Board Members

President

I have been a PCA Member since 2014 and have been a passionate fan and advocate of the brand ever since.  Originally a member of the Kansas City Region PCA, the family moved across the state in 2018 and have really enjoyed living and working in the Western suburbs of St. Louis for the past 7+ years. Currently we have two college age Missouri Tigers in Columbia and are very proud of both of them, with one graduating in the Spring of 2026, which will help out Dad’s Porsche parts budget.

We are so fortunate to live in an area with such great driving roads and I have really enjoyed participating and leading some great drives as a STLPCA region member, and fortunate to have been on the leadership committee and serve as TourMeister for our 2023 PCA Treffen “Gateway to the West” event and so proud of our volunteer team! We still get great comments on that event to this day.

As a PCA National instructor, I am passionate about coaching at our best in class DE Events and am fortunate to have experienced some great tracks and plan to do more in the future. I come from a motorsport family and follow Formula 1, IMSA, WEC, and Australian V8 Supercars.

I am lucky and so grateful to have the support of my wife Wendy who has enabled our Porsche habit, and currently in our home garage we have a 2024 Macan GTS and one of the last 2024 992 Carrera S manual cars with Exclusive Manufaktur heritage (Pepita) interior. I am grateful to have served on the board over the past several years, and enjoyed bringing some new events to our Region. I am a firm believer in the PCA slogan “Its not just about the cars, it’s about the people”!

Vice President

My passion for Porsche began at a young age—the silhouette alone is timeless and unmistakable. While living in Germany, we had the opportunity to tour the Porsche Museum, where the brand’s rich racing heritage and engineering excellence left a lasting impression. I joined the Porsche Club of America in 2020 for the camaraderie and the chance to connect with like-minded enthusiasts at cruises and club events.

In addition to supporting our PCA region, I enjoy spending time with my family, scuba diving, and playing video games in my free time.

Secretary

I began my Porsche journey with the St. Louis Region PCA back in 2000, jumping in to help plan social events, destination drives, and volunteering wherever the club needed an extra hand. Over the years, STLPCA has become much more than a club—it’s been a community built around lasting friendships and I especially enjoy meeting and welcoming new members.

Most people may not know this about me is that I enjoy getting out on the track for DE parade laps and have never been shy about speed! While I don’t currently own a Porsche, my dream car remains Liz and Reid Vans’ 1973 911 Touring because it’s my favorite color (Lilac)!

Treasurer

As with many of you out there, I have long admired the Porsche line of vehicles, and in my case the 911 was one of those “bucket list” items that remained on my list dating back to my youth…along with many other items of course! So in 2016, after working my way through several motorcycles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles and airplanes over the years, I made a spot in the garage for my first Porsche, a 2014 911 Cabriolet. Originally, the plan was just to have a summer convertible to cruise around in, but I immediately joined the PCA group and found myself at PCA Tech Sessions, Car Shows, and HPDE weekends…what great fun! Shortly thereafter, I joined the Board and was our Membership Chair for a few years, then became Social Registrar for another few years, and am now our Treasurer. My current Porsche is a 2023 Targa 4 GTS in Carmine Red. Other recreational interests I have & enjoy are aviation, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing.

Plauderei Newsletter Editor

I came to Porsches in 1974 in the aftermath of the early 70’s fuel rationing. I needed to replace my old Pontiac Firebird, but Firebirds of that era typically only delivered 6 / 8 mpg. I knew nothing about Porsches, but the dealer promised that for almost the same money as a well optioned Firebird, a 914 – 2.0 could give me almost 20 mpg and more fun than I could imagine….He was definitely right, and I have been driving 914’s ever since on the road and the race track.

 I say I own a 914 for the road….a 914 for the track….and 2 for parts of the other 2. After campaigning a 914-4 in SCCA Club Racing all over the Midwest for 25 years, I have stowed my helmet in the helmet bag probably for the last time, but continue to drive my street 914 when the weather is inviting. I still have a garage full of parts to use up before I quit.

I joined St. Louis Region in ’74 and joined our track DE program immediately at the old Mid America Raceway near Wentzville, MO. After the closing of MAR, I resurrected the St Louis Region DE program at the then brand new Gateway International Raceway in 1986. Thankfully, the Regional DE program has carried on in very capable hands.

I continue to serve the Region as Newsletter Editor as I have for more than 30 years. You’ll probably be seeing my work soon.

Director

The first Porsche that caught my eye was a 930 Turbo, with its beautiful shape and that huge rear spoiler. I spent a lot of my free time in high school drooling over 911s in car magazines and dreaming of someday owning one of my own.  The first Porsche I drove was a 2012 911 Turbo S, which I took around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway track at an exotic car driving event for about 3 laps. That drive confirmed that I wanted to own a 911 of my own.  I realized my dream in 2015 when I purchased a black on black, 2009 911 (997.2) C4S. It’s fantastic in every way. Shortly after my purchase, I joined PCA, mainly to participate in the HPDE events, attending my first one in the Fall of 2015. It was a blast, and I recommend that everyone try it at least once!  Although I originally joined PCA for the track events, I soon found out that the club had a lot more to offer. PCA is comprised of a group of fantastic, friendly folks, who like cars and do lots of fun things together. My husband, Greg, and I especially enjoy participating in the road driving events, the garage tours, the car shows, and the monthly dinners. And of course, we plan to return to the track.

Digital Media Chair

I grew up with an appreciation of fun on wheels thanks in large part to my dad. My early years started with rides on the gas tank of his motorcycle with my mom on the back. I later graduated to cruising up and down AIA (beachfront avenue!) with my dad on his BMW K100RS.  My first fun car of my own was a 1992 Mustang LS. The Flowmaster exhaust, manual transmission and V8 power were quite a treat! Later, my dad swapped his BMW for a 2-seater with 4 tires, a Honda S2000. Sadly he got sick and was no longer able to drive. Responsibility fell to me to keep the dust off the Honda with drives on Missouri’s great backroads and the occasional trip taking dad to Ted Drewes, his favorite St Louis destination. It’s an awesome feeling with you’re driving your dad’s car and he encourages you to run the car as its designed to be driven. 

In 2021, after several signifiant life changes, I had the opportunity to get a ‘fun car’ again after years of driving company cars. A friend suggested I look at Porsches on Bring A Trailer. After watching multiple 911s, Caymans and Boxsters come and go, one special 986 Boxster S came up for auction. The price was right and I found myself bidding. Winner! That weekend, a buddy and I drove down to Chattanooga TN in his F-Type to pick up that Black Beauty. The next day, we took a side trip to explore The Tail of the Dragon before heading back to St Louis. Two weekends later, I entered my first Autocross event. I’ve been having a blast with back country drives, autocross and HPDE events ever since. 

What I first thought of as a luxury, out-of-my-league brand, I am now fully invested and in love with PORSCHE. The cars, the people, the club are all top notch, welcoming and supportive as I learn more about my car and about spirited driving!

Digital Media

I joined PCA in 2022 only six months after acquiring my first Porsche, a 991.2 911 Carrera, and just in time for my first High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) event.  The experience sparked a tremendous excitement for driving and for the Porsche brand.

The St. Louis region is jam packed with friendly, highly knowledgeable Porsche enthusiasts and some fantastic drivers.  I’m confident in saying it’s one of the best and most easy-going bunch of fans in the country.  I’m very happy to serve alongside the team as a member of the region board and help to continue the growth of this fantastic club.

Six HPDE events later and with another Porsche added to the garage (my wife Daleesa’s Cayman GTS), I’m looking forward to another season of track events and somehow keeping my spot at the front of the Curet family’s starting grid!

Car Show Chair

High Performance Driving Education is what first peaked my interest in the Porsche club, over 30 years ago, which has lead me into being a past president and board member for over 25 years. I joined in 1995. I have had the pleasure of being chief instructor at our DE’s and have instructed since 1998.  It has been my honor to chair the Porsche car show (2012, 2014 & 2016) with 7 other members, who all work to make it happen.

My 2007 Cayman is my eighth Porsche including an RS America, 993, 912, 924S (race car) 944, and two Boxsters. My ninth is a Macan. I have been in organized racing for 20 years and raced in endurance racing through various groups; Porsche Club Racing, SCCA, World Racing League, Chump Car and LeMons.  Racing at 18(?) different tracks has been a challenging and humbling experience, but also a ton of fun.  I estimate that I have driven over 15,000 laps at Gateway over the years, but I still learn something new every time I go out there.  Instructing grounds me and continues to pound home the basics, along with the fun of watching students improve with each session.

Carol has put up with my car crazy ways for years (starting with a 1956 MGA, when we were dating), I have two sons (one of which often shares race cars at endurance races) six grandchildren and one great grandson.  The club has given me the opportunity of meeting a lot of great friendly folks, who have become good friends.  The cars are the hook, but it really does come down to the people in the club.  When I first joined, I was concerned that there would be a bunch of car snobs.  Boy was I wrong.  Very approachable with the same basic interest. 

Get involved, you will have a ball.

Director

I have been a car guy ever since I can remember, but 2 words brought Porsche to the head of the class: Risky Business. As a wide-eyed high schooler, my buddy and I fell in love with the star of the movie: the 1979 Porsche 928 (yes, we both cried when it rolled into Lake Michigan). Ever since then, a Porsche in my garage has been my "end game" goal, and the 911 my "end game" vehicle.

I've owned performance cars ever since I graduated from Missouri S&T. My first purchase was a 1988 IROC Z Camaro (with T tops, of course), which I promptly drove from Texas to report to my first job. After getting married, the "impractical car" (not my words) was replaced by "practical" SUVs and sedans for a time.

Once I moved back to St. Louis, earned my MBA from Washington University, started my business, and survived the 2008 financial crisis, I purchased a 1965 Cobra rolling chassis and installed a 428 FE Cobra Jet engine and transmission. It was a beast and a bit too raw for my liking. I preferred air conditioning, a nice stereo, and a factory warranty! The Cobra was replaced by a C6 Corvette Grand Sport, which was grossly underpowered, so I drove it to Lingenfelter Engineering to supercharge, port, polish, and re-cam the engine to get 700 hp! It was a fun car, but after 10 years, it was time…time to order and take delivery of my 2024 Gentian Blue Carrera Cabriolet…and yes, it's the best car I've ever driven, and I pledge my allegiance to Porsche!

My wife, Amy, and I have two grown children and one very active English setter. My hobbies include: all things music and audio, attending concerts, playing and collecting guitars, ice hockey, golf, weightlifting, and cycling. Oh yes, and driving my 911.

Quincy & Hannibal Porsche Group

Mark is the Region contact for our members in Quincy, Hannibal and the surrounding areas.

Digital Media, Webmaster, Newsletter

Growing up in Southern California, cars have always been a part of my life. My passion for automobiles truly ignited during my high school years. I often attended car shows and cruised along Pacific Coast Highway, exploring Newport, Huntington, and Laguna Beach to admire the exotic cars of the era. On occasion, with some extra time, I would swing by the Road & Track offices in Newport Beach, eager to see what gems might be parked outside.

My interest in cars deepened as I became an avid reader of Road & Track, expanding my automotive knowledge. Over time, I noticed patterns in the cars favored by writers and those that consistently performed well. Porsche always stood out, regularly earning top ranks.

These formative experiences charted a course for my future, with a promise to myself that one day I would own a 911. However, life has a way of prioritizing other responsibilities. Marriage and sensible decisions like purchasing a house and raising children meant my dream remained just out of reach. Then retirement arrived — a testament to years of compromise and careful planning. After six months of diligent searching, I found my dream car: a 2022 Carmine Red 992.1 Coupe, as perfect as I could hope for. Two days after this thrilling acquisition, I joined PCA, realizing what is the point, if you can't enjoy it with friends.

Director

I have been a Porsche enthusiast since high school in the early eighties.  Nothing was better than the 911 in my opinion.    Fast forward 40 plus years and my opinion remains the same.   I had Porsches in the early 2000’s but had to ultimately give them up for an SUV to haul around kids and hockey bags.  Now, after a 20 year hiatus, I have another 911 and am back to enjoying the track days.

I live in the metro-east where I practice law. I am married, with 4 kids and in my spare time, I enjoy fishing and going to concerts. 

Membership

As the founder and principal visionary behind JML Audio of St. Louis since 1997, many clients enjoy seeing Josh’s smiling face and welcoming greetings whenever they visit. Josh is an avid music lover who has broad ranging tastes. He is a technology expert; a self-described early adopter. Chances are if a client inquires about something automotive or consumer technology, Josh is well versed and has great solutions for the client. Through literally hundreds of continuing education and industry training events over the years Josh stays ahead of the curve and develops new techniques for integration into modern vehicles by specializing in fabrication using fiberglass, carbon fiber, acrylic and other automotive-grade plastics.  Josh also has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, so the business processes at JML Audio are as organized and detailed as the installation work. While he is a true car enthusiast of all cars, Josh enjoys working on European and Japanese vehicles. You can often find him at a charity car show or driving on the racetrack in their personalized guards red 911 C4S and sapphire blue metallic Macan S.

Columbia Porsche Group, Insurance Chair, Safety Chair

My first infection with the Porsche virus came after driving a family member’s 944 in 1999.  I loved the lines on that car and still do to this day.  That introduction led to the purchase of a 1985 944 which was my daily driver for 4 years.  I later purchased a 2000 Boxster and Kim and I began traveling to more PCA events.  Shortly after purchasing our Boxster, I met a small group of fellow Porsche enthusiasts in Columbia and over the last 15 years our group has grown to more than 60 members in the mid Missouri area.  I began participating in track events in 2008 to experience my Porsche’s performance characteristics in its natural habitat. I quickly discovered that a byproduct of the track and other Club activities are the lifelong friendships developed with other enthusiasts.

In 2010, I was asked to serve on the Board of the St. Louis Region PCA.  I have been Region Safety Chair as well as Region President for 2016 and 2017.  In 2020, I became a PCA National HPDE Instructor which continues my passion by introducing other members to performance driving.  In I am on my 3rd Cayman and currently own a 2018 718 as well as a 2023 base Macan.

In addition to my passion for Porsche, I spend time designing and building custom furniture, enjoy scuba diving and entertaining our German Shepard, Gretchen.

Registrar, Social Events

My passion for the Porsche brand began when we visited the Porsche Museum while stationed in Ramstein, Germany. I fell in love with its history, design, engineering, and unmistakable DNA.

I’m honored to serve as a board member and to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share the same passion. 

Street Survival

I was a first-time Porsche owner only a few years ago, when my wife bought a late-model 718 Cayman with a 6-speed manual.  We traded up to a Panamera 4S that same year, and I was hooked on the build quality, performance, and practicality of Porsche.  More recently, I bought a 992.1 Carrera S with a 7-speed manual that I use as my year-round daily driver.

I’m proud to serve on the board of the St. Louis PCA, and to coordinate STL-PCA’s engagement in the Street Survival program.  I’m convinced of the value that practical driving exercises give to all drivers, young and old, after spending many years as a sport bike enthusiast and trainer for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course.

I share my love of sport bikes and cars with my wife and three teenage kids, and look forward to representing the wonderful STL-PCA community with driver education opportunities for the St. Louis area.

HPDE Committee & Social Events

Porsche piqued my interest in 2021 after my husband Bob and I rented a Cayman GTS for a day in Hawaii to drive to the North Shore. In January 2022, we test drove a manual 2018 Cayman, but being so practical, it took me a week to finally decide to make such an extravagant purchase, which I did while my husband was out of town. I loved driving that car, so I tried my first track weekend at “Women on Wheels” later that year; I found it both exhilarating and terrifying. Sharing the Cayman with my husband, I did the next two HPDE weekends. By Spring HPDE, I decided I wanted my own car. I was set on another manual Cayman, but Sherrill Smith suggested I drive her PDK Cayman GTS for the last track session. I told her I would take it out for a few laps and then come back in for my car. Well, I never came back in, that car was awesome. A few weeks later I purchased a 2019 Boxster S with PDK. So now we now have three Porsches, including a 2017 Macan GTS. This was completely unexpected, I am not a big car person, but I love the brand. I am so happy we joined PCA, we have met such a great group of people and been introduced to a whole world of fun.

Director

My wife and I were introduced to Porsche on one of our Hawaiian vacations. We rented a Cayman GTS to travel to the North Shore of Oahu. About six months later, we bought our first Porsche, a 2018 Cayman base, manual. My wife suggested I do an HPDE event. I loved the experience and my instructor, Jim Fiss, was great. The next HPDE event was “Women on Wheels”, where my wife and I shared the Cayman. We both did several more HPDE events and progressed in our skills, so we decided to get another car. My wife purchased a 2019 Boxster S, so now we have “his” and “hers” Porsches (plus a Macan GTS).

My ultimate goal with Porsche is to become an instructor so I can share the passion of high performance driving with other enthusiasts.

Director

I’ve been a “car addict” my entire life, but my path to Porsche is a little unique.  Perhaps the seed was planted with my first two cars, the Volkswagon Scirrocco!

For much of my adult life, besides the necessity of having daily drivers, classic muscle cars were my passion.  I transformed a 69 convertible Camaro into a restomod, dropping in a LS3 and T56 6-speed, drove it to many Hot Rod Magazine Power Tours, all through the United States.  Our daughters came along for quite a few of these adventures.  As our kids got older and went off to college, I found myself a little bored and really didn’t have anyone to enjoy the muscle cars with.  In a conversation with Josh Landau, I had mentioned this to him and said, “I miss having camaraderie with other car enthusiasts.”  He said, “why don’t you come out to the track with the Porsche Club and see what we do via the HPDE’s.  Well, much to the dismay of my kids, I came home from that event and announced, “I’m selling both hotrods and buying a Porsche”!

I don’t think my situation is all that unique from other board member’s, it’s as much about the friendships as cars.  Personally, I lean more to the adrenaline side of things via track events.  I currently attend between 7-8 HPDE’s a year, and my wife Marisa can join us on a few trips as well.

I’m grateful for many things in life, but one thing is for sure the quality of people in and around this club is “second to none”.

Director

Marek Parafiniuk is an accomplished graduate of Saint Louis University, John Cook School of Business, a successful small business owner, a huge automotive enthusiast, natural comedian and a family man – a father of three: Nicholas (14), Maya (12), and Paul (5).

Marek loves fast cars and Gateway St. Louis and other tracks are no strangers to him either. He and his wife, Monika, became PCA members in 2006 soon after they purchased their first Porsche 911. One of the most fond family memories that they cherish as members of the Club is participating in the St. Patrick’s Porsche Club parades. Their young children always enjoyed decorating the Porsche cars in shamrocks to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day in St. Louis. The fact that the Porsche Club had a charitable aspect built into the parade made the participation in the parade even more exciting and meaningful!

Marek recently sold his well respected, small business, Clear Auto Bra that he founded and grew over the years.  Marek has proven to be an exceptionally motivated, hard working, creative, detail oriented, savvy businessman, and a loyal friend too. He is excited to serve on the Board of the Porsche Club’s St. Louis Region and is grateful for making many very valuable friendships through Club.

Public Relations Chair

Ever since I was a little, I have been around Porsches and the PCA St. Louis Region, coming to various events with my parents. In fact, many of you may remember me from when I was learning to walk, an excited young boy sitting on the side of Gateway's track screaming "Go Daddy, Go!", or "Mini Mark" walking alongside my Dad, Marek Parafiniuk, learning business from an early age. These are all core memories of my childhood! Now, I get to partake in the HPDE events that I used to admire. 

This opportunity to serve on the board is an opportunity to give back, so that others and future generations of Porsche lovers like myself can build similar memories to those of my own. 

Southeastern Missouri Porsche Group

I joined the PCA in 2011 after purchasing my Cayman. I caught the car disease early by virtue of my older brother, who took me along to Mid-America Raceway in Wentzville, MO one day when he was charged with “baby sitting” me while mom and dad were out of town. I attend a number of NASCAR races yearly, also haven’t missed an Indy 500 for 32 years. I am also an avid motorcyclist, life member of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. I have enjoyed the cycle hobby immensely and intend to do the same in the PCA.  I have been a defensive and safe driver instructor for the US Postal Service, from which I am retiring soon. The PCA has been a great ride thus far and I am sure it will continue to be so for years to come. See you at the track!

HPDE Chief Driving Instructor

Like many of you, Automobiles have held a lifelong interest for me. Though born here in St. Louis, I was raised in the suburbs of Detroit, then the Mecca of the Automotive World. To a young boy, New Model introductions were the highlight of the year, including the Shelby GT 350s and Boss 302 Mustangs my dad would occasionally bring home from work at Ford Engine Division. My career followed my passion in Engineering, Manufacturing and Management in the Automotive Industry (8 yrs at Ford and 30 at mega supplier Magna International). I purchased a Shelby licensed, factory built 427 Cobra S/C in 2002 and attended a number of driving and racing schools in an effort to learn to drive (and tame) that beast on the track. It was at the Porsche Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park that I realized the limitations of the “point and shoot” 1960’s technology and had my eyes opened to the unlimited performance potential of Porsche automobiles. A 2006 Carrera S Cab was soon in the garage, replaced in 2017 by a 981 GT4, which I continue to modify in search of the ultimate track car (don’t we all?). In 2019 I was honored to be recruited as the Chief Driving Instructor for our Region’s HPDE events, though I’ll never adequately fill the large shoes of Paul Lerman. Other lifelong interests include Underwater and Nature Photography, Sailing, Snow and Water skiing (Slalom and Barefoot), Construction and fine woodworking, automobile restoration, and Aviation.

HPDE Chair & Registrar

There are times I still can’t believe I drive a Porsche (2016 Cayman GTS), much less that my husband, Jim, and I now have 3 in our garage: his, hers and ours.

After purchasing our first Porsche in the mid 2000s, I began attending high performance driving events with Jim, sporadically at first, then with more consistency, often the only woman participant.  Encouraged by the HPDE Committee, a group of 5 other women drivers and I developed and hosted the first Women on Wheels HPDE in 2021, an event that has begun to change the makeup of our DE participants with more women and couples attending than ever before.

As the HPDE Registrar and Co-Chair, my summers are happily filled with track events.  When not at the track, I enjoy spending time with our grandchildren, traveling, scuba diving, photography and quilting, and of course socializing with fellow PCA and track folks.

President Emeritus & Name Badge

I grew up on British sports cars, and quickly learned you either had to learn how to fix things yourself, or get to know someone who did.  During those days, I always admired Porsches from afar, thinking they were out of reach.  After college I purchased my first Porsche, a used 1979 911 Targa.  Unfortunately, nothing ever broke for me to repair.  I started tinkering on it anyway.  Doing all my own maintenance, adjusting valves, changing out suspension bits, etc.  The modern Porsches require far less maintenance, but I still enjoy tinkering with them.

I enjoy Tech Sessions, Tours and Driving Events with my wife, Sue, whom I have been married to since 1979.  We’ve met a lot of great people with similar interests in the Porsche Club, who have become great friends, too.

Director

I LOVE MY PORSCHE!  I love driving my Porsche. I love cleaning my Porsche. I love maintaining my Porsche…..There, I said it.

I ordered my 1st Porsche in the  summer of 2013 and joined PCA the moment I got my V.I.N. from the factory.  Up to that point I had been driving BMW’s since 1975. I did LIKE my BMW’s.

Participating in several DE’s allowed me to meet and enjoy the company of many STL PCA members. Joining the Board furthers the Porsche driving & social experience. I look forward to planning many exciting driving events in the upcoming years.

When I am not driving my 2014 Cayman S, I like to play drums, cook (eat), spend time with my lovely wife and watch my 2 teenage boys play hockey.