National Advisory Council

The Council members meet twice a year to provide advice and support to keep SJMC on pace with the communications industry.

Danny Akright, JO'10
Communications Manager
Food Bank of Iowa

Megan Bannister, JO’13
Social Media Manager
Des Moines Art Center

Michael Bates, JO'79
Interim associate vice president, University Advancement
Dominican University, River Forest, IL

Mac Brand, JO’76
Founding Partner
Bellwether Food Group, Inc., Dallas

Brittany Hopkins Bungert, JO’07
Director of Communications
Iowa Automobile Dealers Association

Claire Celsi, friend
Communications Consultant, Des Moines

John Garcia JO’86
Reporter, WLS-TV, Chicago

Graham Gillette, friend
Gillette Strategic Resources, Des Moines

Lynn Hicks , JO’91
Communications Director
Iowa Attorney General's Office

Louie Laurent, J’76
Chairman, ZLRignition.com, Des Moines

David M. Lubbers, J’86
Producer, ESPN, Des Moines

Lydia Nevins, JO’11
Marketing Specialist
Delta Dental, Des Moines

Susan Patterson Plank, Friend, MPA’16
Executive Director
Iowa Newspaper Association

Katie Popp, JO’05
Account Manager
Strategic America, Des Moines

Christine Riccelli, MA'97
Editor, dsm magazines, Des Moines

Amy Schmelzer, JO’96
Operations Manager
KCCI-TV, Des Moines

Niki Smith, JO’08, MCL'15
Associate Director of Communications and Marketing
Drake University

Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa, JO’12
Multimedia Communications Specialist
Musco Lighting, Oskaloosa, IA

Samantha Thorpe, JO’95
Editor, writer, Des Moines

Chris Verlengia, JO'06, MCL'13
Senior Brand Marketing Manager
Wellmark, Des Moines

Kevin Waetke, JO’86
Vice President, Strategic Communications
National Pork Board, Des Moines