The St. Louis Business 500 highlights some of the metro area’s most impactful, innovative, and inspirational leaders, from C-suite executives to under-the-radar entrepreneurs across an array of industries.
Beyond the brief bios below, we created a questionnaire to shed light on some of these leaders’ achievements, aspirations, and interests beyond the office. Click the names highlighted in blue for more interesting insights from some of St. Louis’ top business leaders.
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AEROSPACE + AVIATON
Director, St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Hamm-Niebruegge never dreamed she’d be the director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. As a child, she wanted to work for the CIA. In college, she majored in German. Now she’s pushing to build a new consolidated terminal for the largest and busiest airport in Missouri. “This was not the career path I intended, but it has given me an incredible journey, and I can’t imagine what else would have been as rewarding as these past 40 years in aviation,” she says.
Director, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
As a child, James wanted to fly airplanes in the Air Force. Now, he’s the director of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. James brings more than three decades of leadership experience in global aviation operations and national security. He successfully opened and initiated operations of a 42,000-square-foot terminal expansion, which incorporates accessibility improvements, nursing rooms, and a service-animal relief area. The expansion also enhances the traveler experience—from parking to ticketing to security inspection to new and fully renovated passenger hold rooms.
James Rankin
Executive Chairman of the Board, West Star Aviation Inc.
In 2024, Rankin became executive chairman of the board at West Star Aviation, which is supported by the largest Aircraft on Ground network in the country. He had previously served as the company’s CEO since 2018. Rankin has more than 25 years’ experience in his field and is well-versed at managing large, geographically dispersed employee groups. He has a bachelor’s of arts degree in business administration and management from Carroll University and an MBA from Northwestern University.
Anthony Ray
Vice President and General Manager, Gulfstream Aerospace
After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993, Ray trained to become a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. Today, this industry aviation leader is focused on enhancing the workforce, following a new $28.5 million completions facility that opened at St. Louis Downtown Airport in May 2022. “We are excited about continuing to develop and grow the local workforce as we wrap up our new-aircraft outfitting facility expansion and continue to support customers who come to the region from around the world for service at the Gulfstream Customer Support service center,” he says.
Justin Giessman
President, AVMATS
Giessman began his career as an airframe and power plant technician. He’s worked at AVMATS for more than 30 years, including 12 years as the company’s president. Giessman has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Saint Louis University and a Federal Aviation Administration airframe and power plant license. When he’s not working, he likes to coach hockey through the St. Louis Rockets Youth Hockey Association. He started coaching more than 17 years ago, when his sons became involved in the sport.
Interim President and CEO; Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Parker has more than 35 years of experience working in the aerospace industry, with extensive expertise in program management, manufacturing, and quality and technical leadership. Originally from England, he has traveled from Australia to Pennsylvania and California throughout his roles at Boeing before landing in St. Louis. “Boeing St. Louis will continue reshaping aviation for generations to come,” he says.
AGTECH + PLANT SCIENCES
Brian Naber
Head of North America and Australia/New Zealand Region, Crop Science, Bayer Crop Science
In nearly three decades at Bayer, Naber has lived and worked all over the world, from Europe to Asia. In 2024, he returned to St. Louis to lead Bayer’s agricultural business in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Naber grew up in a farming family and still owns a small farm that practices regenerative farming. He remains passionate about providing cutting-edge tools and solutions that positively improve lives and livelihoods for farmers everywhere, especially as weather conditions fluctuate in more extreme ways.
Emily Lohse-Busch
Executive Director, 39 North AgTech Innovation District
The 600-acre innovation district gives early-stage agricultural technology companies a physical hub and access to all of the nutrients they need to grow: infrastructure like labs and greenhouses, a plant sciences talent pipeline, connections to investment capital, and mentorship from industry leaders and startups who have successfully exited the newly minted nonprofit’s incubator phase. Lohse-Busch’s track record of bringing tech companies to the region—including five years as the head of Arch Grants—provides the extra boost that 39 North needs for its aggressive expansion plans to flourish.
President and CEO, Novus International
A SLU graduate who played soccer and baseball for the Billikens, Meagher heads a Chesterfield-based company that serves the animal agriculture industry worldwide. Amid challenging shifts in the global landscape, Meagher’s leadership has helped NOVUS make wise acquisitions and divestments, strengthening its focus on creating products that address animal health, well-being, and performance through intelligent nutrition, so protein producers can achieve better results. Meagher views NOVUS’ employees as its most important asset, and he’s bullish about the agricultural food industry as a career path for the next generation.
CEO and President, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Ever since a young Carrington pivoted from surfing to washing glassware in a plant science lab in California, he’s been hooked on research. “I’m excited about the opportunities to use plant science to improve the sustainability of agriculture and the quality of diets around the world,” he says. Through a combination of competitive grants and philanthropic funding, the Danforth Center has achieved many recent notable successes, from a new 140-acre field research site to a startup initiative that fosters new companies formed by the center’s scientists and based on its technologies. The Danforth Center also recently announced that leading plant scientist Giles Oldroyd will become its next president on October 1, after a host of achievements during Carrington’s 14 years of leadership.
President and CEO, CoverCress Inc.
This startup is in its second year of commercially producing CoverCress grain—a conversion of field pennycress, a common winter annual, into a winter oilseed crop using plant breeding and advanced gene editing. The oil is used to make renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel that contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions—but, DeCamp adds, the product is regulated by the EPA, USDA, and FDA, which has led to regulatory headwinds. Says DeCamp, “Novel technologies like CoverCress are needed for agriculture to participate in solving the climate crisis.”
Greg Heckman
CEO, Bunge
Since becoming CEO in 2019, Heckman has overseen the relocation of Bunge’s global headquarters to Chesterfield, a restructuring of its operating model, and an announced multi-billion-dollar merger with Viterra that further strengthens connections between farmers in the world’s largest production regions and areas of fast-growing consumption. The agribusiness and food company has a bright outlook ahead, thanks to continued high demand for its fuel, feed, and foods, such as specialty plant-based oils and fats.
BIOSCIENCE
Founding President and CEO, BioSTL
After two decades of working to build world-class bioscience innovation in St. Louis, Rubin is excited to see an explosion of growth and startup activity in recent years. “When we started this work, there was no entrepreneurial culture in St. Louis. Someone with a great idea would have had to take it to California or Boston to get support,” he recalls. “Today, St. Louis has come together to place entrepreneurs on a pedestal, and we’ve become an epicenter of supporting founders and inventive minds.”
Justin Sperry
Vice President of Transformational Technology and St. Louis Site Head, Pfizer Inc.
Over the past 16 years, Sperry has enhanced the understanding of novel biotherapeutics, gene therapies, and vaccines within Pfizer’s research and development. His team is responsible for technology, innovation and digital investments, IP strategy, and diligence assessments for external assets and technology. Sperry has an extensive background in chemistry and law, including a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis; he is currently enrolled in a master of science law program at Northwestern University with a focus on intellectual property, business development, and regulatory science.
Matt Cooper
Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Wugen Inc.
Building on his work in the Division of Oncology at WashU, Cooper co-founded Wugen in 2018. His research focuses on developing next-generation CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. The company recently completed a trial of a gene-edited cell therapy that more than 90 percent of patients responded to. “I hope that cell therapy will continue to transform the lives of patients,” he says, “providing hope for individuals with difficult-to-treat cancers.”
Jon and Jen Silva
Co-founders, SentiAR
This husband-and-wife team’s innovative company uses augmented reality technology to provide a real-time, interactive view for physicians performing treatments. The goal: to create a less invasive surgery and entry wound that will lead to a faster recovery. In 2024, The Valley Hospital in New Jersey became the first hospital in the world to use the FDA-cleared holographic platform CommandEP: Manufactured by the St. Louis company, it provides a 360-degree view of the treatment.
Paul Jorjorian
Vice President of Biologics, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Jorjorian credits one of his first jobs, working at an Oriental rug store during high school, with helping him develop several of the skills he uses in his current role. “Learning about the importance of customer service early on in my career helped shape how I operate today,” he says. Jorjorian joined Thermo Fisher in 2012, when the company was beginning to support the development and manufacturing of therapies for diseases. “It has been incredible to witness how the company continues to advance its mission of making the world healthier, cleaner, and safe,” he says.
Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Development, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
In August 2024, Mallinckrodt announced the sale of one of its specialty brands, Therakos, to CVC Partners—a transaction led by Goodson. He has worked at Mallinckrodt for more than six years and has more than 19 years of experience in financial leadership, strategic, and merger- and acquisition-focused roles, as well as a master’s degree in accounting from Mizzou. “Working in the pharmaceutical industry, it is essential to make sure that you surround yourself with people who will challenge you and make you look at opportunities and challenges differently,” he says.
DISTRIBUTION + MANUFACTURING
Jane Saale
President and CEO, Cope Plastics
Although she serves as president and CEO of the Alton-based company that has 18 locations across the country, Saale still enjoys working side-by-side with Cope employees. Saale believes a key to success is teamwork, one of the company’s core values since its founding in 1946. Saale closely collaborates with Cope’s executive management team, creating initiatives and process improvements for plastics fabrication and materials while maintaining a companywide commitment to environmental sustainability.
Jim McCool
CEO, Bunzl Distribution North America
You’ve probably touched a Bunzl product. It could be a shopping bag, a to-go container, a paper towel, or hundreds of other items used by businesses. The London-based company has grown dramatically over the past two decades, with more than 200 acquisitions over time. McCool is in his 27th year with Bunzl and his sixth as CEO of Bunzl Distribution North America. Since joining Bunzl as a regional vice president in 1998, McCool also served as executive vice president and chief financial officer before assuming his current post.
Kathleen Mazzarella
Chairman, President, and CEO; Graybar
Mazzarella joined Graybar as a customer service representative in 1980 and worked her way up, promotion by promotion. Today, she leads the Fortune 500 company, which includes more than 9,400 employees, 325 locations across North America, and $10.5 billion in annual revenue. A Webster University alumna, Mazzarella’s business acumen and community involvement have garnered her an array of awards and recognitions, and Newsweek put the company on its “Greatest Workplaces” list in 2024.
Sean Fleming
CEO, Distribution Management Inc.
Fleming believes that happy employees translate to happy customers. “A company that takes care of its employees will develop employees that take care of their customers,” says Fleming. The 450-employee, St. Charles–based company is a third-party fulfillment and wholesale print distributor that operates five distribution centers across the country. Prior to being named CEO in 2010, Fleming served as vice president of sales for DM’s wholesale print division.
Keith Strope
Executive Chairman, TricorBraun
If it can be packaged, then chances are that TricorBraun can create the wrapping. Strope has served as executive chairman since 2017, after 15 years as the company’s CEO and president. Founded in 1902 as Northwestern Bottle Co., TricorBraun has grown into a worldwide leader in packaging for food services, household products, industrial and chemical solutions, wine and spirits, and more. (The company recently acquired Veritiv Containers, a distributor of packaging solutions for the food and beverage, wine and spirits, personal care, nutraceutical, and industrial sectors.) Strope’s expertise spans every stage of new package and product development, and he possesses a deep understanding of the company’s sales, management, and operations functions.
Eric Shelhorn
Plant Executive Director, General Motors
For a passionate, lifelong auto enthusiast, what could be better than taking that hobbyist spirit, combining it with a career in automotive management, and overseeing the production of Chevy and GMC trucks and vans? Shelhorn is doing just that as executive director of GM’s Wentzville assembly plant, a role he took last year, after a decade in various management positions with General Motors. Shelhorn manages more than 4,300 plant employees at the 4.25-million-square-foot facility.
Clayton Brown
CEO, The International Companies
As a high school student, Brown spent his summers unloading railcars at the St. Louis warehouse where his family’s business, International Food Products Corp., handled commodities including sugar, starch, salt, and dairy products. He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business and finance from Saint Louis University, and he officially joined the family business in 1993. The International Companies now encompasses International Food Products Corp.; International Ingredient Corp.; and Green Field Solutions, a sustainable nutrition company acquired in 2020.
Bob Chapman
CEO and Chairman, Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc.
Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. The nonprofit Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities brings the company’s Listen Like a Leader training to communities across the region.
Bryan Sayler
President and CEO, ESCO Technologies
Joining the company in 1995 via an ESCO acquisition, Sayler was named its CEO in January 2023. Before taking the top spot, he served as head of ESCO’s utility solutions group, where he led the company into the renewable energy sector, more than doubling the business segment via six acquisitions. In addition to utilities, ESCO provides products to defense, aerospace, space, wireless, consumer electronics, health care, and automotive industries through more than a dozen brands.
John Ferring
Executive Chairman, PLZ Corp.
Since Ferring’s father founded Plaze Incorporated in 1939, the company has filled billions of aerosol cans with liquids, from its first auto polish to an array of modern products that span the personal care, food, over-the-counter-medical, and industrial-maintenance markets. Ferring and his wife, Alison, are well-known St. Louis philanthropists, and they serve on numerous boards in the arts, education, and business development sectors. Over time, the John and Alison Ferring Family Foundation has generously given to a range of local causes.
Kristi Tacony Humes
CEO, Tacony Corp.
Humes took the CEO reins in 2016, succeeding her father, Ken Tacony, at the company that bears the family name. Carrying on the family legacy of leading based on “tradition, trust, and teamwork,” Humes is the third generation at the helm. Coming up through the ranks to learn the business from the inside out, she has held positions in every business unit and department along the way. Tacony offers an array of products and services, specializing in distribution and marketing of sewing and floor-care products.
David Nogales
Head of Technology Strategy and St. Louis Hub Lead, MilliporeSigma
On his LinkedIn profile, Nogales describes himself as “innovator by heart and cosmopolitan by spirit.” A trained medical doctor, Nogales has exemplified innovation and cosmopolitanism during his 12 years at MilliporeSigma. He’s held such key roles as CIO of life science, head of the connected lab promise venture, and head of the ERP program management and integration office. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Nogales oversees 2,200 local employees as the St. Louis hub lead. As head of technology strategy, Nogales is focused on advancing AI and digital transformation initiatives across all functional areas at MilliporeSigma, with an emphasis on innovation.
Kenneth Lane
President and CEO, Olin Corp.
Within his first month as CEO of Olin, which he joined in March 2024, Lane visited with hundreds of Olin employees nationwide. A global corporation headquartered in Clayton, Olin is North America’s top producer of bleach, hydrochloric acid, small caliber ammunition (manufactured under the Winchester label), and epoxy resins. Olin’s 7,400 employees manufacture products across four continents in 27 plant sites, including 21 in the U.S. “While market challenges persist in the global chemical industry, the passion and commitment of team Olin stands above it all,” Lane says.
Senior Vice President; LegaL, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary; Belden Inc.
Anderson has more than two decades of experience in corporate law, including previously working at Lewis Rice. For nearly 17 years, Anderson has worked at Belden Inc., a global supplier of network infrastructure and digitization solutions. MSCI gave the company an AA rating in 2023, and Newsweek listed Belden in its 2024 list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies.”
President and CEO, Emerson
Times are changing, and as leader of Emerson, an $17.5 billion global industrial technology and software company, Karsanbhai is excited about the possibilities. “The demand to do more with less—without compromising safety, cybersecurity, or sustainability—is accelerating the pace of innovation,” he says. In fact, Karsanbhai would like to further accelerate the adoption of digital transformation practices. “At Emerson, we’ve made bold moves to build a cohesive automation portfolio,” he says. “This foundation positions Emerson to thrive and deliver differentiated value creation.”
Phil Brown
President–Phosphate Specialties Solutions, ICL Group
Brown joined ICL in 2006, serving in various leadership positions before taking his current job as president of phosphate specialties solutions for the global specialty minerals company. ICL America’s hub is located in St. Louis, where Brown oversees operations. With more than 100 years of experience in phosphate mining and processing, the company’s $400 million St. Louis plant is the first large-scale battery materials manufacturing facility in the nation.
Ross Shuster
CEO, Copeland
Shuster has served as CEO of Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, since June 2023. The company spun off from Emerson’s Climate Technologies business when it was purchased by the private equity firm Blackstone in April of that year. Since becoming a stand-alone company, the rebranded Copeland remains a market-leading provider of sustainable heating, cooling, and refrigeration technologies. “The Climate Technologies business is ideally positioned to help address global climate challenges, including contributing to energy efficiency and accelerating the global trend of electrification,” Shuster says.
Chairman and CEO, Core & Main
As head of one of the nation’s leading distributors of waterworks and fire protection infrastructure products, LeClair has been positioning the business for long-term, sustainable growth. “In addition, we have built a really strong culture, performance driven and family oriented,” he says. LeClair treasures the gavel he used when he rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange upon executing the company’s IPO in 2021. And he specializes in using water for something outside of work, too: He’s a certified master brewer of the American Brewers Guild. In March 2025, Core & Main announced that LeClair would be moving to an advisory role and Mark Witkowski, the company’s CFO, would serve as the new CEO.
ENERGY + UTILITIES
Jim Grech
President and CEO, Peabody
Grech has led the international coal producer since June 2021. In a message on the company’s website, Grech states, “We continue to strengthen our sustainability programs, take steps to better support the environmental targets of our stakeholders, and balance the strategic development of coal assets within our portfolio with our emerging renewables projects and our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.” Employee safety, an inclusive work environment, and continuous improvement are among the values Grech emphasizes.
Martin J. Lyons Jr.
Chairman, President, and CEO; Ameren
After joining Ameren as a vice president and controller in 2001, Lyons worked his way up to president and CEO in 2022. Founded in 1902, Ameren now provides electric to more than 2.4 million people and natural gas to more than 900,000 customers across 64 counties in Missouri and Illinois. Besides the Callaway Nuclear Energy Center in mid-Missouri, Ameren’s energy-production facilities also include coal-fired, hydroelectric, natural gas, and wind plants.
Matt Schrimpf
President, Piasa Enterprises Inc.
In June 2025, Schrimpf will celebrate 30 years at the Alton-based company that his great-grandfather founded in 1932. Originally known as Piasa Motor Fuels, Piasa Enterprises owns companies in the renewable energy and petroleum sectors, including pipeline terminals, wholesale, distribution, and trucking. “My grandfather and father always taught myself and all of our employees the golden rule,” he says. Besides overseeing the family business, Schrimpf is also president of The Sports Academy, an indoor soccer facility located in Glen Carbon.
Steve Lindsey
President and CEO, Spire
Spire provides gas utilities to 1.7 million customers in Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi. It was also named one of Newsweek’s “Most Responsible Companies” from 2018–2023. “At Spire, the core of what we do is providing safe, reliable energy,” Lindsey says. “Doing that in a way that genuinely benefits our customers and communities is what sets us apart.” Carrying forward the company values of safety, drive, inclusion, and integrity, Lindsey serves on several St. Louis–area boards.
Roeland Polet
CEO, FutureFuel Corp.
Polet first sat at the CEO’s desk of FutureFuel in September 2024, succeeding retiring CEO Tom McKinley. Polet comes to FutureFuel with more than 35 years’ experience at specialty chemical companies, most recently as CEO for DSM Materials. Founded in 1970, FutureFuel develops and produces specialty and custom chemicals for a range of industries. Polet will lead the company through plans to expand its market presence and commercialize new products and technologies in the years ahead.
Paul A. Lang
President and CEO, Arch Resources
A graduate of mining engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Lang put his education directly to work as a mining engineer at Arch Resources in 1984. As president and CEO since 2020, Lang focuses on development, expansion, and management of the company, which recently merged with Core Energy to form Core Natural Resources. “I have a very strong environmental and safety background from the perspective of establishing corporate culture, practical implementation, and establishing a compensation structure to incentivize exceptional results,” he says.
FOOD + DRINK
President, Butler’s Pantry
Success in the catering industry used to be about food and service, but today’s hosts have infinite sources to inspire their location and theme as well. Consequently, Butler’s Pantry now caters in more than 60 venues, and it recently added daily meals to its repertoire, becoming the exclusive food service provider for The Augustine Institute. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by rising costs, Nix continues to grow his parents’ startup into a hospitality powerhouse: Butler’s Pantry is looking to expand its hub of operations for the third time in its 59-year history.
Dan Bippen
President, Kuna Foodservice
Under Bippen’s leadership, the region’s largest independent food distributor has seen a 30-fold increase in annual sales, to $395 million. The third-generation family business distributes a wide range of foodservice items—from meat and cheese to environmentally friendly cleaning supplies to equipment, such as fryers and dishwashers—to 15 states. The company also provides a suite of ancillary customized services, such as helping set up and manage kitchens, design menus, assist with marketing and advertising, and provide educational and safety classes for the food service industry.
Dick Tracy
CEO, Dot Foods
While Dot Foods might not be a household name to many St. Louisans, it is No. 49 on Forbes’ list of America’s largest private companies, with $10.6 billion in sales. The company, which buys food from producers and redistributes it to wholesalers, operates in all 50 U.S. states and more than 55 countries, with 125,000 products from 1,020 food manufacturers and 4.7 million square feet of warehouse space. Tracy, the youngest of the founders’ 12 children, entered the family business in 1991 and continues to innovate with tools such as automated order management.
Greg Dierberg
President and CEO, Dierbergs Markets
Guided by his grandfather’s motto, “Find a way or make one,” Dierberg took the helm of the grocery store chain in 2006, succeeding his father, Bob, who remains actively involved in operating its 27 locations, which earned $840 million in revenue in 2023. Dierberg is also proud to work alongside his sister, Laura Dierberg Padousis, as they look to expand, with two new stores (in University City and New Town) in 2026. “Even as the company grows, it’s essential to maintain a small-company mindset—understanding day-to-day challenges and keeping a pulse on what truly matters to our associates and customers,” Dierberg says.
Larry Lee
President and CEO, Andy’s Seasoning
From shrimp tempura batter to flaming hot chicken breading, Andy’s Seasoning has found an enthusiastic audience that brings the company $8 million per year in revenue. Among its 11 products is the original yellow fish breading that company founders Reuben “Andy” and Katherine Anderson served in their home. Following his mother’s death in 2011, Larry Lee picked up her mantle as head of the company, and he continues to spice up the dry seasoning market, while serving as founder and pastor at the nondenominational Agape Christian Center.
Matt Bynum
General Manager, Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
The pandemic brought a resurgence of soft drink sales, and Coca-Cola is now the eighth most valuable brand in the world, valued at $106.1 billion in 2023. Bynum came on board at Heartland in 2018, when the company was just a year old, and he’s helped lead it to $12.4 million in revenue annually. With nearly three decades of experience with Coca-Cola, Bynum knows an excellent opportunity when he sees one—and he recently took advantage of the company’s partnership with Lindenwood University to earn his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management.
Matt McClelland
CEO and Executive Vice President, Prairie Farms Dairy
Founded in 1938, the farmer-owned dairy cooperative has been McClelland’s employer since high school. Now, the $4.6 billion cooperative is doubling the size of its Edwardsville headquarters, where it manages dozens of dairy-processing plants and distribution facilities across Mid-America. As demand climbs for cultured dairy products and ready-to-drink beverages, McClelland is building upon the success of the cooperative and looking to expand its footprint from coast to coast. Prairie Farms recently began an industry-leading initiative to financially incentivize its 600-plus members for responsible management and environmental stewardship.
Kyle Topping
Senior General Manager, Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch has invested $2 billion in its U.S. facilities during the past five years. Under the tenure of Topping, who’s been working at Anheuser-Busch for nearly 14 years, the company hopes to create new jobs and invest more in the St. Louis brewery. “Our St. Louis brewery serves as an iconic landmark to those of us who call St. Louis home, and it proudly stands as our flagship brewery and a symbol of Anheuser-Busch,” says Topping. “These continued investments are vital for ensuring we can carry our legacy forward for future generations while giving back to the town that has already given us so much.”
President and CEO, Post Holdings
After early career moves in public accounting, private equity investment, and running an insurance firm, Vitale was tapped to be Post’s CFO in October 2011. Now, as the head of a $6.9 billion market cap food conglomerate, Vitale is a steady, strategic force for diversification and long-term growth. Share prices have increased 16.4 percent annually under his watch, and he’s overseen more than 20 acquisitions, including a $1.2 billion purchase that brought Post into the pet food segment in 2023.
Todd Schnuck
Chairman and CEO, Schnuck Markets
Schnuck’s acumen with numbers is just one of the characteristics that helped land Schnucks on Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal’s list of best-managed companies in the U.S. for three years running. Schnuck also navigates intricate public issues, such as labor, prices, and technology, while leading the family-owned grocery retailer into the fourth generation via his nephew Ted Schnuck, executive vice president of supermarkets. The nation’s 14th largest privately owned grocer now spans 114 stores, including two under its small-format Schnucks Fresh banner in smaller markets.
CEO, Eagle Brands Sales and Double Eagle Distributing
McCollum stepped in to run Major Brands, a family-owned beverage alcohol distributor, after her husband’s unexpected passing in 2012. She quickly rose to the top in the male-dominated industry while also earning a law degree and engaging in philanthropic pursuits. (In 2022, she left Major Brands, which ceased operating under that name when it was acquired by Breakthru Beverage Group.) In 2019, McCollum acquired two South Florida Anheuser-Busch distributors—which meant her businesses were deeply impacted by the recent Bud Light boycott. “We have weathered the storm and are beginning to see improved trends,” she says. “Most importantly, we were able to maintain our team’s morale and retain our people.” A native of Buffalo, New York, McCollum also recently became a minority owner of the Buffalo Bills.
President and CEO, Gilster-Mary Lee Corp.
As he positions his family’s 129-year-old private label food processing company for growth by tapping into innovation in operations, R&D, quality, and logistics, Welge recalls the advice he received early in his career from a Nigerian export customer: Walk in your own shoes while still honoring the company’s history. Welge started absorbing that legacy while sweeping floors in his grandfather’s dusty feed mill and continued under his late father, Don Welge. “He taught me a lot about our business, but even more how to work successfully with people,” he says.
GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE
Executive Vice President and Regional Manager, Bowman Consulting
Dearing, who has 20 years of experience as a leader in the geospatial industry, is confident that 2025 is going to be a big one for St. Louis and the geospatial community. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency campus is slated to open in North St. Louis. This May, St. Louis will host the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s GEOINT Symposium, which highlights geospatial intelligence’s role in providing decision advantage in today’s rapidly evolving technological and geopolitical landscape. When he’s not working, Dearing is an avid woodworker and enjoy spending time outdoors.
Vasit Sagan
Taylor Geospatial Institute, Saint Louis University
As a child, Sagan dreamed of changing the world. “And I never gave up,” he says. He came to St. Louis 18 years ago. Today, he serves as professor and associate vice president for geospatial science in the Office of Vice President for Research at SLU, director of the university’s Remote Sensing Lab, as well as chief scientist for food security and digital agriculture at the Taylor Geospatial Institute. His advice: “Dream big, work hard, push boundaries with innovative solutions that challenge the status quo, and use your skills to create meaningful change. Let your passion guide you, and you can transform your community and the world.”
Jon Faver
Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton has office locations worldwide, including a recently opened office in O’Fallon, Illinois. With more than 35,000 employees, the company works to advance the nation’s most critical civil, defense, and national security priorities. Faver, who has held his current role at Booz Allen Hamilton for more than three years, has an extensive background in systems engineering, with a degree in electrical engineering.
Mike Gourley
Senior Director, Maxar Technologies
Gourley has worked at Maxar Technologies for more than six years and holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of North Dakota. Gourley is also a member of the GeoFutures Coalition, which includes leaders from geospatial-related industry, government, and universities; economic and workforce development and civic organizations; as well as community-based racial equity and inclusion organizations. Among his many talents, Gourley is fluent in German.
Nadine Alameh
Executive Director, Taylor Geospatial Institute
The Taylor Geospatial Institute is playing a key role in St. Louis’ ongoing evolution as a hub for geospatial excellence. Launched in 2022 at SLU, the institute is an interdisciplinary consortium of researchers and scientists from eight Midwestern institutions working across a wide array of applications, from national security to agriculture technology. In September 2023, Alameh became the institute’s inaugural executive director—although she already had an impressive résumé, including several degrees from the American University of Beirut, where she graduated with distinction and was offered a full scholarship to attend MIT. When she’s not working, Alameh teaches jazzercise classes.
Nicole Mathern
Community Partnerships Manager, K-Career
Mathern has played a key role in St. Louis’ geospatial community. The U.S. Army veteran was named a member of the board at the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation in 2022 and is an active board member with Gateway Global, as well as a coalition member with GeoFutures. She also serves as a community partnerships manager at K-Career, where she leads STEAM education collaboratives, program development, and more. She was recently nominated for the Stephanie C. Hill Legacy Award, part of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards.
Simon Bailey
CEO, T-Kartor USA
With an aim to provide comprehensive geospatial products, services, and solutions, St. Louis–based T-Kartor also has offices in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the United Kingdom. Bailey has worked at T-Kartor USA for nearly a decade and is experienced in managing operations and organizational programs. Bailey also serves on the Saint Louis Science Center’s board of trustees.
Zekita Armstrong Asuquo
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Gateway Global American Youth and Business Alliance Academies Inc.
Asuquo started a nonprofit that specializes in STEM-based apprenticeship education and workforce-development solutions, with a particular focus on youth in urban and rural areas for entry-level geospatial careers. She carries CCIT certification in international trade from the World Trade Center St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and international and global studies from Principia College. She is also the president and chief executive officer at GGDL Co. Since the company’s founding in 2018, the organization has successfully trained many students.
Bill Caniano
West Executive, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Caniano began his professional career in the U.S. Army, leading a platoon and commanding a company in Germany. Today, he’s the West Executive at NGA. In September of last year, Caniano opened the fifth annual Geo-Resolution conference, co-sponsored by NGA and SLU, as a panel member during the Leader’s Look. “In business and in government service, it is important to be a continuous learner and be open to ideas from your consumers and those on your team,” he says.
Andrew Segal
AI Center Lead (Public Sector), Scale AI Center
Segal (who’s also known as A.J.) has long maintained a busy schedule. Prior to retirement, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 20 years as a military police and intelligence officer, primarily in the Middle East and Africa. Then he became a leader in the tech industry. He joined the AI Center Lead at Scale’s St. Louis AI Center in 2024—helping a workforce of 200-plus accelerate the U.S. government’s adoption of AI. Segal is proud to continue serving his country by leading the center’s work building high-quality AI training datasets for geospatial models and improving generative AI large language models that government leaders use to make mission-critical decisions.
Jesse Winters
President and CEO, T-REX
Winters recently took the helm at T-REX, months after the sudden passing of former executive director Patty Hagen. At T-REX, Winters helps lead efforts to support entrepreneurs, innovation, and workforce development, including in the geospatial sector. “It has been phenomenal getting to know these amazing, innovative entrepreneurs, whose ideas are changing the landscape,” says Winters, who previously served as vice president of resource development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
Dan Haag
St. Louis Regional Manager, ESRI
For more than two decades, Haag has worked at Esri, a company that creates mapping and spatial analytics software, along with data analytics, to create location intelligence. Today, Haag aids best-practice ArcGIS implementation across the Midwest. Haag recently accepted the St. Louis Development Corporation’s Economic Empowerment “Business of the Year” award on behalf of the company at the St. Louis Mayor’s Business Luncheon.
LOGISTICS + TRANSPORTATION
Mary C. Lamie
Executive Vice President–Multimodal Enterprises, St. Louis Regional Freightway Enterprise at Bi-state Development
A professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in her field, Lamie works to develop public-private partnerships to strengthen the area’s freight transport network, advocating for the region’s position as a global logistics hub. She also oversees ticketing and marketing for the Gateway Arch, operations at the nearby riverboats, and operations at the St. Louis Downtown Airport. Lamie says the organization had a record year in 2024, with more than $500 million in completed projects and $2.3 billion in upcoming work funded. “We continue to gain national and international awareness as a global logistics hub,” she says. “Each year we continue to raise the bar.”
Artur Wagrodzki
President, Artur Express Inc.
Since founding his eponymous company in 1998, Wagrodzki continues to move the trucking industry forward. In 2024, the company announced plans to introduce 100 sleeper trucks equipped with Kodiak Robotics self-driving technology. Specializing in hauling dry and refrigerated commodities, Artur Express’ more than 700 semis deliver goods to 48 states. The Hazelwood terminal headquarters feature an entire floor dedicated to drivers’ comfort, with a gym, showers, media room, game room, and kitchen.
Jim Simon
President, Trinity Logistics Solutions
For more than a decade, the UMSL graduate has been president of Trinity Logistics, a Fenton-based company that offers transportation management services and optimizes customers’ freight operations. Working closely with clients, the company strives to provide supply chain solutions, new technologies, continuous improvement programs, competitive rates, and rapid response in a changing market.
Tim Luchini
CEO, Intramotev
Luchini isn’t just building a business. As the inaugural CEO of Intramotev Autonomous Rail, established in January 2020, he’s leading a potential paradigm shift in the rail industry by introducing autonomous battery electric railcars. The company’s products, TugVolt and ReVolt, use low-energy steel wheels and rails and electric drivetrains to create efficient freight transport. A former Boeing manager with a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, Luchini is also an adjunct professor of engineering at WashU.
President and CEO, MTM Inc.
After earning a degree in biomedical engineering from WashU, Macia’s first post-college job taught her something important: “My skills were better suited for the business world.” With a subsequent MBA, Macia is now CEO of MTM, the company that her father and stepmother founded in 1995, which provides medical transportation and home-based health care services. With $1.75 billion in revenue during the past year, Macia says MTM is “well on our way to achieving our $2 billion goal by 2025.”
President and CEO, Enterprise Mobility
Taylor grew up in the car rental industry, holding 17 different positions in the company created by her grandfather, Jack Taylor, and later run by her father, Andy Taylor. “Over the course of my career, I have harnessed a passion for mobility and innovation,” she says. Taylor is putting that passion to use while overseeing global strategy operations for Enterprise Mobility. But she’s also known for another passion: She helped launch St. Louis CITY SC, the first majority-woman-owned MLS team.
RETAIL + CONSUMER GOODS
Jay Schmidt
President and CEO, Caleres
Schmidt has been described as a “consummate merchant”—and indeed, he has demonstrated great prescience in an ever-evolving industry, thanks to his ability to leverage his experiences in merchandizing, portfolio management, and brand marketing while handling corporate leadership of a premier consumer-driven global footwear company. From the $3,000 derby dress shoes in Allen Edmonds’ The Reserve Collection to BOGO sales of $30 fuzzy slippers at Famous Footwear, Caleres’ brands have a foothold in every market.
Mark LaVigne
President and CEO, Energizer Holdings
Fireworks surrounded the official announcement that Energizer had purchased naming rights to St. Louis CITY SC’s soccer stadium last fall—but the company’s recent move to a new headquarters was more in line with its usual quiet, confident demeanor. Those adjectives also describe LaVigne, who became CEO in 2021 and guided the manufacturer and distributor of batteries, portable lights, and automotive care products through pandemic-related challenges to achieve nearly $2.9 billion in sales in its most recent fiscal year.
Ron Ostrowski
President and CEO, Rawlings Sporting Goods Co.
Ostrowski has many balls to juggle as he dons the hat of CEO on top of his role as president. Before stepping into the role of CEO in January, Ostrowski served as president for the past two years, after initially joining the company as chief financial officer in 2020. During his tenure, Rawlings was named the league’s official glove and base of Major League Baseball, expanded its distribution facilities, and opened the Rawlings Experience near its new headquarters at Wesport Plaza.
Nina Leigh Krueger
CEO, Nestlé Purina PetCare, North America
In publicity photos, Krueger is often surrounded by animals—sometimes her own Labradoodles—and the affection clearly isn’t staged. But the company’s first woman CEO is tenacious when it comes to management, as she demonstrated when she transformed its cat litter division from a struggling sideline to a billion-dollar-plus asset. Total global sales for Purina PetCare in 2023 were $21.47 billion, up 4.2 percent over 2022, making it the largest contributor to Nestlé’s organic growth, driven by broad-based demand in North America.
Sharon Price John
President and CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear continues its growth trajectory under Price John, with annual revenue of $486 million in 2023. The inventor of the experiential retail category has 525 stores worldwide, and its stock hit a record high in 2024. It’s no longer just for kids (40 percent of Build-A-Bear’s customers are teens and adults), and its expansion into online and social marketing has wowed other retailers. Price John, who authored a book about authenticity and resilience in 2023, is one of Fortune’s top CEOs and “Most Powerful Women in Business.”
Daniel Palop Rabat
Plant Manager, Procter & Gamble
In 2024, the Port Authority issued $180 million in industrial revenue bonds to retain and expand Proctor & Gamble’s existing home products facility, which will result in new jobs at the North City location. “P&G is proud to be part of the St. Louis community,” says Palop Rabat. “This expansion marks a significant milestone as we approach our 100th anniversary in 2027… This investment not only enhances our operational efficiency but also creates new job opportunities, boosting the local economy. We look forward to continued growth and collaboration in St. Louis.”
