Kathy Miller

About: With more than 25 years experience in literally every area of marketing and communications, Kathy put on both her branding and creative hats to work with the U.S. Army in developing the I. A.M. Strong and “Strength in Diversity” programs. By first bringing research to the process, Kathy and our research director used Summit’s proprietary pre-cognitive research process to discover the insights and emotional motivators that have moved the Army audience to action and made these programs Army “gold standards” in the communications arena.

Key Facts: With a degree in Radio-TV Speech Communications, Kathy is an award winning community theater musical comedy actress with leads in Mame, Company and Applause to her credit. She is also a published author of children’s books, a voice-over talent…and is mad about her miniature Schnauzer, Miss Bea.

Dan Renz

About: Dan began his career at what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm where he led audits of Fortune 100 and government clients. After business school, Dan spent 10 years at Anheuser-Busch Companies, in strategic planning and as General Manager of the Promotional Products Group. Dan founded Summit Marketing in 1996 and through his vision and leadership, Summit Marketing has evolved into a communications partner with the capability to deliver fully integrated marketing campaigns from strategy and planning through creative and execution. (We have an agreement with Dan – he lets us handle the Meaningful, Memorable, Motivational part of the Marketing equation; he makes sure we nail the Measurable. It all works.)

Key Facts: Dan is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Missouri, where he received his B.S.B.A. in Accounting. His degree from Mizzou (he reluctantly admits to having two wayward, Kansas Jayhawk daughters) was followed by an MBA from Harvard University. Dan is an avid golfer in constant but elusive pursuit of par. He loves the new travel opportunities being an empty nester affords he and his wife – mostly traveling to see their 3 children, listening to country music and trying new wines and craft beers. And, based on his car, shirts and suits – he really, really loves the color blue!

Natalie Malphrus, CPA

Senior Vice President of Strategic Services

About: Natalie started her career working with numbers and people – and it has not stopped for 25 years.  She now oversees the Data, Analytics and Support Services across Summit . . . working closely with the various Client Service departments throughout the company. Natalie leads strategy teams from Donor/Customer Modeling to Testing Strategy to Production. Through cross functional groups, our clients enjoy superior and consistent results thanks to Natalie’s leadership.

Key Facts: Natalie is a person who loves to “work” with the numbers. She graduated from Western Washington University with a BS in Accounting and has a MBA degree from St. Thomas University. In Natalie’s free time she enjoys outdoor sports, traveling and hanging out with family and friends.

Michael Tritt

About: Michael Tritt has lived and loved the fast-paced agency life for more than 26 years. Along the way, he’s covered Copywriting, Creative Services, Research, Client Development and Agency Marketing, before moving into Senior Management. For the past 9 years, Michael has leveraged the voices of the agency and our many client partners to help build a truly diverse team of brilliant marketers…now service the commercial, non-profit and government sectors. It life is a highway, Michael loves the journey and is never content unless he’s on the leading edge of innovation and inspiration. Michael is frequently heard saying, “Find a way to say YES to our clients, our company and to each other!”

Key Facts: Michael’s office displays the following: Aerial photo of the Pentagon; watercolor painting from his son’s 3rd grade year (not certain of subject matter); collection of Boy Scout Norman Rockwell coffee mugs; a metal sculpture proclaiming “It’s All Good!”; and a cigar box filled with treasures from the road that simply can’t be thrown away – but have no real purpose.

Jeff Triplett

Controller

About: Jeff started his career as an Accountant in the private sector for a successful retail chain. Over the years, he has gained experience in all areas of accounting through work with a chemical company and an automotive parts manufacturer. Since 2006, Jeff has been the Controller for Summit Marketing in Kansas City, where he oversees the accounting functions for the division.

Key Facts: Jeff is a graduate of Missouri State University with a BS in Accounting. He enjoys spending his spare time with his family and attending his kids’ school and sporting events. Although he will soon be fighting his twins for the car keys, he also loves traveling to new places and finding great restaurants with his wife.

Michelle Noyes

Chief Development Officer

About: From the young age of four, Michelle grew up in customer service training through her family’s 24/7 real estate business in Colorado Springs. The hallmark of her family’s business was always going above and beyond to serve and meet the needs of each and every client. Michelle excelled in marketing, sales and product development throughout the early years of her career. Prior to joining Summit Marketing in 2000, she was the Chief Operating Officer of a nationally ranked Prudential Brokerage and owned two Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzel franchise locations. Michelle has served as both Chairman and Committee member for a variety of not for profit organizations such as Easter Seals Society, The Catholic Diocese Board of Education, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mount St. Scholastica Academy and The Ronald McDonald House, just to name a few. Michelle has a unique management and customer service style of combining her business principals with her Christian values, which result in a holistic “Total Team” approach. She attributes her philosophy to the servant leadership modeled and mentored by her mother as well as Michelle’s years of studying to enter a Benedictine Convent where the focus of “Ora et labora”, which means work and prayer is a way of daily life.

Key Facts: Michelle has been married to her husband Scott for 28 years. They have two children, Morgan and Spencer, a son-in-law, Luke and a new grandson named Braxton. When not involved in multi-tasking a variety of exciting creative and client endeavors, Michelle enjoys quiet moments with friends and family and coaching figure skating on the weekends.

Joanne Leightner

Corporate Controller

About: Joanne began her Accounting career in a small law firm located in St. Louis, MO. After receiving her Masters in Business Administration – Concentration in Finance from St. Louis University, she was off to the East Coast. She soon became a Division Controller for Summit Marketing. Eight years later, Joanne was offered Summit Marketing’s position of Corporate Controller in St. Louis. With a chance to come home to be near her family, she jumped at the opportunity. As Corporate Controller she is responsible for the oversight of Summit’s financial activities and reporting, management of the Accounting staff, Government reporting and contract maintenance.

Key Facts: Joanne enjoys running. She has participated in many races over the past 3 years benefiting multiple charities. She loves spending time with her pound puppy, Cheyenne, and enjoys hanging out and traveling with her family and friends. Her guilty pleasure?…watching drama-filled reality programs every chance she gets.