held in April.
