Current PCED Information
Jeff Hofaker is the current director for Phillips County Economic Development. Jeff graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1990 with a BA in Computer Information Systems & Business Administration and Marketing. After graduating, he moved to Overland Park, Kansas and started working with Primerica Financial Services – Smith Barney in sales, management, employee and organizational training. In 1994, Jeff made a life choice to move back to his home town of Logan in rural Kansas to pursue an entrepreneurial vision of running a business in the rural atmosphere of which he was raised while raising a family. He started a niche custom harvesting business, Hofaker Harvesting, which was successful over a period of 9 years. He is still a partner in Triple J Farms, a 4th generation family, Phillips County ranch/farm. Currently, his primary interests and current time commitments are toward development activities in Phillips County and his family.
Andrea Lowry is the PCED office assistant. The newest member to the PCED team, Andrea graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2011 with a BS in Business Education. Andrea’s aspiration has been to return to her roots in the Phillips county area and assist with community development. She acquired this passion for improving and working toward bettering communities through the FHSU Leadership Department.
Jim Lanier, President was appointed to the committee in June of 2009. He was born and raised in western Kansas. Currently, he is the professional behavior consultant for North Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative. Prior to this position he taught as a Behavior Disorder teacher at Phillipsburg High School. He has been involved in various aspects of business from wholesale to retail. Jim is married to Becky and has one son A.J.
Sherry Woodside, Secretary grew up on a farm near Prairie View. She graduated from Northern Valley High School and Kansas State University. Sherry works as a certified Pharmacy Technician at Wenzl Drug. Sherry is married to Alan, who is a farmer/rancher on the family farm that Sherry grew up on. They have two children, Serena and Eric. She is actively involved in church activities and including teaching children’s classes.
Larry M. Lysell was appointed to the board in October of 2011. He was born in, and has lived and worked most of his life in Kansas. After graduating from high school in Colorado Springs, CO, he obtained a B.A. from Marymount College of Kansas in Salina and received his Masters Degree from and done further post-graduate work at Kansas State University. He serves as superintendent of schools for USD #326 and resides in Logan. He has been married to Kathy, a retired teacher, for over 40 years, has two daughters, Mija and Mauri, and five grandchildren. He has served on the economic development boards in both Republic and Wallace Counties in Kansas.
Harlan Nonhof was appointed to the PCED board October, 2011. He attended Prairie View school grades 1-4 and graduated 8th grade from Red Top School (7 miles north of Phillipsburg), graduated from Phillipsburg High School and received an Associate Degree in General Studies from Barton County Community College in 1999. Harlan spent most of his life working as an auto repair technician and service manager. Eight years with Farmland industries, three years in the Waco, TX warehouse and five years at the Phillipsburg refinery before it closed. He retired after serving eleven years as an ordained United Methodist Pastor. He is married to Darlene. Their three children all graduated from Phillipsburg, they have four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.