What's Right with the Region

Make plans to join us on May 7, 2026, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Mix and mingle at one of the region's biggest networking receptions from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards celebration in the beautiful Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

What’s Right with the Region represents FOCUS St. Louis’ most important fundraising event of the year, and your ticket purchase helps to support our ongoing mission to educate and connect leaders and facilitate important conversations in our community.

Take advantage of discounted early-bird pricing through March 27!

Pricing (through March 27, 2026):

• FOCUS members - $65 (log-in to receive discounted pricing)
• Nonmembers - $75 (join/renew to save)

Tickets include access to both the networking reception and awards ceremony, as well as free parking, heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer/wine bar.

There are no physical tickets for this event. Refunds are not available, but guest substitutions are allowed.

We also have the Start With Leadership Conference taking place immediately prior to What's Right with the Region from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Touhill! Learn more and reserve your tickets here. 

Demonstrating Innovative Solutions

Honorees have demonstrated innovation and vision in making the St. Louis region a better place to live, work or visit.

Gateway Arch Park Foundation
The MICA Project (Migrant and Immigrant Community Action)
Next Prep
Scott Credit Union

Improving Equity and Inclusion

Honorees have shown a commitment to promoting diversity, access, inclusion and opportunity for all.

City Academy
The Eastern Region Alliance
St. Louis Black Repertory Company
St. Francis Xavier ID & Birth Certificate Program

Promoting Community Health and Well-being

Honorees are working to improve the collective health and wellness of our region’s residents, as well as addressing the social determinants of health.

Assisi House
Crown Center for Senior Living
Just Moms STL
Pink Ribbon Good – St. Louis

Emerging Initiatives

Honorees are promising new businesses, organizations or initiatives that are already serving as catalysts for change.

Archway Refugee Connections
Brickline North Community Development Corporation
Sow Joy Peoples Fund
The People’s Response

Community Changemakers

Honorees are individuals leading and inspiring change in their organizations, their community and/or our region for the benefit of all.

Gary Huelsmann, CEO, Caritas Family Solutions
Raphael Morris, President, Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association
Chris Ryan, Founder, STL.org, and Owner, Once Films
Lizette Smith, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Programs, Our Little Haven

FOCUS St. Louis® is pleased to announce Lesley Hoffarth, P.E., President & Executive Director of Forest Park Forever, as the recipient of the 2026 FOCUS Leadership Award.

This prestigious award, chosen by the FOCUS Board of Directors, is given annually to individuals who demonstrate committed leadership, generate a meaningful impact in the community, and encourage strong community engagement in others. The award will be presented at the 29th Annual What’s Right with the Region celebration on Thursday, May 7, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

“Forest Park is one of the top urban parks in our country and a true treasure for our region,” said Edward Bryant, board chair for FOCUS St. Louis. “Lesley Hoffarth’s visionary leadership has transformed Forest Park Forever into a national model for public–private partnership, and ensured it will remain a beautiful and welcoming space for all visitors and residents to enjoy for years to come.”

In her role since 2010, Hoffarth has led Forest Park Forever through significant strategic growth. She negotiated a first-in-the-nation innovative agreement (and subsequent renewal and extension) with the City of St. Louis, forming a true partnership in caring for the Park. She has led the Park’s most ambitious fundraising initiatives, including the capital campaign to restore Steinberg Rink and transform its surroundings into the Glade, a destination for year-round community activity. Under her leadership, Forest Park has been voted “Best City Park” in the country multiple times in the USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, among other regional and national accolades.

Before joining Forest Park Forever, Hoffarth — a 20-year veteran of the Missouri Department of Transportation — led the $535 million New I-64 project to completion one month ahead of schedule, $11 million under budget and with a 95% public satisfaction rating.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri at Columbia and is a Missouri-registered professional engineer. She is an alumna of the FOCUS Women in Leadership Program and a distinguished member of the MU Academy of Civil Engineers. Her recognitions include being named among the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women, YWCA’s Leader of Distinction, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s Woman of Distinction, and St. Louis Forum’s Trailblazer Award.

At the 29th Annual What’s Right with the Region Awards Celebration on May 7, FOCUS St. Louis will recognize two outstanding alumnae of its civic leadership programs:

2026 FOCUS St. Louis Legacy Alumni Award
Amy Shaw, President & CEO, Nine PBS – Leadership St. Louis 2013

2026 FOCUS St. Louis Emerging Alumni Award
Keisha Mabry Haymore, Managing Director, Per Scholas – Emerging Leaders 2013

A graduate of FOCUS’ Leadership St. Louis program and past FOCUS board chair, Amy Shaw has served as President & CEO of Nine PBS since February 2020, when she became the first woman to lead Nine in its 70+ year history. Under her leadership, Nine PBS has achieved national distinction as the most-watched PBS station in the country for five of the past six years and has emerged as a trusted civic storyteller, earning 87% community trust rating in a recent survey. The organization has also been consistently recognized as a Best Place for Women to Work by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. Recognized as a national leader and innovator in community engagement and public media, Amy created the Nine PBS Model for Engagement, designed to guide public media organizations in deepening their impact as essential community institutions.

Amy serves on the national board of PBS, as chair of public media’s Affinity Group Coalition and the Public Television Major Market Group, and on the Grand Center, Inc. board. She is a member of the St. Louis Forum and International Women’s Forum. Amy was an inaugural Eisenhower Zhi-Xing Fellow in 2015, traveling to China to study Chinese media and how communities address complex issues.

An alumna of FOCUS’ Emerging Leaders program for young professionals, Keisha Mabry Haymore is a connector, convener and social entrepreneur on a mission to change the world one connection at a time. She is a Certified Google Coach and Verizon Digital Ready Advocate who has trained thousands in digital strategy and AI adoption. In addition, Keisha is Managing Director of Per Scholas, a tech bootcamp for AI-enabled tech careers and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. She has been selected for several prestigious fellowships, including Aspen Ideas Scholar, Fulbright Specialist, Goldman Sachs, and Tory Burch. She has been a TEDx speaker and is the author of the book Hey Friend: 100 Ways to Connect with 100 People in 100 Days.

 Keisha has delivered more than 150 keynote speeches for Fortune 500 companies and top brands like Spotify, Mastercard, Nielsen, Square, SXSW, Edward Jones, Bayer, Facebook, YUM!, Ikea, SHRM, New York Fashion Week, US Bank and Brit + Co. She has been recognized in the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and named among the “Ones to Watch” by St. Louis Magazine.

Meet our 2026 What’s Right with the Region Co-Chairs!

Ray Kleeman
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
RGA: Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.

Mark Lindgren
Executive Vice President, Communications, & Chief Human Resources Officer
Ameren

What’s Right with the Region has a tremendous impact on FOCUS St. Louis and on the organizations and people we honor each year, and meaningful partnerships make all the difference.

A sponsorship is a unique opportunity to participate in one of the region's best networking events, build stronger community ties and demonstrate your support for leadership. 

For more details, contact us!