Barbie and her husband Kevin, have called Fayette home for over 8 years. Together, they have raised three sons and are proud grandparents to eight grandchildren. Barbie and her family have become deeply ingrained in the fabric of the Fayette community, actively participating in local events and initiatives, making them a familiar and trusted presence in town. 

Barbie brings a wealth of expertise in administration, event planning, and historic preservation. Most recently, serving as the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Court Administrator at the Boone County Circuit Court, where her eight years in the role honed her skills in working closely with judges, attorneys, and court officials. Her expertise extends to event management, planning, and interior and environmental design—all complemented by her deep passion for historic buildings. Additionally, her background as a small business owner gives her unique insight into the challenges and rewards of community development.

Barbie has also served on the Historic Preservation Commission and the Downtown Fayette Promotions Committee, and her passion for historic buildings and environmental design will be a tremendous asset to our community. When asked about her new role, she shared, “I absolutely love this little town. It felt like home the day we moved in. I share the passion and mission of the organization, and I love the motto, ‘Where Friends Gather.’ I want to apply what I know and keep learning to better connect with the community and beyond, bringing people in. I hope the kids who grow up here feel inspired to stay or come back, raise their families, and enjoy being part of a safe, thriving community.”

Email: Director@downtownfayette.org

“I have and will always hold rural communities and the community values they share close to my heart. They are a part of Americana and seeing small communities rebound and thrive is energizing.”

Deanna has served eight years as a development professional, nearly nine years in a County Assessor’s Office and about two years as a County Administrator. She became acquainted with Fayette in 2010 while working with the American Red Cross Blood Services.

According to Deanna, “Fayette has been a community that has been easy to bond with and one we eventually, were thankful to be able to call home.”

Serving as a member of the Downtown Fayette (formerly Fayette Main Street) organization since 2019, she is glad to see where the organization is today. She says it is the goal of the many who serve the organization and the community, to be able to preserve the piece of Americana that Fayette so wonderfully represents, while also seeing the area thrive with new businesses and solid collaboration between the Fayette, Howard, and Central Methodist University communities. She is the current Director of Development for Advancement and Alumni Relations at Central Methodist University. Together we move Fayette forward!

Email: board@downtownfayette.org

Angi earned her Master's of Science in Clinical Counseling from Central Methodist University. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Missouri and has recently earned her National Certified Counselor standards in 2021.

“I am from Fayette, Missouri and have a passion for small town living. As a therapist I have come to fully understand the importance of a support system. Having been raised in Fayette, I knew growing up that I was safe and always knew people around me. People that would help direct me in the right way, and would hold me accountable to do what is right. What a wonderful system to grow up in! I now have an opportunity to impact this for my grandchildren. I want them to have the fond memories of growing up in a small town that is supportive of their wellbeing. A place they can feel safe and find amazing memories. By helping those in my county with their mental health, I am supporting that mission. I’m helping those that will in turn be able to help my grandchildren. My goal is to do whatever I can to educate and help anyone in need in Howard County and elsewhere if asked. I choose Fayette as my base and in turn have chosen Fayette as my epic center.”

Michelle grew up in Fayette, MO and graduated from Fayette High School in 1977. She then attended Central Missouri State University where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Public Relations degree.

Michelle went on to become owner of Express Personnel Services in Columbia - an international franchise – for 25 years and operated 5 offices. During that time, she “was humbled to receive some of the highest honors this franchise awarded. I earned such honors as the Mass Mutual Blue-Chip Award, The Franchisee of the Year Award, and President's Award, to name just a few.”

After selling her business, Michelle “tried to retire but my mind and heart had a different path. I went to work for many years as Director of Jenny Craig, where I oversaw 3 territories and excelled with the company in many ways.”

In 2020, with Covid being a challenge, she and her husband decided to relocate and chose to “move back to Fayette primarily to be closer to family! We did just that! Now, I am working for a local dental office and thoroughly enjoying my involvement with my hometown! I'm proud to serve on the Main Street Board, Fayette Rotary, and numerous local clubs and organizations. I also have the privilege of serving as a Fayette Councilwoman.

Michelle truly takes pride in her hometown and strives to make “Fayette memories” for local youth and pledges to help create local leaders for tomorrow. For Michelle, it’s “an extreme honor to give back to my beloved hometown and to help move Fayette Forward!”

“I am involved with Downtown Fayette because I know how important the downtown area is to the economy of Fayette and Howard County”.

Kyle currently works for Commercial Trust Company on main street. He has been employed by Commercial Trust for 30 years and current serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Co-CEO. His other role includes being a Financial Advisor for Commercial Trust Financial Services.
As a graduate of the University of Central Missouri, Mr. Elliott holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri and a degree from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. He has also served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Economics at Central Methodist University.
A lifelong resident of Howard County, Mr. Elliott is also actively involved in a wide variety of community and philanthropic activities in the area and is the past president of Fayette Main Street.

Alissa works in the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office at Central Methodist University. She has worked in higher education for over ten years, and shares, “there is certainly something special about CMU and the Fayette community. My family and I have lived in Fayette for almost five years and love it! We enjoy eating at local restaurants and attending events downtown & in the city park. Fayette has been such a welcoming community to me and my family and I am excited to see it grow, while maintaining all the charm of living in a small town!”

Wanda relocated to Fayette in 2013 with her husband, Rusty, to focus on their retirement dream of raising registered Shorthorn cattle. Prior to moving to Fayette, they worked and raised their family in Columbia. Once their farming business was established in Howard County, Wanda felt compelled to become more involved in the Fayette community. Wanda’s work experience includes banking and small business ownership. “I fell in love with Fayette immediately. It’s such a welcoming and inclusive community that I knew I wanted to be a part of!”

Wanda is passionate about serving her community and hopes her small business experience will play an important role in Downtown Fayette’s continued growth. She is eager to recruit additional volunteers and feels that within the Downtown Fayette organization there is a perfect fit for everyone who wishes to volunteer their individual skills and experience. She has enjoyed witnessing the progress Fayette has made during her time here and is eager to contribute to its advancement.

When she’s not farming or volunteering, Wanda enjoys “porch time” with her family and friends, reading, horseback riding, and playing pickleball.

Becky has strong ties to the Fayette community. She was born here, moved to a nearby town in her youth, then as an adult moved back to rural Fayette and currently resides on a small farm. Becky was a floral designer for 16 years, where she enjoyed crafting stunning arrangements that brought joy to countless events. She also owned her own photography studio for 8 years, where she enjoyed capturing life’s most cherished moments through her lens, blending passion for aesthetics with storytelling. Currently, she owns her own business in online sales. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is also a devoted mom of 4 and very active in her children's activities and is also married. Her and her husband also own a HVAC company here in Fayette. 

Born and raised in Fayette, Missouri, Brendisha is a proud alumna of Fayette High School. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science, she has a strong educational foundation.Brendisha Mathews brings over 10 years of experience in problem-solving, strategic planning and building strong client relationships. After spending some time in Texas, she recently returned to her hometown to enjoy small-town living and spend more time with her family. "I'm excited to give back to the community I grew up in." Currently, Brendisha works as an Administrative Assistant at Endless Options, Inc. and is pursuing her entrepreneurial ambitions.

Becky is an active volunteer in Fayette! She serves as the chair of the Design Committee as well as a board member. See her complete bio above.

Email: design@downtownfayette.org

Cara Owings grew up in Fayette, graduated from FHS and CMU. Cara and her husband Nick raised their young family here for many years, moved to Columbia but returned in 7 years to finish raising their family here. She is an entrepreneur, business/marketing coach and sales professional. Cara is co-owner of The Connection Exchange, a Missouri based business that has expanded as as a licened affilate program. They provide economic vitality and lead generation to new and existing businesses. She also holds a position in Media Sales with a North American focused Asphalt magazine called Asphalt Pro. Cara has a passion for business growth and a love for her hometown.

Email: grow@downtownfayette.org

Lacie, and her husband Andy, moved to Fayette in 2017. They fell in love with the small town between their two hometowns and have enjoyed turning their house into a home. They have two dogs, and a cat – and enjoy taking the boat out as well as traveling. Lacie has been involved with event planning on many levels during and since attending college at MU. Outside of planning holiday parties, she worked full time planning Expo and corporate events and worked for the Roots n Blues music festival for 8 years.

Email: Events@downtownfayette.org

Chelsea recently relocated to Fayette and has jumped right in and gotten involved. She owns a business in town and is the warm welcome for our volunteers and growing volunteer involvement.

Email: welcome@downtownfayette.org