The Northwest Foundation has appointed four new members to its board of directors, adding a range of professional experience and longstanding ties to Northwest Missouri State University.
The new board members — Mike Baumgartner, Bill Burns, Christian Murphy and Margee Shewmaker Shaffer — joined the board in July, the Foundation announced.
Baumgartner, of Maryville, retired in 2023 after a 44-year career in the healthcare industry, where he held several leadership roles. He is active in the Maryville Ministry Center, Habitat for Humanity of Nodaway County and the Rotary Club of Maryville, among other community organizations.
Burns, of Kansas City, is an attorney at Gilmore and Bell, P.C., specializing in tax-exempt financing for healthcare, higher education and affordable housing projects. A 2006 Northwest graduate, he holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and journalism and is a former Bearcat basketball player.
Murphy, who lives in Omaha, is a global client executive at Microsoft. He graduated from Northwest in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and works with clients to guide technology strategies, support collaboration and drive innovation.
Shewmaker Shaffer, originally from Savannah, has built a career in retail, social services and economic development. After relocating to Audubon, Iowa, she led Audubon County Economic Development for 12 years and later became a family and educator partnership coordinator before retiring in 2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from Northwest in 1974.
