|
 |
|
|
Compiled by Lauri Johnson
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE FOCUSES REGION
ON SMART INFRASTRUCTURE
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) St. Louis sponsored a program
called Smart Infrastructure for Focused Growth in response to
a growing awareness of infrastructure safety generated by the
bridge collapse in Minneapolis earlier this year. Held in September
at the Sheraton Westport Chalet in Westport Plaza, the program
addressed a growing concern that the region’s highways, bridges,
local roads, sanitary and storm sewer systems, mass transit
systems and airport terminals will not support all of the demands
being placed upon them.
Featured speaker Robert Dunphy, ULI senior resident fellow in
transportation and infrastructure, addressed the following issues:
> What can a moderate-growth heartland region do to
address this infrastructure crisis?
> How have similar heartland regions implemented a
successful infrastructure strategy?
> What are the roles of the federal, state and local
governments, the private sector and the development community
in addressing this issue?
Dunphy was followed by panelists Les Sterman, executive director
of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments; Garry Earls,
chief operating officer of St. Louis County; and Don Musick
of Musick Construction Company.
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEDICATES
WILDWOOD CAMPUS
St. Louis Community College officials and representatives from
the city of Wildwood and the University of Missouri-St. Louis
recently dedicated the college’s new campus at 2645 Generations
Drive in Wildwood, Mo.
College representatives who participated in the dedication were
Robert Nelson, president of the college’s board of trustees;
Henry Shannon, former chancellor; Pam McIntyre, acting president
at the Wildwood campus; Zelema Harris, chancellor; and Carla
Chance, vice chancellor of finance and business services. They
were joined by University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas
George and Wildwood Mayor Edward Marshall.
The Wildwood campus opened for classes in August with more than
1,200 students enrolled. The initial building is a 75,000-square-foot
structure that is also the region’s first “green”-roofed college
building.
The facility houses high-tech classrooms and labs, a library,
student services, lounges, a bookstore, a multipurpose room,
and rooms equipped with sophisticated presentation and Web-based
technologies.
UMSL INSTITUTES BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA EXCHANGE
PROGRAM
The University of Missouri-St. Louis recently created a unique
exchange program with two universities in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Starting this academic year, UMSL students have the opportunity
to study at the University of Sarajevo or the University of
Tuzla. Likewise, Bosnian students from those universities will
be able to enroll in classes at UMSL.
The exchange initiative had been in the works for nearly a year
before coming to fruition through the Center for International
Studies at UMSL. Rita Csapo-Sweet, associate professor of media
studies at UMSL, spearheaded the program and worked closely
with officials in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“At UMSL, they will perfect their English language skills and
have access to our extraordinary facilities,” says Csapo-Sweet,
a faculty fellow with the Center for International Studies at
UMSL. “For example, even though Sarajevo is one of the major
cultural capitals of Europe, access to UMSL’s Blanche M. Touhill
Performing Arts Center will be an opportunity the Bosnian universities
can’t provide their students while rebuilding their war-torn
country.”
With a population of more than 50,000, the Bosnian community
in St. Louis is thought to be the largest outside of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAINT LOUIS REACHES
2007 BUILD FUNDRAISING GOAL
Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis has reached its 2007 Build
fundraising goal of $2,016,953 ahead of schedule, resulting
in its largest fundraising effort to date. The funds raised
are designated for the completion of 25 new homes in the Mark
Twain neighborhood in the city of St. Louis and for site support
expenses as houses continue to be built by volunteers.
“In order to expand our capacity in an effort to meet the tremendous
need for affordable housing in the St. Louis area, it is important
that we raise the dollars needed for annual house production,”
states Kimberly McKinney, Habitat’s CEO. “As each year’s production
numbers increase, we will need more and more partners in this
important work.”
Lead financial contributors included Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans, The Electrical Connection, UCC, an anonymous donor
and various faith-based groups, corporations and individuals.
TWENTY-SIX St. Louis Leaders NAMED AGELESS-REMARKABLE
ST. LOUISANS
For the fifth year in a row, St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors
has celebrated the integrity, commitment, expertise, vitality
and generosity of 26 adults, 75 years and older, whose contributions
are reshaping the face of aging in the St. Louis community.
The organization honored these individuals at its annual Ageless-Remarkable
St. Louisans gala in November at the Chase Park Plaza.
“Each year, we continue to be amazed with the incredible lives
of our Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans,” states Mary Alice Ryan,
president and CEO of St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors. “They
are living proof that age is truly nothing more than a number,
and we are honored to have the chance to recognize them for
their countless contributions on the job front and in the community,
and for their desire and commitment to living life to the fullest
at any age.”
A sample of outstanding honorees includes William Knowles, Nobel
Prize winner in chemistry from St. Louis; Francis R. Slay Sr.,
a democratic committeeman in St. Louis and a former Missouri
state representative; Dr. Kenneth Smith Jr., who has served
as a professor of neurosurgery at Saint Louis University for
42 years; and Dr. Donald Suggs, an oral surgeon and the current
president and publisher of the St. Louis American newspaper.
For a complete list of honorees, visit www.standrews1.com.
THE SAIGH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $1.725
MILLION ENDOWMENT TO SAINT LOUIS ZOO
The Saigh Foundation has announced a gift of $1.725 million
to the Saint Louis Zoo to endow the position of the Fred Saigh
Curator of the Children’s Zoo. The endowment will support hands-on
educational opportunities for thousands of children each year,
made possible by the zoo’s dedicated staff.
“In honor of Fred Saigh and his dedication to the youth of St.
Louis, The Saigh Foundation is pleased to make this gift so
that future generations may continue to have a one-of-a-kind
learning experience at the Emerson Children’s Zoo,” stated JoAnn
Hejna, executive director of The Saigh Foundation.
FOCUS ST. LOUIS TASK FORCE RELEASES REPORT ON THE REGION’S DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
A FOCUS St. Louis task force has released the results of an
in-depth study on regional disaster preparedness, which reveals
that although the bi-state region has made progress, many issues
still need to be addressed. FOCUS St. Louis convened the task
force in August 2006 and launched a research and deliberation
process to put the issue of disaster preparedness front and
center in the minds of the region’s citizens.
The report identifies the disasters most likely to strike the
region, offers a snapshot of the region’s state of readiness,
and highlights ways the region—and each of us as individuals—can
improve our ability to withstand and recover from mega-disasters.
Out of nearly 20 recommendations developed by the task force,
several key recommendations emerged as integral measures for
better preparation:
> Develop a regional emergency coordination plan.
> Establish a communication and coordination system
for secondary responders.
> Strengthen grassroots networks for communication
and assistance at the local level.
> Educate residents about being prepared for emergencies.
> Ask every major business to commit to promoting
individual preparedness education within their company.
“Right now, six years after 9/11, the good news is that huge
steps have been taken to become better prepared. There is a
cooperative spirit here as well as innovative efforts underway
to improve disaster readiness,” stated Barrett Toan, task force
co-chair and retired CEO of Express-Scripts. “However, too many
unanswered questions remain when it comes to disaster preparedness.
Who will be in charge? How do we decide where to channel resources?
The work of individual groups to better prepare this region
is substantial, but we lack cohesion among the many different
entities involved.”
The entire report can be downloaded at www.focus-stl.org.
HOK’S ODELL SERVES AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
AT NATIONAL LABORATORY DESIGN CONFERENCE
Scientists and other lab space users, designers and builders
from around the U.S. descended on St. Louis in September for
R&D Magazine’s Laboratory Design Conference. The three-day national
conference featured presentations on green design in biotech/science
research facilities, as well as other topics. Bill Odell, director
of HOK Science + Technology Group, served as the keynote speaker
and discussed green design trends in creating high-tech lab
space.
An architect for more than 30 years, Odell is one of the nation’s
leading proponents of sustainable design and co-author of The
HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design, published by John
Wiley & Sons. Locally, his work has included the Sigma-Aldrich
Life Science and High Technology Center, the Donald Danforth
Plant Science Center and the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise.
PEABODY ENERGY CHAIRMAN AND CEO HONORED
FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Peabody Energy Chairman and CEO Gregory H. Boyce has been honored
with a Distinguished Service Award from the University of Arizona’s
college of engineering. Boyce was honored for his contributions
to the energy industry and leadership in developing innovative
solutions for America's energy needs using clean coal technologies.
"Coal is the backbone of our energy resource portfolio, and
we honor Greg for his leadership and innovation as Chairman
and CEO of the world's largest coal company,” stated Tom Peterson,
dean of the university’s College of Engineering. “He epitomizes
the leadership strength that comes from an educational background
and business experience that combines engineering and management."
Boyce is a University of Arizona alumnus and has extensive management,
operating and engineering experience. His leadership activities
include serving as vice chairman of the World Coal Institute
and as a member of the Coal Industry Advisory Board of the International
Energy Agency.
THE ST. LOUIS BUSINESS DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
CELEBRATES INAUGURAL FELLOWS PROGRAM
On Sept. 20, the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative honored
its first class of fellows and ushered in the second class of
future business leaders during a reception and program at Sheldon
Concert Hall. Retired AT&T executive Priscilla Hill-Ardoin and
Worldwide Technology’s Dave Steward led a discussion on leadership
at the event.
The organization launched the fellows program last year as a
strategic tool to assist with the retention of minority executives
within the region. The program also strives to help these professionals
succeed within their own companies, develop their careers and
become community leaders.
Fellows are selected and recommended by participating corporations
for the year-long program. In addition to the curriculum, participants
take part in workshops and meetings hosted by business leaders
who share best practices and advice on development, relationship
building and civic engagement.
The initiative is made possible by the following sponsors: Civic
Progress, St. Louis RCGA, St. Louis Minority Business Council,
Leadership Council, Southwestern Illinois, FOCUS ST. LOUIS and
The Regional Business Council.
|
|
|
|
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
