Once again, The St. Louis American Foundation is preparing for its Salute to Excellence in Business Awards and Networking Luncheon. The 24th annual event, to be held Thursday, Feb. 19, at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, was designed to create space for celebration, networking, dialogue and cross-sector collaboration.
The event recognizes leaders in business, entrepreneurship, corporate leadership and nonprofit service, while raising funds for the foundation’s education, workforce development and community-impact initiatives aimed at expanding access to opportunity across the region.
This year’s honorees include Keith Williamson, president of the Centene Charitable Foundation (Lifetime Achiever in Business); Akberet Boykin-Farr, vice president of diversity and social responsibility at Emerson (Corporate Executive of the Year); Eric Rhone, entrepreneur and entertainment executive (Entrepreneur of the Year); and Leslie Gill, president and CEO of Rung for Women (Nonprofit Executive of the Year).
“We are honored to recognize outstanding leaders whose dedication and service have made a meaningful impact on our community,” said St. Louis American Foundation Board Chair Michael Holmes. “Through their efforts, St. Louis is a better place to live and work and we invite everyone to join us as we celebrate and honor their contributions.”
Organizers said the luncheon has grown in significance as the region continues grappling with long-standing economic disparities while also pursuing new opportunities for innovation and growth. In addition to recognizing honorees, the event is designed to create space for cross-sector connections and collaboration.
Rodney Boyd, founder and partner with the Nexus Group, who was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year at last year’s Salute, emphasized the long-term value of investing in community and business infrastructure.
“It isn’t important that people remember Rodney Boyd — it really isn’t,” Boyd said. “It is important for me to build the kind of infrastructure around planting some trees and building some bridges so that 50 or 60 years from now — when my name is forgotten and just on a headstone — people will be sitting under those trees, enjoying the shade, eating the fruit and traveling across those bridges to get wherever they need to go.”
Details about tickets, sponsorship opportunities and the full program will be released in the coming weeks.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.