Professional Development

- CCA Institute

Jeannie comes to FCCS as a leadership development designer, facilitator and coach. With nearly 25 years of experience, she helps teams and leaders communicate, innovate and perform. From Fortune 500 Healthcare companies to non-profits. From Delta Airlines to the Denver Broncos sales teams – Jeannie leads sessions (in person and virtual) that are engaging, thought provoking and relevant.

Her passion is to help leaders and teams grow outside their comfort zone. Her clients learn to design presentations that matter, generate ideas that grow the business and focus on goals that lead to improvement. “Working in a relationship role to fully understand client needs and how I can support them is extremely satisfying and rewarding to me,” Jeannie says. “In the past year I’ve learned more about Farm Credit and our cooperative clients who turn to FCCS for professional development expertise. It’s a group who is very passionate about the significant role they play in farming and has the desire to be better leaders”

Ann Hastings Kafer has served GROWMARK, Inc. as Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy Officer since 2017. In her role, she oversees all human resources functions, corporate and marketing communications, government relations, and corporate travel. She joined the organization in 1993 as publications manager and has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility. GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with $9.4 billion in sales operating in 43 U.S. states and Canada. Previous to GROWMARK, Ann served as director of communications for Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative in Mattoon, Ill., and as communications coordinator for the Illinois Soybean Association.

She is an honors graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications. And a 2007 high honors graduate of Lincoln Christian Seminary with a M.A. degree in the Bible. In addition, she has logged hours toward a master’s of business administration degree at Illinois State University.

Ann currently serves on the national board of directors for Midwest Food Bank and the College of Business Advisory Committee for Illinois State University.  Ann earned the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional designation in 2013, and the Cooperative Communicators Association’s Graznak Award in 1999 as the outstanding communicator under age 36.

Chellie Phillips is a sweet-tea-sipping, sassy Southerner with a passion for helping dynamic, career-minded professionals write their own success stories. She’s a coach, corporate trainer, and speaker, as well as the author of two award-winning books: When In Doubt, Delete It and Get Noticed, Get Hired. For over 20 years, she has used her first-rate public relations and communication skills to strategically share the cooperative message. She’s been instrumental in creating a company culture that encourages employee support, growth, and community. Chellie is on a mission to help others create an authentic personal brand, package it properly, and use their existing skillset to find the path to their highest potential!

Brand development and strategic leadership are core to Marcy’s responsibilities as President and CEO of C.O.nxt. She is a frequent facilitator of strategic workshops that help clients refine their brand positions or lead their strategy development. Clients can count on her to use experience and insights to guide, support and challenge.

Marcy has been a key team member at the agency for more than 20 years with deep involvement in clients ranging from multi-nationals to fresh startups. She was one of three partners to embrace becoming a 100 percent employee-owned ESOP in 2018. In 2020, Marcy led C.O.nxt’s own efforts to keep its brand fresh and relevant.​

Brandon is a passionate storyteller with a particular verve for building and amplifying unmistakable and unforgettable brands. Whether it’s starting at ground zero with bright-eyed startups or guiding recognized companies through game-changing rebrands, he has helped architect compelling corporate narratives across all types of industries, from laundry equipment to barbecue sauce.

With an emphasis on helping brands find their WHY as a beacon for external communications and internal culture, he takes partners on one-of-a-kind adventures to find their true north.

Anna Cardoze is a passionate, accomplished marketing leader with a demonstrated history working in agriculture and with retailers across industries.  Her strong interpersonal skills and extensive experience in product marketing proved successful in growing sales and building partnership opportunities at John Deere, Carhartt and AgVend. Anna earned her BS degree in Agribusiness Management from Purdue University. Outside of work, you can find Anna on the water – sailing, diving or handing out with her husband Rob and 5-month old daughter, Campbell.

As Division Leader of CEA, Patrick manages a team of over 100 employees who protect and enhance the Laboratory’s reputation via communications services. In this role, he works with senior managers and staff to plan and orchestrate all internal and public communications about Los Alamos National Laboratory, a complex nuclear site made up of almost 14,000 employees over 40 square miles. Patrick’s direct reports include government affairs experts, writers, editors, graphic designers, web staff, event planners, and the Lab’s photography and videography staff.

Previously, he served as Division Leader for Government Affairs at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In this role, he supported the Director and Deputy Directors and manages all interactions with elected government officials and visits to the Laboratory at the Director’s discretion. He has worked at LANL for over a decade and has focused on improving the science, technology, and infrastructure of the institution. This involved overseeing both current-year execution of operations, maintenance and facility projects that span most of the laboratory as well as planning the out-year needs for institutional investments and operations at the site. Patrick has over 15 years of experience working on Capitol, including his last five working for the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Zach Smith joined Rural Missouri — the monthly publication of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives — as its field editor in 2016. With a background as a staff writer, reporter and researcher for daily and weekly publications in southern Missouri, Zach serves as an editor, writer, photographer and videographer for the magazine, statewide association and Missouri’s 46 electric cooperatives. Originally from West Plains, Missouri, Zach received a bachelor’s degree in film production from Webster University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri. He has been honored by the Cooperative Communicators Association as “Writer of the Year” in 2018

Chellie Phillips is a sweet-tea-sipping, sassy Southerner with a passion for helping dynamic, career-minded professionals write their own success stories. She’s a coach, corporate trainer, and speaker, as well as the author of two award-winning books: When In Doubt, Delete It and Get Noticed, Get Hired. For over 20 years, she has used her first-rate public relations and communication skills to strategically share the cooperative message. She’s been instrumental in creating a company culture that encourages employee support, growth, and community. Chellie is on a mission to help others create an authentic personal brand, package it properly, and use their existing skillset to find the path to their highest potential!

Alicia serves as the Director of Engagement for Paulsen. Paulsen’s team helps brands reach nearly 46 million people who proudly call themselves rural Americans. The has deep experience in agriculture, rural lifestyle, energy, education, manufacturing and cooperatives.

In her role, she is a passionate advocate for rural America and leads clients in achieving messaging goals through strategic communications programs.

She has more than 15 years of renewable energy, policy, and farmer-owned cooperative experience including leadership roles at Renewable Energy Group and Landus Cooperative.

She earned an M.B.A. from Iowa State University (and actually enjoyed her accounting course) and her Accreditation in Publication Relations (APR) through PRSA.  A fifth-generation Iowa farm girl, she and her husband are raising their son Jon on their acreage and cheering for the Cyclones.

Emanuel DeHerrera currently works as a Media Technician/MPR Assistant for PTCI. He is a Youth Pastor at his local church and helps run the church’s media room. He is married to Sandra DeHerrera and they have two boys: JJ and Abel. Emanuel grew up in the small town of Guymon Oklahoma and graduated college from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in 2008. He continued his education and graduated from Rhema in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2010. He has 25 years of experience in videography.

Tamela Blalock serves as the VP, Cooperative Relations with the National Cooperative Business Association, CLUSA International, where she enhances engagement and impact with the trade association among the cooperative leadership community.

Tamela has served several Washington institutions including the Central Intelligence Agency, Washington D.C. NFL Football Team, The Washington Post, and George Washington University. Prior to joining NCBA CLUSA, Tamela most recently served as the Executive Director of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, and the Senior Director, Membership Services for the National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors.

Tamela has served on the PCMA Board of Directors and is an alumnus of the ASAE 2016-2018 class of DELP Scholars. She has a B.S. in Marketing from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from The George Washington University.