Karla Roeber
Vice President of Public and Government Affairs
Karla has more than 25 years of experience in communications, government, and community relations. At the Danforth Center she works with elected and appointed officials to increase funding to support research, innovation, technology development and commercialization of new products to improve sustainable agriculture worldwide. Karla works closely with the Danforth Center’s Innovation Team and a variety of civic partners to advance the region’s innovation ecosystem, helping to attract companies and create 21st century jobs. In 2015 she served on the core working group to secure federal funding to develop a strategic master plan and establish 39 North, a 600-acre innovation district that is home to the Danforth Center, BRDG Park, Bayer Crop Science, Benson Hill, CoverCress, Helix Center and Yield Lab. Karla and her team also develop strategies and create content to share the Danforth Center's mission, vision and progress to the broader public through traditional and digital media platforms. Prior to joining the Center, she was Principal of Karla Goldstein & Associates, Inc., a boutique public relations agency serving nonprofit and small business clients. She also served as District Director to U.S. Senator John C. Danforth and Staff Assistant to Congressman Joseph M. McDade in Washington DC. She serves on the board of the Missouri Biotechnology Association, and the Communications Advisory Board of STL Made. Karla attended the University of Wisconsin and received her Bachelor of Arts with honors from Saint Louis University.
