Diane Butrus is a Partner and COO for Diba Imports, LP and has been in the fashion footwear business since 1996. She successfully led her businesses through extreme growth as well as economic downturn. Her most recent project, the Gateway Fashion Group, is providing consulting and 3PL Services to growing footwear companies from around the world.
Previously, she was a technical sales representative with Leica, Inc. selling laser and optical measuring equipment to the automotive & aircraft industries. She also worked at Boeing writing software programs & evaluating new technology. Diane started, successfully operated, and sold Clean Cuts and More, Inc., a lawn care and landscaping company.
Her education includes an MS in Management from Maryville University and a BS in Computer Science from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Diane is currently a member of the Academy of Miner Athletics and the Dean’s Leadership Council at Missouri S&T. Diane also regularly appears for public speaking engagements, including the Midwest Women Business Owners’ Conference in St. Louis, as well as participating in the organizing committees of Women in the Footwear Industry and the St. Louis Women’s Bike Summit. She can frequently be found riding her bike around St. Louis and participating in charity bike rides, including the Tour de Cure and Bike MS.