Wyoming Association for Creative Youth
Board of Directors
Affiliate Directors
Marcia McChesney
Marcia McChesney has been involved with creative problem solving since her introduction to Odyssey of the Mind in 1988 and has also enjoyed being part of Destination Imagination. She has served as a Sheridan County SD #1 OM/DI coordinator, team manager, board member, affiliate training director, and is currently the Affiliate Director for Wyoming Destination Imagination.
She is currently retired after teaching for 31 years in both Montana and Wyoming. Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination has been a big part of her life for the last 30 years. She continues to be impressed by the creative problem solving and teamwork of the students who take on the DI challenges and take this attitude into life’s challenges. DI creates an amazing mindset of never giving up and finding solutions that helps students in their work and in their personal lives!
Kari Pavey
Kari Pavey collects PVC pipe, hats and new experiences. That is why DI has been a perfect fit for her for many years as each year provides new props, new costumes, new challenges and new solutions. She first got involved with creative problem solving as an Odyssey of the Minds team member as a 6th grader in 1986. After obtaining her teaching degree from UW in 1997 she began managing teams in Sundance and served as an appraiser as well. She has lived, taught 4th graders and managed DI teams in Kaycee since 2007 and is very blessed to now watch her own sons fall in love with thinking and building as team members. Over the years, Kari has seen countless children and parents discover what they can do and who they can become because of Wyoming DI. It is thrilling to see many of her past team members now managing teams and staying connected to the positive program that helped them develop perseverance, confidence, a sense of belonging and unexpected friendships.
Board Members
Kelly Stiefvater
Kelly earned her Bachelor's of Science in Marketing and Finance and her Executive Master's of Business Administration degrees from the University of Wyoming. She currently works as the Office/Business Manager for Sound and Cellular, Inc. and 7 other very busy companies. Kelly's children, Abigail and Tyler, competed in Global Finals each year they were in Destination Imagination. During that time, Kelly learned what an exciting and useful program DI is as it applies to real world challenges. While her strengths lie in organization and finances, she is excited to be involved with such a creative group of adults and students as they develop life long problem solving skills!
LaDonna Leibrich
LaDonna received a BS in Elementary Education and Library Science (1980) and a Masters in Early Child Education (1987). Her focus with her masters program at the University of South Dakota was to encourage young children to articulate better through questioning techniques and play experiences. She continues to encourage learning with kinesthetic play learning experiences and teamwork activities through her 35 years as an educator with pre-school through high school level of students, post secondary students and adults in both formal and informal settings. Leibrich has been involved in Destination Imagination for 25+ years as a team manager, employed as SCSD#2 DI Coordinator and volunteers on the Wyoming Association of Creative Youth board as the Affiliate Growth Director. She was Wyoming representative to the national DI training in 2013 and 2014. She attained the National Board Certified Teacher status in 2008 and is currently employed as the Sheridan High School librarian.
Whitney Wilking
Witnessing the passion, creativity and hard work of Destination Imagination participants led Whitney to volunteer and appraise at state tournaments, support creativity camps, serve as a Team Manager and take teams to Globals. She remains sincerely bummed that she never had the chance to be a team member, but is trying to get over it. Whitney currently teaches 6th, 7th and 8th graders in a Gifted and Talented program. As a new WACY board member, she can’t wait to expand her involvement in DI.
Desiree Riley
Desiree is a middle school teacher in Casper, Wy. She is passionate about her family, and her students. She loves to camp, travel and build things. She is a dedicated proponent of the maker movement and believes that we are all makers in our own ways. Desiree became involved in Destination Imagination when she was offered her dream job in 2009 at CY Middle School. This dream job involves managing up to fifteen Destination Imagination teams full time by teaching it as a year long elective course offered to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. CY Middle School saw Destination Imagination as a valuable opportunity to implement 21st century skills and offer a unique opportunity for students to practice and grow in creative and critical thinking, teamwork and problem solving. Desiree is continually in awe of the her students’ amazing challenge solutions and growth in areas that are critical to tomorrow’s job market and a fast-paced, forward thinking environment. Desiree joined the W.A.C.Y. Board in 2018 because she witnesses the value and incredible impact of DI on a daily basis and wants to do everything she can to support and promote this amazing program in Wyoming.
Miriah Eisenman
Miriah Eisenman is an educator, crafter, builder, and cheerleader to her two sons and husband. She taught math and science in Virginia and currently teaches art and STEM in Casper, Wyoming. Miriah loves Destination Imagination because it incorporates all of the 21st Century skills that young people need. And the PINS. She loves the pins.
Stephanie was part of Odyssey of the Mind, and later, Destination Imagination teams from 2nd grade until she graduated from high school. She has since enjoyed volunteering as an appraiser at numerous tournaments. Because creative problem-solving competitions were such an important part of her formative years, she has first-hand knowledge of how DI helps participants develop skills like teamwork, leadership, time management, close reading, communication, and more. Plus, she knows how fun it is! Now that she’s an adult and has to have a real job, Stephanie loves pretending she’s still a kid in her role as a children’s librarian at Campbell County Public Library. As a board member, she is excited to give back to an organization that meant so much to her growing up.