Meet The Team
President and Founder
Katie Pesha, MBA
Katie began her career in 2003 at USA Today as the circulation manager, then National Account Director, followed by a promotion to National Director for Higher Education Programs. In 2011 she took on the role of Executive Director of Communications and Planning for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, where she oversaw all marketing, interactive media, community relations, publications and pastoral planning efforts for all offices and agencies. Katie is an active member of inaugural cohort of the Church Communications Ecology Program sponsored by the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. She is also the chair of the Mission Advancement Committee of the Board of Directors for the Association of the Miraculous Medal based in Perryville, MO.

Vice President - Operations
Amy Asahl
Amy brings more than 20 years of operations leadership experience across multiple industries. She is a dynamic and accomplished executive with strong operations management and problem-solving acumen. Extensive experience in creating, presenting, and implementing effective technology and business solutions that allow clients to focus on increasing brand value, decreasing costs and prioritizing the customer experience. A motivational leader with an engaging and collaborative working style, building strategic partnerships and stakeholder relationships while training, coaching, and mentoring cross-functional teams. I have a passion for working side by side with clients toward transformational change that improves processes, performance and scalability.

Vice President - Business Development
Liz Henning
Liz previously served with a creative services agency, which specialized in stewardship solutions for Catholic clients. Liz was drawn to marketing by her love for helping people connect their message to the right, resonant audience, and as a visual thinker, she really enjoys helping people organize their thoughts and ideas with a mind map, process chart, or user experience journey. Her goal is to help teams connect their people, refine their process, and fulfill their purpose every single day.

Senior Leadership Consultant
Steve Mamanella
Steve has served as a community relations director for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, as well as Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Ascension Health. At Ascension he coordinated public events and speaking opportunities, created internal and external speeches, presentations, videos and other content for digital platforms. For the Saint Louis Priory School, Steve Mamanella coordinated the introduction of a brand identity and brand promise aligned with the school’s mission and goals. His work includes leading organizational brand management and marketing, digital media strategy development, media relations and crisis management, executive communications and speechwriting, special events planning, employee engagement and internal change management communications. Steve brings over 30 years of experience in broad-ranging strategic and tactical experience.

Strategic Marketing & Writing
Maria Lemakis
Maria has a special ability to bridge the gap between strategic and creative communications. Working as a part of the strategic marketing and writing team at KPC, she brings a unique perspective from her experience working in communications for both secular/corporate and religious/nonprofit organizations. Maria also holds a Professional Coach Certification from Duquesne University. She has experience managing external communications for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and prior to that, Maria worked in PR for multiple agencies. All of this combined with the completion of her professional coach certification allows Maria to effectively consult communicators, helping her clients recognize greater possibilities, plan strategically toward their goals and take action toward those goals.

Crisis Communications & PR Consultant
Anne Steffens
Anne specializes in media relations and crisis communications for Catholic organizations. With 7 Emmy awards to her name, Anne brings more than 25 years of experience in Crisis Communications within Catholic organizations, no matter how big or small! She has led teams through crises including pandemics, criminal and civil charges, lawsuits, bankruptcy, resignations, closings and mergers, and more. Prior to her career in Crisis Communication, Anne Steffens served as the Chief Communications Officer for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, overseeing the media coverage, website and diocesan newspaper. She was also a reporter/anchor for ten years at KMOV-TV (CBS) in St. Louis.
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Consultant
Greg Ghering
Greg has a passion for helping individuals or organizations tell their stories and use those stories to reach their goals. He is excited for the opportunity to serve Catholic organizations and other non-profits with communication strategy, marketing tactics, and implementation. Alongside his work with KPC, Greg creates videos and podcasts to support mission-based clients. Greg has a focus on listening to his clients needs and making sure they feel understood, heard, and attended to, and a special skill for understanding a client organization’s voice, style, or personality.

Strategic Marketing & Writing
Beth Lauver
Beth supports the KPC team with strategic marketing and writing. With a Bachelors of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, she also trained as a Level 1 Catechist for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Beth Lauver has experience in event planning and marketing, retail marketing and product licensing, public relations, and brand management, as well as being the former director of the Respect Life Apostolate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The diversity of the Marketing field is what interests Beth the most; To be able to pull together market research, media planning, and creative work into a messaging strategy that will help her clients achieve their goals.

Writer
Angie Shelton
Specializing in brand management, Angie graduated from Lindenwood University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Mass Communication. She has previous career experience in radio at KMOX and KTRS in St. Louis combined with marketing and communications experience through both corporate and non-profit organizations, including her work in community relations for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Angie has worked in strategic marketing and writing at KPC since 2021, and brings her unique skill in helping her clients discover their unique strengths and abilities. Together, she will assist in developing illustrative and impactful language designed to connect her clients with those they wish to serve.

Strategic Marketing & Writing
Alex Burkart
Alex Burkart brings more than 10 years in strategic marketing and communications experience with a Masters degree from SIUE in Applied Communications, with a focus in Organizational Communication & Culture, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a focus in Marketing & Management. Alex is currently the Director of Strategic Marketing & Economic Development for America's Central Port and a member of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. With a specialty in developing creative yet pragmatic marketing and communications solutions that achieve more with less, Alex’s goals are to create great work for his clients and to help promote the mission of evangelization through his work. Wanting to become a better evangelist of the faith, Alex Burkart spends his free time leading book clubs, being a member of the Zoo Young Professionals Board, coordinating and organizing events with the Daughters of St. Paul and Pauline Books & Media, and volunteering to help run cardinal virtue based talks for young, male high school students via Opus Dei.
Work With Us!
The KPC team is always open to receiving resumes and making connections! If you would like to join our team, or just learn more about our mission, get in touch today!
Get in touch via email today.