Pachyderms Board of Directors
President: Sonya Anderson
Sonya Anderson served in the Missouri House of Representatives as State Representative for the 131 st District from 2013- 2020. During her senior term she was elected to serve as the Majority Caucus Chair. After terming out of office in 2020, she became the District Director for US Senator Blunt, serving 28 counties in Southwest Missouri until he retired in 2022. Sonya is now proud to serve in the role Constituent Services for US Congressman Eric Burlison in the 7 th Congressional District. Sonya Anderson is a 7th generation native of Greene County. She currently resides in Springfield with her husband, Jim.
Vice President: Melanie Bach
Melanie is proud to call herself a conservative Republican patriot, grassroots activist, and campaign volunteer. She has been involved with the Republican Party since 2012 and is currently a member of the Greene County Central Committee. Additionally, she serves as the Secretary for the Missouri Republican 30th Senatorial District and is a member of the Greene County Republican Women. She also holds the position of president in her local Neighborhood Association, the Galloway Village Neighborhood Association.
She has homeschooled her three children from K-12th grades and is now working in various roles as a public servant in local government. She enjoys participating in local elections and being involved with like-minded conservatives, particularly on the grassroots level. Her favorite Republican club is the Pachyderm Club because they prioritize voter education through frequent meetings where candidates are invited to speak and answer questions.
Secretary: Pat Bezdek
Pat has lived in a variety of places ranging from Dallas, Texas to Paris, France. She has a Bachelors degree in Outdoor Recreation with a Minor in Biology, a Missouri State Teaching Certification, a Bachelors degreen in Industrial Pyschology with a Minor in Industrial Management. She also holds a Master degree in Human Resources and Training as well as a Master degree in Business Administration.
She is retired from AT&T and now spends time volunteering for the Pachyderm Club as a Board Member, T.A.R.G.E.T. Club as a Board Member and is the Greene County GOP Photographer.
Treasurer: Cindy Stein
Cindy was elected as Greene County Auditor in 1994 and continues to serve in that position. She was a past President and a current member of the Greater Ozarks Pachyderms. She has received the Tough Tusk and Meritorious Service Award from the Greene County Republicans.
Cindy loves the St. Louis Cardinals, day trips, and locally owned restaurants.
Past President: David Schultz
David has been involved in Republican politics since 1982. He has served on the Greene County Republican Central Committee from 2004 to present. He has also served as State President for Missouri Federation of Pachyderms from 2014 to 2018 and as President for the Greater Ozarks Pachyderms from 2013 to 2014 and is still active on the board.
David has worked for various campaigns and has volunteered in every campaign office in Greene County since 1982.
Director: Sandy Ellis
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Director: Karen Sears
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Director: Eric Franklin
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Director: Cheryl Dawson-Spalding
Cheryl began her political journey with the Pachyderm Club in 2010 and assumed a role on the board shortly thereafter. She has served on the executive board in some capacity ever since. She is actively engaged as a member of the Republican Central Committee, GCRW, and TARGET. She is currently honored to serve Greene County as the Recorder of Deeds.
She and her husband, Kevin, share five children and four grandchildren. They are dedicated to public service.
Director: Carol Icet
Carol and her husband, Allen, moved from Anchorage, Alaska to Springfield, Missouri in 2018. They have resided in the state of Missouri for 33 out of their 45 years of marriage.
She has four adult children, two son-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, and one grandchild, all residing in the state of Missouri, except for our youngest daughter, who resides in Alaska. She enjoys travel, time with family and friends, political events, and neighborhood Bunco.
Director: Sam Holliday
A proud fifth-generation Ozarker, Sam Holliday has deep roots in the heart of Missouri. His father’s family hails from the rugged mountains of Taney County, while his mother’s lineage traces back to Springfield. Growing up in Nixa, Sam experienced small-town life before it transformed from a quiet farming community into the thriving town it is today.
Driven by a deep sense of duty, Sam enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served in Twentynine Palms, California before returning home to Missouri. His dedication to public service led him to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, where he spent five years before pursuing higher education. He earned a B.S. in Finance with an Economics minor and later completed an MBA with a concentration in Finance at Missouri State University.
Sam’s professional career began in insurance, specializing in health, property & casualty, and risk management. He later transitioned into corporate finance, working for a Fortune 200 global advertising company. As his career evolved, he excelled in operational leadership, quickly emerging as a strategic thinker and proven executive leader in the manufacturing sector. Today, he leverages his expertise to consult businesses, helping them optimize their operations for long-term success.
Sam’s passion for politics was ignited in grade school during Ronald Reagan’s historic landslide victory. However, it was the COVID era that allowed him to step back from his fast-paced career and fully engage in his longtime political interests. He has served on the Greene County T.A.R.G.E.T Board, as an officer with the Greene County Missouri Republican Assembly, and as an associate member of the Greene County Republican Women.
Beyond his professional and political endeavors, Sam is deeply committed to community service. He and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Springfield, raising their two school-age children while cherishing time with their two adult children. His passion for youth development is evident in his 25-year involvement with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), where he now serves as a board member for his local council. Additionally, Sam is an active board member for multiple children’s charities, including a family-run foundation that supports educational excellence and enrichment programs in the Springfield area.
At his core, Sam Holliday’s life is guided by faith, service, and leadership. Whether through his military service, professional achievements, political engagement, or community contributions, he remains committed to making the world a better place—starting with the people and communities closest to his heart.
Director: Allen Criger
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Director: Barbara Smith
Barbara S. Smith is a native Springfieldian and a life-long Republican. She worked in the 70s supporting Republican candidates like Governor Kit Bond. Raising children and handling a professional career took priority for many years. In 2010, after two years of the Obama administration and watching his attempt to “fundamentally change America”, she found herself re-involved in the Republican effort to save our Republic.
Barbara has been a member of the Greater Ozark Pachyderm Club for many years and enthusiastically supports its important mission as the educational arm of the Republican Party. Since becoming a member of the local Pachyderm club, Barbara has enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about how our government works from the local to National level. The Pachyderm Club provides varied opportunities to meet and learn more about candidates and elected officials, as well as current political topics. Networking with like-minded Republicans is an added bonus!
In addition to being a member of the Greater Ozark Pachyderm club, Barbara has been active in the Greene County Republican Women’s Club, elected to be President in 2010. She has served as 7th District President and as President of the Missouri Federation of Republican Women. She currently serves as New Club Development Chair and co-chair of the MoFRW 2025 convention.
Barbara is married to Denny Smith, Vietnam Veteran, US Navy. She is mother of son Darin Chappell, State Representative District 137, son Eric Chappell, and daughter Dr. Kara Amstutz, DVM. She is also the proud grandmother to 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Barbara is honored to serve as a Pachyderm Club Director for 2025-2026, and appreciates the opportunity to be part of its continued success.
Historian: Sharon Nahon
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