Wild’s organization focuses on a crucial mission: addressing food scarcity for St. Louisans. But none of the work would be possible without a strong staff of helpers, including front office administrator Bridget Brooks, who recently celebrated her 25th year of serving Operation Food Search. “Her role is not one that typically receives accolades, yet she is a critical team member. She is the first face— always smiling—many people see when they enter our doors. She cheerfully greets our thousands of volunteers, employees, clients, vendors, and partners.”
2026 QUESTIONNAIRE
What advice would you give to the next generation of St. Louis entrepreneurs or leaders? I encourage the next generation of St. Louis entrepreneurs and leaders to embrace our town and its people. Although I am not a native St. Louisan, I have lived here for three decades and come to love our city. I recommend new leaders go “all in” getting to know our city, everything from its sometimes-flawed history to the opportunities that abound. New leaders would benefit from engaging in organizations such as FOCUS St. Louis, Greater St. Louis Inc., and one or more of the 20-plus chambers of commerce in the bi-state area. I encourage new leaders to invest time in networking, learning about other organizations, and establishing partnerships.
What’s a risk you took in business that didn’t pan out—but taught you something valuable? At one point in my career, I hired a candidate without fully vetting them or interviewing other applicants. I felt an urgency to fill the position and forged ahead, and I ultimately realized I’d made a grave mistake. This reinforced the proverb “haste makes waste.” I learned the importance of considering multiple applicants for a role and taking the time to ensure they are a good fit.
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck or uninspired? When I feel stuck or uninspired, I reach out to members of a vast and incredible network of colleagues who work in similar leadership positions, particularly in the nonprofit industry, but also those who work at for-profit organizations. No matter what challenge I face, it seems someone has “been there, done that.” In some cases, these colleagues may have specific advice for a problem; in other cases, they may provide a great listening ear, ready to commiserate or empathize. I am grateful to work in a community with innovative and collaborative leaders who are willing to lend a helping hand.
Who in your company (or industry) deserves more recognition for their impact? Operation Food Search front office administrator Bridget Brooks deserves more recognition for her impact. She recently celebrated 25 years of serving the OFS team and mission. Her role is not one that typically receives accolades, yet she is a critical team member. She is the first face (always smiling) that many people see when they enter our doors. She cheerfully greets our thousands of volunteers, employees, clients, vendors, and partners. She provides a positive first impression of our organization. She fields calls from a wide swath of individuals, including those who are seeking food assistance. She processes our thousands of donations that arrive via mail. She helps ensure people have the information and supplies needed to efficiently and smoothly operate. And she does all the above without complaint!
What’s a local organization, nonprofit, or initiative that more people should know about—and why? More people should know about Home Sweet Home. Led by a dynamic founder and executive director, Betsy Reznicek, Home Sweet Home is a furniture bank that collects gently used furniture and other household items to provide to underserved individuals and families. Over the course of its nearly 10-year history, the organization has provided nearly 600,000 essential household items to nearly 6,500 families. Recipients include survivors of domestic abuse, refugees and immigrants, veterans embarking on new chapters of their lives, individuals reintegrating into society after incarceration, and those grappling with mental health issues, disabilities, unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. Operation Food Search partners with Home Sweet Home to furnish some of the homes of Nourishing Healthy Starts participants, food-insecure pregnant women, helping to provide safe, comfortable homes.
2025 QUESTIONNAIRE
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? Our renovated facility will not only be better equipped to meet the immediate need through enhanced food storage, packing and distribution, but will also enable us to bring other organizations and community partners into our building, deliver on our client-facing programs, provide an enhanced volunteer and donor experience, and attract and retain top talent.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? There is an incredible amount of collaboration amongst non-profit organizations in St. Louis. I would like to see even more collaboration and the recognition that many of the issues we each tackle are interrelated, with the common through line of poverty.
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? Enduring the “turnover tsunami” as been the toughest business challenge excluding the pandemic. During and following the pandemic, our turnover was high, as it was for many organizations across the country. Not only was turnover costly (having to spend time hiring and retraining), it was demoralizing to coworkers, who often had relationships with those who left and often had additional work during the transition period. Fortunately, our employee retention rates have vastly improved in the past year.
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MENTORS & PEERS
To whom or where do you go for sound business advice? I appreciate going to other non-profit leaders for sound business advice. Participants in the Rome Group Executive Director Meet-Up, my FOCUS St. Louis Leadership St. Louis cohort, and the cohort from my Wash U Business Management for Non-Profit Leaders program are all helpful when I need to get advice.
Do you have a business mentor? If so, who and why? Allen Hauge is a valuable business mentor. He is a longtime Vistage coach. He is able to draw upon the experiences of countless other leaders when I take ideas and problems to our monthly coaching sessions.
What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? In response to my question, “When will this job get easier?” Allen Hauge advised that it wouldn’t get any easier until I fully accepted and embraced the realities of leadership that the role requires, instead of fighting them.
If you could have dinner with any two area business leaders, who would you choose and why? If I could have dinner with any two area business leaders, I would choose Jason Hall and Kristen Sorth. Jason has done so much to advance the region through his leadership of Greater St. Louis Inc. He has brought together leaders from a variety of industries, all focused on strengthening our community. I am not a native St. Louisan, but I feel such civic pride when I learn about the work of Greater St. Louis, Inc. AsdDirector and CEO of St. Louis County Library, Kristen Sorth has taken the library system to new heights. Not only does SLCL provide traditional library services, it has become a hub where people can go for social work services, eye exams, food, WiFi, and classes on gardening and a plethora of other topics.
Who is the most interesting under-the-radar/emerging business leader in St. Louis and why? Marcus Howard is one of the most interesting emerging business leaders in St. Louis. Marcus is the founder of GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness, a “radically inclusive, culturally responsive pharmacy focused on providing quality patient-centered care to St. Louis residents.” He provides pharmacy services to historically marginalized residents in the St. Louis region, including delivery of prescriptions (and food from Operation Food Search) to those who may not have access to transportation. He is creative, sharp, entrepreneurial, and committed to helping people achieve greater health.
What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? One thing I would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment is creating incentives to retain young talent. We have very strong academic institutions in St. Louis;too many graduates choose to leave the area and launch careers elsewhere.
BACKGROUND
Where were you born? Kalamazoo, Michigan
What was your childhood aspiration? As a child, I wanted to become an author.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first job was teaching second grade in inner-city Houston through Teach for America. I learned how critical the education system is to the future of our nation’s children.
What educational degrees do you hold, and where were they earned? I hold a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from Duke University.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? If I were not in my current profession, I would hold a leadership position in education because I continue to feel that education is the key to addressing many of society’s challenges.
What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? My favorite St. Louis-area restaurant is Root in Augusta. I typically order whatever fish special is being offered.
