WHO'S WHO
Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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My own career was first sparked by the interest of Ronald Thomas, owner of General Railroad Equipment and co-founder of the Minority Youth Entrepreneurship Program at the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. Ron recognized that the few opportunities presented to young people of color could be best used by arming them with the skills of clear communications and bold writing, and with a solid business plan. The Minority Entrepreneurship Program at the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis helps do exactly that. That advice let me take many steps into the rooms beyond the open doors with which I was presented.
Foreword By: Amrit Gill
Much of the discussion about diversity is centered on the relationship between white and non-white segments of the community. This is apt, since most of the barriers and many of the opportunities to succeed are found in that relationship. St. Louis, unquestionably, has made strides over the past few years in embracing diversity. But it still maintains an array of impediments that stretch from its collar counties to the Old Courthouse: lingering prejudices even among the well-intentioned, institutions with discriminatory vestiges, and bad habits. Many argue, and I would agree, that our failure to fully address and eradicate racism limits our region’s potential. The women and men pictured in this 2017 edition of Who’s Who Diversity in Color are extraordinarily exceptional in having accomplished what they have, against many odds. I am certain that they, like me, can point to equally extraordinary people who lent a hand, an ear, or a million dollars at turning points in their careers. And I am just as certain that a disproportionately large number of the mentors and givers were themselves people of color.
Today, I apply many of the principles I learned early in my career and have quite a unique and diverse group of professionals in our company. Along the way, the timely advice of Michael McMillan, now president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Honorable Marlene Davis, the Honorable Lewis Reed and Steven C. Roberts, Sr., were contributors to founding roadmaps that I have followed faithfully. Where some see old neglected buildings and wrecking ball fodder, I see new hope. This is why my wife, Amy, and I continue to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the revitalization of architecturally significant buildings, neighborhoods and thriving communities. Promise through repurposing... We are investing in the future and supporting the present through various real estate development programs and partnerships with both city-based and minorityowned businesses. Once neglected husks of great monuments from a by-gone era live again with exciting new uses ranging from loft apartments and restaurants to movie theatres and bowling alleys. When revitalizing neighborhoods, it’s about what we term, “urban husbandry.” To nurture and care for these neighborhoods from rebirth to sustainability, we must create a shared vision and mission. To develop currently vacant, derelict properties while enhancing the quality of the lives of those who are currently owners of property in the neighborhood, requires funding, community support, engagement and constant vigilance, along with a buy-in from those who visit. Our projects are much more than just a collection of rehabbed buildings. This is about rebuilding neighborhoods block by block. These “neighborhood building blocks” are the foundation upon which great cities thrive. As I think about what I have written here, I am certain that the true value of this book is not so much a celebration of very accomplished St. Louisans as it is a manual for talented young people to make a true difference in their city and in the lives of this community. They should use it. Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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WHO'S WHO
1 1 Foreword by Amrit Gill
4 Criteria for Inclusion
3rd Edition | 2017
Table of Contents
5
Meet The Team
10 6 Letters of Greeting
15 Introduction by Melissa Harper
17 Publisher’s Remarks 17
30 Organizational Highlight Gitana Productions
32 Organizational Highlight: The Black Rep
37 Most Intriguing People
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108 Executive Profile: Compass Retirment Solutions, LLC
70 Corporate Highlight: Wells Fargo
82 Corporate Highlight: Express Scripts
86 Corporate Highlight: Monsanto
96 Corporate Highlight: Edward Jones
104 Executive Profile: UPS 105 Executive Profile: The Muny
109 Executive Profile: St. Louis Children’s Hospital 111 St. Louis’ Best Bold & Brightest
106 Executive Profile: Metropolitan Sewer District
1017 Executive Profile: Midland States Bank
166 Biographical Index
168 Advertiser Index
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Criteria For Inclusion W
ho’s Who Diversity in Color® is an opportunity for us to afford a measure of recognition to men and women of color who have made their mark in their specific occupations, professions, or in service to others in the Greater St. Louis region A sincere effort was made to include those whose positions or accomplishments in their chosen fields are significant and whose contributions to community affairs, whether citywide or on the neighborhood level, have improved the quality of life for all of us. The names of those brief biographies included in this edition were compiled from customary sources of information. Lists of a wide variety were consulted and every effort was made to reach all whose stature or civic activities merited their inclusion. In today’s mobile society, no such publication could ever claim to be complete; some who should be included could not be reached or chose not to respond, and for that we offer our apologies. Constraints of time, space and awareness are thus responsible for other omissions, and not a lack of good intentions on the part of the publisher. Our goal was to document the accomplishments of many
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woman of color from various occupational disciplines. An invitation to participate in this event was extended at the discretion of the Publisher and a committee of Human Resource professionals. Biographies were invited to contribute personal and professional data, with only the information freely submitted to be included. The editors have made a sincere effort to present an accurate distillation of the data, and to catch errors whenever possible. However, Who’s Who Diversity in Color® cannot assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the information submitted. There was no charge for consideration of this recognition, also inclusion was not guaranteed; this will be an annual publication. Comments and other concerns should be addressed to:
Ericca Willis, Publisher Who’s Who Diversity in Color® 7274 South Winchester, Suite 200 Saint Louis, Missouri 63121 Phone: (314) 473-5257
Meet the Team
Keith A. Willis Sr. Senior VP of Sales & Marketing
Tamara Hartley Executive Editor
Ericca Willis Publisher Brittany P. Davison
Robin Boyce
Contributing Editor
Writer
Inquiries for bulk book orders for schools or commemorative plaques should be directed to: info@whoswhodiversityincolor.com and (314) 473-5257 Who’s Who Diversity in Color, LLC 7274 South Winchester, Suite 200 Saint Louis, Missouri 63121 Ericca@wwdicstlouis.com www.whoswhodiversityincolor.com
Brad Glotfelty
Patrick Guydon
Danny Boyd
Creative Director / Designer
Photographer
Writer
All books are $39.95 Each
Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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From the
Governor Of Missouri Governor Eric R Greitons
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From the
Mayor
Of St. Louis
Lyda Krewson
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From the
County Executive Steven V. Stenger
OFFICE OF THE COlJNTY EXECUTIVE SAINT LOUIS COUNTY 41 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE SAINT Lours, MrssouRI 63105
STEVEN V. STENGER
(314) 615-7016
April 27, 2017 Who's Who Diversity in Color 7274 South Winchester Drive, Suite 200 St. Louis, MO 63121 Greetings! On behalf of the one million residents of St. Louis County, I offer my congratulations to the staff of Who's Who Diversity in Color on the publication of your third edition! Who's Who Diversity in Color has served to recognize the achievements of our region's most affluent and influential residents of color. Beyond that, the publication is a superb networking resource, a tool for recruitment and a valuable historical reference guide. Again, best wishes on your latest edition and my thanks for your continued devotion to the cause of diversity in our region.
®�37
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From the
Collector
Of Revenue Gregory F. X. Daly
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From the
President Of Alderman Lewis E. Reed
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From the
President Of St. Louis Is
Kathleen M. Ratcliffe
Greetings! Congratulations to all of the winners for the 3rd Annual Who’s Who in Diversity in Color awards. St. Louis is a diverse community and we deeply value the achievements of all people throughout our community. Our diverse attractions continue to grow with the opening of the National Blues Museum in April of 2016. The museum explores and preserves the historic significance of the Blues which many consider to be the foundation of American music, celebrating the genre’s various styles, and the musicians who created, sustain and advance the art form. The blues traveled from the Deep South and from coast to coast, connecting with many people from different walks of life. St. Louis plays a significant role in that story and we are so very proud to be the home of this groundbreaking museum. Residents and visitors alike can attest to the wealth of cultural attractions offered in our community. From the many international restaurants located in the South Grand neighborhood to the vast array of exhibits offered at the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and many others. Each year St. Louis welcomes 25.8 million visitors from around the world for leisure, conventions, meetings and business travel. The hospitality and tourism industry depends on these visitors staying in hotels and eating in restaurants and providing quality jobs for area residents. We can only accomplish this by working together and we are proud to celebrate you for all of your contributions to our region. Sincerely,
Kathleen M. Ratcliffe President
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TBD
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Emerson’s success?
Talented and diverse men and women in St. Louis and around the world. Just like you. A global company based in St. Louis, Emerson brings technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for businesses around the world. Our culture supports diversity, embraces inclusion, and cultivates respect for the individual. It’s a place where you can choose from many career opportunities and contribute in meaningful ways to company growth – and your own future.
Facebook.com/ EmersonCorporate
@Emerson_News
YouTube.com/ Emerson
LinkedIn.com/ Company/Emerson
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Introduction By: Melissa Harper
The 2017 Most Intriguing People join past nominees in representing the best and brightest that the region has to offer in all walks of life; from leaders at St. Louis’ most established corporations to rising entrepreneurs, from nonprofits and public service organizations working to improve lives, to educators who are advancing next generations of leaders. These extraordinary people come from many cultures, and they have different dreams. They each demonstrate unique passion, and clear impacts they make – to all that know them – to their organizations, and their community. This publication serves as an offering for many more to get to know these great talents in our community.
The Unmistakable Connection As we celebrate the 2017 Who’s Who Diversity in Color honorees in the following pages, we are celebrating the success and growth of corporations, businesses and organizations throughout the St. Louis region. Most of all, this publication gives us great pause to celebrate what is best about our region – our talent! We know that diverse perspectives solve big challenges and we also know that inclusion and diversity drive our success as a region. We cannot have one without the other.
We at Monsanto are proud to salute the 2017 Who’s Who Diversity in Color honorees, and we are proud to support this publication that highlights the diverse people and inclusive cultures that make the St. Louis region a wonderful place to live, work and succeed. For innovation companies like Monsanto, an inclusive and diverse workforce is absolutely essential to effectively serve our customers in all regions of the world. Deep understanding and respect for different cultures is critical for us in our work to help farmers in every region to grow more food and do it more sustainably. A wide range of backgrounds and perspectives also helps us to see farmers’ challenges in new and different ways, supporting our continual efforts to innovate, research and come up with new solutions to solve the food challenges of our growing world. Every story on the value of diversity is different. As you admire the accomplishments and contributions of each of the outstanding individuals in this book, you will realize that their stories are also unique. Each individual represents a different culture, different set of values and different talents. But each story points to the same conclusion: our diversity drives our success. This year’s Most Intriguing People will inspire you. They will reinforce the unmistakable connection between diversity and success. And they will remind you of the importance of the corporate and civic diversity initiatives that help us to ensure that we all continue to realize success, together. Thank you for your support of this important publication. Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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Publisher’s Remarks By: Ericca Willis
A
s we embark upon our third edition of Who’s Who Diversity in Color, I am reminded of our struggle to progress on race relations after the death of Michael Brown. We etched ourselves in history for all of the wrong reasons. Several of our clients applauded us as one of the many bridges to help in our City’s healing process. Although we are and remain a work in progress, it’s great to recognize election of the first female Mayor of the City of St. Louis! While we still have much work to do, not only as a city, but a nation as well; every forward step needs to acknowledged and celebrated. In that vein, the publication is expanding into new heights and we are enjoying the journey along the way.
Highlighting the success of others is a joy that can’t be measured. However, it’s not just the individuals in this publication that makes our City great, it’s the wonderful organizations, such as Gitana, Inc. and the Black Repertory Theatre that has given us wonderful art forms, which serve to enrich our lives in many ways. Institutions like these serve as our pillars or anchors, if you will and must be preserved and protected. To that end, I say thank you to both of these viable organizations and wish them continued success! I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to thank all of the many sponsors and advertisers that have supported their executives through our vehicle. We would also like to thank the contributing staff for their dedication and expertise. The production process is daunting to say the least, and could not be done without the commitment of our writers, photographers, designer and editors. Last, but certainly not least, we want to thank all of you for continuing to believe and supporting our efforts in highlighting and documenting well deserved individuals, while working to create a better City for all of us!
A Word From the Publisher
In previous years we have had the privilege of documenting the success of some truly dynamic individuals and this year is no exception. The men and women featured in this third edition are giants in their own right. They are serving their communities, while enriching the fabric of this diverse city. We must continually look to share ourselves, our struggles and our accomplishments as we grow to further strengthen the mosaic fabric that makes us one of America’s greatest cities!
Personally, I am very grateful to the people in this publication who understand the value of sharing themselves. Self-promotion can be a necessity, however in this instance, the focus of these individuals is more linked to enhancing and improving the City we choose to live, work and educate our children. One of my hopes, is that this publication serves to enlighten those that may be ignorant of the fact people of color and immigrants don’t take from, but add to the life and breath of this country!
Ericca Celebrating St. Louis’ Brightest
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Our differences make the difference. At Commerce Bank, we recognize that workplace diversity makes for a stronger company. We value, embrace and leverage the variety of perspectives that come as a result of our individual differences. Our inclusive and diverse workforce supports the engagement, innovation and productivity that allow us to better serve the needs of our customers and communities, now and in the future.
commercebank.com Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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HOST
COMMITTEE
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2017 Host Committee Adrian Bracy
CEO, YWCA Metro St. Louis Adrian has served as the CEO of the YWCA since 2009. She previously held executive positions with the St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami Dolphins. Adrian is a CPA and MBA, attended Morgan State University and Nova Southeastern University, and completed Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Leadership Programs. Adrian is married to Vernon and attends Shalom Church (City of Peace).
Helen Lee Helen Lee is a founding principal of TAO + LEE Associates, Inc. With over twenty eight years of diverse experience, Ms. Lee’s project experiences are extensive, including corporate/commercial developments, educational, cultural/institutional, hospitality, fitness/recreational, retail, multifamily and single family residential. Formerly resident in New York City and London, England her business experiences include working in Europe. At TAO + LEE, Helen Lee focuses on a wide variety of project tasks, including client guidance, project supervision, concept design development, design leadership, technical overview and interior design, including decorative finishes, furnishings and artwork specification, selection and purchasing. Ms. Lee received her Masters of Architecture degree from Columbia University (New York) in 1985 and her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from University of Southern California (Los Angeles) in 1981. Ms. Lee was nominated for the SOM Traveling Fellowship at Columbia University and received an Architectural Guild Traveling Fellowship and Max Starkwell Scholarship at USC.
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Ms. Lee is involved with the community, serving on a variety of boards and committees. This has included the following: COCA / Center for Contemporary Arts, past member Advisory Committee; Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, past member Advisory Committee; Forest Park Forever Women’s Committee, past Member; Laumeier Sculpture Park, Board Member; Metro Theater, past Board Member; Metro Theater, past New Facilities committee; OCA / Organization of Chinese-American, Board Member; OCA / Organization of ChineseAmericans, Advisory Committee; OCA MAAP (Mentoring Asian American Professionals), Mentor.; Special Friends Extended Mentor Program, Mentor; University of Southern California Alumni Association, past St. Louis Chapter Volunteer; USSC / University City Swim Club, past Committee Member & Volunteer; Washington University Women’s Society, Member & Volunteer Ms. Lee regularly participates with the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis (AACC) and OCA St. Louis (Organization of Chinese-Americans). Ms. Lee is registered architect in the state of Missouri.
2017 Host Committee Betsy Heller Cohen Betsy Cohen is Executive Director for the regional Immigration & Innovation Initiative, the St. Louis Mosaic Project. This initiative is a joint collaboration of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, the Regional Chamber and leaders of 27 organizations on the Steering Committee. The goal is that by 2020 our region will have the fastest growth rate of foreign-born people, reversing our current declines on our regional population of 2.8 million. We will involve business, government, education, faith, safety, health, culture, diverse local chambers and agencies plus the people of our region. The St. Louis Mosaic Project is part of the World Trade Center-St. Louis within the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Betsy is on Welcoming America Leadership Advisory Group for national immigration integration. She is on the Advisory Board of the St. Louis University Cook School of Business, the St. Louis Crisis Nursery Advisory Board and the Washington University Council for Sustainability. She has been recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal and the YWCA. Betsy received her BA from Wellesley College and MBA from the Harvard Business School. She worked with international colleagues in her previous role as a vice president at Nestle Purina. At Purina, she also launched and led a St. Louis regional coalition.
Walé Soluade Walé Soluade is the Corporate Inclusion & Diversity Manager for Commerce Bank. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Central Missouri and an M.B.A from Fontbonne University. He is a Certified Diversity Professional and his responsibilities include providing leadership, coordination and strategic planning with an emphasis on alignment between employee engagement, business drivers and competitive position as well as managing strategic partnerships in the community. He regularly facilitates inclusion and diversity training sessions and teaches a course on the impact of diversity on business and communications at Saint Louis University. He has been invited to guest speak by organizations such as the Academy for Human Resource Development, the Diversity Awareness Partnership, FOCUS St. Louis and the Greater Kansas City Business Leadership Network.
Akif Cogo Akif Cogo, founder and president of the St. Louis Bosnians, Inc., a St. Louis based non profit that fosters relationship between Bosnian and other communities in St. Louis. In addition, he is a community adviser to the Bosnia Memory Project at Fontbonne University, and works as an Assistant Director of Facility Services at Saint Louis University. A native of BosniaHerzegovina, Akif immigrated to the U.S. in 2001. He completed his high school, bachelor, and master studies in St. Louis.
For over a decade, he has worked extensively with the Bosnian refugee populations in St. Louis and other parts of the U.S. In addition to founding St. Louis Bosnians Inc., he co-founded Sehara, a magazine for Muslim Bosnians living in the U.S. He has also served on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee to the St. Louis Treasurer’s Office, as a presiding officer of general assembly at the St. Louis Islamic Center, and as an ambassador for St. Louis Mosaic Project, which promotes increasing immigration to St. Louis.
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2017 Host Committee Lt. Col. (Ret) Jaime Torres Lt. Col (Ret) Jaime Torres was born in Playa-Ponce, Puerto Rico and graduated from the College of Agriculture and Mechanics Arts, University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science. After 26 years of active duty, he retired. A year later, was employed by Harris-Stowe State University to manage and implement a new US Department of Education program, Educational Talent Search. He also coordinated the REACH Program with Missouri’s Division of Youth Services and later was appointed Harris-Stowe’s first Director of International Programs. After eight years, he was appointed by St. Louis Community College, as Director of International Education. Col. Torres is active in the community and has led or served on many boards; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Leaders Group, Hispanic Scholarship Alliance, World Affairs Council, Sister
Cities, Association of the US Army, National Kidney Foundation and the Puerto Rican Society. Awards he has received from his civic endeavors; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, Anthony B. Ramirez Premio Esperanza from the Hispanic Leaders Group, Hispanic Chamber’s Civic Person of the Year and National Hispanic of the Year 2011 from the Rams Organization.
S. Wray Clay Wray has worked with the United Way of Greater St. Louis in various leadership positions since 1984. In 1990, she was appointed Vice President of Allocations/ Agency Relations, managing a department team and over 400 volunteers, annually facilitating the distribution of over $42 million to support health and human services in a 16 county, bi-state region. In March of 2016, she became United Way’s first Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. Wray was elected to serve on the Edwardsville (IL) School Board, serving two terms from 1997 – 2004. Current volunteer activities include work with the St. Louis Regional Early Childhood Council, the East St. Louis Early Learning Partnership, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Community Advisory Board, Madison County’s (IL) Restorative Justice Board, EdPlus’ Council for Educational Advancement, Saint Louis Public Schools’ Early Childhood Advisory Committee, and Beyond Housing’s 24:1 Community Land Trust Board. She was a participant in Leadership St. Louis and has served in leadership capacities with the St. Louis Zoo Friends Association. Wray is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., a Public Service Sorority.
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It’s not lonely
at the top. IT’s POSITIVELY
BRILLIANT.
congratulations to the 2017 who’s who in diversity
m a e T y it s r e iv D in o h W From the Who’s
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Supporting great causes: a commitment that’s as much a part of UPS as our brown trucks. UPS is proud to support Who's Who Diversity in St. Louis. www.upsjobs.com Š 2016 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS logo, and the color brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
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organizational
HIGHLIGHTS
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Gitana Productions Gitana Productions is a non-profit arts and education organization that uses music, drama and dance as vehicles for bringing diverse people together through cross-cultural collaborations. For 20 years, the organization has brought a number of firsts to the St. Louis community including a community arts program for African-American and immigrant/refugee youth, which teaches dance, drama, cultural diversity and leadership. The youth program is based in South City and Ferguson, and has been operating since 2007. Annually, youth in this program participate in a nonviolence tour called “Living the Dream� that tours the St. Louis region including juvenile detention centers, local libraries and community organizations. Nearly 7000 individuals, including at-risk youth and their families have benefited from this tour.
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organizational
HIGHLIGHTS
Gitana Productions’ international and multicultural musical concerts brought the 80-member China National Orchestra to St. Louis at Powell Symphony Hall. This was the first major Chinese musical event in St. Louis. Other firsts include the St. Louis Roma (Gypsy) Music Festival, the St. Louis World Sacred Music Festival and Karamu, a joint Latino and AfricanAmerican concert, to name a few. Gitana’s professional theater performances are all original and deal with humanitarian and social justice issues; Complacency of Silence: Darfur and New World addressed the crisis in Darfur and the true stories of three refugee women in St. Louis from Bosnia, Afghanistan and the Republic of Congo. After the Ferguson events, Gitana produced Black and Blue, a play that addressed why the presumption of guilt is not good for black males nor men in blue. Gitana also worked with the Indian community of St. Louis on the play Faultlines that told the story of silent domestic violence in the South Asian community. Gitana’s work in the refugee and African-American community was nationally televised in the PBS special Homeland: Immigration in America. Over the years, Gitana has worked with more than 175 organizations to increase cross-cultural engagement. Gitana initiated the 2012 St. Louis Cross-Cultural Engagement Conference that included more than 50 panelists and experts from various fields with 250 attendees from nonprofit organizations. Other educational symposiums have included Mixed Identity in St. Louis, the cultural contributions of Jews, Christians and Muslims in the period of Al-Andalus in Spain and the Healing Power of Music. Gitana brought Jews and Muslims together for a sharing of music, food and lecture on the meaning of fellow-feeling in the Torah and Koran. This gathering included Muslims from African, Middle-Eastern and European countries, as well as African Jews.
Gitana Productions is a nonprofit arts and education organization that uses music, drama and dance as vehicles for bringing diverse people together through cross-cultural collaborations.
The Gitana model of using the arts to build community is multidisciplinary and uses work on the ground within the community to define the direction of the arts and education they provide. Gitana’s work has been recognized on a local and national basis by numerous organizations. Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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The Black Rep The Black Rep is celebrating its 40th anniversary season! The season opened with the Edison Series at Washington University in St. Louis, with Miss Julie, Clarissa and John by Mark Clayton Southers in September of 2016, and Lines in the Dust by Nikkole Salter in January of 2017. The season closes with the Emerson Series at Harris-Stowe State University, Seven Guitars by August Wilson and the final production of the 40th anniversary season is Crossin’ Over by Ron Himes. Founded in 1976 by Ron Himes, producing director, The Black Rep is one of the largest, professional African-American 32
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theatre companies in the nation and the largest African-American performing arts organization in Missouri. After its inception, the company toured college campuses, community centers and various art / theatre festivals. In 1980, the company took residence in the former Greeley Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary on the corner of St. Louis Avenue and 23rd Street, renovating the interior into a theatre space. During the 1980s, the company began to hire guest actors, directors, designers and choreographers locally and nationally. In addition, The Black Rep began presenting regional dance companies and a musical film series. By 1986, the company became the only
African-American theatre in the Midwest to operate under a contract with the Actor’s Equity Association, guaranteeing union wages to its actors and stage managers. Later in the 80s, The Black Rep decided to narrow its focus to only producing African-American live theatre. In the early 1990s, The Black Rep relocated to the heart of Grand Center, St. Louis’ arts and cultural district where it made its home in the beautiful, renovated 467-seat Grandel Theatre. At the Grandel, mainstage productions are performed for an audience of more than 25,000 annually.
organizational
HIGHLIGHTS
Founded in 1976 by Ron Himes, producing director, The Black Rep is one of the largest, professional African-American theatre companies in the nation and the largest
Today, The Black Rep performs at the Edison Theater on the Washington University campus and the Emerson Performing Center on the Harris-Stowe campus. The company continues to produce quality professional dramas, comedies and musicals by primarily African-American and thirdworld playwrights. The company has produced the works of Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights, August Wilson, Athol Fugard, George C. Wolfe and Tony Kushner. The company maintains an award-winning education and community program, including classes and workshops for adults and youth, touring productions, the SPA
(Summer Performing Arts) program, the Teen Tech program and the Professional Internship program. This summer, SPA runs June 12- August 4 at The Black Rep administrative office located at 6662 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130.
SPA provides summer enrichment activities for children ages 9 to 17.
The SPA program boast a performance-based curriculum to instruct young people in voice, movement, writing, set and costume design. This summer, SPA will also include instruction in photography and art. The children will learn the basics of photography to include composition, exposure, lighting and depth-of-field. Art instruction will include painting for murals and scenery.
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New degree programs in Finance, Marketing, Urban Ecology and more Online degrees in Criminal Justice and Healthcare Management
Find your place at Harris-Stowe 3026 Laclede Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103 (314) 340-3300 or hssu.edu
instagram.com/harrisstowe 34 | whoswhodiversityincolor.com
@HarrisStowe
facebook.com/HarrisStowe
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Great strength. More heart.
At Midland States Bank, our brand of banking is made possible through the ideas, perspectives and collaboration of our 700+ associates. We join Who’s Who Diversity in Color in proudly supporting diversity and inclusion in our workforce and communities.
David Noble
Community Development / CRA Officer
Frank Smith
Banking Center Manager
Abraham Rezex
Aaron Rios
President - Mortgage
Director - Operations
Patricia Fong
Cynthia Carr
Senior Trust Officer
1-855-696-4352 midlandsb.com Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC.
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Director - Information Security
MOST INTRIGUING PEOPLE
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MOST Intriguing PEOPLE
F. Javier Orozco A trained theologian with a background in intercultural leadership and higher education, F. Javier Orozco says his life was enriched by his parents who instilled in him a love of self, family, culture and community. A skilled bridge builder of people, institutions and community, Orozco says the life preparations he received from family lead him to the work he does today as executive director of Intercultural and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Orozco came to the United States from the Northern part of Mexico in 1977. He speaks lovingly about his mother and says that he was pregnancy number 17. Growing up in a working class, poor family in Chicago, Orozco says he was always interested in the big questions, one of the many reasons for him majoring in philosophy.
Among his work accomplishments, Orozco lists his leadership in developing and implementing the strategic plan for Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis “I was very close to my mother. A lot of my gifts come from my mother. Growing up I remember her saying to me ‘hijo,’ son in Spanish, I think I have blood of all people. I love people. That really has
been my journey. I like the challenge of reaching out. I love meeting and being with people. I’m at my best when I work with gifted people who can come together at a table and do it together,” says Orozco. Orozco and his wife, Theresa, who works in public relations and circulation for the Archdiocese’s St. Louis Review, came to St. Louis wanting to explore the challenges and possibilities of more bridge building by taking on the responsibility of developing the offices of Hispanic Ministry and Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs along with his duties as executive director. With his philosophy background, degrees from Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and a theological education from Loyola University in Chicago, Orozco and his wife found St. Louis to be a rich place with the elements for positive construction. “Learning has always been a communal endeavor for me. We learn wisdom from the past, we like the experiences in the present and hope that our own knowledge will impact the future,” said Orozco. Education has always been linked to the home says Orozco. As a first-generation college graduate, he feels that history is an important marker for a person of color - an immigrant coming to this country. “My sister and I would come home from grammar school and my father would periodically sit with us and have us read to him in Spanish. He would then ask us to discuss what we read to see if we comprehended the material. My father would say to us that our culture and language were so important. I remain grateful for these early lessons because having another language has been a real asset in my studies and profession,” Orozco said.
really listen. Thirdly, partnerships are essential for finding solutions and for strengthening our shared responsibility. My work is not about being the sole expert, but knowing how to channel effectively the existing wisdom of any particular community,” says Orozco. Among his work accomplishments, Orozco lists his leadership in developing and implementing the strategic plan for Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis (2012-2017). His collaboration with others in this work is generating success for the different communities involved. The strategic plan has also helped identified future areas of need and focus, especially in Hispanic leadership development. Orozco’s work with the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Mosaic Project, the International Institute and the Hispanic Leaders Group has been rewarding. The networking, support, and partnerships that have developed, he feels, have enriched his personal and professional life and have been instrumental in bringing different religious, civic, business, and community leaders together. He is deeply appreciative of the rich talent and generosity found in the St. Louis region. A big movie theater fan, Orozco says what keeps him motivated to move on to new challenging projects is the power of imagination. “I love the power of imagination. I think that we need to cultivate imagination to have creative thinking, to be refreshed, to be healed, inclusive, fun and compassionate. I feel that it’s a gift being able to imagine. I try to bring it to my work daily,” says Orozco.
Opportunities come on the job when Orozco exercises his bridge-building skills in the community. He feels when he works with people, he has to be intentional in cultivating cultural intelligence and intercultural competence. “I have to exercise my due diligence, taking the time to learn about the communities and issues I am engaging. Secondly, I have to be able to come to a community not with the answers, but with a genuine desire to Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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Mercedes Collado Collado believes that, “when you shut off your computer at the end of the day and you’ve made one person’s life a little easier or you connect a family with services they need, it is priceless.”
Since arriving in the United States in 2001, Mercedes Collado has become an excellent resource for the Latino population in the East St. Louis region. Her primary occupation is program manager for the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation where she has been working with special populations for nearly 10 years. Her role includes performing cultural diversity training and cultural competency training for new hires. Collado takes pride in the work she does with the Spanish community. “I’m helping my people. I enjoy doing it,” she says. She focuses on farmworkers and other underserved populations. Her job is to help them discover resources such as healthcare and social services.
Collado is currently working with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in St. Louis to connect Latinos on both sides of the river with each other. “We’re trying to connect the Latinos over there, and the services there, with those over here,” she explains. A service that the Latino Roundtable also provides is bringing a representative of the Mexican consulate to Southern Illinois so that their Mexican members may have their legal documents renewed. Collado points out that, “when a Mexican citizen’s passport expires, they have to go all the way to Indianapolis to get it renewed.” To prevent members from having to make the trip to Indiana, “we bring the consulate here once a year,” she said.
Prior to arriving in the U.S., Collado resided in her home nation of Cuba and also Sweden. Collado was briefly employed by the Cuban government after she completed a college degree in mechanical design at the University of Havana. She chose to move to Sweden feeling that the opportunities for her were limited by the dictatorship system of Cuba. Collado spent nine years living in Sweden before choosing to emigrate to the U.S.
Collado feels most rewarded from being positioned to help others. She believes that, “when you shut off your computer at the end of the day and you’ve made one person’s life a little easier or you connect a family with services they need, it is priceless.” For Collado it’s pretty straightforward, “I’m a working mom that helps people overcome the challenges that I went through when I came to this country.”
Immigrants face major challenges, including navigating language barriers and finding professional networks that contain members of their own nationality. Collado became president of the Latino Roundtable in 2016, an organization which assists Latinos in overcoming these challenges by connecting them to others whom they can relate to. The Latino Roundtable works to improve the availability of resources in the Latino community, which makes their transition into the U.S. culture easier. As president, Collado advocates for Latino immigrants. She works with individuals located in the cities of Collinsville, Cahokia, Fairmont City, Granite City, and the surrounding area of Southwestern Illinois.
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Misty Shellner-Bennett
Regional Human Resources Director, Four Seasons Hotel As the first African American to hold a regional title with Four Seasons, Shellner-Bennett is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.
Misty Shellner-Bennett is the regional human resources director for Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. In her role she oversees talent management, talent development and benefits. She is also a champion of employee engagement to assure that the hotel’s 350-plus employees get the most from their positions and the hotel gets the most from its team. In addition, ShellnerBennett has oversight of seven Four Seasons properties located in Chicago, Austin, Houston, Seattle, Vegas, and two properties under development in New Orleans and Philadelphia. As a regional human resources director, she provides human resources leadership and guidance within her property and supports the execution of corporate initiatives within her region. As the first point of contact, Shellner-Bennett collaborates with property executives to coordinate strategies and provide direction for functional issues and needs throughout her region. She is truly a hospitality veteran with more than 23 years of experience, 18 of which have been with Four Seasons. Shellner-Bennett’s passion and preparation for a career in hospitality was sparked by her love for travel and desire to experience different cultures within a community. She’s a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and a graduate of the Business and Hospitality Management program at Howard University in Washington, D.C. While in school, she held a leadership role in a student-run organization, National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. It was through this organization that she was recruited to work for the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C. Human resources wasn’t her first calling when she joined Four Seasons. She initially joined the industry with a desire to become the owner and operator of her own bed and breakfast. In pursuit of her dream, she set her sights on working for the leader in luxury hospitality and spent the early years of her career in various managerial positions within the Rooms Division of the hotel’s operation. Eventually, she discovered that her true passion and gift was investing in the development of people. It is a personal mission of hers to add value to her employee’s personal and professional lives.
was appointed the corporate recruiter for the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality. In this capacity over the last five years, she has placed several management trainees, interns and direct hires. Locally, Shellner-Bennett has partnered with Cardinal Ritter high school to provide internships to local students. She also sits on the Employment Council Committee for the Urban League, which tasks her with identifying current employment opportunities within the community. Through her leadership, Four Seasons has a very active affiliation with the Urban League to help develop the youth and also aid in providing career opportunities for St. Louis talent. As a result of her continued support to the community, Four Seasons St. Louis has been a part of the Schoolto- Business program. The program is an extended classroom learning instruction program, which makes visible to high school youth how careers and education connect. The aim of the extended classroom instruction is to provide opportunities linked to academic and occupational learning. This type of learning instruction exposes students to careers and working environments that they would not ordinarily be exposed to. She was instrumental in ensuring Four Seasons was involved in the Urban League’s Save our Sons initiative, an initiative that was implemented to address the issues that were raised by young African-American males. The Four Seasons hosted an event that provided participants with an opportunity to interact with minority leaders and employees within the hotel. This opportunity was an eye opener for many of the participants, demonstrating that people just like them with a background they identified with can emerge to become productive and successful professionals. Shellner-Bennett believes she could not have accomplished all of this without the support of her husband, Jay Bennett, her mother and two children.
As the first African American to hold a regional title with Four Seasons, Shellner-Bennett is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. As part of the company’s recruiting efforts to attract diverse talent, she Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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Pamela Kelly “I have always been intrigued to see the correlation between the speed of change and an individual who is leading the charge...”
Pamela Kelly has always aspired for a career in the business world. As a little girl, she carried a notepad and crayons in her purse. “I knew I was going to be a business woman,” she said. That aspiration would lead her to various opportunities, which allowed her to gain professional experience serving others in college and would gradually translate into a magnificent career that has brought her to DOT Foods where she is currently the director of talent and inclusion.
Kelly’s words of advice for achieving career success are that you should be “focused on what is happening in your organization and being the very best at creating other leaders and a lot of followers. We should focus less on status and titles.” In the age of dawning fancy corporate titles, employees sometimes use titles to calibrate their value and compensation against their colleagues, which creates another barrier. It’s easy to lose sight of “true effort and impact.”
Before she made her entry into what would become her career, Kelly spent time working with student organizations during her college years. She worked with a women’s leadership group where she was involved with NGOs (non-governmental agencies) who worked with children overseas. Her passion for humanitarian work would lead her to continue working with Humanity for Children, and NGO which provides aid to children in Africa, primarily in Rwanda.
Kelly explains, “I have always been intrigued to see the correlation between the speed of change and an individual who is leading the charge. As change agents, the process moves a lot quicker with a larger amount of buy-in throughout the process.”
Kelly has a background in business and healthcare but also has established herself in the area of health law with a master’s degree in jurisprudence from the Loyola School of Law in Chicago. She would find her way into the area of diversity and inclusion by doing healthcare work in underserved communities, working with those who did not have access to healthcare. Kelly found herself particularly interested in working with children who may not have access to specialty care and rural populations where specialty care can be nonexistent. “When you think about the tenements and principles surrounding access to healthcare, they are really the same tenements and principles surrounding access to jobs,” she said. Kelly was able to take her experience with healthcare and apply it to diversity and inclusion.
Giving back to the community is one of Kelly’s top priorities outside of the workplace and she fulfills this need by volunteering with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and mentoring young women at universities across the region, including Quincy University, UMSL and Washington University. “I think it’s imperative for all of us, both men and women, to be able to reach back, to pull up others and share the lessons that were learned,” said Kelly. She breaks these lessons down into the lessons that have been learned and the lessons that are still being learned. Kelly feels, it’s just as important to share the “lessons I’m still struggling with,” as it is to share the lessons that she’s already learned. She is proud to be a part of the growing network of African-American professional women who are working with and inspiring the next generation of women leaders in St. Louis.
Prior to joining DOT Foods, Kelly worked with Health Literacy Missouri as the director of partnerships and initiatives. One of the achievements that Kelly cherishes most is being able to leave a company better off, having improved it beyond the state it was in when she first arrived. She also celebrates being able to exceed her responsibilities.
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Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd “We have a talent identified program where we go into different schools and recruit kids to come to COCA,”
Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd have made names for themselves at one of the nation’s premier dance companies and have brought their gifts to St. Louis as dance instructors. Two years ago, they joined COCA (Center of Creative Arts) as co-artistic directors of the dance department where they train dancers of various ages in ballet, modern and jazz styles, as well as aide in the growth of dance in the city. Antonio is a native St. Louisian and attended Central VPA High School in South City and COCA for afterschool programing before relocating to pursue additional training. Antonio grew to become a soloist for the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City where he resided for 15 years. After a 3-year stint, he transitioned to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. “I saw that Alvin Ailey had an opening so I auditioned for the Ailey company and I got into that company in 2004 and stayed until 2015,” said Antonio. This magnificent career all started when Antonio stumbled into a dance class near Grand Center as a teenager. Kirven, a Boston native, was encouraged to enter dance at an early age by his family after going back and forth with his interest before deciding to fully commit. “When the high school for performing arts was opening in Boston my family encouraged me to audition and that was it for me,” he said. Kirven trained at Boston Youth Moves, the Boston Arts Academy and the Boston Conservatory. Immediately after high school Kirven joined the junior company of Ailey and, a short time later, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater during the same period as Antonio. He spent a total of 13 years in New York City.
Antonio believes that it is important to “always give back to younger generations because if you don’t give back what you’ve learned, the art form can be lost. It’s very important to give back and stay humble, and to stay creative.” One of the ways the couple gives back is through community outreach at COCA. “We have a talent identified program where we go into different schools and recruit kids to come to COCA,” said Kirven. This includes providing transportation services, tutoring, and a waiver on tuition. In addition to what they can give themselves, they have also developed a network of professional dancers across the country whom they can reach out to for visits to COCA. Antonio and Kirven chose to move to St. Louis as opposed to Kirven’s home city of Boston because they felt they could make a greater impact based on the relationships they have developed over the years. They aim to create a hub for dance in St. Louis with the hopes that their former students will grow to become dance instructors and return to COCA to teach. Whenever they decide to retire, Antonio and Kirven would like to leave COCA in a good place with an abundance of funding for the arts and great studio spaces.
Antonio and Kirven first met in New York when they were both on a path to joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and got to know each other while they were getting acquainted with company. “Antonio and I have always been different dancers but we shared a lot of the same roles. At times, it was really helpful to have that personal relationship with him because I could rely on him for support, and vice versa,” Kirven expressed. After seven years together, Antonio and Kirven were married in New York.
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Celeste Player Dr. Celeste Player knew at an early age that she wanted to work and make a difference in healthcare. Raised by a single mother – who was a nurse – Player was exposed to the math, science, and leadership skills that influenced her career choice. Combined with her interest in medicine, this led her to pursue a career in pharmacy and ultimately to her current role, vice president of Strategy and Transformation at Express Scripts in St. Louis. “I grew up believing that education was a nonnegotiable; that my primary responsibilities were to serve and honor God, give my all while pursuing my academic goals, and to give back when and where possible. In my home, that is what was expected. My mom really emphasized education and the value of hard work and dedication; it was at the center of all of our conversations,” she said. Having such a strong role model in her mother, a passion for math and science, and a desire to do great things, a future in healthcare was inevitable for Player.
“One of the things that I love is that I get the chance to help people where I live, work, shop and play. Player wanted to find a university that had a good balance for her: one that had a great reputation for its science programs, a proven record for producing healthcare leaders, and a strong sense of community. While attending Rosati-Kain High School, Player participated in a 4-week summer
program at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and found that the university was a perfect match for her. “I was there for six years in the pharmacy program, and it was a great environment for me – both culturally and academically,” Player said. “It was one of the best periods in my life. I excelled in the classroom and had the opportunity to learn the value of independence, work-life balance and community. During her time at Xavier, Player noted one very unique philosophy, the unspoken rule that you just didn’t let your fellow classmates fail; thus, driving home a value she continues to uphold today through her mentorships and community efforts. In all, Player states the following with respect to her college experience, “I had an awesome experience and found the best of all worlds at Xavier.” Graduating second in her class with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, Player embarked on her career in healthcare. As a pharmacist, Player has been fortunate to work in varied healthcare settings – from supporting patients by helping them to understand their medications, to working directly with physicians educating them about the value of generic medications, to partnering with clients to assist them in managing their pharmacy costs. When she first left pharmacy school, Player’s mission was to impact one patient’s life at a time. Her perspective changed years later when she had the opportunity to begin working for a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) with far greater reach. “As I reflect back to the early days of my career, I envisioned myself doing something very different than what I do today. I thought I’d be working faceto-face with patients every day. I never thought I would be working for a PBM. I never imagined that I’d be a vice president of a Fortune 22 company. I feel fortunate to be in a role where I can have an impact on millions of patients and play a role in improving their health outcomes. It’s truly a blessing,” she said.
Player now works on the business side of pharmacy. In her current role at Express Scripts, she is responsible for executing a multi-year strategy to transform the pharmacy experience for patients, caregivers, physicians and clients. Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit manager, works with health plans, government agencies, unions and private companies, and serves 1 in 4 Americans. “One of the things that I love is that I get the chance to help people where I live, work, shop and play. At Express Scripts, we get a chance to help families manage the cost of their medications and to provide them with the pharmacy experience that they expect and deserve. It’s great to see that we are helping people and they are benefiting from what we do,” she said. Player is most proud of her family, who has inspired her to do great things. Player says her husband, and high school sweetheart, Steven is her rock and her best friend. They have two children: a 15-year old son Mason and 12-year old daughter Kourtney. Leaning heavily on her faith, Player is passionate about giving back to her community, particularly with underrepresented minority youth, in preparing our next generation of leaders. Player is one of three program directors for the BESt Summer Pharmacy Institute – a partnership between Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Express Scripts and St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Through a model based on academics, exposure, and professional development, BESt exposes and prepares talented multicultural high school students for a future career in healthcare, with an emphasis in pharmacy. Player wants to continue to build confidence in young people to help them to see all the possibilities of a career in pharmacy. Most of all, she wants to instill in them what she learned in college, “You just don’t let people fail.”
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Emily Brady Koplar “Wai Ming is my middle name,” Koplar says about her brand. It means “gift of light” in Chinese.
Emily Brady Koplar has been interested in fashion for as long as she can remember. When her parents got her a sewing machine at the age of 10, Koplar questioned them about what was she going to do with it. Her mother and father supporting the gifts they saw in their daughter helped her to realize that she could begin to make the clothing she had been drawing. “I started with doll clothes and dressing up troll dolls. I went to MICDS (Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School) where they had a dress code, so I decided to make my own clothing, prom dresses and all,” says Koplar. “When I was deciding on colleges, I got nervous that I might get pigeonholed if I graduated with a fashion degree. So, I went to Boston University to study economics. I loved it! The school didn’t offer any fashion classes, so I weaseled my way into costume production classes. I still got a chance to practice my passion.” After graduating from Boston University, Koplar decided to move to the east coast to attend Parsons School of Design in New York City. She received her fashion degree there, worked for other design houses, and later decided to move back to St. Louis to open her own company, Wai Ming. “I worked for several larger companies while in New York. Even though I worked in the design departments, I still needed to understand the sell-thrus, read all the reports, do the math, and negotiate with vendors overseas,” Koplar said. Koplar grew up being a competitive and traditional Irish dancer. She also played soccer. But growing up in a family that celebrated Koplar’s gift for fashion design, is what she calls a great balance of the east meeting the west. Her mother is Chinese from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Her father is Irish and grew up in St. Louis. Koplar attended Chinese school where she learned about the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year and eating amazing foods from both cultures.
Koplar’s design house is located in the canyons of Washington Avenue, the now trendy loft district. In the late 1900s to the end of World War II, the Garment District, as it was called, was a bustling part of downtown St. Louis. It was second only to New York City when it came to the fashion world. Located in the progressive part of the millennial business-living movement, Wai Ming is a part of an incubator called the St. Louis Fashion Incubator, a new nonprofit that supports the growing fashion industry in the region. Young designers are encouraged to come in from all over the country and set up their shop for two years to brand their clothing and accessories. “There are five other designers. Two are from Dallas and the others are from Chicago, New York and Delaware. It’s been an incredible experience so far,” says Koplar. “We all had existing businesses as emerging designers. But what the incubator does is help take us to another level. We are all at different places and have different goals. Being under one roof has so many benefits. We also get a chance to engage with the fashion industry at large.” A thoughtful person about her designs, Koplar says she is always looking for versatility in her clothing, she looks for what it’s made of and where the fabric comes from. In many ways, it’s the way she sees the community she lives in as she embraces the many facets that make up what she hopes to do with her designs. Always trying to make the customer happy, Koplar works hard getting her designs into high-end boutiques, but takes pride in watching someone come into the incubator to try something on she’s created. Koplar says, “I love it when someone comes in street clothes or scrubs and then puts on a dress and immediately stand up a little straighter. I love making clothes that make people feel good about themselves. It’s nice to see a customer walk out feeling more confident because of one of my designs.”
“Wai Ming is my middle name,” Koplar says about her brand. It means “gift of light” in Chinese. “It was given to me because I was born on the longest day of the year.”
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Fan Tielking grew up in mainland China. Seeking out new connections and taking risks, led her to a successful career as a Big Four tax partner in a new country. Today, Tielking is a role model for those who work with her. While attending university in China where she majored in biology, Tielking received an unexpected sponsorship offer from an American tourist whom she met at a Halloween party in her hometown Kunming. Despite never having left China before, she moved to the United States and went to college in California, ultimately deciding to major in accounting. Today, Tielking is a partner with the professional services firm, Ernst & Young LLP (EY), in St. Louis, Missouri.
“Our St. Louis office finished in the top three this year in the U.S. firm to raise money for scholarships to encourage young people to go to college...” “I was very fortunate to meet a mother and daughter who were on a trip to China. We had a great discussion on what I was going to do with my education. We exchanged contact information. I then left my hometown to attend Fudan University in Shanghai, one of the top three universities in China. A few months later, I got a letter from the mother offering me room and board for two years
to go to college in California,” said Tielking.
Fan Tielking
With $200 dollars in her pocket given to her by American expatriate friends in her hometown, Tielking landed in Southern California. She found work at several Chinese restaurants working first at bussing tables, then moving up to waiting tables. Several of her new-found friends in the United States suggested she should study accounting in college. She decided to give it a try, and loved it. Tielking completed her bachelor’s degree in accounting at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. “I think the accounting profession is a hidden gem. For me, it is a field that was more practical than biology. Every industry needs accounting. It helps you build practical skills in finance. You have to analyze financial statements and understand them. It also teaches you a broad spectrum of skills that are beyond tax technical. It’s a fascinating field when it comes to helping companies in their business planning and staying in compliance with tax rules and regulations,” says Tielking. The passion Tielking has about accounting drives her to help EY look for and recruit young people. She finds the field she chose to be very rewarding, and advises young people to look at the industry as a career. Looking to jumpstart accounting’s visibility, EY is building relationships with high schools across the country encouraging students to see accounting as a career choice. “Our St. Louis office finished in the top three this year in the U.S. firm to raise money for scholarships to encourage young people to go to college. They don’t necessarily have to study accounting but we are reaching out. We have a team of people who work with young people at McClure High School in Florissant, Missouri,” says Tielking. EY launched the Mentoring for Access and Persistence (College MAP) program. They did this after recognizing the difficulty underserved high school students face in earning bachelor’s or associate’s degrees. A recent EY study showed that firms with the highest level of engagement have greater retention, stronger revenue growth, and
better profitability. EY recognizes inclusiveness is a key to innovation and success. Tielking’s husband’s job brought them to St. Louis from San Diego more than 20 years ago. At the same time, Tielking arranged a transfer to the EY office in St. Louis. Even though they loved the weather in California, they really liked the St. Louis area and stayed. They bought a home and had two children. When discussing her parenting style, Tielking jokingly says she is not the stereotypical “tiger mom.” She says she tends to be hands off with her children’s education. She encourages them to be independent and self-reliant and not be afraid of making mistakes. Her daughter is 18, and is now at Stanford University, studying computer science. Tielking laughs and says “She’s living the college life I could not because I had to work 50-hour weeks and carry a full load of college courses to make my way.” Tielking believes all that hard work in restaurants gaining greater customer service skills has paid off when working with clients for EY. Her son, a sophomore in high school, is still figuring out what he’d like to do. “He really likes the math and sciences so there is no telling where that might take him,” she said. In the community, Tielking serves as an advisory board member for St. Louis University’s International Business graduate program and chairs the St. Louis Inclusiveness Council at EY. Fan has also served as treasurer for the St. Louis Asian American Chamber of Commerce. “I really feel very fortunate to work for a firm like EY,” says Teilking as she discusses her promotion to partner in the firm 10 years ago. “We value diversity and inclusiveness. We embrace the differences each person brings to a team (ethnicity, age, background, thinking style, etc.). It’s not just something that we say, but we live it every day and strive to embed it in everything we do! I feel people really help you here. We are supportive of one another. We have a very collaborative culture. I’ve had great mentors over the years, many from work. That kind of inclusive and supportive environment has allowed me to thrive, and I see it allowing others to do likewise every day.”
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Gwen Mizell With the opportunity to influence a company that services over two million customers and almost 9000 employees in Missouri and Illinois, Gwen Mizell views being able to work with groups on her job and in the community, as a means to bridge gaps and build pipelines to help leadership at Ameren understand their social responsibility to powering the region in the 21st Century.
“The era I grew up in was more about studying something that connected directly to a job. People would say, you become an engineer, you can get a job... Mizell, director of Diversity & Inclusion for Ameren Services, took a nontraditional path to her educational studies. She knew she had to make a living. She was good in math and sciences, so, engineering was the path she chose. “The era I grew up in was more about studying something that connected directly to a job. People would say, you become an engineer, you can get a job. It was more of a practicality for me,” says Mizell. Even though if it was left up to her she would have studied music, but says her engineering degree was life changing.
Growing up in Alabama and a product of desegregation, Mizell says she had a great mentoring circle around her at all times. Her influences were the traditional African-American teachers who took no prisoners. Mizell says, “These were teachers that had standards, were sharp and were considered some of the hardest teachers in school.” Mizell’s mother insisted that education was the key. “I grew up in a single-parent household with five siblings. My Mom was dogmatic about all of us getting an education. She insisted on two things. One, you were going to go to college. Second, you were not going to date until you went to college,” says Mizell. “She knew there was a connection or a nexus between getting an education and being able to design your own life.” After getting her engineering degree and MBA, Mizell started her career at Westinghouse in sales and marketing, pitching power generation equipment to companies like Ameren. While at Westinghouse, she also got the chance to work on power plant startups for three years, installing emissions control systems. Mizell worked in strategic planning and business development for an equipment supplier, ABB, where she sold software to manage the high voltage transmission system in California. After working for Calpine, developing gas-fired power plants, Mizell started her own consulting firm, GSM Development. Running it for 10 years, her company audited energy efficiency programs and looked at ways to conserve and use less energy.
have the right look and feel on a job. They had substantive assignments, not just making coffee,” says Mizell. “These young people had a chance to learn marketing and competitive analyzes and to create marketing collateral to support strategic planning and business development.” Mizell says one of her biggest accomplishments was influencing those 10 young people. She says they are progressing in so many ways and feels compelled to provide guidance to others that may not have the natural access to what they need to succeed in their careers and life. Mizell’s husband, Steve, is an executive at Monsanto. She has two children, Alyssa and Morgan. The oldest is working in wealth management; the youngest a classical pianist and dancer is about to graduate with a degree in Neurobiology. When Mizell thinks back on her successful life and the things she has been able to accomplish, she still remembers that, from the time she was young, she always wanted to sing. “My kids say at a drop of the hat, I’ll break out into a Broadway show tune at home. I love to sing but always felt there were people who had more talent. I decided to go down the path that would give me the quality of life I wanted,” Mizell said. As Mizell continues her career, one of the few African Americans in her field, her love for the arts is bubbling up she says. Mizell is looking at avenues to fulfill the art she’s always loved, singing!
GSM Development created an internship program for first-generation college students. “I was a firstgeneration college graduate. I felt it was important to start work with that group of young people,” said Mizell. “We had 10 interns. We wanted to take them and show them what it takes to show up to work on time every day. We focused on young people who never had a professional internship. We wanted them to understand what it took to
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Sharon Harvey Davis When it comes to building a better St. Louis, Harvey Davis believes that diversity is an important part of the process.
Sharon Harvey Davis has built a legacy in St. Louis of creating and implementing diversity through various positions that she’s held throughout her career. She is responsible for starting the diversity initiative at Ameren and has had the opportunity to witness its growth into an award-winning program during her 15 years with the company. Starting out as a diversity manager, Harvey Davis transitioned to diversity director before arriving in her current position of vice president of diversity and inclusion which she has held for the last five years. Starting a career in diversity and inclusion was not something Harvey Davis planned to do when considering career options, but found that she was naturally influenced in that direction by her father’s involvement with the civil rights movement. Her father was among those who marched in Selma, Alabama, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1965. “I learned early that you don’t see something wrong and do nothing [about it],” she mentioned when speaking about the influence that her father had on her as a child. These values stayed with her throughout her education, which includes undergraduate study at Washington University and an MBA from Saint Louis University. Harvey Davis is also a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Inspiring others to work across differences is one of the key things Harvey Davis strives toward. “When we think about working across differences there are so many ways to think about that,” she explained. Harvey Davis sees working across differences not just in terms of ethnic groups, but also as it applies to Ameren “someone in Missouri working with someone in Illinois, someone in management working with someone in a staff position, it [also] could be someone who is a baby boomer working with someone who is a millennial.”
One of the greatest learning experiences in diversity that took place early in her career was working at the Adam’s Mark Hotel while they were the target of a discrimination lawsuit by the NAACP and Department of Justice. “That was my first time working in diversity and inclusion and I got to see what happens when a company doesn’t get it quite right, and how to turn it around,” said Harvey Davis. She was able to take this experience and use it to build a sustainable diversity and inclusion program at Ameren. When it comes to building a better St. Louis, Harvey Davis believes that diversity is an important part of the process. She believes that creating diverse workplaces and communities will help to retain local talent. One of her goals as a board member of Teach for America is to “build a pipeline of young diverse leaders and educated young people in our community” and focus on “keeping them here.” It’s nearly impossible to avoid the topic of Ferguson when discussing diversity in St. Louis these days. To make that conversation easier, Ameren offers online diversity training to the community. “The training that we do for our coworkers, we made it available for free to the community,” said Harvey Davis. “The work I do in diversity and inclusion is not because I get paid to do it, but because I feel a commitment to my community and the people here to make St. Louis, and our region, a better place,” Harvey Davis said when speaking of what motivates her work. The commitment extends through other outlets, such as serving as a board member for the NCCJ and Focus STL, and working with The Links in community service. She plans to continue her service to her community for “a long, long time.”
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Sandra Cornejo Cornejo strongly believes that a person’s measure of success “is not money, it’s happiness and if they’re fulfilling their passion.”
Many believe that in order to achieve success one must have a perfectly planned life that includes attending a top university and finding financial success in a corporate career immediately after, but Sandra Cornejo believes that happiness and passion are the true measures of success. Cornejo elected to join the military after high school and has gone on to achieve remarkable achievements that have served as an inspiration to others along the way, including serving as a first sergeant in the United States Air National Guard and being an outstanding model of a true community member in her neighborhood. Cornejo first joined the United States Air Force on active duty in 1993 because she “wanted a better life” that she believed wasn’t attainable for her in school at that time. She would eventually transition into the reserves in the following years and then into the Air National Guard in 1998. After years of dedicated service and high performance, she was recommended for first sergeant in the 126th Air Refueling Wing in 2013 where she currently serves as a personnel manager. Cornejo is responsible for ensuring the readiness of enlisted personnel during their service and also, “that their families are taken care of [during deployment],” she says. Between her years of service in the military, Cornejo attended Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she completed a degree in accounting in 2005. During school, she aspired to work for the FBI and as a result graduated summa cum laude in order to be considered for the hiring process. She was granted an opportunity to progress through the hiring process, but God had other plans. She briefly worked for the Comptroller of the Currency as an associate bank examiner. Cornejo also continued her volunteer service with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) that she started in college, which consisted of helping lowincome families living in the greater Chicago area. Cornejo now continues her volunteer tax prep service with the AARP because she says she enjoys “doing taxes for people, especially if I can do it for free for those who need it.”
When not working or volunteering, Cornejo enjoys spending time with family and building relationships with her neighbors. “If I see a neighbor out I will purposely go out and act like I’m doing something so I can get to know them,” she said when speaking of her interest in community relationships. It’s people like Cornejo who make neighborhoods feel pleasant and connected in the way that many reminisce about from previous generations. Her family resided in South City for 10 years before recently moving. In 2014, Cornejo’s family started their own real estate property management company, Sayvic Properties. Cornejo is an active partner and manager in the company that has acquired rental properties in the St. Louis area. Cornejo strongly believes that a person’s measure of success “is not money, it’s happiness and if they’re fulfilling their passion.” This is something that she continuously emphasizes. She believes that choosing to pursue goals of passion over money has made her and her family much happier and internally rich. Two of her greatest passions are her “passion for perseverance” and “passion to see people grow.” Perseverance has brought Cornejo through the many twists and turns that she’s experienced in life which have never deterred her from finding what has been truly for her. “I’m extremely thankful for everyone God placed in my life,” says Cornejo, knowing that the most well-laid plans can be shaken up and turned into something much grander.
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Tina Hsieh
Vice President of Commercial Banking, Carrollton Bank
“I want to give more to the Asian community and to the St. Louis community,”
St. Louis is home to a number of phenomenal business women of all backgrounds and Carrollton Bank Vice President of Commercial Banking Tina Hsieh is among that group. Hsieh actively works with the St. Louis Asian community to bridge gaps in culture and language within the banking industry and has been awarded for her outstanding work. Having arrived in the U.S. with a degree in business administration from Ming Chung University in her home city of Taipei, Taiwan, Hsieh took her first job in the banking industry in 1997 as a junior lender at Southwest Bank. This opportunity came about when the bank began searching for a liaison to build relations with St. Louis’ Asian community and the bank president, at that time, felt that Hsieh was the perfect person for the job. Her dedication to her job and years of hard work began to open new doors for her career. She was promoted to senior vice president in 2008. “I have come a long way,” said Hsieh. Hsieh made the transition to Carrollton Bank in 2012 when she was recruited for a new opportunity by a former boss who she had previously worked with at Southwest Bank. According to Hsieh, Carrollton Bank has been an “important contributor to the health and vitality of the Asian business community in Greater St. Louis.” Clients have a great appreciation for the family-owned bank which has been managed by five generations of the Hough family since 1877. This is consistent with Hsieh’s mission to assist in the development of businesses within her community and makes for an excellent relationship between Hsieh and Carrollton Bank. Hsieh’s portfolio with Carrollton Bank includes 200 commercial customers, over $37 million in loans and $14 million in deposits.
Upon making her entry into the banking industry, Hsieh immediately recognized the language barrier that existed between the Asian community and banks in St. Louis. Many of those who emigrated to the U.S. or were raised in households where English was not the primary language, experienced difficulty with understanding information presented to them in banks. Likewise, banks also had difficulty understanding the community that they were serving. “I help bridge the gap by clearly communicating financial information to my clients,” said Hsieh when speaking of her current role. When not working, Hsieh spends time with her family and maintaining involvement with her church, the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Greater St. Louis. In addition, she is a volunteer with the St. Louis Youth Orchestra. Hsieh is also a soccer mom who has enjoyed watching her three children play over the years. “I love soccer,” she said. Looking forward, Hsieh plans to continue her work with assisting the Asian community. “I want to give more to the Asian community and to the St. Louis community,” she commented. Giving more, by Hsieh’s definition, includes serving as a role model for the next generation of business leaders, both inside and outside of banking. According to Hsieh, she aspires to “groom the second generation to help me with developing programs that benefit the Asian community.”
Hsieh’s motto when working with her clients is, “Their success is my success.” She believes that the key to her success in the banking industry is her ability to help her clients successfully meet their financial needs. According to Hsieh, her clients are her “business partners.” In addition to her impressive portfolio, in 2008 she received the Community service award from Organization of Chinese Americans and the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Leaders award in 2007.
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Felicia Shaw
Executive Director, Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC)
Two important goals for Shaw are engaging community members working at the grassroots level and using the arts as a tool for social change.
There are many marketing efforts around the city that push the agenda of keeping St. Louis’ top talent here to help further development. What could be added to that message is an invitation for those who left the city to return home, which is the case for the executive director of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC), Felicia Shaw. Shaw relocated to San Diego, California, soon after she completed college and has recently returned after a successful career on the West Coast to bring her innovative work in the arts back to her home city of St. Louis. Shaw’s passion for the arts began in her childhood, courtesy of her parents who encouraged her to participate in arts activities while she was young. “I grew up in a family that made the arts available to me,” said Shaw when speaking of attending summer arts classes where she learned everything from dance, and music, to writing. Although she never considered herself an “artist” she felt more drawn to the management side of the arts imagining that “someone has to work the curtains...and make stuff happen.” After finishing a degree in communications in 1977 at Northwestern University, Shaw moved to San Diego with her soon-to-be husband who played professional football for the San Diego Chargers. While there, she started a career in banking where she was first exposed to the administrative and operations side of business. She feels this exposure was the “best grounding I ever had.” Shaw never lost the love for the arts she developed as a child. Choosing to pursue her passion, she transitioned into her own arts consulting business in the 80s where she helped corporations purchase art for their collections.
Maintaining an arts focus, Shaw continued her studies in art history, theory and criticism at the University of California, San Diego planning to earn an MFA and expand her career to include working in the museum field. While interning at a museum, a position she loved, she met a woman who had just been hired to start the San Diego Arts Commission and developed a relationship that would lead to a fellowship in multicultural development there, and eventually forgoing her studies. Over the course of 17 years, Shaw worked her way up the ranks saying that she finally found her place “working on the philanthropy side of the arts world.” Having learned about government and public affairs, her interest became finding ways to get money into the hands of artists and arts organizations. Shaw believes that there are three groups of people that live in St. Louis. The first group being “transplants” who moved to St. Louis to pursue work. The second group consisting of people who have lived in St. Louis all their lives and never intended to leave. The third group Shaw says consists of “people like me, we call them boomerangs,” who were born and raised in St. Louis, but chose to leave for any number of reasons; however, they are drawn back home. After witnessing the events of Ferguson, Shaw felt compelled to return to St. Louis where she could implement her groundbreaking work from San Diego at home with RAC. Two important goals for Shaw are engaging community members working at the grassroots level and using the arts as a tool for social change. As a result, she has infused into RAC the work of creating equity for underserved communities in St. Louis with the intention of creating access to opportunities for those seeking more creativity in their lives. She believes that the arts are what make every city come to life and that they have been and will continue to be what makes St. Louis a great city.
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Dedric Carter “The computer science side of me is always interested in new innovative and novel things. I’m always digging deeper beyond the surface to see the bigger picture...”
Dedric Carter, a small-town boy from Clinton, South Carolina, always dared to ask the question why and loved digging for the deeper answers on how he could fix an object or situation. With that curiosity for life and motivating challenges growing up, Carter worked his way into MIT to study engineering and computer science. Using his childhood curiosities and principles for learning led him to his current position as vice chancellor for Operations and Technology Transfer at Washington University. “When I was in the second grade, our house burned down. There were six of us so it was hard to find places where people would take us in so we stayed in a hotel. One of the members of our church brought an iron by the Holiday Inn where we stayed. She told my mom that the cord on the iron was frayed and not safe for her house. It made my momma cry that this woman would say the iron was not safe for her house but, yet, she could use the iron with four children in a hotel room. I remember that I didn’t know what was wrong with that cord, but I wanted to fix it. That is where electrical engineering started inside of me. That cord made my mom cry. I didn’t like that. So, I fixed it,” said Carter. Carter’s father was a Southern minister who worked in the Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and SNCC (The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee). His father was a very curious man with a great memory, who Carter says imparted that to him and encouraged his gift for discernment. “The computer science side of me is always interested in new innovative and novel things. I’m always digging deeper beyond the surface to see the bigger picture,” says Carter. “I had a gut feeling when I was young about where we were headed in many situations. My dad would look at me often and say ‘he’s beyond his years.’”
Coming from a close-knit family, Carter says he remembers how his parents made them feel when they had to stay in the Holiday Inn. He said that experience didn’t make him feel any different than if they were staying in their own home. He respected how they handled that situation, and what his parents showed him, helped him to lead by example. “My mother was a school teacher. I remember one of her students was a terror who often pulled a knife on the other students. One day this kid came out of my mom’s classroom and ran up to me. “You are my brother,” he said. I immediately told my mom not to trust him. She asked me, “Why, because he pulled a knife out on you?” Carter continues that his mother told him that student pulled that knife out in her class room and started carving on the desk. She stopped him and told him, “I have a bulletin board that you can design in the back. No one is going to see your work on that desk.” She kept his work up there for a couple of months,” Carter said. What his mother taught him is that you can find the good in people and grow it. In his job, Carter oversees the office that registers new business startups that are created on Washington University’s campus. He works with a team of engineers redesigning office space and creating the furniture placed in those areas. Also, his office works with procuring the goods and services needed at the university. The newest project underway will be to transform the east end of the Danforth Campus. This new venture will address adding green space to the grounds, erecting five new facilities, and building long-term parking underground. With all these projects and duties on his desk, Carter says he works most on making sure he has balance in his life. What he most wants is to be is a blessing, accessible, respectable, consistent and engaged.
Due to the engineering side of Carter, he asks the “why” questions and applies those principles to the community, his wife, his children, and as a professor of Engineering Practices. He says getting to the deeper level of understanding is important when it comes to his work and family.
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everyone.
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Open through April 15, 2018 | Free admission
PRESENTED BY
Missouri History Museum Forest Park | (314) 746-4599 | mohistory.org
St. Louis American
Building a Healthier Community Together.
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THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. With commitment, determination, and effort, great things happen. We at Anheuser-Busch salute Who's Who Diversity in Color for coming together and striving for a Better World.
Bringing people together for a better world
Š 2016 ANHEUSER-BUSCH, BUDWEISERŽ BEER, ST. LOUIS, MO
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Corporate Highlights CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS
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We’re stronger together.
We believe there’s even greater power in working together. Because when we combine our unique abilities as a team, our strength multiplies. Every day across 36 countries, our team members collaborate using their collective skills to better serve our company and customers. Join our team to learn, grow, and excel in your career.
Visit wellsfargoadvisors.com/careers to apply. Relevant military experience is considered for veterans and transitioning service men and women. Wells Fargo Advisors is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. © 2017 Wells Fargo & Company. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. IHA-4181502 Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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Corporate highlights
Angela Ruffin-Stacker
Senior Vice President, Diverse FA Strategy at Wells Fargo Advisors
Angela is heavily focused in the educational outreach to several Historical Black Colleges and Universities
Angela Ruffin-Stacker is a Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Advisors responsible for FA Strategy in the Diversity & Inclusion recruiting group. In her role, she is responsible for the development and execution of a broad, cross-channel strategy focused on attracting and hiring a more diverse and inclusive sales force for both experienced advisors and the NextGeneration of talent. She is heavily focused in the educational outreach to several Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), engaging students to expand their career options. She’s passionate about her work and the need to make a difference in the financial services industry with regard to breaking down barriers, broadening the pool of talent, and dispelling old and outdated impressions about the role of a Financial Advisor. Angela has been with Wells Fargo Advisors for 23 years. She holds Series 7 & 66 licenses, an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a Masters in Business Marketing from Lindenwood University. She’s a native St. Louisian, a CWE resident and enjoys golf, travel and time spent with family.
(HBCUs), engaging students to expand their career options
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Larry Smith
First Vice President/Eastern Region Manager Internal Business Development Group Larry currently manages and directs the business development activities of 30+ consultants and his team is responsible for the productivity growth of over
Larry Smith is a Manager for the Business Development Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. He currently manages and directs the business development activities of 30+ consultants. His team is responsible for the productivity growth of over 12,000 Financial Advisors. His group also focuses on the successful adoption of ‘Best Practices’ within their advisors’ businesses, including client conversations centered on achieving long-term client goals and participation in impactful educational opportunities that are pertinent to the advisors’ needs. Prior to his current role, Larry worked on strategic development for Wells Fargo Advisors, centered on driving key growth initiatives within the advisor population of the firm. Larry’s professional career began with The May Company/Macy’s as a Merchant, Business Planner and Retail Strategist. He was solely responsible for product selection and inventory distribution for multiple businesses. Larry also supported the May Company Chairman and Vice-Chairmen in analysis of the competitive landscape, including instore retail functions, client loyalty programs, merchandise and inventory timing. He was with The May Company/Macy’s for thirteen years. Larry is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Economics. He holds Series 7 and 24 registrations.
12,000 Financial Advisors.
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Corporate highlights
Leslie R. Ridgley First Vice President
Director of Wells Fargo Advisors Diversity and Inclusion
Leslie believes in promoting the needs and benefits of empathy in business.
Leslie provides strategy and oversight of diversity and inclusion for Team Members, Financial Advisors, clients and communities nationwide. Guiding partners, including councils, ERGs and senior leaders, she implements initiatives for recruiting, retention, marketing and advocacy to deliver sustainable business outcomes. Leslie believes in promoting the needs and benefits of empathy in business. Her goal is to have diversity and inclusion integrated into business thereby creating an engaging culture where teams, clients and communities thrive. An accomplished trailblazer with over 25 years in Financial Services, she’s held leadership positions in Private Banking, Trading, Project Management and Business Development. While President of the Women’s ERG she led over 17,000 members. Leslie previously managed at Legg Mason and T. Rowe Price. She holds a series 6 license. Leslie volunteers in Bible study, is on the Board of Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition, a graduate of Leadership FOCUS STL and STL Business Diversity Program. Wells Fargo named her Diversity Champion in 2010 and 2014. Essence magazine recognized her as a Diversity Champion for programs with HBCU’s partnering with the STC. A Baltimore native, Leslie has two sons.
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Donna Carr
Managing Director, Services and Operations Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Donna enjoys developing others and has mentored dozens over the course of her career.
Donna Carr is a Senior Leader in the Services Operations division with Wells Fargo Advisors. In her current role, she and her teams are responsible for providing the firm’s financial advisors and their assistants with operations support in all areas of Advisory, IRA and Annuity transaction processing and service. Donna has been in the brokerage business for over 30 years, starting her career in St. Louis with Edward Jones. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, she was the Vice President of Client Services for E*Trade Financial in Alpharetta, Georgia. She also held leadership roles in Louisville, Kentucky and Richmond, Virginia. She carries her Series 7, 9, 10, 24, 27 and 63 and is certified as a Chartered Wealth Advisor (CWA) and Certified Equity Professional (CEP). Donna devotes over 50 hours annually to a volunteer Bible education program. She also enjoys public speaking and often shares her experiences with diversity challenges in the business place. Donna enjoys developing others and has mentored dozens over the course of her career. She is a St. Louis native who is married with two adult children.
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Ronald C. Long
Director of Regulatory Affairs and Elder Client Initiatives,
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Ron is a soughtafter speaker on elder abuse issues, and he has given interviews on elder financial abuse to the
With elder financial abuse becoming a growing problem everyday across the United States, it is a good sign that there are those in St. Louis working to fight this problem. Ronald C. Long, currently Director of Regulatory Affairs and Elder Client Initiatives for Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has played a critical role in addressing elder financial abuse. He works with business units to help them stay abreast of issues related to the aging client. He has taken a leading role in the securities industry, helping local industry firms work to pass a Missouri law designed to alert family members about possible abuse and permit them to place a temporary hold to prevent money from going into the hands of potential bad guys. Ron is a sought-after speaker on elder abuse issues, and he has given interviews on elder financial abuse to the financial media and mainstream press. He was formerly District Administrator of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Philadelphia District Office, and he also served as a Counselor to Chairman Arthur Levitt. He is a graduate of Williams College and received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
financial media and mainstream press.
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Diverse opportunities to serve our diverse members. With over 85 million members across the country, Express Scripts strives to recruit diverse professionals from a variety of backgrounds – because we know it takes different approaches and ideas to put medicine within reach for our members. Find your place at express-scripts.com/careers.
Congratulations on being included in Who’s Who Diversity In Color 2017: Celeste Player, VP Strategy & Transformation Samuel Affare, Sr. Data Scientist © 2017 Express Scripts Holding Company. All Rights Reserved. 16EME38626
Toinetta Walker, Director Financial Analysis Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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Corporate highlights
Samuel Affare
Senior Data Scientist,Express Scripts Samuel Affare is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data Scientist for Express Scripts, a Fortune 22 company headquartered in St. Louis. Samuel holds a Master of Information Systems Management degree and Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh. Samuel grew up in the city of Kumasi, Ghana in West Africa. He worked with the Electricity Company of Ghana for about 3 years before travelling to study in Adelaide, Australia. He moved to complete his studies in Pittsburgh. After graduation, Samuel worked as the GIS Analyst for Petrogulf LLC in West Virginia. Samuel has a track record of excellent academic and professional performance.
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Due to his exposure to different cultures, he holds an informed view of diversity and inclusion. Understanding the complications international students face in the U.S., Samuel mentors students at Washington University, St Louis University, and Lindenwood. He spends his personal hours driving students to and from the airport, groceries stores, hospitals etc. He plans and hosts gatherings on occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas for international students with no family in the U.S. He also coaches students to gain admission into top tier universities to further their education and others to gain employment. Samuel enjoys drumming, swimming and playing soccer.
reading,
Corporate highlights
Toinetta Nina Walker
Director, Financial Analysis, Express Scripts Toinetta Walker is a Financial Analysis Director at Express Scripts. Express Scripts is a Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) company headquartered in St. Louis. Toinetta has worked in the PBM industry for over ten years with increasing responsibilities, successfully supporting new sales and client retention goals within the request-for-proposal process and combining insightful data analysis with consultative excellence. Prior to her career in the PBM industry, Toinetta was a top ranked sales representative for Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Glazer’s Wholesale Distributors. Her drive, energy and interpersonal skills complement her commitment to meet customer needs that deliver high quality consultative services that goes beyond typical expectations.
Toinetta currently holds the title of Vice President for the Cultural Connections Employee Resource group at Express Scripts - focused on fostering a culturally competent workforce that positively contributes to business success and helps the organization drive innovation. Toinetta obtained her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management in St. Louis, MO. She is currently a St. Louis Diversity Initiative Fellow. Toinetta’s hobbies include urban line dancing, physical fitness and cooking for family and friends. Toinetta and her husband Sean live in St. Louis with their two boys, Grant and Sean II. Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
SOLVE BIG CHALLENGES
We are more than 20,000 employees dedicated to contributing to a smarter way to feed the world. Bringing together diverse perspectives, experiences, ideas and opinions is the most effective way to develop creative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Together, we are working for sustainable agriculture. Learn more at Discover.Monsanto.com and apply today at Jobs.Monsanto.com.
Monsanto is an equal opportunity employer, we value a diverse combination of ideas, perspectives and cultures. Who’s Who Diversity in Color | EEO Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled. Monsanto & Vine Design® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. © 2017 Monsanto Company
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Damion Jones, Ph.D., SPHR
Global Director of Inclusion & Diversity, Global Talent, Monsanto Company
Damion is frequently asked to guest lecture and lead webinars on topics of inclusion, psychology and leadership within
In his current leadership role, Damion is responsible for outlining the inclusion strategy & recommending actions in support of the executive I&D council’s global oversight of Monsanto’s culture and operations. He’s led enterprise-wide initiatives in regards to diversity dashboards, mentoring and Unconscious Bias training and currently leads Monsanto’s 22 Global Business Resource Network (ERGs) strategy across five continents. Damion received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morris Brown College (HBCU) and both his masters and doctorate from Saint Louis University specializing in the areas of social and organizational psychology. Damion is frequently asked to guest lecture and lead webinars on topics of inclusion, psychology and leadership within various corporate, educational and civic institutions. Damion is a 2016 St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellow and a charter board member of the Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce. He leads STEM initiatives in underserved communities as a board member of The Biome, a STEAM charter school, and is partnering with the Ferguson-Florissant School District in the design of their STEAM School.
various corporate, educational and civic institutions.
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Corporate highlights
Daphanie Pointer
North America Supplier Diversity Lead, Monsanto Company
Daphanie’s most recent accomplishment has been creating and implementing Monsanto Supplier Diversity Mentoring Program
A strong and passionate advocate for diverse suppliers and their development, Daphanie focuses on identifying and increasing opportunities for the suppliers with Monsanto. Her most recent accomplishment has been creating and implementing Monsanto Supplier Diversity Mentoring Program, for diverse suppliers to grow their businesses by utilizing industry and Monsanto best practices. Daphanie has been with Monsanto for over 15 years with roles within Procurement. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Saint Louis Contractor Loan Fund, NCCJ St. Louis, Vice Chair of Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council, St. Louis Minority Business Council and several Local, National, and Global Supplier Diversity committees. Daphanie was recognized as 2017 & 2016 Women’s Enterprise USA’s Top 100 Leaders in Supplier Diversity. In 2015, she was named by DiversityPlus as Top 30 Champions of Diversity and DELUX Magazine Power100. Daphanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fontbonne University. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
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Astad Dhunjisha
Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Global Talent, Monsanto Company
Astad has had the opportunity to lead HR across multiple aspects of Monsanto business including organizational design, talent and
In his leadership role, Astad is responsible for Monsanto’s efforts to create and engage a globally inclusive and diverse workforce. The Inclusion and Diversity function aims to embed inclusion as one of Monsanto’s strategic cultural pillars. The function also ensures compliance with North American labor regulations. Additionally, in this capacity Astad has the opportunity to partner with various local organizations to help promote diversity and inclusion in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Working for Monsanto for over 12 years across two continents, Astad has had the opportunity to lead HR across multiple aspects of Monsanto business including organizational design, talent and change management, people development, and global talent acquisition. Astad holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources from London School of Economics and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai.
change management, people development, and global talent acquisition.
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Melissa Harper
Vice President of Global Talent and Inclusion & Diversity, Monsanto Company
Melissa’s team’s efforts have led to Monsanto’s brand recognition of an employer of choice across the world...
In this key leadership role, Melissa is responsible for developing, transforming and executing a talent strategy that supports and drives a high-performance culture of innovation, inclusion and diversity. As the end-to-end talent leader, Melissa partners with executives at all levels to drive and direct acquisition, development, culture, and performance for nearly 70 countries across 400 worldwide locations, shaping a digital culture, and delivering talent needs that align to strategic business goals. Melissa has been recognized as a Diverse Business Leader with the St. Louis Business Journal and most recently named to Black Enterprise Magazine’s 2016 List of Top Executives in Corporate Diversity and a Power100 Leader by Delux Magazine. Her team’s efforts have led to Monsanto’s brand recognition of an employer of choice across the world, including the Top 25 World’s Best Multinational Workplaces and Top 50 Companies for Diversity.
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CEA-10006 © 2016 EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Many Faces; One Goal At Edward Jones, we continuously work to create an inclusive work environment. By welcoming different perspectives, we can better understand our clients’ needs and consistently deliver an ideal client experience.
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Emily Pitts Emily Pitts heads the Edward Jones’ comprehensive inclusion and diversity initiative, which creates and sustains a work environment that attracts, welcomes supports and develops a diverse team of outstanding associates and energizes members to achieve their full potential. Pitts serves on the boards of multiple community organization such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, the Diversity Awareness Partnership, the St. Louis Urban League and KIPP St. Louis. In addition, she is an active member of the diversity committee for the National Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and the Executive Leadership Council. Pitts received the St. Louis Community Empowerment Foundation’s 2009 Women’s Leadership Award for Corporate Excellence. Savoy Magazine named her one of the 2014 Top Influential Women in Corporate America. Diversity Woman’s Magazine named her one of 50 Diversity Champions in 2013, and in 2012, the St. Louis Business Journal named her to its 25 Most Influential Business Women. Pitts In 2016, Pitts received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Urban League and St. Louis Public Schools. Pitts holds a bachelor’s degree in business form Clark Atlanta University and an executive MBA for Washington University.
Larry Thomas After completing his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977 from Washington University in St. Louis, Thomas joined the Corporate Bond Trading department at Edward Jones. Since becoming a partner in 1983, he has developed, led and coordinated many areas of the firm. Today, he leads the university channel for Financial Advisor Talent Acquisition. In addition to his undergraduate degree, he earned MBAs from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., and Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg School of Management. He also is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Thomas serves on the Executive Committee of Washington University’s Board of Trustees and is a member of the Alumni Board of Governors. He sits on the National Advisory Council of the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University and is a member of its Steering Committee. Thomas serves on the Executive Committees of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo and Forest Park Forever (St. Louis). He also sits on the boards of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, Provident, Inc., and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation.
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Christopher Lewis Chris Lewis is a principal and deputy general counsel in the Legal division at Edward Jones. As deputy general counsel he leads attorneys and associates in the Legal division responsible for the provision of legal support to all divisions of the firm. A graduate of Columbia University School of Law as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Lewis is a member of the Executive Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Compliance and Legal Society. Lewis serves as a member of the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, and is a member of the Board of Directors at Manhattanville College.
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Everett Johnson Everett Johnson is the senior director of Business Solutions Development for Edward Jones. He joined the firm in April 2007 and assumed responsibility for firm wide applications development. He was named a principal with the firm in 2008. Prior to joining Edward Jones, Johnson was a senior vice president at Citigroup Inc. in New York City. There he was charged with developing and implementing various business- critical systems at the Smith Barney retail brokerage, Asset Management and Global Transaction Services business units. Johnson, a native of New York City, attended Wagner College in New York, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in computer science and business administration. He also holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of business and a master’s degree in technology management from the university’s engineering school. Johnson has served on the SIFMA Technology Management Committee and the AT&T Financial Services Advisory Board. He currently serves as a board member of the St. Louis Application Development Board, Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis and the Grace Hill Settlement House, a non-profit organization focused on helping the underprivileged communities of St. Louis.
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I HEART MEDIA AD
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DIVERSITY
Let’s make the dream a reality. Ever since a small group of German nuns arrived in St. Louis in 1872 to “do God’s work,” diversity has played an important role in the history and leadership of SSM Health. And diversity is not only a big part of our past, it is also the key to our success in the future. We continue to provide and improve an inclusive work environment that retains the best people regardless of sex, race, religion or disability. This can only enhance our ability to meet the ever-changing needs of diverse patients and customers.
®
To learn more, visit ssmhealth.com.
©2016 SSM Health. All rights reserved. HR-STL-15-147774 5/16
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Positioning you for a Safe and Secure Retirement.
Mar vi n L. M i tch ell, P r es id en t & C E O
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Eric Henderson Employee Relations Manager for UPS.
Eric Henderson is an Employee Relations Manager for UPS. Eric is in his 30th year at UPS. He started as a part-time package handler working his way up to his current position. Eric has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Administration from SIU Edwardsville University. Eric is involved with many community based organizations and participates in many UPS volunteer events.
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Eric is married to Jennifer Henderson and they have celebrated 23 wonderful years of marriage. They have one 17 year old daughter Amanda. Eric hobbies include watching NFL Football, particularly the Cincinnati Bengals, and watching his daughter compete in Cross Country, Basketball, and Track and Field.
EXECUTIVE PROFILES
Kwofe Coleman Kwofe Coleman is the Director of Marketing and Communications at The Muny in St. Louis, the world’s oldest and largest musical theatre. He and his team are responsible for all external communications, marketing campaigns and the development of sales strategies to meet The Muny’s annual revenue budget. Currently, Kwofe sits on The Muny’s Second Century Committee and is working diligently to execute a newly-adopted strategic plan with initiatives designed to assist in increasing The Muny’s regional and national presence, while providing the critical marketing and communications support needed to launch a substantial capital campaign. These efforts will be necessary for growth and stability as The Muny approaches its 100th anniversary in 2018, ensuring that The Muny continues for generations to come. Kwofe earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Emory University, but
has remained an active contributor to St. Louis community, serving on the advisory board for Common Circles, a regular speaker for The Urban League’s Save our Sons program and was the recipient of the St. Louis American’s 2015 Salute to Young Leaders award. Nationally, Kwofe sits on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance of Musical Theatres.
The Muny would like to salute Kwofe Coleman and all of the 2016 Who’s Who in Diversity honorees! Who’s Who Diversity in Color |
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Vicki Taylor Edwards MSD’s mission is to protect the public’s health, safety, and water environment by responsibly providing wastewater and stormwater management.
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Vicki Taylor Edwards, director of human resources for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD), has more than 30 years of experience managing, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating personnel and labor relations strategies. She currently manages all facets of the District’s human resources department, including administration, training and education, risk management, and benefits. Since joining MSD, Vicki has championed the District’s diversity efforts, developing various programs that have helped to drive the growth of minority- and women-owned businesses in St. Louis. In fiscal year 2016 under her leadership, minority-owned firms performed $44.7M in capital work, representing 22.9 percent of MSD’s capital program. In the same timeframe, minority construction workforce represented 343,443 hours, or 28.12 percent of the total hours worked on capital projects. Vicki earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management from Lindenwood University and then became a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist at St. Louis University. She is an active member of the Human Resource Management Associations of Greater St. Louis (HRMA), the Compensation and Benefits Network of Greater St. Louis (CBN), and the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IMPAHR). Vicki is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated — Gamma Omega Chapter.
EXECUTIVE PROFILES
David Noble
Community Development & CRA Officer for Midland States Bank
David is the Community Development & CRA Officer for Midland States Bank overseeing their Community Development and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) activities, executing their Corporate Community Development Plan. He is an astute Senior Banking Leader with a triumvirate combination of experience in application of the CRA Regulation and Equitable Community Economic Development Strategies. His “Value Proposition” is his innate ability to facilitate cooperation from various interests to create opportunities assisting in problem solving and achieving objectives both within his employer’s organization and the communities he serves. He permeated the banking industry as a trailblazer through cultivating what would otherwise be considered atypical and unrelated alliances. David attended Saint Louis University receiving a B.A. in Organizational Studies a Minor in Real Estate Planning & Community Development and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Urban Planning & Development. He was a pioneer in co-founding the Metropolitan Saint Louis CRA Association and serving as the first Board Chair. He has served on a numerous boards and committees. David’s goal is to be a catalyst for a socio-economic movement to revitalize communities in hopes of achieving social and economic stability, prosperity and sustainability!
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Positioning you for a Safe and Secure Retirement.
Marvin Mitchell resident and Founder of Compass Retirement Solutions
Marvin Mitchell is the President and Founder of Compass Retirement Solutions. Marvin is known for his caring personality and an enthusiasm for helping his clients plan for their financial future. His mission is to change the way people view retirement. Focusing on retirees and pre-retirees, Marvin has guided his clients toward plans that shield their investments from stock market loss. This proved especially important during the recession. Along with protection from market loss he has focused on plans that provide his clients with guaranteed income for the rest of their lives and minimize the taxes owed by the next generation. Marvin is passionate about ensuring that his clients are able to enjoy a worry-free retirement. He cares deeply for each and every one of his clients and this comes through in his work. Marvin is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville. In addition to his passion for finances, Marvin is a speaker, coach, and trainer certified by the John Maxwell Company. He has served as a board member for United4Children and the Urban League Young Professionals of St. Louis. In his spare time, Marvin enjoys traveling to tropical locations, softball, and being involved in his local church.
nt & CEO
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Temeka Gauss
Temeka Gauss is a Human Resource Business Partner at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with leadership responsibility for workforce Diversity and Inclusion. Temeka is passionate about advancing this work on behalf of our patients, families and employees. Temeka’s areas of focus include recruiting a diverse workforce, engaging a diverse workforce, and developing a diverse workforce. This three prong approach is effective as we are looking to acquire and retain our diverse workforce. Temeka’s work is reported to the community benefit committee of the SLCH board and is reviewed by our internal diversity and inclusion executive steering committee. Temeka has a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Missouri-St. Louis and a Masters of Business Administration from Strayer University.
Felicia Watkins
Felicia Watkins is a Human Resource Business Partner at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with leadership responsibility for workforce Diversity and Inclusion. Felicia is passionate about advancing this work on behalf of our patients, families and employees. Felicia’s areas of focus include recruiting a diverse workforce, engaging a diverse workforce, and developing a diverse workforce. This three prong approach is effective as we are looking to acquire and retain our diverse workforce. Felicia’s work is reported to the community benefit committee of the SLCH board and is reviewed by our internal diversity and inclusion executive steering committee. Felicia has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University and a Masters of Business Administration in Lindenwood University.
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Alonzo Byrd
Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Enterprise Holdings Inc. Alonzo Byrd is assistant vice president of public affairs for Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car. He is responsible for the development and execution of corporate citizenship initiatives nationwide. Byrd joined Enterprise in May 2002 and works from the company’s corporate headquarters in St. Louis. Byrd works closely with senior management to ensure external initiatives are relevant and consistent with company values. He also works with Enterprise Holdings operating groups across the country to cultivate relationships with community leaders, public officials, and multicultural groups. Prior to joining Enterprise, Byrd was a vice president at Fleishman-Hillard Inc., a leading international public relations agency. During his 15-year career at Fleishman, he managed a wide range of media relations, corporate relations, and diversity-related issues for Fortune 500 clients, including Anheuser-Busch Companies, UPS, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and AT&T. He also has counseled a number of nonprofit organizations, including the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the Tiger Woods Foundation, and Paraquad, which assists people with disabilities. A native of East St. Louis, Ill., Byrd has worked as director of public relations for the St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross, where he served as principal spokesman for the agency’s health, safety, and disaster awareness programs. As a journalist, Byrd has worked for the Kansas City Times, the Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich., and the Belleville (Ill.) News Democrat. He began his career in journalism as a stringer with The Associated Press in St. Louis. Byrd is married and has one child. He is a 1981 graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Angela Campbell Contact Center Manager II, Commerce Bank
Angela joined Commerce Bank in 2005. Prior to that, she held a variety of leadership and management roles at AT&T for over 15+ years. In her current role she is directly responsible for managing a diverse team of an average of 60+ employees including supervisors and telephone financial service representatives of multiple call and support groups as it relates to achieving company metrics in the areas of revenue, profit, building customer relationships, and employee engagement. A ngela was responsible for the implementation and expansion of the company wide Inclusion and Diversity initiative which led to the development of the Women’s Employee Resource Group at Commerce Bank where she is currently the Co-Chair of the St. Louis Chapter. She attended Lindenwood University of St. Charles, MO.
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Dean Kpere-Daibo
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Attorney with McMahon Berger
Dean Kpere-Daibo is an attorney with McMahon Berger representing management in all facets of labor and employment law. In 2016, Dean was named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Black Lawyers. Born in St. Louis, Dean is a graduate of the University Of Missouri - Columbia and the University Of Arkansas School Of Law. Currently, Dean serves as the Legislative Affairs Chairperson for the Human Resources Management Association of Greater St. Louis (HRMA). He is also a lead organizer of HRMA’s inaugural Missouri HR Day of Service with partner organizations the National Association of African-American Human Resource Professionals and the United Way. This event provides job search training for non-profit clients throughout the St. Louis area in addition to assisting non-profit leaders with valuable HR insights. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Dean serves on the Epworth Children & Family Services board as well as the Safe Connections Young Professionals Board. Dean is also a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Carmen R. Guynn MBA, EBC Diversity Manager – Kwame Building Group Inc.
CEO / Executive Director – Almas Del Ritmo Dance Company As DBE/Workforce Diversity Manager for 14 years, Carmen has ensured diversity compliance on such high-profile projects as The New Mississippi River Bridge, The New I64, and Busch Stadium and currently MSD projects. Carmen’s workplace mission is to encourage collaboration by bringing a variety of perspectives, cultures, genders, backgrounds and thought processes to the table. Her goal for each project is to reflect the demographics of the community in the workforce, and to give a wide spectrum of people the opportunity to succeed. Carmen serves as the liaison between the client/public agency, the prime contractors, minority- and woman-owned businesses, various construction training centers, and the workforce. She leads trainings, workshops and networking events to enhance cultural and gender awareness and to keep the lines of communications open. Carmen is the owner and Artistic Director of Almas Del Ritmo Dance Company. In existence for over nine years, Almas Del Ritmo teaches cultural awareness through Latin/Afro Caribbean music and dance, while also using its event such as The St. Louis International Salsa Congress, a Las Vegas Style Latin Dance showcase to help bring awareness to human trafficking in St. Louis, Missouri and surrounding cities. Live, Work, Play Diversity!
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Daniela Velázquez
Director of Communications at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU of Missouri)
Daniela Velázquez is the director of communications at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU of Missouri), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that preserves and expands the constitutional rights and civil liberties of all Missourians. Prior to the ACLU of Missouri, she worked as a consultant for the Ferguson Commission, Mosaic Project and Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates. In 2015, she was also part of a team that evaluated the National Minority Consortia for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Daniela currently co-hosts a Latino-focused news show on STL.TV called, “En Breve.” She is also a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis. She has a Bachelor of Journalism in News Editorial and a Bachelor of Arts in History, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. When she’s not coming up with her latest big idea, you can find her indulging her love for health and fitness.
Debbie Njai
Director of Marketing for the National Sales Network St. Louis Chapter (NSN St. Louis). Debbie Njai is an Edwardsville, IL native who graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Finance and Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUe). Upon graduation she began her career at Aerotek, one of the leading staffing companies in the nation. At Aerotek, she was hired on as a Recruiter, but was quickly promoted to an Account Manager. As an Account Manager she worked with Fortune 500 Companies, managing over twenty accounts and $20,000 in weekly revenue. Working at Aerotek was an invaluable experience that taught her the skills to successfully managing all aspects of a business. Leaving Aerotek, Debbie took all of this knowledge with her to BNCN Inc. where she was able to directly apply these principles and help to grow her father’s business. As Co-Director of Operations for BNCN, Debbie oversees operations for eight Little Caesars Pizza franchises in the St. Louis metro east totaling over 5 million dollars in annual revenue. Debbie currently stands as the Director of Marketing for the National Sales Network St. Louis Chapter (NSN St. Louis). She began with the organization in 2010 through their mentorship program but has since held two leadership roles. in 2016 Debbie began offering her expertise in in marketing to local St. Louis area businesses through freelance work.
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Vickie M. Denson
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Vickie Denson, President and CEO of St. Louis Black Pages Business Directory and The Transformational Agenda Magazine leads all aspects of its operations. They have published their 25th Anniversary Edition. They have a state-of-the-art interactive website and a multiplatform mobile edition. St Louis Black Pages is the annual directory and magazine for the African American community. Vickie has been president of the Deaconess Board of Washington Metropolitan AME Zion Church for over 11 years. She leads the COPE ministry which aids ex-offenders returning to society. Vickie is president of the Blackberry Hill Neighborhood Association. Denson has received numerous awards such as the Salute To Excellence In Education-Stellar Performer Award from the St. Louis American Foundation with her husband Howard. They also received the North American Council on Adoptable Children National Child Advocate Award. Vickie received the Top Ladies Of Distinction Unsung Heroine Community Service Award, Professional Organization Of Women (POW) Women of Distinction Award and more. Vickie is a graduate of Herbert H. Lehman College in Bronx, New York. She and Howard are the proud parents of three Ivy-League daughters and grandparents to six.
Howard D. Denson For almost three decades, Howard has done two things. One is to publish, with his wife, the St. Louis Black Pages. He loves African American entrepreneurs and upset that so many have given up on doing business with their own people; even when the product and its cost are exactly the same. Yes, slavery was a mental institution, created and maintained by terror and horror. The terror and horror are over, yet the mental damage remains. The other? Owning the Black Pages allowed him to pretend to be a one man self-directed think tank, spending 50,000 unpaid hours focused on but two things. Why we African Americans do the wacky self-destructive things which we do, and exactly how can the African American community heal its self. His wife, Vickie, calls him the only Harvard Business School MBA who chose to be poor— and she’s right. He says he was put on planet Earth to seek, receive, and communicate a body of knowledge which is taught in a workshop entitled The Transformational Agenda—so that African Americans can finally heal! Almost a thousand have been transformed via this two-day workshop experience. He expects that 10,000,000 will experience the transformation within a decade; so that the African American community can heal and completely transform itself, in but 20 years. If you desire to become a better you, to aid a loved one, to help transform your community, or simply to finally understand the madness, then visit TheTransformationalAgenda.com— and be Transformed!
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Mugo Odigwe Mugo Odigwe is a reporter for KMOV channel 4. She joined the team in April 2015 as a General Assignment Reporter for News 4 This Morning. Mugo was born and Nigeria and moved to the United States when she was 12. She studied at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she began her career in broadcast journalism. She got her first job as a reporter and fill-in anchor for KGAN/KFXA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and she also anchored and reported for Cronkite Newswatch, the school’s award-winning news program which aired statewide. She graduated top of her class, Summa Cum Laude. She’s been involved with local groups in the area and currently serves on the board of SouthSide, an early childhood center in St. Louis.
Jasmine Davis
Vice President and Senior Product Manager with Capital Market Services, Wells Fargo Advisors Jasmine began her career in financial services as an Associate Product Specialist with Wachovia Securities, a predecessor firm to Wells Fargo Advisors (WFA). Since that time, she has assumed roles of increased responsibility and is now Vice President and Senior Product Manager with Capital Markets Services. In this role, she maintains the WFA WFS Partnership, which provides syndicate product to WFA clients. She develops and executes the marketing strategic plans for these products. Jasmine is an alumnus in the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and is currently studying for her MBA at Webster University. She is an active volunteer with the Urban League of St. Louis Young Professionals and Wells Fargo Volunteers. She is also a Board Member for Great Circle, Inc. and the Virginia Alumni Admission Council. Recently, she became a Big with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America and a mentor with the Sophia Project. She was also honored as a Young Leader by the St. Louis American. She is a proud parent to a high school aged son and loves to travel the world.
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Dr. Lakesha M. Butler
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist
Dr. Lakesha Butler is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA and completed a postgraduate residency at University of Illinois- Chicago. Dr. Butler is a strong advocate for increasing cultural competency among healthcare professionals and improving diversity and inclusion in and outside of the classroom. She serves as the Chair of the SIUE School of Pharmacy Diversity and Inclusion committee and the director of the SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp exposing minority students to careers in healthcare. Dr. Butler is the President-Elect of the National Pharmaceutical Association and the national chair-elect of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice Section with over 2000 members. She is the creator of the first Health Literacy instructional DVD for students and pharmacists across the nation and coauthor of the pharmacy textbook Patient Communication for Pharmacy. Dr. Butler has received numerous awards including SIUE’s Champion for Diversity Award, Teaching Distinction Award and Community Leadership Award, St. Louis Salute to Young Leaders Award and the Urban League Distinguished Young Professional Award.
Mary Elizabeth Grimes President, Marian Middle School
Mary Elizabeth Grimes is a distinguished and exemplary leader as well as a laudable team player. She has routinely served in leadership roles throughout her career and has earned a reputation for exceptional performance in the media, fundraising, marketing and academic industries that is analogous to that of a purpose driven and successful leader. Currently, as the president of Marian Middle School, she is an advocate throughout the Metropolitan area for children’s health, education and welfare built on life changing values and experiences. As an ambassador and spokesperson, she is highly engaging in attracting millions of dollars of support for the entities she represents. Mary Elizabeth has also managed on behalf of the Catholic faith community events such as the historic Papal Mass in the Trans World Dome on January 27, 1999, and she is now serving on the Catholic Charities board. In addition she serves as Lector trainer, Lector and Eucharistic minister. Community boards like the Convention and Visitors Commission, the Washington University Women’s Society, and St. Louis Women’s Club. This diversity in commitment allows her to both personally and professionally utilize her host of skills to serve others.
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Kimberly Rayford Kimberly Rayford is a research scientist for KWS Gateway Research Center where she supervises technical staff and manages greenhouse operations. Prior to joining KWS, she served as a plant transformation biologist at both the Danforth Center and Monsanto and has been recognized for her work as a co-inventor on a Monsanto patent for tissue culture improvements. Kimberly has served as an adjunct professor at St. Louis Community College and as a modern life science project coordinator at the St. Louis Science Center where she served as a life science resource to the community. Kimberly has served on a number of boards including the Young Friends of the St. Louis Science Center and the Donald Danforth Plant Center’s CSTEM board and as a board member for the Young Zoo Friends Advisory Board and Support Dogs Inc. Her board memberships also include the Young Friends of the Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Pubic Radio Advisory Board and the Saint Louis Art Fair Board of Directors. She is currently President of the Left Bank Books Foundation Board. Kimberly is a graduate of Villa Duchesne, Lindenwood University, and Webster University.
Dr. Misty C. Farr Pharmacy Manager, Walmart, Inc.
Dr. Misty C. Farr is a Pharmacy Manager for Walmart, Inc. at its Florissant, MO location. Prior to this, she served as Pharmacy Manager at its Chesterfield store and Regional Immunization Champion. She was instrumental in introducing the retail giant’s immunization program to Missouri. She regularly gives her time to worthwhile causes such as health fairs, volunteering at schools, and serving St. Louis’ poor. She is originally from Marvell, a predominately African-American, impoverished community in the Arkansas Delta. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2010. She is the recipient of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy “Black Heritage Distinguished Alumnus Award,” the St. Louis American Foundation “Excellence in Health Care Award,” and the Missouri Pharmacy Association “Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award.” She is a member of the Missouri Pharmacy Association, where she serves on the Professional Affairs Committee. She is also a member of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies’ Auxiliary, the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary, and Top Ladies of Distinction St. Louis Chapter. She enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband, Leslie, and their three children.
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Reverend Starsky D. Wilson
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Reverend Starsky D. Wilson is a pastor, philanthropist and activist pursuing God’s vision of community marked by justice, peace and love. He is president & CEO of Deaconess Foundation, pastor of Saint John’s Church (The Beloved Community) and co-chair of the Ferguson Commission. Through Saint John’s, Wilson has led congregational activism on myriad issues, including youth violence prevention, Medicaid expansion, public school accreditation, voter mobilization, capping payday lending and raising the minimum wage. In 2014, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appointed Rev. Wilson co-chair of the Ferguson Commission, a group of sixteen citizens empowered to study the underlying conditions and make public policy recommendations to help the region progress through issues exposed by the tragic death of Michael Brown, Jr. On September 14, 2015 they released the groundbreaking ‘Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity” Report, calling for sweeping changes in policing, the courts, child well-being and economic mobility.
Nalini Jones Miss Black Arizona USA 2017
St. Louis Native Nalini Jones is the reigning Miss Black Arizona USA 2017. She is a National Collegiate Scholar at Arizona State University. She is a Humanitarian and Health Advocate, bringing awareness to: Pancreatic Cancer, tobacco free lifestyles, and positive self image. The Miss Black USA competition will take place in Washington DC in August of 2017. Nalini enjoys traveling, acting, and dancing. She is a graduate of Timberland High School and her parents, Zach and Shinita, Jones live in Lake St. Louis.
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Dr. Fatemeh “Fara” Zackery Dr. Fatemeh “Fara” Zackery has held various positions with Harris-Stowe since 1996. She is currently the Dean of the Anheuser-Busch School of Business that offers several degree programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Professional Interdisciplinary Studies, Information Sciences and Computer Technology. Dr. Zakery has championed HarrisStowe’s partnership with the China Education Association for International Exchange to afford students in the School of Business the opportunity to study abroad. Her instrumental leadership led to implementing this program, which happens to be the first at Harris-Stowe. In 2016, two students attended Ningbo University’s Business School in the spring and nine additional students are to follow during the summer and fall terms. Zakery holds a doctoral degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Her academic background is in Education, Health Care and Business Administration. She has taught several levels of courses, including online courses. The university is planning to add even more courses and entire programs online to make higher education more assessable for the busy professional. Dr. Zakery takes pride in relating to each of her students as unique professionals. She enjoys outdoor activities and crossword puzzles.
Sean Bond Sean Bond grew up in St. Louis City but went to school in the Webster Groves School District. He grew up seeing two different communities, which gave him a well-rounded world view. Sean graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Economics, and then Webster University with Master’s degree in Human Resources Management. In undergrad, Sean started getting involved in the community and focused on what it means to be a leader, as well as servant to the community. He joined the Student Government Association, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Much of his success can be attributed to the organization and his relationship with his brothers. Sean’s career began in management Walgreens. There he learned that an effective leader is willing to clean bathrooms and take out trash, as well as lead the team. Sean transitioned from retail management to banking. Within a span of 5 years, Sean was able to work his way from entry-level to managing the Natural Bridge branch of Commerce where he continues to uplift and serve his community.
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Shirlyn Myles
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Owner & President of SM Marketing Communications Community Liaison for the Missouri Department of Transportation St. Louis region
Shirlyn Myles recently became the owner & President of SM Marketing Communications, a marketing & professional development company. She is also the Community Liaison for the Missouri Department of Transportation St. Louis region. For over nine years, she has worked closely with community advocates to ensure that MoDOT is engaging the minority community concerning federally funded project opportunities. Today, she teaches Social Media Marketing, Event Planning & Fundraising to women & minority owned businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. Shirlyn has a Master of Arts in Media Communications from Webster University. She is married to Michael Myles, the mother of three, and a grandmother of four. Organizational Memberships: Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Employment Committee - Member (2015); The Urban League Guild of Metropolitan St. Louis Member/ Committee Chair (2013-Present); Public Relations Society of America - Member (2009-Present); St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers - Diversity Council Member (2008-Present) Honors, Awards & Recognitions: Women in Transportation - Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award (2015); Regional Show-Me Safety Award “Show Me Safety Fair” (2014); Missouri Department of Transportation - Employee Recognition “Outstanding Service” (2013/2014)
Dannie Boyd Dannie Boyd is a St. Louis-born writer who focuses on subjects of education and arts & culture for both print and online publications across the region. He has a background in creative writing which inspires his use of vivid narratives to create compelling stories. Dannie studied at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley and UMSL where he completed degrees in creative writing, communication, as well as an honors and a professional writing certificate. He serves as an adjunct professor of mass communication at UMSL having earned a master’s degree from the university. Dannie is also alum of the Regional Arts Commission’s Community Arts Training Institute, a program which incorporates the arts into community development. When not writing he is a visual and musical artist practicing the crafts of photography, guitar, and bass. Dannie aspires to expand the reach of his writing to the national market.
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Allie Chang Ray Allie Chang Ray joined Deaconess Foundation in February 2014 as Vice President, Programs. In this role, Ms. Ray leads the community investment strategy of the organization. She is responsible for implementing and evaluating the foundation’s organizational and community capacity building programs, specifically, the Deaconess Impact Partnership. Prior to joining the staff at Deaconess, Ms. Ray served as principal for Mutare Network, a consulting practice specializing in capacity building for nonprofit organizations. In this position, she advised and acted in roles that helped agencies create and manage change at the internal, external and systemic levels. Prior to Allie’s consultative career, she worked in the field of foster care for more than 13 years as Director of Development and Executive Director for CASA of St. Louis County, a Deaconess Impact Partner in Round 2. She first learned about fund development at Children’s Miracle Network of Greater St. Louis, where she helped raise more than $2 million annually for Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Before stepping into fundraising, she was a children and families legislative aide for Governor Roger B. Wilson. As part of the Governor’s staff, she assisted in the founding of the Missouri Community Service Commission and introduced the AmeriCorps program to Missouri. Outside of her Deaconess work, Ms. Ray is serving as President of the Junior League of St. Louis. Allie also volunteers as a Boy Scout Adult Leader and Merit Badge Counselor. Beginning in the spring semester of 2016, Allie will become a member of the adjunct faculty at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. On the weekends, she can frequently be found at a youth soccer game as the team manager. Ms. Ray received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Life Therapy and Master’s degree in Human Services Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She is an alumna of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and resides in West County with her husband, two sons and Havanese rescue dog.
Ciléia Miranda-Yuen A Social Entrepreneur, Leadership Development Coach, Trainer and Presenter specialized in Emotional Intelligence. Ciléia has embraced multiple leadership roles in the workplace and in the artistic, cultural and educational segments with keen professionalism, visionary spirit, and charisma. Previously, she had a 20-plus-year domestic and international professional experience covering a wide range of business sectors. An accomplished finance and marketing executive recognized in the local and national levels for her leadership and business acumen. Ciléia is the recipient of the following accolades: US Congress Proclamation; STL County Proclamation; STL Business Journal’s 2006 Most Influential Minority Business Leader Award; YWCA Woman in Business Award; Nestle Best Spirit Award; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce STL 2006 New Business Award and 2012 Member of the Year Award; Sister Salute Award; and “Torch-Bearer Award” given to those who have inspired communities through their own lives and deeds. Referred by the White House and US Department of Justice, Ciléia hosted then Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary Attorney General Thomas Perez. A FOCUS Leadership STL and CORO WIL graduate, Ciléia serves on various non-profit boards and executive committees. She lives in Saint Louis with her husband Andrew.
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Danielle Carr
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Danielle Carr is the director of diversity and inclusion for Polsinelli, P.C. which is one of the largest and most reputable law firms in the country. Danielle attended the University of Michigan Law School where she served as President of the law school student senate from 1988-89 and received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Northern Iowa. Danielle’s professional and community affiliations include being a lifetime member of the Mound City Bar Association (Executive Board, 2014- present); National Bar Association; Bar Association of Metropolitan St Louis (Minorities in the Legal Profession section member); Black Women Lawyer’s Association of Chicago; St Louis Diversity Job Fair (Steering Committee, 2008 – present); Hearing Board member for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission; Missouri Minority Counsel Program (Steering Committee 2012 - present); Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals; Jack & Jill of America (St Louis Chapter Treasurer); Association of Legal Administrators; as well as, multiple affinity group bar associations. For her efforts, Danielle has been honored with the St. Louis American Foundation, Excellence in Business Performance Award (2015) ; the St. Louis Business Journal, Diverse Business Leaders Award (2013); Mound City Bar Association, Legal Services Award (2013); Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Community Awareness Award (2010); and, the Washington University Black Law Students Association, Professional Mentorship Award (2010).
Dr. Dwyane Smith Dr. Dwyane Smith is Provost at Harris-Stowe. He is a product of the St. Louis Public School system. He has a B.S. in Psychology and an MA in Education Administration from Truman State University. Dr. Smith received his doctorate from the University Missouri-Columbia. Since he arrived at Harris-Stowe in the 2006-2007 academic year, he has helped to develop academic programs along with the university’s exceptional faculty and staff. When asked about the Harris-Stowe administrative team, Dr. Smith called them “not only the best in the metropolitan area, but the entire state.” He takes pride in furthering the University’s mission to provide high-quality education and opportunity to students who are currently underrepresented in higher education institutions. Harris-Stowe realized record enrollment and exceeded its fundraising goals last year. The University has recently expanded degree offerings by 108 percent and is one step away from offering graduate degrees. Dr. Smith has conducted research across the United States on issues of race, diversity and multiculturalism. He cites this research as a “necessity for growth.” Dr. Smith is an avid listener of jazz and uses the music as a muse for his “Words of Wisdom,” which he uses to begin faculty and staff meetings.
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Segun Babalola Segun Babalola is a Project Manager & North Sector Specialist with the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s Real Estate & Community Investment team. Segun has been tasked with managing construction and non-construction projects in North Saint Louis County. He also works on community engagement and redevelopment efforts in the county. Prior to SLEDP Segun was employed with the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority as a Loan Consultant. Segun has spent several years in various managerial roles within the retail industry. He is an Immigrant, business owner and self-proclaimed “wantrepreneur” Segun’s academic credentials include a BS, Marketing, from Southeast Missouri State University as well as International/Global Studies, Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Rennes, France. Segun is currently working to complete his MBA through Webster University. He is involved in other organizations such as the Regional Business Council Young Professionals Network, Mosaic Project, BRAND St. Louis, and the National Black MBA Association. In addition, he serves on the St. Louis Clean Energy Development Board. For fun Segun loves soccer, chess, traveling and the Arts.
Larry H. Blue, Jr. Over the past 20 years Larry H. Blue Jr. has been a force in the sales industry both locally and nationally. Larry is perhaps most notably recognized as visionary for the St, Louis Chapter of National Sales Network (NSN). The St. Louis Chapter has twice been named national Chapter of the Year. NSN is a not-for-profit organization whose objective is to meet the professional and developmental needs of sales professionals. Larry has served on many boards including NSN, the Minority Professional Associations Collaborative, and the Back Pack to Briefcase Scholarship Board. Larry also volunteers for many organizations including the Kappa League Guide Right program. Larry has received various awards including the Johnson & Johnson President’s Circle, NSN’s National Award for Individual Commitment, Gateway Classic Sports Foundation’s Citizen of the Year, as well as being recognized as one of the 100 most influential St. Louisans’ by Delux magazine. Larry currently serves as a District Sales Manager for a pharmaceutical company and is responsible for delivering over 11 million dollars in annual sales. Larry is married to Becky Blue and has four children; Taylor, Caleb, Rebekah, and Christian.
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Jimmy Loomis
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Jimmy Loomis currently serves as Treasurer of the St. Louis County Democratic Central Committee. Loomis, 22, has been deeply involved in Missouri Democratic politics since a young age, and holds the title of Missouri’s youngest elected official, a distinction earned after his appointment as Democratic Committeeman at age 18. Jimmy is a native St. Louisian, and decided to stay here to attend Washington University, where he is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Political Science and Mandarin Chinese. During his time as WashU. , he served as President of the College Democrats from 2014-2016. In this role, he was responsible for Presidential Debate-related programming and public affairs management. Additionally, Loomis is the current Vice President of the Young Democrats of Missouri, working with Young Democrats across the state to grow member organizations. He is an active life member in the St. Louis County NAACP, and is honored to serve as General Chairman for the 81st Annual Freedom Fund Dinner.
Eddie D. Holman IV Eddie D. Holman IV is best described as a leader, advocate, and friend. He is often called on when you need a project completed with a high level of execution. If he isn’t the person for the job – he knows exactly whom you need to talk to. Currently Eddie serves as the President of the St, Louis Chapter of National Sales Network (NSN). National Sales Network is a 501(c) (3); not-for-profit membership organization whose objective is to meet the professional and developmental needs of sales professionals who want to improve their professional skill set. Although he was born in Gary, Indiana he completed all of his schooling right here in St. Louis. He is a graduate of St. Louis University and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Eddie currently works as a Portfolio Specialist for Glazer’s Distribution where he handles their key accounts and supplier sponsored programs. Some of his projects include Jack Daniels Honey Art Beats & Lyrics and the Nelly Black & White Ball. Eddie is happily married to his wife of seven years, Aliah. They have one son, Eddie D. Holman V affectionately known as “Quinn”.
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Khalia Collier A pioneer and trailblazer Khalia Collier, is the owner & general manager of St. Louis’ own women’s professional basketball team, the St. Louis Surge. Khalia has taken on the challenge of building the first sustainable women’s franchise in St. Louis. Her team is now in its fifth season; finishing as National Champions in 2014 and second in the nation this past season. Khalia Collier is a recent recipient of 30 under 30, Glamor Missouri Woman of the year awardee and as a prestigious Jack Buck Awardee for her community impact. Through this journey, she has maximized corporate and organizational relationships, developed supporter and donor programs, as well as positioned the organization for eminent growth. A St. Louis native with a deep commitment to the city, Collier is an entrepreneur dedicated to her new franchise. She is a strong believer that St. Louis can support a women’s franchise, and is working hard to see her vision through. She finished her basketball career at Missouri Baptist University. Collier obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Missouri Baptist University and currently works for the St. Louis Surge full-time as the Surge Owner and General Manager as well leading the Saint Louis University Institute for Private Business.
Elton “Trey” Dean, III Elton Dean, III is an Associate at Polsinelli, P.C. where he is a member of the Science and Technology Group. He received his J.D. in 2008 from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Science degree the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to entering law school, Elton was a Platform Engineer for Harvard Medical School. As an attorney, Elton’s natural curiosity and desire to figure out how things work make him invaluable to clients who develop inventions. He enjoys the opportunity to work with a variety of clients ranging from garage inventors and technology startups to universities and Fortune 500 companies. He works on all aspects of the inventive process from patentability searches to prosecuting international patent applications. Elton helps clients assess the risks of patent infringement and provides invaluable technical insight to investigate and prepare legal opinions regarding a client’s freedom to operate in crowded technology areas. In addition, he and his colleagues develop effective solutions to address the risks, including responding to demand letters, designing around patents, assessing the validity of patents, and obtaining patent licenses. Besides patent prosecution, Elton works with to enforce and defend patent rights through re-examination and litigation.
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Yolanda Hemphill’ Robinson
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Yolanda Hemphill’ Robinson is the Founder/President/CEO of Women In Vision, Inc. nonprofit agency with 19 years of providing volunteer services to over 17,000 women/girls in Missouri, from incarceration to corporations. Called and qualified by God, her commitment to serve speaks for itself. Her mission is to empower women through character building and inspiring them to re-invent themselves through motivation, information and proper resources. She is the ( first) African American to present and teach life skills in the Clayton Correctional facility to the women offenders and has also participated as a court advocate for many. Her professional skills are as a Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Biblical Counselor, and Entrepreneur. She has implemented forums in public schools for troubled teen girls as a preventative measure to judicial recidivism. She ministers with spiritual authority and uses real life experiences to reach her audiences. Yolanda serves as an active member of the National Association of Professional Women, Shalom Church-City of Peace. She is happily married to Michael C. Robinson of 36 years, and together they with three adult children and five beautiful grandchildren.
Peter Liang Peter Liang is currently Vice President of software development at Aclara, an industry leader in providing smart infrastructure solutions (SIS) to water, gas, and electric utilities globally. As the company’s top software technology executive, Peter plays a vital role in the company’s strategic direction, development, and future growth. He is responsible for establishing the company’s software vision and leading all aspects of software development. Before joining Aclara, Peter was Director of software development at CenturyLink, where he led a global development organization of 120+ staff members in multiple locations of the US, UK and India. Earlier in his career, Peter worked at AT&T, MasterCard, Express Scripts and came up through ranks via progressively more challenging roles including: software engineer, technical architect, manager, senior manager. Peter has a diverse educational background in science and engineering, including a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, a M.S. in Computer Science, and a B.S. in Material Science and Engineering. He was a fellow of St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative (SLBDI) - Cohort 5. Peter and his wife Deedee have been living in St. Louis since 2000. They have two kids – Rachel, 13 and David, 11.
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Ruben Chuquimia Ruben Chuquimia practices law as a Shareholder at Polsinelli, P.C., in the Securities and Corporate Finance Group. He received his J.D. from Washington University, St. Louis School of Law in 1995 and his undergraduate degree from Duke University. Ruben has represented a variety of corporate clients, including large publicly traded corporations, privately held entities, private equity funds, start-up companies, and entrepreneurs. His practice includes a broad range of corporate, securities and transactional work, with extensive experience in counseling boards of directors and audit committees, technology licensing agreements, technology joint venture agreements, internet-related agreements, and general commercial agreements, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, takeovers (negotiated and contested), and cross-border transactions, public and private equity and debt offerings, among other matters. His recent engagements have included representing an aerospace manufacturer with a $37 million IPO and listing on the NASDAQ; and representing a NYSE listed company in its $72 million follow on public offering. Ruben has been included in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Corporate/M&A (St Louis & Surrounds) from 2011-2015 and named a “Client Service AllStar” by BTI Consulting Group in 2009. Additionally, Ruben was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers In America® from 2012-2016.
Richard Juang Richard Juang is an intellectual property attorney at the law offices of Polsinelli, P.C. He received his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2012, and an intellectual property and technology law LL.M. in 2013. Utilizing his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, Richard has the technical experience necessary to guide his clients through the complex world of intellectual property. Richard’s practice focuses on a variety of issues including patents, trademarks, and copyright matters. He provides litigation support in all phases of discovery, assists with depositions, and drafts arguments for contested motions. Richard’s varied background allows him to engage in patent cases involving any matter – from life sciences to computer software and hardware. Richard currently serves as President of the Missouri Asian-American Bar Association, participates in the St. Louis Regional Business Council, including the Young Professionals Network Leadership 100, among other professional organizations.
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Peter Corsale
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Peter Corsale is a Shareholder at Polsinelli, P.C. in the Commercial Litigation Group. He received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of law where he received cum laude honors. He earned his bachelor of arts degree, with cum laude honors, in History and Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis. Peter has successfully worked both sides of the courtroom, representing his clients in a broad range of complex disputes from commercial contracts to shareholder disputes. Recognizing that a courtroom win is not the only path to a best outcome, Peter enjoys partnering with his clients to develop a sound strategy that not only makes legal sense but business sense too. Peter endeavors to find business solutions that not only resolve a conflict, but also contribute to the client’s larger business goals. Peter has assisted clients in a variety of industries and in courtrooms across the country, with significant experience in defending officers and companies against claims of securities fraud, representing large manufacturers in the interpretation of requirements contracts, and representing minority shareholders in shareholder disputes and claims of malfeasance. Peter serves as a Board Member of the Hispanic Bar Association of St. Louis and also as a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Lilian Doan Davis Lilian Doan Davis is an Associate at Polsinelli, P.C. As a labor and employment law attorney, she focuses on helping private and public corporations, individuals, and municipalities identify and address potential workplace liabilities. Lilian counsels clients on management, compliance, and regulatory issues and investigates and responds to charges of employment discrimination. Her practice includes litigation of whistleblower claims, wage and hour disputes, workplace discrimination, and wrongful termination. She is committed to aggressively representing clients’ needs from case inception through resolution and strategically approaches every step of the litigation process to ensure a cohesive defense. Lilian received her law degree in 2010 from the St. Louis University School of Law where she was a Dean’s Scholar from 2007-2010, She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. Lilian was honored by the St. Louis Business Journal for its 2013 Class of “30 Under 30”. She currently serves as Vice President of the Missouri Asian-American Bar Association, in addition to serving as a Member on the Board of Directors of Girls on the Run, St. Louis.
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Danyal Davis-Hurd Danyal Davis-Hurd is a Sr. Project Manager in Supply Chain at Express Scripts, and manages large size strategic planning projects and corporate initiatives in over $5M gross margin. She has over 15 years of leadership, budgeting, financial analysis, strategic planning, and process improvement experience. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Mathematics from Webster University. After graduation, Danyal worked as a Microbiologist, testing antibiotics for common illnesses, such as ear infections, flu, strep, and pink eye. It was her time as a Cardiologist Analyst; conducting research on hearts, Danyal enrolled in graduate school and pursued a Master’s degree in Health Service Management at Webster University. Danyal has been engaged with medical economic analysis, strategic cost reductions, initiatives, mergers and acquisitions for large corporations, such as BJC, Whirlpool, Reynolds, Tenet, WellPoint, Centene, and Medco. Danyal is the Vice President of an Employee Resource Group at Express Scripts called Cultural Connection. Danyal currently holds a position on the Volunteer Committee for HBA (Healthcare Business Women’s Association) and Finance Committee for Almost Home, a St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Alum, and volunteers for the Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity.
Dan Cranshaw Dan Cranshaw is a Shareholder at Polsinelli, P.C. in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He has been involved in class actions in state and federal courts throughout the United States and has successfully dealt with all aspects of class action litigation, including pre-certification dismissals and summary judgments, class discovery, class certification and de-certification, and claims administration. Whether through litigation, alternative dispute resolution, strategic consultation, or a simple assessment of an insurance policy, Dan works collaboratively with corporate clients and/or their boards to ensure companies can successfully defend claims, secure coverage, and grow their businesses. Dan received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2003 and his undergraduate degree from Princeton University. Ranked in Benchmark Litigation and recognized by the American Board of Trial Advocates Award for Outstanding Performance in Trial Advocacy, Dan also places a high importance on giving back to his community. Additionally, Dan has recently been selected as a member of the 2016 Class of Fellows, participating in a landmark program created by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Dan also plays a key leadership role at his law firm as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
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Jami Dolby
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Jami M. Dolby is a native of Saint Louis, MO and wears many hats in the city she is proud to call home. Dolby is a columnist with the award winning St. Louis American newspaper, where her article, The STL Suite features everything and everyone in St. Louis in the top social and professional circles. Dolby is owner of Suite Ballentine, a public relations firm whose clients have ranged from entertainers, athletes to small business owners. Suite Ballentine continues to provide a unique service to its clients, where each PR campaign or creative production is connected with giving back to the community in which they serve. She is currently a member of Urban League Young Professionals, and a lifetime member of Girl Scouts USA. Dolby also holds memberships with the NAACP and National Association of Black Journalists and is a dedicated volunteer to various other organizations. Jami Dolby also serves as Executive Director of Daddy.FM, an organization her husband Jowcol Dolby and she started to celebrate dads and provide the same resources to them that are available to moms everywhere. Jami Dolby resides in St. Louis County with her husband and son, Cole.
Jowcol “Boogy D” Dolby Jowcol “Boogie D” Dolby has over 20 years of experience in the radio and music industry. Boogie D currently serves as Operations Manager for the St. Louis Radio One market which includes WHHL/HOT 104.1 and WFUN/Old School & Today’s R&B 95.5. Originally from Queens, NY, Boogie also serves as an on-air personality with HOT 104.1. During his many years of radio, Boogie has worked with some of the largest companies in media. He recently moved to St. Louis from Philadelphia where he served as program director with another Radio One market. During his years in radio, Boogie has also worked in Tuscan, AZ, Greensboro and Charlotte, NC, and Washington, DC. His work has been recognized by major trade publications and awarded within his company and in the music industry. Outside of radio, Boogie D served as National Rhythmic Crossover Director with Virgin/ SoSo Def Records, where he worked with Jermaine Dupri , Janet Jackson and many more. Boogie D is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and active in the St. Louis Chapter, Kappa Sigma. Dolby is married and he and his wife Jami have one son, Cole.
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Carmen Jacob Carmen Jacob is the CEO and Owner of NextGen, Information Services, Inc., a national staffing, recruiting and consulting firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri with satellite offices throughout the US. NextGen is a Certified Minority-Owned Enterprise and Certified Woman-Owned Enterprise and has been awarded by DiversityInc. com and DiversityBusiness.com, the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Minority Business Council. NextGen was named Hispanic Company of the Year 2013 and Carmen was named Hispanic Businessperson of the Year 2014 by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis. Carmen was named one of Enterprising Women Magazine’s Women of the Year 2014, and an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 2014. Next-Gen was most recently awarded by Governor Nixon as the Minority Business of the Year. A community activist, Carmen is involved in numerous professional groups and organizations.
Latosha Davis, MSW Latosha Davis, MSW, has joined Guardian Angel Settlement Association as the Director of Social Services and will oversee the operations of programs and resources for thousands of individuals and families living in the 63104 and 63118 zip codes. The Community Services Davis will oversee include self-sufficiency programs including skills training, financial literacy education and employment referrals and support; emergency support programs that provide short-term assistance ranging from a food pantry to financial assistance; and, oversight of Guardian Angel’s Angel Boutique, a social enterprise that offers gently used clothing and household goods and work experience for youth and adults. Last year, over 3,000 households were served by the food pantry; hundreds of households received assistance for rent, utilities and medications and participated in self-sufficiency workshops. Davis earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University and has an extensive background in mental health, HIV, and housing. Davis often shares her expertise with several Universities in Illinois and Missouri as she serves as a preceptor for interns for the School of Social Work. Davis is also currently a member of the St Louis Business Diversity Initiative, class of 2016.
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Rolanda Robinson-Finch
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Rolanda Robinson-Finch is the founder of It’s Your Birthday, Inc. Their mission is to create fun and memorable birthday experiences for children ages 5-12 that reside in homeless and domestic violence shelters. Rolanda was featured as a character profile in the St. Louis Business Journal and received the Reaching Out Award from Town & Style Magazine; in addition to the back cover of St. Louis Jewish Parents Magazine and interviews on Fox2Now, ShowMe St. Louis, and KEZK Radio. In addition, she is currently employed as a Leadership Development Business Leader with Boeing, where she is responsible for the development of 300 Vice Presidents, globally. Prior to this role, she was a Global Manager, Leadership Development with Anheuser-Busch InBev where she developed various leadership programs for leaders in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Rolanda has a BS in Textiles and Clothing in Business from the University of Central Missouri and an MA in Marketing from Webster University. She is also an alumni of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows and the Consortium for Leadership Development Programs. When she is not giving smiles to children and developing leaders, Rolanda enjoys traveling with her husband.
Angela Grady Angela Grady is Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Mercy, serving 45 hospitals and 40,000 co-workers. She is a dynamic leader with responsibilities including development and implementation of a system-wide strategy to educate, engage and stimulate a diverse and inclusive workforce. Angela is the organization’s pioneer, occupying her newly-created position for 18 months. As a result of her leadership, Mercy earned a prestigious $460,000 grant to expand disability and inclusion services. Angela thrives in networking community partnerships, supporting co-worker engagement, inclusion and leadership development for minorities and women. Angela is a proud “Dance Mom” of a 14-year-old daughter. To her credit, she is an alumni of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, has progressive professional experience within Human Resources and a master’s degree in Human Resources from Webster University. She currently serves on the advisory board for the National Association of Health Service Executives (NAHSE) local chapter and is a Corporate Diversity Roundtable member for the Diversity Awareness Partnership (DAP). Angela is passionate about youth education, serving on a parent committee within the Ladue school district and is a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
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Vin Ko Vin Ko, joined the St. Louis Mosaic Project, as the program manager at the beginning of 2015. Prior to this, Ko worked at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) in their Alumni and Development office where he helped secure their $7 million dollar lead gift for renovations to the school’s pool. He also served as the Director of Operations for State Treasurer Clint Zweifel’s successful reelection campaign. Born in St. Louis, Ko took part in the desegregation program where he was bussed into the St. Louis Public Schools until his sophomore year, in which he transferred and graduated from Ladue High School. He then went on to college in California, graduating from the University of California Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In his spare Ko has started and grown a local pick up soccer organization known as St. Louis Pick Up Soccer, growing the group from an email list of about 40 people to over 3,000 members playing all over the region. Ko also serves on the Ladue Education Foundation Board, TEDxGatewayArch Leadership Board, and the St. Louis Roadies Advisory Board.
Shay L. Gillespie As Corporate Supplier Diversity Manager for World Wide Technology, Inc., a multibillion dollar corporation, Shay is responsible for their global supplier diversity program which includes managing millions of dollars in procurement activity and advocating and mentoring small and diverse businesses. In addition, Shay is vice chair of the St. Louis Minority Business Council’s board as well as on the board of directors for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. Shay has received the Phenomenal Woman Award presented by Old School 95.5 and First Bank and St. Louis American’s Salute to Young Leaders Award. She is also an active member of her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated serving as Delta GEMS co-chair. Shay received her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies from Saint Louis University and her Master of Arts in Communications Management from Webster University. She is also a graduate of Eureka Senior High School, class of 1995. A native of St. Louis, Shay is an avid reader and loves to run. She lives in St. Louis County, with her husband James and two boys, Grant and Dylan (Diggy).
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Dr. Brandon D. Haynes
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Dr. Brandon D. Haynes joined Deaconess Foundation as the new Director, Community Engagement in January 2014. Prior to moving to the St. Louis region, Dr. Haynes resided in New Orleans, LA where he completed his doctoral degree in urban studies at the University of New Orleans. Dr. Haynes conducted his doctoral research by studying the role of collective identity and football played in New Orleans’ return from Hurricane Katrina. He has Master’s degrees in both public and business administration from the University of Missouri and Kennesaw State University respectively, a Bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Louisiana State University, and has served as a performance auditor for both the Cities of Kansas City, MO and Atlanta, GA. In his time in St. Louis, Dr. Haynes has joined several organizations including the St. Louis Sports Commission Associates, the Urban League Young Professionals, and is on the board of the St. Louis Metropolitan Research Exchange. Dr. Haynes believes in the value of service and is committed to the creation of an environment of collective action in the St. Louis region.
Amir Hotich Amir specializes in the sale and purchase of homes and estates in Saint Louis City and Saint Louis County. With a reputation for placing clients’ needs, goals and objectives at the forefront of every transaction, Amir Hotich provides communication, negotiation and management skills in combination with indepth knowledge of the Saint Louis area’s neighborhoods and real estate market. Amir is known for his patience, listening skills, caring and understanding. He is esteemed by his clients and colleagues alike for his attention to others’ needs in even the most challenging property purchase or sale . Amir is praised for client satisfaction and effectiveness as counselor, facilitator and liaison – from property search or listing, through market analysis, to negotiations, escrow and closing. Amir earned a bachelor of science in marketing from Maryville University -St. Louis Amir is a founding member of the Bosnian American Professional Network, BAPN (www. bapnstl.org) In his spare time, Amir enjoys the time with his family, wife Melisa and twin daughters Aila and Selma. He loves to swim, read, play various sports, coaches girls soccer team, but most of all he loves his two boxer dogs, Pasha & Lela.
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Robin Boyce Robin Boyce presently works for the City of St. Louis in the office of the Comptroller as an Executive Assistant I, liaison to St. Louis Lambert Airport. A 30 year broadcast journalist, Boyce has worked in newspaper, radio and television in St. Louis and around the country. Boyce currently host a public affairs program called City Corner, most recently worked for iHeart Media’s Total Traffic Network as a reporter/ producer, Radio One-St. Louis and WSSM 106.5 Smooth Jazz. Her newest project is directing and creating the Ferguson Phoenix Newspaper for youth. While living in Los Angeles, Boyce worked in the film industry; Douglas Broadcast Inc., in Dallas for KDFW FOX 4 News, consulted for T.D. Jakes Television Ministries, in Philadelphia for KYW TV/Radio and Shadow Metro Traffic. She’s most known for her work with KMJM Majic 108 and KETC Channel 9. A native of St. Louis, Missouri Boyce has a MBA from Lindenwood University and a BA in Speech Communications from the University of Missouri St. Louis. An entrepreneur Boyce is owns the Hastings Group a marketing, sales and public relations firm consulting businesses and nonprofits in the region.
Rebeccah Bennett Rebeccah Bennett is Founder and Principal of Emerging Wisdom LLC – an innovative social enterprise that helps individuals, groups and organizations manifest the best within themselves and create communities that sustain the best in us all. At Emerging Wisdom, Rebeccah designs and facilitates personal and professional growth programs, organizational improvement efforts and social transformation initiatives. Her principal offerings include consulting, training, facilitation and planning, coaching and professional speaking. Rebeccah’s competencies are born from nearly 20 years of research and practice discerning what it takes to help her clients advance large and small-scale systems change while achieving high levels of function and impact. She supports her clients in aligning their decision-making and resources with their purpose, vision and values. Among Rebeccah’s clients are Anheuser-Busch InBev, Wells Fargo Advisors, MasterCard Worldwide, the St. Louis Regional Chamber, the MO Department of Mental Health, the Deaconess Foundation, Focus St. Louis, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Ferguson Commission, and Hazelwood School District. In addition to her professional activities, Rebeccah sits on the boards of the St. Louis Maternal Child & Family Health Coalition and Jamaa Learning Center.
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Angelia D. Bills
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Angelia D. Bills is Vice President of Communications of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Since 2003, she has been responsible for all marketing, advertising and communications for the Urban League. She previously served as Senior Public Information Specialist at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. During her career, she has received the Phenomenal Woman Award from Center for Racial Harmony, St. Louis Sentinel’s Yes I Can Award, the St. Louis Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation and an Excellence in Communications Award from the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists. Mrs. Bills is a member of the IHeartMedia Community Advisory Board, St. Louis County Board of Zoning Adjustment, United Way Charmaine Chapman Society, Top Ladies of Distinction, Urban League Guild, and the St. Louis Press Club. She received a B.A. in Communications from Howard University and a Master of Social Work Degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She also earned a Leadership Certificate from the Consortium for Leadership Development at Harris-Stowe State University. Angelia is married to Rev. Bryan C. Bills, pastor of New Life Ministries, and is a proud mother of two daughters: Brittany and Kristyn
Joe Bommarito Joseph J. Bommarito (Joe) married his Puerto Rican sweetheart in 1960 and has two daughters. Joe retired in 2001 and around that time, he started Bommarito Videos and Photography, as a way to express his interest and passion for capturing life as it unfolds. He has had a long-time interest in photography. Since the mid ‘60’s Joe has documented events in the St. Louis Hispanic community in both video and photographs. He credits the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Leaders Group, as well as other St. Louis Hispanic organizations for allowing him to document their events thereby giving him the opportunity to contribute to the Hispanic community’s history. In addition to the Hispanic community he participated in the Knight of Columbus as a Grand Knight. Volunteer work in both communities continues to be very rewarding. He runs a client-friendly, service-oriented business dedicated to weddings, quinceañeras and other special events. Joe carries his cameras with humor and courtesy.
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Barbara Bowman Barbara Bowman currently serves as the Vice President of Development for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. In this role, Ms. Bowman is responsible for all aspects of fund raising including special events, individual giving, major gifts and foundation and corporate funding. Bowman serves as Vice Chairperson of the Board of CHIPS Health and Wellness Center and Chairs the Board of East Central Missouri Area Health Education Center. She also serves on the boards of Provident Inc, the Emerson YMCA Advisory Board, the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Board and the United Way Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society Cabinet. She is a member of the St. Louis Chapter (MO) Links, Inc. and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Bowman is a graduate of Saint Louis University and the Leadership St. Louis Class of 2001/2002. Ms. Bowman has presented at regional and national conferences on topics to include: Outcomes Based Funding, Creating a Legislative Strategy and Fundraising on a Shoe String Budget. She has received the Monsanto YMCA Community Zealot Award and the Unsung Heroine Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction.
Rep. Michael Butler Rep. Michael Butler, a Democrat, represents part of St. Louis City (District 79) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2012. Prior to his legislative duties, Rep. Butler gained experience in the legislature while serving as the Legislative Aide in the office of State Senator Robin Wright-Jones, and as the Legislative Assistant to State Rep. Mary Wynne Still. During his 2012 campaign, he served as a permanent substitute teacher in the St. Louis Public School System. In addition, Rep. Butler has valuable private sector experience while employed as a manager at the home office of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in Bentonville, Arkansas. Rep. Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Alabama A&M University, where he also served as Student Government President and as a Board of Trustee member. While working with the legislature, he also obtained a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Since being elected to the Missouri House of Representatives he has started a Youth Work Corps that employs youth, began a Poverty initiative that informs low-income residents of needed services, and built youth sports teams in his legislative district.
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Rhonda Carter Adams
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Rhonda is the Executive Director for the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC) serving the Central IL/Eastern MO area. She manages corporate member relationships and the recruitment of businesses to become certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). Previously, she has led the supplier diversity initiatives at both Caterpillar Inc. and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to serve on the State of Missouri’s Disparity Study Oversight Review Committee. She is an active community volunteer and advocate for urban youth, women and minority businesses in the region, serving on the board of directors of several organizations that include: the Charles Drew Advisory Board, SouthSide Early Childhood Center, the Women’s Society at Washington University, the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) and United Way’s de Tocqueville Society. She is a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis Women’s Leadership Circle and the Women’s Group on Race Relations. She is also a proud member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2011, Rhonda relocated to St. Louis with her husband, Carlton, and daughter, Riley.
Gloria Carter-Hicks Gloria Carter-Hicks is the founder, owner and CEO of Hicks-Carter-Hicks, LLC, an awardwinning and full-service performance improvement company established in 1999. She is recognized as a driving force in the areas of Human Resources, Consulting, Coaching, Diversity & Inclusion, Training, and Organization Development. Carter-Hicks is active in her community and serves on several boards (United Way of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis County Workforce Investment Board and the St. Louis Minority Business Council). In 2010, Carter-Hicks was appointed to the St. Louis County Public Transportation Commission. From 2010 to 2014, Hicks-Carter-Hicks was recognized as one of the region’s Top 25 AfricanAmerican businesses by the St. Louis American (Salute to Excellence in Business Award). The St. Louis Small Business Monthly recognized Carter-Hicks as one of the region’s 2012 Diversity Heroes. In 2012, the SBA recognized Hicks-Carter-Hicks as a Business Consultant Extraordinaire. In 2014, Carter-Hicks was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the region’s Diverse Business Leaders. Carter-Hicks graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she served as a part-time instructor of diversity, leadership development and HR courses in the School of Continuing Education and Outreach.
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Marquita C. Chapman Marquita C. Chapman is first and foremost a loving wife of 8 years to Darius Chapman, “TeeTee” to a host of nieces and nephews, and loving daughter to Mr and Mrs. Clinton Jones. She is a recent 2014 honors graduate of Webster University with a M.A. in Management & Leadership. She’s also a proud honors graduate from Harris-Stowe State University where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration in 2005. Marquita began her career with the Department of Defense in 2004 as a Contracts intern and is now a Lead Program Manager over software. She has been responsible for a variety of projects totaling $50 million annually. Marquita is the CEO of Intended Images, which brings out the very best in people in regards to image and self-presentation. Marquita is also an Independent Distributer for a leading global health and wellness company, the social media manager for DeMay Furs, Ltd., and a freelance columnist for the Sparkman Magazine. Marquita is a worship leader and Education Coordinator at the Mind of Christ Church. Marquita aspires to be an author and return to her alma mater to teach entrepreneurship courses.
Mishelae 100. 3 Beat listeners can hear Mishelae Monday through Saturday 10am to 3pm. Mishelae began her radio career while studying Communications at the University of Missouri -St. Louis in 2006. Mishelae ended up becoming one of the first on-air talents of the newly reformed U which opened its broadcasting doors in Jan 2007. Mishelae made her start in 2007 at IHeartMedia’s KATZ FM Hip Hop station 100.3 The Beat as a weekend personality. In January 2008 she began to work weekends for sister station KMJM -FM, Majic 100.3. Mishelae has also worked for STL TV as a Video Production Specialist. Mishelae earned a B.A in Communication from the University of Missouri St. Louis and Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Fontbonne University. Mishelae is a married with two children, Byron, 13 and Milton, 4.
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Ed Gallegos
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Ed Gallegos has worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years, with 15 of those years leading and managing large scale claims and call center operations. He joined Centene Corporations in 2010 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations, leading the operational functions in Farmington, MO, Tyler, TX, Great Falls, MT and the new claims center in Ferguson, MO. Ed has held various key executive positions that include Vice President National Accounts, Vice President of Human Resources and Vice President of Diversity and Cultural Competence at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF). His efforts lead to BCBSF being ranked nationally among the top 50 companies leveraging diversity as a business strategy. His experience in leading national accounts such as General Motors, Ford, Federal Employee Program (FEP) and others resulted in strong rankings in operational performance. He successfully led BCBSF to national recognition in customer service as measured by J.D. Powers for three consecutive years and has made significant improvement in driving results at Centene. . Ed holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Florida.
Gary Gunter On March 17, 2014 Gary Gunter became Vice President and General Manager of Radio One St. Louis Properties Hot 104.1FM and Old School 95.5FM. In this role Mr. Gunter is responsible for developing and growing the stations’ brand, revenue and audience share by creating and implementing strategic and tactical direction. His responsibilities include overseeing all departments within the radio station including but not limited to Sales, Programming and Marketing/Promotions. Prior to Radio One St. Louis, Mr. Gunter held the position of General Sales Manager of Radio One Baltimore’s four media outlets WWIN-FM/AM, WERQ-FM and WOLB-AM. In this role Mr. Gunter was responsible for maintaining and growing the Company’s revenue and revenue share within the marketplace. These revenue goals were achieved across multiple platforms including Radio, Internet and Event marketing through the direction and leadership of a Sales staff comprised of 14 Account Executives generating over 16 million dollars annually. Gary is a 26 year veteran of Radio sales/marketing with successful stints in various markets including Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his accomplishments in the media industry.
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Tammy Holland Tammie Holland is a local media veteran. Her comedic banter can be heard weekdays on iHeartMedia on 100.3 The Beat, 6am-10am. Tammie brings solid experience to iHeartMedia . She’s worked for St. Louis television stations KSDK-TV and UPN-46. Tammie has also held successful positions in public relations and Community Affairs for radio stations, KATZ-AM and KSLZ-FM. Tammie has also produced and hosted her own public affairs television program and has served as a producer of the Emmy Award winning, nationally syndicated, Christian television show, “On Main Street.” Tammie has studied education and communications at Harris Stowe State University and Fontbonne University. She is an alumna of The Broadcast Center in St. Louis and the proud mother of one daughter, Meadow Grace.
Naretha Hopson Naretha Hopson is the Founder and Executive Director of Ever-Appropriate Etiquette Institute, which offers Leadership, Dining/Business Etiquette, and Impression Management programming for youth and professionals. Since 2011, Ms. Hopson has helped thousands with professional soft skills refinement. She is the author of, “Ever-Appropriate Etiquette: 5 Steps to the Professional Presence that Pays”. Ms. Hopson’s dynamic client track record includes K-12 schools, universities, non-profit organizations, and corporate executives. Ms. Hopson remains active in civic and business leadership development programs. Naretha is a proud 2010 graduate of the Focus St. Louis Leadership St. Louis program. In 2012, she was selected for the inaugural cohort of the Consortium for Leadership Development, led by former Fortune 500 CEO’s, high-profile corporate executives. Naretha’s board involvement includes the United Way, Urban League – St. Louis, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, St. Louis Regional Business Council Young Professional Network, the St. Louis Crisis Nursery Young Professional Board, and Mayor Slay’s Vanguard Cabinet. Her most recent appointments are to the Board of Directors of Vernare Learning (schools incorporating STEM curriculum and sustainability, slated to open in 2016) Special Friends Mentoring, and the Missouri Ethics Commission.
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Adella D. Jones
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Adella D. Jones is the Director of Marketing and Community Outreach for Home State Health, the Missouri subsidiary of Centene Corporation based in Clayton, Missouri. Home State is a managed care provider serving Missouri families enrolled in MO HealthNet Managed Care. Jones is responsible for increasing brand awareness and knowledge of the health plan among medical providers, plan members and healthcare advocates throughout the state of Missouri. Since Home State began operations on July 1, 2012, Jones launched a number of successful community partnerships and initiatives. Prior to joining Home State, Jones served as the Vice President of Government & Community Affairs for Metro, the agency that operates public transit in the St. Louis region. She was responsible for oversight of the agency’s internal and external communications program, as well as directing the agency’s legislative agenda. Jones is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She previously served as St. Louis press secretary for Missouri’s Third District Congressman Richard Gephardt. She has also served as director of communications and chief spokesperson for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Theron Morgan Theron Morgan currently serves as the Director of Business Development at Ballpark Village in St. Louis. His role and responsibilities are spread among several areas that include: operations, community relations, sponsorships and sales. Theron has spent over 20 years as an account manager and director in sales and sponsorships in a variety of industries including dining and entertainment, sports and consumer goods. He understands how the relationship between sports and entertainment ties-in with the relationship to corporate branding and consumer goods. Among his previous positions, Theron served as Sr. Account Executive with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a Retail Account Manager and Geographic Marketing Manager for Anheuser-Busch, and Director of Sales and Sponsorships at Saint Louis University. He is currently involved with several organizations including a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and National Sales Network-St. Louis. He also serves as a board member for Connection to Success and on the Workforce Development board. Theron is a member of Victory Church-St. Louis, located in Cahokia, IL. He resides in O’Fallon, IL with his wife Sheila ( formerly Billups) and three children, Theron Jr., Sydney and Myla. Theron holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Business Admission degree from the University of Phoenix.
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Michael P. McMillan Michael P. McMillan is the President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, a nonprofit organization that has been providing social services to the metropolitan St. Louis community since 1918. Previously for almost seven years, McMillan served as the License Collector of the City of St. Louis. He was the youngest person elected as an Alderman and License Collector in the history of the City of St. Louis. McMillan served as Alderman of the 19th Ward supporting $1.25 billion in economic development and neighborhood revitalization. McMillan involves community leaders and family members as stakeholders outside of the school environment to reinforce the same expectations of the students. He formed a collaboration with the St. Louis Public Schools, attracting over 10,000 people annually to ensure early school registration. Families receive free health screenings, as well as benefiting from the job fair, career fair, financial literacy assistance, business support services and more from over 100 service providers in attendance. In response to the crisis in Ferguson, McMillan created the Save Our Sons program in St. Louis County to help 500 African American-American men find jobs and he implemented the Urban League’s largest job fair in history at St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley. McMillan is a member of the following boards: Fontbonne University, The Sheldon, Grand Center, Heat Up St. Louis, Inc. (Cool Down St. Louis), Girls, Inc., The DESE Task Force, American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Region, The Muny, Ranken Technical College, Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, Workforce Investment Board of St. Louis County, Reliance Bank, Regions Bank Community Development Corporation and the St. Louis Regional Chamber. Michael P. McMillan is a graduate of Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies and a minor in Political Science with an emphasis on Finance. Additionally, McMillan earned an Eisenhower International Fellowship to travel to Ireland and Paris to study their forms of government.
Cedric Cobb Cedric Cobb is the President of EDGE Business Solutions and the inventor of the Best Pocket Square Holder. This innovative prod-uct HOLDS THE FOLD of a man’s pocket square securely in his suit jacket pocket. It solves a wardrobe epidemic that has plagued men for decades of pocket squares that don’t stay in place. It has gained national attention from media, celebrities & professional athletes. The Best Pocket Square Holder is currently in the pockets of Steve Harvey, Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis, Roland Williams, Creflo Dollar and Brian White to name a few. Cedric has publicly received awards from the St. Louis American newspaper during the Salute to Excellence in Young Leaders event. Cedric is most proud of graduating the Consortium for Leadership Development Program and being a member of the National Sales Network. Cedric attended Pittsburg State University on full athletic scholar-ship. Cobb earned his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Business Manage-ment from the Gladys A. Kelce School of Business. He is married to Salise and father of Avery, Celeste, Malanea and Cedric Jr.
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Dr. Lelia Vickers
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Dr. Lelia Vickers is a native of Alabama and the Interim Dean of Education at Harris-Stowe State University. She is very positive about her future stating that she “believes that HarrisStowe will be a leader in education for all students” and she brings more than 40 years of educational experience to the university. Dr. Vickers previously held similar positions at North Carolina A&T working as the Dean in the College of Education and Livingstone College where she served as Vice President. Dr. Vickers is a firm and enthusiastic believer in the mission of HBCUs and champions bridge programs. During her brief tenure in St. Louis she has worked with administrators and superintendents to develop dynamic professional relationships. She plans to continue the growth and development of future educators as graduates from the College of Education at Harris-Stowe. The university’s College of Education is very proud of such as distinguished alumni as Dr. Sharonica Hardin, who serves as Superintendent of University City schools and Dr. Art McCoy, superintendent of Jennings School District. Dr. Vickers has outlined her plans of training teachers with a specialization in urban concerns to address the economy and the disparity among school districts.
Dr. Dwaun Warmack Dr. Dwaun Warmack has been president of Harris-Stowe State University since July 2014. He is known for his student-centered approach to being a transformational leader. Prior to his current position, he was vice president for Student Affairs at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla. He has served in both public and private institutions and has a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Dr. Warmack is a positive role model for Harris-Stowe students. He is known to shoot hoops with students and annually conducts bow tie tying workshops. When Dr. Warmack surveys the student body at Harris-Stowe he sees himself. He believes that his position in education is more than a career, it’s a calling and considers it his ministry. “When God said it was my time, it was my time. It was divine order. I’m doing God’s work.” During his first two years, Dr. Warmack has led strategic transformation at the university that is both elevating academic and professional standards among faculty and staff as well as inspiring change in the students’ lives. Dr. Warmack is from Detroit and he and his wife have one daughter who has attended the Clay Early Childhood Center.
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Donna Moody Donna is the Manager of Training and Organizational Development for AAIM Employer’s Association and has been an adjunct professor at St. Louis University since 2000. Her areas of instruction and training include HR, Team Dynamics, Communication, and Leadership. She has also been a Diversity Consultant for over 20 years in higher education and civic communities. Donna is involved in her community and serves on various Boards: Diversity Awareness Partnership, Racial Harmony; SAFB African American Association, and the Tuskegee Airmen. Donna has received the Who’s Who In Black St. Louis Award, the MAPO (Metropolitan Area Professional Organization) Award, the Omega Psi Phi’s Citizen of the Year and the SAFB’s Outstanding African American in Government. Donna received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SLU and Webster University respectfully, in HR. Donna resides in Shiloh, Ill. and is the proud mother of Brandon. She is also a jazz vocalist who has performed in venues in St. Louis and Las Vegas with Ronnie Laws, the Dazz Band, and the Sugar Hill Gang.
Cecilia Nadal Cecilia Nadal has spent most of her life building cross-cultural bridges in St. Louis, Missouri. After 23 years as president of Productive Futures Inc., a successful human resources firm that specialized in training employers and low-income job seekers how to transcend class divisions, she founded Gitana Productions, Inc., the first arts organization (1996) with the central mission of cross-cultural engagement through drama, dance, and music performances. In 2007, she was asked to use her expertise in the area of Roma culture to speak to a group of Roma youth about a subject she studied for over 20 years – their culture. So moved by this experience, she started Global Education through the Arts, a program that brings African-American and immigrant youth together to nurture cultural acceptance. These youth conduct an annual nonviolence tour that has reached over 6,500 St. Louisans. Cecilia’s community work ranges from sponsoring Peace Festivals in North St. Louis to address violence to developing professional theatrical and music programming between the African-American and international communities of our region. Her latest project is BLACK AND BLUE, an original play inspired by Ferguson events. www.gitana-inc.org
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James Robinson
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James Robinson is the General Sales Manager for iHeartMedia St. Louis’ 100.3 The Beat/ KMJM-FM and Hallelujah AM 1600/KATZ-AM. He is an accomplished sales and strategic marketing professional specializing in leadership, consistent high performance, solid track record of success in radio management from New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis, Columbus OH and St. Louis. A solution-based sales manager specializing in creative ideas, firm client relationships and marketing programs designed to engage the customer and meet clients ROI goals. James is married with two daughters.
Senator Jamilah Nasheed Senator Jamilah Nasheed is a Democrat representing Missouri’s 5th Senatorial District in the City of St. Louis. Sen. Nasheed’s district includes some of Missouri’s most important economic and cultural treasures. She is widely recognized as a legislative leader on several issues including education, criminal justice, human rights, and urban economic development. In 2006 , after 10 years as a small business owner, Sen. Nasheed sold her bookstore and decided to run for office. That year, she was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, where she quickly earned a reputation for working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to accomplish her agenda. After winning her primary in August 2012, Sen. Nasheed began serving in the Missouri State Senate in January 2013. During her time in the upper chamber, Senator Nasheed has passed 10 pieces of legislation as a member of the Democratic super-minority. In addition to her legislative responsibilities, Senator Nasheed is active in a number of community organizations including the “In it 2 Win” Coalition, the Fresh Start Program, and the Fraternal Order of the Eastern Star. Sen. Nasheed has also been active in the A+ Schools Program and Inspire STL.
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Dione A. Neal Dione A. Neal, MBA is a 12 year sales veteran who currently works for Astellas Pharmaceuticals. Dione is known for her attention to detail and passion for winning. She has a proven ability to provide innovative sales plans with complementary characteristics of initiative, persistence, and diligence. Dione has worked at a variety of companies including Coca-Cola; where she won and serviced notable accounts such as the St. Louis Science Center, Ball Park Village and Union Station. Dione received both her Bachelor and MBA degrees from Webster University School of Business, were she was a recipient of the Deans Leadership Award, Peer Initiative Award and 4 A’s Award. Dione is a six year member of National Sales Network. Dione previously served as the Membership Chair for two years. Currently she is the Vice President of Business Development where she works to support and expand corporate sponsor relationships. Dione is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated were she is on the Fundraising Committee. Dione graduated from the Missouri School of Wine where she received her Certificate as a pre- Sommelier. Dione also is a Big Brother, Big Sister mentor.
Nedim Ramic Nedim Ramic is a people person, a husband, a community activist, and on top of that a lawyer who cares about people. He is an avid soccer fan and (long time ago) a player himself. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he came to St. Louis after living as a child refugee in Germany for 7 years. He has called the St. Louis area his home since 1999. He is fluent in German, Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian. Professional: He received his law degree from St. Louis University-School of Law, after receiving his undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He was a member of various student groups, most notably the President of the International Law Society at St. Louis University School of Law. Since obtaining his law degree, he has practiced in the areas of personal injury, workers compensation, and medical negligence. He has spent his career in the courtrooms of Missouri fighting for the injured. Nedim also helps individuals charged with serious traffic offenses as well as criminal charges in the St. Louis region. Since the start of his career, Nedim has recovered millions of dollars for the injured. Clients tend to refer to Nedim as a lawyer who is tireless and compassionate, who cares not just about the case, but about the clients and their individual needs. He shows this compassion through numerous activities in the community as well as pro bono work for community organizations. He works for various Bosnian-American organizations in the St. Louis region. He was recently appointed by Mayor Slay to the St. Louis City Crime Commission.
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Mary E. Nelson
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A St. Louis native and Missouri attorney, Mary E. Nelson received her B.A. from Princeton University and J.D. from University of Missouri School of Law. With extensive experience in real estate, construction, and business law, Nelson has enjoyed a number of private and public sector positions. Before joining St. Louis Community College in 2014 as its General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Nelson was the first African American woman to serve on the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission. She served two mayoral administrations, most recently as General Counsel for St. Louis Development Corporation; as General Counsel and Legislative Director to Speaker of the Missouri House Steve Gaw; as Governor Bob Holden’s appointee to the Missouri House Reapportionment Commission; and as Governor Jay Nixon’s Director of Boards and Commissions. A past president of the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners, Nelson has been recognized by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly with a 2010 Women’s Justice Award, named an Honorary Initiate of the Order of the Coif by her law school, and was listed among St. Louis Business Journal’s Twenty-five Most Influential Business Women.
Debra Parran MSN, RN, CPN, CPEN, TNS Debra Parran MSN, RN, CPN, CPEN, TNS has been a BJC Healthcare System employee for 21 years – 18 of those years were spent in the Saint Louis Children’s Hospital emergency room. She currently works as the Assistant Nurse Manager of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Outpatient Clinic and serves on the Professional Nurses Development Program and Trauma Nurses Specialist Committees. Her certifications include certified pediatric nurse, certified emergency room nurse, and trauma nurse specialist. Parran received her BSN from Saint Louis University in 1984 and her MSN from Webster University in 2016. She received the 2013 March of Dimes Pediatric Nurse of the Year Award and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing in 2016. Parran has been featured in the SLCH documentary series “The Frontline for Hope” and, most recently, the new Guardians for Childhood campaign. She believes nursing is a science in its own right requiring critical thinking skills to analyze the global picture administering safe, effective, and efficient care while providing love and support not only for the patient, but the family unit as a whole. Nursing is not just a career – it’s a vocation.
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Alex J. Stallings Alex J. Stallings joined Deaconess Foundation as a Director of Communications and Advocacy in January 2015. Alex spent the last eight years engaged in community education at the Missouri History Museum where she cultivated underrepresented audiences, collaborating with individuals and organizations to provide relevant programming around critical issues. Partners ranged from community stakeholders to corporate sponsors, such as Wells Fargo. Key collaborations extended to universities, including Washington University and UM-St. Louis, along with diversity organizations, such as the NCCJ-STL and the AntiDefamation League. The foundation of her work is the belief that intentional invitations to the planning table matter to outcomes. Successful community engagement resulted from the efforts as demonstrated through strong attendance and meaningful dialogues on challenging topics. Prior to providing community education, she taught various English courses at the secondary level. Mrs. Stallings retains a passion for the education of young people and continues to teach Communication courses as an adjunct faculty member at the St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley. Her personal interests revolve around the arts, particularly writing and films. Although she has a large and loving family today, Alex spent time as a young child in foster care. This life experience along with others informs her support of youth development programs today along with board service, such as her support of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition. Alex is a lifelong learner and proud graduate of St. Louis Public Schools. Upon graduation, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Science in Education through the UM-St. Louis Pierre Laclede Honors College. Later, she studied media literacy, ultimately writing a thesis on utilizing documentaries as teaching tools in community education. She earned a Master of Arts in Communications from Webster University. She resides with her husband named MK, son named Coltrane and cat named T’Challa in St. Louis City.
Luis Rivero Luis Rivero is the co-founder and CEO of Huga Foods. A native of Venezuela, Luis moved to the US in 2003 to pursue a masters degree in business at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. After a 10 year career with DuPont in marketing and business development, Luis left the organization to start Huga Foods in 2015. Huga Foods is a new line of nutrition bars inspired by international recipes and flavors. A believer in the Lean Startup approach and developing brands that connect emotionally with consumers, Luis oversees all operations at Huga Foods, including innovation, operations and sales & marketing. Luis is passionate about traveling, cooking, politics and golf. Luis is a supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation local chapter in St. Louis through the Great Strides Walk. Luis and his wife, and their five children have made St. Louis their home since 2009.
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Terrence Rogers
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Terrence Rogers is a St. Louis born and based banking professional. Over the past eighteen years, he has worked in a wide variety of financial capacites with both consumers and businesses. He earned his degree in 1996 from the University of Missouri St. Louis. Terrence is a partner at Carrollton Bank, a $1 billion privately held, employee owned bank that has been led by the same family for five generations. His role is Vice President of Mortgage Lending which includes leading the origination of consumer home loan programs including Conventional, FHA, VA, and Jumbo Loans. Prior to joining Carrollton Bank in 2012 Terrence worked at Wells Fargo for thirteen years as a Sales Manager in St. Louis and Illinois, and District Manager in Colorado. In addtion, he worked at Regions bank in Chesterfield as Vice President and Samll Business Banker from 2010 to 2012. Terrence is a member of National Sales Network and along with their Backpacks to Breifcase Programs sponsors an annual internship program. He is also a board member for Little Urban Smiles, LLC as well as member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Terrence is a financial educator, teaching home buying class and finanical education classes in the St. Louis community. He believes that knowledge is power and is committed to paying if forward whenever he can.
Angela M. Tate Angela M. Tate is the Vice President of Operations at Behavioral Health Response (BHR). BHR, the community’s behavioral health safety net, ensures compassionate and immediate barrier free access to behavioral health services. BHR does this by providing 24/7 crisis intervention services for the Eastern Region of Missouri. Angela has been with BHR since 2007. Angela is responsible for several departments including Clinical Operations, Client Services, Community Relations and Organizational Development. She conducts multiple trainings around the topics of mental health, suicide intervention and is a Master Trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) through LivingWorks. Angela is a member of Paraquad’s Board of Directors as well as a member of Great Circle’s Regional Council. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Maryville University in St. Louis Missouri and a Master’s of Education in counseling from University of Missouri-St. Louis and is a licensed professional counselor. She is a past participant of St. Louis Business Diversity Fellows program as well as a current participant of Leadership St. Louis. She is happily married to Stephen Tate and they are the proud parents of 2 daughters, Ashley and Amber.
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Dr. Shawni Jackson-Triggs Dr. Jackson leads the Community Program Team for Faith Initiatives, Education & Support, and Early Initiatives programs and is leading the initiative for Diversity & Inclusion Outreach for the Association. She serves on the Washington University School of Medicine Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center African American Advisory Board (ADRC). Shawni is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is currently a member of St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. She is also a member of the St. Louis Chapter of Kappa Silhouettes and the St. Louis Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. Dr. Jackson is a Parent Asthma Advocate serving on the Washington University School of Medicine Asthma Symptom Based Adjustment of Inhaled Steroid Therapy (ASIST) in African American Children Advisory Board and Asthma Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) out of Washington, DC as a parent and patient participant. Dr. Jackson received a BA in Sociology & Anthropology from Truman State University in 1996, a MBA from Webster University in 1999 and a PhD in Organizational Management from Capella University in 2007. Shawni is a native of St. Louis and is happily married to Kevin and have one son Charlton.
Kira Van Neil Kira Van Niel is a self-starting project engineer with a diverse technical background in engineering, infrastructure design, and construction. Kira currently works for The Boeing Company, and her current responsibilities include defining requirements and writing design specifications, working collaboratively with international customers, and managing the health and progress of each project. In addition, Kira serves as the Operations Leader to the Division Director. Kira attended Elon University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, earning a dual degree in Engineering Physics and Civil Engineering. Kira served as President of the Urban League Young Professionals from 2010-2012. She is the recipient of the St Louis Business Journal’s 30 Under 30, National Urban League Young Professionals Young Professional’s Central Region Young Professional of the Year, St Louis American Foundations Salute to Young Leaders Award, and many more. Her board experience includes the National Urban League Young Professionals Executive Board, Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis Board of Directors, Regional Business Council Young Professional Network Steering Committee, Women’s Society of Washington University and The Sophia Project. Born and raised in the Washington DC area, Kira now lives in St Louis, Missouri. Kira enjoys music, travel and yoga.
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Cecilia Velazquez
BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Cecilia Velazquez is the definition of a strong working Hispanic woman. The media mogul was born in Mexico City, Mexico where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and received her Master’s degree in Mass Communications and Journalism. “I noticed the lack of informational paperwork in our language” Velazquez said and decided to launch Red Latina in July 2000. Latin Network has many informational articles, from local businesses as well as job opportunities for Hispanics in the region. Fresh Bilingual news daily online & The biweekly print newspaper; its distribution extends all the way from Jefferson City into Illinois. She has ventured into other media sources, as co-host of “Ahora St. Louis” and Radio Cucui (WEW-AM 770). In 2009, she received The Hispanic Business Person of the year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, Velazquez has been part of a music promotions team, which was recognized with a star on Las Vegas strip in 2010. In 2013, St. Louis Business Journal recognized Velazquez as a Diverse Business Leader. Her most recent project is in progress as Red Latina will be affiliated locally with Mundo Fox and Estrella TV.
Sumit Verma Sumit Verma is currently the Director of Nuclear Operations for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. He has overall responsibilities of 15 pharmaceutical drug product families produced in St. Louis. He has successfully led three FDA approved drug launches for Mallinckrodt and served as the project leader for the construction and qualification of a brand new pharmaceutical facility inaugurated in 2015 in Maryland Heights. Sumit, originally from Kenya, was named St. Louis Business Journal’s “2014 40 under 40 leaders”, has several engineering awards and holds a patent in pharmaceutical equipment. He serves as a Board of Advisor to an Arch-grant winning startup company, mentors postgraduate biomedical engineering students at Washington University and volunteers his time to support United Way Allocations fund. Sumit is a member of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program Cohort 9. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College and Masters in Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and is fluent in 4 languages. In his free time can be seen watching Cardinals baseball or hanging out at one of St. Louis parks with his wife Nisha and their two kids, Shiv and Jaanvi.
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BEST BOLDEST & BRIGHTEST
Roger Spearman President,A-1 Private Investigations, LLC
Roger Spearman believes any investigation as well as security needs should be approached by professionals who have a thorough knowledge of all aspects of the law. Prior to founding A-1 Private Investigations, LLC on January 15, 2001, on Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Roger Spearman had 30 years of law enforcement experience and retired from the University City Police Department in Missouri as a Lieutenant. Roger graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1999. One of the key trainings in investigations was provided in Quantico Virginia during the FBI training, was the ability to track and locate someone who was avoiding captivity. Roger’s education includes Institutional Security training at Forest Park Community College from 1970-1972, a B.A. in Criminal Justice/Business Management from Tarkio College in Missouri, M.S. in Administration from Lindenwood University in Missouri, and Training at Dartmouth University’s Tuck School of Business.
John Gaskin III John Gaskin III serves as Regional Manager for Diversity and Inclusion at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership where his role is focused on the engagement of entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in historically underrepresented communities. Gaskin is the youngest member of the NAACP National Board of Directors where he serves on the finance, audit, and advocacy and policy committees. For the past 6 years, John has served as the youngest Freedom Fund Dinner chair in the country, where he has grown the St. Louis County Branch NAACP’s Dinner to the third largest in the nation. John received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Gaskin is a Ladue Horton Watkins High School alum, where he served as the first African-American commencement speaker in the schools 65-year history.
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E. Andreal Hoosman Over 30 years of real estate experience. She is a Member of National Association of Real Estate Brokers, St. Louis Association of Realtors, Southern Illinois Association of Realtors, and CIE (Commercial Information Exchange),. Her community affiliations include the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Urban League, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Special Education Foundation Women’s Leadership Council, Vice President of the St. Louis County N.A.A.C.P., and The St. Louis Links. Being active in the community is just as important a service as selling real estate. She is committed to creating a better community. She has received accommodations for her work in the community and in real estate from University of Missouri – St. Louis County./ NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, and Iota Phi Lambda Business Sorority. Her formal education is from University of Missouri-Columbia, undergraduate studies, and Webster University, Master’s degree in International Marketing. She is licensed to provide real estate services in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. She is dedicated to her client’s needs and won’t stop working until you are completely satisfied.
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Biographical Index Adrian Bracy.....................................................................22 Samuel Affare....................................................................84 Segun Babalola.............................................................. 124 Rebecca Bennett........................................................... 136 Angelia Bills.................................................................... 137 Larry Blue........................................................................ 124 Joe Bommarito.............................................................. 137 Sean Bond....................................................................... 120 Barbara Bowman.......................................................... 138 Robin Boyce.................................................................... 136 Dannie Boyd................................................................... 121 Adrian Bracy.....................................................................22 Emily Brady Koplar.........................................................50 Lakesha Butler............................................................... 117 Michael Butler............................................................... 138 Alonzo Byrd.................................................................... 112 Angela Campbell........................................................... 112 Danielle Carr......................................................................... Danielle Carr.................................................................. 123 Donna Carr........................................................................78 Dedric Carter....................................................................64 Rhonda Carter Adams................................................ 139 Gloria Carter Hicks...................................................... 139 Allie Chang Ray............................................................. 122 Marquita Chapman..................................................... 140 Ruben Chuquimia........................................................ 128 S. Wray Clay.......................................................................24 Cedric Cobb.................................................................... 144 Akif Cogo............................................................................23 Betsy Cohen.......................................................................23 Kwofe Coleman............................................................. 105 Mercedes Collado............................................................40 Khalia Collier................................................................. 126 Sandra Cornejo................................................................58 Peter Corsale.................................................................. 129 Dan Cranshaw............................................................... 130 166
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Jasmine Davis................................................................. 116 LaTosha Davis................................................................ 132 Lilian Davis..................................................................... 129 Danya L. Davis-Hurd................................................... 130 Elton Dean...................................................................... 126 Howard Denson............................................................ 115 Vickie Denson................................................................ 115 Astad Dhunjisha..............................................................92 Jami Dolby....................................................................... 131 Jowcol Dolby.................................................................. 131 Carr Donna........................................................................78 Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd............................46 Everett Everrett................................................................99 Misty Farr........................................................................ 118 Ed Gallegos.................................................................... 141 John Gaskin III............................................................... 154 Temeka Gauss................................................................ 109 Shay Gillespie................................................................. 134 Angela Grady.................................................................. 133 Mary Elizabeth Grimes.............................................. 117 Gary Gunter.................................................................... 141 Carmen Guynn.............................................................. 113 Melissa Harper.................................................................94 Sharon Harvey Davis......................................................56 Dr. Brandon Haynes..................................................... 135 Eric Henderson.............................................................. 104 Tammy Holland............................................................. 142 Eddie D. Holman........................................................... 125 E. Andreal Hoosman.................................................... 155 Naretha Hopson............................................................ 142 Amir Hotich.................................................................... 135 Tina Hsieh..........................................................................60 Dr. Shawni Jackson-Triggs......................................... 152 Carmen Jacob................................................................ 132 Everett Johnson................................................................99 Damion Jones....................................................................88
Biographical Index Adella Jones.................................................................... 143 Nalini Jones..................................................................... 119 Richard Juang................................................................. 128 Pamela Kelly......................................................................44 Vin Ko............................................................................... 134 Dean Kpere-Daibo........................................................ 113 Helen Lee............................................................................22 Helen Lee............................................................................22 Ridgley Leslie R................................................................76 Christopher Lewis...........................................................99 Peter Liang...................................................................... 127 Ronald C. Long.................................................................80 Jimmy Loomis................................................................ 125 Michael McMillan......................................................... 144 Collado Mercedes............................................................40 Mishale............................................................................ 140 Marvin Mitchell............................................................. 108 Gwen Mizell.......................................................................54 Donna Moody................................................................ 146 Theron Morgan.............................................................. 143 Shirley Myles.................................................................. 121 Cecilia Nadal.................................................................. 146 Jamilah Nasheed........................................................... 147 Dione A. Neal................................................................. 148 Mary E. Nelson............................................................... 149 Toinetta Nina-Walker.....................................................85 Debbie Njai..................................................................... 114 David Noble.................................................................... 107 Mugo Odigwe................................................................. 116 F. Javier Orozco.................................................................38 Javier Orozco.....................................................................38 Debra Parran.................................................................. 149 Emily Pitts..........................................................................98 Celeste Player....................................................................48 Daphanie Pointer...........................................................90 Nadim Ramic................................................................. 148
Kimberly Rayford.......................................................... 118 Leslie R. Ridgely...............................................................76 Luis Rivero..................................................................... 150 James Robinson............................................................. 147 Yolanda Hemphill Robinson..................................... 127 Rolanda Robinson-Finch........................................... 133 Terrence Rogers............................................................ 151 Angela Ruffin-Stacker....................................................72 Felicia Shaw.......................................................................62 Misty Shellner-Bennett..................................................42 Larry Smith........................................................................74 Dr. Dewayne Smith...................................................... 123 Larry Smith........................................................................74 Wale Soluade.....................................................................23 Roger Spearman............................................................ 154 Alex Stallings.................................................................. 150 Angela M. Tate............................................................... 151 Vicki Taylor Edwards................................................... 106 Larry Thomas....................................................................98 Fan Tielking.......................................................................52 Jaime Torres.......................................................................24 Kira Van Neil................................................................... 152 Daniela Velasquez........................................................ 114 Cecilia Velasquez.......................................................... 153 Sumit Verma................................................................... 153 Dr. Lelia Vickers............................................................ 145 Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack................................................ 145 Felicia Watkins.............................................................. 109 Felicia Watkins.............................................................. 109 Rev. Starsky D. Wilson................................................ 119 Cileia Yuen...................................................................... 122 Dr. Fatemeh Zachary................................................... 120
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Advertisers’ Index A1 Security.......................................................................................... 159
Monsanto......................................................................87, Back Cover
Ameren.................................................................... Inside Back Cover
National Blues Museum....................................................................35
Anheuser Busch...................................................................................68
One Man and a Camera.................................................................. 162
Ballpark Village....................................................................................18
Red Latina........................................................................................... 110
Black Pages......................................................................................... 161
SSM........................................................................................................ 101
Carrollton Bank................................................................................. 159
St. Louis American..............................................................................20
CBC........................................................................................................ 157
St. Louis Cardinals..............................................................................26
Commerce Bank..................................................................................19
St. Louis County NAACP................................................................ 157
Compass Retirement Solutions, LLC............................................16
St. Louis Children’s Hospital............................................................67
Convention Center..............................................................................12
St. Louis Surge................................................................................... 164
Dot Foods, Inc.................................................................................... 165
St. Louis University School of Professional Studies.............. 156
Edward Jones........................................................................................97
STL TV.................................................................................................. 160
Emerson..................................................................................................13
The Muny................................................................................................66
Enterprise Holdings, Inc...................................................................66
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.......................... 164
Epworth............................................................................................... 158
UPS...........................................................................................................28
Express Scripts.....................................................................................83
Washington University..................................... Inside Front Cover
Grace Hill Settlement House...........................................................14
Wells Fargo Advisors..........................................................................71
Harris Stowe State University.........................................................34 iHeart Media...................................................................................... 100 Lodging Hospitality Management.................................................25 Loose Cannon Marketing & Design........................................... 163 Midland States Bank..........................................................................36 Missouri History Museum................................................................37
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