FOCUS St. Louis® is pleased to announce the 28 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2022 cohort of Women In Leadership.
The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with other women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field days, participants are able to explore different styles of leadership and tap into the wisdom of area business, community and civic leaders, while also honing their facilitation, negotiation and communication skills.
“For 40 years the Women In Leadership program has been bringing together a diverse mix of women from across sectors for growth, learning and connection,” says Shalia Ford, WIL Program Director. “This experience is designed to help participants gain the tools, resources and network to lead more confidently and effectively in all their spheres of influence.”
Upon graduation, participants join the network of more than 10,000 FOCUS program alumni.
The Women In Leadership program is presented with support from Emerson, Regions Bank and PepsiCo Foundation.
Women In Leadership Spring 2022 Cohort
Crystal Crump
Managing Director, Company Relations
LaunchCode
Melanie Davis
Retired
Michelle DiStaso
Contract Compliance Specialist
St. Louis Development Corporation
Sarah Dorlac
Manager, Transmission Project Management
Ameren
Emily Elam
Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel
Citi
Deanna Finch
Executive Director
United 4 Children
Tori Gillespie, PE
Director of Operations – Healthcare
Ross & Baruzzini
Jasmine Hall Ratliff
Business Development Manager
Keecha Harris & Associates, Inc.
Daron Hendrix
Director of Corporate Relations
The Salvation Army-Midland Division
Laura Huff
Vice President
Gallagher Research & Insights
Lydia Huston
Director, Development & Marketing
Loyola Academy of St. Louis
Kathy Isaak
Senior Business Analyst and Project Lead
MSF&W Consulting, Inc.
Dana Jackson
Senior Specialist
Mastercard
Alfredia Johnson
Senior Regulatory Manager
Instinct Pet Food
Dasha Kuzmina O’Grady
Department Leader, Business Improvement – Service Experience Enablement
Edward Jones
Danyelle Little
Senior Social Media Manager
Imo’s Pizza
Alexandria McCuien
Software Engineer
AT&T
Benicia Nanez Hunt
Principal
Long International Middle School/SLPS
Shelitha “Lisa” Peppers
Assistant Dean – Anheuser-Busch School of Business
Harris-Stowe State University
Laura Roeseler
Chief Executive Officer
Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri and Kansas
Anjie Sanford
Manager, Inclusive Entrepreneurship Development
BioGenerator
Christian Shields Cunningham
Founder and CEO
My Secret’s Purpose LLC
Lindsey Shinn, MSN, RN, CCRN-K
Clinical Program Manager, Pediatric Liver/Kidney Transplant
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Octavia Monique’ Thomas
Tax Associate
H&R Block
Jacqueline True
Director of Preconstruction
Roanoke Construction
Vanessa Vandergraaf, Ed.D.
Department Head, Advanced Graduate Programs
Lindenwood University
Amanda Weber
Supervisor – Loan Servicing
MOHELA
Candice Woolfolk, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Washington University School of Medicine