Photos: St. Louis Business 500 Live – The Decisions Behind Growth

On June 9, St. Louis Magazine hosted its inaugural St. Louis Business 500 Live event, presented by WashU Olin Business School. The first session, The Decisions Behind Growth, explored how leaders navigate the realities of growth, from capital decisions and team building to the unexpected challenges and opportunities that arise along the way.

Guests kicked off the morning with breakfast and networking in WashU Olin Business School’s Knight Hall, where business leaders from across the region gathered to exchange ideas, build connections, and celebrate the strength of St. Louis’ business community. Matt Coen, president and CEO of St. Louis Magazine, then moderated a conversation featuring Rich Ledbetter of Guarantee Electrical, Alyssa Huffman of ALLUMIN8, and Chris Hoffmann of Hoffmann Brothers, Ferguson Roofing, and Blue Sky. Drawing from their own experiences, the panelists shared insights on the challenges, opportunities, and key decisions that shape a company’s growth journey.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inaugural event. We look forward to continuing the conversation and bringing together the leaders who are driving innovation, growth, and opportunity across the St. Louis region. For updates on future Business 500 Live events and other business news, subscribe to the St. Louis Magazine Business newsletter here.

Matt Coen, President & CEO of St. Louis Magazine speaking

Doug Villhard of WashU Olin Business School speaking

Panel at June 2026 Business 500 Live — Matt Coen moderated the panel, which featured Rich Ledbetter, Chris Hoffmann, and Alyssa Huffman.

Alyssa Huffman, Founder & CEO of ALLUMIN8

Chris Hoffmann, CEO of HB Solutions Group

Rich Ledbetter, President & CEO of Guarantee Electrical

Q&A at Business 500 Live — Guests had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions during a Q&A.

About the Panelists

Rich Ledbetter, Guarantee Electrical

Rich Ledbetter is President and CEO of Guarantee Electrical Company, a 100% employee-owned contractor with a 124-year history and national reach. He leads strategy and performance with a focus on employee ownership and sustainable growth. A fourth-generation St. Louis contractor, he previously led Castle Contracting through significant growth and its acquisition by McCarthy Building Companies, and returned to Guarantee as CEO in 2022.

Alyssa Huffman, ALLUMIN8

Alyssa Huffman is a healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and MedTech innovator with experience across orthopedics, spine, biologics, robotics, pharmaceuticals, and capital equipment. She has led growth initiatives, launched products, and built high-performing teams in highly competitive markets. As founder of ALLUMIN8, she has guided the company from concept through FDA clearance, capital formation, and commercialization—bringing a hands-on perspective to innovation, resilience, and scaling a healthcare business in complex, regulated environments.

Chris Hoffmann, Hoffmann Brothers, Ferguson Roofing, and Blue Sky

Chris Hoffmann is CEO of HB Solutions Group, parent of Hoffmann Brothers, Ferguson Roofing, and Blue Sky—a multi-brand home services platform in St. Louis, Nashville, and Denver. Founded in 1988 as a 4-person business, it now has 700+ employees across four states. He emphasizes culture, leadership development, and skilled trades careers, guided by a mission to Improve Life in Every Home. Under his leadership, the company has scaled while maintaining its founding values and commitment to long-term growth and service excellence across markets today.

Moderated by

Matt Coen, President & CEO of St. Louis Magazine

Matt Coen is Owner and CEO of St. Louis Magazine and co-founder of Second Street, a St. Louis company that grew into a leading marketing platform serving media and marketing partners across the U.S. and beyond before its successful sale. His experience at the intersection of media, marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and business transformation gives him a strong perspective as moderator of Business 500 Live.