Podcasts / The 314 Podcast / New PGAV owners on their cool jobs—and commitment to downtown

New PGAV owners on their cool jobs—and commitment to downtown

PGAV Destinations is the St. Louis-based design firm behind some of the world’s top attractions. Newly named co-owners Emily Howard and Diane Lochner share how they helped build the firm’s global success and why its downtown St. Louis headquarters remains a competitive advantage.

In this episode of The 314 Podcast, host Sarah Fenske talks with Diane Lochner and Emily Howard, two longtime employees recently tapped to join the ownership group of PGAV Destinations. The St. Louis-based firm is behind many of the biggest aquariums and coolest attractions in the world, and they share how being in the city is actually the firm’s secret weapon. Then, Sarah chats with SLM staff writer Ryan Krull about their story exploring how police failed to tamp down days of rolling fireworks battles in LaSalle Park—and how neighbors say they added insult to injury. Watch on YouTube and listen on Apple PodcastsSpotify, or wherever podcasts are available. Love the show? Be sure to follow or subscribe.

“Honestly, I think we’re at a tipping point now, where it’s only going to come up. We’re actually excited for what’s happening at the Millennium Hotel. It’s a great thing and we want to be part of that. We want to be downtown and we want to bring business downtown.” —EH

Courtesy of PGAV SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Photo by Michael A. Schwarz Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center
Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center
Courtesy of PGAV St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum
Courtesy of PGAV Primate Canopy Trail at the Saint Louis Zoo
Primate Canopy Trail at the Saint Louis Zoo
Courtesy of St. Louis Union Station St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
The Aquarium at Union Station in St. Louis
Courtesy of PGAV The Missouri History Museum's 1904 World's Fair Exhibit
The Missouri History Museum's 1904 World's Fair Exhibit
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum
Primate Canopy Trail at the Saint Louis Zoo
St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
The Missouri History Museum's 1904 World's Fair Exhibit

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Want more? Check out all of St. Louis Magazine’s podcasts.

Have an idea for a future episode? Send your thoughts or feedback by emailing [email protected].

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Email [email protected].

You may also enjoy these SLM stories:

About The Hosts

Sarah Fenske

Sarah Fenske

Sarah Fenske is St. Louis Magazine‘s executive editor. She manages news and business coverage and edits The Daily newsletter. She’s been a reporter, columnist, newspaper editor, and radio host, and she is currently host of the monthly Legal Roundtable on St. Louis Public Radio and a panelist on Nine PBS’ Donnybrook. She lives in the city, where she attempts to juggle herding her kids to sports practice and swapping political gossip over a good martini.

Ryan Krull

Ryan Krull

Ryan Krull is a staff writer at St. Louis Magazine, writing for the The Daily newsletter. A graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, he taught there for many years before joining the staff of the Riverfront Times, where he was a reporter for the last years of the paper’s life. He lives near Tower Grove Park in the city with his wife and son.