Institute Faculty

SPOTLIGHT ON...

Deborah Snellen
President and Owner
Business Class
Whitefish, MT

1. What do you like the most about teaching at Institute?

I joined my local Chamber of Commerce on the same day I started my own business twenty years ago. It was the best investment and I have had a high regard for Chambers ever since. In addition, I have enjoyed giving my time in volunteer leadership positions for several associations. That is what I like most about Institute. It is the opportunity to share knowledge among some of the best people in the profession.

2. What is your favorite course to teach at Institute and why?

My favorite subjects are those that deal with performance management, communication, and leadership. Those are my strengths.

3. What is your profession when not involved in Institute?

I started my consulting business in February of 1988 so I am celebrating my 20th year of business. My clients are nationwide and in Canada. For the past ten years I have had a featured column in the College Store magazine. Over seventy five of my articles have been published.

4. In your free time, what do you do for fun?

I love to snow ski and read historical novels. When I am feeling creative, I enjoy quilting and sewing wearable art.

5. What are some of your favorite movies?

Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis, The Long Riders, and Gone With the Wind.

6. What is your proudest accomplishment?

Being selected to serve as the 2003-2004 President of the University of Missouri Alumni Association was a huge honor for me. At the time, we had over 33,000 members so it was a time consuming, yet rewarding, responsibility. On a more personal note, watching my nineteen year old daughter achieve success in her endeavors makes me very proud.

7. If you could vacation in any spot in the world, where would it be and why?

I am fortunate to say that I relocated to my favorite vacation spot in August – Whitefish, Montana – just twenty miles from Glacier National Park. There are so many other places I hope to visit someday, it would be hard to pick just one.

8. What motivates you?

A challenge when I know that I can make a positive contribution.

9. If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

Tom Brokaw. I was a fan when he was the anchor of the NBC Nightly News because of the remarkable way he could relate a story to the viewer. I would like to talk to him about his worldwide encounters. And we would have to talk about something we have in common – our love for the state of Montana.

10. Do you have a Web site where we could read more about you?

www.ebusinessclass.com

2009 INSTITUTE FACULTY

David K. Aaker IOM, ACE
Aaker & Associates

Ann Atkinson, Ph.D.
Atkinson & Associates, LLC

Sheila Birnbach, LCSW-C
G B Associates, Inc.

Beverly Browning
BBA, Inc.

Dick Castner
Western Regional Office, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

James A. Chavez, IOM
Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council

John Cox, CAE
Association Growth & Income Builders, LLC

Dana Egreczky
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

Samuel J. Erkonen, J.D., LLM
Howe & Hutton, Ltd.

Chuck Ewart, IOM, CCE
The Ewart Group

Dennis C. Farmer, IOM, CAE
Arkansas Beverage Association (ARBEV)

Eric Featherstone, IOM, CAE
Melby, Cameron & Anderson

Robert Foulks, IOM, CAE, CPA
Wisconsin Medical Society

Anissa Freeman Starnes, IOM
Burke County Chamber of Commerce

Michael Gellman, CPA
Rubino & McGeehin

Robert Gerding, CPA
Gerding, Korte & Chitwood

Bill Graham,
Graham Corporate Communications

David Goch, Esq
Webster Chamberlain and Bean

Robert C. Harris, CAE
NonProfit Resource Center

G. Daniel Hearn, IOM, CCE
Catawba County Chamber of Commerce

Reginald Henry
ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership

Ken Higdon, IOM, CCE
Temple Chamber of Commerce

Cathleen Hight
Hight Performance Group, Inc.

Elyse C. Hillegass, IOM
Gaston Chamber of Commerce

Rosemary Lahasky
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Donald M. Laird, IOM, CCE
Columbia Chamber of Commerce

Shelia Lee, IOM, CCE
Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Kip Lilly, MA, IOM
Lilly Foresight Dynamics

Bruce Matza
Innovations in Management

Jill McCrory
Leadership Outfitters, Inc.

Patrick H. McGaughey, IOM
McGaughey Enterprises.net Inc.

Gerald Mills, IOM, CPM
Winston County Economic Partnership

C. Wayne Mitchell, IOM
ProdComm

Shane A. Moody, IOM
Destin Area Chamber of Commerce

Lauren Mountain, IOM
CoreNet Global

William D. Pawlucy, IOM, CAE, MPA
Amedco, LLC

Renee Radcliff Sinclair
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Robert Rasberry, Ph.D.
Southern Methodist University

David Reel, CAE
Home Building Association of Richmond

Liz Reilly
US Chamber of Commerce