The Team

The Missouri Division of Tourism and its associated staff is excited to share the story of Missouri’s travel and tourism destinations. As a team, we are committed to helping members of the media share that story, too. We look forward to answering your questions. Your experience of Missouri and all that it has to offer is important to us!

Katie Steele Danner

Director

Bio: Kathleen (Katie) Steele Danner has served as the Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism since November of 2009.  She has a significant career history in management and leadership roles, government, and civic affairs. She has served as a state representative, a federal official, is a successful entrepreneur, has raised millions of dollars to support charitable causes, and has been the president of a successful public relations and community development firm.

Katie is a member of the United States Travel Association, the Missouri Travel Council, the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and the Missouri Military Planning and Enhancement Commission, among others.  She was featured in the April 2011 Ingram’s Magazine as one of the “Fifty Missourians You Should Know”.

Katie also serves on the Missouri National Guard Family Program Advisory Council as The Adjutant General’s spouse.

Ask me about: Missouri sports.

Why I love MO: Missouri is a beautiful, tenacious, diverse state with strong-minded and resilient residents.

Favorite travel accessory: Moisturizing, UVA-blocking sunscreen/I-phone.

Connect with me: @KatiesTrail

Email: DirectorMoTourism@ded.mo.gov

Phone: (573) 526-5900

Sarah Luebbert

Director of Communications

Bio: Sarah Luebbert is the director of communications for the Missouri Division of Tourism. The communications department oversees Tourism’s website, VisitMO.com, writes, edits and produces the Missouri Travel Guide, and promotes Missouri as a premier travel destination.

Luebbert began work with the Missouri Division of Tourism in June 2008 as the Editor of the Missouri Vacation Planner and was promoted to her current position in February 2009.

Luebbert previously worked for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry for more than five years in several positions, including assistant director of communications, director of conference development and director of Leadership Missouri. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Public Relations from University of Central Missouri.

Ask me about: Quotes and fact checks. I can field all of your questions and what I can’t answer immediately, I will work hard to answer as soon as possible. I am also available for public speaking and interviews. Of course you can always ask me about media tours or press kits, but feel free to reach out to me about any of the new articles you find on this site!

Why I love MO: I love Missouri because of the diversity you will find as you drive through the state and the abundance of things to do. I discover something new each day!

Favorite travel accessory: My camera. I love to take pictures of the things that I do so I can showcase our state to friends, family and other travelers.

Connect with me: @MoTravelMama

Email: Sarah.Luebbert@ded.mo.gov

Phone: (573) 526-5900

Stephanie Lynch

Public Relations Manager

Bio: Stephanie Lynch is the Public Relations Manager at Hoffman | Lewis, the advertising agency of record for the Missouri Division of Tourism. She is dedicated solely to the Missouri Division of Tourism account.

Lynch previously worked as the Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Lynch has spent the majority of her career working in the field of marketing and communications, primarily in the entertainment industry. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio/TV/Film from Northwestern University.

Ask me about: Media tours, media kits and the posts you find on our social media feeds. If you need assistance with a specific story, I am happy to assist you in your research. You can almost always find me on Twitter, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Consider me your personal connection to Missouri tourism.

Why I love MO: the people–you won’t find a more hospitable bunch of folks anywhere!

Favorite travel accessory: GPS device. Road trips are a lot more fun with turn-by-turn directions. In fact, I can’t even remember my life without one!

Connect with me: @NtheMO

Email: slynch@hoffmanlewis.com

Phone: (314) 454-3454

Stephen Foutes

Travel Guide / Website Editor

Bio: Stephen Foutes is the editor for the Official Missouri Travel Guide and the Missouri Division of Tourism’s VisitMO.com website. Foutes joined the Missouri Division of Tourism in June 2009 as the Travel Guide Editor; he became the website editor in April 2010. Prior to joining the Missouri Division of Tourism, Foutes worked in the Missouri newspaper industry for nearly 10 years, serving first as a reporter for the Centralia Fireside Guard before spending more than eight years as a reporter and editor with the Jefferson City News Tribune. Foutes has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Central Methodist College in Fayette.

Ask me about: Navigating the VisitMO.com website, finding Missouri destinations and attractions in our Official Missouri Travel Guide, fun places around the Show-Me State, and spots to find food and drink.

Why I love MO: It’s home; always has been, always will be.

Favorite travel accessory: Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies. Do I really need a reason?

Connect with me: @MOTravelGuy

Email: Stephen.Foutes@ded.mo.gov

Phone: (573) 526-5900