Meet Our Team

Christopher Chung
Chief Executive Officer
Chris@MissouriPartnership.com

Before joining the Missouri Partnership in November 2007 as the organization’s inaugural President and CEO, Chris served as Manager of the State of Ohio’s Office of Business Development, overseeing that state’s front-line effort to retain, expand, and attract industry. Chris has more than 15 years of experience in state-level economic development and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council. He has previously served as a guest speaker and writer for CoreNet Global and its national chapters. Chris attended The Ohio State University, graduating with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Japanese and economics. He has also completed substantial coursework at Ohio State towards a Master of Arts in public policy and management. Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Economic Development Council.

Dennis Pruitt CEcD
Vice President of International Business Recruitment
Dennis@MissouriPartnership.com

In May 2008, Dennis Pruitt joined the Missouri Partnership as Vice President of International Business Recruitment, focusing on bringing new foreign direct investment into the state of Missouri. Prior to joining the Missouri Partnership, Dennis was the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Action Council, a county-wide, economic development organization based in Independence, Kansas. Dennis is past chairman of the economic development council of Southeast Kansas, Inc., a 13-county regional economic development group, and has served on the board of the Kansas Economic Development Alliance. Dennis is a certified Economic Developer and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute. He is active in the International Economic Development Council, having served for two years as Chairman of the International Committee. He holds a Master's degree in urban planning from Texas A&M University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and French from Harding University, and a French language certificate from the Sorbonne.

Subash Alias
Vice President of Business Recruitment
Subash@MissouriPartnership.com

Previous to joining the Missouri Partnership, Subash was with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, for more than 6 years. During his tenure with the PRA, Subash was engaged in business attraction, expansion and retention efforts for the greater Pittsburgh region, which encompassed a 10-county area. Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Subash spent nine years in a similar role with the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA). In 1994, Subash earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and received his MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 2002.

Clint O’Neal
Vice President of Business Recruitment
Clint@MissouriPartnership.com

Preceding his work with the Missouri Partnership, Clint was a Project Manager with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Business Development team for four years. Clint is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute, and he holds a Master of Science Degree in community and economic development from the University of Central Arkansas.

Deborah Price
Vice President of Business Recruitment
Deborah@MissouriPartnership.com

Before joining the Missouri Partnership, Deborah served as Director of Boards & Commissions in the Office of Missouri Governor Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon. As the Director of Boards & Commissions, she aided the Governor in recruiting and appointing hundreds of individuals to serve the State of Missouri in diverse capacities, including to positions impacting economic development. Deborah also served as a designee to the Missouri Workforce Investment Board and as office liaison to the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration. Prior to that, Deborah served the State of Missouri as an Assistant Attorney General prosecuting civil and criminal consumer fraud cases. Deborah received her B.A. in history and minor in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis and her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Cara Cannon Weber
Business Recruitment Coordinator
Cara@MissouriPartnership.com

Before joining the Missouri Partnership, Cara was employed as a Legal Administrative Assistant at Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP in Clayton, MO. Her previous employers include Millsap & Singer, P.C. and the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. Cara was a Chancellor’s Scholar at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science with a minor in biological sciences.

Janet Muhm
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Janet@MissouriPartnership.com

Janet Muhm has worked in advertising and marketing for over 25 years. Her experience includes work for non-for-profits, full-service agencies, and colleges and universities. Prior to joining the Missouri Partnership, Janet owned her own business writing and designing for local and national clients. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BFA in graphic design.

Amy Monahan
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Amy@MissouriPartnership.com

Amy joined the Missouri Partnership in 2009. Before moving to St. Louis, she lived in Colorado. Amy graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in communication design.

Leah Hill
Research Librarian and Internet Marketing Manager
Leah@MissouriPartnership.com

Prior to her current position, Leah served as a Substitute Librarian with the St. Louis Public Library system. She completed her Master of Science degree in library and information science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007 and was selected to join the Beta Phi Mu honor society. Leah also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Lana Payton
Human Resources/Finance/Office Manager
Lana@MissouriPartnership.com

Lana Payton has over 10 years experience in office administration. Her previous employers include General Motors, TWA, and Amdocs. She is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals as well as the Society for Human Resource Management. Lana carries her producer license with the State of Missouri Department of Insurance Life/Health/Accident, and Property/Casualty. She graduated with honors (Pi Sigma Tau) from Lindenwood University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in human resource management.

Erin Pettit
Trade Show & Events Coordinator
Erin@MissouriPartnership.com

Before joining the Missouri Partnership, Erin worked as a receptionist for a commercial real estate company and also worked as a Pre-School Director/Receptionist for a gymnastics academy. After graduating college, Erin went on the road for a full year teaching, directing, singing, and acting weekly with children 4-18 yrs old in a full- scale musical production. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Meet Our Team

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