Longtime Healthier Lyon County Grant Manager Daphne Mertens will have a new title next month, executive director.
Thursday, the United Way of the Flint Hills announced it had selected Mertens to take over for outgoing director Mickey Edwards. Mertens, a graduate of Emporia State University, holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and has served as Healthier Lyon County’s grant manager since its inception in 2014.
With Mertens set to lead the United Way, Healthier Lyon County will now fall under the umbrella of the United Way with Mertens saying it is a great move that will benefit the entire area.
Mertens will officially assume her new role on February 19 and says her first major goal will be to “learn.”
Mertens says her work with Healthier Lyon County, namely grant writing and relationship building with local community partners will translate well and help set her up for success in her new role. Mertens will be stepping into the role with the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign still underway.
She says taking over the reigns during this time will “be a challenge, but I am up for that challenge.”
Mertens’ appointment comes as Edwards is preparing to return to SOS where she will take over as executive director for Connie Cahoone who will be retiring in March.
Edwards has served as the United Way of the Flinthills Executive Director since 2019.
