Four business professionals will be honored with Excellence in Business Performance Awards on Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. The networking reception begins at 11 a.m., and the luncheon and program start at noon.
Rhonda Denise Jones, Emerson
Rhonda Denise Jones, director of immigration at Emerson, has more than 25 years in the legal field and joined Emerson in 1993.
For the last three years, she has been responsible for overseeing Emerson’s U.S. Immigration program. Recently, her responsibilities have been expanded to include global immigration.
A graduate of Fontbonne College, Rhonda earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is currently working on a master’s in international business at Washington University. She is a graduate and alumnus of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows program. The program refines leadership skills through a strategic curriculum and the sharing of wisdom and best practices.
She is a board member for the African-American Experience Museum, a non-profit virtual museum. She is the founder of Sistah Soul Food Sunday, an affirmation and empowerment group for women of all ages, and Know2No, an organization developed to enlighten, educate and elevate youth to say NO to disreputable behavior.
David Rodgers, Brown Shoe
David Rodgers is vice president of real estate management for Brown Shoe Co. headquartered in Clayton, MO. He oversees more than 1,300 retail outlets operating under the banners of Famous Footwear, Naturalizer, Dr. Scholl’s and Sam Edelman.
Rodgers first joined Brown Shoe Co. in 1999, as manager of lease audit and accounting at the Famous Footwear division in Madison, Wisconsin. It was the first year that the audit team’s recoveries eclipsed the $1 million threshold, and he was awarded Famous Footwear’s Award of Excellence. Since then, annual recoveries have averaged over $3 million.
In 2006, Rodgers returned to St. Louis as director of lease audit and accounting for Brown Shoe Co. That same year he was featured in Chain Store Age Magazine’s Rising Stars 40 under 40.
In 2008, Rodgers participated in the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program. In 2010, he helped to form the program’s alumni association and was elected to serve as its inaugural president.
This year, Rodgers joined the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ Multicultural Leadership Society. In January, Rodgers joined the board of directors for Wyman, Inc.
Michelle D. Tucker, Bank of America
Michelle D. Tucker, a senior vice president of Bank of America, is currently responsible for strategic oversight and management of the company’s multi-million dollar local grant and sponsorship budgets across Missouri and parts of Illinois. She works as a member of the Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs team, partnering directly with the bank’s Missouri state president in support of Bank of America’s corporate social responsibility and brand-building strategy, including community outreach and associate volunteerism.
She has served as a senior vice president for over 11 years, holding various leadership positions. Tucker was one of the establishing chapter chairs of the bank’s black professional affinity group in St. Louis. She also has served as a member of the bank’s national Consumer Real Estate Diversity Action Council.
She serves as a board director for Epworth Children and Family Services and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. She also serves as vice president of FOCUS St. Louis’ Board of Directors and currently chairs its development committee.
Dexter Evans, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Dexter Evans is the senior director of manufacturing at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. For 23 years, he has held leadership roles in manufacturing within the pharmaceutical industry.
At Mallinckrodt, he is responsible for the manufacturing operations of radiopharmaceutical plants in the United States and Europe. His facilities specialize in the making of sterile fill and terminally sterilized pharmaceuticals.
“My manufacturing organization supports more than $300 million in annual sales,” Evans said, “and we have a proven track record of successfully operating in a very demanding regulatory and customer service environment.”
Evans earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Morris Brown College, and he also holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a graduate of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program.
The 14th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Thursday, November 14, 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, networking reception at 11 am, luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for VIP/Preferred seating, $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
