Jayme Morris-Hardeman serves as the Executive Director of Thrive. Jayme joined the staff at Thrive! in 2016 after working as the Executive Director of Sunflower CASA Project for 17 years. Jayme served four years as a Manhattan City Commissioner and currently serving as the President of the USD 383 Board of Education. .She graduated from KSU with BS and MS degrees in Biochemistry. Jayme and her husband Brian have two children and have lived in Manhattan for 35 years.  

Jayme’s expertise lies in the areas of non-profit management and finance, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment and retention, and trauma-informed practice.  Jayme has conducted strategic planning sessions for local and statewide non-profit organizations and local and statewide training on volunteer retention, adverse childhood experiences and the impact of trauma on brain development, and working with individuals living in poverty.

Susan Wendland serves as the Youth and Resource Development Coordinator for THRIVE! She joined THRIVE! in beginning of 2018. Susan previously worked for the school district as an Assistant Principal at Lee Elementary and Kansas State Clinical Supervisor. She was an educator for 33 years. Susan and her husband have two children and three grandchildren that she gets to enjoy lots of time with them. Susan likes to spend her spare time with family and friends, gardening, and cooking.
What Susan loves about THRIVE! is that we are working with individuals to teach them to empower themselves, to have a voice. It is her favorite thing to do each week, to spend time with these young people. The other part of her job is looking how to raise money to help continue our programs at THRIVE! Susan became a part of THRIVE! because I believe in what it does for our people. It is about building relationships, making connections, being resourceful, having a voice and making a difference.

Lindsey is passionate about creating communities where individuals and families feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive. Growing up in a single-parent household with a father who lived with a disability and relied on a fixed income, she experienced firsthand how access to resources, education, supportive relationships, and a sense of belonging can shape a person’s opportunities.

After several years as an elementary teacher, Lindsey now works in the College of Education at Kansas State University, where she advises future educators. Her experiences have shaped her commitment to breaking down barriers, strengthening community connections, and creating welcoming, affirming spaces where every person feels they belong.

Lindsey and her husband, an ER nurse, are raising their energetic three-year-old son in the Manhattan. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, reading, and discovering local coffee shops.

Stacey is a co‑coach dedicated to helping adults achieve their goals and build meaningful, healthy relationships. She has lived in Kansas since 2014 and loves spending time with her family, including her adorable and funny grandson! She will graduate in December 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in human development and Family Science from Kansas State University, along with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies (Family Track). She plans to continue her education by pursuing a Master’s in Preventive Science.

Her academic and professional experiences have deepened her understanding of the barriers faced by individuals living in poverty and strengthened her commitment to breaking those barriers so people can disrupt generational cycles. Growing up in poverty herself, Stacey understands how limited opportunities and chronic stress can shape a person’s life and contribute to mental health challenges. She believes every person deserves the best possible chance at stability, wellness, and opportunity.

Stacey’s passion for community work began in her community mental health course, where she was introduced to Thrive while seeking a local organization to volunteer with. That experience sparked a deep commitment to supporting the most vulnerable residents in her community. She believes poverty is a social issue that affects everyone—and that meaningful change requires collective action, compassion, and a willingness to listen to those most impacted.