In mid-November another group of exceptional women leaders joined the ranks of those who have completed the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge. It was wonderful to see this class grow personally and professionally throughout this transformative year. Another amazing piece of the Challenge year is seeing the friendships and support systems that develop. Providing a space of personal growth for women leaders is a pillar of our premiere program. Congratulations Class of 2023! We can’t wait to see what you do next.
Following is an outline of the Session IV agenda.
Day One Session Theme: Discover St. Louis – Fresh Insights & Perspectives from Area Experts & Leaders
Welcome, Reintroduction Following September Session in North Missouri & Lessons on Leadership Katie Steele Danner, Executive Director, GMLF, Class of 1993
Bringing St. Louis Business Together to Achieve a More Prosperous Region for All, Margaret Onken, Chief Engagement Officer, Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Growing Globally Panel Discussion featuring:
Emily Lohse-Busch, Executive Director, 39 North AgTech Innovation District
Justin Raymundo, Director – Regional Workforce Strategy, BioSTL
Andy Dearing, President of Spatial STL Advisors & lead for GeoFutures Initiative, a regional initiative under Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Isabel Acevedo, Manager, Community Innovation, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Class of 2023
Regional Prosperity Through Immigration and Innovation, Suzanne Sierra, Assistant Director, St. Louis Mosaic Project of the World Trade Center St. Louis & the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
Danforth Center Tour facilitated by Isabel Acevedo, Class of 2023
Bridging the Urban/Rural Divide – Dr. Kristine Callis-Duehl, The Sally and Derick Driemeyer Executive Director of Education, Principal Investigator, Danforth Center; Amy Funk, Director, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition Innovation Center; and Ruth Kaggwa, PhD, Danforth Center STEM Education & Outreach Manager
Tours of Bayer Crop Science R&D Chesterfield Facility
Bayer Business Resource Groups Panel Discussion & Tabletop Information Conversations
Welcome & Introduction to Bayer Leadership Panel; Health for All; Hunger for None
Facilitator – Cheryl Stuckmeyer, Head of Supply Chain Management Veg Seeds, GMLC Class of 2016, Board of Directors, GMLF
Amanda McClerren, currently head of Crop Science R&D Digital Transformation & Information Technology at Bayer, will take over as company’s CIO, Crop Science, in January, 2024, GMLC Class of 2017
Kara Isaak, Global Soybean New Business Development Manager, GMLC Class of 2021
Inci Dannenberg, President of Global Vegetable Seeds, GMLC Class of 2019
Dwight Battle, Bayer Oncology, Executive Sales Consultant
Day Two Morning Session Theme: Next Gen in St. Louis
Presentation of America’s Center Next Gen followed by walking VIP tour of the America’s Center Convention Complex following their $240 million expansion and facelift. Tour led by Kitty Ratcliffe, President Explore St. Louis
Charting the Path Forward featuring Kitty Ratcliffe, President Explore St. Louis and Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of the St. Louis Airport
Tour & Introduction to Delmar Divine Innovation + Collaboration = Transformation – Featuring a surprise keynote and VIP tour by Maxine Clark, 2015 GMLF Woman of the Year Recipient and Founder of Delmar Divine; Founder and former CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop
Introduction to Solar Carport: Chuck Roberts, Project Manager, Ameren Missouri
Introduction to EV Charge Ahead Program and Charging Station at Delmar: Sacoyya Davis; Program Supervisor, Efficient Electrification, Ameren Missouri
Day Two Afternoon Session Theme: How Ameren is Leading the Way to a Sustainable Energy Future
Welcome & Ameren Overview, Mark C. Birk, Ameren Missouri Chairman and President followed by Ajay Arora, Ameren Missouri Senior VP & Chief Renewable Development Officer
Immersive Tours of Two Critical Aspects of Ameren Powering the Quality of Life – Trade Floor Tour & Electric Vehicle Showcase
Keynote Presentation by Gwen Mizell, Senior VP, Chief Sustainability & Diversity Officer, Ameren
Panel Discussion – Perspectives on Leadership, Sustainability & Real Life
Moderator Gaye Suggett, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, GMLC Class of 2013, GMLF Board Member
Tara Oglesby, Vice President, Economic, Community & Business Development, GMLC Class of 2008
Carol Wuerffel, Vice President of Tax
Jennifer Wischnowsky, Senior Director, Data, Analytics & Transformation, Ameren Corporation, GMLC Class of 2021
Julie Tiemann, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Operations Support, GMLC Class of 2021
Kisha Hines, Director Sustainability & Entergy Equity, GMLC Class of 2024
Day 3 Theme: Innovating, Leading, Cultivating
Boeing Global Business & Perspectives – Boeing VIP Immersive Tours and Simulation Flights
Panel Discussion: Global Perspective – Boeing
Moderator: Paris Forest, Sr. Director of Corporate Functions & Systems
James Dewees, VP, Manufacturing and Safety, Air Dominance
Rozlyn Chambliss, Production Engineering Manager
Tarajee Spencer, Project Management Specialist
Graduation Ceremony
