MARC Leadership

Headshot of David Warm

David Warm

Executive Director

David has served as MARC’s executive director since July 1990. Under his leadership, MARC’s work has become widely regarded for innovation and effectiveness in areas that include transportation, environmental protection, emergency management, aging services, early education and local government cooperative services.

David is active in many civic groups and initiatives. He serves on the boards of several area nonprofit agencies that address health care, education and community development, as well as the Hall Family Foundation board.

In 2006, David was recognized with the Walter Schreiber Leadership Award from the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) for his impact in the region and at the national level. In 2012, he was named Nonprofit Connect Professional of the Year for the Kansas City region, and in 2015 he received the National Public Service Award from the National Academy of Public Administration. In 2020, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce named David the Kansas Citian of the Year, and in 2021 he received a President’s Award from NARC.

David earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of California, Riverside.

Headshot of Kristi Bohling-DaMetz

Kristi Bohling-DaMetz

Director of Aging and Adult Services

Kristi joined MARC in 2023. She leads a capable and innovative team as they deliver quality critical services to older adults and people in need through a comprehensive model of integrated care. She engages with partners throughout the region to expand and grow this important system to advance health and social outcomes, and to support effectiveness and innovation in the regional health and social services systems.

She came to MARC from HealthTeamWorks and the Iowa Chronic Care Consortium, a group of nonprofit entities dedicated to transforming healthcare through performance improvement, organization development, and training. She is a registered nurse, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration.

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Marlene Nagel

Director of Community Development

Marlene has been with MARC since 1974. In that time, she has built countless partnerships among a variety of stakeholders to unlock funding opportunities and advance policy priorities. She has worked on many regional projects and initiatives including emergency services and public health, 911 system coordination, economic and workforce development, legislative advocacy, local government services, a homelessness information system, solid waste management and others. Marlene supports several key efforts related to the region’s COVID-19 response and recovery, with a focus on addressing needs and identifying resources for vulnerable populations.

She has a bachelor's degree in geography from the University of Texas and a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Kansas. 

Head shot of Toni Sturdivant

Dr. Toni Sturdivant

Director of Early Learning and Head Start

Toni joined MARC in 2023. She is a researcher, a thought leader and a collaborator with a passion for improving early learning systems. She leads an innovative and committed team as they serve children and families across the Kansas City region, providing critical support to numerous early learning partners. 

She has a master's degree in early childhood and elementary education and a doctorate in interdisciplinary learning and teaching. She came to MARC from Fort Worth, Texas, where she served as vice president of early education and workforce development for Camp Fire First Texas.

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Carol Gonzales

Director of Finance and Administration

Carol has served as director of Finance and Administration since 2017. She oversees financial management, human resources and other internal operations.

Carol currently serves as chair of the Johnson County Civil Service Board, on the Growing Futures Early Education Board and on the Shawnee Sister Cities Committee. Carol was named Shawnee Citizen of the Year in 2010 by the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and in 2012 was awarded the KUCIMAT Edwin O. Stene Award for Managerial Excellence. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Drake University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas.

Headshot of Lauren Palmer

Lauren Palmer

Director of Local Government Services

Lauren's work is dedicated to helping local governments address shared, long-term issues through collaboration and partnerships. She oversees MARC’s work in emergency services and public safety, and leads the Government Training Institute, Communities for All Ages, the First Suburbs Coalition, Managers Roundtable, Kansas City Regional Purchasing Cooperative and other shared services.  

Lauren serves on the advisory board for the Greater Kansas City Local Initiatives Support Corporation. She is an ICMA-credentialed manager and was named a 2019 Woman of Distinction for Eastern Jackson County, Missouri. Lauren has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana University. 

Headshot of Frank Lenk

Frank Lenk

Director of Research Services

Frank has been with MARC for more than 40 years. He specializes in using a variety of technical tools to help understand social and economic issues. He prepares long- and short-range economic and demographic forecasts, estimates the economic impact of major public investments, oversees the development of maps and other data visualizations to uncover the meaning in the data, and develops metrics to measure Greater Kansas City’s social and economic progress. 

He has authored or co-authored numerous reports on the Kansas City area economy, including the workforce needs of the region’s Global Design industry, the skilled trades, the tech sector and the public sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Frank provided a series of forecasts to inform regional decision-makers concerning its expected impact on the Kansas City economy and the likely path and speed of recovery.

Headshot of Ron Achelpohl

Ron Achelpohl

Director of Transportation and Environment

Ron directs MARC’s transportation and environmental planning and policy work along with related implementation activities such as the Operation Green Light traffic signal coordination system, the RideshareKC program and public education initiatives for air quality, water quality, active transportation and transportation safety.

Ron is a registered Professional Engineer with degrees in civil engineering from the University of Missouri and engineering management from the University of Kansas. He is an active member of the American Public Works Association and serves on the boards of several local nonprofit organizations.

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