Doug Austin
Doug Austin was appointed chief technology officer in June 2013. He began his career at SSD in 2004 as systems administrator, was promoted to the director of information systems in 2011 and to interim chief technology officer in 2012.
Prior to working at SSD, Doug served as the director of technology services for New Horizons Computer Learning.
Terry Blauvelt
Terry Blauvelt is the Library Development Coordinator with the Missouri State Library where he gets to work with some of the best library consultants in the country. He has been with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for over 23 years, previously serving in the Business Services Division in Springfield for 11 years and in the State Library for the last 12 years. He has sought to simplify and shrink the Public Library Survey and to make Library Service and Technology Grants more accessible to libraries of all sizes and locations. He volunteers as a mentor to two other states LSTA coordinators for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Terry holds an Associates of Science in Accounting and Management degree from Drury University, a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Southwest Baptist University, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University, a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas, and a Master of Arts in Teaching-Business Education from Evangel University.
Ben Canlas
Ben Canlas is the Chief Information Officer for the University of Missouri and the UM System Vice President for IT. In his role, he leads the information technology organization for the University of Missouri, which includes all four universities (MU, UMSL, UMKC, Missouri S&T), UM System and MOREnet. The University’s IT portfolio includes infrastructure and networking, campus computing, application development, student computing services, statewide networking and technology services, enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise architecture, research computing and support, telecommunications, audio/visual technology, and information security and compliance.
Prior to becoming the MU CIO and UM VP for IT, Ben served the University in a multitude of technology and leadership roles over a 23 year period. In his previous position of Director of Enterprise Application Services, he was responsible for the University’s enterprise systems including HR, financial, supply chain, student information systems, document management, data warehousing and the operational infrastructure that supports them.
Ben earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Carrie Cline
Carrie Cline has been a librarian for over 25 years, starting out her career as a K-12 school librarian. She was named as the new Library Director of the Wright County Library 20 years ago, then director of the McDonald County Library in 2001. Both of these systems are small and rural, and Carrie has long been an outspoken advocate for rural libraries and their many needs.
Carrie has been the MLA Secretary, helped form the Youth Services Community of Interest of MLA and has served on the Building Block Picture Book Award committee, the Mark Twain Award committee and Summer Reading Program committees. For several years, she traveled the state, presenting summer reading program workshops on behalf of the Missouri State Library, and she served as president of the Missouri Public Library Directors (MPLD). She is also very community minded, and served on the McDonald County Chamber Board of Directors.
In 2015, Carrie was named the Director of the Neosho Newton County Library, and has gone on to become Secretary of the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce. She is currently on the Lions Club Board of Directors and the Missouri Evergreen Board of Directors.
Rick DeCaro
Rick is the Director of Information Technology overseeing Logan’s infrastructure, software, systems and technical services, with 20 years experience as an IT professional. Rick earned Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Management Information Systems (CMIS) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2003. He also earned his Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification. Prior to coming to Logan worked for a small networking firm in Dallas TX where he worked his way up from Help Desk support to Datacenter Manager and ultimately General Manager. Completed Baldridge Examiner Training for Quality Texas Foundation Sept. 2019.
Samantha Dickey
Samantha Dickey serves as the Assistant Commissioner for Postsecondary Policy at the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. In her role, she oversees the department’s regulatory functions related to higher education system coordination and strategic initiatives designed to meet the department’s educational attainment and labor force participation goals. Samantha has been with the agency for over 10 years, previously serving in legislative, project management and policy development roles. Through her work, she has strived for systems that support student success so individuals can achieve their full potential.
Samantha holds a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Truman State University.
Tammy Ellison
Tammy Ellison serves as the Director of Information Technology and Operations and Instructional Technology for Culver-Stockton College, where she provides strategic oversight for the organization’s digital ecosystem. She manages the core infrastructure, software suites and the learning management system (LMS) to ensure seamless daily operations. Tammy has served the college for more than 26 years in various roles, such as associate librarian, instructional technologist, advisor and lecturer.
Tammy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy from Culver-Stockton College. She earned her Masters of Library and Information Science from Drexel University and her Masters of Instructional Design and Technology from Western Illinois University.
When not at work, Tammy helps her six children run a lawn care and snow removal business. She also serves as a member of the Canton Main Street Association and is involved with the Lewis County 4-H.
Megan Gretzinger
Megan Gretzinger is the Executive Director of Technology for the Lee’s Summit School District, where she leads district-wide technology strategy, infrastructure and innovation. She is the current Chair of METL and brings 13 years of classroom experience along with five years of service as the Instructional Technology Director for Clinton, Missouri. Her work focuses on leveraging technology to support teaching, learning and district operations.
Sue Lightfoot
Sue Lightfoot, current director of the Livingston County Library and the Lillian DesMarias Youth Library as of August, 2021, began her public service tenure with Carrollton Public Library in 2008.
She graduated from Baker University with Masters in Business Administration-Management, summa cum laude.
Sue is currently an Executive Board Member and former Chair of Missouri Evergreen Consortium, a strong advocate and member of the MOREnet Council, member of the Livingston County Library Charitable Trust Board and President-Elect of Chillicothe Rotary Club D6040. Additionally, she holds positions as Treasurer to the Hudson Bridges Foundation and member of University of Missouri Extension-Carroll County Council.
Past positions include MPLD (Missouri Public Library Directors) President, President of the Grand River Library Conference and numerous local and county positions as commitment to community involvement is a top priority. She strives to involve all patrons and generations to understand the library’s services and programming.
Sue has updated technologies at both library locations, employed more staff for the expansion of programming, and focused on inter-library loan services and community collaborations for Livingston County Library.
She sees value in mentoring new public library directors by sharing her experiences, and she has mentored neighboring library director’s migrations into the resource sharing consortium Missouri Evergreen.
Sue has expansive experience in the marketing/promotion/advertising field with a locally owned company that has made its mark in the media realm. With former owners of WHB Radio, she gained much experience to maintain professional relationships with marketing professionals across the state of Missouri to reach extensive sales goals. Previously, she measured, reviewed and calculated tax values on personal, residential, commercial and new construction properties for tax assessments as Chief Appraiser for the Carroll County Assessor Office.
Sue’s motto is “Fear is a learned behavior.”
Christa Van Herreweghe
Christa Van Herreweghe values libraries for their commitment to public service, technology, information and reading. She was appointed the director at Kirkwood Public Library in 2020 and is active on local, state and national committees, including the Missouri Library Association Legislative Committee and the American Library Association Essential Cookbooks Committee. Christa earned her MLS from the University of Missouri in 2007 and completed the Certified Public Library Administrator program through the American Library Association in 2014. She has presented at multiple conferences on a variety of library topics and continues to develop innovative projects and services to benefit library patrons.