Planned Giving & Estate Planning
Text Resize

About Us

1001 Diamond Ridge, Suite 800
Jefferson City, MO 65109-6857
Telephone: 800-846-2682
Contact Us

The individuals profiled below are working to secure the long-term growth of Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO). As representatives of the SOMO Endowment Fund (SEF), these dedicated individuals help generous supporters pave the way for the future of thousands of Special Olympics Missouri athletes.

Please contact Laurie Shadoan at 1 (800) 846-2682 or shadoan@somo.org.

SOMO Endowment Fund Leaders


Laurie Shadoan

Mark Musso

SOMO Endowment Fund Board Members

Randy Reddick, Chair
Jerald Andrews
Charlie Bernskoetter
Robyn Kaufman
Larry Wadsack
Ralph Biele
Tim Cox



Laurie Shadoan

Vice President Development

Special Olympics Missouri
Laurie Shadoan is the Vice President of Development for Special Olympics Missouri. She has been in this position since April 1999. Laurie has served in several leadership capacities for Special Olympics, Inc., on the Finance and Development Committee of the United States Leadership Council and as chair of the Centralized Direct Mail Program Advisory Group for the past six years. Her volunteer efforts with Special Olympics began in 1987 when she served as State Summer Games Special Events Director. In 1992, Laurie was elected to the Special Olympics Montana Board. Her board commitment includes serving as Special Olympics Montana Chairman of the Board for four years. In addition, she co-chaired the State Summer Games GMT for the three years. Contact Laurie at 1 (800) 846-2682 or shadoan@somo.org.

Mark Musso

President & CEO

Special Olympics Missouri
Mark Musso has served as President & CEO of Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) since 1991. Prior to coming to Missouri, Mark was Executive Director of Special Olympics Minnesota and Director of Games Operations for the 1991 International Special Olympics Games. Mark began his Special Olympics involvement in 1972 as a volunteer with Special Olympics Kansas. He served as member of the Chapter Summer Games GMT, Area Training Director, and Special Olympics Coach. Mark served as Chairman of United States Leadership Council and was a member of the North America Leadership Council for Special Olympics. In addition, Mark served as President of the Missouri Society of Association Executives and currently serves as a member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health. Contact Mark at 1(800) 846-2682 or musso@somo.org.

Jerald Andrews

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Jerald L. Andrews- President and Executive Director, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Jerald spent over twenty years at Southwest Baptist University as an administrator where he supervised admissions, enrollment management, student financial assistance, student affairs, public and church relations, development, fund raising and university advancement. He was retained in August of 1995 as the president of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and has given leadership to the organization since that time. Jerald is married to Giana Snyder of Sedalia who is a longtime State Farm Insurance agent. They have four daughters, Jeralen an accountant, Joylyn a nurse, Mary who owns a Hallmark Gold Crown Store and Katherine a junior at the University of Missouri.

Randall Boehm

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Randall G. Boehm has been involved with Special Olympics Missouri for more than twenty years, specifically the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and most recently as a SOMO Board Member.

"Presenting medals to the athletes at the summer games is an experience I look forward to every year," Boehm says. "I always leave inspired to do more. I'm excited to learn more about SOMO from a whole new perspective."

Boehm received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Central Missouri State University. He has also completed Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy. Bohem has been a police officer for 32 years and served as Chief of Police in Columbia, Missouri, retiring in July 2008. He is also a past president of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. He is now the Manager of Security for the University of Missouri Health Care Systems.

Mark Bussen

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Beginning with a weekly commitment to coaching a Special Olympics basketball team in 1999, Mark Bussen soon converted to being a part of the Special Olympics movement. Passionate about the energy a motivated team creates, he makes sure that each of his players gets time on the court. Through support of his community, Mark has developed the West County Special Olympics program to include more than 40 athletes, mentored new coaches and created an awareness of the athletic gifts of athletes with intellectual disabilities. His philosophy is "nobody rides the bench on the West County team."

Prior to beginning his career at Bussen Quarries in 1972, Mark graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a Bachelors in Business Management. He currently serves as President of Bussen Quarries and is on the Board of Directors of: First Bank, St. Louis Concrete Council, St. Louis Coal Club, Missouri Limestone Producers Association and Minerals in Education Foundation.

Mark was recognized as "The 2005 Special Olympics Missouri Coach of the Year," before being named to the Board of Directors of SOMO Endowment Fund. His mantra continues to be that he's been a lucky person his entire life!

Mark and his wife Debbie have three adult children. Two of Mark's children continue his legacy as active Special Olympics' Missouri coaches

Tim Cox

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Tim began his relationship with Special Olympics Missouri in 1977

as a volunteer and was asked to become a member of the Board of Directors in 1986. He continued serving Missouri athletes with intellectual disabilities through his diligent work with SOMO until 1999. He was the board chairman in 1997 and 1998.

A masters in Spanish from Northern Iowa laid a foundation for a career in the traffic and safety industry. As the President and member of the Board of Directors of American Traffic Safety Services Association, Tim continues as an advocate for members of the community through safety on the streets. Tim is currently the Government Relations Manager for Plastic Safety Systems, Inc.

With his wife Jan, Tim has three children and three grandchildren.

Naomi Cupp

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
For Naomi Cupp, her involvement with Special Olympics Missouri began with her appointment to the board of directors in 1998. She remained on the board for eight years, serving as chairman in 2003 and 2004. In Nov. 2004, she was honored to be elected chair of the newly formed SOMO Endowment Fund, Inc. (SEF) whose mission is to raise funds and acquire charitable gifts exclusively to support SOMO and its athletes for future generations.

As a registered nurse, Naomi devoted her career working towards fitness and health for people of all ages. After leaving healthcare, she was Assistant Director of the Show-Me State Games and the Executive Director of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health.

Naomi and her husband Jerry, a retired cardiologist, have enjoyed many opportunities associated with Special Olympics and were thrilled to support Team Missouri and Team USA at the World Summer Games in Dublin Ireland in 2003. In addition, Jerry served on the medical team with Team USA for the World Winter Games in Nagano Japan.

Naomi and Jerry have three sons and six grandchildren. They share a love of adventure and travel and participate in many outdoor activities including hiking, biking, skiing and golfing.

James R. Estes

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
A native Missourian, James R. Estes is dedicated to enriching the lives of fellow Missourians. His passion for athletics culminated at the University of Missouri in 1961 as a member of the Orange Bowl team. He continues to share his love for sports through Special Olympics Missouri.

Active in the Real Estate industry throughout Missouri, he utilizes his position to be an advocate for SOMO. And as part of the member of various national trade associations he champions the benefits of athletics in the lives of all.

Jim is a member of SOMO Endowment Fund board, tirelessly raising money for the future programs operated by SOMO. His wife, Sally Sneed Estes and their two children, Sara and Jamie are also SOMO advocates.

Marlene Gebhard

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Marlene Gebhard strives to give Special Olympics Missouri the recognition it deserves through her position as president of Shop 'n Save, a part of SUPERVALU. Her involvement with Special Olympics Missouri began in 1999 and she was asked to bring her energy to the Special Olympics Endowment Missouri Fund Board in 2006.

Marlene has incorporated her passion for Special Olympics' dedication to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to be productive and respected members of the community with her roles of development and labor management at Shop 'n Save. With Marlene's guidance, SOMO and Shop 'n Save have forged a forceful partnership raising awareness of Special Olympics and raising a lofty million dollars annually to fund Special Olympics initiatives.

As a working mother, Marlene participated in the executive program at the University of Michigan School of Business mid-stream in her grocery industry career.

Marlene and her husband Larry have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Robyn Kaufman

Associate Director

SOMO Endowment Fund
Robyn Kaufman's involvement with Special Olympics Missouri started many years ago when she volunteered as a coach in Columbia. She has continued her involvement by volunteering to help recruit athletes, promoting local events and fundraisers and increasing awareness of Special Olympics.

Kaufman has been honored with numerous awards, including "The Marie Kovar Award," The Rotary Club's "Outstanding Public Sector Employee" and the Missouri Association on County Developmental Disability Services (AAACDDS) 2009 Distinguished Service Award. Robyn is also a member of many organizations, which range from the Missouri American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Board of Directors to the Mid-Missouri Alpha Chi Omega Sorority Alumnae Chapter and numerous other charitable activities.

Robyn serves as Associate Director of Boone County Family Resources. She currently lives in Rocheport with her husband, Kory, with whom she has two daughters.

Ray Lauer

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Ray Lauer's association with Special Olympics Missouri began during 1995 when he was introduced to the Law Enforcement Torch Run. From 1997 to 2002, Ray served as chairman of Missouri's Law Enforcement Torch run, stepping down only because of his mandated retirement from active police service. He continues as a committee member today. Additionally, in 2004 he began to serve as a member of the SOMO Endowment Fund Board of Directors.

He received his Bachelor's Degree from Columbia College and an MBA from Lindenwood College. His 43 years with the St. Louis Police Department is a natural tether between the Law Enforcement Community and Special Olympics Missouri. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel and former Chief of Detectives, Ray is a living example of dedication to community service. As a result his three sons are civil servants with the St. Louis Police Department and involved with fund-raising support for Special Olympics. His daughter and Police Officer son-in-law are also dedicated Special Olympics volunteers.

After living the majority of their lives in the Southwest St. Louis community, now retired, Ray and his wife Bev reside at Lake Tishomingo in central Jefferson County.

Dave Pudlowski

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Dave Pudlowski is the Director of Client Services at the Regional Justice Information Service, where he oversees the delivery of services and training to more than 200 law enforcement and government agencies in the St. Louis metro area. Like many law enforcement officers, Dave became involved with Special Olympics through his work as a Commanding Officer in the St. Louis County Police Department. Dave's stellar work in law enforcement (he earned a Purple Heart and has been on the boards of the FBI National Academy and the St. Louis County Police Academy) is matched only by his stellar work as a volunteer - he is a longtime volunteer for SOMO and held Board and Chairman positions from 1996-2006. He sets an outstanding example for his colleagues, earning SOMO Volunteer of the Year honors in 1997 and being inducted into the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame in 2000. Dave is a graduate of the University of Missouri - St. Louis and the FBI National Academy in Virginia.

Gregory Steinhoff

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Gregory Steinhoff joins the SOMO Endowment Fund Board with a varied background in health care, business leadership and philanthropy. Trained as a pharmacist, Gregory founded a health care business in Columbia and expanded it to a regional business. He went on to become Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and is now Executive Vice President for Boone County National Bank in Columbia. With roots in Columbia and throughout mid-Missouri, Gregory and his wife, Holly and their two daughters are long-term supporters of Special Olympics Missouri.

Larry Wadsack

Board of Directors

SOMO Endowment Fund
Larry Wadsack has had a stellar career in law enforcement for the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. He completed law school more than a decade ago and now practices governmental and public institutions law with the Lashly & Baer law firm in St. Louis.

Larry and his wife, Sharon, have two children and one grandchild. Larry and Sharon (a special education teacher), have volunteered extensively for Special Olympics Missouri and support many other charities.
scriptsknown
SOMO Endowment Fund   |   1001 Diamond Ridge, Suite 800   |   Jefferson City, MO 65109   |   1-800-846-2682
© 2013 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. PRIVACY STATEMENT