Joy Knutson – Chapter Support
"My Red Cross passion is embedded from my time as a volunteer. People need the Red Cross, and it is fulfilling to be a part of serving those in need."
Joy Knutson began serving with the Red Cross as a volunteer, and joined the American Red Cross staff in January of 2006 as administrative support staff. Knutson is primarily responsible for reception, bookkeeping, and Leadership Team administrative support including Services to Armed Forces, Disaster Services, community education, volunteer recruitment, Health & Safety, and Financial Development. Joy is a retiree from Chicago, Illinois and resides in Pocahontas, Missouri with her husband Bruce.
Jamie Koehler – Director of Emergency Services
"It is really a joy working with our volunteers and the communities they live in. It is also an honor carrying on the Red Cross traditions of helping people prepare for and respond to disasters, and assisting the families of those who serve in the Armed Forces."
Jamie Koehler joined the American Red Cross, Southeast Missouri Chapter as Director of Emergency Services in 2006, after 23 years of military serves with the Missouri National Guard, enlisting as a Behavioral Science Specialist and retiring as a Logistics Officer. After starting the Family Readiness Program for the Missouri National Guard, she continued to coordinate the program and its services for nearly ten years. Koehler is passionate about volunteerism and is an expert at volunteer and program coordination and management. Koehler has also worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation, developing both their Leadership Academy and Workforce Development Programs. She is an expert in her field, having served as a consultant for numerous not-for-profit and community groups on strategic planning, achieving outcomes, and leadership development. Koehler holds a Master's in Human Resources Training and Development from Webster University, and has completed numerous continuing education courses in Organizational Leadership. Koehler is responsible for the complete leadership direction of the Emergency services team of staff and volunteers. Daily, Koehler leads volunteer training, coordination and emergency planning, responds to family home fires throughout a 12 county region, and provides service to the armed forces around the world. During time of large disaster, Koehler is the director of command operations for Red Cross relief in Southeast Missouri. Koehler is a native of Southeast Missouri, and resides in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Sara Gerau-Executive Director of Financial Development