RBC announces scholarship fund
Of the St. Louis American
Katherine Anderson, the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year, said her firm’s success is due in large part to the dedicated employees of Andy’s Seasonings.
“A lot of credit goes to having good employees,” Anderson told more than 500 guests during the 7th Salute to Excellence in Business Luncheon last Thursday at the Renaissance Grand Hotel.
“I thank the employees for staying with us when times were tough. You really have to appreciate them; without them, you have no business.
“I thank them for supporting me.”
Mark Darrell, Laclede Gas general counsel and 2006 Corporate Executive of the Year, said he encourages employees “to expand their horizons.”
“As a manager, I try to allow people to do their best.”
Darrell, who joined Laclede two years ago, said he wants to leave an impact on the community through service, saying, “I’m involved in some organizations, and I hope to become involved in more.”
“I’ve come in from the outside and fit in successfully,” Darrell said of his time at Laclede.
“I was given a challenge, and things have worked out for me.”
Theresa Mayberry, Grace Hill Settlement House president and 2006 Non-Profit Executive of the Year, said, as CEO of 19 programs encompassing Head Start to business development to elderly services, “We understand people need all kinds of resources to make their lives better.
“People we serve believe in us and what we do.”
The Annie Casey Foundation honored Grace Hill this year, and its Head Start program is a National Standard for Learning honoree.
Mayberry said Grace Hill is proof that “people can change if they are given the opportunity.”
Brown Shoe Company’s diversity program was honored with the 2006 Corporate Diversity Award. Its CEO, Ron Fromm, said he wanted to “set a tone” at the firm when it comes to diversity.
He said there was not much diversity at the corporate offices a few years ago, “so we began building partnerships.”
“We reached out to the Jackie Robinson Foundation and St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA). We are trying to make a difference. We believe diversity makes a difference,” he said.
The St. Louis American Foundation, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and RCGA present the annual event.
Bob Wallace, St. Louis Rams vice president and general counsel and Urban League board chair, said of the honorees and the Top 25 African-American-owned businesses, “Your hard work makes us all feel proud.
“This is a special day for us to come together and celebrate your triumphs.”
Kathy Osborn, founder and president of the Regional Business Council, said, “The road to success is not for the faint of heart. But success is achievable.”
Osborn also announced that the RBC would make an annual commitment of $5,000 to the St. Louis American Foundation for students planning to study business in college. The students will be selected from one of the 13 schools participating in the RBC Higher Education Collaboration.
Dick Fleming, RCGA president and CEO, said he and other business and civic leaders could now go to Atlanta on the annual Leadership Trip “with success stories of our own.”
Herman Hanner, president of Professional Environmental Engineers Inc. in St. Louis, was also recognized during the luncheon. His firm was named as the Small Business Association Region 7 Minority Small Business of the Year. His firm was one of 10 honored nationally at an August reception in Washington, D.C.
“I have to thank my staff,” Hanner said.
“It takes great people to develop great companies.”