FOCUS St. Louis has selected 63 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 47th 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 part of the continuum 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.
2022-23 Class of Leadership St. Louis
Carlton Adams
Chief Operating Officer
Operation Food Search
Andre Alexander
President
Tabernacle Community Development Corporation
Lauren Angelo
Principal
Edward Jones
Brad Bakker
VP – Senior Litigation Counsel
Rabo AgriFinance
Kim Beardslee
Director of Community Affairs
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Nichole Belford
External Relations Senior Manager
Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis
Courtney Berg
Executive Director
Girls on the Run St. Louis
Aimee Billingsley
VP, HR Operations
Bayer
Jeff Brown
Director of Development
Unity Foundation
Angie Carr
Vice President and Chief Impact Officer
Nine PBS
Jason Carter
Founder/CEO
UNCOMN
Nishesh Chalise
Community Affairs Manager
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Jason Chretien
Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
Washington University in St. Louis
Dr. Aedryan Cox
Director of Diversity & Inclusion
De Smet Jesuit High School
Benjamin DeClue
City Administrator
City of Glendale
Jeremy Dewey
Senior Director of Development & Finance
COCA – Center of Creative Arts
Erin Eberhard
Executive Director
Promise Community Homes
Jessica Estes
Director of Partnerships
ArchCity Defenders
Angela Fleming Brown
Chief Executive Officer
St. Louis Regional Health Commission
Kurt Frisz
Chief of Police
St. Charles County Police Department
Brandy Geers
Senior Vice President & Partner
FleishmanHillard
Destini Goodwin
Chief Operating Officer
Fathers & Families Support Center
Aaron M. Harris
Executive Director
Ferguson Youth Initiative
Lauren B. Harris
Counsel
Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
Trish Holmes
Executive Director
Independence Center
Garrett Jackson
Shareholder
Polsinelli
Precious Jackson-Howlett
Director of Program Management Services
Construction Management Partners
Kim Jakovich
Senior Vice President, Talent Management
Commerce Bank
Kyle Juvers
Director of Data & Analytics
Center for Civic Research and Innovation
Lisa Kelley
Executive Director, WildCare Institute
Saint Louis Zoo
Javad Khazaeli
Partner
Khazaeli Wyrsch LLC
Kristin LaRose
Chief Nursing Officer
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
Stephen C. Lee
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
Ameren Corporation
Brad Liebman
Principal, Director of Interiors
HOK
Michael Lourie
Director, Marketing & Communications
BJC HealthCare
Mark Lowe
Vice President, Engineering & Gas Operations
Spire
Tim Marsden
Chief Information Security Officer
Stifel
Jennifer Matthew Crompton
Director of ADR and Counsel
Lexitas
Christy McCutcheon
Director of Development
St. Joseph Housing Initiative
Kate McKearn
Executive Director
Eye Thrive
Sarah Miller
Educator and President of Clayton NEA
School District of Clayton
Myron Minner
Manager Research – SLU GI/Hepatology & Liver Center
Saint Louis University
Vernon C. Mitchell, Jr., Ph.D.
Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer
City of St. Louis
Rory O’Sullivan
Acting County Counselor
St. Charles County Government
Eduardo Platon
President and CEO
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis
Elaine Powers
Executive Director
Rebuilding Together St. Louis
Jenny Pratt
Director of Major and Planned Gifts
The Muny
Dr. Nicole Robinson
Vice President of Public Policy & Community Solutions
McCormack Baron Salazar
LaTrina Rogers, M.S. Ed
Director of Residential Life
Ranken Technical College
Marcel Scaife
Strategist
Missouri Foundation for Health
Chalana M. Scales-Ferguson, Esq.
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business – Saint Louis University
Tanesia Simmons
Partner
The Opportunity Trust
Erin Simon
Deputy Director
National Blues Museum
Kris Simpson
City Administrator
City of Crestwood
Matt Temple
Senior Account Executive – Key Accounts, Public Sector
United HealthCare
Kimberly Turner, Esq.
Attorney, Realtor, and Social Justice Consultant
The Law Office of Kimberly Turner, LLC and The Turner Team Realtors
Andrew Viragh
Second Vice President
Viragh Family Foundation
Stefani Weeden-Smith
Director
St. Louis Anchor Action Network
Stacy West-Bruce
Instructor in Occupational Therapy
Washington University in St. Louis
Jess Whiat
Chief Operating Officer
Villa di Maria Montessori School
Nelson Williams
Partner|
ThompsonCoburn LLP
Shelly Williams
Executive Director
Access Academies
Sophie Zavaglia
Partner
SWMW Law LLC