Announcing Our Fall 2021 Cohort of Women In Leadership

Becky RasmussenNews

FOCUS St. Louis® is pleased to announce the 30 outstanding individuals selected for the fall 2021 cohort of Women In Leadership.

The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with other women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field days, participants are able to explore different styles of leadership and tap into the wisdom of area business, community and civic leaders, while also honing their facilitation, negotiation and communication skills.

“For 40 years the Women In Leadership program has been bringing together a diverse mix of women from the public, private and nonprofit sectors for growth, learning and connection,” says Shalia Ford, WIL Program Director. “Utilizing the interactive FOCUS Virtual Campus and a hybrid model of programming, this experience is designed to help participants gain the tools, resources and network to more confidently and effectively lead in all their spheres of influence.”

Upon graduation, participants join the network of more than 10,000 FOCUS program alumni.

Women In Leadership Fall 2021 Cohort

Lindsay Auer
Senior Manager
Standing Partnership

Rev. Kelli Braggs
Executive Director
Bridge of Hope Ministries

Thuy Cannon
Business Manager
St. Louis Children’s Hospital / BJC HealthCare

LaKricia Cox
Director of Programs
The Little Bit Foundation

Neosha Franklin
Director of Communications
St. Louis Community Foundation

Tamara Howard
Senior Clinical IT (Epic) Analyst
BJC HealthCare

Shashanna Huber
Engineering Systems Supervisor
STERIS

Pamela King
Founder & Principal Consultant
HERisezon Leadership Consulting

Julie Koogler
Loan Servicing Supervisor
MOHELA

Elaine Ladd
Director FPMO Delivery Team
Edward Jones

Peggy Maull
Community Outreach Program Manager
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Kristin Mosley
Diversity & Inclusion Manager
Keeley Construction

Candice Nance
Skilled Inpatient Care Coordinator / Director of Rehabilitation
naviHealth

Tamyka Perine
Executive Director
Cultural Leadership

Dacia Pratt
SVP, Business Operational Risk Manager
Citi

Heather Rice
Assistant Dean & Teaching Professor
Washington University in St. Louis

Virginia Rivera
External Affairs Manager
BJC HealthCare

Jerica Robinson
Director of Partnerships & Impact
STL Youth Jobs

Emily Roman
Attorney
HeplerBroom LLC

Shar Smith
Founder / Principal Consultant
emPOWER You Consulting LLC

Sarah Speno
Sr. Department Leader
Edward Jones

Tammy Tellez
Owner & Therapist
Trusting Hearts LLC

Ericka Thomas
Operations Manager
ArchCity Defenders

Laura Vandiver
Sr. Research Strategist
Lambert PR

Christina Verbarg
Special Projects Manager
Rung for Women

Melissa Vien
Board of Governors Liaison and Donor Relations Manager
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation

Megan Warnick
Manager, Customer Engagement
Ameren Missouri

Samantha Williams
External Affairs Manager
Missouri American Water

Rachael Younge
Assistant Principal
Hazelwood School District

Allison Zuck
Architect
HOK