About GGS
Vision: All members of our community have the right to feel safe from gun violence.
Mission: We focus on solutions by promoting gun safety, educating the community and seeking common ground gun reform that respects the rights of gun owners and non-owners alike.
GGS History and Founding
GGS was founded in Kansas City after the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy that claimed 27 victims, 20 of whom were children. The initial name of Grandmothers Against Gun Violence evolved to Grandparents for Gun Safety as efforts focused on advocacy, education and, primarily, distribution of gun locks to vulnerable families through the GGS Lock It For Love program.
GGS Beliefs
GGS is not against guns – GGS is for secure gun storage and other measures to keep our children and community safer, including universal background checks, waiting periods for gun purchases, and other reforms to support gun safety. GGS has a tagline of Stand With Us, which recognizes the power of collaboration in gun safety efforts.
GGS’s position on the Second Amendment rights
GGS respects the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the right of individuals to bear arms. These rights were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 with its landmark D.C. v Heller ruling with the late Justice Antonin Scalia writing:, who wrote in the Heller decision: “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited … Nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.”
GGS Staff and Board Members
Executive Director - Rachel Casey
GGS welcomes Rachel Casey, the organization’s first Executive Director in its 11-year history.
Rachel comes to GGS from her previous position as Executive Director of the Community Assistance Council, south Kansas City’s primary social services nonprofit. She brings with her many years of experience in nonprofit management throughout the metro that will enable GGS to make an even greater community impact.
Among her many professional skills: nonprofit strategic planning, board development, media relations, public speaking, fund development plus community engagement and events. A graduate of Kansas State University, Rachel lives in Kansas City. Contact Rachel Casey here.
Founder – Judy Sherry
Judy is an award-winning advertising professional with more than 40 years of business experience in the Kansas City community.
After co-founding, then leading Montague-Sherry Advertising for 12 years, she eventually formed the Judy Sherry Consortium of professionals in the marketing and communications fields.
An honor roll of local and state organizations has recognized Judy’s talents and commitment, ranging from the Ad Club of Kansas City (its 1997 Silver Medal for contributions to the field), AARP (its 2014 Missouri Andrus Award for Community Service),
Mainstream Coalition (its 2017 Stand Up Speak Out Award) and even Major League Baseball (The Kansas City Royals’ Buck O’Neil seat in 2018).
Over the years Judy has been a prolific fundraiser for a variety of nonprofits including KCUR Public Radio and the AIDS Walk Kansas City. She’s also volunteered at the Food Pantry of Jewish Family Services of Kansas City, the KCMO Public School District and the National Council of Jewish Women Greater Kansas City Section.Originally from Chicago, Judy graduated from the University of Missouri and has lived in Kansas City since 1960. She and her husband Steve of 61 years have two children and four grandchildren.
President - Mindy McDermott
Mindy graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Business, followed by an MBA from the University of Minnesota. She concentrated her professional career in marketing, honing her skills in corporate communications, email strategy, agency management, website management, public/media relations, event planning, marketing, board communications and storytelling. She has worked for Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and non-profits.
Her decade with the Girl Scouts developed a passion for the non-profit environment. She volunteered with Turner House Children’s Clinic which grew into Vibrant Health. She served as Board Chair and later co-chaired the Women’s Advisory Group. She began volunteering with Grandparents for Gun Safety in 2022 (after the Uvalde shooting), growing tired of doing nothing to make a difference.
Mindy lives with her husband Rick and yellow lab Gracie in Brookside. Eleven grandchildren are her inspiration for helping to change the gun culture in our community.
Secretary/Treasurer – Jan Brunks
After decades working as an executive assistant at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Jan brings a wealth of experience to her role as GGS’s secretary-treasurer.
Her 40-year career at the medical center was concentrated in its department of orthopedic surgery where she served the department’s chair and coordinated its residency program. She retired in 2017.
Her interest in GGS started with a Lock It For Love event and led to recognition as Volunteer of the Quarter in 2020. Before joining the Board, Jan staffed the GGS office coordinating LIFL sign-ups and materials, managing Community Forum mailings and tracking inventory of GGS spirit wear.
Jan’s a member of the Johnson County League of Women Voters, concentrating on voter registration, and has been a poll worker the past five years for the Johnson County Election Office. She was also active in the Shawnee Mission School District’s PTA during her children’s school years. Her daughter is a nurse at KU Med Center and her son works in the oil and gas industry in Houston. Jan also has four grandchildren.
Communications Committee – Carol Gee
Carol Gee enjoyed a storied 40-year career in branding and communications including 25 years at DuPont, a perennial member of the Fortune 500 and now operating as Dow DuPont.
As its global brand manager, Carol helped DuPont build its LYCRA and CORIAN brands into consumer icons recognized around the world. She later left DuPont to join a fellow DuPont executive when he became CEO of glass packaging manufacturer Owens-Illinois in Toledo, OH. She served as its chief communications officer for five years.
During her years in Toledo, Carol served on the boards of United Way’s Women’s Initiative Board, the Black Swamp (land) Conservancy, the Toledo Hospital Foundation and the Way Library Foundation.
An advertising graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Carol moved to Kansas City to be closer to her two sisters after retiring in 2014. Her volunteer career, however, has continued. She serves as a board member of the Unicorn Theatre, a trustee for Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL, a Deacon at Village Presbyterian Church and communications chair for Grandparents for Gun Safety.
Lock It For Love – Barb McNeile
Barb’s skills of meticulous organization and attention to detail as a former executive director of another all-volunteer nonprofit helped bring to life Lock It For Love, GGS’ signature educational program for the safe storage of firearms. Her marketing background has bolstered GGS fundraising and development efforts as well.
A native Kansas Citian, Barb graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and later a master’s in the same field from Saint Louis University. Her business career included 14 years with AT&T in Kansas City and St. Louis plus another 13 years in real estate with Prudential Kansas City Realtors.
Barb’s years of volunteering and holding leadership positions span a broad spectrum in the community including the Pinehurst Estates Homes Assoc., every level of PTA in the Shawnee Mission School District, the University of Southern California’s KC Parent/Alumni Chapter, United Way of Greater Kansas City and her ongoing involvement with the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, where she was executive director for four years.
She and Jim, her husband of 42 years, have two sons and two grandchildren all living in California.
Development – Lisa Veglahn
Lisa’s professional skills and personal commitment have helped a variety of nonprofits grow in fundraising and programming in the fields of health, education, community service and the arts.
In 2001 she began working for the Hospice Foundation of America and is now its senior vice president for education. She also serves as managing editor of its print publications and website content for consumers and professionals.
At the same time, she’s also worked as a nonprofit development consultant, writing and editing grant applications. Her current and/or previous nonprofit clients have included the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Sesame Workshop, Mid-America Arts Alliance and Theatre for Young America, among others.
A Kansas City native and graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School, Lisa received her undergraduate degree in English from Grinnell College and later a master’s in fine arts in theatre administration from the Yale School of Drama. She returned to the area in 2001 and has served on the boards of the Coterie Theatre and Mainstream Coalition plus various committees at Village Presbyterian Church.
Her son and daughter attend Tufts University in Boston.
Board Member - Mike Mansur
Mike Mansur recently retired after serving as the Jackson County Prosecutor’s director of communications for nearly 15 years. There he helped initiate the Kansas City No Violence Alliance, which is credited with reducing Kansas City, Mo., homicides by 40% – a 40-year low. Previously Mansur was a local government reporter for The Kansas City Star, receiving national and local awards for reporting on corruption, social issues and the environment. Mansur has a master’s from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and his bachelor’s in English from Benedictine University, Atchison.
Board Member - Dr. Rohan Akhouri
Dr. Rohan Akhouri serves as Medical Director of the Center for Childhood Safety and as an Emergency Department physician at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. With firearms now the number one cause of death of U.S. children, he brings a critical perspective and experience to the GGS board. Akhouri came to Children’s Mercy after his Pediatric Residency at SUNY Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Syracuse, NY. His many professional certifications include Advanced Trauma Life Support. Akhouri also serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics with the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Board Member - Mike Sherry
Mike Sherry has worked as a reporter and editor for Kansas City PBS, Kansas City Business Journal, The Kansas City Star and several other publications including Congressional Quarterly. With a focus on health, government, education and nonprofits, he has reported on COVID-19, cancer, veteran’s mental health and other issues for KCPT, KCUR and other outlets. As a freelance communications professional, Sherry has developed online and print stories. Sherry has a master’s from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and his bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Board Member - Jane Brown
As an attorney, Jane Brown has served as general counsel to the Mayor of Kansas City, Mo., Associate Circuit Judge, Assistant United States Attorney and Chief Legal Counsel to Clay County, as well as Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Kansas City, Mo., where she oversaw federal and local funding and housing programs. In the nonprofit sphere Brown has served on the boards of a hospital, and mental health and youth organizations. Brown attended University of Missouri-Columbia and UMKC and received her JD from UMKC.
