St. Louis Business 500 Live

St. Louis Business 500 Live: The Decisions Behind Growth

JUNE 9, 2026 | 7:30 A.M. | EMERSON AUDITORIUM & FRICK FORUM, KNIGHT HALL

St. Louis Business 500 Live, presented by WashU Olin Business School, is a new event series that brings together select Business 500 leaders for candid conversations about leadership, decision making, and what it takes to run an organization today. Discussions are moderated by Matt Coen, owner and CEO of St. Louis Magazine.

Our first session, The Decisions Behind Growth, will focus on how leaders navigate the realities of growth, including capital decisions, team building, and the unexpected challenges and opportunities that emerge along the way.

What to expect:
7:30 a.m. – Networking & Breakfast Bites
8:30 a.m. – Panel Discussion
9:30 a.m. – Live Q&A

BUY TICKETS

Questions? Reach out to the events team at [email protected].

About the Panelists

Rich Ledbetter, Guarantee Electrical CEO

Rich Ledbetter, Guarantee Electrical Company

Rich Ledbetter has led Guarantee Electrical into its next chapter since taking the helm in 2022. With more than two decades of experience in electrical construction, Ledbetter returned to the firm after helping lead Castle Contracting, bringing an operator’s perspective to organization-wide strategy and growth. Under his leadership, Guarantee continues to expand its footprint while investing in its workforce and community, including through KIDstruction, the philanthropic initiative that Ledbetter founded to support St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Read more about Ledbetter.

Moderated by

Matt Coen, President & CEO of St. Louis Magazine

Matt Coen is an entrepreneur and owner and CEO of SLM, with a track record of building and leading successful companies based in St. Louis. As moderator of the Business 500 Live event, Coen draws on his experience across media, marketing, and entrepreneurship to lead insightful, candid discussions with some of the region’s most influential business leaders.

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