Board of Directors
2010-2011
Manon Eilts
President
 Manon joined the United States Tennis Association as Director of Marketing Communications in January of 2004 to direct the overall sales, marketing and communications strategies in a five state area including the promotion and development of membership for the national governing body of tennis. Prior to working for the USTA, Manon was the Marketing Director for Starlight Theatre and Promotions Manager for Barkley. Prior to moving to Kansas City in 1998, Manon was the Sales Promotions Director for the Fox Television affiliate in San Antonio, KABB-TV.
A Professional Member of the American Marketing Association for over 20 years, Manon earned an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Kansas and a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of South Dakota.
Manon lives in Overland Park with her husband Randy, the Director of Public Relations for Glynn Devins Advertising and Marketing and their two daughters, Bailey, a student at the University of Kansas and Delaney, a high school student.
You can reach Manon at president@ama-kc.org.
Aline Zimmer
President Elect
 Aline is currently 4G Marketing Manager at Sprint. She has extensive marketing experience in the publishing and telecomm industries, having managed many initiatives from professional book clubs to new product launches to direct marketing in both the consumer and business-to-business arenas. Aline has been with Sprint, and in Kansas City, for six years, having relocated from the east coast.
During her term as VP of Membership last year, AMA-KC won the Overall Excellence Membership award from the AMA, acknowledging the strength of the chapter’s growth and member retention. “The economic downturn has challenged our membership, but our monthly programs are highly regarded and well attended, and that, along with all the benefits of being part of the national organization, is what keeps members motivated and satisfied.”
Her interests and accomplishments include competing in triathlons and in the KC Corporate Challenge, skiing, raising two boys with her husband, and travel. She utilizes social media in marketing and education and is a supporter of local and national organizations dealing with ecology, sustainability, hunger, and serving the needy. She has an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BA in English from Middlebury College in Vermont, as well as a Certificate in Direct Marketing from NYU.
James Billinger
Past-President
 James is an Account Supervisor for Two West, Inc. His account executive level exposure within marketing departments for public and private, regional and national brands give him broad experience in all facets of marketing – strategy, budgeting, planning, campaign production and coordination, as well as sales, PR, research, promotions and events planning.
As Past-President for the AMA-KC, James provides support to his fellow board members in their roles, acting as an ambassador for the AMA, and seeks continuous organizational improvement and evolution to meet the changing needs of AMA-KC members.
Outside of work, his three sons keep him busy, but he enjoys working out, movies and music. Nights out are always fun, and his guilty pleasure is video games... when he finds the time!
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Brian Buckler, Ph.D.
Vice President Strategic Initiatives
 Brian has been Professor of Marketing at Avila University since 1996. His research and interests include marketing strategy, marketing research, and consumer behavior. He teaches at both the undergraduate and MBA levels.
Brian‘s involvement with the AMA-KC is extensive, having served two terms as President as well as in a variety of Director and VP roles. His current duties include developing win-win relationships with area companies, organizing the Annual Seminar and mentoring/training new Board members.
His education includes a B.S. in Marketing Research, Missouri State University, an M.B.A from Missouri State University, and a Ph.D. in Marketing/Psychology from the University of Texas – Arlington.
Mary K. Florence
Vice President Interactive Media/Treasurer
 Mary is a respected expert in Human Factors and Usability Engineering, focusing on total strategic implementation of user interfaces to maximize user experience and corporate goals. She has worked with AT&T, IBM, Daystar Software and iStructural.
Degrees: MBA Marketing, University Wisconsin at Madison; Master’s Certification in Project Management and MS Human Factors and Applied Psychology, Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ; BSBA Marketing, University of Missouri at Columbia.
Mary is an active member of AMA and has served the Kansas City AMA chapter in numerous positions. During her term as President, AMA-KC received the national award for Special Programs. She also serves on the Park Hill School District Technology Committee and is a People-To-People International Officer sponsor. In addition to professional interest in utilizing social media in marketing and education, her other interests include investing, traveling, and sailing.
Kathe Rusnak
Vice President Programming
 Kathe is Marketing and Sales Director for Ken-A-Vision, a leading designer and manufacturer of document cameras, microscopes and software for the global educational market.
After completing her BA in Advertising and Public Relations at Kansas State University, she attended Justus Liebig University on a scholarship in Giessen, Germany. Student status soon led to professional marketing and sales opportunities at Nike and Adidas at the European and Global levels. After years of living in Germany and Holland, her passions still include traveling, photography and staying connected with friends around the world.
As Vice President of Programming, Kathe‘s goal is to continue the momentum of this past year‘s stellar programs which offered hot topics, hot speakers, hot companies, and hot venues.
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Theresa Hovanec
Vice President Marketing Communications
 Theresa works at Hallmark Cards as an Associate Product Manager in the Hallmark Party Department. She works on product development as it applies to the party and celebrating needs specifically around new innovations and licensed properties. Theresa has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis and an MBA from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO.
Theresa is excited to begin her new role as the Vice President of Marketing Communications for the AMA-KC Chapter. Previously, Theresa acted as the Collegiate Director and began many of the Facebook initiatives for the chapter. She is excited to continue on with the social media development for the chapter in her new role as VP of Marketing Communications.
Outside of work and the AMA, Theresa is a soccer coach for the Blue Valley Stars Soccer Club. She also loves spending time traveling to see her friends and family all across the United States.
Kaila Schmidt
Vice President Volunteers
 Kaila Schmidt is with Sprint Nextel Corporation leading national marketing programs and market launches for Sprint’s 4G WiMAX service. She has expertise in creating strategic and innovative marketing programs deployed through direct and indirect sales channels. Kaila has over twenty years of telecommunication's industry experience and has served in a variety of leadership roles including sales, marketing and human resources.
Kaila is also active in her profession and community by participating on two not -for profit Boards. She has served on the board for the American Marketing Association Kansas City Chapter since 2005 and is currently the Vice President of Volunteers. Kaila is also actively involved in her community and was nominated to be part of the Weatherby Lake Improvement Company. This Board manages the lake and 19 common access areas. She leads a team of volunteers focused on protecting the quality of the lake water.
Kaila has an MBA from Mid America Nazarene University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Avila University. She is married and has two children. In her spare time she enjoys water activities, snow skiing, mountain hiking, and volunteering at the kid's school.
Emily Esparza
Director of Membership
 Emily is an Account Manager at Zillner in Lenexa. With a focus on senior lifestyle marketing, she develops and implements annual marketing plans for senior living communities across the country. Emily has been with Zillner for four years.
Emily enjoys running, playing Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit, and spending time with family. She has an MS from the University of Kansas and a BS from Kansas State University.
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Jerrod Mitchell
Director of Collegiate
 Jerrod works at Hallmark Cards Inc. as an Associate Product Manager. He commercializes new business opportunities and develops products for Hallmark’s humor product line, Shoebox. Jerrod has a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and Marketing from the University of Kansas and is currently earning his MBA at Baker University.
As the Collegiate Director, Jerrod hopes to get more collegiate students involved with the great programs that the AMA-KC Chapter has to offer. He feels strongly about the power of networking and plans to inspire students to take full advantage of the opportunities that the AMA provides to network with the great marketing professionals in Kansas City as well as across the nation.
Outside of work, class and the AMA, Jerrod manages a local DJ group and helps promote the Kansas City music scene by organizing concerts and other music events around the city. In his spare time, he enjoys meeting new people and discovering everything Kansas City has to offer.
Jeff Randolph
Secretary
 Jeff is with ARMA International as Senior Director of Marketing & Sales. Jeff earned his MBA at Avila University in Kansas City and continues to teach in the program as an adjunct professor. His undergraduate degree is from UMKC, where he earned honors in journalism and communications. Jeff has been with the AMA since 2004.
Of all of the membership benefits of the AMA, his favorite is the sheer volume of information he can learn over a plate of lunch. “The insights I walk away with at our chapter luncheon programs is a huge benefit to me professionally, and personally as a life-long learner. ...And the meals are good, too.” Of marketing‘s four P‘s, he says, “Promotion. That's my favorite “P” of all. I dig promotion and strategic planning about promotions.”
Cynthia Edmunds
Administrator
American Marketing Association
Kansas City Chapter
P.O. Box 23768, Shawnee Mission,
KS 66283-0768
E-Contact: staff@ama-kc.org
Voice/FAX: (913) 681-6252
Cynthia is the first point of contact for those interested in or new to the Kansas City chapter of the AMA. She manages the office and its multitude of duties and is our interface with the National AMA.
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