Sunflower Foundation Names Elizabeth Burger as Senior Vice President of Programs and Strategy; Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Sunflower Foundation, a prominent health philanthropy based in Topeka, has announced the promotion of Elizabeth Burger to the position of senior vice president of programs and strategy. Burger, who has been with the foundation for nearly 12 years, has played a key role in advancing the organization’s work across Kansas. In her new role, she will oversee the foundation’s programmatic vision, proposal development, stakeholder engagement, and grantmaking approach.

Brandon Skidmore, president and CEO of Sunflower Foundation, praised Burger for her dedication and commitment to building relationships with partners in communities across the state. Burger’s previous role as vice president of Healthy Communities involved leading initiatives to improve access to the outdoors, enhance the built environment, and address food access and nutrition security issues.

Burger expressed her excitement about taking on this new challenge and continuing to advance the foundation’s flagship programs. She highlighted the importance of initiatives related to trails, access to the outdoors, integrated care, behavioral health, nutrition security, and nonprofit capacity building.

In addition to Burger’s promotion, eight lawyers from the Topeka firm Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer LLP were recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. N. Larry Bork received the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” award in Topeka for Personal Injury Litigation — Defendants. Other lawyers from the firm were recognized for their expertise in practice areas such as insurance law, tax law, employment law, and health care law.

The achievements of Burger and the lawyers from Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer LLP highlight the talent and dedication present in the Topeka business community. The foundation and the law firm’s recognition serve as a testament to the high caliber of professionals working in the region.

For more information on Topeka-area hirings, promotions, retirements, and other announcements, individuals can email iyb@cjonline.com.