|
 |
|
|
By Jane Beckerdite
Moving the region forward was the battle cry of the 168th annual meeting of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) held Jan. 12 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel. More than 900 business and civic leaders attended the banquet.
 David Steward, Chairman & Founder, World Wide Technology Inc. gave the invocation for the dinner. |
|
St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay praised the efforts of the assembled regional leaders.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you have done. The tables are turning and St. Louis is shedding its inferiority complex. More and more people are working. And last year we issued more building permits than any year in history,” he said.
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, Missouri U.S. Rep. Todd Akin and Illinois U.S. Rep. John Shimkus also were among the evening’s speakers.
Blunt received a standing ovation as he took the stage. He spoke of the importance of being a responsible steward of the state’s tax dollars.
“One of the most challenging things a governor does is to issue tax dollars to a school district. But what’s even more important is growing Missouri’s entrepreneurial climate.”
Hinting at President George W. Bush’s recent visit to the area to discuss legal remedies for healthcare professionals, Blunt highlighted the importance of legal reform for commerce.
“I’ll insist we pass meaningful tort reform to free up business owners,” Blunt said.
| RCGA Immediate Past Chairman Douglas Yaeger (left) and RCGA Chairman Scott Schnuck (right) present the 2004 Right Arm of St. Louis Award to retired Ameren Chairman and CEO Chuck Mueller (middle). |
|
Chuck Mueller, retired Ameren chairman and CEO and RCGA chairman from 1996-97, received the Right Arm of St. Louis Award–the RCGA’s most prestigious accolade. The honor is bestowed annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to the St. Louis region. Created in 1975, the award is a symbol used to recognize the recipient’s significant leadership to the St. Louis community.
Stepping down this year as RCGA Chairman of the Board, Doug Yaeger reflected on the unwavering abilities of the new chairman, Scott Schnuck.
| (Left to right): RCGA President & CEO Dick Fleming presents an award to RCGA Immediate Past Chairman Douglas Yaeger for his efforts as chair, along with RCGA Chairman Scott Schnuck. |
|
“As I pass the baton to Scott, I have no doubt he’ll do a great job,” Yaeger said.
Taking the stage, Schnuck acknowledged that Yaeger would “be a tough act to follow,” but that he would do his best for the St. Louis region.
“Together we must roll up our sleeves and work together,” he said.
Political analysts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala,
formerly of CNN’s Crossfire, provided entertainment for the evening, singing both the virtues and inadequacies of current and former politicos.
| Entertainment for the evening included Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson
(wearing a bowtie) formerly of CNN’s Crossfire. |
|
Like coaches preparing for a big game, encouraging words from various speakers bounced around the room.
• “The RCGA is the catalyst for economic development.”
• “The year 2004 has been a landmark year.”
• “Our downtown is a buzz of activity.”
• “We’ve only just begun.”
CORPORATE SPONSORS
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS INC.
AMEREN CORPORATION
ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES INC.
ARMSTRONG TEASDALE LLP
BJC HEALTHCARE
BKD LLP
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF MISSOURI
THE BOEING CO.
BRYAN CAVE LLP
CENTENE CORPORATION
COMMERCE BANK
DAIMLERCHRYSLER NORTH & SOUTH PLANTS
DELOITTE
DUKE REALTY CORPORATION
EDWARD JONES
ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
97.1 FM TALK
FIRST BANK
FRED WEBER INC.
GUARANTEE ELECTRICAL CO.
HOK GROUP INC.
JACOBS
KMOX NEWS/TALK 1120
KPMG LLP
KSDK NEWSCHANNEL 5
KWMU-FM
THE LACLEDE GROUP INC.
MALLINCKRODT/TYCO HEALTHCARE
MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES INC.
MCEAGLE PROPERTIES LLC/PARIC CORPORATION
MONSANTO COMPANY
NATIONAL CITY BANK
PEABODY ENERGY
PECKHAM, GUYTON, ALBERS & VIETS INC.
ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL
ST. LOUIS COMMERCE MAGAZINE
SBC MISSOURI
SCHNUCK MARKETS INC./THE DESCO GROUP
SIGMA-ALDRICH CORPORATION
SLAY INDUSTRIES
SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
THOMPSON COBURN LLP
UMB BANK N.A.
UNIVERSAL PRINTING COMPANY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
U.S. BANK
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
WEBSTER UNIVERSITY
WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY INC. |
|
|
|
|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
