Our Team

Susan Lauterbach, President

Susan began her professional career at Electronic Data Systems (EDS), now a division of HP, as a marketing project manager. Her responsibilities included selling information technology services in the areas of transportation, manufacturing, energy and consulting. She moved to the Sports Marketing area of EDS where she developed communications plans for EDS/World Cup USA, United States Cycling Federation, (USCF), IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula One. Specific projects included corporate videos, brochures, logo design, specialty promotions, annual reports and direct response pieces. Susan was also part of the development of EDS.com as a content project manager, responsible for coordinating all content from eight business units with writers, designers and developers.

Susan has spent the last 10 years motivating individuals to be happier and stronger as a fitness trainer/coach. Susan’s dynamic and high-energy style of teaching and training has inspired and transformed hundreds of clients by using exercise to overcome physical and mental obstacles.

Susan leads RedPropeller in bringing companies and speakers together to deliver powerful and meaningful messages to their most important asset, their employees.

Mark Lauterbach, Vice-President

Mark comes to RedPropeller as our Chief Visionary Officer and Industry Futurist.  Mark has been in the creative design field for over 32 years, and is charged to keep RedPropeller relevant to our clients, speakers, and industry.

James Bauchum, Vice-President of Sales

James has nearly twenty years experience in promoting, marketing and booking professional speakers, trainers, consultants, entertainers and celebrities. He’s worked with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 corporations; civic and professional associations; and local, state and federal government agencies across the country.

James is an expert in key account management, business relationship building, and business channel development. He also specializes in business-to-business services, identifying organizational needs and developing concrete solutions. In addition, he is also proficient in answering client organizational questions and resolving concerns.

Because of his integrity, professionalism and experience, James has also earned industry recognition and won top sales rewards. James will always find you just the right speaker to fit your needs.

Nancy L. Rodgers, Chief Financial Officer

Born in upstate New York, Nancy was uprooted to the Midwest in 1970 when her father was transferred with the Air Force to Overland Park, Kansas. There, Nancy grew up in a Real Estate family and graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School in 1980. After high school, Nancy attended the University of Kansas where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1984. Immediately out of college, she began her career at Black & Veatch, Engineers and Architects. As the company divided, she worked her way into Black & Veatch Special Projects Division as a Project Accountant in the Federal Division. When she left in 2009, her title was Government Contract Specialist in charge of the cost accounting and client reporting for large projects with EPA, FEMA and DOD. In 2010, Nancy changed careers and joined Rees & Kincaid, Attorneys at Law, where she became a Paralegal. Her firm specializes in Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Business, and Family Law. Although the legal field is new, she continues to use her vast accounting experience in her new profession.

Nancy joined RedPropeller in October 2015 to take over the growing contracting and invoicing demands, as well as assist with the transition to a formal accounting system. She enjoys the challenge of a new adventure and looks forward to working with the diverse group of speakers and clients with RedPropeller.

Beth Hawley, Content Manager

Beth Hawley comes from a varied background in B2B and B2C digital marketing and communications at Fortune 500 firms and non-profits. She also brings several years of experience as a reporter for print media, having worked for The Hill Newspaper, GovConExec Magazine, The Kansas City Star, and The Baltimore Examiner.

She particularly enjoys finding that sweet spot where the data and the creative overlap to better reach customers and provide them the user experiences, services and products that enhance their lives.

An avid reader and explorer, Beth is always looking for her next adventure.

Bill & Nancy Lauterbach, Founding Partners

In 1988 they co-founded FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers.  Together Bill and Nancy built an industry icon.  They were one of the most successful, non-exclusive speaker bureaus in the country.  FIVE STAR was the only bureau to take Speaker Showcases across the country.  They sold FIVE STAR in 2005 but stayed onboard.  By 2010 both Nancy and Bill had left FIVE STAR.

Widely recognized and respected in the industry, Nancy was voted in as President of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus to an unprecedented two terms.  She received the association’s two highest awards; The John Palmer Award for outstanding contributions to the speakers bureau industry and The Dottie Walters Helping Hands Award for outstanding dedication and support of the bureau industry.

In 2010 Nancy and Bill teamed up again to form a new speakers bureau, RedPropeller,LLC, focusing their experience and talent on providing the very best for a select clientele. In 2018,  they decided to try out retirement and sold the business to the next generation of Lauterbach- Susan and Mark. Nancy is still on board as a RedPropeller advisor and will always be a part of the speaker bureau industry.