Build Capacity

As the Government and Community Relations Director, Beverly develops and implements OFS’s policy platform aimed at addressing long-term solutions to the problem of hunger. She oversees government and community relations, grassroots advocacy, policy research, and other relevant research studies designed to decrease child hunger and family food insecurity in Missouri. She and her team utilize evidence-based best practices in accordance with Independent Review Board protocols to ensure the Policy and Advocacy department delivers on its goals.

Iva Eggert-Shepherd was born and raised in a very rural area in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Iva was raised by a family of helpers who passed down their morals and values to Iva. Iva was determined to break the poverty cycle and prove to those that said, “you won’t succeed” wrong. Iva applied her Bachelor of Social Work and Criminal Justice to her role at the Family Support Division for seventeen years before moving on to the Health Care Collaborative and ultimately the Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA). Iva currently serves as the Outreach Program Manager at MPCA where her primary role includes working one-on-one with frontline staff in their healthcare clinics to better understand Medicaid and Medicare. Beyond her work, Iva loves to quilt, sing at her church, and is a proficient bowler racking up a 298 as her highest score. Iva believes that “every person has the right to have the best quality and most affordable healthcare available.”

Briana Conley sprouted from a small rural town in Iowa where the nearest Wal-Mart was 30 minutes away. Although she didn't take the midnight train going anywhere – Briana knew for a long time that she was ready to hit the road to see bigger and better things. Traveling through the corn fields of Illinois, Briana first attended college at McKendree, but later transferred to UMSL where she got her undergraduate degrees in Criminology and Political Science. After finishing college she bounced around a few jobs that didn’t spark her passion before landing a job managing a local mechanical trade association. This job allowed her to flex her muscles as a professional advocate and nonprofit leader, as well as return to school for her MA in political science. After 5 years learning and growing in this role, Briana decided to take her skills and experience to an organization dedicated to uplifting and empowering people who are often overlooked and marginalized. In February 2020, she joined Paraquad as the public policy and advocacy manager. Paraquad quickly became her home and she has moved up to the Senior Director of Programs. When Briana isn't at work you can find her enjoying the outdoors and time with her family. Briana believes people from any and all backgrounds can come together to build a strong and equitable community.

Jessica Seitz is a self-described political junkie since birth. Her lifelong passion for politics led her from her hometown of Oklahoma City to Waltham, MA to study political science at Brandeis University. Jessica started her career in state-level advocacy on the East Coast before realizing her dream of working in Washington, D.C. as a federal lobbyist for children’s issues. In her time there she served on the government relations teams of the National PTA and YMCA of the USA. In 2017, Jessica and her husband made the move to Missouri, bringing them closer to family and Jessica back to state-level advocacy work. Jessica now serves as the Executive Director of Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (formerly known as Missouri KidsFirst), the state’s leading voice on issues of child abuse and neglect. What really drives Jessica is being an advocate for the Child Advocacy Centers she represents and the incredible work they do every day on the front lines to help children as well as the public health opportunities to move upstream and to prevent abuse from occurring. Jessica has a love of baseball and art museums, and resides in St. Louis, Missouri with her husband Ryan and daughter Rosalyn.

Rhonda Perry is a 5th generation Missouri farmer originally from Chillicothe, MO who has called Howard County home for 29 years. Watching her family and other local farmers stand up for their livelihood during the farm foreclosure crisis in the 80’s inspired her to dedicate her career to amplifying the voices of rural farmers and communities. After receiving her degree in Psychology, she joined Missouri Rural Crisis Center, where she serves as the Executive Director. In her role, she manages staff, directs on the ground programs and initiatives, and drives their state policy advocacy. Rhonda is especially passionate about the organization’s environmental justice work, sustainable farming and food programs, and emerging projects that are bringing rural and urban youth together around agriculture and healthy food. As a cattle farmer herself, she loves to ensure that the statewide advocacy of MRCC is grounded in the everyday experiences and voices of rural families. Rhonda believes that rural Missourians must be a big part of the solution to make our state even better, stronger, and healthier.