Board of Trustees
MARY LOU BUSSABARGER – Columbia
Mary Lou is known statewide for her advocacy for persons with mental illness. She was instrumental in establishing the Missouri Family Trust and has previously served on the Board of Trustees. Mary Lou is a past member of the Mental Health Commission and currently serves on the State Advisory Council for Psychiatric Services. Mary Lou has served on many other governmental and charitable boards as well. Mary Lou received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri in 1963 and was an instructor with the University for over twenty years. She also served with the United States Information Service (USIS) in Washington D.C. During her service with USIS she taught English as a Foreign Language in India and Korea.
ANGELA DALTON – St. Louis
Angela holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from Fontbonne University and has a Certified Financial Planner designation from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. Angela joined the Guaranty Trust Company of Missouri as Business Development Officer in 1991, and in August 2000 was promoted to President and CEO of Guaranty Trust. In 2007 she was elected Executive President of Central Trust and Investment Company, where she managed the merger of Guaranty Trust and two other Central Bankcompany entities. Angela has been involved extensively in a volunteer capacity in the St. Louis community. She was Chairman of the Board and member of the Board of Directors of Missouri Goodwill and a member of the Board of Governors of the Central Institute of the Deaf. She is also a member of the Planned Giving Councils of the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Archdiocese of St. Louis.
RICHARD EWING - Moberly
Richard is a lifelong resident of Moberly. Richard holds a BS in Business Administration from Truman State University. During his professional career he worked in various capacities with the Social Security Administration. When he retired in 1990, he held the position of District Manager of the Moberly Social Security District. He is active in many civic organizations, including the Moberly Kiwanis Club, the Optimist Club and the American Legion. Richard is also a member of the Board of Directors, Moberly Housing Authority and served as Vice President of the Housing Commissioners Board for the State of Missouri. He is a charter member of NAMI Missouri.
SARAH E. GIBONEY – Columbia
Sarah is a partner with Smith Lewis, LLP in Columbia, Missouri. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1994. She earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law in 2000. Sarah’s areas of concentration include Estate Planning and Special Needs Trusts, as well as Corporate Transactional Work and Eminent Domain. Sarah has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Midwest Special Needs Trust since 2002. Sarah also serves on the Boone County Family Resources Board of Directors, an agency that provides individually planned support services for developmentally disabled residents of Boone County, Missouri.
CATHY STEELE – St. Louis
Cathy is an attorney with the law office of Cathy Steele, PC in St. Louis. Cathy graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Juris Doctorate in 1981. She is currently President of the Board of Directors of Jewish Family & Children’s Service and is a child advocate for Voices for Children. She is a member of the adjunct faculty of St. Louis Community College-Meramec.
LETITIA THOMAS – Columbia
Tish is the State Trainer/Research Associate of the Supported Employment Grant at the Missouri Department of Mental Health and MU Region VII Technical Assistance Continuing Education Center. She has a MS Degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri. Tish has extensive professional experience in mental health and developmental disabilities. Tish is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the School of Social Work and a Fellow at the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Center on Aging. Also, she is a member of the Division of Psychiatric Services State Advisory Council of the Department of Mental Health. Tish has a sister who has a developmental disability.
AUDREY YARBROUGH – Lake St. Louis
Audrey has extensive professional experience as an advocate for children with serious emotional disturbances and is the mother of two adult sons who have disabilities. She is the co-founder and Program Director of F.A.C.T, an advocacy organization in St. Charles County. She previously directed the family involvement component of St. Charles County’s System of Care federal grant. She is certified as a Special Education Mediator by the Missouri Department of Education and has previously been President of MPACT, Missouri’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center.
GERALD J. ZAFFT – St. Louis
Jerry is of counsel with the law firm Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP. He specializes in estate planning, business law and taxation. Jerry was instrumental in establishing the Midwest Special Needs Trust (formerly known as Missouri Family Trust) and has been active as a Trustee and/or officer since its creation. He currently serves on several civic and charitable boards, including the Project Inc., and Rainbow Village. Jerry formerly served on the boards of the National Benevolent Association, Woodhaven Learning Center and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
