Young Leader awardees chosen, Recognition event set for Feb. 21

A diverse group of 20 outstanding African-American professionals, under age 40, has been selected as the 2013 class of Young Leader award recipients.

The awardees will be profiled in the February 21 edition of The St. Louis American and will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s third annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception, Thursday, February 21, at the Chase Park Plaza.

This impressive class of Young Leaders includes a senior manager of corporate giving for the largest St. Louis-based company. Another is the CFO of a major non-profit entity.

Another is the supplier diversity manager for the nation’s largest minority-owned firm, with more than $4 billion in annual revenue. Another is the club director for a nationally-acclaimed boys and girls club. Another is an assistant professor at a prestigious university, with a doctorate and a master’s degree in public health.

What do they all have in common? They are all high-performing, young African-American professionals who have distinguished themselves in their professional field while also giving back to the community.

“A critical element of the sustainable progress and success in a community is able, committed leadership,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation.

The 2013 Young Leader awardees are:

Imani Anwisye-Mashele, MD, MPH

Family Medicine Resident

St. Louis University

Dominique Beeks

Senior Credit Analyst

Bank of America

L. Jared Boyd

Chief of Staff

St. Louis City Treasurer

Lakesha M. Butler, Pharm.D

Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Pharmacist

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy

Darius M. Chapman

Manager, Manufacturing Department

Office of the License Collector, City of St. Louis

Lathon G. Ferguson

Midwest Regional Manager

INROADS, Inc.

Shay Gillespie

Supplier Diversity Manager

World Wide Technology, Inc.

Charlisha Greene

Manager, Supply Chain Management

The Boeing Company

Jimmie D. Howlett

Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager

UMB Bank

Justin M. Johnson

Financial Services Professional

New York Life

Reggie Jones

Club Director

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis—Herbert Hoover

Alderman, City of Dellwood

Courtney Z. McCall

Assistant Vice President

Communications, Marketing, Alumni Affairs & Development

Harris-Stowe State University

Jason Q. Purnell, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Brown School, Washington University

William R. Ray, Jr.

Special Assistant to the County Executive

Office of the St. Louis County Executive

Rochelle Smith

Vice President-Operations

Provident Inc.

Keithen Stallings

Talent Advisor

Monsanto Company

Genesis Steele

Campus Coordinator/Interim Director, African American Male Initiative

St. Louis Community College

Kimberly Stemley

Chief Financial Officer

Rx Outreach Inc.

Nicole J. Taylor

Global Training Manager

Anheuser-Busch InBev

Pamela M. Weston

Senior Manager Corporate Giving

Express Scripts, Inc.

Dozens of Young Leader nominations were received, representing varied professionals in the private, public and non-profit sectors from throughout the region, for the 2013 event. A committee of their peers (African-American professionals under age 40) selected the 20 awardees.

The recognition event will be held from 5:30-7:30pm and will include complimentary beer and wine, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Partner sponsors for the Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception are Ameren Missouri, Edward Jones, Missouri State University, Regional Business Council, and St. Louis Community College.

Emerson is once again the lead sponsor of the Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception. Tickets are $25 each and can be reserved by calling 314-533-8000, emailing kdaniel@stlamerican.com, or visiting stlamerican.com.