Amy Shaw became the President and CEO of the Nine PBS in February 2020. She is the first woman to lead Nine in its 67 year history. Shaw is recognized as a national leader and innovator in community engagement and public media. She leads a talented team in groundbreaking work that leverages on-air, online and community engagement for measurable impact around important and complex issues facing communities.

Shaw has led numerous national content initiatives that have created durable change in local communities, including Facing the Mortgage Crisis, public media’s response to the national financial crisis and the local/national American Graduate initiative to rally communities to improve outcomes for youth. Shaw also oversaw the creation of a Community Engagement Guidebook designed to help public media organizations deepen their commitment as relevant and essential community institutions.

Shaw was an inaugural 2015 Eisenhower Zhi-Xing Fellow, spending a month in China to advance bilateral dialogue and understanding between the China and the U.S. Shaw was a member of the 2012-13 class of Leadership St. Louis and has served on numerous local and national boards. She currently serves on the Public Television Major Market Group board, is chairperson of the Webster University School of Communications Advisory Board, and serves on the Grand Center, Inc. board. She was named as one of the 2021 Most Influential Business Women by the St. Louis Business Journal. She is deeply committed to the power of public media and the strengthening of communities across the country.

Johnny Wang is an in-house attorney with Enterprise Holdings, serving as a labor and employment counsel. In this role, he supports the company’s human resources team throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Prior to joining Enterprise, Johnny worked at a large national law firm for 15 years, working with businesses of all sizes and chaired his firm’s recruiting efforts in St. Louis and their attorneys of color resource group.

Outside of work, he currently serves as a Trustee for the St. Louis County Library District and a bank director for Midwest Bankcentre. He is also a founder of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis and served as president of the Missouri Asian-American Bar Association in 2012. Nationally, he is involved with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, serving as the Regional Governor for the Central Region in 2020-2022. He has received the Diverse Business Leader Award and 40 under 40 from the St. Louis Business Journal, and been named an Up and Coming Lawyer by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. He was also selected as a member of the inaugural class of Leadership 100, which consists of members from the Young Professionals Network of the Regional Business Council. He earned a law degree from Washington University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a 2017 graduate of Leadership St. Louis.

Since 2010, Jason Carter has overseen UNCOMN’s growth from a one-man consulting firm to the region’s “#1 Fastest Growing Company” in 2017 and a national “Best Places to Work” as rated by Glassdoor in 2021. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering and served in the U.S. Navy as a submarine driver and information professional for over 20 years. He retired from the Navy as a Commander in 2009. A lifelong learner, Jason holds three master’s degrees, including his most recent—an Executive MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, having graduated in 2020.

Jason is active in the community, serving as Board President of CyberUp , Board President of the UNCOMN Foundation, and board member to numerous local non-profit organizations. He is an investor and mentor in local startup accelerators, including SixThirty Cyber and the Cultivation Capital Geospatial Tech Fund.

As Vice President at UBS Financial Services, Maria Briggs is one of the founding partners of the Omega Group, providing advisory and brokerage services across the U.S. the last 30 years. After receiving both her BSBA and MBA from Washington University, she earned her CFP and the CIMA designation from the Wharton School of Business, and has been recognized as one of the America’s Top Financial Planners. Prior to joining UBS, she was with Smith Barney Shearson 17 years, and has management, operations, and lending experience from Boatmen’s Bank, Community Federal Savings and Loan, and Citicorp Mortgage.

A 2009 graduate of Leadership St. Louis, Maria currently serves on the Board of the Artist Presentation Society, the Advisory Council for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and various committees on behalf of Rosati-Kain High School, Washington University and Forest Park Forever. Born in the Philippines, and a transplant from Chicago, Maria also serves as an ambassador for the St. Louis Mosaic Project and was one of the founding board members of Belas Artes Multicultural Center and Art Gallery. Prior to that, she received multiple President’s Volunteer Service Awards for her time with Mentor St. Louis, St. Louis Tax Assistance program and Habitat for Humanity.

Dr. Karen I. Hall joined in Saint Louis University’s School of Education in 2021 as Assistant Professor for the Educational Leadership Program. She previously served as superintendent of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District from 2012-2020, overseeing more than 1,500 students, 275 employees and a $25 million budget. She joined the MRH district as assistant superintendent in 2008, coordinating a wide array of programs: human resources, professional development, curriculum and instruction, federal grants, home visits, gifted instruction, and social justice training, among others.

Dr. Hall has held principal positions in the Pattonville and Ritenour school districts and was a third-grade teacher in Kirkwood. Under her leadership, MRHSD was named a “District of Distinction” from District Administration Magazine and consistently earned national attention for its system-wide sustainability practices. She is a 2013 graduate of Leadership St. Louis and a 2015 graduate of the Diversity Leadership Fellowship program.

Matt Blakely has 24 years of experience working with foundations and corporate social responsibility programs. He is Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability for Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA). In that role, Matt leads the philanthropic, employee volunteerism, sustainability, and CSR reporting for RGA – one of the world’s largest global life and health reinsurance companies. Previously, Matt served as Executive Director of Motorola Solutions Foundation and Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Outreach for Motorola Solutions, coordinating the giving, volunteerism, and inclusion efforts of Motorola Solutions Foundation and Motorola Solutions.

Matt is a 2020-21 graduate of FOCUS Leadership St. Louis and has served on the boards and advisory committees of many large and small nonprofit organizations.

Eric Breuer serves as President/Chief Operating Officer of IMPACT Group.  He joined the organization in 2018, bringing more than 28 years in the consulting industry and deep experience building innovative and pragmatic solutions and strategies for Fortune 500 companies. He spent the last 10 years with Right Management as Vice President and Senior Member of the Executive Committee, where he was responsible for the achievement of P&L exceeding $30 million through territory and sales process/opportunity management, business development, project management and operational oversight.

Eric began his career at Xerox, holding roles as a systems analyst and programmer for seven years. During 15 years with IKON Office Solutions, he served as National Director, Enterprise Services, and was the Regional VP/Director for the Western region. A lifelong learner, he has trained in such areas as Six Sigma Champion Yellow Belt, Emerging Leadership, Smart Process and Malcolm Baldridge Quality. He is a 2018 graduate of the Experience St. Louis program.

Leann serves as vice president for BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States. She works collaboratively with elected and appointed government officials at the state, local and federal levels on behalf of BJC’s hospitals and service lines including inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, community health and wellness, workplace health, home health, community mental health, rehabilitation and hospice. Prior to joining BJC HealthCare in 1999, she worked in Denver and Washington, D.C. and St. Louis in the telecommunications field.

A 2001 graduate of Leadership St. Louis and a 2016 graduate of FOCUS Impact Fellows, Leann serves on the Public Policy Council of the Regional Chamber. She also serves on the Missouri State Chamber Board, the Women’s Policy Network, the Academic Health Center and the St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council. She was named among the Most Influential Business Women Class of 2003 by the St. Louis Business Journal. She has an MBA from Washington University and has called St. Louis her home since 1985.

As Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer for Ameren, Sharon Harvey Davis is responsible for diversity training, the Ameren Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Academy, Employee Resource Groups, community partnerships, diversity communications and the Corporate Diversity Councils. Prior to joining Ameren in 2002, Sharon worked for HBE Corporation as Vice President of Corporate Affairs.

A native of St. Louis, Sharon graduated from Washington University with a bachelor’s in political science, St. Louis University with an executive master’s degree in international business and Cornell University’s Diversity Management Certification Program. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by the Society of Human Resource Management and as a Certified Diversity Professional Advanced Practitioner by Cornell University. Sharon is extensively involved in the St. Louis community as the Immediate Past Chairman of NCCJ-St. Louis and a Teach For America and St. Louis Public Schools Foundation board member. Sharon is a graduate of the 2016-17 class of Leadership St. Louis.

Molly was named as Senior Vice President, Community Relations and Government Relations, for Commerce Bank in 2015. In this role, she is responsible for strategy and team leadership for all community relations and charitable contributions activities within the St. Louis market and she develops and manages government relations strategy, relationship building and communications between Commerce executives and local, state and federal elected officials. She joined Commerce Bank in 2007 in a public relations and investor relations role and has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, advocacy and nonprofit board experience. Prior to Commerce, she held positions at KMOX Radio and FleishmanHillard.

Molly holds a bachelor’s in communications and marketing from Marymount University in Arlington, Va. She is currently a member of steering committee for the Mosaic Project and chairs the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s Economic Growth & Fiscal Policy committee. She was a member of Leadership St. Louis class of 2002-03 and completed the Commerce Bank Advanced Leadership Development Program.

As head of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.’s Franchising & Distribution industry group, Dawn leads a team of transactional and litigation attorneys who represent clients nationally and internationally, from startups to some of the most recognized brands. She is also co-leader of the firm’s appellate practice and has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and Missouri Court of Appeals, the Illinois Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Before receiving her law degree from Washington University, Dawn was an award-winning reporter for the Herald & Review daily newspaper in Decatur, Illinois. After law school, she served as law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge David Noce in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri.

A graduate of the 2011-12 class of Leadership St. Louis, Dawn serves on the boards of directors for Safe Connections and Gateway Legal Services, Inc. She also served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for CityArchRiver 2015 and as chair of the College Summit Missouri Site Advisory Board.

Eric began his Edward Jones career in 1998 and during his tenure has worked in the Equity Trading, Corporate Bond Trading and Investment Advisory divisions. In addition, he also led the firm’s Rotational Development Program. He was named a principal with the firm in 2010.

Koestner is a member of the Security Traders Association of St. Louis. He is also actively involved with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, sits on the executive advisory aboard at CharacterPlus and is on the Arts and Education’s Council’s executive committee.
Dr.

Dr. Levine became the President and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society and Missouri History Museum in 2014. Before coming to St. Louis, previous positions included serving as Director of the New Mexico History Museum and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs for Arts and Sciences at Santa Fe Community College.

Frances received her B.A. in anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from Southern Methodist University, Dallas. In 2009, she attended the prestigious Getty Museum Leadership Institute, and she is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the American Society for Ethnohistory, and the Santa Fe Trail Association. Dr. Levine is the author, co-editor or contributor to several award-winning books including Our Prayers Are in This Place: Pecos Pueblo Identity over the Centuries, Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe, Telling New Mexico: A New History and Dona Teresa Confronts the Spanish Inquisition: A Seventeenth Century New Mexican Drama. She currently serves on the board of Forest Park Forever and the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

As Vice President of Community Development for Regions Bank, Eric Madkins is responsible for developing partnerships with business groups both internally and externally to assist in successfully identifying community development lending opportunities, investments and services in low and moderate income communities. He is also responsible for corporate compliance for community reinvestment act activities for Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.

 He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has dual master’s in business management and communications from Webster University. He is a 2018-19 graduate of FOCUS Leadership St. Louis. His community involvement includes serving on the boards of directors for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, St. Louis Community Foundation, St. Louis Metropolitan Equal Housing and Opportunity Council and Epworth Children & Family Services. He also serves on the steering committee for the Regional Business Council’s Young Professionals Network Leadership 100 and UMSL’s Alumni Association Governing Board.

Nalini has been in practice since 2003, specializing in Immigration, Estate Planning, Special Needs and Elder Law. She is outside General Counsel for Phinix Group of Companies and serves as Alderperson for the City of Frontenac, Missouri. Her career started off as a corporate lawyer in India for five years before relocating to the U.S. She holds an undergraduate degree in accounting, a master’s degree in law from the University of Mumbai, India, an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and obtained a JD from Saint Louis University.

Nalini volunteers as an advisor to several local nonprofits, including The Arya Foundation, The Hindu Temple of St Louis, and South Asian Women Empowerment Regional Association St Louis (SAWERAA). A 2014 graduate of Leadership St. Louis, she taught Law Practice Management and Immigration Law as an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University School of Law. She was the chair of the Missouri Bar Immigration Committee and one of the founding members of the South Asian Bar Association of Metropolitan St Louis (SABA). Her book, How to Start a Law Practice and Succeed, is based on her personal experience.

John McClelland joined Acropolis in 2003 as a Portfolio Manager. He works directly with clients developing and implementing personal financial plans and investment strategies, as well as advising on estate and tax planning, retirement planning, insurance and banking needs, and trust administration. Prior to Acropolis, John worked for six years as a fixed-income research analyst at A.G. Edwards & Sons.

John holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in finance and accounting, from Washington University. He earned his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2006. Outside of work, John serves on the finance committees of the Sheldon Arts Foundation and FOCUS. Previously, he served on the finance committee at New City School and on the young friends board at the Contemporary Art Museum. He is active in the Yale Club of St. Louis, previously serving as its President and Treasurer and currently directing its Alumni Schools Committee. A resident of St. Louis since 1998, he is married with three children. He is a 2014 graduate of Leadership St. Louis.

As President, John is responsible for the strategic direction and management of First Clearing, including developing strategic partnerships with current and prospective broker-dealer principals. He is a member of the Wells Fargo Advisors Operating Committee. Previous positions included serving as President of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and Managing Director in the Private Client Group.

He is a past chair of the SIFMA Independent Firms Committee, a former board member of the Wealth Advisory Institute and a former executive member of the Athletic Educational Foundation of the College of William & Mary. John has served on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Development Board. He earned his bachelor’s in economics from the College of William & Mary and his MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. He completed the Wachovia Executive Leadership Program at the Keenan-Flagler Business School of the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and is a graduate of the SIFMA Securities Industry Institute at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Saffiyah Poole is a native of St. Louis and currently serves as Susan G. Komen’s African American Health Equity Initiative Community Programs Manager overseeing community outreach and engagement efforts for the St. Louis and Chicago markets. Saffiyah’s purpose in life is to bridge the gap between community and structural systems in order to create more equitable pathways, specifically within the healthcare and public health infrastructures, to reduce health disparities that disproportionately impact groups who experience societal marginalization and oppression. Her comprehensive career experiences with the St. Louis County Health Department and St. Louis healthcare anchor institutions, Washington University School of Medicine and BJC HealthCare, paired with her personal lived experiences, consistently keep her positioned to execute her overall goals of restoring, transforming, and cultivating culturally inclusive community engagement efforts locally and nationally.

Saffiyah obtained her undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology and a minor in biology from Howard University, Master of Public Health from Saint Louis University College of Public Health and Social Justice, and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Webster University. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Generate Health Ambassador Board member, FOCUS St. Louis Emerging Leader alum and member, Regional Business Council Young Professional Network Inductee, mother member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and member of the American Public Health Association.

Shayn Prapaisilp is the Vice President for STJ Group Holdings LLC, his family’s company specializing in food and beverage concepts. Currently their holdings include two international supermarkets as well as four restaurants.

Shayn received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The George Washington University and a Master of Science in public service management from DePaul University. Other board memberships include serving as a Director for the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board Leadership Forum for Enterprise Bank & Trust, and past President of the St. Louis Young Democrats. He is a 2005 graduate of Youth Leadership St. Louis.

Devin Price is Vice President of Talent Development for Enterprise Holdings and is responsible for several HR functions including Training, Diversity and Inclusion, Global Mobility, and Meetings and Travel. Devin has been with Enterprise for 30 years, starting as a Management Trainee in Southern California and moving up in the management ranks. He was promoted to Regional Vice President in 1998 and then VP of Human Resources in 2004. In 2006, Devin moved to Winnipeg, Canada, where he was Vice President/General Manager of the Central Canada Group. In 2008 he moved to Toronto and spent nine years as VP of Airport Operations for Canada supporting the Enterprise, National, and Alamo brands. In 2017, Devin moved to St. Louis for his current position.

Devin was born and raised in Palo Alto California and graduated from University of Oregon. While in Southern California, he served on the board of Junior Achievement in Los Angeles.  He currently lives in Frontenac with his wife, Teresa. He is a 2019 graduate of Leadership St. Louis.

Steve Savis is Vice President for North America Crop Science Human Resources where he is responsible for driving the people strategies across Bayer’s $10 billion USD U.S. and Canada Crop Science organizations. He also serves as a member of the HR Leadership Teams for Global Crop Science and the U.S. Country HR Platform as well as the North America Commercial Leadership Team. Steve previously was the Human Resources Lead for Monsanto’s North America & Climate business. He joined Monsanto in 1996 in IT supporting HR. Since 2001, he has held HR leadership roles of increasing responsibility in HR IT, Benefits, HR Operations, and as the HR Lead for Global Biotechnology, Global Strategy, Corporate Engagement, Law, and US Commercial functions.

Steve holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in management information systems from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with an emphasis in management and organizational behavior from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and an Executive Committee member of The Conference Board’s Senior HR Executives Council. He resides in St. Louis with his wife Laura and their two boys, Bryan and Steven, where they are active in their church, community, sports, and travel. He is a 2016 graduate of Leadership St. Louis.

Ann Seeney is Vice President of Human Resources for the St. Louis Cardinals, responsible for overseeing all HR functions for the team, including recruitment, training and benefits administration. The Cardinals offer one of the most unique places to work, employing hundreds of full-time, part-time and seasonal employees in St. Louis, as well as nationally and, even to a limited extent, internationally. She joined the Cardinals in 2013 with more than 15 years of experience in human resources, holding a variety of progressively responsible positions in several organizations. Immediately prior to joining the team, Ann served as the Executive Director of Human Resources for the Riverview Gardens School District in North St. Louis County. Ann relocated to St. Louis from the Washington D.C. area where she worked for Goodwill Industries International, The HR Team, Experience Works and Sagex. She has a B.A. in mass media arts – public relations from Hampton University and MBA from the University of Maryland University College. She holds Professional in Human Resources (PHR) as well as SHRM-CP certifications. Ann sits on the boards for the Diversity Awareness Partnership and The Little Bit Foundation. Ann is a member of the Society for Multicultural Professionals in Human Resources (SMPHR) and holds the position of Chief of Staff. She is a 2017 graduate of Leadership St. Louis.

Sara Stock is founder and CEO of Stock Legal, and co-founder of Legal Back Office. Her legal practice focuses on general corporate work for small- to medium-sized businesses and commercial real estate transactions, advising clients in all aspects of the business lifecycle. Sara’s joint MBA and law degree uniquely position her to provide the highest quality legal advice seasoned with a solid understanding of her clients’ business objectives. She left an equity position at a large St. Louis law firm to join KWS Law, and later to form Stock Legal, because she felt she could better serve her target clients – small- to medium-sized businesses – from a small- to medium-sized law firm. Sara is passionate about these types of clients because they surround her in her personal life. Sara’s mom and dad ran the family trucking company out of their home while Sara was a child, and Sara’s dad and brother continue to run this successful business today. In 2018, Sara cofounded Legal Back Office, which provides back office services to small- to medium-sized businesses.

Sara is chair of the Middle Market and Small Business Committee, a committee of the American Bar Association, and sits on the YWCA Board of Directors, the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Development Board of Directors, and the Gateway 180 Board of Directors. She is also an active member of ACG St. Louis, and sits on the advisory board for a number of institutions, including banking organizations and local companies.

Chris is a Custom Residential Real Estate Credit Executive in the Merrill Lynch/GWIM Credit & Banking Group. Custom Residential Real Estate Lending is a highly customized approach to meeting the residential mortgage financing needs of ultra high net worth clients and prospects.

Chris joined Bank of America in 1990. In 1996, he served as the St. Louis Consumer Market Executive and was appointed Central Region Business Lending Manager in 1999. Since 2000, he has served in a number of key positions, including Central Region Marketing Manager, Consumer Real Estate Sales Strategy and Process Design Manager, Central Division Credit Sales Executive, Midwest Wealth Management Banking Regional Manager, Division Credit Director within Wealth Management Banking for the PBIG and International lines of businesses, and Credit and Banking Market Executive for the Heartland Market. He has served on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee for Forsyth School and is Past President for the Northside Community Center. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Missouri.

Dr. Alisa Warren has served as the Executive Director for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR), a state agency housed in the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, since January 2008. Under her leadership, MCHR works diligently to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Her professional positions are many and distinguished: Director of Diversity Initiatives for the University of Missouri – College of Engineering; Executive Director for the Missouri Community Service Commission; Missouri Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity; Director of the State of Missouri Supplier Diversity Program; and Minority Contracts Coordinator for the State of Missouri Division of Design and Construction.

Dr. Warren holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Applied Social Sciences in the area of community development and social disparities, all from the University of Missouri- Columbia. She has been involved with a number of organizations, such as: the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Fair Housing Task Force; the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights State Advisory Council; Board of Directors and past Vice President for the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies; U.S. President’s Initiative on Race “A Day of Dialogue”; Chair of the Missouri Human Rights Conference; Governing Board for Central Missouri United Way; Board of Directors for Girls Scouts of the Missouri Heartland; Strategic Leadership for State Executives at the Duke University Governors Center; Advisor to the University of Missouri National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women in Engineering, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers; Mentor for the Lincoln University Minority Women’s Leadership Program; and Chair of the State of Missouri Diversity Council. She is a 2017 graduate of Leadership St. Louis.

A Senior Vice President and Partner in FleishmanHillard’s public affairs group, Tony has worked on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies on reputational and issues based campaigns since he joined the firm in 2005. His areas of expertise include public affairs campaign planning, business-to-government outreach, coalition building and community affairs. In addition to his client work, Tony is the Director of Culture and Engagement for FleishmanHillard’s headquarter office in St. Louis.

Before joining FleishmanHillard, he worked for former New York Governor George Pataki in his Office of Federal Affairs in Washington, D.C. Tony graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and was a member of the FOCUS Leadership St. Louis class of 2012-13.