2018 Keynote Speaker

Melea McRae

Friday, April 13, 2018 at 10:00a.m. in the K-State Alumni Center

Melea McRae is a marketing strategist with 25+ years of B2B and B2C experience leading client-facing marketing departments, where she earned the reputation of an insightful brand strategist. Formerly the senior vice president and chief marketing officer at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, she led the organization’s marketing and business development efforts. Under her leadership, the team spearheaded the Chamber’s rebranding and helped create an image for the region’s business community that's admired and respected in Missouri, Kansas and beyond.

In August 2016, Melea made the entrepreneurial leap and launched her own marketing firm, Crux KC, providing in-house marketing outsourced – the "un-agency" – for her small to mid-sized B2B clients. As founder and CEO, she solves marketing, communications and business development challenges for her clients, while positioning them for sustainable growth. Whether she’s strengthening an existing brand or building a brand from scratch, her ability to get to the heart of a client’s business and establish a smart, strategic, fully integrated plan and push it forward are truly her greatest assets.

Melea graduated from Webster University with a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. She currently serves on the boards of the National MS Society Mid America Chapter Board of Trustees and Junior Achievement of Greater KC, and she chairs the advisory board for Camp Fire Heartland. She also serves on the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts Ensemble Group advisory council and the United Way of Greater Kansas City marketing committee.