GALLERYOF presidents
Carrie Wilkinson Iowa I AM P.E.O.
Linda Kekina Kansas Share a Lei of Love
Lisa Cole Missouri “P.E.O.ing — Sisters in Action.”
Carrie Wilkinson grew up in west central Iowa with her parents and two brothers. She attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, and earned her B.A. in business management with a minor in Spanish where she also enjoyed a study abroad program in Yucatan, Mexico. Upon graduation she moved to Des Moines to start her career in banking. She soon realized to advance her career she would have to move. After 30 years in the financial industry, she is vice president of commercial lending in a community bank in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area where building trust and relationships is priority. Initiated into Chapter DF by the current president of Georgia State Chapter, she quickly fell in love with P.E.O. and its mission. In 2001, she met her husband, Joe, and they moved to Center Point where she transferred to Chapter OP, Cedar Rapids. She has held all offices except guard in her local chapter. She has served as a Hostess Group officer, served on the Iowa P.E.O. Project Fund, Inc. board, and the Five-Year Finance and Long-Range Planning Committee. Carrie enjoys bike riding and bow hunting for whitetail deer. She loves trying new things and P.E.O.-ing with her mother. Carrie would like to thank her OP chapter for all their love and support during her time on the board.
Linda Schooling Kekina followed in her mother and father’s footsteps. True to her maiden name, Schooling, she has always valued the importance of education, and like her parents, became a teacher in her career of furthering that goal. Linda was born in Kansas City, Missouri, graduated from the University of Colorado and received her M.A. from Pepperdine University. She was initiated into Chapter B, Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1997, after attending programs and meeting her mother’s P.E.O. sisters for many years in Kansas. After moving to Hawaii 35 years ago, Linda became a middle and high school teacher and curriculum specialist on Oahu. While living in Hawaii, Linda met and married her husband, Mitchell, and became stepmother to his daughter, Lei. She moved back to Kansas City 12 years ago, and became active in her current Chapter GI, Fairway, Kansas. An active volunteer once she retired from teaching, Linda sings in her church choir, and through that group, sews clothing and quilts for indigent mothers. She has served as a Deacon and an Elder in her church. She was on the board of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered at Kaleidoscope, a free art studio for children. She enjoys travel when she has the time to do so, especially visiting extended family in Hawaii, is an avid reader and member of a book club, and is a maker of various crafts. Fostering education for women continues to be a vital part of her service to P.E.O.
Lisa Cole and her BIL, Don, call Kansas City, Missouri, home. Originally attending William Jewell College, she left to become a licensed practical nurse, working in neonatal intensive care units until leaving the profession to care for her young family. Initiated by Chapter HK, Missouri, (2002), Lisa later transferred to Chapter JK, Missouri, (2006). Lisa shares the bond of sisterhood with her mother, Judy Jordan, and sisters, Kathy Howden and Mindy Rodriguez (all of CO, Missouri); sister-in law, Jennifer Jordan, BZ, Indiana; and daughter-in-law, Colleen Cole, X, Virginia. Furthering her affection, service on state membership committee and executive board have shown Lisa that the bonds of P.E.O. are far-reaching and a precious gift. Believing that actions speak louder than words, she uses P.E.O. as both a noun and a verb. As a leader who believes the glass is always half full, she chooses the positive, productive approach to any situation. She feels blessed to be among women who share her values. Lisa and Don have three grown children, Emily, David and Jordan, and five grandchildren, ages three to 13 years. When time allows, Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, knitting, genealogy and the outdoors.
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September–October 2022 | THE P.E.O. RECORD
WWW.PEOINTERNATIONAL.ORG
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