Marketing Advisory Council

UMSL Marketing & Entrepreneurship Advisory Council

What is the Advisory Council?

The Council serves as a strategic advisory group that provides insight and perspective on matters affecting the Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department. Its role is to help ensure that programs remain relevant, innovative, and aligned with the needs of today’s marketing and business environment.

Council members contribute by:

• Providing guidance on curriculum relevance and emerging industry trends

• Offering insight on departmental strategy and future program direction

• Strengthening relationships between the university, alumni, industry, and community partners

• Supporting student career development and professional preparation

• Encouraging scholarship opportunities and student engagement initiatives

• Supporting the Marketing Club and other student-led programs

• Participating in and promoting departmental conferences and events

Who Serves on the Council?

The Council is composed of accomplished professionals representing a wide range of marketing-related disciplines including:

• Digital marketing

• Branding and advertising

• Marketing analytics and martech

• Sales and customer relationship management

• Entrepreneurship and innovation

Members represent both major global brands and leading regional companies. Organizations represented on the Council have included companies such as Equifax, Mastercard, Purina, Walmart, as well as a number of respected agencies and privately held businesses.

How Council Members Contribute

The Council meets four times per academic year and provides guidance and support across several areas important to the department and its students.

Curriculum Relevance

Helping ensure courses reflect current marketing practices—from AI and data analytics to branding, martech, and digital strategy.

Industry Insight

Providing students and faculty with real-world perspectives from professionals working in agencies, corporations, startups, and nonprofit organizations.

Networking & Partnerships

Creating connections that lead to internships, guest lectures, live class projects, and recruiting opportunities.

Strategic Guidance

Offering input on departmental initiatives, program positioning, and long-term strategy.

Student Mentorship

Helping students develop career skills, portfolios, and professional confidence.

Event & Conference Support

Partnering with the department on industry events including the Midwest Digital Marketing Conference (MDMC).

Advocacy & Support

Promoting the program within the professional community and occasionally supporting scholarships or strategic initiatives.

Council Member Benefits

Serving on the Council provides members with unique opportunities to engage with both the university and the regional marketing community.

Access to MDMC

Council members receive priority consideration for speaking opportunities and complimentary admission to the Midwest Digital Marketing Conference, one of the region’s premier marketing and technology events.

Professional Visibility
Council meetings are often hosted at member organizations, providing hosts the opportunity to showcase their work, share insights, and highlight emerging trends.

Networking & Collaboration
Members build strong relationships with fellow industry leaders, faculty, and students across the St. Louis business community.

Influence on Talent Development
Council members help shape curriculum, mentor students, and contribute to the development of the next generation of marketing professionals.

How do I join?

Membership on the Advisory Council is by invitation and includes both UMSL alumni and non-alumni. In fact, less than 25% of Council members are UMSL graduates, reflecting the department’s strong connection to the broader marketing community.

The primary qualification for membership is leadership within the marketing, communications, or business community and a passion for supporting the next generation of professionals.

For more information about the Council, please contact:

Perry Drake
drakep@umsl.edu
(314) 516-6490

Lisa Grimm
grimmlisa2@gmail.com
(314) 732-9663

Thought Leadership

Council members and faculty contribute actively to the marketing profession through speaking engagements, industry conferences, mentorship, and collaboration with organizations throughout the region and beyond. The Council’s collective expertise helps ensure that UMSL remains connected to the ideas, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of marketing.

Marketing Council Leadership

Marketing Advisory Council Leadership

Shu Schiller Dean, Ed G. Smith College of Business

Perry Drake Department Chair, Ed G. Smith College of Business Associate Teaching Professor & Executive Director of the Marketing and Sales Leadership Institute LinkedIn Profile

Lisa Grimm Advisory Council Chair Martech Solutions and Enterprise Program Expert LinkedIn Profile

Marketing Council Business Executives

Marketing Advisory Council Members

	Steve Bauer Stragetic Communications Consultant LinkedIn Profile
	John Bracamontes President, Acumen Studio LinkedIn Profile
	Sylvester Chisom CEO & Founder, Global CTE Learning Adjunct Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Mindy Choo Makan Consulting, Founder & Digital Marketing Strategist Executive Director, Midwest Digital Marketing Conference (MDMC) Adjunct Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Sam Craig Assistant Brand Manager, Nestle Purina LinkedIn Profile
	Pamela Franklin Recruiter, Spectrum LinkedIn Profile
	Janeice Giesler Executive Director, Marketing Operations and Technology, Reinsurance Group of America LinkedIn Profile
	Patricia Lee Galli Senior Director, Global External Communications, Copeland Corporation LinkedIn Profile
	Keisha Mabry Haymore Managing Director, Per Scholas Adjunct Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Kathryn (Hobbs) Hearst Director, Site Merchandising, Walmart Adjunct Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Minji Hull Founder, CHC LLC LinkedIn Profile
	Kate Humphrey Global Content Director, Enterprise Holdings LinkedIn Profile
	Matt Kamp Vice President of Partnerships, DealMachine for Real Estate LinkedIn Profile
	Tyler Kelley Co-Founder & Chief Strategist, SLAM! Agency LinkedIn Profile
	Ben Kniffen Co-Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, LinkedSelling LinkedIn Profile
	Brett Lohmeyer Senior Director, Digital Marketing Analytics, Equifax LinkedIn Profile
	Justin Lopinot Director of Employee Communications and Community Impact, Spire LinkedIn Profile
	Brianna Smith Miller Director of Digital Marketing Director and Demand Generation, Protenus Adjunct Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Wes Morgan Principal & Founder and St. Louis Chapter of the American Marketing Association, Morgan Studio East LinkedIn Profile
	April Mullen Director and Brand Content, Greenlight Guru LinkedIn Profile
	Thomas O'Connell Production Director, Midwest Digital Marketing Conference (MDMC) LinkedIn Profile
	Jackie "JP" Phillips Founder, Unheard Media, TV, and Radio,  LinkedIn Profile
	Jeffrey Promnitz CEO, Zeffert & Associates, Inc. Adjunct Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Vernon Ross Principal Digital Media Strategist, Vernon Ross Consulting,  LinkedIn Profile
	Mona Sabau Marketing and Communications Manager, Pulitzer Arts Foundation LinkedIn Profile
	Mark Sanders Account Director - Strategic Partnerships, Decide.co LinkedIn Profile
	Brian Scott Managing Partner, Stryde LinkedIn Profile
	Nick Sylvia Director, Global Social Media, Mastercard LinkedIn Profile
	Caryn Tomer Vice President, Demand Generation, Lightbeam Health Solutions LinkedIn Profile
	Amy Warren Partner, Director and Paid Search, Wavemarker LinkedIn Profile
	Dustin York Associate Professor and Consultant Maryville University LinkedIn Profile

Marketing Faculty 

Marketing Advisory Council Faculty

	Michael Elliott Founders' Professor, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Gerald Gao Professor of Marketing, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Min Ju Associate Professor of Marketing, Ed G. Smith College of Business UMSL Profile
	Ho Kim Associate Professor of Marketing, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Scott Morris Assistant Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Frank Fu Associate Professor of Marketing, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Tessa Garcia-Collart Assistant Professor of Marketing, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Daniel Grossman Assistant Professor of Marketing, Ed G. Smith College of Business UMSL Profile
	Lei (Jeremy) Xu Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile

Development Team

marketing advisory Council development team

	Jim Schallom Senior Director of Development, Ed G. Smith College of Business LinkedIn Profile
	Jill Hunt Senior Associate Director of Development, Ed G. Smith College of Business

Marketing Council Staff

Marketing Advisory Council Staff

Zach St.Clair Graduate Recruiter, Ed G. Smith College of Business