AMA Iowa Advisory Council of Marketing LeadersAs an advocate for the marketing industry and chapter leader in providing quality education to our members, AMA Iowa designed the Advisory Council to connect us to marketing leaders. The Advisory Council was established in 2019 to help our chapter grow in our understanding of
Interested in Joining AMA Iowa’s Advisory Council?We’re always eager to bring talented leaders to our Advisory Council. If you are leading marketing teams and have an interest in lending value to this group, please reach out to discuss it further: [email protected] Meet Our AMA Iowa Advisory CouncilA special thank you to the bright minds of these leaders. We’re grateful for both their insights, time, and talent within both our association and our industry.
Trisha Barton Trisha is an Iowa State University graduate with a wide variety of marketing and communications experience including TV media sales, advertising agency, entertainment, retail, and healthcare. Currently she has taken the helm next to Annie and Eric as the Marketing Manager for Anderson Erickson Dairy. Finding ways to personally engage and build brand loyalty with the consumer is her passion. Working with smaller companies has allowed Trisha the ability to experience the entire operations funnel, thus giving new meaning to the phrase “and other duties as assigned”. For Trisha, life at Iowa’s Favorite Dairy is never dull. From working with media vendors, agencies and retail partners to taste testing and assisting with product development there is always something fun and exciting on the horizon. Michael Bird Michael Bird is CEO of Spindustry which celebrates its 25th year in 2021. Michael works with manufacturers and other organizations of digital transformation. With a background that combines marketing and technology, Michael helps organizations improve processes and grow their business. Michael graduated from the University of Colorado before joining EDS and then founding Spindustry. Michael is married with two children and has lived in Des Moines since 1996. Scott Gojkovich Scott Gojkovich serves as senior vice president of marketing, a position he has held since May 2020. Prior to joining NCMIC in May 2019, Scott spent nearly 25 years with Des Moines Radio Group, where he began interning while attending Drake University. He held various roles, including Director of Non-Traditional Revenue, Brand Manager, and Operations Manager, overseeing a portfolio of 7 radio stations. As an active member of the Greater Des Moines community, Scott is on the boards of Waukee Family YMCA and Easterseals Iowa. He has also served on the boards of the American Red Cross, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, and House of Mercy. Scott received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Drake University.
Emily Harringa Emily began her career at John Deere Financial in 2016 as the US/Canada Marketing Communication Manager. In this role, she led a diverse team of creatives who produced the web, email, digital and print media marketing along with campaign management for the Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry and Golf Divisions. Previously, Emily served as the Associate Brand Manager with John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, leading precision agriculture product launches in Mexico and South America. As the Global Customer Experience Lead, Emily is responsible for all qualitative experience data pertaining to end-use-customers, dealer sales channel, and John Deere Financial employees. Emily has held a variety of internal and external communications and marketing positions since starting with John Deere in 2001, working with the Intelligent Solutions Group in Urbandale and the North American Sales and Marketing Headquarters in Olathe, KS before moving to John Deere Financial. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa and earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa Tippie School of Management Executive program in 2014.She lives in Pleasant Hill, IA with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Ashley Hubler Ashley Hubler is an executive leader with a successful record of driving growth through new customer acquisition, channel and new product expansion, and M&A. As Chief Marketing Officer for The Wittern Group, Ashley oversees all aspects of the marketing efforts and brand communications for the company and its portfolio companies. Previously, Ashley held the positions of Manager, Communications and Proposals for MainStream, LLC and Director, Marketing for Perfect Game USA. Ashley is a Project Management Institute (PMI) certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa’s Henry B. Tippie School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Coe College. She completed executive development programs at The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. Greg Kanz, APR, CPSM By day, Greg Kanz is marketing director for Shive-Hattery, a 425-person architecture engineering design firm with eleven offices across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. By night, he is a drummer for various performers and theatre companies including Lynne Rothrock, Janelle Lauer, City Park, GMIX, and SPT Theatre. Greg and his wife Keelyn have two children: Calvin (19), a sophomore at Iowa State University, and Kyra (16) a junior at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. Chris Owens As the Director of Marketing at ARAG, Chris leads the development and implementation of initiatives to enhance ARAG's visibility, reputation, and brand effectiveness. Serving on ARAG’s leadership team, he directs marketing strategies across all channels and audiences to increase brand awareness, sales, member participation, and customer retention. Prior to joining ARAG in 2016, Chris lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 20 years and held leadership roles in marketing, digital marketing, web content development, and communications. Chris has a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations from Drake University and a master's of business administration degree from the University of Phoenix. Chris is an avid photographer and traveler. April Schmaltz April Schmaltz is the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Delta Dental of Iowa. In her role, she leads enterprise-wide sales and marketing strategies that enhance the corporate brand, develop new products, attract and retain business, develop new business opportunities, and oversee communications for all key stakeholder groups. Prior to joining Delta Dental in 2014, April served as the Vice President of Marketing for TMG Financial Services, Assistant Vice President for Marsh U.S. Consumer, and Market Team Leader at Briggs Corporation. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing strategy, branding, integrated marketing, and new business growth, April has lead sales and market teams primarily in the health care and financial services industries. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University. In addition, April serves on numerous professional and community boards and councils including the Iowa American Marketing Association, Easter Seals of Iowa, and the Global Insurance Accelerator. Spencer Shireman Spencer began his journey in the world of marketing at his undergraduate alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa. As a student Director of Public Relations, he oversaw communications and marketing efforts on behalf of the student government. This was where his passion for communications began. Following his graduation from UNI, Spencer worked for a Des Moines-area advertising agency, then spent more than a half-decade at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, running their social media team. At R&R, Spencer oversees the in-house marketing team and leads all communications and marketing activities for the organization and its subsidiaries. Spencer began his journey in the world of marketing at his undergraduate alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa. As a student Director of Public Relations, he oversaw communications and marketing efforts on behalf of the student government. This was where his passion for communications began. Following his graduation from UNI, Spencer worked for a Des Moines-area advertising agency, then spent more than a half-decade at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, running their social media team. At R&R, Spencer oversees the in-house marketing team and leads all communications and marketing activities for the organization and its subsidiaries. Kiley Skadburg Kiley grew up in the age of traditional advertising and started her professional career in the newspaper industry. Over the last 15 years, she has witnessed the evolution of digital marketing since the first days of AOL chat, Google, and Facebook. She has worked in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals and home improvement, which gives her a unique perspective on how different organizations structure and measure their marketing efforts. She believes in using data and analytics to drive marketing strategy. Today she leads patient-centric marketing efforts at The Iowa Clinic as their Chief Marketing Officer. She lives in Waukee with her husband, three kids, and French bulldog, Tank. Beth Wood Beth Wood is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) with Principal Financial Group®. As CMO, Beth leads the Global Brand & Experience team, the members of which serve as the architects and stewards of the Principal brand. The team creates and amplifies branded stories that invite customer curiosity; participation in the company’s financial education and planning narrative; and exposure to financial solutions that can help them feel more secure on their own journey. Beth and her team are accountable for aligning the global organization around the customer; utilizing data insights, analytics, and technology to deliver compelling customer experiences; and measurable results to support business growth. In her role, she also serves as Chair of the company’s Sustainability (Environmental, Social and Governance) Task Force and Chair of the Principal Foundation. Beth joined Principal® in July 2019. Prior to Principal, Beth was vice president and chief marketing officer of the individual businesses for Guardian Life Insurance in New York City. Her responsibilities included leading digital marketing transformation across the life, disability, annuity, and wealth management businesses in support of the company’s general agency system, its 3,000 financial representatives, and their respective clients. She held this role since 2016. Before that, she served as Second Vice President, Life and Agency Marketing at Guardian since 2010. Beth has more than 30 years’ experience as a brand and marketing leader. She’s held numerous marketing leadership roles in the consumer-packaged goods, healthcare, and financial services industries, with companies such as Frito-Lay, Johnson & Johnson, and MassMutual. Beth earned her BS in Marketing Communications from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. She’s also earned her Digital Marketing certification from Cornell University and a Data and Digital Transformation certificate from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business. |