FOCUS St. Louis has selected 24 talented early-career professionals for the Spring 2023 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, The Kwame Foundation, the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce – St. Louis, and Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.

Spring 2023 Emerging Leaders Class

Mindi Allison
Community Engagement Manager
Unite Us

Madison Booher
Project Architect
Trivers

Madeline Buasri
Assistant Designer
Summersalt

Elisabeth Condon
Development Coordinator
Epworth Children & Family Services

Jennifer Detering
Manager
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Andrea (Nikki) Edwards
Associate Director of Operations
Behavioral Health Response

Mary Foley
Manager, Site Contract and Budget Management
Daiichi Sankyo

Taylor Gadus
Student/Philanthropist

Cidney Grimes
MSW Student / Child Nutrition Program Coordinator
Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis / Operation Food Search

Courtney Harris
Program Coordinator
Washington University in St. Louis – Institute of School Partnership

Ashley Henson
Development Officer
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Tiara Jordan
CEO/Founder
Activate STL

Emily Malloy
Development Manager
Tower Grove Park

Patrick McEwen
Facilities Operations Manager
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Brittney Mollman
Associate Attorney
Thompson Coburn LLP

Cathy Schmaltz
Senior Instructional Designer
Ameren Missouri

Brock Sigler
Benefits Consultant
Lockton

Michael Simelton
Senior Project Manager
Ameren Corporation

Meghan Steineker
Community Engagement Manager
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

James Sykes
Special Projects Coordinator / Collaborative Projects Coordinator
City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office / YourWords STL

Brea Tabernik
Product Leader, Managed Investments
Edward Jones

LaKecia Veal
Senior Project Manager
Filament LLC

Recie Wilson
Community Outreach Manager
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Caro Wolfner
Project Manager
Nine PBS