OUR STAFF

Karla Lees

President & CEO

Karla brings a comprehensive vision honed through experiences in the military, industrial sales, and active community engagement. A veteran with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, she finds joy in fitness activities and cherishes family moments with her husband, daughters, and their canine companions.

Contact Karla

Shawn Smith

Business & Communications Director

Shawn grew up in Dodge City, Kansas, moved to Elkins, Arkansas, for middle school, and returned to Jetmore, Kansas, for high school. He graduated from Hodgeman County High School, earned an associate degree from Dodge City Community College, and a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University. Shawn began his career at KS StateBank as a teller, then became a loan officer at Harborstone Credit Union in Washington. He later transitioned to accounting at Smoll & Banning, CPAs, LLC, before joining the Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce in November 2022. In his free time, he enjoys family moments, cycling, swimming, snow skiing, hiking, reading, watching movies, and spending time with his dog Winston and cat Ashes.

Contact Shawn

JONI WITTMAN

Events & Marketing Director

Joni grew up on a farm south of Montezuma and after graduating high school she moved around experiencing life in Seattle, WA, Kansas City, MO and Crested Butte, CO. She returned home to southwest Kansas in 2014.

Joni and her family moved to Dodge City from Meade in 2015 and started working at the Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce in 2018.

Joni and her husband Kelly, along with their son Alec enjoy spending time in Red River, New Mexico, going to their family lake house in Council Grove and spending time with their family and friends.

Contact Joni