Membership Profiles

Cathy Babis, Parliamentarian	Profession: Strategic Planner, U.S. Government Phone: 314-443-7652 flyngrl@gmail.com Cathy has been in the aviation field for many years and previously was a civilian flight instructor, a military air traffic controller as well as a civilian one. She has been a seminar leader, a college instructor, and has a strong sales background. Cathy is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). One of Cathy's passions is public speaking and she has been active in Toastmasters International since 1982. She is available for motivational speaking opportunities. On the personal side, Cathy relaxes with bicycle riding and in her fun time makes balloon sculptures. A mother of two children, she is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and has made St. Louis her home for the last nine years. Cathy is active with youth at her church and mentoring their spiritual development.
Jennifer Barhoumy, Recording Secretary	Profession: Photographer Phone: 314-378-3111 jbarhoumy@yahoo.com Jennifer Barhoumy Jennifer Barhoumy is a simple woman with much gratitude for life. She loves photography, flowers, horses, meeting new people, & especially time with family. She volunteered for a number of years with Therapeutic Horsemanship as a side-walker and horse handler and is the past Information Officer for the Lake St. Louis Mothers Club. Jennifer is also a Creative Memories Consultant and typically hosts a crop every other month in her home. During each crop, she shows customers how to use the tools & products to help them fill their albums as quickly as possible. CM's mission statement includes being a storyteller... celebrating life: the good, the bad & the ordinary... for generations to come. She wants to travel & capture the world.
Betsy Beauparlant	Profession: Director of Development, Our Lady's Inn Our Lady's Inn Our Lady’s Inn is a temporary home for pregnant women and their children. Betsy has been at the organization for four years as Director of Development and overseeing the Volunteer Program. She has been recognized with a Dove Award in 2009 as a “Supporter of Women”, and in 2007 was presented with the Mother Theresa Award for her devotion and service to the women at Our Lady’s Inn. She developed a “Pay it Forward Project” teaching the ladies how to design and make jewelry that is sold to help support the mission of the organization. Betsy co-founded “Embrace the Day”, a pampering day for women who are living in shelters or fleeing domestic violence -- it provides manicures, massages, makeovers, and new clothing – all donated. Betsy is a graduate of Vision Leadership, a volunteer for House of Refuge, and involved with service projects at the St. Charles County Jail. Her favorite quote,“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
Dee Berman	Profession: Attorney/Coach/Network Marketer Phone: 314-265-3733 deeberman@me.com Dee has been a Clinical Social Worker, Criminal Defense Attorney, and Life Coach. She is a docent at the Saint Louis Zoo. She volunteers at Camp Rainbow and the Jewish Film Festival and Book Festival. She is currently working on a project to raise money for women in Uganda through the BeadForLife organization. Dee has helped fund raising organizations for breast cancer.
Patrice Billings	Profession: XANGO Independent Distributor and Professional Speaker Phone: 314-704-6705 Mooncopter@gmail.com www.PatriceBillings.com Patrice Billings is a former Police Officer and helicopter pilot for the St. Louis County Police Department in Missouri where she served for more than 25 years. She was a member of the SWAT Team for 10 years as a sniper/precision marksman. Patrice was the first female police officer in the country to become a helicopter pilot for a law enforcement agency. She was the only pilot allowed in the air on 9/11 to perform anti-terrorism patrol around the St. Louis Arch and other significant landmarks. Patrice is a Certified Flight Instructor and trains officers to fly helicopters. Recently, she was nominated for an "American All-Stars Hero" award with the TV-show America's Most Wanted. She is currently working on her first fiction novel, inspired by her real-life experiences solving crimes and chasing criminals. She is an Author appearing in, "The Seven Points of Impact" www.7PointsofImpact.com (enter L7 for discount on book)
Nadine Boon	Profession: Coldwell Banker Commercial Phone: 314-608-9899 nboon@cbcstl.com Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC Nadine joined Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA LLC in 2010 and handles general types of real estate focusing on the St. Charles area. Prior to joining CBC, she was Director of Economic Development for the City of St. Charles for 16 years and was instrumental in the construction of over 8,000,000 square feet of industrial and commercial space. During her career in Missouri, she is responsible for over $1.5 Billion of investment and development. Business Organizations: National and Missouri Association of Realtors St. Louis Association of Realtors—Commercial Division Education; Southeast Missouri State University, B.S. Business Administration Awards; Governor’s Missouri Economic Developer Award National Alumni Merit Award; Southeast Missouri State University SSM Health Care; St. Louis Business Journal Excellence Award; and Streetscape Magazine's 2010 Beyond the Best Award. She is married to nationally-known artist Fraser Leonard. Thus, her passion is the arts, and she is the founder and President of Riverfront Arts, a nonprofit organization promoting the arts in St. Charles city, and she serves on the Board of the Foundry Art Centre.
Renee Clark	Profession: Entrepreneur, Clark Roofing Systems Rclark@clarkroofingsystems.com Clark Roofing Systems Renee Clark is the Founder of Clark Roofing and a Conklin Independent Business Owners Woman owned roofing company based at the Economic Development Center. She enjoys mentoring other women to enter nontraditional fields.
Rev. Marigene DeRusha	Profession: Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Living Phone: 314-576-6772 revmarigene@earthlink.net Center for Spiritual Living Rev. Marigene DeRusha is the Senior Minister of the Center for Spiritual Living in Creve Coeur. She has been a minister in this Metaphysical denomination for over 25 years, having begun her studies in St. Louis in the early 1970's. Rev. DeRusha is socially conscious and believes in the oneness of all people. She speaks, teaches and assists people in knowing the Divine within.
Susanne Evens	Profession: President, AAA Translation Phone: 636-530-1010; Fax 636-600-5240 Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAATranslation With more than 20 years of international communications and global business development experience, Susanne Evens is the founder and president of AAA Translation, Inc. (www.AAATranslation.com). She currently serves as the President of St. Louis “Stuttgart Sister Cities, a not-for-profit organization, is on the board of the World Trade Center and the German American Heritage Society of St. Louis, a Council Member with the Gerson Lehrman Group and on the BusinessWeek Market Advisory Board. Her advice on global business development and communications has been featured on NPR, BusinessWeek.com and BrandChannel.com.
Anita Fischer, DVM	Profession: Veterinarian, Fischer Animal Hospital Phone: 636-240-7646 CNY94205@Centurytel.net
Brenda A. Fraser	Profession: President, Gala Force LLC Phone: 314-704-4412 GalaForce@msn.com Gala Force Brenda Fraser has more than 26 years experience in marketing, public relations, fund raising, and event management. She is currently the co-founder of a new quarterly magazine aimed at health, fitness, and wellness with Publisher Stacy Hunsicker. The magazine launches in Spring 2010 and will be circulated throughout Missouri. Brenda has consulted with many nonprofit organizations including: While in Washington, D.C. for 14 years, Brenda worked with the American Cancer Society, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum during its inaugural year where she successfully launched a $1.5 million dollar campaign. Brenda has helped several non-profits get started including Citizens Against Speeding and Aggressive Driving, the Center for Visionary Leadership, Prairie Dog Action, and the Imagine Peace Foundation. She has organized national conferences for a variety of groups such as the Foundation on Ethics and Meaning, Women Military Aviators, as well as national civil rights conferences and meetings. She was named "Professional Woman of the Year" in 2003 by the Colorado Business Council, nominated for a Dove Award, and received the Zonta Helen Briscoe Spirit Award. She is busy writing a chapter for a new anthology called "The 7 Points of Impact" due out in 2010.
Dianne Garrison	Profession: SantoLubes LLC Despite her full-time commitment to running a business with her husband, and keeping it running smoothly after many diasters, Dianne has found time to be a dedicated volunteer in various capacities, including the City of St. Charles Economic Development Commission, Foundry Art Centre Board, and the Scholarship board at St. Charles Community College Foundation. She spearheaded a number of volunteer initiatives in association with the city’s recent Bicentennial celebration including supporting the float creation, and selecting the winners of the high-school student essay contest. She is serving on the Crystal Ball committee for the Boys and Girls Club of St Charles County and is also involved with the St. Louis Zoo. Her passion is to advocate for children and their education.
Tessa Greenspan	Profession: Independent Distributor, Xango Phone: 314-210-6100 tgreenspan@aol.com Coming Soon!
Kelly Haskett	Profession: Owner, U.S. Lawns Franchise Phone: 636-398-5000 haskettpmc@peoplepc.com U.S. Lawns U.S. Lawns is a dynamic commercial landscape company. Kelly's role is focused on marketing and sales and working with a team of business, sales and landscape professionals who have consistently served the St. Charles and St. Louis region with more than 100 commercial customers. Kelly is former President of the Lewis & Clark Pachyderms, and is a distributor of XanGo, a functional health beverage made from the mangosteen fruit. Her passion is giving back to the community on service projects.
Denise Heidger	Profession: Miche Bag St. Louis Metro LLC Denise Heidger of Miche Bag St. Louis Metro LLC has fund raising experience with the Arthritis Foundation, American Cancer Society, and the American Diabetes Association. Most of her career was spent in the financial industry and brokerage business. Denise has been a member of Rotary International and recently worked with the Siteman Cancer Center
Linda Jacobsen	Profession: President, Global Vision Strategies Phone: 636-928-8880 lfj@GlobalVisionStrategies.com Global Vision Strategies Former Zonta District 7 Governor 2004-2006 Linda Jacobsen is the founder and president of Global Vision Strategies. Her specialty is designing and facilitating customized solutions in global business. Linda has conducted over 1000 training sessions over the past 10 years, from working with legal and cultural aspects of negotiating, to international human resources, global marketing, and training programs with both workplace and family focus. Over time, her expertise has evolved to include facilitating key global meetings, world class keynote addresses, and diplomatic and trade representation around the world. She is a master trainer, and a riveting, award-winning, keynote speaker. Linda's company works with clients in the St. Louis region and around the world. Her life's work is dedicated to helping companies achieve global business excellence. Her training and support services are available all over the world in over 90 countries. Her clients range from small- and medium-sized companies such as InfoTech Software Solutions and MEMC to high profile corporations such as Anheuser-Busch, DuPont and Boeing. She is also a world-class keynote speaker and local columnist on diversity issues.
Rev Renita Lamkin	Profession: Reverend Rev Renita Lamkin is a native of Kansas City, KS. Rev. Lamkin graduated magna cum laude from Saint Louis University in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Organization Studies and a minor in Communications. Rev. Renita united with the AME Church in 1994, was licensed to preach and admitted to the Northwest Missouri Annual Conference in 1996. She recently wrote a book called "Holy Moly, The Spirituality of Sexuality".
Dr. Esther Lauer, RN, Ph.D, D.C	Profession: Owner, Chiropractor Dr. Lauer is the owner of the Lauer Chiropractic Center, and operates a satellite office in Creve Coeur, MO. Dr. Lauer has had more than 20 years of experience as a Nurse, Professor, Consultant, Chiropractor and a business owner. She has credentials that less than one percent of the population holds- a woman with two master's degrees and two doctoral degrees. We could call her Doctor Doctor, but just Doctor will do.....or just Esther. One of her first chiropractic patients nicknamed her "the doctor with the nurse's touch."
Brenda Lowder	Profession: Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Commercial Phone: 314-952-5238 Coldwell Banker Commercial Brenda joined Coldwell Banker Commercial in 2009 as a Broker Associate and has more than 14 years of experience as a real estate professional serving St. Charles and the St. Louis metropolitan areas. She specializes in the sales of land and land assemblages for commercial and residential development. She is a member of the St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce-Economic Development, Transportation and Governmental Concerns Committees, as well as the National, Missouri and St. Louis Associations of Realtors. Brenda has a strong commitment to her community. She currently serves as President-Elect of the St. Charles Community College Foundation Board and is an active board member of the St. Charles Rotary Club.
Diana Mayfield	Profession: Realtor, Coldwell Banker Gundaker Phone: 314-298-5200 dmayfield7@aol.com
Holly Mayfield	Profession: Edward Jones Phone: 636-928-0130 Holly.Mayfield@gmail.com
Mary Morak	Profession: Incredible Engravings, Inc. Phone: 636-441-4811; 800-955-6011 morak@engravings.com Incredible Engravings Mary has a varied business background with a strong emphasis on customer service. In 1995 she started Incredible Engravings, Inc., a full service engraving company which offers awards, plaques, promotional products, and much more. Mary is committed to exceeding her customer's expectations. Incredible Engravings works with nonprofit organizations, helping them achieve their goals and stay within budget. Mary has been active in the local chambers as well as a member of the St. Louis RCGA, VFW Auxiliary and Missouri Women's Council. She has held offices in ESPW, Leading Ladies, University of Missouri Extension Council, and Route 66 Corvette Club and was elected to public office as Board Member to Cottleville Fire Protection District. She was named the Small Business Person of the Year 2002 by the St. Peters Chamber. Her volunteer work includes 12 years as a Girl Scout leader and two years as Neighborhood Cookie Chairman. Gardening, reading, bird watching and attending car shows are all a part of what she does when not working.
Lethia Owens	Profession: President and CEO of Lethia Owens International, Inc. Lethia Owens is internationally recognized as a personal branding expert, speaker, author and coach. She uses high value content, dynamic keynote presentations and engaging training programs to show others that they, too, can achieve extraordinary results. Lethia also works with enterprising speakers by building their million dollar brand.
Brynn Palmer, Corresponding Secretary	Profession: Principal Consultant, Solutions Marketing, Verint Systems Verint.com Brynn Palmer has over 20 years of combined customer service and marketing experience. She has served in leadership positions at a number of Fortune 500 companies and has also owned her own consultancy business. Brynn is a member of the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce, a CORO Leadership Center Board Member and serves as an Alternate on the St. Peters Planning and Zoning Commission. She currently serves as a Principal Consultant, Solutions Marketing for Verint Systems Inc.
Maria Roark	Profession: Calisa Home Decor Phone: 636-970-0069 marie@calisahomedecor.com Calisa Home Decor Marie has been buying and selling on consignment for 35 years. She opened her shop, Calisa Home Decor, 2 years ago after many years in the mortgage-banking business. Marie had her own company designing databases and has done many other unusual things such as driving a limo for many years! Her shop is named after her two daughters, "Caitlin & Alissa" = CALISA. Marie's favorite charities are Backstopper (her husband has been a firefighter for 24 years), Our Lady's Inn, and Youth in Need. Marie has have lived in St. Peters for more than 30 years.
Paige Russell	Profession: Owner, Dragonfly Elementals, LLC Phone: 573-259-6047 paigerussell.actor@yahoo.com
Gladys M. Schubach, President	Profession: Owner, GMS Incentives Phone: 636-236-1106 gladys@gmsincentives.com GMS Incentives Gladys has owned GMS Incentives, an international promotional products business since 1998. She also provides marketing and advertising consulting for clients, ranging from small business owners to corporations with worldwide offices. Gladys is on the Leadership Committee of ESPW-St. Louis (Encouraging, Supporting, Promoting Women), focusing on Public Relations and Marketing for the last two years. She is President of the Aggressive Network Group (ANG) and has assisted with the STAR program, which supports teens against risk such as substance abuse and mentors inner-city kids. Gladys was born in Matanza, Cuba, and came to the U.S. when she was 3 1/2 years old. She grew up in Chicago, and has lived in Missouri for five years with her husband of 26 years and their three grown daughters. She is fluent in Spanish.
Roxianne Sheda	Profession: Rivercity Insurance & Financial Services, Keller Williams Realty West Phone: 314-610-9200 roxiannesheda@yahoo.com
Mary Kay Sheets	Profession: Entrepreneur Mary Kay Sheets has more than 25 years experience as a serial entrepreneur currently owning three companies providing services ranging from Business Development, Joint Venture Capitol Investing to Website & IT Development. However, she currently spends the majority of her time as a Strategic Business Developer under her 15 year old company SHEETS by Design, Inc., (DBA: ReThink Inc. – “Rethinking how you do business by making it personal.”). In her primary roll she partners with entrepreneurs, executives and professio¬nals thought leaders in business innovation, growth and expansion. Mary Kay collaborates with these business leaders to build on their strengths, help identify strategies and opportunities for growth, empower them to gain confidence in their ability to plan and manage a venture on a personal level, meet new challenges, and learn how to obtain the skills and resources necessary for achieving their desired results in business. Her ultimate goal is to ensure clients and their teams are working proactively from their brilliance and not reactively from their weaknesses by approaching and leading businesses from an individual and personal level. Achievements: Recipient of the 2010 Zonta International Yellow Rose Award for improving the status of women in the St. Louis Metro Area, Recipient of the St. Charles County Dove Award for Business Achievement, Recipient of the St. Charles County 40/Under 40 Professional Leadership Award 2001, Recipient of the Outstanding New Member Award 2001 for the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce, 2nd - Small Business of the Year 2002.
Terri Violet	Profession: Coming Soon www.terriviolet.com Terri is a U.S. Navy Veteran and a volunteer with the American Red Cross serving as the Marketing/Communications Liaison and Instructor. She currently attends St. Charles Community College with her focus on Political Science. Terri enjoys donating her time to the Mike Bush Fantasy Baseball Camp for hearing impaired children in the summer months. She is a member of St. Peters American Legion and is proud to be the first female veteran to be appointed to the St. Peters Veterans Commission now serving as Chaplain. She was the American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and received the St. Peters Outstanding Citizenship Award. Married to her wonderful husband Jeff she has two grown children and is a brand new first time grandmother.
Sue Weick	Profession: Insurance Broker Phone: 888-235-8094 sueweick@netcom.com
Rep. Anne Zerr, (18th District)	Profession: MO House of Representatives Phone: 573-751-3717 Anne.Zerr@house.mo.gov MO House of Representatives - District 18 201 West Capitol Avenue Room 113 Jefferson City MO 65101 Rep. Anne Zerr (18th District) has her BA and MBA from Lindenwood in Human Service Agency Mgmt. And is currently a Political Science Professor there. In the past, she was the Director, Adult and Corporate Admissions and Executive Director of The EDC's Partners for Progress Program. She is involved with the Community Council of St Charles County, St Charles County Gang Awareness and Prevention Task Force and Salvation Army Board.