About the IMA

Mark Denzler is president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Secretary/Treasurer of the IMA Education Foundation. Founded in 1893, the IMA is the oldest and one of the largest state manufacturing trade associations in the United States. Mark is the leading advocate for the state’s manufacturing companies and the 650,000 women and men who make things in Illinois. He is an effective and bipartisan advocate with a strong record of success. Under Mark’s leadership, the IMA was named as “One of 100 Associations Saving the World” by the American Society of Association Executives in 2021 and received the inaugural ad prestigious “Manufacturing Leadership Award” in 2022 from the Coalition of State Manufacturing Association as the best state manufacturing association in the United States.

Prior to his appointment as IMA president & CEO, Mark served as the Vice President & COO of the organization where he oversaw government affairs, membership, and human resources. Mark’s previous experience including leading government affairs efforts in Illinois for State Farm Insurance, a Fortune 50 company headquartered in Bloomington. For more than six years, Mark worked as a legislative analyst for the House Republican Leader including serving as a caucus liaison to Governor Edgar’s Ikenberry Commission on education funding. In addition, Mark managed several campaigns across Illinois and also spent a brief time on the Washington D.C. staff of Congressman Tom Ewing. He’s been appointed to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board by three Governors, is also an appointee to the Illinois Department of Employment Security Advisory Board, and was an initial appointee to Secretary of State Jesse White’s Ethics Board.

Mark is very active in the community serving on a number of boards including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University Board of Trustees, Midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Lincoln Public Library Board & Foundation. He was an inaugural member of the Crain’s Chicago Business Leadership Class and was named an Edgar Fellow at the University of Illinois in 2016. In 2018, Mark was inducted into the Gove Hall of Fame at the University of Illinois-Springfield. The Illinois Wesleyan University alum lives in Springfield with his wife Debbi.

Phil joined the Association as Chief Financial Officer in 2006. Prior to working for the IMA, Phil spent 15 years in Financial management positions for healthcare systems in Springfield and Champaign.

Donovan Griffith joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association as the Director of Government Affairs in early 2018 and was promoted to Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer in 2025. In this position, Donovan serves as the chief lobbyist for the IMA and manages the Association’s legislative agenda. In addition, he oversees various committees including the Government Affairs Group and Manufacturers Environmental Group. He runs the legislative outreach program connecting manufacturers with lawmakers and helps administer the Manufacturers Political Action Committee.

Donovan has more than 15 years of experience working in and around state government for both the private and public sector. Previous to joining the IMA, Donovan served as the Deputy Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, held the position of Senior House Liaison under Governor Rauner and has advocated for state and national membership-driven organizations. Donovan is from Galesburg, Illinois, and went to Knox College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Donovan is married with two children.

Sarah Hartwick is Senior Vice President & Corporate Board Secretary in addition to directing the IMA Education Foundation for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.  Prior to joining the IMA in 2021, Sarah was previously the Executive Director of ED-RED, a suburban public school district advocacy organization. Sarah has also served as the Co-Director for Legislative Affairs at the Illinois State Board of Education and has worked with education advocacy organizations including Advance Illinois and the Illinois Head Start Association.  Sarah has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in political studies with minors in both communications and economics.  Sarah has four children.

Patrick Schweska joined the IMA as General Counsel in early 2025. In this role, he leads the association’s legal and compliance efforts, serves as a key legal resource for members, and supports legislative initiatives.

Prior to joining the IMA, Patrick spearheaded public policy and advocacy efforts across multiple states for major organizations, including Amazon Web Services and Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling. He also has extensive public sector experience, having served as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Legislative Counsel for the City of Chicago, where he negotiated major policy initiatives on behalf of the Mayor’s Office and city agencies.

In addition to his government affairs expertise, Patrick has a strong legal background. As Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, he represented the city in civil litigation, regulatory matters, and financial recovery efforts. His legal experience also includes legislative drafting, regulatory analysis, and risk mitigation. Patrick began his career as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, advising on legislative strategy, policy development, and parliamentary procedure.

Patrick holds a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University.

Jannette Allotey joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association in February 2023.  Prior to joining the IMA Jannette worked as a bookkeeper for five years and worked in retail banking for over 15 years.  She is married with two children.

Cathy Bonfield joins the IMA as the Business Development Manager with a background in assisting members from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Cathy is ready to support, assist, and engage membership at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. She looks forward to assisting member growth and helping members maximize all the benefits the IMA has to offer.

Dean Popovich has joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association as the new Business Development Manager. With more than 38 years of experience in industrial sales and sales management, Dean has built a distinguished career centered on business development, customer relationships, and technical solution selling within the industrial and environmental sectors. His extensive expertise reflects a strong ability to navigate complex markets and support clients with practical, results-oriented solutions. Throughout his career, Dean has consistently demonstrated leadership, dependability, and a deep understanding of manufacturer and customer needs.

Dean brings significant experience representing manufacturers and service companies across a wide range of industries. His enthusiasm for manufacturing is both evident and contagious, as reflected in the strong professional relationships he has cultivated throughout his career. Based out of the association’s Oak Brook office, Dean will work closely with Illinois manufacturers to help address some of their most pressing operational and business challenges while supporting the continued growth and strength of the state’s manufacturing sector.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dean has maintained a long-standing commitment to leadership and community involvement. He has served as a youth hockey coach for more than 30 years, demonstrating his dedication to mentorship, teamwork, and personal development. His volunteer efforts and organizational involvement, combined with decades of professional experience, highlight a career built not only on sales success and technical expertise, but also on service, collaboration, and meaningful community engagement.

Gabriela Garza joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association as Director of Government Affairs in 2022. Before joining the IMA, Gabriela was a Policy & Budget Analyst for the Illinois Senate and a representative of Illinois for the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Task Force for the National Conference of State Legislators. Gabriela served six years in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Heavy Equipment Operator and a logistics specialist in two overseas missions as a Noncommissioned Officer. She is from Mattoon, Illinois, and studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies with a minor in French. She is also fluent in Spanish.

Cheyanne Geller joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association as an Administrative Assistant in November of 2019. Her duties include assisting the Membership & Accounting teams. Cheyanne helps organize and manage member communications, invoicing, and operations. Previous to joining the IMA, Cheyanne attended Lincoln Land Community College and the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Krista Lisser joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association in 2023 as the Director of Content Production and was promoted to Vice President of Communication in 2025.  Krista directs the IMA’s communication efforts including media and social media. She manages the team producing external communications including Morning Digest, Friday Five, and The Illinois Manufacturer (TIM) magazine along with promotion of events such as Makers Madness and Makers on the Move bus tour.  Illinois. Prior to joining the IMA, she served as the Public Information Officer for the Illinois Department of Agriculture from 2019-2023. Before entering the public relations field in 2014 with the Central Illinois Foodbank, Krista spent 10 years as a sports anchor in the television industry. Krista received a Bachelor of Arts with a focus in mass media from the University of Central Oklahoma, and is married to Dane with two children.

Lyndee Fein is Senior Director of Programs and Special Events at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. A Springfield native, she brings more than 20 years of association experience, including serving as Vice President, Education at the Illinois Bankers Association and Meeting & Events Manager at Illinois REALTORS®. Lyndee is passionate about developing professional development programs and creating memorable events that help members grow and succeed. She is a dog lover, mother of two adult children, and enjoys traveling and live music.

Trish Overturf joins the IMA as the new Director of Special Events, bringing with her a passion for creating unforgettable experiences and a wealth of expertise in event management. With a talent for turning visions into reality, Trish is ready to support the IMA team and is eager to help elevate the IMA’s special events to new heights. Over the past six years, she served as the Marketing, Programming, and Special Events Manager for the Valley Industrial Association. Immersed in the intricacies of the manufacturing world, Trish is thrilled about the opportunity to infuse the IMA’s events with fresh creativity, enthusiasm, and industry insight. Trish Resides in Montgomery with her husband Mike and their three children.

Randy Prince brings more than 30 years of experience in association management and manufacturing to his position of Senior Business Development Manager. He has solid experience in helping manufacturers build their brand and in taking their products to market. He created one of the first electric co-ops for commercial businesses in the state. Randy is based out of the Springfield office. Randy’s enthusiasm for manufacturing is contagious and evident in the strong relationships he’s built with industry leaders throughout the state. His work responsibilities include working with Illinois Manufacturers to solve some of their most challenging issues.

Audriana joined the IMA team in June 2025 as the Graphic Design Manager and Editor of Publications. Prior to her role at IMA, she worked as a graphic designer and photographer in Springfield, Illinois. Audriana earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In her free time, she enjoys photography and spending time with her husband and young daughter.

Megan joined the IMA team in October 2023. She is excited to support companies utilizing ETIP grant funds and explore other grant opportunities for IMA members. Before working at IMA, Megan was an educator and program director in the non-profit field. She is a Cornhusker living in Petersburg with two wild little boys.

Allison serves as the IMA’s Staff Accountant. Allison brings over a decade of experience in accounting and office management to her role at IMA. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University and an Associate Degree in Accounting from Baker College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Originally from rural Central Illinois, Allison has a deep-rooted passion for agriculture. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son and reading.

Terri Graham was hired in 2019 as part of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s decision to bring fresh vitality to its monthly programs by centralizing a dedicated person to plan these events. With a strong background in leadership with the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, Northfield Township and Cook County government, Terri is passionate about creating opportunities for members to learn and thrive – helping participants connect to the benefits and value of belonging to the IMA. Terri has a certificate from DePaul University’s Center for Enterprise Development in Non-Profit Management and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Western Illinois University, and is inspired by the creativity and vision of the staff and members.