A Note from Your New President
Hi, I’m Kylie and I’m excited to be kicking off the year for AMA Lincoln as your new chapter president.
Being a chapter of the American Marketing Association, we are an essential community for marketers, connecting people through education, networking, and opportunities to serve. Here in Lincoln, that means something. Our members come from all kinds of organizations, big, small, nonprofit, startup, and that range is what makes this community worth showing up for.
A bit on me in case we haven’t met yet. I’m originally from Florida and grew up all over the South as a military kid. Nebraska happened to be my last stop, and I couldn’t be more glad it was. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and now work as a Project Coordinator II at Nelnet. I have been on the AMA Lincoln board for four years, serving in membership, partnership, and most recently as President Elect before stepping into this role.
Who We Are
Our Vision, Mission, and Values are at the heart of everything we do.
Vision: AMA Lincoln is the organization people are proud to join and reluctant to leave, known for showing up with open hearts and skilled hands.
Mission: Build a chapter where every voice matters and every voice serves.
Values: Service, Inclusivity, Honesty, Respect, Transparency, Responsibility, Citizenship
What to Expect in 2026-2027
Every program and event this year starts with one question: how does this serve our members and community?
Root AMA Lincoln in service. We’re giving back to Lincoln through volunteering, community partnerships, and showing up at local events. We kicked off the year with a visit to BraveBe on June 12, where many of us got to learn firsthand about the incredible services they provide to youth, families, and investigators in our community. We didn’t just tour the space though. We rolled up our sleeves and helped clean the very rooms that staff, youth, and families spend their days in, and supported the marketing materials they use every day to spread the word about their work. It was a meaningful reminder of why service is at the core of what we do, and it’s just the beginning.
Grow and strengthen our membership. We are committed to bringing in small businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations who haven’t connected with AMA yet, while continuing to pour into the members who have already found value here. Whether you’re brand new or have been with us for years, we want this chapter to work for you. This community should reflect all of Lincoln, and we want every member to feel that.
Build a board culture that lasts. We’re investing in a team that communicates well, shows up consistently, and builds something that sustains itself beyond any single year.
Strengthen collegiate connections. We’ll continue growing our relationships with local university chapters and students, investing in the next generation of Lincoln marketers.
Events for Every Marketer
Social Events and Happy Hours: Casual opportunities to connect and strengthen our community. Cribs, happy hours, and more.
Round Tables: Small group conversations where marketers work through real challenges together.
Skill School: Practical 2 to 3 hour learning sessions with local speakers and hands-on takeaways you can use immediately.
Special Events: Our two flagship events are Cropped, a live design competition, and Prism Awards, which celebrates marketing excellence.
4 Things You Can Do Right Now
- Check your AMA membership expiration at ama.org and turn on auto-renew so you stay connected all year. Need help with your membership? Reach out to our membership team and they can help point you in the right direction at membership@amalincoln.org.
- Not getting our emails? Sign up today and don’t miss a beat at www.amalincoln.org/newsletter-signup!
- Interested in volunteering? We would love to have you. Reach out to our membership team at leadership@amalincoln.org to get connected.
- Follow AMA Lincoln on Eventbrite to get notified the moment new events are published.
Introducing Your 2026-2027 Board
Executive Leadership
Kylie Stearns, President
Samantha Holman, President Elect
Jordan Snader, Immediate Past President
Leanna Graham, Treasurer
Lindsay Walsh, Secretary
Programming
Maddie Davis, EVP of Programming
Felicia Lopez, VP of Special Events
Gretchen Arroyo, VP of Special Events
Leah Gregory, VP of Social Events
Kate Gutschenritter, VP of Social Events
Mandy Peterson, VP of Round Tables
Community and Impact
Nathan He, EVP of Community and Impact
Becca Fowler, VP of Community Engagement and Volunteers
Ty Westover, VP of Community Events
Membership
Bri Prai, EVP of Membership
Tessa Wiser, VP of Membership Retention
Jennifer Schultz, VP of Collegiate Relations
Communications
Mallory Krenk, EVP of Communications
Kristen Labadie, VP of Communications, Website
Brittany Wren, VP of Communications, Email
Open, VP of Communications, Content
Partnerships
Lydia Coulson, EVP of Partnership
Amanda Lofland, VP of Partnership
Tim Karstens, VP of Partnership
We thank all outgoing 2025-2026 AMA Lincoln board members for your dedication and service to our chapter.
Whether you’re a longtime member or just finding us for the first time, welcome. Every voice matters here, and we mean it.
Kylie Stearns
President, AMA Lincoln, 2026-2027