Staff Bio
— At JEA, we are a small but mighty team of dedicated employees, volunteers and donors who contribute to support our mission.
Veronica Purvis, DBA, CAE
Executive Director
Veronica Purvis, DBA, CAE, is the executive director of JEA since being appointed in July 2022 and leads all operations and business management including partnering with the board on governance in guiding the association, establishing policies and procedures, structuring the organization and directing the staff, leading the financial responsibilities (including auditing, budgeting, reporting, and investing), ensuring legal compliance and handling all contracting, and overseeing execution of all the business activities, events, and programs.
Veronica is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) who earned a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), a Master of Science in Management (with a specialization in Marketing), and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She is an award-winning, strategic association executive and brand leader as well as a speaker and author with decades of experience leading staff and driving missions within professional member associations. Purvis has worn many hats since 2000, mainly as director of marketing-communication at STEM associations, launching several international open-access publications and new products, developing advertising sales, branding, communications, and marketing programs.
Veronica is a Washington, DC native who believes in lifelong learning and paying it forward. In her spare time she’s a mentor and an adjunct professor for a master's integrated marketing communications program. She’s committed to the nonprofit industry’s advancement and volunteers with multiple organizations and serves in various capacities, including on the board with the American Marketing Association (AMA) DC chapter as the DEIA officer.
Her desire to develop others is apparent from her background as an image consultant which evolved to include helping others chart their paths. She also enjoys exercising/running, family time (including with her husband and three kids), movies, trying new restaurants, and exploring new experiences.
Pam Boller has served over 20 years at KSU national headquarters adapting to
many changes while serving as office manager.
Her key responsibilities include: answering phone calls, updating database
memberships, packing/shipping items to advisors & convention sites as well as
responding to hundreds of emails. With a caring heart she truly listens to each
customer ensuring that they are the most important person at that time. Previous
customer service positions in schools, banking, and fast food have taught her to listen and assist people promptly to satisfy their needs. “People” excite Pam-most about JEA-the advisors, the staff and the students who will achieve in their future life- the “JEA Family”. Enjoying travels to conventions resulted in flexibility as her position transitioned from setting up a functional book store to now capably managing the JEA booth specializing in merchandise sales.
A favorite memory she has is helping an upset student about to participate in a
contest with encouraging words which led to lowered stress levels. This student’s
response was a “high five” upon receiving a medal at the awards ceremony.
Family and faith are the core of Pam’s life.
Pam’s favorite pastimes range from outdoor enjoyments of gardening and watching
her many hummingbirds to spending time with her children, grandchildren, siblings,
church family and friends. These pleasures bring her many smiles.
Pam Boeller
Events and Programs Manager
Cindy Horchem, Ph.D.,
Business and Projects Coordinator
Cindy Horchem, Ph.D., works half time in the JEA office at her alma mater, Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas. She retired in May 2018 after teaching journalism for 24 years at the high school and college levels. She also was a feature reporter at a newspaper for a couple of years and spent eight years working in public relations (university and hospital). During her senior year of high school — the first year that journalism classes were offered there — she decided that she wanted to study journalism in college. Her passions in the field have been interviewing, editing and sports. As a teacher, the best memories are the teamwork and camaraderie of her student publication staff members, and she loves seeing students do amazing things after graduation. At JEA, she helps with proofreading C:JET magazine, newsletters, programs and other documents. She coordinates payments for most of the organization's expenses, plays backup for the office manager as needed and often works on those ever popular "other tasks as assigned." She and her husband, Brad, enjoy attending as many K-State sporting events as possible. They have a daughter and son-in-law in Kansas City, a daughter in the Denver area and two spoiled dogs at home.
Amber James joined the JEA staff in October 2024 as the events and programs manager. She manages programming and project functions within the organization for National High School Journalism Conventions, Advisers Institutes, and other related programs, events, awards and contests. James is a marketing, communications and events specialist originally from Mesa, Arizona. She spent seven years as a Virginia resident before making the move to Chicago in the fall of 2024. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in classical acting from Southern Utah University and her Master of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and performance from Mary Baldwin University. She joined JEA after spending five years as the marketing manager for the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia. Before her tenure with ASC, she spent over two years as a sales manager with PSAV, now Encore, working on events in high-profile hotel locations in and around Washington, D.C. Additionally, James has over a decade of experience as a professional theatre practitioner with acting and directing credits from all over the country, including Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Indiana and Utah. When not hard at work, she enjoys traveling, reading fiction, attending concerts, and spending time outdoors with her dog and husband. James was raised by a journalism educator and has been taught from birth to fiercely value civic engagement, news literacy and freedom of speech. She is honored to join the staff of JEA and provide support for all its upcoming programming.
Amber James, MFA,
Events and Programs Manager
Davonté Longmire, MA,
Member Engagement Strategist
Davonté Longmire is the new member engagement stragetist. He has experience in digital marketing and graphic design with roughly 12 years of expertise in multi-channel marketing, B2B strategic implementation, and international conference exhibitions. Academically, Longmire ascertained two degrees, B.S. and M.A., from two of the nation’s leading C.E.P.R. universities, Illinois State University and Ball State University (BSU), respectively. Longmire serves as a leader in digital storytelling. As a graduate assistant for BSU, Longmire worked closely with the outreach coordinator of the Department of Journalism, Kim Green. Their team attended four JEA conferences, increased member engagement through CRM methodology and launched the McKinley Avenue Agency. His portfolio also includes international rebranding and marketing campaigns, serving Chicago's Mayor during COVID-19 rapid response, and contributing to multiple fundraising initiatives for nonprofits, totaling $42 million. Longmire's passion for community service has allowed him to help fundraise and travel to build two schools in Malawi and serve his local community by offering professional art services. Longmire is an artist who practices 2D art, specializing in photography and painting. In his spare time, he enjoys DIY projects and gardening. He looks forward to working hard to help nurture a thriving JEA community through initiatives.