This year, 240 leaders graduated from a FOCUS program. They represent all ages and career levels – from high school students to CEOs – and came together from a wide range of sectors, industries and backgrounds. In addition to challenging themselves as leaders, we hope each graduate gained a deeper understanding of our St. Louis region and how they can play a role in making our community stronger.

Please join us in welcoming them to the FOCUS alumni community of more than 11,000 graduates!

Leadership St. Louis 2025-26

Pamela Bass, Amazon
Jackie Becker, Ameren
Kim Brown, Animal Protective Association of Missouri
Molly Brown, Saint Louis Crisis Nursery
Kuleya Bruce, Great Rivers Greenway
Brenda Cockrell, Bayer Corporation
Tina Coil, Forge Consulting Group
Amos Curlee, Project Make-It
Aparna Deora, Pfizer
Rick Difani, LUZCO
Megan Downs, St. Louis Community Credit Union
Justine Dugan, Highest Good Performance
Danni Eickenhorst, HuSTL Hospitality Group
Stephen Eisele, FleishmanHillard Inc.
Keshia Elder, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Bukky Erinle, Bayer Corporation
Brian Ferguson, Commerce Bank
Sabarras George, Saint Louis Zoo
Trisha Gordon, Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
Anna Hall, International Institute of St. Louis
Melissa Hamilton, Elevation Counseling, LLC
Leslie Heusted, WashU
Emily Howard, PGAV
Natalie Johnson, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
Megan Jung, Power Creative
Jennifer Klaverkamp, Millipore Sigma
Nathan Marafioti, Nestlé Purina PetCare
Philip Marshall, Spinoza Strategies
Leslie McClure, Saint Louis University
Stephanie McNally, Washington University In St. Louis
Brad McRae II, Edward Jones
Larry Morris, Kranzberg Arts Foundation
Damien Myers, KIPP St. Louis Public Schools
Kristen Otto, St. Louis Sports Commission
Jamila Owens-Todd, Power4STL/MINT
Laurel Pickering, Gateway Business Health Coalition
Claire Pond, CareVet
Ginna Rivera, BJC HealthCare
Katy Robbins, Millipore Sigma
Tonya Rose, Thompson Coburn LLP
Shu Schiller, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Kacy Shahid, Cahokia Unit School District 187
Elizabeth Simons, Great Rivers Greenway
David Skrzypiec, Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Erin Suelmann, Gateway Down Syndrome Association
Carmen Tillery, Momentum Academy
Amy Turck, Nine PBS
Teresa Turner, Synchronized Resources, Inc.
Traci Tyus, The Copia Collective LLC
Lindsay Van Quaethem, Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas
Daniel Vogel Jr., Mercy
Lamara D. Warren, Saint Louis Science Center
Danielle Washington, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Bill Winfrey, St. Louis Integrated Health Network
Gabrielle Young, The Banks & Young Group

Women In Leadership Fall 2025

Almaze Austin, Michael Shannon Consulting
Qiana Baxton, City of St. Louis
Alice Davis-Wiley, Community Impact Network
Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee, LeadWell Health
Christine Gayden, Charles Schwab
Tracy Gutzke, BJC HealthCare
Andrea Harpring, Special School District of St. Louis County
Kelly Hicks-Holloway, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri
Parish Lemons, Total Quality Solutions
Andria Mantle, Enterprise Mobility
Emily Martin, Humane Society of Missouri
Tori Rezek, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Dorian Richardson, Midland States Bank
Anna Trainer, Simply Strategy, LLC
Sara Vaughan, Salva Strategies
Gretchen Wagner, Stifel/Webster University
Keyisha Watson, St Louis Public Schools
Nicole Yokota, CommunityAmerica Credit Union

Women In Leadership Spring 2026

Kayia Baker, Pianos for People
Heather Blue, Prison Fellowship
Stephanie Boyd, Rosati-Kain Academy
Grace Bramman, Wyman
Miriah Broeker, Equifax Workforce Solutions
Marna Coleman, City of St. Louis
Hollie Costello, EverTrue
Jodie Crohn, HOK
Kristin Doll, RGA
Natosha Hunter, Cushman & Wakefield
Liz Jennings, BJC HealthCare
Tracy Jones, Major 360 LlC
Joy King King, Bayer Corporation
Katie O’Neill, Cushman & Wakefield
Chris Sandwell, Behavioral Health Response, Inc.
Vanessa Sarmiento, SouthSide Early Childhood Center
Amy Simpson, Bayer Corporation
Colleen Suber, CHADS Coalition for Mental Health
Rebecca Tafra Catlett, St. Louis County Library
Nicole Thompson, Concordance
Julie Turner, United Services for Children
Caitlin Veninga, Siteman Cancer Center
Samantha Wayant, YWCA Metro St. Louis
Amber Webb, Animal Protective Association of Missouri
Raven Whitener, The St. Louis American Foundation
Latoya Wilson, Mission: St. Louis-Show Me Peace
Erin Wright, FOCUS St. Louis
Kelley Young, St. Louis Area Foodbank
Annie Zahner, Prosper CPAs

Emerging Leaders Fall 2025

Shawnica Andrews, Unleashing Potential
Joe Bradley, City Academy
Aynna Buckley, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Alex Burkart, America’s Central Port
Frank Cooper, Veterans Community Project of St Louis
Sarah Crosley, Missouri Public Health Institute
Jenelle Ellis, Tower Grove Park
Kelsie Frazier, EB&T
Averyia Gibson, Circuit Attorneys Office
Catherine Gilmore, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis
Jamie Hayes, Enterprise Mobility
Sarah Hollstrom, FamilyForward
Tyeler Hood, The Luminary
Amar Jasarevic,
Jordey Jones, Mercy
Tim Jurado, Raymond James
Renzhi Liu, Hubbell
Gabby Moore, World Wide Technology
Ariel Moss, Millipore Sigma
Hiral Patel, BJC HealthCare
Omar Perkins, The Perkins Institute
Taylor Porter, CEdge Corp
Valonda Roberts, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Jamie Roper, GadellNet Consulting Services
Rajaye Smith, Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Jose Sotelo, Missouri Charter Public School Association
Mairin Warner, Community Impact Network
Gehazi Whitehurst, Common Ground Public Relations
Liz Zilch, Rung for Women

Emerging Leaders Spring 2026

Sarah Ayers, Danna McKitrick
Allison Bell, Beezwax
Rachel Bray, NCJWSTL
Dr. Antaniece Carter, East Saint Louis School District 189
Melik Coffey, Washington University In St. Louis
Hazel Denother, Saint Louis University
Feven Fessehatzion, Eye Thrive
Caleb Gipple, Advantage Capital
Aric Hamilton, University Of Missouri – St. Louis College Of Optometry
Allison Heimsath, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Dalton Lacy, Associated Bank
Aminhan Lobster, Park Central Development
Joey Maher, Archford Capital Strategies
Michaela Mason, Moneta Group
Brita Mathre, Washington University In St. Louis
Khutaija Noor, Love For St. Louis
KJ Powell, GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness
Sep’Tisha Riley, Show Me The World Project
Carrie Scherr, Filament LLC
Megan Schraier, Gateway to Hope
Laine Sulz, East-West Gateway Council of Governments
Gil Thomas, Great Rivers Greenway
Robert Tillman, BJC Health
Jenevieve Trau, American Cancer Society
Zach Tucker, Once Films
Barrett Wagner, Gateway Region YMCA
Arielle Washington, Wyman Center
Jourdan Wilson, Heartland Dental

Youth Leadership St. Louis 2025-26 Participating Schools/Organizations

Affton High School
Bishop DuBourg High School
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis /
St. Louis Internship Program
Chaminade College Preparatory School
Confluence Preparatory Academy
Cor Jesu Academy
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
O’Fallon Township High School
Principia School
St. John Vianney High School
St. Louis University High School
St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School
Sumner High School
Ursuline Academy