Staff & Board of Directors

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors includes a representative appointed by the Town of Wheatland, a member of the Platte County Commissioners, corporate members and those elected by the general membership of PCED. Individually and collectively, they oversee and support our efforts. Our mission is to promote quality growth by mobilizing human, physical, natural and capital resources to produce marketable goods and services in a way that makes Platte County a desirable place to live. We are the primary resource in our region for business information and for those wishing to start, expand or relocate a business in the Platte County area.

Over the years, we have had the opportunity to develop strong partnerships locally and statewide. The board and staff continue to work cooperatively with the Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming Rural Development Council, Small Business Development Center, Wyoming Workforce Development Center, Manufacturing Works, Wyoming Economic Development Association, Wyoming Community Development Authority, and the Platte County Chamber of Commerce. In addition we have a working relationship with the University of Wyoming, Eastern Wyoming Community College, and Laramie County Community College.

Chuck Ruwart

Dealer Principal Laramie Peak Motors

Chuck & Lori Ruwart moved to Wheatland in April 1994 to take over ownership of Laramie Peak Motors, the franchised Ford Motor Company dealer in Platte County. They have 5 adult children and two granddaughters.  Chuck enjoys being involved in the community and has served on many local and national boards including the Platte County School District 1 Board of Trustees, the Platte County Chamber of Commerce, Platte County Economic Development, and the National Automobile Dealers Assn. In 2021, Chuck was ordained as a Deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne and currently serves at St. Patrick Church in Wheatland. Chuck enjoys snow skiing, sailing and spending time with his family.

Bob Ruwart - President

Owner Bob Ruwart Motors

Bob Ruwart has been the owner of Bob Ruwart Motors Wheatland Wyoming since February 1990. He was born and raised in Denver Colorado. His father owned Chuck Ruwart Chevrolet in Denver. Bob spent as much time at the dealership as he could when he was a young fella. He attended the Abbey School in Canon City, Colorado for High School, then graduated from Northwoods Institute in Midland, Michigan and West Palm Beach, Florida with a degree in Automotive Marketing. Bob moved to Wheatland in 1990 with the opportunity to purchase his own dealership from Chuck Brown, and he currently employees 28 great employees. He has now lived in Wyoming the majority of his life and just loves it here. Bob and his wife, Rhonda, got married in 1997 and together, raised her two sons, Jeffery and Jason. Jeffery works at the Bob Ruwart Dealership as the Fixed Operation Manager and Jason lives in Cheyenne and works at Cheyenne Memorial Hospital. Bob has two grand sons, Ryland and Carter. Throughout his career in Wheatland, Bob was on the board for Wheatland Area Economic Development for nine years, and now has been on the board of Platte County Economic Development for eight years. He was on the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce in the mid 1990’s for two terms. In 2013, he was appointed to the WYDOT Commission by Governor Matt Mead and served a six year term on the commission representing Platte, Goshen and Laramie Counties. He has been a member of the Wyoming Automobile Dealers Association for his entire 33 year career, and served eight years on the board of directors. Bob Ruwart Motors is very active in the community and supports many different entities. In his free time, Bob spends as much time as he can at his cabin in the Snowy Mountains and camping with friends, riding snowmobiles and side by sides. He just loves the great outdoors. Rhonda and Bob also love international travel with their friends.

Jeff Brown

First State Bank

Jeff Brown has been with First State Bank for 32 years and currently serves as Chief Credit Officer.  He grew up in Chugwater, Wyoming and attended college in Laramie at the University of Wyoming and received a degree in finance.  He is a member of many civic organizations in addition to serving on the board of the Platte County Economic Development Corporation and in years past, the Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, and currently serves as a Para Transit committee member for Covenant Lutheran Church.   Jeff and his wife have two children. He enjoys classic cars and traveling in his free time.  

Taylor Schmick

Director of Clinical Operations, Platte County Memorial Hospital

Taylor is a Wyoming native, born and raised on a farm in Goshen County.  He attended the University of Wyoming and received his Bachelors degree in Physiology and Psychology before continuing on with a Pharmacy degree.  Taylor worked as the Pharmacy Manager at Torrington Community Hospital for several years before transferring to Platte County Memorial Hospital where he works with the ancillary departments.  His wife, Amy, is a teacher at West Elementary in Wheatland and they have two kids, Diana and Matthew.  In his free time, he enjoys fishing for walleye and taking part in the Wyoming Walleye Stampede, as well as hunting and spending time with family and friends.

Georgann Brown

First State Bank Branch President

Georgann Brown (formerly Georgann Martinez) moved to Wheatland from Denver, Colorado with her parents as a child. She graduated from Wheatland High School and then went on to complete her college education at Western Nebraska Community College. She started her banking career at Norwest Bank which transitioned to Wells Fargo in 1999. Georgann started there as a 20-hour drive-up teller and ended up as the branch manager. She moved on to work at First State Bank in 2008 to fill a mortgage loan originator position. In January 2023, Georgann was promoted to the Branch President of First State Bank in Wheatland. Georgann has three children who have all graduated from Wheatland High School. She is active in the community and is dedicated to the school district. She coached volleyball and basketball at both the high school and middle school levels for over 15 years.  Georgann's husband, Kevin, works at the Laramie River Power Station.  In their spare time they like to do home renovation projects, travel, and enjoy summertime evenings by the fire pit.

Matthew Kukowski

Platte Valley Bank Senior Credit Officer/Commercial Ag Lender

Matthew Kukowski grew up on a family ranching operation southwest of Sheridan, WY. Upon graduation joined the US Navy and served in the Mediterranean and at Camp Pendleton. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he received an Associates Degree from Sheridan College and then Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wyoming. While Attending UW he took an internship with Platte Valley Bank in Wheatland, WY. In 2007 after graduating he accepted a Lender position. Since that time he has served as a Ag & Commercial Loan Officer, and is currently Senior Credit Officer/Senior Vice President. He is also a member of the Wheatland Lions Club.

Janie Martines, Treasurer

C. H. Brown Company

Janie joined CHB in early 2020 as the Office/Production Manager and a member of the CHB Management Team.  She oversees office operations including maintenance and repair of the company’s facilities and grounds, as well as supervises several work areas and oversees day-to-day non-credit functions of the production team.  Janie manages and provides technical support/training for company’s loan origination software, and provides leadership, support, problem solving, training, cross training to staff to make sure all departments and associated processes function together efficiently, ensuring clients receive Excellent Customer Service. Over the past 40 years, Janie’s experience includes working with land developers as a Project Coordinator; Inventory/Production Manager for a company specializing in excess prime and secondary steel; Office Manager/Associate for a commercial real estate management company; and Construction Office Manager/Coordinator for commercial & residential concrete, grading, and underground cable construction companies. Janie has also served on several community, church, and industry related boards and committees including the Habitat for Humanity Project Playhouse, coordinated many fundraisers, and co-chaired for IE/BIASC Professional Women in Building/California Building Association. Janie loves spending time with her family and playing with the grandkids.  She also enjoys cooking and baking, outdoor activities and traveling, painting, house projects, and spending time at home.

Laurie Farkas

Senior Community Affairs Program Manager, Black Hills Energy

Laurie Farkas is a Wyoming native, who grew up in Cheyenne and attended the University of Wyoming studying Interpersonal Communication, Political Science and Journalism. She began a career in broadcasting at CBS affiliate KGWN-TV-5 in 1991, holding various roles as a reporter, news anchor, producer, and assistant news director through 2008. Laurie then accepted a position as the marketing director of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and was promoted into the role of vice president. During this time, she also worked as a freelance reporter/host of Optimum’s “Meet the Leaders” and Charter’s “Local Edition” cable television programs. She is currently the Senior Community Affairs Program Manager for Black Hills Energy and a 2023 graduate of the Leadership Wyoming Program. Laurie are her husband Steve and the proud parents of Alexandra and Austin. Her hobbies include women’s golf league, serving on several boards of directors, hiking, gardening, cooking, and reading.

Levi Mickelsen

Laramie River Station Plant Manager

Levi Mickelsen has been with Basin Electric for 19 years and serves as the plant manager of the Laramie River Station.  He was born and raised in Wheatland, Wyoming.  Levi earned his degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wyoming and also maintains an active professional engineer license in the state of Wyoming. Levi is married to Brooke, and they have 3 wonderful children together.  They love to spend time at the family cabin and enjoy the outdoors when time allows.

John Weigel

Superintendent of Schools, Platte County School District #1

Picture coming soonn! John Weigel and his wife, Lisa, and have 4 grown children. John and Lisa are currently both Superintendents of schools in Platte County School District 1 and District 2, respectively. They have four children: Jake is a Mining Engineer and works for Simon Construction out of Rapid City, Mitch is a Petroleum Engineer and works for Continental Resources out of Douglas, Brooke is an office manager for Weston County Board of Commissioners in Newcastle and their youngest Jenna is completing her Ph.D at the University of Wyoming in Counselor Education and Supervision Program.

Anthony Bianchini

Board Member

Anthony Bianchini is a Senior Project Manager at NextEra Energy Resources, overseeing the development of multiple energy projects across Wyoming. With seven years of experience at NextEra Energy, Anthony has taken on various distinct roles within the company, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of our business and the industries/customers we serve. Before joining NextEra Energy, Anthony attended Penn State University (B.S.), and Florida State University (MBA). In his current role, Anthony considers Wyoming his “home away from home” and spends several days a month in the Cowboy State engaging with stakeholders and landowners to discuss project specifics, timelines, and the socio-economic benefits that our projects bring to the communities in which we operate.