FOCUS St. Louis has selected 58 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 45th Leadership St. Louis (LSL) class. These participants join a prestigious group of nearly 2,500 leaders who have graduated from the LSL program since its inception in 1976.
Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for experienced leaders who have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the St. Louis region. The immersive nine-month curriculum explores issues such as economic development, racial equity, education, criminal justice, poverty, immigration and arts and culture. Leadership St. Louis is designed to challenge participants’ thinking, expose them to new ideas and perspectives, and promote discussion, reflection and action. Many graduates describe the experience as “transformational,” arming them with the tools, resources and connections to lead more effectively in their personal, professional and civic roles.
“The need for collaborative leadership has never been greater in our region,” says Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., President & CEO of FOCUS St. Louis and Director of the Leadership St. Louis program. “We’re excited to bring together this diverse group of leaders to gain a deeper understanding of St. Louis’ civic landscape by exploring the issues, institutions and systems shaping it.”
Leadership St. Louis is one of six leadership programs offered by FOCUS St. Louis to further its mission of educating and connecting leaders to work cooperatively for a thriving St. Louis region. Find your FOCUS program today.
2020-21 Leadership St. Louis Class
Erin Bachelier
HR Administrator
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
David Benitez
Senior Government Relations Coordinator
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Matt Blakely
VP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
RGA
Will Bonfiglio
Director of COCAbiz
COCA – Center of Creative Arts
Lauren Brenner
General Counsel and Compliance Officer
Mid-America Transplant
Patrick R. Brown
Community Development Executive
Ameren Missouri
Rebecca L. Brown
Vice Chancellor & Chief of Staff to Chancellor Martin
Washington University
Chris Carl
Managing Director
Slalom
John Nasukaluk Clare
CEO & General Manager
Classic 107.3
Arthur Clyne
Senior Vice President, Director of Wealth Management Consulting
Commerce Trust Company
Jack Dabrowski
Director, Clinical Marketing & Channel Management
BJC HealthCare
Ja’Net Daniels
Founder and President
BeLovely
Kiesha Davis
Director, Partnership and Capacity Building
Deaconess Foundation
Carey DeLargy
Domestic Violence Court Manager
Family Court of St. Louis County
Steve Dilley
Chief Lending Officer
St. Louis Community Credit Union
Dr. Molly Elrick
Data Modeling Senior Lead
The Climate Corporation, A Division of Bayer
Julie Erickson
Executive Director
Center for Hearing & Speech
Steven Fiamingo
Vice President of Transformation
Ascension
Ken Fields
Corporate Reputation Lead
FleishmanHillard
Jason Frazier
President/CEO
MindsEye Radio
Karen Ganschaw
Director of Marketing
Nestlé Purina PetCare
Hon. Mondonna L. Ghasedi
Associate Circuit Judge
21st Judicial Circuit (St. Louis County)
David Goeke
Director – Tax Mergers & Acquisitions
Emerson Electric Co.
Sara Govero
President
Govero Asset Management
Director of Client Relations
Cosmich Simmons & Brown
Michael C. Gray
Senior Vice President
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Charlisha L. Greene
Senior Director, Supply Chain
The Boeing Company
Lisa Greening
Project Manager
Turn the Page STL
Dr. Jessica C. Harris
Interim Assistant Provost
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Reginald L. Harris
Partner
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Alesha Henley
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
St. Louis Regional Chamber
Margaret Hillman
Shareholder
Polsinelli PC
Sarah Hobson, Ph.D.
President and Founder
Community Allies
Leslie Holloway
Chief Development Officer
YWCA Metro St. Louis
Heather Kellogg
Director of Home Lending Sales Execution & St. Louis Site President
Citi
Aaron B. Lang
Vice President and Branch Manager
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Takisha Lovelace
Executive Director, Community Health Operations
Mercy
Brian Malone
Attorney/Shareholder
Lashly & Baer, P.C.
Sara Melly
Partner
Thompson Coburn LLP
Jo-Elle Mogerman
Director- North Campus
Saint Louis Zoo
Amanda Partyka Norris, AIA
Lead Architect
Core10 Architecture
Kelly Peck
Vice President
Barrett Barrera Projects
Kiel Peregrin
Senior Vice President, Operations
Bethesda Health Group
Rev. James K. Poinsett
Executive Director
Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis
Sekhar Prabhakar
CEO
CEdge
Gaelle Prophete
Executive Director
Junior League of St. Louis
Melanie Renken
General Counsel
Object Computing, Inc.
Aimee Rowbottom, AIA
Director of Architecture & Interiors
Jacobs
Joyce Schaefer
Principal Consultant
The Table Group
Melanie Schmickle
Attorney
SWMW Law
Karen Sher
Vice President, Community Engagement
Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Naveen Singla
VP, Data Science
Bayer Crop Science
Mary Sly
Vice President #KeeleyCares
Keeley Companies
Brandi Smith
Senior Director, Human Resources & Administrative Services
ARCHS
Andy Struckhoff
Vice President
PGAV Planners, LLC
Michael Waters
Manager, Information Technology
Centene Corporation
Rodney A. White
Director Diversity & HR Strategy
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Marilyn Wilson
Supervisor, Public Health Research
Washington University School of Medicine