Served as lead staff for the NCGA headquarters office in Chesterfield, MO with 30 employees, and head of the 10-person Services & Operations Department team. Led a revitalization of Action Teams (NCGA volunteer leader committees) operations, which involved input from state funding partners and approval by the NCGA Corn Board (15-member board of directors).

Led an 8-person Marketing and Operations Department team responsible for accounting, association and member services, facilities maintenance, development and fundraising, human resources and benefits administration, information technology, leadership training, membership recruitment and retention, and national meetings, including the Commodity Classic, a joint-venture with the American Soybean Association.Key Accomplishments: • Funding from state affiliates and industry partners to increased 235 percent to all-time high. • Implemented online portal for employee benefits signup and management. • Achieved all-time attendance, exhibits and other records at Commodity Classic convention and trade show, completed Classic Vision 2020 strategic planning, successfully integrated National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers meetings with event, and negotiated merger with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ AG CONNECT Expo.

Led a 12-person Marketing Department team responsible for association and member services, communications and public relations, development & fundraising, leadership training, membership recruitment and retention, and national meetings, including the Commodity Classic.Key Accomplishments: • Membership to all-time high of 42,100, up 38 percent, and four new state affiliates added. • NCGA Agri-Industry Council formed for strategic discussions by organizations in the corn value chain. • Implementation of comprehensive, online state & national association management system (AMS) including functions of CRM, e-communications, meeting coordination and membership prospecting. • Promotion of corn yield contest resulted in 242 percent increase and all-time high of 8,983 entries. • Corn Commentary blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts created to promote corn in online conversations. • Development and implementation of $4.5 million in new, annual public advertising campaigns, including American Ethanol/NASCAR, CommonGround, Corn Farmers Coalition and the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, all of which require extensive collaboration with other associations and companies. • Annual Report and World of Corn publications recognized by ASAE (association executives) & NAMA. • Leadership at its Best for farmer leaders expanded to include a Top Gun-type advanced training program. • CommonGround and New Leader programs created to enhance age and gender diversity of volunteers.

After completing training with Crown Financial Ministries, developed a financial coaching program at my local church and led a four-person team of volunteer financial coaches to help members get their finances on track with spending plans and start to save for financial goals.

Prepared StalkTalk bi-weekly membership e-newsletter, CornTalk weekly radio program for 60+ affiliated Missouri radio stations, satellite updates, news releases, and Missouri Corn Annual Report. Responsibilities also included education, industry relations and marketing areas. Further, assisted CEO with policy agenda, including grassroots strategies, providing background information for Congressional staff members and MO legislators, and implementation of “Corn Roots Leaders” grassroots lobbying program. Key Accomplishments: • Established association website and an electronic newsletter in 1998, among the first in the industry. • Refund requests for voluntary check-off contributions brought to all-time lows & maintained for 5 years. • Management of membership programs resulted in a 52 percent increase in members. • Assisted with membership & investment recruitment for first Missouri value-added ethanol cooperatives. • Developed value enhancement program from ground up, to separate department employing three people.

Coordinated sales of $3 million in crop protection products for the Texas panhandle, converting 90 percent of sales goals on early order commitments.