Needed change will not happen by itself
Region’s leadership needs to turn away more from the past.
After a two-year hiatus forced by the pandemic, we’re delighted to be back. The inaugural Salute to Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon was held in the year 2000, the first year of the 21st century. The mission was to celebrate and raise awareness of successful African-American entrepreneurs and corporate executives, and to encourage more AfricanAmericans to pursue business careers. The net proceeds are used to fund scholarships for promising students with financial need.
Our first Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 was David Steward. He was raised in Clinton, Missouri, his mother’s hometown, with his eight siblings in a house that had no indoor plumbing or heating. He became the co-founder of World Wide Technology. By that time, World Wide had gained national attention with its annual revenues of $413 million. A year earlier, Black Enterprise named World Wide as ‘Company of the Year’ when WWT leaped to sixth in BE’s ranking of black businesses. Today, World Wide is the single largest minority-owned firm in the United States, with annual revenue
exceeding $14 billion.
Arnold Donald, our 2023 Lifetime Achiever in Business, (also grew up poor, but in New Orleans. He rarely used a knife or fork as a child). By 2000, the year of the St. Louis American’s inaugural Salute to Excellence in Business, he had retired from Monsanto and was starting his career as CEO of Merisant, a new firm formed from Monsanto’s tabletop sweetener. This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Laurna Godwin, (a New Jersey native and Princeton and Columbia grad, who came to St. Louis to pursue a unique professional opportunity), had just founded her Vector Communications Company two years prior. Their extraordinary business success epitomizes how the opportunity they found in St. Louis, along with their vision, willingness to take risks, determination and hard work can serve as an inspiration for others.
n We know that doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results is a definition of insanity.
ic entrepreneurship. Carnegie Mellon professor and author Richard Florida has documented the links between a region’s diversity and its economic competitiveness. Achieving diversity in the workplace requires a strong commitment, including providing the necessary resources.
tion of insanity. There is a high correlation between high diversity levels and regions that are leaders in the “new economy.”
Much of the future success and competitiveness of the St. Louis metro region businesses depend on recruiting, developing and retaining minority talent and promoting minority econom-
Progress has been much too slow; however, more AfricanAmerican entrepreneurs and corporate executives have begun to make their presence felt here in St. Louis. Many are making significant contributions to the region’s civic life and bottom line. It would be shortsighted if our region’s leadership fails to embrace and nurture fledgling African-American entrepreneurs. Moreover, well-intentioned executives must move beyond the common lament. “I’d hire more women and minorities, but I can’t find qualified people.” They must assure aspiring young people that St Louis offers incredible opportunities for all.
We know that doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results is a defini-
The St. Louis region needs to better implement its proclaimed comprehensive diversity strategy. A well thought out diversity plan helps defray much of the historic negative feelings in the AfricanAmerican community about limited opportunities in business in St. Louis. “When you have a group or team with diverse backgrounds, you get to creative outcomes faster.” This is an apt observation of one of Arnold Donald’s senior team leaders.
The St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Luncheon helps serve as a de facto report card about Metro St. Louis and promotes some of the good news about noteworthy individual African-Americans in business.
We must continue to advocate for a new generation of AfricanAmerican entrepreneurs and corporate team members and support them so together we can move this region ahead for the benefit of all.
Donald M. Suggs President St. Louis
American Foundation
This Year’s Salute to Excellence in Business Awardees:
Lifetime Achiever in Business
Arnold Donald
CEO (retired)
Carnival Corporation
Entrepreneur of the Year
Laurna Godwin
Owner/President
Vector Communications
Corporate Executive of the Year
Orvin Kimbrough Chairman/CEO
Midwest BankCentre
Non-Profit Executive of the Year
Yemi Akande-Bartsch President
Focus St. Louis
Corporate Diversity Award
University of MissouriSt. Louis
Excellence in Community Impact
John and Alison Ferring
‘We reflect St. Louis’
Award UMSL
is
the 2023 Corporate
Diversity Award recipient Special Awardee
By Kenya Vaughn
The St. Louis American
The diligent work of University of Missouri-St. Louis as an institution of opportunity and empowerment through accessible higher learning and resources has made the region a better place for the past 60 years.
And as it commemorates six decades of service to the region, they have another reason to celebrate. UMSL is being honored with the 2023 Corporate Diversity Award.
“It’s a corporate diversity award, that illustrates our entire mission – which is to transform lives,” said University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Kristin D. Sobolik.
“We are an anchor institution here in St. Louis. So being recognized for everything that all of us are working hard and doing from a very diverse and inclusive perspective out in the broader St. Louis community – that is what I am excited about.”
UMSL has been active on all fronts in making sure that education and opportunity are within reach for all. “We reflect St. Louis,” Sobolik said. “We are St. Louis and the broader region’s public research university – the largest in eastern Missouri. Our mission and our founding were to make sure that we serve this region and the diverse people and corporations and needs of the region.”
The positive impact of UMSL creates a ripple effect that starts with service to its students and stretches to every corner of industry within the St. Louis region. There is the acclaimed UMSL Bridge Program, which plants the seed of possibility for a college education in high school students in underserved zip codes through taking courses and earning college credits that can be applied towards their future college degree.
“Bridge Program participants are able to take part in that transformative education and it is literally producing the most diverse workforce in the state of Missouri,” Sobolik said.
“Which is what we do at UMSL.”
UMSL was the only university in Missouri and one of 103 nationally to receive a 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine. The award recognizes institutions that demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. UMSL was honored for the third straight year.
Since 2003, the UMSL Bridge program has had an astonishing 100 percent matriculation rate. Many of the Bridge Program graduates are first-generation college students, and many of them matriculate to UMSL.
“The students that come here are St. Louis. They graduate and they tend to stay in St. Louis. In fact, we have the largest alumni base of any higher learning institution in the St. Louis region. Our diverse students and alumni are driving the workforce development of the region.”
Shawntelle L. Fisher, founder of The SoulFisher Ministries – an organization that works directly with women who have been incarcerated and aids them in the process of reentering society – and Steven Harris, who was recently promoted to managing partner at RubinBrown LLP are just two of countless UMSL alumni success stories. According to Sobolik, UMSL alumni have an annual economic impact of $15.4 billion dollars for the state of Missouri.
That number is one that Sobolik sees rising to coincide with the astonishing
leaps of UMSL’s national rankings. In the U.S. News and World report ranking of colleges and universities, UMSL has risen 69 slots in the past three years to their current standing as 107th in the nation for public universities. UMSL also ranks within the top 100 for social mobility – which is a source of pride for Sobolik and her team at UMSL.
“This particular metric reflects the institution’s effectiveness in taking a student where they are and making sure that they graduate and have a positive impact in the workforce and in society,” Sobolik said. “We are the only University in Missouri to be there. That is a game changer for their lives, the lives of their family and ultimately the St. Louis region.”
UMSL is also doing its part to aid new, diverse entrepreneurs through its UMSL Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Accelerator program. Now in its third year, the program gives $50,000 non-dilutive capital injection awards to diverse new business owners.
“It is an opportunity for underrepresented people to expand and grow their business,” said Michael Butler, director
of operations for the UMSL DEI Accelerator.”
This year, six companies were selected as recipients. UMSL students operate as fellows to help the businesses thrive and they receive invaluable mentorship from the university’s connections.
But what Sobolik proclaims will provide UMSL’s biggest economic impact to the region is their leadership role in the St. Louis Anchor Action Network. Led by Stefani Weeden-Smith, it is a network they are co-leading with Edward Jones. The initiative brings together top educational institutions, healthcare institutions and corporations in the region to focus on hiring and contracting in the 21 most underserved zip codes in the St. Louis region. The Anchor Action Network has signed a pledge to increase their individual and collective hiring and contracting in those underserved zip codes by 10 percent annually.
“If each one of those institutions does that, the economic impact in our region – in the areas where we need it the most – is going to be huge,” Sobolik said.
Photo by August Jennewein
Salute to Excellence In
Ferrings to receive inaugural Community Impact Award Special Awardee
Bridging divides, fueling dreams
Community Impact Award
By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American
When you enter the impressive offices of the Ferring Family Foundation, it becomes readily apparent why the generosity of John and Alison Ferring is often associated with arts and culture.
Located on the second floor of the Ferring Jazz Bistro (home to Jazz St. Louis), the beautiful space is lined with a caliber of art shown in world-class museums. It includes stunning works by renowned Black artists Romare Bearden, Nick Cave and Oliver Lee Jackso, as well as some younger St. Louis-based Black artists such as Jerald Iaens and Kahill Robert Irving.
However, their philanthropic footprint stretches across multiple sectors and includes groundbreaking medical research, education and entrepreneurship in addition to better-known funding of arts, culture and arts education initiatives.
“When we were first in the position to share some of the money we made and contribute, we were more arts oriented because we collected art – so it was kind of natural,” John said. “But it has really evolved.”
Alison, an artist, quickly chimed in to agree.
“I want people to know that the arts are important in terms of inspiration,” she added. “But that’s what I like to call, ‘the icing on the cake.’ And we need to bake the cake.”
The generous couple will be honored with the inaugural Excellence in Community Impact Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 21st annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon on February 16th at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. As they sat down to discuss their commitment to giving, the modest couple stayed focused on their why – and what’s next.
John and Alison are strongly motivated by a love-hate relationship with St. Louis, but not in the typical sense of the expression. They love the city, but hate the systemic barriers that keep St. Louis from reaching its full potential with a passion. So – out of love – they have
vowed to continue investing in the work of remediating some of the challenges that keep St. Louis getting in its own way.
“What has particularly energized us in the last five to ten years is this group of 30-40 something year-old millennials who are really doing incredible work for systemic change, for policy change,” Alison said, “The stuff that is messy and hard.” She named State Representative Rasheen Aldridge, WEPOWER founder and CEO Charli Cooksey and ArchCity Defenders Executive Director Blake Strode as examples. “What inspires us
is finding super-talented people,” John added. “We love to invest in people and their ideas.”
On the dividing line
One of the most stubborn barriers to the elevation of St. Louis when they arrived was what they referred to as “the divide.”
“We have always lived on divides,” John said. “The divide was 18th Street in Lafayette Square. Then we moved to Kingsbury Place, which is a few blocks from the ‘Delmar Divide.’”
Granted the neighborhoods where the couple raised their three sons were advantaged. But the family could not go anywhere without the difference in the reality between the haves and the have not been staring them in the face.
“You couldn’t insulate yourself,” Alison said. “Which was a good thing.” When they moved to St. Louis from Boston in the late 1970s, they landed in Lafayette Square. They purchased a home in the neighborhood for $5000 and began what became a seven-year renova-
John and Alison Ferring at the Ferring Family Foundation office on Friday, January 13. The couple will receive the inaugural Excellence in Community Impact Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 21st Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 16th.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Salute to Excellence In Business
Ferrings
continued from page 7
tion project – and the first steps towards their path of purpose-driven, unifying philanthropic work.
“Two blocks east you had DarstWebbe and The Peabody – and a lot of kids,” John said.
Some of the young people would come across the So. 18th street dividing line and offer to do odd jobs. The young couple’s home became a gathering place.
“The more we came to know these children, we learned about their lives,” John said. “We were literally like 450 yards apart, and it was like two different worlds.”
As their new neighbors educated them regarding the fault lines of race, access and opportunity, Alison became schooled in the ABCs of philanthropy. She was charged with helping raise $2500,00 for an outdoor concert series at an area park. She called the late Leon Strauss and apologetically requested $1500,00
“He told me, ‘Never start with an apology – and I will give you $750,00 here lies the first lesson. If you need $1500,00 ask for $3000,00’” Alison said. They credit those teachable moments to helping them rise through the ranks of charitable giving..
“The thing that is really wonderful
(Standing) John Ferring, Emily Lohse-Busch, former executive director of Arch Grants, Arch Grants’ current Executive Director Gabe Angieri, and Donald M. Suggs with (seated) Alison Ferring and Tara Nesbitt of Harmonee, the first Donald M. Suggs Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award recipient.
about St. Louis is that way before we could give any money, we could get involved,” John said. “I got on a board when I was 31. I didn’t have money, but I could work on their finance committee
– and I felt great about that. St. Louis is still the same way. If you show an interest and you are willing to work – even if you don’t have any money – boards will want you.”
Opportunity equalizers
The couple has come a long way since Alison secured her three-figure gift from Strauss and John exchanged sweat equity for a board seat. Both as individuals and as a couple, they have led capital campaigns that have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of improvements to some of the area’s most beloved cultural institutions: The Gateway Arch, St. Louis Public Library and Forest Park. John led the first endowment campaign for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis –Alison joined him as co-chair for the second campaign several years later.
They were co-chairs of the Center of Creative Arts (COCA’s) $50 million capital campaign, which was held from 2017-2020.
“When you go to COCA and you see all of those kids on stage and they are from everywhere – from a city school to John Burroughs – that’s what community impact looks like,” Alison said.
In 2010, they established the Ferring Annual Award for Philanthropy at COCA. “That stage is the level playing field,” Alison said. “Those kids are with each other twenty hours a week. They are building connections with each other that could not have been established otherwise.”
The Ferring Family Chair for Pediatric
See FERRINGS, 11
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Salute to Excellence In Business
Ferrings
continued from page 9
Cancers and Related Disorders at St. Louis Children’s Hospital was established in 2009. The Ferring Family Foundation Endowed Executive Director Chair at CAM was created in 2018. In 2021, The Ferring Foundation agreed to fund the Arch Grants Donald M. Suggs Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards of $100,000, equity-free, for African-American entrepreneurs for the next five years.
There is simply not enough space for a complete list of those who have benefited from the generosity of the Ferrings. They have already won several awards for their service –most recently the Washington University’s 2022 Jane and Whitney Harris St. Louis Community Service Award.
“To know John and Alison is to understand their commitment to seeing St. Louis live up to its potential as a top-tier city with world-class institutions and services that benefit every zip code,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation. “Their generosity and personal involvement with worthy causes in our region would be difficult to quantify and impossible to overstate, as they are willing to get engaged and travel roads that are often risky and less traveled.”
An eye for ECE
As their giving focus continues to evolve, Alison has developed a keen interest in early childhood education through her work with centers like Flance Early Learning Center (she chairs the Development arm of their Board) and Urban Sprouts Childhood Development
Through Urban Sprouts’ founder and Executive Director Ellicia Lanier, the Ferrings continue their practice of sowing into the transformative efforts of leaders who happen to be young, gifted and Black.
“She doesn’t just want to take care of a 100 kids – she wants to take care of 500
kids, have a campus and teach people,” John said of Lanier. “That’s inspiring! And from our standpoint, this is somebody that can make stuff happen and make a huge difference long term.”
In Lanier’s opinion, The Ferrings are an institution in their own right and provide an invaluable philanthropic blueprint for others to follow.
“What is unique about John and Alison is that they have this desire to see dreamers actually fulfill their vision for uplifting communities,” Lanier said. “They are truly a dynamic duo. When you are blessed to be in their company, they have a wealth of information because of the life that they’ve lived, the businesses they have run and the campaigns they have spearheaded.”
The degree of hope John and Alison have for the community – and how far they are willing to extend themselves on behalf of initiatives and people they support– has been a source of inspiration for Lanier.
“In them you have philanthropists that really want to spend time with you, see you grow and invest not just in the work you do, but you personally. I think that really sets them apart,” Lanier said. “Philanthropy can be highly socialized, and very exclusive. But John and Alison are extremely reachable – and the fact that they want people to have that level of access to them is a gift to St. Louis.”
Center.
John and Alison Ferring with President Barack Obama
Photo courtesy of the Ferrings
Salute to Excellence In Business
Special Awardee
Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., focuses on transforming St. Louis
Non-Profit
Executive of the Year
By Chris King
For The St. Louis American
Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D. has served as president and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis since 2014. Previously she served as vice president of Leadership and Alumni Programs for FOCUS, and had more than 20 years of experience in designing and facilitating leadership training, development, and coaching programs.
She holds a doctorate in communication (with a specialty in intercultural, organizational, and political communication) from the University of Oklahoma. She also earned two master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma, in human relations and organizational development, and in public relations, journalism, and mass communication. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. She serves on the boards of directors for the Sheldon Arts Foundation, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy.
The American spoke to her about FOCUS St. Louis’ future plans, how the organization has navigated the COVID19 pandemic, and why, as a transplant to St. Louis, she continues to call this region home.
St. Louis American: What is new and what is next for FOCUS St. Louis?
Yemi Akande-Bartsch: While FOCUS is always growing and evolving, I think this is a particularly exciting time for the organization. Last year, we had the good fortune of celebrating our 25th anniversary – both as an organization and for our signature “What’s Right with the Region Awards.” Now we are hard at work on a new strategic plan engaging our board leadership, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders in helping us to envision and chart our course for the
coming years.
This year, more than 250 individuals will graduate from our leadership programs, taking with them the knowledge, resources, and networks so they can help make change not only in their own organizations, but our entire region. It’s been great to be back to in-person sessions for all our programs and to be able to offer participants the opportunity to get back out in the community so they can build face-to-face relationships. But we’ve also been grateful for the lessons and capabilities we gained from our time as a virtual learning provider.
In March, we will be wrapping up
our Community Forum Series, hosted in partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, which has been focused on some of the most pressing needs in our region – affordable housing, jobs/transportation, and behavioral health care. We’re also working on a new lineup of forums exploring workforce development issues, which we hope to announce soon. This is, of course, in addition to the ongoing variety of in-person and virtual opportunities we offer to our alumni and the community for leadership development and networking.
St. Louis American: What is new and
what is next for you personally?
Yemi Akande-Bartsch: On a personal level, I’m a relatively new mom and enjoying and savoring every moment with our daughter. I’m experiencing the world and leadership through her eyes, and it’s been refreshing and simply magical.
We’ve all heard the quote about enjoying the journey, not just the destination. I could go on about monumental expectations for the future, but that’s not where I am mentally and physically.
Clockwise from top right: Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., Benjamin Akande, Ph.D., Nike Akande, A. Bola Akande and Fola Okediji
Photo courtesy of Yemi Akande-Bartsch
Yemi
Continued from 13
I’m taking time to lean into lessons of the moment. My future personal journey is embedded in my present – and that is bringing leaders together to make greater impact.
St. Louis American: How has the pandemic impacted FOCUS St. Louis? What have you had to do differently to manage the crisis?
Yemi Akande-Bartsch: The coronavirus pandemic transformed civic issues and leadership education like no other event in recent memory. In a matter of days, many civic leadership programs closed their community campuses and moved classes online, altering every part of the educational experience.
As an organization, we have been very conscious about remaining true to our mission during the pandemic. During our 2019-2020 program year, as COVID-19 and social distancing forced a shift to online meetings, FOCUS quickly and
successfully transitioned our programs and events to virtual sessions. Despite running our program in the virtual realm, FOCUS St. Louis continued to challenge our community to have the significant conversations that will shape the future of the St. Louis region.
Developing leaders in our region has always been at the heart of our mission and maintaining the FOCUS experience continues to be one of our top priorities. To facilitate this, we built an online campus community that continues to serve the organization beyond social distancing – making the FOCUS perspective, resources, knowledge, and network available to leaders 24/7. Historically, FOCUS has met our participants where they are –today that means where they are on their personal leadership journey and where and how they are best able to receive this training. We understand that the way people receive information is changing, as individuals are seeking learning opportunities to fit their schedules and health-risk tolerance levels.
St. Louis American: Given the nature of leadership, it’s somewhat surprising that it can be taught – you know, “sit
down, shut up and learn how to be a leader” seems a contradiction. How does one teach leadership?
Yemi Akande-Bartsch: It’s the great debate in leadership development as to which is more important – nature or nurture. I’d have to say both are equally important in the development of a leader. At FOCUS St. Louis, we view leadership training as a combination of self-awareness, civic issue education, leadership development, and experiential training to amplify strengths and minimize weaknesses. We have natural born leaders who come to us to fine-tune their leadership skills and we have others who may not be natural leaders but learn about the leadership playbook in ways that strengthen their impact at work, at play, and in community.
St. Louis American: You have some interesting stickers on your luggage –Oklahoma, Bolivar, Missouri, and I know your family has roots in Nigeria. How did you come to St. Louis? What keeps you here?
Yemi Akande-Bartsch: When
people ask me if I’m from St. Louis my response, however tongue in cheek, is, “I’m not from here and I didn’t go to high school here, but I did get here as quick as I could.” One of the most fulfilling aspects of my life is my affinity for travel to new places and spaces. I’ve had many, many enriching experiences that have filled me up spiritually and intellectually so that when I return home, I have a sense of the new and the possible. I come back rejuvenated and ready to take on challenging opportunities. And that’s how St. Louis came calling.
I’m happy and fulfilled to be in the St. Louis region. My focus is of course my family and FOCUS St. Louis. My family foundation is strong in that I am literally surrounded by those who love, support, and champion me – my husband Bill, our two-year-old daughter Alexandra, and two of my siblings A. Bola Akande, city administrator, City of Brentwood, and Benjamin Akande, senior vice president, Stifel Financial, and their families. And FOCUS St. Louis is a guide star for me in what can be accomplished when like-minded people put their heart into developing the world around them into a place for all.
Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., inside the state capitol in Jefferson City with Focus St. Louis participants.
Photo courtesy of Yemi Akande-Bartsch
Salute to Excellence In Business
of the Year Special Awardee
Orvin Kimbrough prides himself on being ‘a thinker and a doer’ Corporate
By Chris King
For The St. Louis American
The beginning of Orvin Kimbrough’s pathway to success was far from smooth. Yet, he now serves as the chair and CEO of Midwest BankCentre. He is the first and only African American to lead one of the 100-plus mainstream banks in the St. Louis region.
Midwest BankCentre is St. Louis’ second largest privately owned local bank, with over $2.4 billion in assets and 2 billion in loans. It brands itself as a values-based financial institution that influences and advances its communities by empowering people, enabling business and energizing neighborhoods.
Prior to joining Midwest BankCentre, Kimbrough spent nearly 20 years in leadership roles in prominent nonprofit agencies, most recently as the president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. During his tenure as CEO, the United Way of St. Louis grew to the nation’s largest affiliate, raising nearly $80 million annually.
After being born to a single mother in East St. Louis, Illinois, Kimbrough grew up in an abusive household that was followed by foster care at Annie Malone Children’s and Family Services and Emergency Children’s Home in North St. Louis City.
He is a product of the St. Louis Public Schools, graduating from Gateway Tech in 1994 with probationary acceptance to the University of Missouri-Columbia. He went on to earn bachelor and master’s degrees in social work from Mizzou, an MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Master of Theology degree from the Aquinas Institute of Theology. He serves on the board of Washington University’s Olin Business School –Bauer Leadership Center, St. Louis Club, The Crossing Church, American Bankers Association’s Community Bankers Council and on the board of St. Louis Regional Economic Development Alliance.
The American spoke to with Kimbrough about what’s next for himself and the banks he leads, his experiences with banks growing up poor, his efforts to build relationship between more Black households and banks, and things he thought he would be able to do as a bank president that, in fact, he can’t do.
The St. Louis American: What’s new and what’s next at Midwest BankCentre?
Orvin Kimbrough: What’s renewed is our commitment to our region and the communities we serve. We continue to double-down on our commitment to helping more people access reasonably priced capital. We want more people to own homes. We want more people to start and scale businesses. We want more people to live thriving, self-determined
lives.
In 2023, we are planning to open an innovation center in Dellwood that will serve as the center of gravity for us to test ways to better serve low- to moderate-income, small business, mortgage, and consumer finance needs throughout St. Louis and beyond.
This is tied to our recent commitment of $200 million incremental investment in loans. Although our goal is $200 million in dedicated lending, it is not the primary driver for us. Creating the condition for transformation of neighborhoods is the primary driver. To level set and make sure we are all speaking the same language - what do we mean by “transformation”?
Our working definition of “transformation” is historically disinvested-in neighborhoods thriving, historically mar-
ginalized individuals supported, historically forgotten communities and the people living in those communities remembered and empowered. We acknowledge that we cannot unilaterally create the kind of transformation we are speaking about, but what we can do is be a sound community partner and invest our capital and time wisely to create a ripple effect. What’s renewed is the confidence that I have in our board and executive leadership. We are philosophically aligned - we understand the conditions for improved performance is optimized risk-taking and execution. I bet on our colleagues and board to continue navigating the unprecedented uncertainty that we have experienced since 2019. The bank has grown from $1.8 billion to $2.4 billion in
Orvin Kimbrough is the chair and CEO of Midwest BankCentre.
Photo courtesy of Orvin Kimbrough
Salute to Excellence In Business
Kimbrough
Continued from 17
assets in the span of four years. The team has doubled profitability and improved all key performance metrics. What’s next for Midwest BankCentre is continued profitable growth.
One last thing: I am excited that we will operationalize the Midwest BankCentre charitable foundation, doing business as Rising Together. This is one more quiver to help the bank to efficiently test new ways of providing access to capital through small-dollar business and consumer loans and mortgage assistance, all while inviting the broader community to play an active role.
The St. Louis American: What›s new
and what›s next with you personally?
Orvin Kimbrough: I joined the board of the bank in 2015 and was named CEO in 2018. I officially took the helm in January of 2019, so I am entering my fifth year as chair and CEO.
I look at the bank as a flexible platform on which to do many things. My goal is to continue having fun, learning, and creating value. My goal is to help the bank achieve its next level of growth. I’d love to see more Black ownership of banks and businesses who have mainstream appeal, no different than current majority-owned institutions like Midwest BankCentre enjoy. I’d love to spur more direct mentorship and risk-taking from among America’s leaders who have made it - one measurement of success is how many jobs you created, another measure of success is how many business owners
you created, another measure of success is how many people have you helped get on a corporate board or in a C-suite of a major company. Another measure of success is how many diverse businesses you helped get into supply line so they can build their business.
I have had a couple of mentors who have provided more than words of encouragement. While words of encouragement are important, alone they are insufficient. I had a mentor who told me years ago that my dream needed to be bigger, so I enlarged it and ended up leading an organization that I revered as a young foster kid. I now serve on the global board of that organization. He didn’t just tell me to dream bigger - he was always downfield blocking, mentoring, and leveraging his influence.
I had a mentor who told me I was ready to take a next big career step, one
that was bigger than I ever thought possible. He didn’t just say that he made himself a casualty of my ascent by vacating a key role when he was on top. He taught me to know when your time is up and make way for others.
I had a mentor who believed that I could lead a bank and like a party whip aligned the right interests to give me a shot. I had a mentor who believed I could sit on a major corporate board - these were not just words, he followed up his words with action.
So, you ask what is next for me? I want to inspire more people to take these risks - both in words and actions. Encourage someone and do something specific to help them position. And for the person being positioned, I want you to enlarge your confidence and perspective on what is possible for your life.
Photo courtesy of Orvin Kimbrough
Orvin Kimbrough is the first and only African American to lead one of the 100-plus mainstream banks in the St. Louis region.
Special Awardee
A community communicator
Laurna Godwin’s firm gives back to STL family
Entrepreneur of the Year
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
Laurna Godwin, owner, co-founder, and president of Vector Communications Corporation exemplifies Black excellence and professionalism.
Amazingly dedicated, she personifies the skills of a hardworking, passionate professional who values the communities of St. Louis. Through her company, Vector Communications, Godwin has helped companies and individuals navigate challenges they faced in the region.
“We give people a voice in issues that impact how they live, work and play,” said Godwin.
For over 40 years, Godwin has used her communication skills to inform and educate underserved communities about issues that impact their everyday lives. A former reporter and a three-time Emmy award winner for her work as a broadcast journalist, she spent nearly 20 years as a television news anchor, reporter and talk show host.
Vector’s website emphasizes that “We help our clients tell their stories so they can do great things.”
Because of her risk averse launch of her firm, community support and business success, Godwin is recipient of the 2023 St. Louis American Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
She said her company focuses on public policy issues, including, transportation, healthcare, economic development, education, and parks and greenways.
“This is really an extension of when I was a journalist. I became a journalist to educate people about the issues, and this is a continuation of that,” said Godwin.
Godwin engages with the community by gathering folks to discuss the issues that their neighborhoods face that are often overlooked and unaddressed. Changes are made without their input.
Godwin says neighborhoods of color are being left out of the conversation, and many residents frequently learn about changes occurring in their respective community “at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”
“A lot of things that go on for the improvement of the region can be detrimental for the Black community,” said Godwin. “At Vector, we want to make sure that people are aware of a project, to have a chance to voice their concerns.”
n “We give people a voice in issues that impact how they live, work and play.”
However, becoming an owner of one of the top consulting firms in our region didn’t happen overnight. It requires what Godwin says is a high level of excellence, taking the road less traveled. In Godwin’s case that meant moving across the country in search of improving her resume as a reporter.
In 1987, when Godwin was a young reporter in Virginia, her dream was to become a television network reporter who traveled the world telling stories that impacted the broad, general community.
– Laurna Godwin, owner, co-founder, and president of Vector Communications Corporation
Through her company, Vector Communications Corporation, Laurna Godwin has helped companies and individuals navigate challenges they faced in the region.
A mentor suggested she expand her resume geographically by moving to the Midwest to report news in another region of the country.
The young reporter had spent her whole life on the East Coast.
The New Jersey-native graduated from Princeton and attended Columbia University in New York where she earned her graduate degree in journalism.
She responded to a job opening in St. Louis at their local PBS station, now called the Nine Network, KETC. Six interviews later, Godwin became a host and producer for the PBS affiliate.
She has also worked for KPLR 11, St. Louis Women Magazine, and has appeared on CNN and NBC.
After a few years in St. Louis, Godwin met her future husband, Sam Hutchinson, and decided that she was going to establish roots here.
“Once I made the decision to stay in St. Louis, I knew I didn’t want to be a television reporter for another 20 years,” said the media mogul.
She realized after a traumatic death of a close friend that life is too short to put her goals and aspirations on hold.
See GODWIN, page 22
Photo courtesy of Laurna Godwin
Godwin
Continued from 21
A friend had secured a communications opportunity with St. Louis Community College and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but was unable to fulfill the contract.
She thought Godwin would be a great fit for the position.
The project included examining environmental issues at the grassroots level and “I was using my communication skills to make a difference in the community,” said Godwin.
According to Godwin, the project went well and it received funding for additional phases. She was soon being asked to help with community projects.
She said it happened organically, and before she knew it, she realized she had a business. Confident in her ability, and Vector Communications was born in 1998.
Twenty-five years later, the firm is still
going strong, Vector has worked on over 400 projects, and her clients include Forest Park Forever, Great Rivers Greenway, Amazon, Walmart, Webster University, Prepare STL, and the Missouri Department of Transportation.
“I want to work on projects that make a difference,” said Godwin. “The best thing some can say to us is you hear us, you listened, and you took that information and did something,”
Godwin says staying in business for 25 years takes hard work, she strives for excellence and has the same expectations from those she works with.
Kathy Osborn, Regional Business Council president and CEO, says Godwin is dedicated to the St. Louis community and has worked on several community projects with Vector.
“She has tremendous knowledge of the pulse of people living in some of our most low-income communities and often donated her time to assist them,” said Osborn.
Osborn describes Godwin as hardworking, knowledgeable, connected,
For over 40 years, Laurna Godwin has used her communication skills to inform and educate underserved communities about issues that impact their everyday lives.
brave, and one of the kindest people she knows.
James Williams, Jr. (Jimmie) founder, president, and CEO of Estel Foods Inc. has known Godwin for 25 years. He says his partnership with Vector has allowed him to learn much from her. He describes Godwin “as nothing short of amazing.”
“I’d have to describe Godwin as ambitious, determined, humble, compassionate, and a woman of her word. She’s an achiever, but she’s also among the most inspiring people that I know,” said Williams.
In 1996, Godwin made history as the first female, first African-American, and youngest member of the Board of Trustees of 159-year-old Blackburn College.
While serving on its board, Godwin conducted the institution’s first capital campaign in 30 years, and helped raise $20 million for a new student affairs building and other campus improvements. For her accomplishments, Godwin received the Gideon Award,
which is the highest volunteer award for non-alumni.
Another proud moment for her is the annual Give STL Day. Godwin was the chair of the St. Louis Community Foundation and during a national conference, she learned about online giving events and thought to herself it is something St. Louis could do.
The foundation launched the 24-hour online giving event in 2014 and has since raised more than $26 million.
Currently, she serves as Strickland Women’s Executive Leadership Council chair at High Point University in North Carolina.
In both her business and volunteer work, she says that her company is about “really getting out there and getting to know people, listening to them, and taking it to the next level.”
“It allows us to make a difference, I love that I can drive through the St. Louis region and say we worked on that, and that, and that. Our name may not be on it, but Vector worked on it,” said Godwin.
Photo courtesy of Laurna Godwin
Salute to Excellence In Business
Lifetime Achiever in Business Special Awardee
By Chris King
Arnold Donald is a captain in the global world
For The St. Louis American
Arnold Donald possesses two rare, equally enviable and diametrically opposed gifts. He can foresee, prepare for, and ultimately manifest an unlikely and successful future, and he can successfully navigate utterly unforeseeable crises with grace and aplomb.
Someone with his pedigree could point to more than one example of displaying both of these gifts, but the classics must be told.
A son of parents (Hilda Aline Melancon Donald and Warren Joseph Donald Sr.) who had never completed a high school education in a segregated New Orleans, as a Black teenager he declared that he would one day become a general manager at a Fortune 50 science-based global company. Then he did just that, working his way up from intern to many years of leadership positions at Monsanto Company, now Bayer. In more than 20 years at Monsanto he served as corporate senior vice-president, president of the consumer and nutrition sector, and president of the agricultural sector.
And, as a longtime board member of Carnival Corporation, in 2013 he moved from the consultant role of board oversight to operations chief as president and CEO – just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic, which might as well have been designed to destroy the cruise industry, where people congregate closely in indoor spaces for entire vacations (with forays onto deck and to the shore).
As someone much better known in the world’s board rooms than its living rooms, Donald suddenly found himself in the global news spotlight in his navigation of Carnival, the world’s largest cruise operator, through the pandemic, given that health protocols intended to protect the public also threatened to strangle his company and its entire industry.
Not that someone with a compassionate and ultimately global outlook like Donald would take something like
a pandemic personally, but it was quite a gut punch for someone who had been succeeding spectacularly in his new role.
In Donald’s tenure as CEO, Carnival’s stock price had nearly doubled, reaching an all-time high of $72.70 per share in
January 2018, a moment in time when “COVID” was meaningless and pandemics a subject for history books.
“I’m not sure there is any other business leader on the planet who could have handled what he handled,” said Andrew
Bursky, chairman of Atlas Holdings, chairman of the Board of Trustees at Washington University, and Donald’s dear friend of nearly 50 years.
“It was literally the worst job in the world for a couple of years during COVID. Overnight, the whole business went into hibernation. Not only did he shepherd the business through this incredibly perilous time, but he did it in an almost inhumanly positive fashion, and that speaks to his single greatest strength: he is so passionate about the people he serves and that he works with. He just loves being with people, loves taking care of them, loves helping them succeed.”
It’s a theme struck by anyone who has known Donald well for a long time. Keith Alper, chairman and CEO of The Nitrous Effect, a group of marketing agencies, has known Donald for over 25 years as fellow members of Young Presidents Organization and by serving Donald as a client.
“The amazing thing about Arnold is his vast and rich experience, knowledge, and global network. I always admired that Arnold would be so comfortable and take time for everyone, from a waiter on a ship to a global leader,” Alper said.
“He is truly interested in the people he meets. He is an incredibly smart, dynamic, and successful business leader who has had an extremely high profile as a Fortune 500 CEO, yet he is very approachable. He cares deeply about the people and communities where he lives and works, and he uses his time and talents to make a difference.”
It’s difficult to count how many careers Donald was on when he was steering Carnival through the COVID19 public health crisis. From leadership roles at Monsanto, he assumed the top job of chairman of Merisant Company, a company he helped form that manufactures global sweetener brands such as Equal and Canderel. Given that sugar substitutes are attractive options for diabetics, among others, it makes sense that he moved on to president and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the world’s largest charitable funder of diabetes research. Immediately before taking the helm at Carnival, he served as president and CEO of the Executive Leadership
During Arnold Donald’s tenure as CEO, Carnival’s stock price nearly doubled, reaching an all-time high of $72.70 per share in January of 2018.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Salute to Excellence In Business
Donald
Continued from 25
Council, a professional network and leadership forum for African-American executives of Fortune 500 companies.
“There are not too many leaders whose body of work reflects this kind of business diversity and agility,” said Orvin Kimbrough, chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre, the only African American to lead a bank in St. Louis. “His life’s work is an inspiration to many, including me.”
For this dizzying array of accomplishments, Donald, who turned 68 on December 17, will be honored as the Lifetime Achiever in Business at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2023 Salute to Excellence in Business on February 16.
“St. Louis is fortunate to have had for so many years someone like Arnold Donald who is both a global corporate leader and a community servant,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation.
A ‘great friend’ to St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis first brought Donald to St. Louis in 1975 as a student in its Dual Degree Engineering Program. That was part of his long preparation for becoming the leader of a Fortune 50 science-based global company, since he reckoned that pursuing two distinct degrees would improve his chances of acceptance to an elite-level business program. That became manifest in his acceptance into the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he earned an M.B.A. in finance and international business while also starting his long climb at Monsanto Company.
Donald continues to serve his alma mater as a member of the Washington University Board of Trustees since 2011. He has served even longer (since 1995) on the Board of Trustees of another alma mater, Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. His other current board posts span the elite local non-profit (Missouri Botanical Garden), a national non-profit in his hometown of New Orleans (the National WWII Museum), an international trade association (the World Travel and Tourism Council, which encompasses all the travel and leisure companies in the world based, in London) and global corporate (Bank of America Corporation) sectors.
“There’s nothing he has touched that hasn’t been better and different for him having engaged – and that’s a very long list,” said Busky, Donald’s running buddy as students at WashU who now chairs its Board of Trustees. “He is one of those unique people who has a gift for figuring out ‘where do I insert myself?’ in a way that moves this along in the most positive fashion.”
At the moment, Donald is helping (along with his friend David Steward, chairman of Worldwide Technology) to underwrite a traveling exhibit for the National WWII Museum. Called “The Right to Fight,” it’s the story of African Americans fighting to have the right to fight in World War II. “I’m going to honor my dad, who was an Army Air Corps guy during World War II,” Donald said.
That “long list” of institutions Busky mentioned that Donald has improved through his board service also includes the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, and Opera Theatre St. Louis, among many others. “At all these institutions, I have pushed, first of all, to further the mission,” Donald said; “secondly, to add to their ability to live their value of inclusion and access to all.” That means money.
At Opera Theatre, he helped to fund a program that reached out to inner-city youth in St. Louis to introduce opera to them. “Several people from that program,
many of whom had never been exposed to opera, ended up on the list at the Met in New York,” Donald said. “That’s the caliber of contribution that the organization made.”
At the St. Louis Art Museum, many years ago he helped to underwrite the acquisition of a sterling silver teacup that was designed and built and crafted back in Revolutionary War time “by a silversmith who happened to be an AfricanAmerican,” Donald said, and he “encouraged many other collections to add to the wealth of collections.”
Perhaps no institution, however, has received more support and service from Donald than the university he shares with Busky. At Washington University, Donald and his wife, Hazel, have sponsored a number of scholarships to facilitate African-American and other students to have the opportunity to matriculate there. He said he also has helped to shape “the policies and guidance to ensure the values they hold dearly are being honored and delivered on a daily basis.”
Washington University Chancellor
Andrew D. Martin said that the people of St. Louis and Washington University have “a great friend” in Arnold Donald.
“As a trusted member of our board of trustees, Arnold brings his people-first vision to our education, research, and patient care missions, and he can always be counted on to go the extra mile on behalf of others,” Martin said. “He is deeply engaged with the university community and our efforts to partner with local leaders to increase our positive impact on the region. I’m tremendously grateful for his contributions and his example of principled leadership.”
Though the Donalds’ principal residence now is in Miami, they maintain a very large property in the St. Louis region (which became home to many family members in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.) It may not be where he most often hangs his many hats, but St. Louis is still a beloved home city and region.
“We have the Botanical Garden, which is either the No. 1 or No. 2 botanical
Arnold Donald meets with a family whose house received a concrete floor built by Carnival Corporation guests on a social impact excursion in the Dominican Republic.
Photo courtesy of Arnold Donald
Donald
garden in the world; the Zoo is one of the top two or three zoos in the world; the Art Museum is one of the most fantastic art museums in the U.S. and frankly in the world; the Science Center does great work,” Donald said.
“And these are all institutions that are inclusive, free to the citizens of St. Louis. Very few cities have institutions of that caliber, period, and certainly of that caliber that are free. I feel a strong tie to St. Louis and have felt connected to the city for so many years and want to contribute to the community and its future prosperity.”
He believes that Washington University and its partner hospital system, BJC HealthCare, have much to contribute to the “future prosperity” of the region, as well as global health.
“There is no more critical partnership than Washington University and BJC, from contributing to the overall quality of – and access to quality – health care in the region, but also attracting talent, attracting researchers with the ability to apply their research for the betterment of mankind, not just in the region but around the world,” Donald said.
“It’s a powerful combination of researchers, along with practitioners and clinicians – a strong partnership between one of the elite hospital systems in the country and one of the leading medical universities in the world. It’s something that not only puts St. Louis on the map but also contributes to the quality of life in the region and the progress of medicine around the world.”
Donald is anything but blind to the region’s many chronic problems, which at times have garnered more of the national spotlight than its flagship institutions. He has a notion for how regional leadership should address these issues.
“The business community can’t ride in as a knight on a horse to save everything,” Donald said. “If they really listen to the community and understand what the challenges are, what their needs are, and then work with them to help address those needs, then you have a possibility to dramatically increase the quality of life. It starts with a real passion and desire to understand and to work with people for the betterment of all of us, but you have to have that fire in the belly to do that.”
‘Listen, listen, listen’
Donald’s advice to regional leadership – “listen, listen, listen” and then act out of passion – is the same advice he offers to anyone who strives to succeed in business.
“First, find your passion,” Donald advised. “You don’t have to know what it is, you just have to be in earnest pursuit of identifying it. Once you find your pas-
“This
sion, if you chase it, you more than likely will have a full life. There will always be obstacles, no matter what you choose to do, but if you’re chasing your passion, the obstacles feel like bumps on the road and you can figure out ways around them or through them or above them. If you’re not pursuing your passion, those obstacles are like huge barricades and they shut you down.”
Second – “which,” he said, “in pursuit of your passion, can also be the first thing” – is to listen to others.
“Listen. Listen. Listen. If you listen carefully, the world will reveal itself to you, it will give you the answers,” Donald said.
“In business, if you listen to your customers, they will tell you how to exceed their expectations. If you listen to your employees, they will tell you ways to do that for your customers in a way that is sustainable. If you listen to your investors, they will tell you what is required to get them a return so that you can continue to operate. If you listen to the communities you serve and operate in, they will tell you what you need to do so that you
can continue to have the freedom to operate.”
It’s especially important, he said, to listen to those who will tell you things you don’t want to hear.
“Especially listen to those that you feel are against you,” Donald said. “And what you want to listen for is what is triggering this opposition – ‘why do you seem to be against me?’ – not defensively, not aggressively, but in earnest to understand. Because once you have that knowledge, you can then choose to act or not. You can choose to correct whatever it is in your behavior that is triggering in others, or you can choose to say, ‘That one, I’m not going to change – that’s not really my problem, that’s their problem.’ But now you know what it is, and knowledge is power.”
The world may be getting access to more of this wisdom in written form. In addition to looking at other boards he might sit on (“to work with companies,” he said, “that are trying to make the world a better place”) and the acquisitions of a couple of private small companies (“to create opportunities for people
to work”), Donald said he has been doing writing “more for self-expression. I want to leave my memoirs for generations to come in my family.”
That family includes his wife of nearly 50 years, Hazel Alethea Roberts, whom he met touring the campus of Carleton College before attending the school. They are parents of two daughters, Radiah Alethea and Alicia Aline, and one son, Stephen Zachary. They also have six grandchildren.
At the end of a lengthy interview, when asked if he had anything to add, Donald volunteered his reaction to being named Lifetime Achiever in Business by The St. Louis American Foundation.
“I’m humbled and flattered and all that,” he said, “but the bigger message here is the decades and decades of contribution that Dr. Suggs and The St. Louis American have made to improving the quality of life in St. Louis. It’s a true institution that has made a meaningful difference throughout the decades, and it’s just an honor and a privilege to be associated with it in this way.”
is the best job in the world,” Arnold Donald would often say, here dancing at Carnival Day in front of the New York Stock Exchange in 2015.
Photo courtesy of Arnold Donald
St. LouiS AmericAn FoundAtion’S the
Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon
2019 Michael B. Kennedy, Jr. (The UP Companies)
2018 Jeanetta Hawkins (Personal Touches) & Debra Owens (Premiere Production Choice)
2017 Gloria Hicks (Hicks-Carter-Hicks)
2016 Larry Lee (Andy’s Seasoning)
2015 Karl Grice (Grice Group Architects)
2014 Abe & Nicole Adewale (ABNA Engineering)
2013 Jimmy Williams (McDonald’s/Estel Foods)
2012 Tim Slater (Information Solutions Design)
2011 David Price (Berdet Price)
2009 Todd Weaver (Legacy Building Group)
2008 Sheila Little Forest and Russ Little (AfroWorld)
2006 Katherine Anderson (Andy’s Seasoning)
2000 David Steward (World Wide Technology) Previous Salute to Excellence in
2010 Michael Kennedy, Sr. (KAI Design & Build)
2007 Cliff, Sharilyn & Michael Franklin (FUSE)
2005 Kelvin Westbrook (Millennium Digital Media)
2004 Brenda Newberry (The Newberry Group)
2003 Mike & Steve Roberts (The Roberts Group)
2002 Anthony Thompson (Kwame Building Group)
2001 Arnold Donald (Merisant Company)
The Muny
Maryville University
Lewis Rice
Dot Foods
Emerson
BJC Health Care
Centene Corporation
Nestle Purina
Wells Fargo Advisors
United Way of Greater St. Louis
St. Louis Community College
Express Scripts
Macy’s
Brown Shoe Company
Ameren
The Centric Group
SSM Health Care
Jones
Bill Bradley (Anheuser Busch)
Vanessa Cooksey (Wells Fargo)
Melva Peete (SAK Construction)
Willie Epps (Edward Jones)
Craig Fowler (Bank of America)
Vince Bennett (McCormack Baron)
Rodney Gee (Edward Jones)
Pamela Wall Dover (Boeing)
Larry Thomas (Edward Jones)
June Fowler (BJC Health Care)
Ann Marr (World Wide Technology)
Keith Williamson (Centene Corp.)
Patricia Smith-Thurman (MasterCard)
Mark Darrell (Laclede Gas)
Norma Clayton (Boeing)
Ed Adams (Enterprise Rent-A-Car)
Deborah Patterson (Monsanto)
Marquita Wiley (Bank of America)
John Moten (Laclede Gas)
Michael Holmes (Edward Jones)
Cassandra Brown-Ray (St. Louis Zoo)
James Clark (Better Family Life)
Halbert Sullivan (Father’s Support Ctr)
Sandra Moore (Urban Strategies)
Tamara Sheffield (Forest Park Forever)
Gene Dobbs Bradford (Jazz St. Louis)
Adrian Bracy (YWCA of Greater St. Louis)
Barbara Washington (Mathews Dickey)
Valerie Patton (Business Diversity Initiative)
Roderick Jones (Grace Hill)
Flint Fowler (Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls)
Richard King (Annie Malone)
Malik Ahmed (Better Family Life0
Theresa Mayberry (Grace Hil)
Earl Wilson (Gateway Classic)
