Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Missouri for 2024. While Missouri’s economy is traditionally rooted in agriculture and farmland—producing soybeans, corn, rice, cotton, and sorghum—the state’s economic landscape is far more diverse. The women leaders of Missouri are at the forefront of prominent industries such as steel, electronics, and automotive manufacturing, as well as healthcare, education, and financial services, driving innovation and growth across the Show Me state.
Among this year’s honorees is Deidra Thomas-Murray, an esteemed leader in education. As Director of Students in Transition and Foster Care Liaison at Saint Louis Public Schools, Thomas-Murray is dedicated to upholding students’ educational rights and oversees critical services for homeless and foster care youth.
Next, we congratulate financial and marketing executive Tanisha Montgomery, Vice President of Marketing Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff to the Chief Marketing Officer for one of Synchrony’s largest platforms, Home and Auto. Montgomery has received executive-level recognition for her work towards an estimated growth initiative of $800 million in digital products and legacy enhancements for one of Synchrony’s largest client partners.
Finally, we recognize the achievements of Lisa Stehno-Bittel, a healthcare and technology executive with nearly three decades of experience. As President and Co-Founder of Likarda, a biotech company developing groundbreaking technologies to transform the delivery and optimization of cell therapies, Stehno-Bittel has witnessed firsthand the profound impact of healthcare innovations on patient recovery. For over 12 years, she and the Likarda team have been at the forefront of these innovations.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Missouri for 2024.
1. Christa Dubill
VP & Chief Communications Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Christa Dubill is the Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC). She oversees Blue KC’s internal and external communications, public relations, media, and community relations. Dubill is responsible for engaging audiences to support Blue KC’s mission to provide affordable access to healthcare and improve the health of its members.
An award-winning journalist, Dubill has 20 years of experience working in the high-intensity, fast-paced broadcast media industry. Before joining Blue KC, she served as a journalist, anchor, and newsroom leader at KSHB-TV in Kansas City. She has significant expertise in internal and external communications, news writing, crisis management, and community relations. She regularly gives her time to local nonprofits and has emceed more than 600 events over the past 20 years.
Dubill is dedicated to giving back to the Kansas City community. In 2022, she was selected for the Harvesters Board of Directors and the 44th class of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City’s Kansas City Tomorrow leadership program. She currently serves on The Golden Scoop Board of Directors and the Ready to Run Advisory Board, as well as the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Board of Trustees. She is a past advisory board member of the Junior League of Kansas City, and a past board member for the Boy Scouts Heart of America Council and Charlie’s House.
2. Zundra Bryant
SVP of Global People Experiences & Services, Cushman & Wakefield
Zundra Bryant is an accomplished business executive successful at championing change initiatives, leading teams, and delivering results. She has a diverse career background with over 30 years of experience across multiple industries, including healthcare, payment processing, finance and accounting, aerospace, insurance, and management consulting. As SVP of Global People Experiences and Services at Cushman and Wakefield (C&W) reporting to the Chief People Officer, Bryant focuses on improving the experiences of employees worldwide, including providing employee support through People Service Centers, global payroll strategy and execution, people processes, and data analytics. Before joining C&W, she was vice president of people business solutions at Centene Corporations leading People Services, People Digital Services, and People Analytics teams responsible for delivering critical employee support while maximizing efficiency, quality and simplifying engagement.
Cultivating strong leaders and staff in an engaging environment enabling them to operate at their fullest potential is a top priority for Bryant. She is a passionate activist who cares deeply about humanity; she leads diversity and inclusion initiatives, serves as a board member on multiple nonprofit boards, and dedicates time to mentoring and supporting both the personal and professional development of others. In addition, Bryant has received multiple recognitions and awards throughout her career, including the YWCA Academy of Leaders, Regional Business Council Leadership 100, St. Louis Business Journal Most Influential Diverse Business Leader, and the St. Louis American Foundation Young Leaders awards. She was featured in an article published by American Healthcare Leader highlighting her understanding of the power of people.
Bryant graduated from Howard University in Washington DC with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science. She earned her Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute and graduated with her MBA from Webster University.
3. Denise Bade
Executive Vice President & Producer Partner, Lockton Companies
Denise Bade serves as an Executive Vice President and Producer Partner at Lockton, the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Bade ranks among the top tier of Lockton Producers worldwide. She serves on the Producer Partner Executive Committee, contributing to the strategic direction, success, and retention of elite Producers at Lockton.
Bade was honored as the top female Producer for Lockton globally and recently celebrated her 30th work anniversary. She is renowned for her dedication to championing client needs, fostering strong relationships, and building exceptional service teams to support her clients. Bade specializes in working with hospitals and healthcare systems, serving numerous prestigious clients within the healthcare sector. She hosts two bi-monthly national healthcare roundtables, bringing healthcare professionals together to collaborate, innovate, and address emerging topics and industry challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was commended for her efforts in raising funds and leading a team within Lockton to purchase and distribute much-needed protective equipment to hospitals locally and nationwide.
Outside of her professional achievements, Bade serves on the board of directors for Starlight. She is deeply passionate about her family, travel, and Kansas City’s theatre and sports scene.
4. Joi Tillman
Chief Commercial Dental Officer, Sun Life
Joi Tillman is the Chief Commercial Dental Officer of Sun Life, one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping more than 50 million Americans access the healthcare and coverage they need. Tillman leads the commercial dental and vision business for Sun Life’s DentaQuest business. Paired with the largest Medicare and Medicaid dental membership in the country, she manages the commercial business responsible for delivering dental and vision benefits and services through employers, serving approximately 3.6 million members.
Tillman has extensive experience in the commercial benefits marketplace, with deep distribution relationships and a longstanding focus on leveraging technology to support business growth. She has been instrumental in the development of Sun Life’s enrollment capabilities, including helping to manage the acquisition and integration of Maxwell Health, a benadmin start-up based in Boston, and acquired by Sun Life in 2018. She has also been heavily involved in ongoing strategy and product development, including new solutions and partnerships.
Before joining Sun Life, Tillman was a senior vice president at Assurant Employee Benefits (AEB). She also held several leadership positions in other areas of the business during her 25 years at AEB, including in underwriting/risk management, operations, and human resources. Tillman attended the University of Missouri Kansas City.
5. Emily Thibodeau
VP of Event Management, Maritz
In her role as Vice President of Event Management for Maritz, Emily Thibodeau is responsible for overall event management strategy and supports the event management team designing elevated experiences for clients and guests in both the corporate and association market.
Thibodeau has 20 years of industry, event management, and leadership experience. Since her start with Maritz in 2004, she has held various roles within operations, account management, and leadership. She has built a career planning and executing successful events for high-profile clients across multiple sectors. Her professional depth has not only allowed her to mentor event managers in designing high-end incentive programs but also assist some of Maritz's largest event management teams in preparing, planning, and executing global cornerstone events.
Thibodeau is a Maritz Master Designer and is recognized as a YWCA Woman of Distinction. She is also currently serving on the board for SITE Midwest as the Vice President of Events and Education.
6. Julie Kulawiec
Regional VP of Account Management, CarelonRx, Elevance Health
Julie Kulawiec is the Regional Vice President of Account Management for CarelonRx at Elevance Health. Fueled by their bold purpose to improve the health of humanity, Elevance Health is transforming from a traditional health benefits organization into a lifetime trusted health partner.
Kulawiec is an experienced business leader with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry. She is a strong healthcare services professional, skilled in strategic planning, disease management, specialty pharmacy, Medicaid, and business process improvement. She has a proven track record of growing the business while maintaining service excellence, and she is also skilled at implementing new talent, focusing on team longevity and morale. Kulawiec started her career in 1988 as an ICU nurse at the Anheuser-Busch Institute on the St. Louis University Hospital campus. From there, she went on to Deaconess Hospital, before eventually rising to director of sales and account management at Accredo, her most recent position before joining Elevance Health.
Kulawiec graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law with an MLS in Health Law, Policy, and Management. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with an MS in Clinical Research and from Fontbonne University with an MBA. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of St. Francis.
7. Jessica Liss
Managing Principal, St. Louis & Kansas City Offices, Jackson Lewis PC
Jessica Liss is the Managing Principal of the St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas, offices of Jackson Lewis, PC. Based in St. Louis her entire career, Liss is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive experience litigating all forms of employment matters throughout the Midwest, in federal courts, in state courts, and before administrative agencies, arbitrators, and mediators.
Liss is a trusted advisor, providing ongoing legal support and counsel daily to employers, large and small. Skilled in proactive risk management and litigation avoidance, she partners with clients to understand their specific needs. As a former assistant public defender, she is also a fearless advocate when called upon to litigate and try a case before any jury. Liss excels at internal investigations and workplace training that support a productive workforce, including sexual harassment prevention, EEO and anti-discrimination training, practical strategies for performance management and documentation, workplace safety, disability, and leave management. She also counsels employers on employee handbooks and compliant workplace policies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Liss guided employers through the myriad of federal, state, and local orders, FFCRA, furloughs, remote work and hybrid work arrangements, and workplace safety policies and procedures for reopening workplaces.
8. Erin Oller
Executive Director, Domestic Business Development, Boeing Global Services, Boeing
Erin Oller is the Executive Director of Domestic Business Development for Boeing Global Services. In this role, she leads a team dedicated to providing critical support to the US Government services business. She is responsible for developing and maintaining customer relationships that align Boeing’s products and services with customer mission requirements, capturing new business, sustaining platform support, and achieving business growth.
Before her current role, Oller led the Program Management Integration Office for Boeing’s Engineering Strategy and Operations organization. In her past positions with Boeing, she was a senior manager for Boeing enterprise quality, a senior program manager for Boeing defense, space, and security program management operations, the integration leader for autonomous systems, the domestic sales senior operations manager for global sales and marketing and the competitive analysis and assessment lead for training systems and government services. Before joining the Boeing Company, Oller was a regional representative for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the single largest aviation association representing over 415,000 pilots and aircraft owners. She also served as the associate director for the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Alliance, as well as the director of policy development for the Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor. In addition, Oller is currently an adjunct professor for Oklahoma State University’s aviation and space science program.
Oller holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master of Science in Aviation Management from Oklahoma State University and a Doctor of Education in Aviation and Space Science, also from OSU. She is a member of Boeing Women in Leadership, Women in Aviation International, and the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. Oller also serves as an advisory board member for Project Lead the Way and the Advanced Science & Technology Education Center. She is an avid cook and has a passion for helping local communities by volunteering regularly at food banks and preparing meals for families through church organizations. She resides in St. Louis with her husband and their three daughters.
9. Nancy Mellard
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, CBIZ
Nancy Mellard is Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Benefits and Insurance Services Division of CBIZ, Inc. She has been with CBIZ for more than 30 years. She has responsibility for all legal-related matters, including transactional legal issues, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and E&O/EPL actions, and negotiations with key customers, insurance carriers, and employment-related agreements. She also has oversight for all regulatory, licensing, and compliance for the division.
Having more than 40 years of legal experience and with nearly all of those years in the insurance industry, Mellard serves as a member of the Division’s Senior Management Team, providing comprehensive strategic-level business counsel. She was chosen by CBIZ’s chairman of the board to build CBIZ Women’s Advantage, a program that supports the female employee base in multiple professional roles across all Divisions of CBIZ. CBIZ Women’s Advantage was responsible for generating and influencing more than $18 million in new business revenue over the last 12 years and was the 2009 recipient of the Dress for Success Worldwide Model of Excellence Award for its continuing support of Dress for Success. Mellard received three 2012 Stevie Awards for her leadership of CBIZ Women’s Advantage: Gold Award, Maverick of the Year; Silver Award, Mentor or Coach of the Year – Business, and Silver Award, Women Helping Women, Business.
In addition to serving in various capacities, including as chairperson, on multiple not-for-profit boards in the Kansas City community, Mellard was the board chair of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers in 2021 and 2022. She served on the Executive Committee of its board of directors, and she is the past chair of the CIAB’s Council of Employee Benefits Executives Advisory Board (CEBE) and the past Chair of the CIAB Legal Counsel’s Working Committee. Mellard currently serves on the Association of Professional Insurance Women Board of Directors and the USLAW Labor & Employment Client Practice Committee. She currently chairs the Central Exchange Foundation Board. Mellard has received several other awards and recognitions, including a First Chair 2017 Top General Counsel Award, Missouri Lawyers Weekly’s 2017 Women in Justice Enterprise Award, and the 2016 Stevie Bronze Lifetime Achievement Award.
10. Anju Gupta
Vice President of Artificial Intelligence, Northwestern Mutual
Anju Gupta is Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Northwestern Mutual. In this role, she is accountable for providing technical leadership, guiding the company’s AI roadmap, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver business-driven AI solutions.
Gupta joined the company in October 2020 and has been instrumental in helping to shape Northwestern Mutual’s AI initiatives, including building an ethical framework for implementing AI products. She is also a member of the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute executive steering team, which is a partnership that contributes to the formation of a technology ecosystem and advances southeastern Wisconsin as a national hub for technology.
Gupta serves on the AI advisory board for LIMRA/LOMA, the Milky Way Tech Hub Coalition, and a few AI startups. She has been recognized as the 2023 Women of Influence by Marquis, 2023 and 2024 Top 50 Global Data Power Women, and 2024 Top 100 AI professionals in the US.
11. Annette Montandon
VP of Sales & Head of US Oncology Sales, Takeda Oncology
In her current role as the Vice President and Head of US Oncology Sales at Takeda Oncology, Annette Montandon leads multiple sales forces focusing on hematological and solid tumor types, such as chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-small cell lung cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer. Montandon is responsible for creating and communicating the commercial sales vision and strategy for the oncology portfolio, developing innovative strategies to drive sales, and keeping sales colleagues engaged and motivated while working in a challenging area of the oncology market.
Previously, as the head of sales at AbbVie, Inc., Montandon led the oncology sales organization, where she expanded the sales force and shaped go-to-market strategies for new launch indications, driving revenue growth and market leadership. She also partnered with brand and strategic marketing teams to enhance key account management capabilities and focus on delivering value to patients and customers. During her 22-year career at Pfizer, Inc., Montandon held various leadership roles, including national hematology sales director, specialty director for institutional sales, regional manager for key account management, and national director for the customer strategy and solutions group. In these roles, she successfully led teams, developed strategies, and collaborated with key stakeholders to drive revenue and promote adherence, quality, and total cost of care.
Montandon is deeply committed to giving back to the community and staying actively involved in professional and volunteer organizations. She believes in finding passion outside of work, paying it forward, and making a positive impact in both her professional career and personal life.
12. Tanisha Montgomery
VP, Marketing Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff to CMO, Home & Auto, Synchrony
Tanisha Montgomery is the Vice President of Marketing Strategic Initiatives and the Chief of Staff on one of Synchrony’s largest platforms, Home & Auto. In this role, Montgomery works to strategically position Synchrony’s product and service offerings across multiple client partnerships.
Montgomery has a proven track record across digital, retail, and multi-client structures. She has successfully innovated and driven several scalable strategic initiatives across client partners and providers at Synchrony. More recently, she received executive-level recognition for her work towards growth initiatives in digital products and legacy enhancements for one of Synchrony’s largest client partners, while executing another initiative to actualize millions in incremental growth. She’s been instrumental in transformational evolutions across the organization.
Montgomery participated in West Point’s Thayer Leadership Program in 2022 and the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellowship program in 2021. She continues to build a talent recruitment pipeline for Synchrony as the Black Experiences Network Career Leader, leading a team that programs and engages HBCUs as a part of an investment partnership with the HBCU Caucus and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) scholarship program. She co-leads small groups for the Women’s Network and is a supporting member and ally for the PRIDE+ Network. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Montgomery has dual degrees in International Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.
13. Courtney Thomas
CEO & Chief Visionary Officer, Newhouse
Courtney Thomas is a strategically wired visionary, complex problem solver, captivating public speaker, and contagious people motivator. Her entrepreneurial approach and leveraging innovation to grow both business and people have been the key ingredients to her successful career in business turnarounds and acceleration. Thomas has transformed the customer and staff experience, delivered award-winning marketing campaigns, and unlocked new revenue opportunities for four Kansas City organizations over the last 20 years.
In December of 2019, Thomas joined Newhouse as President and CEO. Founded in 1971, Newhouse is Kansas City’s first and oldest nonprofit domestic violence shelter. With one in three women and one in four men experiencing some form of domestic violence in their lifetime, Thomas’ work creates a literal lifeline for those most vulnerable in the community. Newhouse is the only domestic violence shelter situated in the urban core, and their 88-bed emergency facility is located within a 3.5-mile radius of, where 85% of the violent crimes prosecuted in Jackson County occur. Through Thomas’ leadership, Newhouse has undergone a strategic revitalization of its vision, mission, values, operational approach, and brand identity. Revenues have more than doubled under her leadership and the organization’s brand footprint has expanded exponentially.
Thomas previously served as president and CEO of Great Plains SPCA and Central Exchange. She was named one of KC Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Kansas City. She is also the recipient of the Silver Stevie Award, earning Female Executive of the Year honors. In 2022, she also launched her growth acceleration practice, Thrive 360, where she optimizes the strengths of people and businesses to amplify business and life outcomes. Believing a life of service is her true calling, Thomas serves on the board of directors for the Big Shifts Foundation, InnovateHER KC, First Interstate Bank, and the Global Diversity and Inclusion Council for the YMCA.
14. Shannon Stone
Managing Director of Philanthropic Operations, Children's Mercy Hospital
Shannon Stone is the Managing Director of Philanthropic Operations at Children's Mercy Hospital, a leading independent children's health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers, and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children.
Stone is responsible for developing and maintaining operational systems so philanthropic priorities of Children’s Mercy can be achieved. She guides the operational and accounting activities associated with specific philanthropic initiatives, such as facility expansion or enhancement, programs and equipment, endowment, and special projects.
Earlier in her career, Stone served as an assistant vice chancellor of advancement and assistant VP at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the UMKC Foundation. She graduated from The University of Kansas with an undergraduate degree.
15. Sarah Knights
VP of People Operations, QTS Data Centers
Sarah Knights joined QTS Data Centers, headquartered in Kansas City, in January 2024 as Vice President of People Services Operations. She leads a team administering and managing compensation, commissions, benefits, wellness, leaves, employee changes, onboarding/offboarding, compliance, global mobility, HR systems, and HR reporting and analytics.
Knights is a seasoned HR professional, coming to QTS from Measured Analytics and Insurance, where she was senior vice president of operations, overseeing HR, operations, and marketing. She previously led Verisk Analytics’ HR transformation and Global Operations Center of Excellence with a regionally-focused, global team managing shared services and system automation. Knights first transitioned into human resources while at Accenture from 2010 to 2018. She re-engineered the North American HR operations and was tapped to head the operations team. She oversaw ventures and acquisitions for HR, onboarding, compliance, and shared services in addition to operations. During her tenure, she led Accenture’s global revamping of its performance management.
Before she transitioned into human resources, Knights spent 10 years in banking operations and financial analytics. She earned her GreenBelt in Lean Six Sigma in 2008, went on to achieve BlackBelt certification, and began training and coaching certification programs for Six Sigma. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. She and her family have lived across the US and have been happy to call Kansas City home for over 12 years. Outside of work, she supports initiatives with her local school board, volunteers at her children’s school events, and celebrates different cultures with her family through travel and activities.
16. Pamela Bax
Principal, CSG Government Solutions
With a passion for working in the information technology field, Pamela Bax is the Principal of CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in planning, managing, and supporting complex projects that modernize the IT and business processes of large government programs. She has been with CSG since 2013 and has also served as a project manager in CSG’s Healthcare and Human Services Practice.
Her expertise has been managing complex information technology projects for both the public and private sectors for over 25 years. Bax specializes in providing business process reengineering, independent verification and validation, quality assurance, procurement support, advanced planning development for federal projects, operations and maintenance oversight, electronic records management, organizational change management, and enterprise architecture planning. Her passion for leading teams to channel and efficiently harness technological innovations is always at the forefront when serving clients and their customers.
Previously, Bax worked as an information technology consultant for Rose International. She served the citizens of Missouri as a project manager for the Office of Administration and as a Deputy Division Director for Water Protection and Soil Conservation with the Department of Natural Resources, and she has held various management roles at the Secretary of State’s Office. Bax is also co-owner of a sportsman hunting business and various real estate properties with her husband in Jefferson City, Missouri.
17. Meghan Schulte
Senior Vice President, Client Experience, Barkley
Meghan Schulte brings exceptional planning, organizational, and management skills to every account she touches. She currently serves as a Senior Vice President of Client Experience at Barkley. She was previously a VP and brand leader, where she oversaw the internal Barkley team of brand leadership associates.
A personable, high-energy team player, Schulte loves taking on new challenges and getting to know new people. Schulte oversees the execution of business and brand planning, as well as integrated, strategic marketing and communications plans, including traditional paid and earned media, digital, social, CRM, and experiential. She is accountable to internal and external executive teams for both brand and financial results while overseeing the internal Barkley team of brand leadership associates.
Schulte is detail-oriented and dedicated to achieving results. She channels her energy and organization into every project, bringing big ideas to life through integrated marketing campaigns. She has managed award-winning initiatives for multiple household names, including TD Bank, Enterprise, Hallmark, House of Blues, and Life is Good. Schulte graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with an undergraduate degree.
18. Rebecca Baumgartner
SVP, People & Operations, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Rebecca Baumgartner serves as the Senior Vice President of People and Operations for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. She was previously the vice president of HR, where she was responsible for leading the KC Chamber’s overall human resources strategy. Now, she oversees all human resources functions and operations management for the Chamber of Commerce.
Baumgartner has worked across all departments and functions to build and manage an HR organization that reflects and supports their dynamic needs. During her tenure, she has overseen efforts that resulted in a more aligned compensation structure; a new fully functioning HRIS; initiatives to improve diversity in candidate pools; a redesigned performance cycle, which includes a comprehensive talent management and development program; and a more welcoming and staff-focused internal culture. Baumgartner is a Certified Diversity Executive, ICF Certified Executive Coach, and a SHRM-certified Senior Human Resources Professional. She is also co-founder and principal partner at Thrive360, a professional services firm that provides holistic business solutions. She is skilled in professional and leadership development, coaching, and the strategic planning and implementation of diversity and inclusion programs, initiatives, and efforts.
Baumgartner is a proud member of CHIEF, an invite-only network focused on connecting and supporting women executive Leaders. She has been a featured speaker for organizations, such as the Association for Talent Development, Women of the Channel, Kansas City HR Executives, National Association for Legal Professionals, Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, Tulane School of Law, Central Exchange, Anheuser-Busch, Hallmark, and the Professional Development Consortium. Additionally, she has contributed to and written for multiple publications, such as Forbes, The American Lawyer, Working Mother Media, and The Good Men Project. Baumgartner was featured by InsightsSuccess as one of the 10 Most Inspiring Business Women in 2021.
19. Barbara Kavalier
President & CEO, St. Charles Community College
Barbara Kavalier serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for St. Charles Community College (SCC). The college’s main campus is in the popular town of Cottleville. The second campus, located in Dardenne Prairie, is home to the successful Center for Healthy Living and the Field to Table Institute. SCC is known for its outstanding academic programs, partnerships with business and industry, and extensive community and adult education offerings.
Kavalier’s past experiences include serving as a VP for student services within the San Diego Community College District, president of San Jose City College, and district president of Navarro College, a multi-college district located in Central Texas. During her tenure at St. Charles Community College, Kavalier initiated an innovative public/private partnership to establish student housing, provided leadership to a successful multi-million-dollar bond campaign, garnered legislative support and funding for a new Regional Workforce Innovation Center, and secured 55 acres in Wentzville to establish a new campus that will extend service beyond to St. Charles County to Warren, Montgomery, Calloway, Pike, and Lincoln counties. She has a distinguished record of service with national, state, and local organizations, including service on the United Way of Greater Saint Louis Board, Greater STL Inc., and the St. Charles County Economic Development Board. She is a member of the Missouri Higher Education Commissioner’s Advisory Council. She is a Distinguished Graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she was also recognized as the first Senior Roueche Fellow. She received the St. Louis Region Most Influential Businesswomen of the Year Award and was named Who’s Who in Diversity and Color.
As a nationally recognized researcher and presenter on key issues in higher education, Kavalier has written many articles and co-authored three books: Drivers of Change, The Entrepreneurial Community College, and The Hiring Game: Reshaping Community College Practices. She holds a PhD in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master’s degree in Business from Amberton University, and an undergraduate degree in English and speech communication from Texas Christian University.
20. Missy Kelley
Chief Growth Officer, Anders CPAs + Advisors
Missy Kelley is the Chief Growth Officer of Anders CPAs + Advisors. Anders is a CPA and advisory firm serving privately held companies and high-net-worth individuals with traditional and consultative accounting services. At Anders, they take pride in caring for their team because they know they will, in turn, take care of their clients and community.
Kelley is a proven leader with extensive experience in both corporate and nonprofit organizations, specializing in developing strategic solutions to solve complex problems. She is skilled at building consensus and utilizing analytical insights to drive results in healthcare, consumer packaged goods, and civic nonprofit organizations. Her leadership experience spans all levels of an organization, including roles as chief marketing officer, chief operating officer, chief of staff, and chief executive officer.
Before joining Anders CPAs + Advisors, Kelley was a director of client experience at Shapiro Metals. Before that, she was the president and CEO, the chief marketing officer, and an SVP at Downtown STL, Inc./Greater St. Louis Inc. Earlier in her career, she worked with The Coca-Cola Company as an account executive. Kelley graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with an MBA and from Truman State University with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
21. Lisa Stehno-Bittel
President & Co-Founder, Likarda
Lisa Stehno-Bittel is the President and Co-founder of Likarda, a biotech company developing enabling technologies to transform the way cell therapies are delivered and optimized. Their revolutionary method to coat cells with stealth hydrogels, called core-shell spherification (CSS), protects cells from destruction, keeping them viable while maintaining them in the intended location within the body.
Stehno-Bittel has 28 years of experience. Starting as a physical therapist, she saw the impact of new healthcare innovations on the recovery and rehabilitation of patients following a myriad of diseases and injuries. She wanted to be at the forefront of those innovations and thus obtained a PhD in Physiology and completed a Post-doctoral Fellowship at the Mayo Foundation in pharmacology.
Before founding Likarda, Stehno-Bittel was a professor and chair at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has an undergraduate degree in physical therapy from The University of Kansas.
22. Rachel Broom
Chief Development Officer, Center for Human Services
Rachel Broom is the Chief Development Officer for the Center for Human Services in Missouri. In the last 67 years, the Center for Human Services grew from a single room in rural Missouri to a state-wide leader in innovation, elevating those who face limitations in the form of physical, mental, and financial challenges.
Driven by a passion for supporting kids, animals, and the elderly, Broom’s work in development and marketing is focused on improving communities and the lives of those who depend on them. She is a consultant for The Rome Group, which provides consulting services for nonprofit organizations, and she is a Grant Review Committee member for the Dana Brown Charitable Trust (DBCT). Selected to independently review grants, she works closely with the DBCT executive director and grant chair providing feedback and when available, attending agency visits and events to better understand the impact of the allocated awards and grant requests.
Broom previously held leadership roles at the Endangered Wolf Center, including the director of external relations, the director of development, and the interim executive director. She earned a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit, Public, and Organizational Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services from the same institution.
23. Melissa Myrick
Chief of Staff to Chief Executive Officer, HomeWAV
Melissa Myrick has over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in various roles and industries. In her role as Chief of Staff to HomeWAV’s Chief Executive Officer, she acts as the liaison between the CEO and other key leaders and stakeholders to ensure consistent communication to project manage and execute strategic initiatives led by the CEO. Operating on a tactical, strategic, and operational level, she handles the oversight of initiatives by researching action plans for operational excellence.
Myrick began her career at HomeWAV as a proposal manager in 2019. She was later promoted to director of business initiatives, where she was instrumental in the inception of the firm’s Proposal Development Department, implementing protocols that improved efficiency in the department. Other key accomplishments include developing the department framework and procedures, building a robust content library, creating standard templates for proposals and contracts, and much more.
Myrick graduated at the top of her class from St. Louis College of Health Careers. She has served as a National Helpline Volunteer for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association for over 10 years. During this time, she also advocated for the infertility community by sharing her story about infertility in various publications, and she served as an ambassador for the St. Louis Walk of Hope.
24. Brandy McCombs
President & CEO, IBC
Brandy McCombs is the proud founder of IBC Carpentry LLC, recently celebrating its 15th anniversary, and IBC Traffic, Inc., which marked its 10th anniversary. McCombs is a true trailblazer who serves as the President and CEO of IBC, a prominent contractor in Kansas City that offers a range of construction capabilities in both commercial building and heavy construction arenas. She was born and raised in Athens, Ohio, with a family history of entrepreneurship.
McCombs’ achievements include making history in 2023 by becoming the first woman chair of The Builders, a chapter of the AGC KC, in its 136 years of existence. Her passion for giving back to the community garnered her a nomination as one of the Most Wanted by Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2022. Another triumph includes being named Women Who Mean Business in 2016 by the Kansas City Business Journal, an award that shines a light on women who are standing up for themselves and their community. She was listed as one of the Top 50 Missourians You Should Know in 2023 by Ingram’s Magazine, and she was inducted into the Helzberg Entrepreneur Mentoring Program (HEMPKC), a program founded by Barnett Helzberg to mentor small business owners.
McCombs’ company accomplishments speak volumes, including recognition as a Top 10 Small Business of the Year by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in 2019, acknowledgment as one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies by Ingram's Magazine in 2016 and 2017, and being listed as one of the 2018 Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies by the Kansas City Business Journal. Her leadership and dedication have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the business landscape.
25. Jennifer Pangborn
Vice President, WSP USA
Jennifer Pangborn is a Vice President with WSP USA, based in St. Louis, MO. Pangborn has dedicated her career as a transportation planner and engineer who focuses on people and their experiences in the built environment. She manages complex, people-focused projects across the country, working to build diverse teams with diverse experience and skill sets. Her mobility work is based on the idea that transportation is mobility and everyone has a right to access mobility. Pangborn also leads a technical team across the central US and is dedicated to empowering and building their skills and networks in the industry. She is a thought leader and people leader and participates in key initiatives with WSP focused on equity, inclusion, and diversity, Future Ready, Vision Zero, active transportation, and mentoring.
Pangborn’s passion for transportation stems from her love of places. She is dedicated to connecting people to places in the safest, best experience possible. She brings logical problem-solving to her clients and teams that are human-centric and sustainable. Pangborn is sought out on projects to provide engagement in unique ways and make processes and project management fun. She values the relationships she has built both within WSP, with her clients, and in her community. Some of her work has garnered state and national recognition. Pangborn is equally passionate about public education and is serving her second term as a director for the Kirkwood School District R-7. Throughout her two terms, she has been an advocate for advancing education resources, enhanced safety, curriculum updates, policy updates, and bringing her engineering problem-solving to the district.
Pangborn volunteers for STEAM programs and hopes to encourage more women into engineering in the future. She is the proud mother of three boys who keep her active, laughing, and wanting to do more in her community and cities to create a better future for them. Her career and community involvement were recognized by ENR, where she was awarded the Top 20 under 40 across the US in 2022.
26. Hope Karnes
Medical Director, Clinical Solutions, Quest Diagnostics
Karnes, a pathologist and physician leader, is the Medical Director supporting Quest Diagnostics' Services Businesses, including ExamOne, Workforce Health Solutions, and others. She completed her residency, chief residency, and fellowship in Pathology and Laboratory & Genomic Medicine at Washington University in Saint Louis, during, which time she was recognized for her leadership, communication skills, and commitment to patient safety and quality.
Karnes is a staunch advocate for the laboratory's role in diagnostics, promoting high-quality, efficient, and effective laboratory utilization, tailored for the individual to optimize the selection of the right test, for the right indication, at the right time.
Karnes' experience spans the private, government, and industry sectors. She is a gifted speaker, writer, and educator and has contributed significantly to training others in the underutilized potential of the laboratory in risk assessment, clinical diagnostics, and disease monitoring and treatment. She is an enthusiastic proponent of laboratory stewardship and is committed to fostering innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure access to high-quality laboratory care for all.
27. Rachel Merlo
Head of Local Government Affairs Strategy & Head of Government & Community Affairs, Google Fiber
Rachel Merlo serves as the Head of Local Government Affairs Strategy and the Head of Government and Community Affairs for the Central Region at Google Fiber. Her portfolio includes overseeing operations and initiatives in Kansas City, KS/MO; West Des Moines, IA; Omaha, NE; and Orange County, CA.
In her role, Merlo works to establish Google Fiber’s reputation as an active and committed member of the communities they serve. She strengthens, maintains, and establishes new relationships with critical stakeholders while engaging with municipal leaders to expand Google Fiber's footprint across the region. Merlo develops strategies and executes plans for meaningful community impact work, primarily focused on digital inclusion, STEM, entrepreneurship, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. She also drives local public relations and communications plans with support from central teams, adding local expertise, political engagement, and leadership to other Google Fiber team projects. Additionally, she provides mentorship and support to newer members of the government and community affairs team.
Merlo was previously the president of the Software and Information Technology Association of Kansas (SITAKS) and the executive director of AAF-Kansas City (formerly the Advertising Club of Kansas City). She has a BA in Communication Science from Truman State University.
28. Tamara Conn
General Counsel & Senior Vice President of Legal Services, O'Reilly Auto Parts
Tamara Conn is the Senior Vice President of Legal and General Counsel of O’Reilly Auto Parts. She first joined the organization in 2008. Tamara’s primary areas of responsibility are corporate legal, risk management, internal audit, governance, regulatory matters, uninsured litigation, labor and employment, and real estate and intellectual property.
Tamara’s O'Reilly career began as legal counsel, and she has progressed through the roles of associate general counsel, director of legal services and associate general counsel, and deputy general counsel and vice president of legal services. Tamara has held the position of Senior Vice President of Legal and General Counsel since 2023.
29. Susan Escher
COO & CFO, AS Software
Susan Escher is the CFO & COO of AS Software. She is a visionary and achievement-driven executive leader with extensive experience in strategic planning, finance, information technology, product development, payments/fintech, and investments. She has a successful track record in global mergers and acquisitions, working with lenders and private equity firms.
Susan excels in developing high-performance global teams focused on accelerated customer and financial growth. She implements projects and strategic partnerships that maximize strategic objectives, creatively combining her technical and financial strengths in both her professional role and extracurricular activities, including venture and private investing.
30. Amanda Payne
Associate Vice President & Business Development Director, Horner & Shifrin
Amanda Payne is the Associate Vice President and Business Development Director for Horner & Shifrin, a multidisciplinary professional services firm. As a 100% employee-owned corporation with a staff of more than 100 engineers, technicians, and support personnel, Horner & Shifrin has the experience and capability to serve a wide variety of clients in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and throughout the Midwest.
Payne started with Horner & Shifrin as a business development manager in 2017. After just over a year of service, she was promoted to the director level and was appointed to her current role in 2022. Previously, Payne was the director of business development at Bates, a leading design firm, and a senior marketing specialist for Farnsworth Group, Inc., a leading employee-owned full-service design firm.
Payne has a Bachelor of Arts in marketing and Marketing Management from Webster University, and she studied architecture at Drury University. She is a past president of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) St. Louis Chapter.
31. Rebecca Stowe
Owner & CEO, Design Supply Doors
Rebecca Stowe is the Owner and CEO of Design Supply Doors, a women-owned commercial door and hardware subcontractor. Design Supply Doors provides service, installation, and supply of all things doors, frames, and builders hardware to the commercial construction industry, including contractors and building owners.
Stowe first joined Design Supply Doors in 2016, and she served the company in finance, HR, and marketing roles. In June 2018, she was promoted to the C-suite, and she acquired the company in January 2021, continuing to serve as CEO. Previously, Stowe was in digital advertising, reporting, and analytics at Sprint. Stowe earned an undergraduate degree in marketing and management from Washburn University, where she was a part of the American Business Women's Association.
31. Meredith Osborn
SVP & Director of Human Resources, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust
In the same way that Parkside employees advocate for clients and help them navigate the pathahead, it’s just as important for their employees to have a partner for their professional development. Meredith Osborn, Parkside’s Director of Human Resources, helps to align Parkside’s human resources with the organization’s goals. She is responsible for benefits administration, training and development, performance management, and talent management. Meredith is a valuable resource for employees who have a challenge, question, or concern, either personally or professionally. She listens carefully and demonstrates empathy to develop strong, trusting relationships with employees.
Adept at evaluating a situation from multiple perspectives, Meredith brainstorms solutions, next steps, and strategies to support a successful outcome. Her goal is to provide an answer, a solution, and a sense of peace, and ensure team members continue to have a positive experience at Parkside.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Business from Southern Illinois University, Meredith went on to receive a Master of Arts in Human Development & Counseling from the University of Illinois. She is a Senior Certified HR Professional. Prior to joining Parkside, Meredith served as HR director for an advertising agency with offices in Denver and St. Louis, and as a counselor and wellness coordinator for the Student Health and Counseling Center at Saint Louis University.
33. Tamiko Armstead
President, Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School
Tamiko Armstead, a native of St. Louis, is currently President of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, her alma mater. She was asked to lead the school in 2014 after a nineteen year career at Edward Jones. As President, Armstead has spearheaded transformative capital improvements to the state-of-the-art 17 acre Cardinal Ritter campus, advancing Science, Technology, Arts, and Health and Wellness programming for students in partnership with generous benefactors who recognize Cardinal Ritter as an anchor institution for St. Louis. Under Armstead’s leadership, the school has doubled enrollment, reaching full capacity. Cardinal Ritter graduates outperform all of their peers nationally in college persistence rates of 82 percent vs. 73 percent, which Armstead says is a testament to the mission of the school. She is currently co-chairing the school’s Scholarship and Sustainability Campaign, which is in the silent phase.
Armstead holds a BA in Political Science from Wilberforce University and earned her MBA from Washington University. She currently serves as a Commissioner for the St. Louis County Housing Resources Commission and on the Dean’s Advisory Council for St. Louis University School of Education. Armstead is a board member of the Little Bit Foundation. She is on the committee for the Citywide Plan for Education and previously served on the advisory group for the St. Louis 2030 Jobs Plan and the St. Louis Business and Community DEI Task Force.
Armstead is a recipient of the Washington University Emerging Leaders Award, the YWCA Women in Leadership award, the Urban League Salute to Women in Leadership Award, the Titan 100 Award, the Most Influential Business Women Award, the What’s Right With the Region Award, the Little Black Dress Award, and will be honored as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Missouri in 2024. Armstead is a motivational speaker, community organizer and activist. She and her husband William Armstead reside in Florissant and are proud parents of five sons. She is currently celebrating her 10 th year of leadership at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School.
34. Wendy Wright
Head of Learning & Org Effectiveness, Grant Thornton
Wendy Wright is the Head of Learning and Org Effectiveness at Grant Thornton. With extensive talent management experience and a passion for leading people, Wright infuses every engagement with an innovative strategic plan coupled with spot-on execution. She approaches each program with the intent to impact business performance through the increase of employee performance. By designing with the end in mind, she has a proven track record of measurable business outcomes as a result of intentionally designed and implemented industry-leading talent, culture, learning, and organizational effectiveness practices.
In her early external consulting years, Wright gained a foundational skill for marrying functional expertise with business needs, both in terms of desired business performance outcomes and varying company cultures. Whether leading an initiative focused on training curriculum design or organizational effectiveness, every program includes a comprehensive communication and change management approach to ensure stakeholder adoption.
With 20 years of experience across Fortune 500 companies leading organizational effectiveness and training transformation, Wright has been recognized by every employer as a high-performing leader who is utilized as an innovative strategist to provide progressive ideas that are operationally executable and relevant to the business. She embraces the opportunity to lead, coach, mentor, and develop team members by approaching each as talented individuals who contribute as part of a high-performing team. Wright graduated from the Minnesota State University of Mankato with an MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and from Simpson College with an undergraduate degree in management marketing.
35. Shauna Stephanchick
President, Step Up
Shauna Stephanchick founded Step Up in 2017, continuing a 20-year prestigious career in education. She has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, elementary principal, and instructional coach for the Regional Professional Development Center of Kansas City and worked as a Missouri Department of Secondary and Elementary Education PLC consultant and ELA content specialist.
Stephanchick’s role as a state consultant advanced her knowledge of effective frameworks for implementing PLCs district-wide. It also provided insight into rural and suburban school districts, which widened her perspective beyond the urban setting. During her state role, she helped five of her building schools become recognized by DESE as PLC Exemplar Schools of Missouri. Stephanchick believes that every student has the right to an equitable educational experience and that this can be accomplished by ensuring all districts have a guaranteed and viable curriculum. To support this vision in Missouri, her company works strategically to support educators by providing high-quality and state-specific products to clarify the organization and teaching of state standards. She is dedicated to transforming educator practice with her vast knowledge, unique and fun coaching style, and high-quality products.
Stephanchick received her undergraduate degree from Drury University, a Master’s degree in Teacher Leadership at Mid-America Nazarene, and her specialist in education administration at the University of Central Missouri.
36. Mara Woody
Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Riipen
Mara Woody is a Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Riipen, the world's largest online work-based learning marketplace for educators, students, and employers. Through this role, she builds a scalable, work-based ecosystem that supports the workforce needs of the future. Specifically, Woody builds relationships and partnerships to design and launch programs that serve economic, talent, and workforce needs, as well as the needs of learners and higher education.
Before her current role, Woody was a director with the global Wadhwani Foundation. Previously, she served as assistant commissioner for postsecondary policy with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, where she led initiatives through partnership and collaboration to connect higher education and workforce development to serve adult learners in the state and changed the culture to focus on educational innovation, strategic projects, and change management. While in this role, she founded the Missouri Adult Learner Network, bringing together higher education institutions, workforce development, and community organizations to focus efforts on serving adult learners more successfully, and hosted the first Student Journey Mapping workshop in the state for higher education institutions.
Woody has served higher education for almost 20 years through public and private higher education institutions in several capacities: international credentialing, Academic Affairs, LEAN process improvement, and updating technological advances so offices become fully digital. She has an EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia College, and an undergraduate degree in criminal justice. During the summer of 2012, she was a Fellow at the Peabody College Institute of Higher Education Management at Vanderbilt University.
37. Cokethea Hill
Founder & CEO, BLAQUE KC
Cokethea Hill is the CEO and Founder of BLAQUE (Black Leaders Advancing Quality Urban Education) KC, a nonprofit organization committed to significantly improving the academic, economic, social, emotional, and life outcomes of African American Children in public schools. Hill is an innovative collaborator with over 15 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, organizing communities, building collaborative partnerships, and strengthening assets in low-income urban communities. Known for her strategic approach to assisting organizations with aligning their organizational mission with the needs of the people they serve, Hill has a keen ability to build relationships and mobilize others towards an identified goal. A native of Kansas City, she earned her undergraduate degree from Central Missouri State University, a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Avila University, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas.
Recognizing the correlation between where one lives and the opportunities or lack thereof for healthcare, quality education, and gainful employment, Hill’s passion for education soon led to an increased focus on neighborhood and community conditions within the urban core. Her previous employment with Mid America Regional Council’s Green Impact Zone provided an avenue to leverage her community organizing, grant writing, and strategic planning skills to secure housing redevelopment projects, lead energy efficiency Smart Grid efforts, and make public infrastructure improvements within five neighborhoods in the urban core of Kansas City.
A champion of diversity and inclusion, Hill worked at The University of Kansas’ SWIFT Educational Center, where she provided executive coaching to school leaders implementing multi-tiered systems of support to improve educational outcomes for students. With a commitment to servant leadership, she has served on Kansas City’s City Council and The Kansas City Public School Board. Before founding BLAQUE KC, Hill managed a $1.3 million funding portfolio with SchoolSmartKC, a funding collaborative working to improve access to quality schools in Kansas City. Hill currently serves on several local boards and commissions, including the board chair for the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, the vice chair of The City Planning Commission, and a member of The Urban Neighborhood Initiative, Turn the Page Kansas City, the KC Rising Steering Committee, and the Communities in School Mid-America Board.
38. Katie Steele Danner
Executive Director, Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation
Katie Steele Danner is a multi-faceted senior executive and small business owner with four decades of public and private sector experience. As the current Executive Director of the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation, Inc., she has dedicated her life to encouraging women leaders who can flex across a variety of sectors and leadership styles and who can create unique solutions in partnership with others.
Danner received her degree in business and public administration from Truman State University and has held senior executive roles in the health, social services, commerce, community development, and hospitality industries. A former member of the Missouri House of Representatives and a previous senior executive service federal employee, as well as the director of various administrative offices for the State of Missouri, she has a unique appreciation for the dynamics of strategic, non-partisan, and bi-partisan partnerships.
Danner actively supports military families, chairing the Family Advisory Council for the Missouri National Guard for over 10 years, and she remains active in advocacy for military families. She chaired the Clay County Bicentennial Commission, serves on the Thank You Walt Disney Building Development Committee, served on the United WE Women’s Economic Development Task Force, and is a member of the InnovateHER KC Women’s Leadership Alliance. She was named to the debut class of Ingram’s Magazine 50 Missourians You Should Know in 2011, was selected as a Kansas City Woman of Distinction in 2012, was honored at the Tribute to Success: A Celebration of Women in 2016 for her role as a founding board member of Ava’s Grace Scholarship Foundation, and was inducted into the Missouri Tourism Hall of Fame for her work developing the state’s tourism strategy that brought in a record number of visitors to Missouri.
39. Beth Gunter
Chief Revenue Officer & Partial Owner, Spry Digital
Beth Gunter is the Chief Revenue Officer and Partial Owner of Spry Digital. Her initiatives have led to a striking 272% increase in average sale value and a remarkable 350% increase in sales revenue, meeting 86% of their year’s sales goal. This trailblazing approach has left an indelible mark, shaping a legacy of progress and empowerment. Under her leadership, she has steered her team to remarkable accomplishments, establishing themselves as a creative digital powerhouse of innovation, notably enhancing Spry's social media presence by 157%.
Her 20-year career has sculpted a legacy of innovation and empowerment in her wake. Gunter’s journey transcends the gambit of agency aisles with an unwavering dedication to elevating women and children in her community through mentorship, as she does for St. Louis Business Journal's Mentoring Monday, as a Titan 100 judge, and engaging speaker events across the region, including G.R.I.T. As an executive philanthropy board member, volunteer, and social activist for BJC Children's Hospital's Foundation Board and chair-elect, Gamechangers Athletes, Gateway to Hope, Ashley Hall School, and Friends of Mardi Gras, she transforms the lives of women and children and has sown the seeds of hope and possibility for generations to come.
Gunter makes a difference in her community through her brainchild, "One Degree of Separation," a cornerstone of St. Louis culture. Hosting over 100 diverse connection-seekers, from small-business owners to Senators, she has crafted a sanctuary, where individuals from all walks of life converge, united by a shared desire for connection and collaboration. "One Degree of Separation" has grown 567% from modest beginnings six years ago, underscoring Gunter’s visionary leadership and the resonance of her community-building efforts. Her magnetic energy and boundless enthusiasm testify to the power of community and camaraderie.
40. Gabrielle Spurling
Managing Director of Technology, VMLY&R
Gabby Spurling is the Managing Director of Technology at VMLY&R, a global brand and customer experience agency that harnesses creativity, technology, and culture to create connected brands. Named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global Marketing Agencies for five consecutive years, VMLY&R is made up of more than 12,000 employees worldwide, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
Spurling first joined VMLY&R in 2018 as a lead developer, where she led a team to create a new customer experience for Lincoln owners and managed the LaunchCode apprenticeship program, which provides career-transition junior developers an opportunity to learn development skills and contribute to the company. In 2019, she was promoted to director of technology, and in 2022, she was made the group director of technology. She accepted her current role in 2023.
Previously, Spurling was a software engineer at SelectQuote Insurance Services and, before that, an integration developer at ConocoPhillips. Earlier in her career, she worked with Definition 6 as a web developer. Spurling earned an EMBA from Rockhurst University and an undergraduate degree in computer science from Georgia Institute of Technology.
41. Felicity Pino
Director of Performance Improvement, Children's Mercy Kansas City
Felicity Pino partners with hospital leadership and clinical teams to drive innovative improvements in care quality, operational efficiency, and patient safety. As the Director of Performance Improvement at Children’s Mercy, she operationalizes the improvement strategy for the organization and oversees the development of her team of specialists.
Previously, Pino spent over half a decade at NASA, training and developing training for astronauts and flight controllers, after, which she was selected as an Innovation Fellow at the University of Minnesota Medical Devices Center. Pino has conducted medical and healthcare research at Stanford University, NASA, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City; she holds one domestic patent and one international patent pending. Having professionally “grown up” in a high-reliability organization (NASA), Pino dedicates her work toward transforming healthcare settings into high-reliability environments.
Pino currently serves as an assistant professor at the School of Medicine and as an adjunct assistant professor at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, both at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She holds an undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master’s degree in Engineering from Stanford University, and a Master’s in Public Health Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
42. Deidra Thomas-Murray
Director of Students in Transition & Foster Care Liaison, Saint Louis Public Schools
Deidra Thomas-Murray, originally hailing from New Orleans and later relocating to St. Louis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is a distinguished professional in the field of education and social work. She holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, complemented by a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Southern University in New Orleans. Thomas-Murray is a Lifetime Qualified School Social Worker and a Certified Family, Divorce, and Civil Mediator. She is a renowned keynote speaker, national educator, devoted mentor, published author, and passionate advocate for vulnerable populations.
Currently, Thomas-Murray serves as the Director of Students in Transition and Foster Care Liaison at Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS), where she ensures the students’ educational rights are adhered to and oversees homeless and foster care services. She is a nationally recognized authority on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program and the Every Student Succeeds Act. Her approach is marked by authenticity and candor, which greatly aids families in navigating complex systems related to health, mental health, education, and social services. Whether a student is experiencing homelessness or not, she is the compassionate voice that guides them through educational challenges, emphasizing the principles of advocacy, empowerment, and transformation.
Before joining the SLPS team, Thomas-Murray held various roles, including family therapist in St. Louis, clinical school social worker in New Orleans Public Schools, children's therapist, resident advisor, and a devoted foster parent for over 22 years, caring for more than 178 children. She also served as a case manager, monitoring juvenile offenders, and dedicated her time as a volunteer and mentor. Her commitment to service extended to the United States Army Reservists, where she served for two years, as well as her role as a reserve civil sheriff and volunteer social worker for the New Orleans Retinitis Pigmentosa and Visually Impaired Support Group.
43. Laura Klopatek
Vice President of Corporate HR, H&R Block
Laura Klopatek is Vice President of People and Culture for H&R Block focused on Talent Management, Organization Effectiveness, Talent Development, and Learning at H&R Block, a tax preparation company that offers payroll, and business consulting services, consumer tax software, and online tax preparation.
In her role, Klopatek acts as a generalist for the financial services, finance, legal, and people and culture organizations. In her nearly 16 years at H&R Block, she has partnered with a vast array of corporate and operations teams in a generalist capacity and partnered on the implementation of a new human capital management system and the deployment of the company intranet.
Throughout Klopatek’s career, she has always sat at the intersection of human resources and the business, knowing that the best HR partnerships come to life through understanding the business. Klopatek serves on the UMKC Human Resources Advisory Board, as well as the PTO board for Ravenwood Elementary. She graduated with a Master's in Business Administration from Ball State University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management from Ball State.
44. Elena Steinmetz
Director of Marketing, Flat Branch Home Loans
Elena Steinmetz is a marketing leader, innovator, and educator in the Midwest with nearly a decade of experience in executing successful marketing campaigns for renowned businesses in the Midwest. Throughout her career, she has worked one-on-one with executive leadership teams to build creative solutions for business and sales needs. Her portfolio includes working with esteemed institutions, including Bayer, Mercy Hospital, and Maryville University. Currently, she serves as the Director of Marketing at Flat Branch Home Loans, the number one overall lender in Missouri and the number two USDA lender in the nation
While leading the corporate marketing strategy in her role, Steinmetz is also known for innovating in team building and leadership. Coming from an educational background, she has a passion for implementing empathy-based psychology to drive retention and recruitment. In her current role, she has increased department productivity by 30% and played a key role in the direct recruitment of new employees at Flat Branch. Despite industry trends of budget cuts in marketing departments, Steinmetz has successfully expanded her team by three employees.
Steinmetz is dedicated to the advancement of MARTECH and investigating new ways marketing and technology can help build authentic connections between consumers and businesses. She currently works closely with technology and compliance leaders in the financial industry to achieve this. Beyond her professional achievements, Steinmetz has a special focus on nonprofit organizations, serving as a volunteer for animal welfare organizations for over two decades and working with STEM organizations for children.
45. DeAmbra Crochrell
Director, Alumni Engagement, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
DeAmbra Crochrell is the Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. In her role, she leads the strategic planning and implementation of programs and events that foster meaningful connections and lifelong relationships between alumni and the institution. With over seven years of experience in the hospitality and education sectors, she has developed a passion for creating inclusive and engaging communities that celebrate diversity and belonging.
After relocating to Missouri, Crochrell earned her undergraduate degree in hospitality management with an emphasis on conferences and events and a minor in business from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has earned several certifications in allyship, unconscious bias, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Before joining UHSP, Crochrell followed her passion for girl empowerment as associate director of programs at Girls in the Know, where she supported program development and execution for preteen girls. She also managed the programs, events, and alumni network for the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for several years. Throughout her journey, she found her niche in international programs, events, and volunteer management.
46. Marisa Lather
Director of Marketing and Communications, Bridge Partners
Marisa Lather is a data-driven design thinker who specializes in creating aesthetic brand experiences that delight. With an inbound marketing specialization in multimedia content creation and engagement, she develops and executes omnichannel campaigns, blending online and offline worlds to create data-informed, demand-gen content and affinity-building experiences for brands.
As Director of Marketing and Communications for Bridge Partners, Lather oversees marketing for the firm, specializing in revenue growth for tech and cloud leaders. She is on the board of the American Marketing Association and actively engages in the national marketing community, collaborating with brands for her blog and speaking at national conferences.
Lather has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. In her free time, she enjoys creating and discovering art, cultural studies, traveling, hiking, and live music.
47. Megan Lumenello
Content Director, side sea
Megan Lumenello is the Content Director at side sea. She helps clients across various industries tell their stories with her creativity, enterprising, and problem-solving skills by strategically creating and managing content.
Lumenello creates complex information architecture frameworks for web design projects and crafts a content structure that creates an intuitive and informative user experience. She also writes on-brand messaging concepts using straightforward, creative, and error-free content for websites, apps, and advertising campaigns. In previous roles, Lumenello worked at various full-service sales and marketing companies. She has served clients across various industries, including automotive, healthcare, hospitality, financial services, and manufacturing industries. Her marketing experience includes mail, digital, direct, and social media, in addition to rewards-based loyalty, recognition, and incentive programs.
Lumenello graduated from Western Governors University and Truman State University, achieving her MBA and an undergraduate degree in business administration. She has a decade of customer service experience, seven years of marketing experience, and three and a half years of copywriting experience.
48. Jeanette Hernandez Prenger
Founder, CEO, & President, ECCO Select
Jeanette Hernandez Prenger serves as the Founder, CEO, and President of ECCO Select. She leads one of the top Hispanic businesses in the country, with over 500 employees serving clients across North America. ECCO Select is a talent acquisition and consulting company specializing in providing people, processes, and technology solutions.
Hernandez leverages her expertise in quickly assessing situations, identifying issues, and developing the right solutions to help businesses strengthen operations, revenue, profitability, and competitive advantages. She has put these skills into practice at ECCO Select since 1995. Beginning with a single client, ECCO Select has grown into a leading provider of technology talent for Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies, with offices in Kansas City, MO, Washington DC, and St. Louis, MO.
Hernandez advocates for business and economic growth through her leadership and involvement in organizations around the country. She serves on the national boards of The Latino Coalition (Chair), Junior Achievement USA, Boy Scouts of America, Harvard Kennedy School of Business Taubman Institute, Women Impacting Public Policy, and Orphaned Starfish Foundation, as well as those closer to home, such as the Missouri Tourism Commission (commissioner), Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (Visit KC, chair), the American Royal, Kansas City Police Foundation, and the Command and General Staff College Foundation. She is a former chair of Park University, Junior Achievement of Kansas City, and the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and she was the former vice chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC).
49. Jennifer Smith
Director of Operations, The Chad Wilson Group at Keller Williams Realty West
Jennifer Smith is the Director of Operations of The Chad Wilson Group at Keller Williams Realty West. She first joined the company in 2012. The Chad Wilson Group, a team of specialists out of the Keller Williams Realty West Partners office, serves real estate buyers, sellers, and investors throughout the Greater St. Louis area.
Smith brings to the team diverse financial, accounting, and business experiences. She is responsible for the training of new agents and administrative team members. She also maintains the budget and prepares financial reports, serves as customer service oversight, and is responsible for the branding and marketing of the team.
After earning a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Smith became a Certified Public Accountant and serviced clients at the largest worldwide auditing, tax, and consulting firm at the time. Her accounting career continued at a regional CPA firm, where she assisted clients with auditing and tax services. Later, she managed the selling and administrative budget for the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery. These careers in the corporate world refined her skills in customer service, problem-solving, and attention to detail, skills that she taps into daily at The Chad Wilson Group. Smith also manages a consulting business, providing tools for other agents to use to service their buyers and sellers at the highest level.
50. Christal Watson
Executive Director, Kansas City Kansas School Foundation for Excellence
Christal E. Watson is a distinguished leader and the current Executive Director of the Kansas City Kansas School Foundation for Excellence. With a strong passion for education and community empowerment, Watson leverages her extensive experience to promote excellence in education, supporting initiatives that enhance student achievement and well-being. Her vision extends beyond traditional boundaries, aiming to create a lasting impact on the educational experience for students within Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools.
As a graduate of Leadership Kansas and the Kansas City Tomorrow leadership programs, Watson has consistently demonstrated her commitment to civic involvement and professional development. These prestigious programs have equipped her with the skills and networks to effect positive change within her community. With a robust public service and organizational leadership background, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has appointed Watson Commissioner Chair of the Kansas Human Rights Commission for a second four-year term.
Watson previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Mayor David Alvey of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas. In this role, she was instrumental in driving key initiatives and fostering community engagement. Watson’s leadership extends to her tenure as President and CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, where she championed economic empowerment and provided vital support to Black-owned businesses. Her work significantly enhanced the chamber’s impact, ensuring greater resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs in the region.
Christal E. Watson’s career is marked by a profound dedication to public service, economic development, and educational excellence. Her diverse experiences and influential roles reflect a lifelong commitment to uplifting communities and creating opportunities for growth and success. Holding a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Organizational Management and a graduate certificate in Project Management, she firmly believes her education is the foundation and impetus for even greater success ahead.