Staff
Robert Darden, CMP, CAE
Executive Vice President
Rob joined the staff in July 2009 bringing to DCA over 25 years of international meeting management and association experience, most recently as Executive Director of QuEST Forum, an international telecom association. Previously he held executive positions with the Young Presidents’ Organization and Spear One Productions. Rob graduated from Louisiana State University and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and has earned certifications as a CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) and CAE (Certified Association Executive).
Teri Korson
Director of Administration
Teri Korson serves DCA as the Director of Administration, with a variety of responsibilities including accounting and finance, membership administration and project coordination. Teri also manages the annual Safety Congress and supports all of the meetings of DCA. Teri joined DCA in June 1993 as an administrative assistant and has Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of North Texas. Prior to DCA Teri held a position as a bank officer with First City Bank. She also acts as liaison with several DCA committees.
Candace Green
Director of Communications
Candace Green joined the staff in November 2008 and serves as the Director of Communications for DCA. While attending college, where she studied Visual Communications, Candace worked in her father’s print shop learning the trade. After college, she was employed with the Boy Scouts of America, working in their electronic publishing department as a computer graphics specialist. She has worked as the senior graphic designer for AVIDGOLFER Magazine, and Travelhost Magazine and as the Creative Director for a public relations firm. Candace is responsible for maintaining both print and online media publications as well as handling all DCA marketing initiatives and social media.
Becky Hopkins
Director of Meetings
Becky Hopkins has been an event professional throughout her career. Becky is the founding partner of Your Event Source International started in 1997. YES! International is a conference management company focused on producing domestic and international conferences for companies and associations such as Young Presidents’ Organization and Oracle. In 2010 Becky worked as deputy campaign manager in a US Senate race. Recently she worked with Visiting Nurse Association of Texas in the Foundation Department producing fundraising events. Becky is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Business Administration.
Donna Reed
Director of Member Services
Donna Reed was recently hired as the Director, Member Services for DCA which will encompass membership, events, and finance. Donna was previously the Director of Events for QuEST Forum and then TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association) after their merger in Nov 2017. She was responsible for all aspects of QuEST Forum’s worldwide conferences and strategic meetings as well as financial reporting for over ten years. Prior to starting a family, Donna was a CPA working in accounting and financial consulting. Donna’s family includes a husband, three children, and two Siberian Husky puppies which keep her grounded and motivated as well as her love of travel and all things Jane Austen.
Katie Grandel
Assistant Director of Meetings & Events
Katie Grandel was recently hired as the Assistant Director of Meetings & Events. Previously, Katie worked as the Director of Conferences for the American Lighting Association based in Dallas. Katie was responsible for all site inspections, contracting, budgeting, planning, and executing the association’s annual conference. A proud graduate of the University of Arkansas, following college Katie worked for hotels on their operations teams and the sales and catering department. When Katie is not working, she enjoys spending time with her beloved dog, Winnie.
Jacob Adams Mireles
Director of Membership
Jacob Adams Mireles joined DCA in September 2024 as the Director of Membership. In his role, he serves as the staff liaison to the working committees of the organization and leads strategic initiatives focused on the growth and retention of DCA’s membership. Throughout Jacob’s career he has been responsible for designing unique event experiences and creating engaging member programming. Jacob is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and has worked with a variety of industries and professions including underground infrastructure, and STEM associations. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Jacob graduated from DePaul University with a BA in Public Policy and MS in International Public Service Management. Jacob prides himself on his servant leadership approach to assist in advancing the work of the committees to achieve DCA’s overall goals.
Jeri Lamerton
Director of Marketing
With over 30 years of helping B2B and B2C companies with their strategy, direction, branding, marketing and communications, Jeri has a proven track record of success. Her expertise has been utilized for leadership team strategic planning, management, project management, public relations, corporate communications, customer relationship management and all aspects of marketing. She prides herself on marketing quality, but differentiates herself by driving focus towards measurable metrics so the best ROI drives the strategic marketing vision, plan and tactics. She and her husband moved from Perry, OK in 2019 to Laurel, Montana. Their two daughters still reside in Oklahoma as well two grandchildren. Jeri says her children are her biggest blessing, but her grandchildren are the icing on the cake.
Eben Wyman
Washington, D.C. Representative
Eben M. Wyman served with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) from 1993-2000, or for seven of his 25 years working in Washington.
While with OPS, he had the opportunity to manage the agency’s response to the Clinton Administration “Regulatory Reinvention” initiative, participate in the Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration Program, and represent OPS in the development of the Common Ground Study of One Call and Damage Prevention Best Practices.
Following the release of the study, he helped with the establishment of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) on behalf of OPS. From 2000 – 2012, Eben served as Vice President of Government Relations for the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), where he worked on a broad range of legislative and regulatory matters for the utility and excavation construction industry, including expansion of national infrastructure markets, tax policy, labor issues, pipeline safety and underground damage prevention, federal procurement, immigration, OSHA reform, and other pertinent issues.
He served as staff liaison to NUCA’s Government Relations and Political Action Committee and Damage Prevention Committee. In his 12 years with NUCA, he secured appearances for and prepared 16 witnesses representing NUCA before several House and Senate committees.
Eben also served as manager of the Clean Water Council (CWC), a coalition of some 40 national organizations representing underground utility construction contractors, design professionals, manufacturers and suppliers, labor representatives and other organizations committed to ensuring a healthy quality of life through sound environmental infrastructure.
In April of 2012, Eben founded Wyman Associates, a government relations firm located just outside of Washington, D.C. Wyman Associates currently represents several national organizations representing contractors, manufacturers and distributors in the natural gas pipeline construction industry, power and communications construction industry, and plastics pipe industry.
Issues of interest include federal energy policy, infrastructure investment, broadband deployment and telecommunications policy, tax reform, labor policy, and state damage prevention laws and enforcement practices. Eben also helps manage an ad hoc coalition of several corporations, national and state associations, and public entities working collectively to increase private and public sector investment in water infrastructure markets across America.