A refrain echoed through the ballroom before a single award was handed out — a reminder of dignity, resilience and possibility.
“I am somebody,” read KSDK news anchor Brent Solomon, invoking the words of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday. “I may have made a mistake but I am somebody. My face is different, my hair is different but I am somebody. I am God’s child.”
That affirmation set the tone for the St. Louis American Foundation’s 24th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business luncheon, held Thursday, Feb. 19, at The Ritz-Carlton in Clayton, where business and civic leaders gathered to celebrate achievement not simply as personal success, but as a pathway to collective progress.
At a time when equitable economic growth remains both an urgent priority and an ongoing challenge in the St. Louis region, the Salute to Excellence spotlights Black executives, entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders whose work strengthens communities, creates jobs and expands opportunity. Proceeds from the luncheon support the foundation’s education, workforce development and community-impact initiatives — investments designed to widen pathways to economic mobility across the metropolitan area.
This year’s honorees reflected the breadth of leadership shaping the region’s future. Keith Williamson received the Lifetime Achiever in Business Award. Akberet Boykin Farr was honored as Corporate Executive of the Year. Eric Rhone was named Entrepreneur of the Year, and Leslie Gill was recognized as Nonprofit Executive of the Year.
The luncheon recognizes excellence across corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, nonprofit service and community impact — underscoring the interconnected roles these sectors play in advancing economic stability and growth.
“The Salute to Excellence in Business is not just about individual achievement but about collective advancement,” Solomon told the audience. “Ensuring that access is expanded so that the next generation can see what’s possible.”
The packed ballroom reflected that possibility — executives seated alongside emerging professionals, nonprofit leaders in conversation with corporate sponsors, and young professionals observing models of success that look like them.
Allison Roberts of Greater St. Louis Inc. said the foundation’s mission closely aligns with her organization’s goal of ensuring that everyone in the region has an opportunity to thrive, regardless of background, race or ZIP code.
“We are proud to once again sponsor this event which advances the mission of the St. Louis American Foundation,” Roberts said.
For Geoffrey Ratliff, senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and partner with Ratliff Wealth Management Group, the celebration carries added weight.
“It’s especially important to recognize Black leaders in those spaces,” Ratliff said. Over the years, he noted, St. Louis has lost some of its top African American talent to larger markets such as New York, Chicago and Atlanta. Events like Salute to Excellence, he said, send a different message — that the region values and supports those who are building here.
Quoting the familiar phrase, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” Ratliff said expanding access to opportunity is essential to the city’s future.
“For people who have and are already doing, it’s important they recognize that the more opportunities we provide for younger people who wouldn’t otherwise have them, the better off St. Louis will be,” he said.
Jami Ballentine sees the luncheon as both affirmation and activation.
“Getting business professionals from all different sectors will only help our city grow economically,” she said.
But networking alone, she emphasized, is not enough.
“It’s not enough to be a mentor,” Ballentine said. “Open the door, pull a seat up to the table, provide the place setting. You need to escort people to the industry they want to be in.”
She believes young professionals should not just be invited into rooms — they should be positioned beside decision-makers.
“We need to make sure that someone who looks up to us is sitting next to us,” she said.
Kristy Jackson, executive director of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, echoed that call for intentionality.
“Be intentional about opening those doors and pathways so that we can share that information for the next generation,” Jackson said.
As the honorees accepted their awards, the applause in the ballroom felt less like a finale and more like a charge — a reminder that leadership carries responsibility. The Salute to Excellence in Business luncheon is as much about honoring those who have ascended as it is about ensuring the ladder remains firmly in place for others to climb.
If the evening’s opening words were a declaration of worth, its closing message was clear: St. Louis’ future depends on expanding opportunity, recognizing excellence and making sure that every “somebody” has the chance to become extraordinary.