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Drake & CompanyProfessional Staff
Steve Drake -- President & Owner
Recognized as an innovative leader, Steve Drake is an experienced association and public relations executive. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Ohio State University.
After beginning his career as a reporter for The Associated Press, he launched a public relations career in higher education and associations spanning 29 years. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) awarded him three Silver Anvils, the highest award in the public relations profession. And in 1994, he received both the Silver Anvil and the Agricultural Relations Council Founders Award for his work on Monsanto's Rural Flood Relief efforts.
An active member of the American Society of Association Executives, Steve has served on ASAE's Education Committee and Management Conference Advisory Committee. He was the 1996-97 President of the ARC. Currently, he is one of 15 national directors of the 121,000-member Ohio State University Alumni Association.
Steve has taught communications courses at Washington University in St. Louis and public relations and journalism courses at Ohio State University, Clarke College (Iowa) and Albion College (Michigan).
Dianne Brncic, MBA -- Director of Finance
Dianne Brncic serves as the financial manager for Drake & Company and its association clients. She manages 20 separate checking and money market accounts, providing financial reports to all association and corporate clients. She is responsible for management and investments of cash balances averaging more than $5.2 million each week.
Dianne joined Drake & Company in 2006. Prior to joining Drake, she was the controller at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro St. Louis, managing all aspects of the Foundation’s $1.9 million budget. She also has worked at World Wide Technology, Inc. and the Boeing Corporation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and an MBA from Lindenwood University.
Rick Dungey -- Account Executive
Rick serves as Executive Director of Midstates and Midwest Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association and public relations consultant for the National Christmas Tree Association.
Dungey has extensive skills and experience in managing projects including public relations, promotions, marketing, market research, statistical analysis, special events and conference management. He received a Master of Public Administration degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1994.
Before joining Drake & Company he worked as a coordinator of a drug prevention program at the university level. He recently worked as an account manager at the St. Louis-based Brewster-Siddens Group, a public relations, marketing and event planning firm where he managed several clients and served as office manager. Dungey also served an internship with the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education in Washington D.C. during the summer of 1994.
Sherry Erker -- Member Services Director
Sherry manages member development and database systems for Drake & Company association partners and has 35 years in association work.
Before joining Drake & Company, Sherry served 12 years as the office manager for Clear Window, Inc., a publishing and public relations firm specializing in agriculture, six years managing the membership department for the National Fertilizer Solutions Association and 12 years in a management and support role for the National Farm & Power Equipment Dealers Association and their state affiliates. Sherry’s team -- Marcia Wilkinson, member services coordinator, and Barbara Wyatt, office manager -- handles all aspects of membership and membership promotion.
Nicole Fischer -- Program Coordinator
Nicole serves as a Project Coordinator for Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and the National Christmas Tree Association. This includes coordinating projects such as Trees for Troops and implementing fundraising efforts for Christmas SPIRIT Foundation.
Prior to joining Drake & Company, Nicole worked as a special events coordinator for Save-A-Lot where she planned internal events for corporate office employees. She also worked with The Kerry Group where she assisted with Shell Oil motorsports.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Truman State University and is a member of the United Way GenNext Steering Committee.
Becky Hadley -- Program Coordinator
Becky serves as a Program Coordinator for the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare and the Midstates Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association.
Becky assists the Executive Directors with all phases of managing the associations, including working with board members, meeting agendas, minutes and budgets. This also includes meeting planning, implementation and various communications for both associations.
Prior to joining Drake & Company, Becky worked as the event planning and communications intern for the Truman State University Career Center in Kirksville, Missouri, where she planned and executed various promotional events for the Career Center.
Becky holds a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Truman State University.
Alyson Hall -- Program Coordinator
Alyson joined the staff at Drake & Company in June 2008. She will serve as program coordinator for the National Christmas Tree Association and Christmas SPIRIT Foundation. As program coordinator she assists with publications, meeting planning, public relations and other projects.
She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism. She previously interned with Advocate magazine in Dallas, Texas, and served as a daily reporter for the Columbia Missourian.
Pam Helmsing -- Account Executive
Pam Helmsing serves as Executive Director of the National Christmas Tree Association and publisher of the American Christmas Tree Journal.
Recognized for her marketing and public relations skills, Pam is the former Marketing Director for Doane Agricultural Services Company and the former associate publisher of AgriMarketing magazine. She has over 16 years experience in communications, including editing, marketing and customer service. She has experience in project management and trade show management. She holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Pam is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association and has served as president of the St. Louis chapter, and is also a member of the St. Louis Agri-Business Club and an associate member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
Alan Krob, MBA -- Account Manager
Alan officially joined the Drake & Company staff as a Program Manager for the National Christmas Tree Association on January 1, 2005. Alan works on membership programs, the CT PLUS meetings and some of promotion programs.
Alan Krob has over 30 years experience in association management. Prior to joining Drake & Company, Alan was President/CEO of the National Association of Credit Managers (NACM), which conducts both for-profit and not-for-profit activities. Alan is former Vice President of Member Services for the Agricultural Retailers Association. He holds a B.S in Journalism/Agronomy from Kansas State University, an MBA from Regis College and is a Certified Credit Executive.
Chris Pallozola -- Account Executive
Chris Pallozola serves as the executive director for the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare and managing editor of Medical Encounter.
Before joining Drake & Company she was Director of Special Events & Marketing for the Arts & Education Council in St. Louis and previously served as Executive Director of the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and taught high school English. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has been a consultant to the Nonprofit Leadership Academy.
Becky Rasmussen -- Account Executive
Becky joined Drake & Company in February, 2005. She serves as the National Christmas Tree Association Communications Specialist. She is involved with the American Christmas Tree Journal and other publications, as well as promotion programs. Becky has served as the managing editor for Agri-Marketing magazine. Her job responsibilities there have given her valuable experience that is a very good fit with her work for NCTA. She received her Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Becky, a St. Louis native, is also involved in the local chapter of the National AgriMarketing Association.
Amy Rehmeier -- Program Coordinator
Amy serves as a Program Coordinator for the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association and Missouri Dairy Association.
Before joining the Drake & Company team, she worked for the Missouri Pork Association where she planned various events, aided in producer education seminars, and wrote articles for Missouri Pork Today.
Amy is a 2008 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She brings with her a strong agricultural background which lends well to her position with Drake & Company.
Brian Reuwee, MBA -- Account Executive
Brian Reuwee serves as the associate director for Alpha Zeta, director of operations for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, Information Technology supervisor and Web site developer for several Drake & Company clients.
Before joining Drake & Company in 2003, Brian worked as a staff writer for a daily newspaper in south-central Michigan and as an intern, freelancer and editorial assistant at several automotive industry publications in Detroit.
He is a 2001 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and in December 2007, he received a Masters of Business Administration from the Saint Louis University John Cook School of Business.
Nancy Soucek -- Account Assistant
As editorial assistant, Nancy helps to compile, write, proofread and edit publications and marketing materials for the National Christmas Tree Association. Before joining Drake & Company, Nancy spent 10 years as an elementary school library specialist.
Marcia Wilkinson -- Member Services Coordinator
Marcia is Services Coordinator for the Membership Department for all Drake & Company association partners. Her recent experience includes Administrative Assistant for EPS Technology and Program Coordinator for the American Optometric Association working with membership records and membership events.
Barbara Wyatt -- Member Services Specialist
Barbara serves as the Receptionist and Membership Assistant in the Member Services Department for all Drake & Company association partners. Barbara comes to Drake & Company with 20 years of experience at the corporate level. She was an Executive Assistant at Citicorp Mortgage, Inc. for 10 years and is skilled in all facets of general office administration. Prior to that, Barbara was with AON Consulting where she provided support and project management for senior leaders in domestic, as well as international, environments.
Miriam Yanders -- Account Specialist
Miriam specializes in conference and event planning and management for Drake & Company. Miriam spent most of her 30+ year career at Monsanto working in the areas of public affairs (accounting and personnel); advertising and promotion; and marketing communications.
Courtney Yuskis -- Account Executive
Courtney serves as the Executiive Director of the Country Living Association and assists with the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association. Before joining Drake & Company in January 2007, she worked in development for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and for the Department of Agriculture in Samoa as a Peace Corps Volunteers. Courtney is also involved in the local chapter of the National Agrimarketing Association and is a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters and ASAE.
She holds a B.S. in Business Management & Administration from Bradley University. Her farming backgrounds lends well to her position at Drake & Company.
