Our Team
Allison Burwell, President
Allison Burwell grew up working in the association management and meeting planning industry, providing support to DCI while attending the University of Kansas. Upon graduating with a degree in Business Administration, she decided to expand her knowledge of the association management industry by working for other national associations. After a few years, she returned to DCI and in 2011 proudly stepped into the role of President.
Contact Allison: aburwell@dci-kansascity.com
Jennifer Palmer, Chief Operations Officer
Since 1994, Jennifer has been instrumental in growing DCI’s services, team of associates and client portfolio. In addition to serving in leadership roles for several association clients, Jennifer serves as DCI’s Chief Operating Officer, managing staff and office operations and contributing as a seasoned advisor to her fellow team members. Jennifer is committed to offering great customer service to clients and promoting servant leadership to the DCI team.
Contact Jennifer: jpalmer@dci-kansascity.com
Lysa Little, Chief Information Officer
Lysa Little has been with DCI since 1997. During her tenure, Lysa has gained expertise in managing membership services and board and committee activities, publications and website administration. Further, Lysa is responsible for directing meeting logistics and activities including speech editorial, graphic management, and show production. In 2020 Lysa was named Chief Information Officer for DCI, and now oversees all technical programs and coordinates internal IT services ensuring DCI is operating on current, secure and efficient platforms.
Contact Lysa: llittle@dci-kansascity.com
Cheryl Whelan
Following graduation (MIZZOU RAH) Cheryl joined the DCI team in 2006 and quickly gained experience working alongside team leads. Growing in her roles within the organization, she is now leading several teams herself. Cheryl is also responsible for orchestrating logistics for a number of the large Conventions with DCI’s portfolio, managing staff and vendors needed to bring these events to life each year.
Contact Cheryl: cwhelan@dci-kansascity.com
Angela Capra
Throughout her 18 year tenure, Angela has been a valuable asset to DCI due in large part to her focus on executing membership initiatives and overseeing publications and fulfillment through a strategic lens. She continues to collaborate with the Board of Directors and committee members with a unified purpose in mind: to elevate the vision and mission of each respective association. With a background in the production industry, Angela has the ability to leverage her experience to overcome obstacles quickly in order to deliver results for her clients in a seamless and timely manner. Outside of work, Angela approaches her life with the same degree of enthusiasm. She enjoys travelling, spending time with friends and family and cheering for local sports teams.
Contact Angela: acapra@dci-kansascity.com
Julie Mills, Controller
Julie Mills came to DCI in 1997 after a 12-year history in the financial management industry where her principle focus was on small business accounting. Julie’s primary role is Controller for DCI and its clients. In this role, she maintains the financial information for each association, which includes balancing bank statements, preparing monthly and quarterly financial statements, reports, and budgets for each of the association’s boards; processing and tracking each association’s income and expenses; formulating and filing quarterly FEC reports for PACs; and preparing financial information and support documentation for end-of-year tax filing. Julie researches various accounting and tax issues relevant to the financial situations of each association and its individual needs in an effort to keep each client abreast of the latest financial information.
Contact Julie: jmills@dci-kansascity.com
Jordan Bennett
Jordan joined the DCI team in 2011 and has honed her skills as Executive Director, meeting planner, and publications editor for several clients in her tenure. She contributes to many written communications and values supporting clients in achieving their individual association goals. Jordan brings her bilingual communications expertise from her six years in the education industry to DCI. She holds a dual undergraduate degree in Secondary Spanish and English Education in addition to a graduate degree in English Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas.
Contact Jordan: jbennett@dci-kansascity.com
Shelby Debner
Shelby joined DCI in 2013 after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in Event Management. She has a wide variety of responsibilities including meeting planning, membership management, board and committee support and website administration. Shelby has honed her expertise in vendor partnerships securing sponsorships, booths and advertising sales for a variety of associations during her tenure.
Contact Shelby: sdebner@dci-kansascity.com
Dana VanMeerhaeghe
Dana VanMeerhaeghe joined DCI in 2019 with over 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations as well as association management and certification boards. She provides strategic leadership, board development, executive administration, membership marketing and whatever else her clients need to be successful. She has a Masters degree in Public Administration and is committed to the growth and success of the associations in which she is involved. In her free time, Dana likes to read, enjoy the outdoors and travel with friends and family.
Contact Dana: dvanmeerhaeghe@dci-kansascity.com
Mary Henderson
Mary Henderson joined DCI in 2019 with over seven years of experience in the association management and non-profit industries, providing support for professional associations, certification boards and a humanitarian organization. In her role at DCI, her responsibilities include assisting with membership, vendors, publications and meeting support. She is committed to working with the team to serve each client. Mary earned degree in Journalism from Ohio University. Away from the office, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and doing calligraphy.
Contact Mary: mhenderson@dci-kansascity.com
Shelley Klein
Shelley has 12 years of experience in Association Management and Event Planning. She has worked with many associations in a wide range of industries including corporate sales training, marketing, and engineering. Shelley previously worked independently, with the goal of providing management partnership and event planning for association chapters and small businesses. In addition to her experience, Shelley establishes a great rapport with her clients, striking a balance between professionalism while keeping things upbeat and positive.
Contact Shelley: sklein@dci-kansascity.com
Kelsey Webster
Kelsey joined DCI in 2022 after working in government, manufacturing, non-profit, and education in Oregon and California for two decades. She has a Bachelor’s in English Literature from Azusa Pacific University and spends her time with her family, reading, watching Oregon Duck sports, and exploring the Kansas City area.
Contact Kelsey: kwebster@dci-kansascity.com
Katy Stuckey
Katy joined the DCI team as an Association Coordinator in 2022 after working in the broadcast and marketing industry. She is experienced in client relations, account management, and creation and implementation of marketing strategies. She obtained two bachelor’s degrees from Missouri State, focusing in Strategic Communication as well as Advertising and Promotions. In Katy’s free time she likes to travel to new cities, spend time with family at the Lake, and anything that has to do with her fur-baby, Grace.
Contact Katy: kstuckey@dci-kansascity.com
Michelle Pierceall
Michelle joined the DCI team in 2024, bringing with her a wide range of communications and management experience in nonprofit organizations and associations. She excels at building and maintaining strong relationships, supporting decision-making through historical perspective and strategic counsel, and engaging association members and constituents. Her responsibilities at DCI include managing vendors, providing board support, contributing to digital communication efforts and planning meetings for her clients. In her free time, Michelle enjoys movies, music, historical fiction novels and time spent with family and friends.
Contact Michelle: mpierceall@dci-kansascity.com
Maria Pfeifer
Maria joined DCI in 2024 with a background in accounting andiInterest rate risk. Maria aids the Controller for DCI by maintaining financial information, working with the accounts payable and receivables for each association, processing each association’s income and expenses and simultaneously preparing reports for the Executives managing those accounts. She also handles the receivables for DCI and prepares reporting for each client. In her free time, Maria enjoys spending time with her three children, attending their numerous sporting events, traveling and outdoor planting and gardening.
Contact Maria: mpfeifer@dci-kansascity.com
