Meet the Team

RGI’s expert in all things finance, Jackie’s path to association management was anything but traditional. After graduating from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a degree in accounting, Jackie worked in a number of finance-related roles, including audit manager for KPMG Peat Marwick and internal auditor and terminal director for BAA Indianapolis, the management company of Indianapolis International Airport, before joining the RGI team in 2000.

In addition to her role as director of finance, Jackie has served as executive director for a number of associations in various industries, including commercial real estate, acoustical consultants and nutrition educators. This broad range of experience gives Jackie unique insights and knowledge about association best practices. In addition to her finance expertise, she is also an expert in organizational operations, volunteer management and conference planning, and is passionate about finding ways to make clients more prosperous—for example, she recently led the negotiation of a publishing contract that included a $50,000 signing bonus for the organization.

Although Jackie now resides in Godfrey, IL., she is still a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan. When she’s not cheering on the Colts, you may find her cooking something delicious (she has every issue of Cooking Light since 1995) or enjoying one of her other passions, Star Trek.

As vice president of association strategies, Mark provides executive-level advice and strategy to RGI’s current and prospective clients. Beyond consulting projects and developing new partnerships, Mark has served as executive director for various RGI clients since joining the company in April 2013.

Mark started working in association management in 1993. As a Certified Association Executive, he has held executive roles at a variety of membership-based organizations, including Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity and Foundation, the National Chimney Sweep Guild, the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the Vacation Rental Managers Association, the International Order of the Golden Rule, the Association Societies Alliance, and the Indiana Society of Association Executives. In these roles, Mark has successfully developed plans and processes resulting in record membership recruitment and retention, event attendance, financial reserves and total net revenues. Prior to making the leap to the non-profit world, Mark worked for Xerox Corporation and Pillar Development Corporation.

Mark is passionate about helping organizations with limited resources discover opportunities to excel. He specializes in helping organizations find the “sweet spot” where governance and professional management align in a way that uncovers never-before realized potential, allowing them to propel to new heights as a result.

A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Mark is an active volunteer within his community. He served as president of the Indiana Society of Association Executives, president of the Fishers, Ind., Rotary Club, and district outbound coordinator for the Rotary District 6560 Youth Exchange Program. Mark and his wife, Cheryl, have also served the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for more than 25 years as marriage prep retreat facilitators.

In his free time, Mark enjoys cheering on Indy and Chicago sports teams, including the Colts, Bears, Pacers, Bulls and– to stay grounded– the Cubs. He is a proud parent of three grown children, has hosted a number of international exchange students, loves to travel and has a passion for motorcycles.

Tim serves as the vice president and co-owner of Raybourn Group International.

His 20+ year career in professional association management began when he was named Executive Vice President and CEO of Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity, the world’s largest collegiate men’s fraternity with 320 chapters and 240,000 members. There he led his staff and volunteer team to create new effective volunteer, member recruitment and professional development initiatives.

Experienced in leading individual membership, professional and trade associations, Tim has been a proven leader in all aspects of association leadership, especially in areas of member services, Board governance, volunteer engagement, strategic planning and conference and convention strategy. Prior to engaging association management as his profession, Tim was vice president and managing partner of a multi-location funeral home enterprise in his native northeast Ohio.

As a volunteer leader and officer with various associations, he is past president of the Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE), and a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), where he has served as facilitator for ASAE’s “CEO Bootcamp” executive leadership training program. He has earned ASAE’s highest professional certification, the Certified Association Executive (CAE).

He also remains an active alumnus member of the great Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity (TKE), where he was the 2015 recipient of The Order of the Golden Eagle, the Fraternity’s highest award; and is a member (Inhalte die Cospsschleiffe) of the Corps Franconia Darmstadt, one of the oldest collegiate fraternal societies in Deutschland; Past Master of his Masonic Lodge; Past Commander-in-Chief of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry;  Past Potentate of Murat Shriners; the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels; the Columbia Club of Indianapolis, the Indy Boxing Club; and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Funeral Education Foundation.

He and his lovely wife of more than 20 years, Leslie, reside on Indy’s north side with their cocker spaniel Casey Irene.

Leslie has been a leader in association management for more than 30 years, contributing to a variety of associations from professional, educational and philanthropic groups to an emerging trade association.

Bringing her wide skill set of strategic planning, visionary management and increasing member value to the organizations she serves, Leslie has a proven record of revitalization of various associations and their Boards.

As a volunteer within the profession, Leslie is active in the Indiana Society of Association Executives, having served on the Board of Directors, as well as chairing several ISAE committees prior to being named Executive Director in 2007. Her work earned her the ISAE Staff Professionalism Award, Volunteer of the Year and Association Executive of the Year honors from her colleagues.

She has also served as chair of the American Society of Association Executives’ Certified Association Executive (CAE) Commission and was honored as an ASAE Fellow for her contributions to the profession, a highly prestigious recognition in the field. Leslie currently serves on the Board for the AMC Institute.

Leslie has always been an active volunteer within her community. Currently she serves on the board of Pack Away Hunger and the Alliance for Better Nutrition. Both groups focus on feeding those facing hunger local and abroad.

Wendy King joined the RGI team in 2020. She brings her 10+ years of association experience and previous background in marketing, development and events to her role as Executive Director.

Wendy enjoys working in association management because it gives her the opportunity to provide tools, resources and new opportunities that can help small businesses thrive in a challenging market. She also enjoys working closely with volunteer leaders to help bring their visions to life. Her strengths include developing strategic relationships, building collaborative environments, strategic planning with measurable goals and fostering strong boards through leadership development.

Her volunteer involvement includes athlete recruitment and marketing for the World Police & Fire Games. The World Police and Fire Games are an Olympic-style competition with 10,000 athletes representing law enforcement, firefighters, and officers from corrections, probation and border protection from 70+ countries across the world competing in 60+ sports.

In her spare time, Wendy loves traveling – everything from day trips to international adventures. Her proudest moment is spending eight hours traversing the Great Wall of China with her husband, Jim. While at home, Wendy considers herself an HGTV and DIY junkie. She also loves spending time with her four beautiful grandchildren.

Taylor Strnad is currently the Communications Intern at RGI. She is also a senior double majoring in Psychology and Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations at the University of Indianapolis. She is excited to be with RGI and learn the ropes as a young professional.

Throughout her time at UIndy she spent time working with the student run public relations firm, Top Dog Communication as an Account Coordinator and Executive, and the student newspaper as the Managing Editor of The Reflector.

Outside of school and work she is an avid napper, high jumps for the track and field team and loves to travel. She has been to 12 countries and spent a semester abroad in the Czech Republic.

Stu joined the RGI team in 2018 as Director of Communications and Membership. He graduated from Indiana University in 2014 with a degree in journalism with a second concentration in English composition and a specialization in news reporting and writing. Stu earned the Certified Association Executives (CAE) certification in 2020.

Prior to working for RGI, Stu worked at a Washington, D.C.-based association management company where he held various communications roles primarily with Pickle Packers International and the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association. He’s also held roles with the American Meat Institute, the American Frozen Food Institute and Global Cold Chain Alliance.

Stu is an expert in member engagement, new member recruitment strategies, writing and website management. He enjoys being able to work with many industries and helping people succeed in their line of work.

In his spare time, you can find Stu performing improv with ComedySportz Indy, cheering on the Washington Capitals and other D.C. sports teams as well as spending time with his adorable cats – Chloe, Arnold and Ralph.

As Director of Marketing, Shelly implements integrated marketing communications strategies that help organizations fulfill their missions and engage with key constituents.

Since January 2010, Shelly has drawn on her experience in event marketing, content generation, publications, branding and membership recruitment to execute the various communications created for RGI and client associations.

Shelly, a Certified Association Executive, is a graduate of the  University of Indianapolis in Spanish and communication, with concentrations in journalism and public relations. Prior to her time at RGI, Shelly served as the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for a large non-profit organization in central Indiana. Before that, she interned with the Indiana State Fair in the publicity department.

Shelly has served in volunteer roles within the industry, including serving on the Indiana Society of Association Executives’ marketing committee and branding task force. She is an aspiring baker, a proud mom to two young daughters and can recite most Paw Patrol episodes by memory.

Rachel is responsible for publication management and nutrition education initiatives in her role as Executive Director. Rachel started working with her first association in 1985 and excels at envisioning and implementing the steps necessary to achieve the goal.

After joining RGI in 2010, Rachel continues to advance her association through communications and content creation. Specifically, she redesigned a client’s newsletter from two color publication to a full color publication, which tripled revenue while cutting expenses in half. Additionally, she organized, promoted and conducted educational webinars viewed by hundreds of registrants internationally.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in journalism and business from Indiana University, Rachel possesses experience in nutrition education, interior design education, acoustics, religious organizations, publication management and all aspects of residential construction. Previously, she held positions with the Columbia Club, KDB Press and the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis.

Driven by the passion members have for their profession and organization, Rachel is an active volunteer in her community. She currently volunteers with Calvary Lutheran Church.

She loves audio books, so ask her what she’s listening to this week! Her first experience with a computer was learning to program in Fortran with punch cards while attending Indiana University. Since 1995, she’s assisted in the publication of the Stutz Club’s quarterly magazine. Stutz was an Indianapolis-made luxury automobile. Recently she began helping the Indiana Region of the Classic Car Club with the Hoosier Horn and was awarded the Beverly Rae Kimes Award as outstanding regional editor.

Nick joined the RGI team in 2017. He brings with him a wide array of association management and membership expertise thanks to his previous roles in fraternal organizations.

Nick holds undergraduate degrees from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in Forensic and Investigative Sciences (BS) and Chemistry (BA), and a Masters of Education from the University of South Carolina in Higher Education and Student Affairs.

With Nick’s prior experience working in with fraternities, he considers himself an expert on data analysis, assessment, curriculum and instructional design and customer service.

Nick serves as a member-at-large for the IUPUI School of Science Alumni Association and as a volunteer for several fraternal organizations.

Outside of his responsibilities at RGI, Nick is an avid fan of traveling, both domestic and abroad. As a child, he spent five years in Germany while his parents were stationed there with the U.S. Army. Although he enjoys traveling, he also appreciates a quiet night in playing board games and looks forward to attending GenCon each year.

Natalie utilizes her expertise in event coordination, member engagement and data management to provide member-focused service that helps her clients thrive.

Upon joining RGI in 2016, Natalie quickly found her place in association management due to the fulfilling relationship between members and staff. Whether charitable or professional, associations offer members the opportunity to connect with others who share a common mission, profession, or pastime. She finds it extremely rewarding to contribute to the achievement of these goals in some way.

A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis’ Tourism, Convention and Event Management (TCEM) program, Natalie enjoys applying her skills for the advancement of her clients’ missions. In June 2019, she earned her Credentialing Specialist Certificate from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, a curriculum which provided the foundational knowledge required to manage the challenges unique to certification. In August 2019 she achieved a Level 1 Certificate in Event Design from the Event Design Collective.

Active in her community, Natalie volunteers with the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN), a nonprofit that uses Indiana’s Correctional Facilities to train assistance dogs for individuals living with disabilities in Indiana. She also enjoys volunteering for Indianapolis-area special events. A lifelong Hoosier, Natalie enjoys showing off everything Indy has to offer while discovering something new in the process!

Nancy has worked in funeral service for over 16 years and brings that experience to her work with an association for independent funeral homes. She has expertise in the field of grief with Certifications as a Grief Management Specialist, Grief Services Provider and Funeral Celebrant. She is also a Certified Laughter Leader, published author and professional speaker. Nancy uses her background to design innovative new programs and leads staff trainings on how to communicate the value of their business to people in their community, as well as how to provide “wow” level customer service. She also facilitates a monthly virtual grief support group.

A graduate of Empire State College with a bachelor’s degree in Business, Management and Economics, Nancy has served as Community Outreach and Marketing Director for cemeteries in the Buffalo, NY area as well as Veterans Funeral Care in Clearwater, FL. Through her company, The Laugh Academy, Nancy travels the country teaching busy professionals how to “stress less and laugh more.”

Nancy and her husband, Bob share their Florida home with an elderly cat, a special needs pug and a rescue “super-mutt.”  She loves to walk the beach and watch the sunsets, walk at the park looking for alligators and walk the dogs trying

Millie joined the RGI team in 2020 as a Meetings & Membership Coordinator. She obtained her bachelors in tourism, conventions & event management from IUPUI and uses her experience in events to serve her clients well. Millie enjoys working in association management because it offers her the opportunity to work with a wide array of clients.

Before beginning her work at RGI, Millie was an Attractions Cast Member at Walt Disney World. She was also a Graduate Assistant at IUPUI and interned for the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Downtown Indy, Inc. Additionally, she has volunteered for multiple key events including the IUPUI Hunger Banquet and the Earth Day activities at the Indiana State Museum.

When she is not working, Millie enjoys all things Disney and musical theater. She recently married her husband, Seth, and likes to spend time at Hobby Lobby and on Pinterest brainstorming new craft ideas to try out.

Melissa Heeke joined RGI in 2019 and serves as Membership Director. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in Leadership Development from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.

As an association management professional with 20 years of experience, Melissa brings an array of knowledge in volunteer management, leadership development, initiating and expanding member engagement programs, and membership growth. Her past roles include serving as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the National Chimney Sweep Guild and Chimney Safety Institute of America and as Director of Membership and Communications for the Midwest Political Science Association.

She strongly believes in the power of associations and has served as the president of the Indiana Society of Association Executives, the chair of American Society of Association Executive’s Small Staff Association Advisory Committee, and on the board of directors for the Indy Film Fest and Altrusa International of Indianapolis. She has received multiple awards for her work in associations including ASAE’s “Power of A” Silver Award and ISAE’s Association Professional of the Year.

Melissa believes there is truth in the quote often-attributed to Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Association management allows her to apply her talents and experience to support those who themselves are improving industries and professions to further support society.

In her free time, Melissa regularly hosts book-themed gatherings as a Little Free Library steward. She has a dog named Ruby, short for Rhubarb, which was chosen at random from a cookbook. Melissa and her spouse recently fulfilled a dream of visiting Stonehenge for the summer solstice celebrations and they hope to visit during the winter solstice sometime soon.

As an Executive Director, Mary Ann provides strategic oversight to association operations, streamlining processes and ensuring implementation of best practices. Mary Ann began working in association management in 1990 and uses her expertise in relationship building, board governance and meeting planning to establish growth and progress of associations.

Mary Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from DePaul University and a certificate in business administration from the University of Illinois. She began working with RGI in 2000.

Prior to joining RGI, Mary Ann held a number of senior management positions, including Director of Membership for the Women’s Council of REALTORS, Managing Director at the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Chicago Chapter and Director of Development at the Advocate Charitable Foundation.

Aside from her experience in real estate and fundraising, Mary Ann also held positions within the computer programming and nutrition education industries. Her proven track record and time within these industries led to her designation as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 1997.

Mary Ann enjoys witnessing the passion volunteers have for their industry and their willingness to give back to or lead an organization that represents the best of the best in their field. She also appreciates connecting with members at events and helping them achieve their goals. Much like the volunteers she oversees, Mary Ann is a leader in her community as well. She currently volunteers for the Forum Editorial Working Group and Bridge Builders.

Mary Ann is a soon to be – and slightly panicked – “empty-nester.” She’s a lover of yoga and hot chocolate, but not at the same time. She enjoys cooking with friends and feeding people.

Mark C. Lewis has been in association management since 2012. Mark brings his expertise in Improving processes/procedures and member relations/customer relations from his previous experience in non-profit management and his time as a project manager in electrical contracting.

He holds his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology (BS) from Purdue University and his graduate degree is in Technology, concentrating in Project Management (MS) from IUPUI.

Mark enjoys the collaborative environment that working in association management provides because It doesn’t matter if you have all of the answers; either someone in your community has been through that situation before and is willing to lend some advice or your team can rally around an issue to solve it together.

When he’s not at RGI, Mark spends his time volunteering with Prather York Rite and Double Eagle Lodge. Aside from volunteering you can find him adding to his extensive whiskey and bourbon collection as well as traveling both domestically and internationally.

Marissa is currently a marketing specialist at RGI while also pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in Visual Communication Design from the University of Indianapolis. She joined the team in 2020 and enjoys working with the diverse group of clients at RGI because she is consistently learning something new.

Marissa has also worked for two years at UIndy’s student-run PR firm, Top Dog Communication. She was recently promoted to Firm Director, and through this opportunity she has been able to work with many different clients such as the Indiana Builders Association, the Youth Opportunity Foundation, and Inspired Content.

When Marissa isn’t studying and working, she loves to spend time with her rescue dog, Opal. She also enjoys helping her husband on the family farm as well as practicing photography.

As Director of Membership, Lisa incorporates her 20+ years of expertise in higher education and fraternal organizations to manage a broad range of association and membership services.

Before joining RGI in 2020, Lisa spent most of her professional career providing leadership at Indiana State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Southern Mississippi. Her higher education career focused on communication, marketing, student success services, and alumni association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Evansville and a master’s degree in education and organizational leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She is an active alumna in Alpha Omicron Pi International Fraternity as a member of the Indianapolis alumnae chapter and the chapter advisor for the Kappa Alpha chapter at Indiana State University.

In her spare time, Lisa can be found officiating Indiana Swimming competitions as a National Level 3 stroke and turn judge and serving on the board of directors of the Terre Haute Torpedoes Swim and Dive Club. She never passes up an opportunity to complete a home improvement project or encourage her family to explore new places, activities, and adventures.

Krystal first joined RGI in 2019 as the Meetings Intern. She left in February 2020 and came back full-time as the Member Services Coordinator in February 2021. She brings her experience from the food and beverage, tourism, pharmaceutical event planning and hospitality industries as well as volunteer work from the 500 Festival and Visit Indy Annual Rose Awards. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Event Sport Management at IUPUI and a business certificate from the Kelley School of Business.

Prior to coming to RGI, Krystal served as the Event Planner Intern at DMC Indy and Event Consultant Intern at CMC Global in downtown Indianapolis. Additionally, she served as Project Executive at Ashfield Event Experiences. Her expertise lies in customer service, communication, and organization as well as fluency in both English and Spanish. Association management is important to her because she loves helping associations achieve their end goals and objectives, whether it be through memberships or daily operations. Getting the opportunity to work with passionate people and making an impact with great event planning are driving forces behind what she does.

Krystal looks forward to traveling despite having never been on an airplane, which she hopes to change very soon. She is a true dog lover and has two of her own named Julie and Milo. However, that love does not carry over to cats. When she is not working, she enjoys exploring new baking recipes and of course eating them.

Kim, a Certified Association Executive, has been with the RGI since 2004. With her expertise in strategic planning and financial management paired with her experience in commercial real estate, engineering and amusement and vending education, Kim provides strong leadership to the associations she serves.

Driven by knowing what she does day in and day out impacts the success of her members, Kim has retooled programs and communications to provide more value to members, resulting in an increase in net revenue and member engagement. With many years of experience in association management under her belt, Kim leads the strategic planning and implementation process for her clients to ensure a clear vision for the association and continual progress towards that vision.

Since graduating with a political science degree from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Kim has remained active in her community through volunteerism. She has served as co-chair of the Professional Development Committee for ISAE. Previously, she served on the ISAE finance, membership, convention, inbound marketing and professional development committees.  Additionally, she served as Vice President of Finance for the Junior Chamber International – Indianapolis from 2011 to 2012.

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and has quite the impressive cookbook collection. As a native Hoosier, Kim loves the city of Indianapolis, while her favorite place to visit is the Pacific Northwest.

As Communications Coordinator, Justin brings his expertise in public relations, marketing, and event planning to the team. He attended and graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in both public relations and history, graduating with distinction in European history.

Before joining RGI in 2020, Justin worked in communication and marketing roles at the National Sports Media Association and College Splits, an NCAA baseball data and statistic company. He has also been involved in several programs and student organizations at his university such as PRSSA. He is excited to explore new areas of business and society through association management.

Outside of work, Justin is a huge history buff and especially loves to study European history. He also enjoys traveling to the beach with his family and usually spends his summer nights watching the St. Louis Cardinals.

Julianna Gorman joined the RGI team as a Meeting and Events Intern in January of 2021. She will be graduating from IUPUI in May of 2021 with a Bachelors in Tourism, Events, and Sports Management (TESM) and a Business Certificate from the Kelley School of Business. Julianna is an enthusiastic student with experience in planning in-person and virtual events, project management, and customer service. She is passionate about project content and event design.

Prior to RGI, Julianna gained professional experience by working with Visit Indy as their Sales and Services Intern. She has also worked with Accent Indy, a DMC Network Company as event staff. Julianna has dedicated time to volunteering for Crossroads of America, The Rose Awards, and National FFA Convention. She has continued her education by earning certifications from Microsoft Excel, Building PDF’s with Acrobat XI, Social Tables, and SBA’s Small Business Plan. Julianna has training in a variety of technology platforms including Event Rebels (Virtual Event Platform), Canva, Mural, Teammates, and Survey Monkey.

Outside of work and school, Julianna enjoys spending her time with her loved ones including her German Shepherd, Roxie and her kitten, Cora. She also enjoys adventures and traveling. Julianna loves going on hikes with her dog and relaxing with some yoga.

Joe joined the RGI team in 2018 as the Accounting Manager. He comes to RGI with experience as a financial analyst and an accountant.

Joe graduated with a Bachelor’s in Accounting, then continued his education by acquiring an MBA with a finance concentration, both earned from Ball State University. Joe’s industry experience includes local not-for-profits, contract research organizations, and biorepositories. He likes using accounting and finance knowledge to create a story for clients to better understand their business. He was drawn to association management for the chance to work with a diverse client base and the opportunity to solve accounting challenges on a regular basis.

Outside of his responsibilities at RGI, Joe is actively involved with his church through volunteer opportunities and choir participation. He also helps out with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis. Singing is a large part of Joe’s life. He met his wife Daria in a choir at Ball State and currently sings in an acapella group called Resolution. Joe recently took up a new hobby of gardening, which he plans to expand on soon.

Jordan joined RGI as Communications Coordinator in 2020. With a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in communications from the University of Indianapolis, Jordan brings her expertise in graphic design, photography, and general communication to the team. Before beginning work for RGI, Jordan developed her experience through her jobs as Business Development Intern at Hirons, Marketing Intern at the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, and Copywriter for the University of Indianapolis Athletic Development.

Jordan has also been involved in volunteering as the Former-President for the University of Indianapolis Circle K Club. Additionally, she has volunteered for Fletcher Place Community Garden, the Ronald McDonald House, and Holy Family Shelter. Through association management, Jordan hopes to help support others in their mission.

In her spare time, Jordan enjoys traveling and has been to ten different countries. She also loves illustrating as well as cooking and baking. She recently wrote, photographed and designed her own cookbook.

Evan Hoffmeyer joined the RGI team in 2019.

A local journalist for 12 years, he is excited to bring his expertise in media and government relations, public policy, and content marketing to his work in association management.

Evan got a BA in Communications with a minor in political science from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. He will soon graduate from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with an MA in Journalism, specializing in media analytics and management.

In his spare time, you may catch Evan spending time with his wife, Rachel, hanging out with friends or relaxing with a book at a local coffee shop.

Emily joined the RGI team in 2019 and serves as Senior Membership and Meetings Coordinator. She graduated from IUPUI with a Bachelors in Tourism, Events, and Sports Management (TESM) with an Event Management Certificate and a Business Certificate from the Kelley School of Business. She brings an array of experience to RGI, including event planning, event operations, customer service, and more. Emily loves the variety of work she gets to experience through working in association management.

Prior to RGI, Emily gained experience as the Event Services Area Manager at the IUPUI Campus Center

Through this experience, she gained confidence by leading her team of 10 in overcoming difficult situations. She oversaw the operations of all 20+ event spaces, special events, building policies, training, and event logistics. Emily has interests in the sporting industry and has dedicated her time volunteering with ISC for the Big Ten Championship and 500 Festival. You can also find her regularly volunteering for Zoo Boo at the Indianapolis Zoo. Being able to serve others and bring them joy is why Emily finds volunteering to be so rewarding. She is a member and involved at the committee level of Meeting Professionals International and Indiana Society of Association Executives- local event planning and association management chapters.

While she isn’t working, Emily enjoys spending time with her husky, Maverick, and her two cats, Gary and Marty. She is an avid traveler, including more trips to Disney World than she can count. She is nearly halfway to her goal of visiting all 50 states, and Hawaii is next up on her list. Emily collects sweatshirts from each state she visits to keep track of her progress.

Emilie Perkins joined RGI in 2019 as Director of Client and Conference Services. With over 21 years of experience with strategic meeting management, marketing and design, she has extensive strength in collaboration, fiscal accountability, strategic planning and communication. Emilie has designed, executed and evaluated over 1000 meetings of all sizes and types. She is also an Adjunct Faculty at Indiana University where she has co-facilitated the Nonprofit Meeting Management Course since 2017.

Emilie is a graduate of Marquette University where she specialized in Advertising and Marketing. She passionately believes in continual professional development and received a Certified Meeting Professional Designation (CMP) in 2009, a Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2014, a Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM) in 2016, her Project Management Professional (PMP) in 2020 and anticipates her Certified Event Designer (CED) designation in February 2021. Emilie is involved at the committee level and is a member of the Meeting Professionals International, the Indiana Society of Association Executives, the Project Management Institute, and the American Society of Association Executives. In 2018 Emilie was named the ISAE Volunteer of the year, in 2017 she was awarded the MPI Indiana Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2016 she was named the Planner of the Year and in 2008 the ISAE Association Professional of the Year.

When she is not at work, Emilie does her best to be the World’s Okayest Mom and Wife; she is a serial volunteer; sporadic blogger; chronic over dresser; sharpie hoarder; and audiobook aficionado. Reach out if you want to talk about Meetings, Events and Nonprofit Management!

Craig joined the RGI team in 2015 as an intern and joined as a staff member in 2018. He brings a background in email marketing, social media marketing, audio and video production, and blog writing to the team.

Craig graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a B.A. in Communication with a double emphasis in public relations and electronic media. Outside of his time at RGI, he has held various communications and marketing roles for the Indianapolis Zoo, Visit Indy, and K-LOVE/Air1 Radio.

Craig enjoys the constant changes of association management. He is an avid problem solver that gets personal satisfaction from figuring out how to serve clients effectively and efficiently. While he is not working, Craig enjoys finding new ingredients and creating new dishes with them. He also spends his time playing with his Mini Australian Shepherd, Yogi, and re-watching The Office.

Christine uses her expertise in logistical planning, vendor management, volunteer management, program development and registration to help clients thrive in her role as Director of Meetings for two international associations.

A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis’ Tourism, Conventions and Event Management program with a certificate in Special Event Management, Christine has been part of the RGI team since starting as an intern in 2005. She now holds a Certified Meeting Professional designation as a result of her duration and success within the industry.

She’s well-versed in service organizations, corporate housing, association management in addition to her meetings and events experience.

Christine has met her favorite band twice and is a proud Greek married to a proud Irishman. OPA!

Brook has worked in association management since 2005 and is an expert in developing and implementing integrated marketing and communications strategies to help associations thrive.

Before joining the RGI team in 2015, Brook served in a number of communications roles for various organizations including Delta Tau Delta, Indiana State Teachers Association and the Indiana House of Representatives. Brook is a graduate of Indiana University, where she studied journalism and political science.

Brook is an active volunteer in her community, serving the Lawrence Township Schools, Riley Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council and the Fraternity Communications Association.

Outside of the office, Brook loves hiking, gardening and being outdoors with her husband and twin daughters. She also loves cooking and exploring new recipes.

Brian employs his membership development, data management and strategic planning expertise in his role as Executive Director.

A Certified Association Executive (CAE), Brian has been engaged in association management since 2009 and has been a member of the RGI team since 2011. Brian implements unique, strategic ways to help his associations thrive. Driven by the gratification of being a volunteer and solving the problems that membership organizations face, Brian developed a webinar series from the ground up for one of the associations he serves. That same technology is now used to live stream some of their events.

A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with a bachelor’s in economics, Brian is experienced in mortgage brokers, noise control engineers, information systems, sports professionals, environmental consultants, commercial real estate and professional land surveyors. Prior to joining the RGI team, Brian served as the Membership Coordinator for the Indiana Association of Mortgage Brokers. He also worked as the IT Manager for Diversified Mail Services during the recession.

Brian’s passion for volunteerism extends beyond the office. An active volunteer in his community and the profession, Brian is very active in the Masonic Fraternity. He’s the past Lodge President (2004) and is currently the District Rep for the statewide organization. He previously served as Presiding Officer and Board Member (2010-2012) for the Indianapolis Scottish Rite. Currently, Brian is an active member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE), and served as Membership Chair in 2015.

Brian has served as the presiding officer for nine membership organizations and belongs to several more. The highlight of which was serving on the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Scottish Rite, a fraternal organization serving over 10,000 members. After learning about a career in association management from Tim Murphy, he was then recruited as one of the first Student Members of ISAE. He dabbles in a number of hobbies which currently include being an avid reader, a board game enthusiast, a huge sports fan and a craft beer taster. List is subject to frequent changes.

Ashley brings a background of experience in training, education and human resources to her role as Education & Membership Coordinator.

A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and a certificate in Human Resource Management, Ashley is quickly finding her place in the association world. Prior to joining RGI in early 2017, she served as the Marketing Director & Human Resources Coordinator  for the largest privately owned law enforcement training company in the US for nine years. She also gave her time volunteering for the Indianapolis Zoo and the Julian Center.

Since entering into association management, Ashley has enjoyed interacting with association members. She finds satisfaction in working with and assisting members that are so passionate about their industry.

Ashley and her husband stay busy with their two crazy King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. She enjoys traveling, including Caribbean cruises, trips to the west coast and visiting Walt Disney World. Trivia is one of her favorite hobbies and has been told she is no fun to watch Jeopardy with.

Since joining the company in 2010, Amanda has proudly served as RGI’s resident jack-of-all-trades when it comes to association management. From membership to marketing to event planning, Amanda is an expert at solving new challenges with adaptability and ingenuity.

After graduating from the University of Evansville with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Amanda obtained a Master of Education in college student affairs administration from the University of Georgia. Amanda worked at Brenau University and Mercer University before making the leap into association management at the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors. Amanda also worked for Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, a film festival based in Indianapolis.

Not only is Amanda RGI’s only Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA), but she also is an active volunteer herself. Amanda served on the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Certified Association Executive commission from 2012-2016. She also served as the Think Pink Luncheon silent auction chair for the Zeta Tau Alpha Memphis Alumnae Chapter from 2012-2016, and as a release figure method specialist for the National Panhellenic Conference since 2007. She is also serves on her church’s personnel committee and is involved with the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis.

Amanda lives in Memphis with her husband, two daughters, and dog. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys yoga and working out. She also considers herself a foodie, and loves to cook, try new restaurants, read about food and restaurants, and get to know the vendors at the local farmer’s market.

As Membership and Meetings Coordinator, Alyssa brings her knowledge of hospitality, customer service and event industries to the team. Before joining RGI in 2020, Alyssa achieved a bachelor’s degree in tourism, conventions, and events management and a bachelor’s in business from IUPUI. She then worked as Assistant Director of Special Events at Indiana Landmarks. Alyssa also has enjoyed volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and Gleaners Food Bank.

Eager to learn about different associations, Alyssa is most excited to get to know people from many different backgrounds and locations. Outside of work, Alyssa loves to rock climb with her husband (indoor and outdoor) as well as cook and bake.

Adeline Border joined the RGI team as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator in 2019. She graduated from Ball State University with a Public Relations major and a Travel and Tourism minor. Adeline has also obtained a certification in Sabre online coding.

Before joining RGI, Adeline was the Marketing Intern for WFY, Marketing and Communications Intern for Downtown Indy, Inc., and Marketing and Communications Intern for Muncie Visitors Bureau. From these experiences, she brings expertise in communication, marketing, and hospitality.

Since coming to RGI, Adeline enjoys the variety of work that comes with association management and the large number of people that she is able to interact with on a daily basis. She especially likes working with nonprofit clients. While she’s not in the office, Adeline enjoys cooking, eating, and traveling (to eat more food). She also enjoys kayaking and looks forward to adopting a cat soon.