Our Board

Our 2012 Executive Board members are:

Bill Riphahn, President

Steve Bolton, Vice-President

Kimberly Qualls, Secretary

Tim Harrington, Treasurer

PRESIDENT–Bill Riphahn is the Director of Planning and Development for Parks and Recreation of Topeka. He has been active with KAB many years serving as our Government Chairman. Bill grew up on a farm in southwest Kansas and graduated from Sublette High School. He then earned a bachelors degree from Kansas State University in Landscape Architecture. After a working in Pampa, Texas for five years he moved back to Kansas. Bill has been the park planner for the City of Topeka for the past twenty three years. As the park planner he designs many of the park projects, master planning and manages construction. He also has under his wing the operation of Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Park. Some of his projects of interest include the Shunga Trail, Soldier Creek Trail, and Landon Trail, moving and renovation of the Church at Old Prairie Town, Gage pool, mini-train depot and tunnel, and the greenhouse in Gage Park; three skateboard parks; and he has designed over thirty playgrounds in various parks. Bill has been involved with the Evening SERTOMA club and chaired the Great Topeka Duck Race.

VICE-PRESIDENT—Steve Bolton was born and raised in Topeka, attending Highland Park High School. He served in the Navy from 1978 – 1992. Steve joined Shawnee County as the Refuse Director in 1999. He turned the Refuse Department from bankruptcy to a very successful department with revenues over $8 million and a cash balance carryover of $1.5 million for 2009. In 2008, Steve was appointed interim director of Shawnee County Recycling.

SECRETARY – Kimberly Qualls is a business professional with over fifteen years experience in marketing, advertising, public relations, sales, management and customer service. Currently, Kimberly works for the Kansas Department of Transportation as a Public Affairs Manager. She is responsible for all public relations and marketing efforts for the northeast Kansas district, including sixteen counties and two metro markets – Topeka and Kansas City. Kimberly received her Bachelor of Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing and Management from Washburn University in 1983. She is currently a member of Washburn Alumni Association, Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Board of Directors and she is a program instructor with Housing & Credit Counseling.

TREASURER –Tim Harrington grew up in Kansas City, MO, the 6^th of 12 children. He moved to Topeka in 1966, graduating fromTopeka West High School, and attended Washburn University.  Tim is married with 2 daughters and 3 grand children.  He worked in construction for several years and owned his own drywall business.  Tim worked in the magazine and paperback book industry for 22+ years. Currently he is working for Cartridge King of Kansas, a non-profit company that employs developmentally disabled Kansans to re-manufacture toner cartridges. His goal is to employ as many developmentally disabled Kansans as possible and to have them become more independent.  Tim would like to educate the community about the importance of recycling toner cartridges and the benefits of re-manufactured products.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Philicia McKee was appointed Executive Director of Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County in August of 2005. She rejoined the local workforce after home schooling her two children for the previous 10 years. Prior to her teaching position, Philicia served as Promotions Manager for WIBW AM/FM radio, was a travel agent for Maupintour Travel and managed the area station of Royal Air, a Midwestern commuter airline. Philicia has also been extremely active in the Topeka/Shawnee County area Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, serving as a leader for over 14 years, earning regional and national leadership recognition. She serves the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce promoting Topeka and area businesses as a Chamber Ambassador and a Chamber Diplomat. Philicia’s past career and volunteer experiences have uniquely qualified her to lead the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, and she looks forward to continued involvement in Topeka and Shawnee County promoting the earth-friendly practices of the KAB organization.