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Executive Director:
Kristen L. Smith, CAE

Kristen@WOMMA.org
@KristenWOMMA


Her whole life, Kristen has been the beneficiary of word of mouth. Just about every job she's had came about from someone saying something about Kristen to someone else. So, it was only natural that she was lucky enough to become the executive director of the official trade organization for the word of mouth industry.

Speaking of word of mouth, Kristen would like to put in a plug for her alma mater (and that of her husband) – Purdue University, where she's a proud member of the John Purdue Alumni Club.

 

 
WOM Enthusiast:
John Moore

JohnMoore@WOMMA.org
Blog: AllThings.WOMMA.org
@WOMMAJohn


John Moore is putting his marketing where his mouth is as WOMMA’s in-house evangelist for all things word-of-mouth. Having spent a good part of his marketing career at two brands built upon word-of-mouth, Starbucks Coffee and Whole Foods Market, John knows the power of using WOM to drive sales and build brands.

At WOMMA, John serves as a WOM advocate by educating and motivating businesses to use word-of-mouth marketing effectively and ethically. He is also a spokesperson for WOMMA, addressing hot-button topics covered by traditional media and discussed in conversations happening in the online social media world.

John lives, works, drinks craft beer, and enjoys smoked brisket from his bunker in the badlands of Central Texas. (Otherwise known as Austin.)
 
Director of Education and Events
Kristin Horstman

KHorstman@WOMMA.org


Kristin Horstman has over 15 years of management experience working with corporate and non-profit organizations. As part of the senior management team at one of the largest Association Management firms, she oversaw the strategic development, financial management and execution of over 350 meetings, tradeshows, and conferences worldwide.

She has extensive knowledge and passion in global work, her first international conference organized in Seoul in 2001. She has also organized meetings in Asia, Europe, Africa, Canada and Mexico. In 2007 she was selected to work with the Mayor’s Office of Chicago to coordinate the Mayors Hemispheric Conference, a three day event for over 30 international mayors from the US, South America, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Kristin achieved her B.S. degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Iowa State University in 1995 and obtained her professional certification as a Certified Meeting Professional in 2003 from the Convention Industry Council. When she's not at work you'll find her running, biking, and playing volleyball along Chicago's lakefront.
 
Social Media Director:
Steve Ziemba

Steve@WOMMA.org
@WOMMA


Steve's brings an eclectic background in sales, marketing, and account management to WOMMA. A tale of two decades, the 90’s found Steve working in the banking and consumer credit reporting industry, as well as playing soccer multiple times a week. Approaching the new millennium and a torn meniscus, Steve transitioned into a career more in tune with his creative side: corporate video production, online visual marketing, and social media marketing.

A native of the Chicagoland area, Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois and a Masters of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University. In his leisure time, Steve enjoys telling monotonous stories about his 2005 knee surgery and nebulous soccer tales from a bygone era. When not following Liverpool FC, Steve can be found coaching his son’s soccer team or downloading podcasts from NPR.
 
Director of Member Relations:
Tarah Remington

Tarah@WOMMA.org
@WOMMAtarah


Tarah brings to WOMMA an undying devotion to member services and education, along with almost 10 years of association experience. Prior to WOMMA, Tarah worked for the American Academy of Family Physicians, and was responsible for the membership recruitment and retention of 22,000 medical students as well as affinity program development. She also was the membership manager for the American Optometric Association where she was responsible for the Paraoptometric Section of membership for the organization. She developed educational programs, worked with an elected Council and several volunteer committees, increased membership benefits and services, and created sponsorship opportunities for the Section and the organization.

Tarah grew up in a small town outside of Kansas City, MO and is the youngest of three children. If she wasn't working at WOMMA, her dream job would be singing on Broadway. For now, she'll just stick to karaoke.
 
Web Producer:
Jonathan Mannheim

Jon@WOMMA.org
@WOMMA


Born in WOMMA's home locale of Chicago, Jonathan's auspicious technology beginnings at age 5 included accidentally breaking a computer store's security code before he was caught painting a beach on MS Paint by store employees. He soon after created an executable file on his father's PC which had it out of commission for a week, or so. Accidents happen.

Jonathan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in History. Aside from Chicago and Madison, he's also lived in New York City and Jerusalem. He speaks Hebrew, understands Spanish and Portuguese, and attempts a smattering of English. And, so long as his knees allow, he runs marathons.
 
Social Media Coordinator & Editor:
Pat McCarthy

Pat@WOMMA.org
@WOMMA
Blog: WOMMA.org/Word


Pat found WOMMA in the best way possible, through word of mouth (thanks to his friend, a former WOMMA employee, who recommended him after netting herself a job in sunny LA). Previously he labored a paralegal, salesman, and a canoe guide. He can tell many tales of traversing the lakes of northern Minnesota, but for now he’ll stick to editing the WOMMA Word.

He was born and raised in Evanston, IL. In 2006 he received a Political Science degree from Iowa State University. In his free time, he likes to write, play volleyball and travel to far flung places. He has Eurailed through Europe and will explore Istanbul this summer.
 
   
 

Webinar: When Companies Need More Than Facebook: How an Internal Social Network is an Advantage

Free for Everyone
Wed., July 8 at 12 pm EST

more...

 
Learn About this Event!
 
   
 
Before you leave, make sure you see these.
 
 

Webinar Library
Download podcasts, presentation decks, and watch SlideShares of WOMMA Webinars and Brand Council Webinars.
Visit the Library

WOM 101
Learn the art and science of creating effective marketing programs that get customers talking.
Download PDF

Ethics Code
The WOMMA Ethics Code of Conduct defines best practices, unacceptable practices, and baseline rules of the road.
Download PDF

Metrics Best Practice Guidebook
Provide your ideas to help improve the draft of our guide which helps to practically explain measurement & metrics.
Download & Comment

 
   
 
Read about companies that do it right.
 
 
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Building A Loyal Community for the Travel Channel
The Travel Channel boasts a diverse range of viewers, from armchair dreamers, living vicariously through the shows, to veteran travelers ready to plot their next trip. Travel Channel's challenge is to deliver content and consumer touch points... more..
 
   
 
 
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