Board of Directors

President

Joanie is the Founder of FOSS, and has served on the board since 1992. In  addition to a profession career in retail, marketing, and small business ownership, Joanie has volunteered with numerous organizations. Some include the Historic Kansas City Foundation, City of Fountains Foundation, Daughters of the American Revolution, Starlight Theatre,  the Junior League of Kansas City, and more. Joanie has three daughters and five grandchildren.

Paul Helmer

Vice President

Paul Helmer, Architect and Professional Color Consultant, has a background in Historic Preservation. Having grown up in St. Joseph, MO, he has a thirst for doing Preservation/ Renovation Architecture the correct way.  His hometown background involved efforts to save the Buchanan County Courthouse where he developed the plan for adding floors between the 19’ first floor and the 2nd floor 25’ ceilings.  This plan enabled a near doubling of space and showed Citizens that the building was viable.  After its publication in the News Press the bond issue passed to rehabilitate this building.  Similar efforts helped save the Warehouse Row and a local church. Upon arrival in Kansas City his background gained his position as Architect of the Landmarks Commission where he worked closely with Historic Kansas City Foundation.  Later he became architect of the City Planning Dept., the Neighborhood Preservation Department and founding Manager of the Building Reuse Program.  To his credit several properties have been saved and rehabilitated. To this day his company TOUCH OF DISTINCTION color & design has been involved with over 5,500 projects.   He has won Federal, State and Local awards and has been given a Community Catalyst award for Revitalizing Neighborhoods of Kansas City. Beyond the above, it has been my privilege to help found the Friends of Sacred Structures FOSS with its founding nearly 30 years ago.  Today our efforts have helped to save ethnic houses of worship and to enable the preservation of noble houses of worship.

Lucille Douglass

Secretary

Chris Larson

Chris is the Vice President of Strategic Development at Lifewise Renovations. Chris has invested over 20 years of his life in the construction industry working with both Business to Consumer and Business to Business focused organizations. Chris is delighted to serve on the FOSS board and share his expertise to help churches in need. Chris enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his kids in sports, and especially loves dinner out with his wife. 

Mark Zimmerman

Mary Wiggins

Mary has been a FOSS board member since 2006, and also serves in various capacities on local church boards and community outreach groups. She has a passion for community development and neighborhood sustainability. Mary has a background in journalism, and taught English in the Shawnee Mission School District. Mary has lived in Kansas City for 50 years, has two sons, and three grandsons.

Max Sherman

Zachary Beall

Zach has long worked at the intersection of operations, facilities, and community engagement, with a focus on preservation at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where he serves as Executive Director of Operations. He is a national service alum through AmeriCorps and brings extensive experience as an executive and administrator in religious communities throughout Kansas City. Zach is a member of IFMA KC, BOMA KC, and serves on the boards of KC chapter of The Church Network, Waldo Area Business Association, and served on the national conference planning committee for the Episcopal Parish Network, where he helped develop programming around church/community partnerships and creative use of church space. He has spoken at the Kansas Preservation Conference and the Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Expo. He holds an MBA with a focus on nonprofit management and lives in Merriam, Kansas.