Hi y’all! I’m Ron’Zena (pronounced Ron-juh-NAY), a proud Missouri native raised on high humidity and even higher expectations for hospitality. I like to bring a little Midwest warmth wherever I go… along with a tendency to say “ope!” when I bump into literally anything.

If there’s one thing for certain, two things for sure, it’s that you can find me making conversation anywhere with anyone. Grocery store line, airport gate, elevator rides that should’ve been silent… nothing is safe. My love for storytelling started early, narrating my siblings’ daily lives with a karaoke machine, as if I were hosting a reality show no one asked for, but everyone needed. That curiosity and natural pull toward people led me to study Digital Media Production with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism, along with a minor in Communication Studies from the University of Central Missouri. From there, I built a career rooted in storytelling, connection, and creating memorable moments.

Now at ILC, I serve as the Outreach and Collaboration Coordinator, which is truly a unicorn position! I get to lean into my greatest talent, talking and connecting with others, and turn it into something meaningful by building relationships and events that bring people together.