2011 Officers

Jeanne Howard (President) - Jeanne Howard is director of regional marketing and public relations for Commerce Bank. In this position, she manages a team providing local and regional marketing programs and public relations for the corporation. Prior to this position, Howard was a consultant on Internet Banking services, the group vice president of Internet Banking Services at Wachovia Corporation in North Carolina, and manager of online and telephone banking services at Boatmen's Bancshares in St. Louis.  Before her career in the banking industry, Howard managed marketing research for Sunmark (division of Nestle), a candy and snack food manufacturer, and managed consumer research for Schnuck Markets, Inc.  She is a member of board of directors of Springboard, affiliated with the national Young Audiences Arts for Learning network.  A graduate of Washington University with a master's in business administration (MBA), Howard joined PRSA in 2003.

William “Billy” Brennan (President-Elect) - Billy Brennan is an account supervisor at Weber Shandwick. In this position, he conducts media relations for mainstream and trade media as well as internal and external communications activities for corporate, healthcare and technology clients. Brennan is experienced in planning and implementing community relations and public awareness campaigns. As a media relations veteran, he has earned his clients placements in a wide array of local and national media. Brennan holds both a bachelor of arts degree and a master of arts degree in communication from Saint Louis University. He is a recipient of the 2008 PRSA Silver Anvil Award for Excellence in Community Relations (Business-Services) as well as four IABC Bronze Quill Awards in recognition of successful public relations campaigns. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick in 2006, Brennan held an internal communications internship at Fleishman-Hillard and a professional assistantship with Saint Louis University’s Office of Marketing and Communications..

Carole Christie (Secretary) - Carole is a senior vice president and creative director at Fleishman-Hillard. She focuses on business development across Fleishman-Hillard’s central region - Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Louis.  Before joining FH, Christie was director of communications when the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) opened its doors at the Missouri School of Journalism in 2008. Christie initiated and was responsible for communication and marketing strategies, branding, website, special events and media relations. From 1998 to 2000 Christie was the international creative director for D’Arcy Advertising in Amsterdam, leading teams in London, Paris, Hamburg and Copenhagen. She developed strategy and creative for Mars Bar, Twix, Uncle Ben’s Rice and pet foods. Before that Christie served as senior VP/group creative director at DMB&B (D’Arcy Masius Benton and Bowles), St. Louis, where she was a leader in new business efforts for M&M/Mars, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Brown Shoe and Procter & Gamble, among others. She also served as a VP/group creative director for Gardner Advertising, St. Louis. Christie has been a freelance writer for  the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and BusinessWeek’s SmallBiz Magazine.   A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Christie earned her master of arts degree in international affairs from Washington University, St. Louis, and her bachelor of arts degree from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo.

Richard Buckley (Treasurer)  - Rich is state director of communications and marketing for the Missouri March of Dimes. He develops programs to support March of Dimes efforts to give every baby a chance to be born healthy. He builds relationships with Missouri media to promote the organization's signature event, March for Babies, as well as build awareness of March of Dimes efforts to combat premature birth. Prior to joining March of Dimes in 2007, he was director of development and communications for Kennedy Catholic High School and a vice president at Fleishman-Hillard. He was previously a PRSA member from 1991 to 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Jill Alexander, APR, (Past President/Nominating/Strategic Planning) - Jill Alexander is the senior director of corporate communications with Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.  Her current role includes media relations, crisis communications, internal communications and community relations for 15 casinos across the country.  Born and raised in New York, she moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast in 1990 where she was exposed to all the wonders of crisis communication at Ciba Specialty Chemicals when she was responsible for internal communication, crisis communications, and community relations.  In addition to working full-time, she attended the University of South Alabama earning a master's degree in communication in 1999.  After 14 years with the Ciba, Alexander left the company to explore public relations opportunities among other industries. She spent the next five years working in advertising/public relations firms in the South before landing her current position. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2007 and holds a B.A. in journalism from State University College of New York at Buffalo. She serves on the Blue Ribbon Committee for Crisis Nursery, is a board member with Jewish Family & Children’s Service, and serves as a member of Public Awareness Campaign for Focus St. Louis. A graduate of Class 51 for Coro Women in Leadership, Alexander previously served on a voluntary basis as the public information officer for the Spanish Fort Fire Department for six years, as well as served as a member of the public relations committee for Operation Brightside.

John Boul (Director) - Term Expires 12/31/11 - Manager of global media relations for financial services giant Edward Jones, John Boul is an award-winning communications professional with more than 30 years experience in public relations, corporate communications, journalism, marketing communications and government affairs.  Since 2000, he's served as public relations counsel to senior management at Edward Jones, and managed internal and agency resources providing media relations support for more than 12,000 branch office locations in the U.S. and Canada.  His tenure at Edward Jones covers a period of unprecedented regulatory scrutiny and litigation, balanced by the firm's continued rapid expansion and recognition as an employer of choice and a leader in providing exceptional customer service.  The firm currently serves more than 7M clients, employs more than 40,000 worldwide and posted revenues exceeding $3.5 billion in 2009. 

Stephanie Flynn (Director) Term Expires 12/31/11. - Stephanie Flynn is an account supervisor at Black Twig Communications.  From 2003-2009 she was with Chicago-based Cushman/Amberg Communications' St. Louis office, her last position as a director.  While at Cushman, she helped develop and facilitate communications, public relations, and marketing strategies in industries including banking, manufacturing, real estate, non profit, hospitality, and gaming. Prior to joining Cushman/Amberg,  Flynn spent a year with public relations agency Beyond Concepts, and nearly three years in the newsroom at KSDK-TV, the NBC affiliate of St. Louis.  She has a bachelor's of arts in communications from Denison University, Granville, Ohio.  A St. Louis native, Flynnhas been a member of PRSA since 2004.

Christina "Tina" Carroll, APR (Director) - Term Expires 12/31/12 - Christina "Tina" Carroll has been creating effective, award-winning communications campaigns for more than 20 years.  She has worked on staff in corporate and broadcast settings and as an independent contractor developing and executing creative, effective communication strategies. Most recently Carroll served as director of public relations for Magellan Health Services, a specialty health care management company providing management services in behavioral health, diagnostic imaging, and specialty pharmaceuticals.  Previous work included St. John's Mercy Medical Center and KETC Channel Nine.  Carroll has a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a master's in social work from St. Louis University.

Christi Dixon (Director) - Term Expires 12/31/12 - As a vice president at Standing Partnership, Christi Dixon manages complex clients with diverse communications needs.  She guides the firm’s work for The United Way of Greater St. Louis, the National Center for Parents as Teachers (PAT), Maritz, The Private Residences at The Chase Park Plaza and The Doe Run Company.  She recently led PAT's 25th anniversary campaign, including fundraising and organization awareness communications strategy among key donor targets, using media relations. The campaign resulted in more than 500,000 audience impressions during the first six months.  Dixon’s efforts have earned multiple APEX awards, the HSMAI Golden Bell Public Relations Award, an IABC Gold Quill award, a regional IABC Silver Quill, several local IABC Bronze Quill Awards and recognition as a finalist for the SABRE Awards.  Prior to joining Standing Partnership, Dixon was with Matthews/Mark, San Diego, where she garnered nearly $2 million in media placements for the Baja California Department of Tourism and La Costa Resort & Spa.  She graduated summa cum laude from Wartburg College,Waverly, Iowa, with B.A.s in business administration/marketing and communication arts/public relations.

Rita Holmes-Bobo, APR (Assembly Delegate) - Term Expires 12/31/11 - Rita Holmes-Bobo is manager, communications and public relations for Ameren Missouri.  Previously, she served as a vice president in Fleishman-Hillard's healthcare group.  Her extensive experience includes media relations, corporate reputation, issues management, employee communications, community engagement, and fundraising.  Prior to joining Fleishman-Hillard, she was employed by Express Scripts as the senior manager of public affairs.  She has also worked for Outsourcing Solutions Inc. and the St. Louis Public School District.  In addition to her various volunteer roles for PRSA, she serves on the University of Kansas Black Alumni Chapter's leadership team as vice president. A native of Wichita, Kan., Holmes-Bobo graduated from the University of Kansas with an MBA and a B.S. in business. She earned her APR in 2003 and is a graduate of Coro Women in Leadership.

                   William (Billy) Brennan (Assembly Delegate) - Term Expires 12/31/12 (Bio above)

                   Jeanne Howard (Assembly Delegate - Term Expires 12/13/13  (Bio/photo above)