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If an economic
development professional sat down to design a desirable company
to move into town, it just might look like A.G. Edwards Inc.
The firm employs 5,100—good jobs— at its headquarters on the western
edge of downtown St. Louis. One of the largest brokerages in the
country, A.G. Edwards has more than 7,000 financial consultants
throughout the United States and England. Through a generous—and
we’re told, much appreciated—employee stock purchase plan, employees
own 20 percent of the company.
That collective equity, along with flexible work rules and uncomplicated
access to senior management, were prime contributors to A.G. Edwards’
selection for both editions of the book, 100 Best Companies To
Work For In America, as well as six annual 100 Best surveys
in Fortune Magazine. Barely a handful of companies can claim
that distinction.
The campus features 2.7 million square feet of cleanly stylish office
buildings at the corner of Market Street and Jefferson Avenue, where
it anchors what had been, years ago, the eastern end of the old
Mill Creek blighted area. Underscoring A.G. Edwards’ continuing
commitment to the City of St. Louis and the region, one million
square feet of construction have come on line since Bob Bagby took
the job as chairman and CEO in 2001.
For perspective, the world’s largest office building, the Pentagon,
has 3,705,397 square feet.
Sandra Van Trease, president and CEO of UNICARE Life & Health Insurance
is the subject of this month’s profile. Sandra is a native of west
St. Louis County. She has her undergraduate degree from UMSL and
her MBA from Washington University.
After 12 years at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Sandra as a CPA, moved
to RightCHOICE Managed Care Inc. where she helped take the company
public. After taking it public, she helped establish the Missouri
Foundation for Health, now the largest foundation in St. Louis.
She was RightCHOICE’s president and COO when WellPoint bought the
company in early 2002. UNICARE, with annual revenues at $2 billion,
contributes a tonic for the parent company’s financial health.
Sandra tells our writer Kevin Kipp that UNICARE is exceptionally
strong in individual and small group health plans for companies
up to 50 employees, and also very competitive in serving companies
with up to 5,000 employees. Their creativity and willingness to
innovate is key to their success, she says. UNICARE also distinguishes
itself in the market by offering products beyond health: life, dental
and disability.
In other stories, the coveted 2004 U.S. Senior Open comes to Bellerive
Country Club; local engineering firms detail their most challenging
projects; and physicians explain why they are increasingly getting
into the free-standing surgery center business.
These are just some of the features that you’ll enjoy in this month’s
issue of St. Louis Commerce Magazine.
RICHARD C.D. FLEMING
President and Chief Executive Officer
St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association
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