Most Influential St. Louisans: Civic Leaders, Denny Coleman
St. Louis Business Journal
February 19, 2010
Jennifer Joyce, City of St. Louis
As circuit attorney, Joyce goes after the bad guys by leading an office with 65 attorneys. That's the equivalent of the 12th largest law firm in the region.
Dick Fleming, Regional Chamber and Growth Association
When the region's public policy and economic development priorities are on the agenda, Fleming represents the interests of his organization's 4,000 member companies.
Erin Budde, Wells Fargo Advisors
As head of community affairs at the St. Louis-based brokerage, Budde oversees millions of dollars in giving in the St. Louis region, including sponsorship of the current seasons of the Symphony and Opera Theatre.
Kitty Ratcliffe, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission
With a $12 million annual budget at the CVC, Ratcliffe sells St. Louis, the "all within reach" meeting site for conventions and leisure travel, and is the America's Center and Edward Jones Dome landlord.
Todd Epsten and Sue McCollum, Major Brands, McCollum and Associates
Epsten runs his family's $525 million wine and spirits distributor and is president of the city's board of police commissioners. McCollum, his wife, runs a strategic marketing and communications firm, and the couple is well known for their generous support of area charitable causes and Democratic candidates.
Kathy Osborn, Regional Business Council
Thanks to Osborn, the RBC's founding executive director, the chief executives of 100-plus mid-tier companies have a united voice in the community.
Donna Wilkinson, The Wilkinson Group
Wilkinson, who chairs the Regional Arts Commission, has a penchant for raising funds for cultural organizations. She has raised millions both as a volunteer board member and paid consultant.
Mike DeCola, Mississippi Lime Company
DeCola chairs the Regional Business Council, the consortium of CEOs of 100 of the region's largest mid-cap companies, and he's president and CEO of a $208 million producer of lime and calcium-based products.
Daniel Isom, City of St. Louis
Is the Civil War over? Chief Isom is wondering if this will be the year the state returns control of his police department, with a $151 million budget and nearly 2,000 employees, to the city of St. Louis.
Richard Callow, Public Eye
Callow stays behind the scenes, but his PR prowess has made him an advisor to numerous top organizations in town, as well as the city's past four mayors.
Darlene Green, City of St. Louis
Green has directed the fiscal affairs of the city since 1995, and as comptroller, she oversees an annual budget of more than $900 million. She has proposed closing City Hall early on Fridays to save $3 million in 2011.
Waller McGuire, St. Louis Public Library
As executive director of the city's library system, McGuire is overseeing the $74 million overhaul of the Central Library downtown.
Bob O'Loughlin, Lodging Hospitality Management
George Clooney's new best friend is the hospitable O'Loughlin, who chairs the Convention & Visitors Commission and manages the Hiltons near the ballpark and airport, the Sheratons at Westport Plaza and the Seven Gables Inn in Clayton.
Denny Coleman, St. Louis County Economic Council
Coleman has spent nearly two decades at the helm of the SLCEC, which is working overtime to facilitate business growth and create jobs. The push to turn Lambert into a China hub has been one of the group's top campaigns lately.
Maggie Campbell, Partnership for Downtown St. Louis
Downtown's new chief booster, Campbell previously headed efforts to improve the downtowns in Pasadena, Calif., and Arlington, Texas. She now leads the nonprofit that manages the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District.
Tom Irwin, Civic Progress
As executive director, Irwin is the face of Civic Progress, the group of top executives from the region's largest companies.
Arnold Donald, Missouri Botanical Garden
Donald is the board chair of the Missouri Botanical Garden, which just appointed Peter Wyse Jackson as its new president, and he led the United Way's de Tocqueville Society campaign, which raised more than $10 million last year.
Barb Geisman, City of St. Louis
The $29 million redo of One City Centre and Paul McKee's ambitious $8.1 billion Northside plans are among the projects keeping Geisman, the mayor's development czarina, busy.
James Buford, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
Buford has grown his Urban League affiliate to an $18 million budget and positioned it as a top local recipient of stimulus funds.
Patrick McKeehan, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
McKeehan's organization helps drive economic development activities in Madison and St. Clair counties. Southwestern Illinois is positioned to benefit from biofuels growth, and it already is home to a pair of billion-dollar ethanol plants.
Les Sterman, Southern Illinois Flood Prevention District
After 26 years at the helm of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Sterman now is using his can-do attitude to restore Metro East's levees.
Gary Dollar, United Way of Greater St. Louis
Dollar and his staff surpassed their goal by raising $67 million last year to support the work of nearly 200 area health and human services organizations.
