Katie Steele Danner
There are very many words that could describe Katie: a visionary, a leader, and a mentor are just some of the few. Since her graduation from Truman University, she has gone to pursue jobs with the government, non-profit organizations, managerial positions, social services, and is currently working with the Missouri Department of Economic Development as the Deputy Director. In this position, Katie goes into work each day to find and create jobs for Missourians, in hopes of promoting Missouri as a top location for new business and expansion.
Katie took the challenge of participating in Greater Missouri in 1993, while she was working for the State’s government. What she remembers fondly about her experience was the opportunity to travel across the state and learn more about the different sectors of Missouri and how they impact the state as a whole. One area in particular is the Bootheel, where Katie was given the opportunity to be exposed to a part of the state she had never visited. This experience opened her mind to the knowledge of the community, and she used this information later on in her work life.
While talking about her experience with Greater Missouri, Katie states, “In today’s economic challenges it is more important than ever for us to be able to network, collaborate, and communicate to address the issues that are facing our individual lives, communities, and state, and GreaterMo is the catalyst that has a track record of success. The time and financial commitment is well worth the investment and will come back to you manifold because of the knowledge, exposure, and networking that you will be able to achieve.”
Though Katie is a strong and motivated businesswoman, she still finds time to relax and watch Dancing with the Stars, read a few books, and spend time with the ones she loves most. When asked what were the three most important things in her life, she responded with Love, Health, and Wealth, and “time to enjoy them with friends and family.”