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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General Counsel, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
Morrison has been a part of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center since its founding and has become well-known in St. Louis’ sustainability scene. Alongside executive director Natalie Johnson, he works to protect parks, preserve rivers, improve air quality, and more. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, Morrison stays active by swimming and mountain biking.
Adam McLane
State Director, The Nature Conservancy
An Indiana native, McLane moved to St. Louis in 2015. He works to safeguard beautiful landscapes across the state and preserve natural resources for future generations. Before joining The Nature Conservancy, McLane worked in the private sector, where he learned management and strategic planning skills. When he’s not at work, you might find him hunting, camping, or fly-fishing.
Emily Andrews
Executive Director, Missouri Gateway Green Building Council
Andrews has served in her current leadership role for nearly two decades. Through her work with green buildings, she advocates for improvements to public health, the economy, and the environment. She’s worked for nonprofits her entire career, including serving as chair for the Forest Park Advisory Board years ago. Andrews is a graduate of Grinnell College, where she studied anthropology.
Cindy Mense
CEO, Trailnet
Mense is a longtime advocate for better walking and biking options: She’s worked at Trailnet for nearly two decades, including five years as its CEO. “How we travel is how we live, and if we can easily and safely walk or bike to daily destinations, we will all benefit,” Mense says. “I champion the St. Louis region to create a place where everyone has safe access to daily physical activity, green spaces, and a robust transportation network.” Mense is also an adjunct instructor at WashU School of Public Health and teaches a course on creating healthy places through partnerships and collaboration across disciplines.
Tom Carnahan
Partner, Oakland Capital Partners
Years ago, Carnahan founded Wind Capital Group, which developed and operated wind farms that provided clean energy to around 100,000 homes. In 2021, former President Joe Biden chose Carnahan to represent the United States at the 76th United Nations General Assembly. Today, Carnahan is a principal at Oakland Capital Partners, whose investment portfolio includes companies dedicated to renewable energy and sustainability, such as Azimuth Energy, Eco Constructors, Halo Funding, and Upepo Energy.
Executive Director, Missouri Coalition for the Environment
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment aims to educate, organize, and advocate for a range of environmental issues, including clean water, air, and energy. Before joining the organization in 2021, Opsal spent more than a decade working for nonprofits. A graduate of SIUE and SLU, Opsal is an assistant coach for Lindbergh Hockey Club.
