The Power of Presence: Leaders Inspiring What’s Next

Register

Reserve your spot for our Black History Month panel discussion!

Our 2026 forum, The Power of Presence: Leaders Inspiring What’s Next, will spotlight the stories, strategies, and leadership philosophies that define and drive transformative change. Together, our panel will:

• Share personal journeys of resilience, vision, and leadership.
• Offer practical insights for leading with authenticity and purpose.
• Explore how Black leaders are shaping a more inclusive and equitable St. Louis.
• Engage in meaningful dialogue on legacy, innovation, and collective progress.

This gathering is more than a celebration — it’s a call to reflection and renewal. We aim to honor the past, learn from the present, and chart a bold path forward together.

Panel

• Moderator: Yinka Faleti, Venture Partner, Ascend Venture Capital (FOCUS Board Members & LSL 2019)
• Tommye Austin, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President Patient Care Systems & Chief Nurse Executive, BJC Health System
• Rodney Crim, CEO & President, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (Experience St. Louis 2003)
• Neosha Franklin, President & CEO, Community Impact Network (Women in Leadership 2021)
• Dr. Natissia Small, CEO, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Tickets:

FOCUS Members – $25 (log in to take advantage of member pricing)
Nonmembers – $35 (join/renew to receive discounted member pricing)

About the Panelists

Moderator: Yinka Faleti is a Nigerian-born American who has built a remarkable career of public service and leadership. A West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Captain who served two tours in Kuwait, Faleti transitioned from military service to law, studying at WashU Law and working as an attorney at a global law firm and state prosecutor in St. Louis. His professional journey includes leading fundraising and volunteer engagement at United Way, raising $300MM to support the Greater St. Louis region, and serving as Executive Director of Forward Through Ferguson. In 2020, he ran for Missouri Secretary of State, becoming the only African American man to inspire in excess of one million votes in the state’s over 200-year history. Currently a venture partner with Ascend Venture Capital, Faleti is also the founding board chair of Veterans for All Voters, a national nonpartisan nonprofit focused on electoral reform.

As BJC HealthCare’s most senior nursing executive, Tommye Austin, Ph.D., MBA, RN, NEA-BC, is responsible for patient and integrated care management strategies, patient safety platforms, direction of clinical care management systems and support for the development of the 8,000 nursing professionals and other allied health professionals of BJC Health System’s East Region. Prior to joining BJC HealthCare in 2022, Tommye was Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive for University Health in San Antonio. Before that, she held executive nursing roles with the Baptist Health System, the Memorial Hermann Health System and Kingwood Plaza Hospital. Tommye received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, as well as Doctor of Philosophy degree, from the University of Texas Czik School of Nursing. Additionally, she holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Tommye has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives and Top 10 to Watch Minority Executives, as well as Becker’s Hospital Review’s 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know.

Rodney Crim, CEcD, EDFP, is the CEO and President of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, a regional economic development organization for St. Louis City and St. Louis County. The organization provides business attraction, retention and expansion services, facilitates innovation and entrepreneurship and owns and manages four business incubators. The organization also sponsors a World Trade Center, develops and manages strategic real estate projects, facilitates the connection between businesses and workforce providers and leads a number of initiatives. Rodney has enjoyed a career in the public and private sectors in Minneapolis, Chicago and St. Louis including Pillsbury, The Musicland Group, Ameriprise, Microtron, Shorebank and the St. Louis Development Corporation before joining the Partnership. Rodney’s education includes a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration. He is a Certified Economic Developer, Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) and a Harvard Senior Executive in their State and Local Government Program.

Neosha S. Franklin is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Impact Network, a private operating foundation advancing equity across the 24:1 community in North St. Louis County. With more than 15 years of experience in education and philanthropy, she has led multimillion-dollar investments in early childhood, youth development, housing, and community infrastructure, and previously built the marketing and communications program at the St. Louis Community Foundation, where she spearheaded Give STL Day helping nonprofits collectively raise more than $22.1 million over four years. Deeply committed to service and civic leadership, Neosha volunteers on nonprofit committees for organizations including Youth In Need, PreventEd, and serves on the Board of St. Louis Public Radio. She holds degrees in communication from Truman State University and Lindenwood University. She is a graduate of the 2021 Focus St. Louis Women in Leadership program and has been recognized as a 2021 St. Louis Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and a 2023 Delux Power 100 award recipient.

Dr. Natissia Small is the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, one of the 10 largest Girl Scout councils in the U.S. She leads strategic operations that serve nearly 25,000 girls across 28 counties and guides a volunteer community of more than 10,000 members. Dr. Small has nearly three decades of experience in higher education and organizational leadership. Throughout her career, Dr. Small has been recognized for excellence in leadership, and her awards include honors from the Missouri Senate, the Dr. Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award from the National College Board, the St. Louis American Excellence in Education Award, the North County Inc. Community Development Leadership Award, the St. Louis Business Journal Champion of Diversity Award, the FOCUS What’s Right with the Region Award, and the Gateway to Hope Awardee. In 2025, she was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal Most Influential Business Women. Dr. Small holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Southeast Missouri State University. She also holds two master’s degrees in Secondary School Education Adult Education and Counseling. She earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.