We would like to introduce you to the Board of Directors for TransformTopeka. If you would like to contact us, please email contact@transformtopeka.com.
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I am originally from Nebraska. KU brought me to Kansas where I earned my Bachelor of Architecture in 2003. While I was at KU, I also met my husband Ryan, a Topekan born & raised. After graduating college, I accepted a position at Schwerdt Design Group, where I am now a project architect. Five years ago, when I moved to Topeka, I don’t think I intended to stay here for long, but I have grown to appreciate a lot of what Topeka has to offer. I want to see this community grow and transform into the city I think it has the potential to be by building on the good things it has now.
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| Gwen Gigous, Secretary |
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I have lived in Topeka off and on throughout my life. My wife and I moved here from Lawrence in 2002 to be closer with family and establish our professional careers here.
In the fall of 2007, I got married, started my financial planning practice, and we started to lay the foundation for Greenwave Electric. During that time I realized there were a lot of people who enjoyed living in Topeka. They just did not have a medium to come together and combat all the negative. In fact, a lot of the negative was rooted more in perception and less in reality. I approached Alissa, in the spring of last year, about forming this group. The eight of us got together, Gwen came up with the name, and now here we are.
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Ryan Gigous,
Director of Public Relations |
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I am a Master Electrician and part owner of Greenwave Electric in Topeka KS. I was born and raised in Topeka. In 2001, when I was 21, I moved to Kansas City. In November of 2007, my wife and I moved back to Topeka to be closer to our families. Since moving back one thing that stands out is how short the commutes are in Topeka compared to Kansas City, which saves a lot of gas and gives you more time to spend with the family. |
Aaron Gooden,
Director of Research |
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I was born and raised in Topeka and graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1997. I earned a Bachelors degree in Accounting from Rockhurst University in 2006, a MBA from Rockhurst University in 2008, and am a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). After 7 years, in Kansas City, my husband, Aaron Gooden, and I moved back to Topeka in November 2007. I currently work for CoreFirst Bank & Trust as an internal auditor. I am a member of Kansas Avenue United Methodist Church. In my spare time, I serve meals at The Topeka Rescue Mission, am a Big Sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and am in the classroom for Junior Achievement. |
Shay Gooden,
President and Treasurer |
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I was born in Topeka to Terry and Susan Gooden, both Topeka residents. I graduated from Topeka High School in 1994 and spent 2 years at Washburn University before taking a job full time at Heartland Electric. In 1997, I married Denise Sharp, and we lived in Topeka until 2003. Then we moved to Holton, thinking we’d like a smaller town, but realized that we missed Topeka. In 2007, we moved back to Topeka and bought a house in the Kenwood neighborhood. At that time my brother Aaron, myself and our cousin Ryan started our own electrical service company, Greenwave Electric. |
Travis Gooden,
Vice President |
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I moved to Topeka in 2001 to attend school at Washburn University. After spending a couple of years here while I obtained an art degree, my husband Brandon and I decided to stay and make Topeka our home. We bought our first house in 2004. In 2005, I started working at jones huyett Partners, a local advertising, marketing and public relations firm. Outside of TransformTopeka, I am involved with AAF-Topeka and supporting local arts initiatives. |
Alissa Sheley,
Director of Marketing |
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I moved to Topeka early 2008 and have enjoyed every second of it. I’ve always been good with computers & the internet so when TransformTopeka came to me asking if I could put up a website and offer hosting, it was the least I could do. Since then I’ve setup a TopekaTweetup site, ran several fan pages as well as market my own social media blog. The most important thing for me is family, and I feel Topeka is a great town to raise our children. |
| Brandon Sheley, Director of IT |
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I was born in Ottawa, Kansas and moved to Topeka when I was 2. I graduated from Topeka High School and the Highland Park JROTC program.
I met my wife, Katrina while working at Target and we were classmates at Allen County Community College. We live in the Colonial Townhomes community on the east side of Topeka. I work as a subcontractor for the United States Postal Service, driving a box truck to Marysville and back daily. |
Jon-Wesley O’Hara,
Director of Government Affiars |
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