President
Jason Boucher, ZLR Ignition
president@aafdsm.com
Current job title: VP of Client Service
Length of time at current employer: 10+ years
What I love best about my job/career: Advertising can make people buy stuff they don’t need, and that can be noble, but in my current position I get to do work that changes peoples’ lives.
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Senior Media Buyer at Progressive Designs, Media Buyer at the Iowa State Fair, Lecturer at Iowa State University, AAF board positions ~ Public Service Director (2 years) and ADDY Director
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Snoopy
Favorite kid’s joke: So, a salesman breaks down in the middle of nowhere and knock’s on a farmer’s door…
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “I love clients.”
Favorite past-time or vacation location: A sunny day at Wrigley Field
Favorite quote/saying: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Membership Director
Sarah Erdman, QA Graphics
membership@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Marketing/PR Director
Length of time at current employer: 3 ½ years
What I love best about my job/career: There’s never a dull day. I have the opportunity to interact with a lot of people from different industries across the country. And everyone at my office is a lot of fun.
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Ambassador Co-Chair – AAF of Des Moines; Marketing Communications Specialist, Credit Union National Association; Marketing Coordinator, Axley Brynelson, LLP
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Cinderella. What girl hasn’t dreamt of being a princess? In some translations, Sarah means princess…so maybe someday?
Favorite TV show when you were a kid: Saved by the Bell!
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: There’s an eCard for that.
Favorite past-time or vacation location: I’m happy with any excuse to be outside – patio, lake, volleyball.
Favorite quote/saying: “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
Programs Director
Lori Strum, Strategic America
programs@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Senior Media Planner/Buyer
Length of time at current employer: 7 ½ years
What I love best about my job/career: The excitement, the variety, no 2 days are alike!
Previous jobs or leadership positions you’ve held: I’ve worked at Meyocks, CMF&Z, Porter & Associates, DEKALB, and the Register. I was very involved with the Iowa Chapter of NAMA (National Agri-Marketing Association) – was on the board for many, many years in many different roles: Communications Chair, Programs Chair, VP, President, Region III liason, AIB liason. I am a Blank Park Zoo Ambassador (have been for 3 years). We are a group of business professionals that work to get things the zoo needs through fundraising, donations and physical work. I am very involved with my church (FCC) in Norwalk and a member of the worship team. I am a Girl Scout leader for my daughter’s Brownie troop.
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Daisy Duck. She’s bossy and strong and so am I!
Favorite TV show when you were a kid: Scooby Doo, The Brady Bunch, Charlie’s Angels (showing my age here)
Most common phrase you could be heard saying in any given day: Take a deep breath, go with the flow!
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Auto racing and playing softball. Vacation location: San Diego, CA
Favorite quote/saying: Life is full of choices.
ADDYs Director
Kelly Joseph, ZLR Ignition
addys@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Account Manager
Length of time at current employer: Since Jan 2012
What I love best about my job/career: Seeing an idea come to life
Previous jobs or leadership positions you’ve held: Previously worked at Integer, Living Social, Harpo Productions in Chicago
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Sneezy
Favorite TV show when you were a kid: Not sure if I was a “kid” but Full House
Most common phrase you could be heard saying in any given day: Could I have this by EOD today?
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Santorini, Greece
Favorite quote/saying: “Take pride in how far you have come, and have faith in how far you can go”
Public Service Director
Joel Brewer, Merdith Corporation
publicservice@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Account Executive
Length of time at current employer: 1 year
What I love best about my job/career: Being inspired by the people around me and the work we accomplish together
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: The Integer Group (’07-’11) Marketing Specialist at United Way of Central Iowa (’06-’07)
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: He is more of a video game character actually…it would be Link from the Legend of Zelda. I love solving puzzles!
Favorite kid’s joke: Funny? Maybe not, but a joke from my favorite show, LOST ~ “What is black and white and red all over? A penguin with a sunburn.”
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: ”I just got a 100 point word on Words with Friends!” or “Did you see last night’s episode of [insert show title here]“ I watch way too many TV shows…but not reality TV.
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Laying on a beach with a good book and drink in hand
Favorite quote/saying: “Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die tomorrow” ~ James Dean
Education Director
Katie Holl
education@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Freelance Writer/Project Manager
Length of time at current employer: Less than 1 year
What I love best about my job/career: Meeting new people, problem-solving and helping people and companies achieve their goals
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Account Service at Performance Marketing, Account Service at Two Rivers Marketing, Account Manager at Strategic America, Education Director – AAF Des Moines (2 years)
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Tweety Bird
Favorite kid’s joke: There’s two muffins in the oven. One muffin turns to the other one and says “Man, it’s hot in here.” The other muffin says, “Holy crap, a talking muffin!”
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “That’s pretty neat.”
Favorite past-time or vacation location: I love to travel to new places, but one of my favorite close getaways is our lake home on Lake Vermilion in Northern MN.
Favorite quote/saying: “Don’t waste your time or time will waste you.”
Communications Director
Brett Burkhart, Slash Web Studios
communications@aafdsm.com
Current job title: CEO & Front-end Designer/Developer
Length of time at current employer: 5 ½ years
What I love best about my job/career: Taking an idea and turning it into a functioning product that helps a client’s business grow.
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: AAF of Des Moines Ambassador, Production Team Leader & Service Coordinator at Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Phineas Flynn from Phineas & Ferb. I like to attempt the ridiculous awesome.
Favorite kid’s joke: What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef.
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: I’m hungry again.
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Driving a tractor each mid-October for hours and hours, watching life pass by at 13 mph.
Favorite quote/saying: “Hey, where’s Perry?” ~ Phineas Flynn
Diversity Director
Toni Sarcone, Des Moines Public Library
diversity@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Graphic Designer
Length of time at current employer: 5 years
What I love best about my job/career: I love promoting literacy to the community.
Previous jobs or leadership positions you’ve held: AAF Programs director, AAF Diversity Director
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Stewie
Favorite kid’s joke: What kind of socks do pirate’s wear? Aarrrgghyle!
Most common phrase you could be heard saying in any given day: Is there any coffee left?
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Northern Minnesota
Favorite quote/saying: “Weird doors open. People fall into things.” ~ David Sedaris
Government Relations Director
Jerry Hadenfeldt, Meredith Corp.
legislative@affdsm.com
Current job title: Director of Government Relations
Length of time at current employer: 34 years, 20 plus in various positions in the Meredith Law Department, now lobbying
What I love best about my job/career: Meeting personally with legislators and their staff here or in DC
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Roughly in order: lawn care, swimming pool maintenance, janitor, detasseling crew chief, grocery stock boy/bagger, building construction, assembly line foreman at Amana refrigeration, land survey crew, Insurance underwriter, attorney
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Daffy Duck talking to Foghorn Leghorn
Favorite kid’s joke: Floppy show standard ~ Why did the man put the car in the oven? He wanted a hot rod.
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “I wish they would adjourn and go home.”
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Visiting our kids at their homes. ~ I’m tempted not to hang up the towels, etc.
Favorite quote/saying: “Believe none of what you hear, some of what you read and half of what you see.”
Past President
Josh Riessen, Meredith Corp./Living the Country Life
Current job title: Sales Executive, Living the Country Life/Meredith Corp.
Length of time at current employer: 2 years
What I love best about my job/career: Getting to travel the country and working with a diverse set of agencies and clients.
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Strategic America, Hy-Vee, President of AAF – Des Moines ’10-’11
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Bugs Bunny
Favorite kid’s joke: Why do they put fences around cemeteries? Because people are dying to get in.
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “You’re kidding, right?”
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Sitting around a fire with family and friends. I love to travel, too.
Favorite quote/saying: “ If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive.” ~Dale Carnegie
District 9 Representative
Kathleen Riessen, Measured Intentions
district9@aafdsm
Current job title: Client Services Director
Length of time at current employer: 3 years
What I love best about my job/career: Flexibility and the creative environment
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Account Executive at Strategic America, Senior Auditor at KPMG, President of the Year for AAF Division Three (2009-2010)
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Spongebob Squarepants
Favorite kid’s joke: How does a witch tell time? With a witch watch. (This was my Halloween joke for about 15 years and I have taught my son, Caden, it as well.)
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “Seriously?!?”
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Negril, Jamaica
Favorite quote/saying: “If it was easy, everyone would do it.”
Club Administrators
Executive Director
Lisa Lewis
execdirector@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Marketing Communications Consultant
Length of time at current employer: 1 year
What I love best about my job/career: Collaborating with people from a variety of companies in the Greater Des Moines Area and networking
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: Procurement Specialist for Sigler Companies, Account Executive for KDSM Fox 17, Marketing Communications Manager for Kum & Go
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Minnie Mouse
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “Gavin no!” (To my 10-month-old son who gets into everything!)
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Door County, Wisconsin
Favorite quote/saying: “Patience is a virtue.”
Executive Secretary
Diana Baratta, AAF Financials
execsec@aafdsm.com
Current job title: Sr. Marketing Coordinator
Length of time at current employer: 15 years
What I love best about my job/career: Working with my reps throughout the country
Previous jobs or leadership positions held: VP of Marketing for Bank of America, President of Ankeny Soccer Club, President of Ankeny Parks and Recreation Board of Directors
Cartoon character I most closely identify with: Road Runner
Most common phrase I could be heard saying in any given day: “Go sell something!”
Favorite past-time or vacation location: Walking the dogs
Favorite quote/saying: “Just do it!”
