Joanne Smith- Vice President

A Kansas native and relative newcomer to Central City, Joanne and her family moved to Central City in the summer of 2024, when her husband, Mike, accepted a new position managing CO2 operations for Tallgrass Energy.

Joanne is the owner of FAB Creative Services LLC, a marketing company providing a wide range of graphic design and communications strategy, and she is the owner/publisher of Southeast Kansas Living magazine.

Together, she and Mike have five adult children, including daughter Claire Cox, who also relocated with them to CC.

Joanne has many years of experience as a civic volunteer, including Chamber board leadership in her hometown of Independence, Kansas. She joined the CC Chamber board in October 2025, filling an unexpired term. She is serving as Vice President in 2026.

After calling Southeast Kansas home since birth, Joanne said, the move to Central City was one of the biggest life decisions she and her family have ever made.

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆?
"Once we made the BIG decision to relocate from our lifelong home area, my family and I had a choice of Central Nebraska communities in which to live. We've always been small-town people and recognize the superior quality of life that can be found in such towns. When we happened to drive through Central City as we researched the area, we immediately understood we had found a gem.

"Personally, I've always had a passion for community development and service, and I believe in doing my part to contribute to the place where I live. I saw the impact of a highly successful chamber in my hometown, and I hope sharing some of my experience and creativity can help make a difference here as well. Most of all, I want others to see Central City the way I see it (as an outsider/newcomer) - as truly a very special place!"