FOCUS St. Louis has selected 27 talented early-career professionals for the Fall 2022 cohort of Emerging Leaders. This civic leadership program provides participants 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, FOCUS Emerging Leaders has trained more than 600 young professionals from across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
“Emerging Leaders is the perfect opportunity for any early-career professional who wants to take on a greater leadership role in our region,” says FOCUS President & CEO Dr. Yemi Akande-Bartsch. “Participants leave the program with a better understanding of themselves and our community and a clearer vision for their future.”
During the four-month program, participants meet with area leaders to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of St. Louis, 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 10,000 leadership program alumni.
The Emerging Leaders program is presented with support from Big League Impact, Dierbergs, The Kwame Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation, and Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.
Fall 2022 Emerging Leaders Class
Dr. Leigh R. Anderson
Professor of Criminal Justice Studies
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Sophie Arp
Executive Director
Friends of the Rainforest
Nathan Bestor
Designed Field Research Scientist
Climate, LLC
Arissa M. Calvert, MSW
Certified Financial Social Worker
LifeWise STL
Alexis Creamer
Persistence Coach
Wyman Center
Geoffrey Dudley II
Community Advocate
New Life
Andrea Flanigan
Development Manager
The ALS Association
Sarah Freymiller
Senior Learner Engagement Manager
LaunchCode
Mary Gay
American Connection Corps Broadband Fellow
Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
Keshia Hair
Coordinator of Early Childhood Partnerships
Saint Louis MHB
Umi Khenissi
Manager – Section 3
Employment Connection
Nick Kimble
Healthcare Consultant
Huron Consulting Group
Morgan LeBaige
Database Administrator
BioSTL
Claire Lucas
Business Acceptance Counsel
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Matthew Mercer
Senior Contract Negotiator
Home State Health Plan
Lance Moore
Vice President
Citigroup
Jovany Otero
Outreach Coordinator
Great Rivers Greenway
Geno Pirrami
Senior Analyst
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Jonathan Plump
Audit Supervisor
Midwest BankCentre
Courtney Price
Manager
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Chase Shiflet
Justice Initiative Program Manager
St. Louis Integrated Health Network
Chloe Smith
Grants and Programs Manager
Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis
Renelle Spinks
Career & College Persistence Manager
KIPP St. Louis
Paula-Breonne Vickers
Senior Manager of Community Outreach
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Kristin Watt
Programs Manager
Conflict Resolution Center St. Louis
James White
Associate, Business Leadership
Momentum
Morgan Williams
DE&I Program Manager
Ameren