2009 Library Board Members

Nancy Gowen
President

Biography
Nancy is a retired Early Childhood Teacher. She has taught young children and also had the privilege of being an adjunct faculty member in Early Education at Black Hills State University and Western Dakota Technical Institute. Nancy has served on several boards both regional, state and local- Midwestern Association for the Education of Young Children, South Dakota Assoc. for the Education of Young Children and the Black Hills Association for the Education of Young Children, CASA, South Dakota Voices for Children, Catholic Social Services, Black Hills Community Theatre, AAUW and Delta Kappa Gamma, Mount Rushmore Society and Mount Rushmore History Association, and Allied Arts Fund. She is married to Dr. Richard Gowen and has five children, 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children. Gardening, reading with her book club- "Classy-Gals", various board activities, and 4 Rapid City grandchildren keep Nancy pretty busy. 

Gretchen Keefe-Palmer
Vice President

Biography
Gretchen has lived in Rapid City since 1989. After growing up in Bridgewater, SD she attended college at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA and graduated with a degree in Finance and Banking. She moved to Rapid City to start a career in real estate which she still loves doing and is employed at Re/Max. In September 2006, she married her wonderful husband, Steve

James Speirs
Treasurer

Biography
James is a life-long resident of South Dakota with 27 years in Rapid City and is currently the VP for Membership of Black Hills Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. James is a graduate of SDSU College of Pharmacy, MBA from USD and is a USAF Vietnam Veteran.

Sandra McNeely
RCPL Board Liaison

Biography
Sandra is the owner of consulting firm, the Abbey Group, Ltd. offering services in management, resource development, strategic planning, board development. She is also a member of:  Rapid City Public Library Board of Trustees (Chair), Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Black Hills Board of Directors (President): volunteer for the Custer County Courthouse Museum and sons’ school.

Greta Chapman
Director - Rapid City Public Library

Biography