TAMMY PARSONS: Co-Founder, Board President
THAD MCCULLOUGH: Co-Founder, Board Vice-President
Tammy and Thad's journey started together in 2004 when Thad joined her team at B-Vogue Salon & Gallery. Being inspired by their brand of choice, John Paul Mitchell Systems, they chose to make the world a better place! Their philanthropic efforts involved their local community of Independence, Missouri, The Englewood Arts District more specifically. B-Vogue Salon added "Gallery" in 2009 when the Arts District was established and used the Arts as a means to fund their fundraising efforts. In 2018 the demand to increase our outreach instigated the founding of the West iNd Connection.
Tammy resides in the arts district with her wife and partner of 29 years and their little nugget, a frenchie named WiNc! Thad lives in Independence with his husband and partner of 15 years and their menagerie of pets! We are all very proud Independence residents!
ROSEANN INZENGA, B.S.: Executive Board Treasurer
RoseAnn graduated from Rockhurst University earning aBachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. She has worked in the field of accounting for over 40 years. Having helped with several of our fundraising events, RoseAnn is excited to be part of the Executive Board and Honored to co-chair the Animal Welfare Pillar Event. RoseAnn enjoys working in her garden and traveling the country with her wife, Tracy, whom she met in 2010 and tries to live by the motto “Positivity is greater negativity”. + > -
JENNIFER EDMONSON: Executive Board Secretary
“My first haircut since coming out as a trans woman was done by a board member of West iNd Connections and the first pride event I went to was hosted by West iNd Connections. And I’m a regular member of the support group it hosts. So, this organization is a big part of my lgbtq+ community. I have some experience with being a key organizer for a group/community. In college, I was a treasurer and led several committees for an activism club. At RSM, I helped organize the Power of Love Campaign, which is our charity season. I’m part of our people council. And I lead the Sustainability Committee and our pride group. Our pride group has hosted several events and Tammy even attended one. I also help moderate a local trans Discord (an online community hosting app). I feel like I would be a good fit for Secretary because for of my main job role involves note-taking, managing meetings for the lead, and data management. And those I serve give me good feedback about my skills with those tasks. I would love to use these skills to support my community.”
TIMOTHY A. DIAL-SCRUGGS, ED. S.: Board Member
2020-21 marks Tim’s 16th year in education. Currently, he is in his 6th year as a high school English teacher at Fort Osage High School in Eastern Independence. He is the faculty sponsor of the Gender & Sexuality Alliance at Fort, and he brings the board a connection to the educational community and an understanding of the wants and needs of the high school GSA clubs, among other things. Before moving to Fort, he taught English, Special Education, and In-School Suspension at William Chrisman High School. As a member of the board, Tim is excited to work in all four of the West iNd pillars and become more active as a LGBTQA+ representative within the Independence community. He and his husband Paul met in 2009 and were married in 2014. Paul is a 6th grade ELA teacher at Fire Prairie Upper Elementary. Together, they love to cook. are passionate theater lovers, have four cats (Tommy, Sweeney, Gypsy, and Charlie).
HELEN HURLEY: Board Member
Helen J. Hurley is a graduate of UMKC with a BA in Administration of Justice. She started her career with the State of Missouri in the Division of Youth Services as a Youth Specialist in 1985 and transferred to the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole in 1987. She held a variety of positions retired from State service in July 2016 as the Field Administrator for the Western Region. Ms. Hurley served on many committees during her tenure to include the Jackson County COMBAT Drug Court Steering Committee, Clay County, Platte County and Ray County Planning Committees and the Statewide Domestic Violence Task Force for Probation and Parole. She was the Vice President of Reentry Services for Heartland Center for Behavioral Change from July 2016 to August 2019 prior to taking a position as a Life Transformation Coach
with Connections to Success. Currently she is the Regional Program Director for the Kansas City Region. Ms. Hurley serves in the community as a volunteer in her spare time. She serves on the Board of West iNd Connection Inclusion Center. She is a Community Advisory Council member for the Health Forward Foundation Board and is Vice Chair for the Independence Human Relations Commission.
Nick Dungy: Board Member
Nick Dungy (his/hers) is proud to serve on the WINC Board. He is the current reigning Miss Gay City of Fountains, and a court records specialist at the Jackson County Archives here in Independence. He grew up in Blue Springs MO. and is a regular performer in the Art of Drag show at Englewood Arts. His experience for this position comes from being the President of Metro Junction Townhall, where he led LGBT+ Townhall meetings for the KC Metro area encouraging political activism education and networking between different resources and organizations. His events helped educate and serve over 2000 metro residents during 2024 and 2025. Nick has accumulated over 100 resources and contacts that he plans to add to WINC’s master list of resources in order to strengthen this organization. It would be an honor for him to serve this place he calls home and help increase visibility any way possible while serving as a board member.
GOOD VIBES ONLY!
I am always humbled by the continued support that fuels this organization. Grateful for our connections in community partnerships as we work to bring GOOD; turning visions into realities. Thad and I are excited to introduce and welcome the West iNd Connection board; community leaders who are passionate and in alignment with our purpose as we work to create a safe community culture for all to live, work, play, and visit. Again, much gratitude for all your support; we truly are stronger together. “What Else is Possible…”
Tammy Parsons
