If one digs up June McAllister Fowler’s senior yearbook at Soldan High School, right next to her photo it states that her career aspiration was to be a “human relations worker.”
“I had no idea what that was; I just knew I wanted to help people,” she said.
She’s now the vice president of corporate and public communications for BJC HealthCare.
What she loves most about her job is that no two days are the same, she said. One day she may be meeting with a set of legislators to discuss how to improve health care delivery to indigent residents. The next day she’s off to a suburban hospital to talk about how to serve up healthier food.
“I don’t really define myself as a corporate executive,” she said. “I think of myself generally as a worker. I’m just honored to work for an organization that I believe in and where I can help them meet their mission.”
On Nov. 10, Fowler will receive the Corporate Executive of the Year award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon. The award ceremony will be at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at 12 p.m., with a networking reception from 11 a.m. to noon.
Michael A. DeHaven, senior vice president and general counsel of
BJC HealthCare, said the impact June has had within BJC and on behalf of BJC in the community is profound.
“For the last seven years, her steady influence at BJC has been invaluable on countless high-profile projects and – just as important – in everyday discussions and decisions,” DeHaven said.
“June has an exceptional ability to create a shared vision and bring people together to bring the vision to reality.”
Entrepreneurs’ kid
With her parents both entrepreneurs who opened up their own dry cleaning business, Fowler knew she was not going to follow in those tireless footsteps. So she followed what she calls the standard “ingredients for success.” Set a goal, study hard and continue to stretch her limits.
Yet when she thinks about the significant moments in her life that influenced her path, she gets a little weepy.
“They have all come from connections with other people who have all been so generous with sharing,” she said, adding that many of them have passed.
“One of the things I love about living in St. Louis is that people are incredibly generous with their time. They are willing to share with you the benefit of their knowledge.”
After graduating with a master’s degree in urban affairs from Washington University, she started her career “coloring maps” as an urban planner with St. Louis County government. She stayed there 16 years and became the director of the planning department. She then went onto to work for Mallinckrodt.
Badge of courage
Within her career, Fowler said that she has often been the only person of color in meetings. But part of her goal is to make sure that she doesn’t stay the only person of color, she said.
“Those of us who have been fortunate enough to rise through the ranks have to remember that we’ve got to keep opening those doors,” she said.
“We can’t be comfortable with being the only ones or thinking that’s a badge of courage. If you are the only one, maybe you’re not as good as you think you are.”
In graduate school, she fell in love with Flint Fowler, now the president of Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, at an undergraduate dance party. Last year, Flint received the St. Louis American Foundation’s Non-Profit Executive of the Year award.
The community-changing duo has three children: Jessica, Stacey and Evan. One is in medical school, one is in law school and the other is looking towards entering a pharmacy school.
Fowler now works for the largest private employer in the state, with more than 27,000 employees.
“We are in this geography, and we are committed to this region,” Fowler said. “All of our resources as a not-for-profit go back into helping to improve health care for the people in the communities we serve.”
The St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, with a networking reception at 11am until noon. General seating is $75, tables of 10 are $750. Preferred seating is $100/$1,000. Call 314-533-8000 ext. 325, or ext. 305.
