FOCUS St. Louis has selected 63 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 43rd Leadership St. Louis (LSL) class. These participants join a prestigious group of more than 2,000 leaders who have graduated from the LSL program since its inception in 1976.
Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for established and emerging leaders who have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the St. Louis region. The 9-month curriculum explores such issues as economic development, racial equity, education, poverty and social services, arts and culture, and the criminal justice system. Participants visit key sites in the bi-state region, engage in face-to-face dialogue with regional decision makers and gain a deeper understanding of leadership approaches that produce results.
“We are excited to welcome this talented and diverse group of participants into our next class of Leadership St. Louis.” said Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., President & CEO of FOCUS St. Louis and Director of the Leadership St. Louis program. “Over the next year, they will experience this region in new ways and gain knowledge, tools and connections they can use to lead more effectively in their careers and in the community.”
Leadership St. Louis is one of seven leadership programs offered by FOCUS St. Louis to achieve its mission of preparing diverse leaders to work cooperatively for a thriving St. Louis region. Find your FOCUS program today.
2018-19 Leadership St. Louis Class
Jessica Adams
Founder and Executive Director
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank
Nicole Amling
Vice President Human Resources
Navvis Healthcare
Liz Austin
Vice President of Marketing
Green Street St. Louis
Timothy Barringhaus
Senior Vice President
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Dipak Biscuitwala
Sr. Director, Information Technology
Maritz Travel – A Maritz Global Events Company
Tim Bono
Assistant Dean and Lecturer in Psychology
Washington University in St. Louis
Thaddeus Brija
Financial Advisor
Renaissance Financial
Christopher Dennis
President/CEO
Health Forte, LLC
Lauren DeSantis-Then
Shareholder
Polsinelli
Angela Drumm
Partner
Carmody MacDonald P.C.
Jon Dutton
Principal
Edward Jones
Michael England
President
St. Mary’s High School
Yinka Faleti
Lead Catalyst/Executive Director
Forward Through Ferguson
Lisa Foehner
Director of Advocacy & Strategic Messaging
Parents as Teachers National Center
Mildred Galvin
Senior Vice President and Senior Partner, Talent Development
FleishmanHillard
Heather Gettys
Managing Director, MDO-Portfolio Development
Nestle Purina PetCare
Ed Giganti
Retired Executive, Community Volunteer
Brian Gross
Director of Finance
North Side Community School
Blake S. Hamilton
Vice President of Programs
The International Institute of St. Louis
Michael Hurlbert
Director of Community Development
St. Charles County
Denyse Jones
Attorney
Husch Blackwell LLP
Mark E. Kent
President
The Biome Foundation
Laura Kleffner
Director of Development
Mission: St. Louis
Steffani Lautenschlager
Chief Development Officer
City Academy
Steve Lindee
Chief Development Officer
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
Michael Logar
Senior Vice President
Commerce Bank
Eric Madkins
Vice President, Community Affairs Manager
Regions Bank
Mindy Mazur
Executive Director
Brazen St. Louis
Laura McCallister
Vice President of Finance
Places for People
Kirk D. Mills
President
St. Louis Community Credit Union
Amy Monshausen
VP, Brand Strategy and Creative
Express Scripts
Dr. Warren Morgan II
Executive Director
Teach For America – St. Louis
Elin Nozewski
Senior Vice President
FleishmanHillard
Luis Padilla
Director Animal Health
Saint Louis Zoo
Cheryl Pettus
Global Finance Shared Services Lead
Monsanto Company
Charneth Pfeiffer
Sr. Human Resources Business Partner
Connectria Hosting
Devin Price
Vice President, Talent Development
Enterprise Holdings
Alexandra “Ali” Rafferty
Partner
Thompson Coburn LLP
Cliff Reynolds
Portfolio Manager
Acropolis Investment Management
Erika N. Reynolds
Officer
Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
Howard Richards
Assistant Athletic Director – Community Relations
University of Missouri
Constance J. Rush
Director of Advocacy
Deaconess Foundation
Dana Sandweiss, Esq.
Advocate and Philanthropist
Stephen Schenkenberg
Vice President of Communications & Marketing
Forest Park Forever
Andrew Shaughnessy
Policy Officer
Missouri Foundation for Health
Dale R. Sheff
Vice President – Pricing & Profitabiltiy
Graybar Electric
Wale Soluade
Director, Diversity & Inclusion
Centene Corporation
Steve Sommers
Executive Director
St. Louis Confluence
Barbara Sondag
City Manager
City of Olivette
Geoffrey Soyiantet
CEO & President
Vitendo4Africa
Kimberly Stemley
Executive Vice President, Business Development and CFO
Rx Outreach, Inc.
André Stevens
Principal/Engagement Manager
Daugherty Business Solutions
Blake Strode
Executive Director
ArchCity Defenders
Mike Sullivan
COO and General Counsel
Cortex
David Sweeney
Member
Lewis Rice
Christian Tipler
Regional Program Director
Connections to Success
Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo
Assistant Dean and Director of Strategic Initatives
College of Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
Qi Wang
VP, R&D IT
Monsanto Company
Sarah Wendt
Vice President, Talent Acquisition
Express Scripts
Keith Whittemore
Retired, Community Volunteer
Diana Wilhold
Director, BJC School Outreach and Youth Development
BJC HealthCare
Jennifer Plocher Wilkins
Senior Associate
Mackey Mitchell Architects
Maximilianah Zales
Missouri Outreach Manager
Small Business Majority