“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” - Henry Ford
Our Team
Luis Barnes
Founder/Executive Director
Palmyra, Missouri
A long-time Cincinnati Bengals fan, Luis spent 20+ years working with Real Estate data. Father of two and (as he puts it) a pretty decent Call of Duty player. He currently serves as the President of the Quincy University National Alumni Board.
Brant Myers
Chairman - Board of Directors
Kansas City, Kansas
Brant is a Baker University, KS, graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems. He has held IT leadership roles at several companies in the not-for-profit, medical, managed services, and data analytics industries. Brant is passionate about data - if you’ve spent any time with Brant, it is likely you’ve heard him assert the potential for “actionable analytics” to drive organizational success.
Brant and his wife, Cassandra, live in Overland Park, KS. They have two grown children, a 16-year-old Schnoodle, and are excited to have welcomed their first grandchild in late 2022. Mentoring engaged couples, supporting Catholic education, volunteering with addiction recovery programs, and spending time with family and friends are just a few of Brant’s interests keeping him busy outside of work.
Alexandria Burton
Lookout Valley High School - Chattanooga, Tennessee
Board Member - Secretary
Alexandria, a mathematician, has spent 9 years as a High School educator in Chattanooga, TN. She currently serves as Track & Field Head Coach, as well as Girls Volleyball Assistant Coach. While she also enjoys gaming, her greatest joy is time spent with her beautiful little girl & devoted fiance!
Monica Puls
Board Member - Treasurer
Sturhahn Jewelers, Palmyra, Missouri
Having spent 25 years in management, Monica changed direction & now enjoys working for a locally-owned, family business. “While my past careers were corporate, I’ve never wanted to climb that latter & I became weary of it’s ‘dog-eat-dog’ mindset. This exceptional family has made me one of their own & I couldn’t be happier!”
Jessi Manthei
Board Member - Director of Social Media
The Write Place, Quincy, Illinois
Jessi is a wordsmith. She has been a technical writer for over a decade and a business consultant for the last seven years. She’s done grant writing for nonprofits and been a business owner in 3 states. Her specialties include digital marketing, social media strategies, and thinking outside the box