Dana is a former board member for Smile Network International, a non-profit organization focusing on providing live-saving surgeries to children born with cleft-lip and cleft-pallet in many parts of the world.

Dana is featured in the summer 2009 edition of Meetings Magazine (Minnesota) and produced one of the largest events held during the 2008 RNC in Minneapolis. The event was titled “AgNite, A Celebration of America’s Food & Ag Industry”, and won an ISES award for Best Production (to Freestyle Productions). She has also been profiled in Twin Cities Business Magazine (June 2013) and Minnesota Meetings & Events magazine (Fall 2017) and has been interviewed several times for articles regarding meetings/events for national press.

Prior to launching Ellis International, Dana spent 12 years working as an Executive Meeting Planner and Managing Director at MSP Resources; a Minneapolis based meeting management company. Her background also includes experience in the airline industry and banking. Dana holds a BA degree from the University of Minnesota in International Relations, speaks several languages and has traveled all over the world.