Dawn Gipson is Senior Director of Culture Activation for Centene Corporation, where she leads enterprise efforts to strengthen organizational culture through employee engagement, leadership development, recognition, strategic communications, and culture transformation initiatives. She is responsible for creating programs and experiences that help employees feel connected, supported, and empowered to do their best work. Prior to joining Centene, Dawn spent 19 …
David Erickson, CFA, is the Chief Investment Officer for Ascension Investment Management (AIM). He oversees the administration, management, and coordination of all investments, and has 32 years of investment industry experience. Prior to joining AIM in 2009, he served as Chief Investment Officer at the University of Wisconsin Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin. He previously served as Vice President and Investment …
Darryl Collins joined Commerce Bank in 2000. With over 38 years in banking, he worked previously at US Bank, Firstar Bank and Mercantile Bank, gaining extensive experience in all aspects of Retail sales, branch management, several years in small business and commercial relationship management, and numerous special projects related to mergers, acquisitions, and charter integration. Currently, he serves as Regional …
Jason Chretien currently serves as Associate Vice President of Organizational Strategy and Business Operations. In his previous role as Chief of Staff and Associate Vice Chancellor at Washington University, he oversaw operational initiatives for the CAO divisions, supporting the chief administrative officer in developing and implementing innovative solutions to resolve institutional challenges and support strategic directives. His knowledge, skills, and …
Ginny Burns serves as the Executive Director for Knowledge Finance, a division of MOHELA. Burns serves as Director of Borrower Experience and Processing for the Authority. She is responsible for the overall Borrower Experience of the Authority, including the Customer Advocacy Team, Training, Specialty Servicing, Loan Servicing and Quality Assurance Group. Burns joined the Authority in 2013. For the 28 …
Sara Stock is founder and CEO of Stock Legal, and co-founder of Legal Back Office. Her legal practice focuses on general corporate work for small- to medium-sized businesses and commercial real estate transactions, advising clients in all aspects of the business lifecycle. Sara’s joint MBA and law degree uniquely position her to provide the highest quality legal advice seasoned with …
John McClelland joined Acropolis in 2003 as a Portfolio Manager. He works directly with clients developing and implementing personal financial plans and investment strategies, as well as advising on estate and tax planning, retirement planning, insurance and banking needs, and trust administration. Prior to Acropolis, John worked for six years as a fixed-income research analyst at A.G. Edwards & Sons. …
As Vice President, Corporate Citizenship & Inclusion, Matt Blakely leads RGA’s global philanthropic, volunteerism, inclusion, and sustainability efforts, advancing initiatives that directly contribute to RGA’s business strategy by fostering inclusive workplaces, strengthening communities, and promoting long-term environmental responsibility. Matt joined RGA in 2020 and has nearly 30 years of experience working with private and corporate foundations and corporate social responsibility and inclusion …
Shalia serves as the Senior Director of Leadership Programs, overseeing initiatives to develop a diverse cadre of regional leaders. A seasoned nonprofit professional with over 20 years of experience, she is exceptionally skilled at designing transformative leadership programs and known for creating brave and inclusive spaces that foster community and nurture authentic connections. Shalia holds a Master of Business Administration …
Beth Casagrand rejoined the FOCUS team in August 2024 as Leadership Program Director. In this role, Beth serves as Director for the Emerging Leaders and Youth Leadership St. Louis programs. Beth Casagrand is a returning FOCUS staff member, having previously served on the team from 2011-17. They bring to the table nearly 15 years of experience in programming and events …
Becky Rasmussen has served as Director of Marketing and Communications since 2014. Before joining FOCUS, Becky served as Managing Editor for the Missouri Athletic Club. Prior to this, she held the position of Deputy Director for AMR Management Services, an association management company based in Chesterfield, Mo. Her background includes print and digital publications, email marketing, social media strategy, website …
As Equity Partner at McCarthy, Leonard & Kaemmerer, Joe Blanner primarily focuses his practice on construction law, municipal law, real estate, and commercial and general civil litigation. He represents property owners, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers in contract negotiations, project execution, collections and litigation. He also practices in the real estate area negotiating property purchases, commercial leases …
Dr. Akande-Bartsch has more than 20 years of experience in designing and facilitating leadership training, development, and coaching programs. Prior to assuming the role of President and CEO in 2014, she served as Vice President of Leadership and Alumni Programs for FOCUS. Previous positions include serving as Senior Director of Civic Education for the Cleveland Leadership Center and Managing Partner …
