FOCUS St. Louis has selected 71 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 46th Leadership St. Louis (LSL) class. These participants join a prestigious group of more than 2,500 leaders who have graduated from the LSL program since its inception in 1976.
Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for experienced leaders who have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the St. Louis region. The immersive nine-month curriculum explores issues such as economic development, racial equity, education, criminal justice, poverty, immigration and arts and culture. Leadership St. Louis is designed to challenge participants’ thinking, expose them to new ideas and perspectives, and promote discussion, reflection and action. Many graduates describe the experience as “transformational,” arming them with the tools, resources and connections to lead more effectively in their personal, professional and civic roles.
“The need for collaborative leadership has never been greater in our region,” says Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., President & CEO of FOCUS St. Louis and Director of the Leadership St. Louis program. “We’re excited to bring together this diverse group of leaders to gain a deeper understanding of St. Louis’ civic landscape by exploring the issues, institutions and systems shaping it.”
Leadership St. Louis is one of six leadership programs offered by FOCUS St. Louis to further its mission of educating and connecting leaders to work cooperatively for a thriving St. Louis region. Find your FOCUS program today.
2021-22 Class of Leadership St. Louis
Betsy Abente
Associate Director, International Center for Child Health and Development
Washington University in St. Louis
Kevin Adams
Principal
Edward Jones
Adriann Adams-Gulley
Director of Accounting
Parents as Teachers National Center
Anna-Stacia Allen
Executive Director
Navigate STL Schools
Shonda Ambers-Phillips
Executive Director of Equity, Wellness and Inclusion
Kirkwood School District
Amanda Barbieri
Senior Manager Smart Meter Program
Ameren Missouri
Jennifer Bardot
VP Senior Business Banking
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Shira Berkowitz
Communications Director
PROMO
Dr. Tymesha Buckner-Dobynes
Director of Court Programs
Family Court of St. Louis County
Necole Cheung
Executive Director
Christian Hospital Foundation
Khalia Collier
Vice President of Community Relations
St. Louis City SC
Susan Craig
Partner/Professor and Career Consultant
StandPoint/Washington University in St. Louis
Ryan Davis
Managing Partner – St. Louis
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Kirven Douthit-Boyd
Co-Artistic Director of Dance
COCA – Center of Creative Arts
Mike Eggleston
Senior Community Development Advisor
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Edmound Elzy
Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service
St. Louis CITY SC
Rebecca Fehlig
EVP, Operations
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Jackie Ferman-Grothe
Director, Media & Public Relations, Communications & Marketing
BJC HealthCare
Eric Fey
Director of Elections
St. Louis County Board of Elections
Lacy Fields Keune
Attorney
Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, PC
Ann Fisher-Jackson
Chief of Staff
Gladiator Consulting
Julie Flynn
Deputy General Counsel
Stifel Financial
Joel Fuoss
Principal
Trivers
Alyse Garbisch
Project Architect
Jacobs
Dion Garrett
Lead Pastor
Pathfinder Church
Christopher Geden
Inventory Lead
Fresh Thyme
Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, PhD, PHR
Superintendent of Schools
The School District of University City
Howard Hayes
Executive Director
St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment
T.J. Hoeferlin
Principal of Assurance Services
Purk & Associates, P.C.
Joe Holt M.A.
Director of Development
ArchCity Defenders
Coolty Hunter
Director, Business Development
Balance Computer Aided Engineering
Norma Jackson
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Thompson Coburn LLP
Stacy E Johnson
Chief Program Officer – Head Start Director
YWCA Metro St. Louis
Andwele Jolly
Executive Director, Business Affairs
Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Jodi Jordan
Educational Consultant
Valeda Keys
Executive Director / Founder
Valeda’s Hope
Tim Larkin
Attorney
Husch Blackwell LLP
Ruth Lee
Nonprofit Executive
Danny Lewin
Partner & Director of Program Management Office
Object Computing, Inc.
Al Li
Senior Vice President
Regions Bank
James Madison
Vice President, Business Operations
Saint Louis Zoo
Joseph Mantovani
Shareholder
Polsinelli PC
Kate Midgett
Senior Director of Organizational Excellence
Nine PBS
Angie Minges
Director, Partnership Marketing
Nestle Purina
Christina Moore
Senior Counsel
Husch Blackwell
Christy Moore
Vice President, Capital & Program Planning
BJC HealthCare
Becky Moss
Chief Development Officer
Beyond Housing
Greg Muck
Treasury Director
Alter Trading Corporation
Theresa Nikolaus
VP Regional Delivery Manager
UMB
Ben Nordstrom
Director of Development
The St. Louis Children’s Choirs
Ashley Odham
VP of Staff (Chief of Staff)
KIPP St. Louis Public Schools
Jamie Opsal
Executive Director
St. Louis City Senior Fund
Essence Owens
Neighborhood Development Executive
City of St. Louis – Neighborhood Stabilization Division
Richard Payton
Chief of Staff
Washington University in St. Louis
Diane Poelker Carrico
Senior Vice President and Partner
FleishmanHillard
Mariah L. Richardson
Playwright
Russ Riggan
Managing Partner
Riggan Law Firm, LLC
Bishop Michael Robinson
CEO/Founder
City Hope St. Louis
Dr. Mayola Rowser
Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Goldfarb School of Nursing @ Barnes Jewish College
Nina Scattergood
Director, Team Member Services
UNCOMN LLC
Natalie Self, MSW
Vice President, Equitable Economic Impact
Cortex Innovation Community
Eliza Simington
Chief Operating Officer
City Design Group, Inc.
Ronald Stella
Airport Deputy Director Operations
St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Sara Stock
CEO
Stock Legal, LLC
Michael Talleur
Senior Vice President and Commercial Division Manager
Commerce Bank
Adena Varner
Director of Learning and Community Engagement
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Dara Webb
Executive Director Population Health and Quality
Mercy
Brianna White
Head, Trait Design & Sciences
Bayer Crop Science
Kristen Wild
President & CEO
Operation Food Search
Ben Woodard
Attorney
Stinson LLP
Scott Zola
Director of Construction Services
The Lawrence Group Projects, L.L.C.