Board of Directors
Maureen Leisure, Co-Founder, retired from Emerson Climate Technologies as a Materials Analyst. During 23 years of service, she held positions in Customer Service, Shipping, Executive Secretary and then Materials Analyst. Changing Footprints is a dream come true and a wonderfully satisfying way of providing humanitarian aid and community service. She was awarded the 2009 DAR Good Citizenship Award and received the prestigious Jefferson Award in 2018. Maureen resides in Greenfield IN. She enjoys her 3 grown children and 14 grandchildren and is an avid sports fan.
Bob Broughton, Co-Founder and Board President, was working in 2004 with Maureen in the materials department at Emerson when she shared the story of foot injuries (due to lack of shoes) causing limb amputations in Afghanistan. Together, they realized that they could collect quality used shoes and make a real difference in the world. That was the birth of Changing Footprints in Rushville (Maureen) and Indianapolis (Bob). Bob has a great family, had a good career, and is enjoying retirement to the fullest through Changing Footprints, Indy Election Volunteers, and family skiing trips. Bob has lived his entire adult life in Indianapolis and has been married for more than 35 years to his (truly) better half Chris, with two wonderful yet completely different sons.
Amanda Wanlass, Board Vice-President, found her way to Changing Footprints when her church women's group charged her with finding a way to serve the Afghan refugees temporarily housed at Camp Atterbury in 2021. She fell in love with the work Changing Footprints does and the welcoming nature of the organization and has been volunteering ever since. In addition to her service on the board, she is a shoe sorting session leader, and heads up the community shoe rack program for the Indy North Changing Footprints location. She is also actively involved in environmental education and conservation nonprofit work. She enjoys reading, hiking and playing board games with her husband and five children.
Linda Levi, Board Treasurer and Bookkeeper, grew up in Anderson, IN, but has lived in Rushville with her husband Bruce since 1974. A graduate of Indiana University with graduate work at Ball State University, she has spent the majority of her working life as co-owner of The Sampler in Homer, IN, a furniture manufacturing and retail company. In 2022 the business was sold to a long-time employee and she jumped into helping former board member and long time Changing Footprints volunteer Ruth Koelmel at the Rushville location. “Our focus the last two years has been to expand our reach to more and more Rush County families and broaden our support from the volunteer community of churches, individuals and service organizations. Because of our great crew of volunteers, I think that is happening!” In addition to Changing Footprints, she currently serves on the board of the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Scholarship Committee of the Rush County Community Foundation, and is a volunteer reader at Rushville Elementary School. Linda and Bruce have two sons, Nick, an attorney in Indianapolis, and Jimmy, a software account executive in Reno, NV, two lovely daughters in law and two fun grandsons.
Melissa Slater, Board Secretary, recently joined the board after several years of volunteer service and has a history of giving back to communities in the Midwest.
Debby Williams, Board Member, was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She began her career in education with the Indianapolis Public Schools. She retired after 40 years in education. During this time, she served as an elementary teacher, high school career counselor, student teacher supervisor for Ball State and Purdue Universities and an elementary school principal. After retiring Debby became active in Changing Footprints in Rushville along with her volunteer work at her church, a brief time with Rush County United Fund and some mentor opportunities with new principals. Most of Debby’s time is devoted to her family. She and her husband John are the parents of four children and six grandchildren. Two of their children reside in Indiana, one in Texas and one in Colorado. Recently, she and John relocated to the Fort Wayne area to live closer to their daughter’s family and three granddaughters. Currently, Debby volunteers her time with the Northern Indiana Changing Footprints warehouse.
Deb Cherry, Board Member, is originally from Rushville, Indiana moving to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1995. While in Greensboro, Deb was a sales representative for Avery Dennison in their Retail Information Services division which focuses on the Tag and Labeling industry for global retail and apparel markets. Her involvement in Changing Footprints is the result of a life-long friendship with the founder and a strong desire to help make a difference in the lives of others. Deb was married in 2006 to Indiana State Representative, Bob Cherry, when she then relocated to live on the 120-year-old Cherry home-place just outside of Greenfield. Community service, supporting her spouse & family, and helping others are top priorities for Deb. They are blessed with 12 grandchildren – ranging from 24 years to 8 years old! They include 4 grands playing 4 different sports in 4 different states—and 2 twin sons coaching high school sports! Deb enjoys harvesting their garden, tutoring reading to third graders, walking, and of course Changing Footprints Hancock County. Deb is an active member of Greenfield Christian Church. Keeping a home in North Carolina, Deb spends much of her time with 3 siblings, 8 nieces and nephews, her daughter and 2 granddaughters, and her mother.
Kathy Niemcewicz, Board Member, is originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Indiana 2 1/2 years ago from Buffalo, NY to be near friends after her husband passed. She has always had a heart for missions which began during her 17 years as a military wife. She was involved with charity drives though wives’ groups and squadron activities. She and her husband relocated to South Florida and she worked as a production manager in a silk floral business, designing mostly for Sears and local furniture stores. In Florida, Kathy was active in community fund raisers for golf tournaments and the local downtown business associations. They moved to NY in 2009 and Kathy officially retired, but kept active. She was a volunteer for a nursing home and was the volunteer of the year in 2017. She is active in her church and is on their missions team. The work of Changing Footprints called to her after she helped with a giveaway, and she has become very active in the organization.
Sandy Krupa Stephens, Board Member, came to Greenfield approximately 13 years ago when she accepted a job transfer at Lilly within their Animal Health division, Elanco. Prior to her move, she lived most of her life in the Terre Haute area. She continues to work for Elanco (although they are now a stand-alone company) as a Supply Chain Advisor, managing new product launches and major projects. Sandy became interested in Changing Footprints after reading a newspaper article about the organization shortly after the opening of the store in Hancock County. Her two daughters and their families (including 7 grandchildren) also live in the area which keeps her busy attending their various extracurricular activities. She is also active in her church, enjoys concerts, Colts football, vacation time and the occasional casino.
Julie Davidson, Board Member, grew up in the Chicago suburbs. She is married to her wonderful husband Dan. She is the mother of two daughters, and proud grandmother of three. Julie worked 25 years in the high school system. After retirement, Dan and Julie decided it was time for a new adventure. After 35 years in Illinois, they sold their house and moved to Fishers Indiana! One of their goals was to find a volunteer opportunity. Changing Footprints was listed in their church bulletin. They were hooked on day one and have been volunteering ever since. They love the idea that we are all volunteers and shoes stay out of the landfill. It feels great to help those in need. In 2023 Julie licensed with the foster care system as a GAL . She is currently the president of the women’s group in her church, and volunteers at the church food pantry. When not volunteering, Julie loves to read, sew, and is struggling through learning to play the piano.
Melody Mosburg, Board Member, has been friends with co-founder Maureen Leisure for many years and was excited when Maureen explained to her that she wanted to start a nonprofit organization to collect shoes for the needy. After Melody moved back to town recently, she wanted to be a part of it. She’s just in awe of how Changing Footprints has grown. She’s so glad to be a part of it.
Jeff Hendress, Board Member, is a dedicated Changing Footprints volunteer and very happy to serve on the board.
Jim Brockmann, Board Member, is a long-time Changing Footprints volunteer who has been key in the success of the Northern Indiana location. He is also active and held leadership positions in his church and the nonprofit 4KenyasKids.