Introducing Our Spring 2025 Cohort of Women In Leadership

Becky RasmussenNews

FOCUS St. Louis is pleased to announce the 36 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2025 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 women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field days, participants explore different styles of leadership and tap into the wisdom of business, community and civic leaders, while also honing their facilitation, negotiation and communication skills. Upon graduation, participants join the network of more than 11,000 FOCUS alumni.

Women In Leadership is presented with support from Dierbergs Markets and RGA Foundation.

Women In Leadership – Spring 2025 Cohort

Thesina Adams
Senior Lead Product Owner
Wells Fargo

Donna Beck CTC, MCC, DS
CEO & Founder
Advantage Travel Consultants LLC

Rochelle A. Calhoun
Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

Dr. Brandy A. Clay
CEO & Co-Founder
The Carousel Foundation of Greater Saint Louis

Janell Cross
Director of Operations
Bridge 2 Hope Parent Institute

Renea Daesch
Vice President, Information Technology
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sauywanna Davis
COO & Operations Manager
Keychain Karnival LLC

Rachel Deffenbaugh
Social Impact Strategist
Independent Professional

Brandi Evans
BJC Language Services Manager
BJC HealthCare

Dr. Linda Ogbah Faas
President
African Chamber of Commerce

Jessica Fischoff
Director of Literary Arts
Jewish Community Center of St. Louis

AshleyRae Fisher
Disaster Recovery Service Supervisor
The Salvation Army

Pamela Froidl-Cates
Team Leader – Data
Edward Jones

Genesis Glover
Senior Manager, Professional Development
Per Scholas

Krysta Grangeno
Senior Consultant
Limitless Horizons Consulting

Britny Hill
Member Success & Certification Manager
1% for the Planet

Brooke LaPlaca
Director, Engagement
Greater St. Louis, Inc.

Veronica Lewis-Kelly
Classroom Teacher
Confluence Academies

Stephanie Lundy
Director, Dedicated Transportation
Anheuser-Busch

Syerra Meadows-Haynes
Network Manager
East Side Aligned

Christy Miller
VP of Implementation and Impact
Access Point

Judy Ngugi
Founder
The African Queens of St. Charles County
Registered Nurse
St. Luke’s Hospital

Dawn Price
CEO/Founder
The Sophia Project Inc

Kelli Reeves
Manager, Facilities
St. Louis County Library

Katie Reinarman
Corporate Relations Manager
Missouri Botanical Garden

Lauren Schmitt
Manager, Insurance & Claims
Ameren

Lauren Sharpe
Senior Clinical Program Manager
BJC Healthcare

Sharifah Sims-Williams
Communications Director
Affinia Healthcare

Megan Slocum
Digital Innovation Project Manager
TechSoup

Adriana Stable
Chief Operations Officer
YWCA Metro St. Louis

Jamie Stafos
Practice Manager
MLO Law, LLC

Sheila Strebler
Head of Data Migration – US
MilliporeSigma

Patty Sturm, CPP
Sr. Director Americas Payroll
Cushman & Wakefield

Stephanie Weissberg
Senior Curator
Pulitzer Arts Organization

Ebony Williams
Director of Organizing
Bridge 2 Hope Parent Institute

Marquetta Wise
Executive Manager | Community Outreach and Recruitment
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri