What is the Advisory Board?

To help deal with the quickly changing world of marketing and communication, the University of Missouri – St. Louis realized the need for an advisory board made up of thought leaders in this field. In 2013, faculty member Dr. Perry Drake established the board to set the direction for programming and research. The College of Business Administration looks to the Marketing Department Advisory Board to:

• Provide guidance and thought leadership on matters related to educational quality, curriculum, business needs, academia-industry collaboration, etc.
• Provide counsel on strategy and issues affecting the future of the Marketing Department

• Strengthen bonds among the department, alumni, friends, and industry
• Give advice to students regarding career selection and career development activities
• Support scholarship opportunities for marketing students
• Support the Marketing Club (student organization) and their initiatives
• Support all industry conference and summits through participation and sponsorship

Who Serves?

The Board is composed of accomplished professionals and industry leaders with backgrounds in the field of marketing, social media communications, branding, advertising, entrepreneurship, sales, and customer relationship management. Companies represented on the board include: Purina, FleishmanHillard, Caleres, Bayer, Maritz, and more.

How do They Contribute to the Marketing Department?

Board members serve on a committee of their choice. Committees include the following:

Student Mentoring and Engagement Committee – Assist and help direct the annual speed networking event, semi-annual internship fair, and the mentoring program. Various committee members may assist in one or all of these activities depending on availability.

Curriculum Committee – Help direct the future courses and content within the marketing department at the graduate level, undergraduate level, and non-credit/continuing education programs. This committee will also assist faculty in obtaining guest speakers as needed.

Industry Conference and Event Committee – This committee will assist in the creation of specialized, marketing-related panel sessions, summits, and conferences, including MDMC.  It is imperative that UMSL Marketing has a presence externally as a thought leader through such programming.

Board Engagement and Advising Committee – This committee will help steer the direction of the board and its mission, including creation of the statement of understanding for all board members, onboarding new members, and supporting development needs on occasion.

Scholarship and Fundraising Committee – This committee will help advise and oversee any crowdfunding opportunities, fundraising initiatives, and alumni engagement efforts available within the UMSL marketing alumni network and friends of the university.

Industry Research Committee – This committee will help plan and direct unique industry research aimed as showcasing UMSL Marketing as a thought leader. Funding for research will be provided by MDMC proceeds, individual contributions, and corporate outreach.

How do I join?

Our board is comprised of alumni and non-alumni of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In fact, less than 25% of our board are UMSL alumni. The primary requirement is that you are a leader in the field of marketing/communications and are passionate about education. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Katy Robertson, our development director for more information. She may be reached at Katy.Robertson@umsl.edu or 314.516.5447.

How do Board Members Demonstrate Thought Leadership?

Our board members and faculty are thought leaders within the St. Louis region, nationally, and internationally. For a list of various articles written by and about our board members and faculty, please visit our communications page. We are proud of our members, faculty and the various organizations they represent.

Marketing Board Leadership

	Charlie Hoffman Dean, College of Business Administration LinkedIn Profile
	Michael Elliott Department Co-Chair & Associate Professor Associate Dean & Director of Undergraduate Programs LinkedIn Profile

Perry Drake Department Co-Chair Assistant Teaching Professor & Executive Director of the Marketing and Sales Leadership Institute LinkedIn Profile

Lisa Grimm Advisory Board Chair LinkedIn Profile

Marketing Board Business Executives

	Jonathan Allen EQ, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief LinkedIn Profile
	Steve Bauer FleishmanHillard, Senior Vice Preisdent & Partner LinkedIn Profile
	Dan Cornwell Caleres, Director of eCommerce & Digital Experience LinkedIn Profile

Sarah Dalton Nolan & Associates, Marketing Director LinkedIn Profile

Craig Davis Mastercard, Vice President-Data Strategy LinkedIn Profile

Thomas Fitzgibbons Maritz, Marketing Specialist LinkedIn Profile

	Pamela Franklin Charter Communications, Recruiter LinkedIn Profile
	Kate Humphrey Bayer, Global Corporate Web & Social Strategy Lead LinkedIn Profile
	Matt Kamp Influence & Co., Vice President LinkedIn Profile

Tyler Kelley SLAM! Agency, Co-Founder & Chieft Strategist LinkedIn Profile

Justin Lopinot Spire, Director of Corporate Communications LinkedIn Profile

	Robert Mastis Digital Intersection, Principal & Founder LinkedIn Profile
	Vernon Ross Vernon Ross Consulting, Principal Digital Media Strategist LinkedIn Profile
	Will Saulsberry Field Marketing Manager, Spectrum Reach LinkedIn Profile
	Rick Spiekermann Purina, Director of Digital/Social Marketing & Partnerships LinkedIn Profile

Wes Morgan Morgan Studio East, Principal & Founder LinkedIn Profile

April Mullen Selligent Marketing Cloud, Director of Consumer-First Marketing Adoption LinkedIn Profile

Thomas O'Connell Schiller's, Technician LinkedIn Profile

Steve O'Loughlin LHM, President & COO LinkedIn Profile

Mark Sanders Drive Social Media, Business Development LinkedIn Profile

Spenser Schmitt SealGuard, Director of Business Development LinkedIn Profile

Brianna Smith TeraRecon, Digital Marketing Director LinkedIn Profile

Kelly Travis BonFyre, Director of Marketing LinkedIn Profile

Marketing Board Faculty 

	Richard Davis Director-Sales Leadership Program LinkedIn Profile
	Gerald Gao Professor of Marketing LinkedIn Profile

Min Ju Associate Professor of Marketing UMSL Profile

Ho Kim Associate Professor of Marketing LinkedIn Profile

Janet Y. Murray E. Desmond Lee Professor for Developing Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs in International Business & Professor of Marketing UMSL Profile

Frank Fu Associate Professor of Marketing LinkedIn Profile

Development Team

	Katy Robertson Senior Associated Director of Development, College of Business Administration LinkedIn Profile
	Jim Schallom Senior Director of Development, College of Business Administration LinkedIn Profile