Who We Are

Beth Ehlis is the President and Owner of Funshine Express®. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and a Master’s Degree in Education. FunShine Express® began in 1995 from her search for curriculum materials to use in her licensed child care home. While licensed in Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota, she was active in local early childhood associations and conducted training for ND Child Care Resource and Referral. Beth is the 2010 National Small Business Award Winner and a recipient of the Greater ND Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. She is a member of the Dickinson and ND Chambers of Commerce; Stark Development Corporation; SWND Manufacturer’s Roundtable; Job Service ND Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council; Vistage, Chapter 3133; Dickinson Catholic Schools Educational Foundation; and serves on various community and school committees. She has three daughters and spends free time with her children, horses, and garden.

Cindy Sandman is the Sales and Marketing Manager and has been with FunShine Express® since 2001. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising. She has over 30 years of management and customer service experience and was a business owner for 12 years. Cindy has served on the Parent Advisory Committee and the Booster Club for the junior high and high school and served on the Business Education Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. She taught Sunday school and served on the Council and Parish Education Committee of her church for several years. Cindy is still active in her parish, serving on the Trust Fund, Altar Guild and as an assisting minister. She is married and has two children and two grandsons. Cindy is thrilled her grandsons have the opportunity to use FunShine Express® activity kits.

Jerry Tuhy is the Production Manager. He has 39 years of production, manufacturing and supervisory experience. He has attended numerous seminars in management training, including the 12-week Dale Carnegie training course. Jerry has earned a Certificate in Management from Dickinson State University's Center for Management and Leadership. Jerry is a firm believer that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. He is married and has three daughters and eight grandchildren. Jerry takes every opportunity to provide his grandchildren with FunShine Express® products.

Judy Mullican is a Curriculum Coordinator with a Master’s of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Growing up, Judy dreamed of teaching young children in the morning and writing in the afternoons. While her life didn’t turn out exactly that way, her career as an educational writer combines those loves. After teaching in a variety of settings, including private preschool, Head Start, public school kindergarten, and more, Judy began writing full time in 1993, creating early childhood curriculum materials, teacher resources, children’s storybooks, song lyrics, and rhymes. She has presented workshops and training at many state, regional, and national early childhood conferences. Judy believes children learn best through exploration and play under the guidance of warm, loving caregivers in a safe and stimulating environment.  Judy is married and has two children and two grandchildren. She is active in her church and especially enjoys teaching toddler and preschool classes. In her free time, she enjoys reading, picnics and walks in the mountains, and cooking.