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Christel Gollnick
What I love
My husband and daughter, family and friends, sunrises and sunsets, learning and being productive, our log home and gardens, walking in the country, daffodils in the Spring, thunder, chocolate, hot air balloons, the sound of Harleys and P-51 Mustangs, antiques and new designs.
What I read
The Kansas City Star, Daniel Pink, GOOD.com, MarketingProfs.com, PR Daily, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, whatever my two book clubs are reading, and whatever I need to read to prepare for leading Bible study discussions on Sundays.
What I'm listening to
NPR and audio books — Dr. Seuss and other children's classics when my daughter is riding with me in the car and various novels and neuro-studies when I'm driving by myself.
About Christel
A Hawley, Minnesota, native, Christel joined River City Studio in January 2010 and assumed ownership in January 2011. The 20-year path leading to her position has been filled with a natural talent for envisioning positive possibilities, pulling people together and promoting the stories of organizations, businesses and individuals.
Most recently, Christel served as Angel Flight Central's chief executive officer/executive director for nearly 10 years. In addition to her position with this 10-state regional non-profit organization headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, she also served as the marketing and public relations chairperson and national spokesperson for Angel Flight America—the nation's largest charitable aviation network.
Christel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, doubling in English and journalism, from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She spent her first several years out of college working with both national and local clients doing everything from writing, audio/video coordination and media buying to account management at a full-service agency. She then accepted the marketing and development director position at a three-facility museum system, Siouxland Heritage Museums.
Later, Christel was recruited by Aerostar International, the world's largest and oldest hot air balloon manufacturer, to help restructure the sales department of their commercial products division. While she was at Aerostar, she learned to fly the company's hot air balloons to earn her Federal Aviation Administration Private Pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air rating. Since her move to Missouri, she has upgraded her certificate to Commercial Pilot and owned her own hot air balloon for nearly a decade.
Christel grew up in a family that believes in helping neighbors and living a life of faith and spirituality. She has volunteered for many organizations in the past, including Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Boy Scouts of America Aviation Explorers, Balloon Federation of America, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and many other church and community organizations and committees.