Connections to Success Names Poonnasa Corn Board President, Madeline Franz as Vice President Elect of its Board of Directors

Poonnasa Corn, Board President

Madeline Franz, Vice President Elect

Connections to Success, a non-profit organization with locations in St. Louis, St. Charles, Columbia, and Kansas City, has announced that Poonnasa Corn has been named as President and Madeline (Madi) Franz as Vice President Elect of its Board of Directors.

Corn, a Senior Director – High Net Worth Business Segment at Edward Jones and lifelong community volunteer, brings a wealth of experience and financial knowledge to her role as Board President. She joined the Connections to Success Board of Directors in 2021, serving diligently before stepping into the new role.

“I am humbled to lead such an incredible Board of Directors and serve alongside our dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Corn. “I’ve had the opportunity to celebrate with participants who have completed the program, and witnessed how Connections to Success has provided them with hope, resources, and a plan – the organization’s mission that impacts many lives in our community and aligns with my purpose of driving positive changes.”

Corn has been actively engaged with all of the Connections to Success locations, visiting its Kansas City branch as well as St. Louis, St. Charles, and Columbia.

Franz, who is Director of Agency Growth & Development at MedMutual Protect, is a lifelong Connections to Success volunteer and represents the third generation of her family to be involved with the organization. She joined the board in 2021, and since that time has chaired the Resource Development Committee and launched and built the Young Professional Board.

“I have always been passionate about helping individuals tap into their talent while aligning their gifts with their career goals,” she said. “The opportunity to serve on the Board of Connections to Success has been gratifying to me personally, as I am able to help the organization ideate new trends and techniques to enhance their existing programs. Our mission of helping inspire individuals to achieve economic independence is so important.”

In addition to Corn and Franz, the Connections to Success Board of Directors includes other professionals who work together to guide the organization:

• Leslie Boe, Board Secretary – Dysart Taylor McMonigle Brumitt & Wilcox, P.C.
• John Heddens – UMB Bank
• Elizabeth Lawson, Board Treasurer – BJC Healthcare
• Dr. Tyjaun Lee, PhD – Metropolitan Community College – Penn Valley
• Eric M. Madkins – Regions Bank
• Samantha Marble – Simmons Bank
• Michelle Moersch – Emerson
• Mike Morales – Walmart
• Rev. Robin Morgan – Rock of Ages Baptist Church
• Jeff Morris – World Wide Technology
• Melanie O’Brien – Southwest Airlines
• Wendy Savlin – T-Mobile
• Carla Smocks – Keisha’s Closet
• Rosalina Syahriar – RSyahriar Integrated Coaching
• Virginia vanBerkum – World Wide Technology

“We’re in an exciting new chapter for the organization,” said Brandi Jahnke, who was named CEO of Connections to Success in May of 2022 after serving as Interim Director and working on staff for 17 years before that. “We’ve had a great foundation laid over the past 20 years, and I’m honored to have been a part of that growth. Poonnasa is a visionary leader with strategic execution expertise, and I am looking forward to working with her even more closely now in her new role as Board President. I have also known and worked alongside Madi for several years now. She brings a wealth of insight and compassion to her role as Vice President. Together, under their leadership, we’ll continue to impact lives and support individuals to achieve economic independence.”

About Connections to Success:

Founded in 1998, Connections to Success is a nonprofit organization based in Missouri, with locations in St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City. Connections to Success offers comprehensive support to families working toward economic stability and growth by providing practical resources, career preparation, and a strong foundation for lasting success. The organization provides a comprehensive network of services and referrals to help people achieve economic independence after facing challenges such as generational poverty, incarceration, and violence. The Connections to Success model integrates training opportunities, life transformation coaching, support services, and job development to set participants up for long-term success. This evidence-based model delivers a measurable ROI, resulting in sustainable change that positively impacts all areas of a person’s life while also having a positive influence on the community.

Since its original start in 1998, the organization has served over 25,000 individuals throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.