Board of Directors

Deb Jafolla-Ponzio,
President
Business Development Manager
Restaino & Associates
www.restainohomes.com


Deb Jafolla-Ponzio is the Business Development Manager of the Relocation Division of Restaino & Associates. She moved to the Madison area in 1991 from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and comes with many years of sales experience.

Deb's primary responsibility is acquiring new business and servicing existing corporate accounts. In addition to their corporate accounts, the Relocation Division is the preferred vendor for Relocation and Real Estate Services for the Wisconsin Biotech & medical Device Association which has over 200 members. In addition to her business development duties, Deb is also responsible for marketing the division and spear heads their public relations and philanthropic endeavors. She will also manage the Restaino & Associates Youth Scholarship in Biotechnology. Deb is also in charge of all the division's exhibit efforts, creating the tone and theme for each event. Deb is a member of:

• The Downtown Madison Inc. (CMI)
• The Greater Madison Convention and Visitor Bureau (GMCVB)
• The Madison Chamber of Commerce
• The Wisconsin Biotech & Medical Devise Association (WBMA)
• The Wisconsin Technology Council (WTN)
• The Society or Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Deb sits on the advisory committee for BIO and on the Education Committee for the Wisconsin Biotech and Medical Devise Association. She is also a member of the Wisconsin Employee Relocation Council (WERC), the national Employee Relocation Council (ERC). Deb is also involved with Sales and Marketing Executives (SME), serving on their board of directors as well as their Treasurer.

Deb is also a member and Officer at the Madison Elks serving as their Lecturing Knight and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She is a Past President of the Promotional Production Association of Wisconsin (PPAW) and while served on their board for 9 years, she ran the traveling Promotional Showcases held in Madison, Green Bay and Milwaukee. Deb is the current President of Cultural Italian American Organization (CIAO), Past 3 term President of Business Networking International (BNI) and Founder of Connections (Madison Area Networking Group of Professionals). "No one has ever expected more from me then I do, therefore my clients and those I work with get 100% all the time...any job be large or small, do it right or not at all!"

Adrianne Tritt,
Vice President & Director of Marketing
Econoprint, Inc.
Corporate Sales Consultant
www.epdigital.com
608-664-3421

As a Corporate Sales Consultant for Econoprint, Adrianne oversees and manages over 100 corporate accounts. Her role consist of consulting with print buyers, marketing departments & purchasing agents on the world of print & media communication efforts, facilitating print projects to ensure accuracy & outstanding quality and educating customers on the print process.

Adrianne joined SME in 2004. She received a Distinguished Sales & Marketing award in 2001 for her sales efforts at Econoprint. Adrianne is also very actively involved with her family business Patio Pleasures coordinating marketing and advertising efforts.

Christin Mlsna,
Chairwoman of the Board
Findorff
www.findorff.com
608-257-5321

Christin's primary responsibilities for Findorff include client relations and new business development. She is also involved with marketing initiatives for both the Madison and Milwaukee offices.

Christin joined SME's Board of Directors in 2001. Before serving as President of the organization, she chaired the marketing committee and Distinguished Sales & Marketing and Executive of the Year awards program. Christin is actively involved with Society for Marketing Professional Services and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and formerly served on the Board of Directors for Accelerate Madison.

Richard Birrenkott,
Past President & Sponsorship
TRICOR Insurance Agency
www.tricorinsurance.com

Rich Birrenkott is the Vice President of Employee Benefits for TRICOR Insurance Agency in Madison, WI. A professional in the insurance industry for 31 years, Rich Birrenkott directs his sales efforts in the 18-county area of Southern WI. He is in his first year with TRICOR Insurance and leads his Team in promoting employee benefits to major and national clients in Wisconsin. Prior to joining TRICOR Insurance, Rich served in many capacities over his 27 year sales career with Blue Cross Blue Shield and WPS Health Insurance.

Rich has earned the Certified Health Consultant (CHC) designation from the University of Purdue and Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC) designation. Prior to his insurance career Rich served in the U S military and is a graduate of the Wisconsin School of Electronics.

He is a member of several professional organizations including Sales & Marketing Executives and is current president and a past president of the local Madison SME chapter. Rich is a Director on the Business Education Partnership Board, a Director on the Literacy Network (formerly the Madison Area Literacy Council) Board and is active in the Wisconsin Association of Health Underwriters and the National Association of Health Underwriters.

He and his wife Sheri reside in Cross Plains, WI. They have two grown children, a son Nicholas living in Portland, Oregon and a daughter, Lynsee attending school in Miami, Florida. In his spare time he enjoys traveling with his family and being outside enjoying activities such as golfing, hunting or fishing.

Mollie Dougherty Chritton,
Director of Membership
Econoprint
www.epdigital.com
608-845-2861

Mollie Dougherty Chritton is a 25-year sales veteran with Econoprint, Inc. Mollie embraced her first position with the company as the manager of Econoprint's State Street location. A real self-starter, her successful management of this store was soon recognized when she earned a Store of the Year Achievement of Excellence Award. Then in 1988, Mollie kicked off her sales career as a Corporate Sales Consultant, earning countless awards for her superior sales performance. Mollie excels at guiding corporate clients through the wide variety of services Econoprint offers. She is known for her active involvement of her clients' projects throughout the entire print process to ensure time-sensitive deadlines are met.

Prior to joining Econoprint, she worked for eight years with a trade association and was responsible for meeting and convention planning as well as magazine sales. A graduate of Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mollie majored in both Spanish and psychology.

An avid golfer, Mollie is a member of the Executive Women's Golf League and has volunteered for a variety of league committees. She is also an ambassador for the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce. Mollie shares her personal life with her husband Jim and their two dogs, Bucky and Barry. Mollie and Jim enjoy a variety of Wisconsin sports.

Mollie has been a member of SME since 2005 and will be assisting with Membership.

Tammy Jelinek,
Director of Programs & Treasurer

As a Business Development Officer at Wells Fargo - Business Banking, Tammy Jelinek is proud to be a part of the Wells Fargo banking tradition. For over 150 years Wells Fargo has been a banking institution that customers can count on. In her role she has the unique opportunity to meet business owners who are looking for a business banking relationship customized to meet their unique needs.

Wells Fargo offers over eighty banking solutions and award winning security. When a customer needs solutions, Tammy feels confident that she is saving busy people time and money, and giving them the security and trust they deserve by taking them to the next stage with Wells Fargo. Her goal is to assist every business close the banking gaps. Whether a business owner is looking for expert banking advice, expanded services that they are currently not receiving, a better overall banking relationship or streamlined banking operations, she'll listen, she'll ask probing questions and she'll work to combine your team experts with Wells Fargo's team of experts.

Tammy believes that to balance work and life you need to be involved with great organizations. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors with SME, she is a member of the Middleton Chamber of Commerce, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Madison, Inc. As a self proclaimed "life long learner, Tammy sits on the advisory board for Upper Iowa University - Madison campus and she enjoys teaching various programs with Junior Achievements.

Tammy holds a bachelors degree from Upper Iowa University-Madison campus in business, with a minor in psychology and an emphasis in management and accounting and has an M.B.A. with an Organizational Development emphasis.

Jamie Plueddeman,
Board Member & Marketing
Wipfli LLP
Marketing Account Manager
www.wipfli.com

As a Marketing Account Manager at Wipfli, Jamie develops strategic marketing plans to support the business plans and initiatives of the firm. Her emphasis is the nonprofit & government practice group of the firm. Managing day-to-day relationships with practice leaders, Jamie translates growth strategies and market insights into results-focused marketing tactics. After thorough analysis and communication around expected outcomes, she supports this group with the development and execution of integrated marketing tactics. Leveraging the talents of Wipfli's marketing team, the effectiveness of all marketing programs is evaluated, and information and feedback is provided to practice leaders and associates to help drive more accountability and report results and measurements.

With more than 800 associates and 15 offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota and 2 offices in India, Wipfli ranks among the largest accounting and business consulting firms in the nation. Wipfli can advise in all areas of business, from finance and operations to human resources, information technology, and customer relationships. Wipfli's clients include manufacturers, health care organizations, financial institutions, nonprofit entities, dealerships, contractors and developers, small businesses, and individuals. Wipfli's 75-year legacy of helping its clients succeed is a point of pride for each of the firm's partners and associates.

Rahda Sijapati,
Secretary & Education
American Family Insurance Company
Emerging Market Development Specialist
www.amfam.com

Rahda has been the resident of Madison and area for over 29 years and currently works as the Community Relations Specialist with American Family Insurance Company. Radha has a B. A. degree with double major in Accounting and Business Administration, and an MBA with concentration in Marketing from Edgewood College. Radha serves on the board of SME, and also on the advisory board of Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation.