FOCUS St. Louis® has selected 31 talented young professionals for the Fall 2018 cohort of Emerging Leaders. This competitive program provides participants (ages 22-35) with an increased sense of engagement in the region, as well as the tools to take an active role as the next generation of St. Louis regional leaders.
Since its launch in 2012, the FOCUS Emerging Leaders program has trained more than 350 young professionals from across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The fall cohort will be the first to participate in the newly expanded format, which includes a two-day opening retreat, group Civic Action Project and seminar days around the region for a total of 40 hours of civic leadership development.
“Our expanded curriculum gives the class more time to explore the St. Louis region and its unique issues and opportunities, as well as form deeper connections with fellow participants,” says Emerging Leaders Director Shalia Ford. “The addition of the group project also provides a hands-on leadership experience and serves as a blueprint for continuing civic engagement after graduation.”
Over the course of the three-month program, Emerging Leaders develop a better understanding of the inner workings of the St. Louis community, explore their personal, professional and civic leadership styles and gain a diverse network of peers. Upon graduation, participants become part of the FOCUS network of more than 8,500 leadership program alumni.
Fall 2018 Emerging Leaders Class
Emily Bardon
Member
Lewis Rice LLC
McKinzee Boyd
Customer Success Advocate
Square
Jake Brooks
Director of Ambulatory Business Operations
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
John Cruz
Data Management Coordinator
Rise Community Development
Drew Deptola
Manager, Healthcare Consulting
CliftonLarsonAllen
Michelle Echols
Career Advisor/Account Manager
Father’s Support Center
Rich Fisher
Designer/Project Manager
Randy Burkett Lighting Design
Emily Fuhrman
Manager, Foundation & Giving
Build-A-Bear
Alex Gillette
Senior Consultant Software Engineer III
Daugherty Business Solutions
Marshida Harris
Teen Advisor
Kingdom House
Dana Ivancic
Team Leader
Swank Motion Pictures
Jasmine Johnson
Project Manager Associate
U.S. Bank Community Development Corporation
Darryl Jones II
Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
Kelly Jurotich
Customer Engagement Specialist
Square
Kyle Juvers
Deputy Director of Community-Based Studies
Better Together STL
Kaleb K. Katzenberger
Risk Consultant
Wells Fargo Advisors
Samantha Clemons Long
CEO & Founder
ELI Directional Drilling
Kristi Luther
Content Writer/Strategist
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis
Ashley June Moore
Director, College Advising Corps
Washington University in St. Louis
Erin Muzughi
Marketing Manager
Bonfyre
James Owen
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Beyond Housing, Inc.
Tashanna Rucker
Big Futures Senior Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri
Megan Sherling
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Lutheran Family and Children’s Services
Lucas Signorelli
Executive Director
St. Louis MetroMarket
Adekemi Sodamade
Analyst, Investment Strategies
NISA
Brian Temple
Design Professional
HOK
Drew Tingle
Financial Planning Associate
Plancorp, LLC
Justin Treadwell
Senior Payroll Success Advocate
Square
Jessica Waite
Senior Project Interior Designer
HOK
Rebecca Weaver
Cities Program Manager
The Nature Conservancy
Daphne Williamson
Senior Retirement Specialist
Edward Jones