GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE RECOGNIZES TWO SUSTAINABLE MILESTONES IN ST. LOUIS The Alberici Corporation’s new corporate headquarters has become the first building in the country to earn a rating of Four Green Globes from the Green Building Initiative’s Green Global™ environmental assessment and rating system for commercial structures. The project team, led by sustainability consulting firm Vertegy, received high marks for its use of water conservation strategies, incorporation of the integrated design process, and selection of low-impact building materials. The site’s sustainable features include a 65-kilowatt wind turbine for energy creation, use of materials with recycled content, and remediation of a brownfield site. “We commend the project team for transforming a 1950s office building into the beautiful and efficient building it is today,” stated Ward Hubbell, executive director of the Green Building Initiative. “They took special care to create a building that shines as a model of sustainability.” Hubbell also honored the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri’s residential green verification building program on its one-year anniversary. As a result of this program, nearly 20 green homes have been built in the region over the past year and 57 HBA members have been trained in sustainable building techniques. For more information about RCGA Public Policy Environmental Initiatives, click here. ST. LOUIS RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FROM URBAN LAND INSTITUTE The Urban Land Institute St. Louis District Council received a national award for its Young Leaders Group at the institute’s annual meeting in Denver. The award, one of only two given to Young Leaders Groups nationally, was presented to Young Leaders Group St. Louis for production of an outstanding program on the Financial Toolbox Workshop Series. “This award reflects the quality programs being produced in St. Louis for the benefit of young real estate leaders as ULI St. Louis moves forward with its mission of ‘Building Better Communities,’” stated Jack Reis, chairman of ULI St. Louis and president of EVS Realty Advisors. DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS PARTNERSHIP PRESENTS BETTER DOWNTOWN AWARD The Downtown St. Louis Partnership, along with Southwest Bank, honored downtown organizations and improvement projects with Better Downtown Awards on Nov. 16, 2006, at the Old Post Office in St. Louis. The awards are granted in two categories—Cityscape Awards and Better Downtown Awards—to projects that improve the physical environment of the downtown area at the pedestrian level. Cityscape Awards were presented to the following projects for improving the street-level environment of their immediate downtown neighborhood: The Bogen Fashion Square—Boxers/Beverly’s Hill Campbell House Museum fence Cupples Station Lofts Gateway Tower Façade Hilton at Ballpark Broadway entrance People’s National Bank Security Building Windows on Washington sign The following projects earned Better Downtown Awards for calling attention to downtown revitalization on a regional level: The Bee Hat Building (Paper Dolls/Dubliner) City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Lewis and Clark— The Captain’s Return statue Macy’s Mike Shannon’s The St. Louis Planter The Vincent J. Bommarito— Special Merit Award was presented to Busch Stadium and the Old Post Office. FINALISTS CHOSEN IN OLIN CUP COMPETITION Seven finalists have been chosen in the 2006 Olin Cup Competition, an annual business formation contest organized by The Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University. Bio Rankings, ChemBionix, Natural Capital, Neurolife, Senetric, Smart DNA Solutions and Social Network Systems are the seven finalists chosen to compete for up to $75,000 in start-up funding. The next step is to complete a full business plan for their new ventures, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony this month. www.sc.wustl.edu For more information on the entrepreneurial environment in the St. Louis Region, click here. 2007 NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CONFERENCE TO CONVENE IN ST. LOUIS The city of St. Louis has been chosen to host the National Urban League’s annual conference on July 25-28, 2007. More than 15,000 participants are expected to converge at the St. Louis Convention Center. Anheuser-Busch and U.S. Bank will serve as the conference’s title sponsors with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Emerson serving as co-sponsors. The National Urban League conference is the premier networking, recruiting and issues conference for African-American professionals nationwide. The conference highlights include a career fair with more than 100 FORTUNE 500 companies and recruiters; top speakers in business, politics and academia; 350 interactive exhibits; career coaching; sessions on building wealth; and other opportunities. GENE SEQUENCING CENTER RECIEVES $156 MILLION GRANT The Genome Sequencing Center at Washington University School of Medicine has been awarded a $156 million, four-year grant to use DNA sequencing to unlock the secrets of cancer and other human diseases. The grant is one of only three given by the National Human Genome Research Institute to sequencing centers in this country and is among the largest received by Washington University. “At a time when funding for basic research is declining in real dollars, the grant is a tremendous shot in the arm for Washington University,” states Dr. Larry Shapiro, executive vice chancellor and dean of Washington University School of Medicine. Genome sequencing involves spelling out the sequences of letters (A, C, G and T) that make up the genetic codes of all living beings. Researchers will focus on disease genes, particularly those involved in cancer. The university’s scientists will also sequence the genomes of non-human primates such as chimpanzees, macaques, orangutans, marmosets and gibbons to reveal why those animals aren’t affected by certain diseases that plague humans, despite our similar genomes. To learn more information about Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, click here. ST. LOUIS FOR KIDS RECEIVES GRANT FROM MISSOURI FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH St. Louis for Kids has been awarded a $239,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health to increase health and fitness offerings in after-school programs in the city of St. Louis. The award will bring Fit 4 Fun, a curriculum and staff-training initiative, to 40 after-school programs that serve more than 2,000 students, many of whom can’t afford to participate in organized physical activities and don’t receive good nutrition at home. “The epidemic of childhood obesity, which has become the number one preventable disease among youth, has become a high priority for area youth programs and for us,” stated Jama Dodson, executive director of St. Louis for Kids. St. Louis for Kids is a local nonprofit organization that provides leadership, coordination, technical assistance and advocacy to the region’s youth-serving organizations. NEW CONSORTIUM MAKES IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO OFFER HOUSING BENEFITS A new Employer Assisted Housing Consortium, launched by FOCUS St. Louis, is promoting and supporting the use of employer-sponsored housing benefits programs. Such programs are particularly beneficial to hospitals, universities, school districts and other public employers that often have difficulty attracting employees who can buy homes near their workplaces. The consortium’s programs generally include employer-sponsored down payments for home ownership in the form of second mortgage loans that are usually forgivable after a specified time of employment. Employers are offering these perks as part of an employee’s benefits package and can greatly reduce their costs associated with employee recruitment and retention. Beyond Housing, Freddie Mac and FOCUS St. Louis have spearheaded the effort and received leadership from Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment Corporation. Other consortium members include the RCGA and Anheuser-Busch Employees’ Credit Union. MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN'S RECYCLING PROGRAM KEEPS 70,000 POUNDS OF PLASTIC OUT OF LANDFILLS The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plastic Pot Recycling Program set a new record during the 2006 collection period by saving 70,000 pounds of waste from landfills. Over six weekends in May and June, Garden workers and volunteers collected approximately 700 pounds of plastic gardening containers, polystyrene, and polypropylene cell packs and trays per hour over the course of 102 operating hours. “We continue to see increased participation each year, which has inspired us to expand the program by acquiring new granulation machinery and developing a better way to handle the mix of plastic,” states Dr. Steven Cline of the Kemper Center and Pot Recycling Program founder and manager. “We have also found that off-site collections are extremely productive, and feel the future of this effort lies in this satellite collection approach.” Approximately 20,000 pounds of horticultural waste were also collected by Waldbart & Sons, For the Garden by Haefners, Summerwinds at Timber Creek, Schmittels Nursery, City of Kirkwood Recycling Center, and City of St. Peters Recycling Center. The waste is transformed into black plastic lumber through the Pots to Planks program and is currently sold to contractors for production of railroad ties and landscape timbers. CCC WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION The Construction Careers Center (CCC) and the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis (AGC) have been awarded a prestigious National Workforce Development Award from the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), a national association of leading corporations in the U.S. and Canada dedicated to promoting cost effective construction methods. CURT is composed of representatives from such nationally recognized companies as General Electric, Boeing, DaimlerChrysler, Pfizer and Ameren. The CURT Workforce Development Awards recognizes that training, education and recruitment are essential to excellence in construction. CCC and AGC were selected from a pool of applicants representing national trade associations, contractors, unions, local labor-management associations, owners, educational institutions, and public school systems. The committee recognized the school for its ”unique pathway to preparing high school students for the industry”. Representatives from the school and the AGC accepted the award at the National Construction Conference in Tucson, Ariz. The CCC is the first charter high school sponsored by the AGC of St. Louis and St. Louis Public Schools, and approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The school’s four-year, fully accredited curriculum was designed by the construction industry to prepare students for entry into direct employment, a construction apprenticeship training program, a community college, or a four-year degree institution. The school graduated its second class of seniors in 2006, and currently enrolls 365 students. “To receive this award just five years after accepting our first students is amazing,” said Leonard Toenjes, AGC President. The AGC of St. Louis is the united voice of the area construction industry, representing over 450 area construction firms. Last year alone, AGC of St. Louis member firms put in place nearly $2 billion in projects throughout the St. Louis region. UNITED WAY SURPASSES $66 MILLION FUNDRAISING GOAL The United Way of Greater St. Louis surpassed its 2006 fundraising goal by raising $66 million in gifts and pledges in just over two months. The organization celebrated the amazing accomplishment with a victory luncheon on Nov. 15, 2006, at America’s Center. United Way Campaign Chairman Steve Maritz, chairman of the board and CEO at Maritz Inc., addressed a crowd of nearly 1,000 campaign volunteers and contributors who attended the luncheon. Several thousand volunteers worked on the 2006 campaign, which included employee groups, labor unions, businesses, corporations and government employees. DATA SECURITY RANKS AS TOP CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY BANKS An annual survey conducted by the Independent Community Bankers of America has shown that data security and check imaging are top priorities among technology concerns being addressed by community banks. The sixth annual Community Bank Technology Survey revealed that more than two-thirds of community banks offering online banking services use an intrusion detection service, up from 38 percent a year ago. Forty-eight percent use intrusion-prevention software, and nearly three-fourths of community banks have 24-hour, seven-days-a-week network monitoring. “Community banks are on the forefront of adopting technology and using it to benefit their customers,” states Don Hutson, a partner at the St. Louis office of BKD LLP, a co-sponsor of the survey. Complete survey results can be found at www.icba.org or at www.bkd.com. SAINT LOUIS ZOO PRESENTS CONSERVATION AWARDS AT 15TH ANNUAL MARLIN PERKINS SOCIETY DINNER The Saint Louis Zoo presented its annual awards to outstanding community leaders and Zoo supporters at the 15th annual Marlin Perkins Society dinner on Nov. 2, 2006. Leo A. Drey, a Missouri timber magnate, conservationist and philanthropist, was honored with the Saint Louis Zoo Conservation Award. Drey began acquiring timberland in the southern Ozark Mountains for reforestation and conservation in 1950. Eventually he amassed nearly 160,000 acres, the largest private landholding in the state and larger than Missouri’s entire state park system. Edward Jones received the Zoo Corporate Award for its employees’ volunteer efforts and for providing leadership on the Zoo’s board of trustees. The company has contributed nearly one million dollars to the Zoo over the past 12 years. The Individual Zoo Award was presented to long-time Zoo supporters William and Laura Rand Orthwein for their lead gift to the Orthwein Animal Nutrition Center, which is currently under construction, and their challenge gift to the Marlin Perkins Society. HOK HONORED BY U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL The U.S. Green Building Council honored HOK with the Organizational Excellence award in the 2006 USGBC Leadership Awards program at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in November 2006. The awards were presented to select companies and individuals with exceptional vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green building design and construction. The first large design firm to join the council, HOK and its leaders in sustainable design helped develop the first LEED rating system. HOK also was the first firm to have 100 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff and now maintains more than 430. DISCOVER! 370 CELEBRATES HIGHWAY 370 CORRIDOR’S DECADE OF GROWTH Civic group Discover! 370 honored prominent business leaders, companies and county governments for their visionary roles in the growth of the Highway 370 corridor during a 10-year celebration and evening awards reception. During the reception, the following business leaders were honored for their roles in the corridor’s development: Rodney Thomas and Michael Towerman of TRiSTAR Business Communities; former TRiSTAR executive Lawrence Chapman (now of Clayco); Steven Brown and Don Land of Balke Brown Associates; Hyatt Bangert and Robert Millstone of MB Properties and The Millstone Company; and Greg Whittaker of Whittaker Homes. St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and St. Charles County Council President Bob Schnur also accepted awards on behalf of their respective county governments. “Since the 12-mile Highway 370 corridor was fully opened in November 1996, this dynamic transportation link between St. Charles and St. Louis Counties has experienced unprecedented growth, and we look forward to recognizing some of the many outstanding individuals, companies, and organizations that made it all possible,” stated Nadine Boon, chairwoman of Discover! 370 and economic development director for the city of St. Charles. For more information about Transportation and Infrastructure in the region, click here. SISTERS OF MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM HONORED AS SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals has named Sisters of Mercy Health System and its supply chain operating division, Resource Optimization & Innovation, the 2006 Supply Chain Innovator of the Year. Mercy became the first healthcare organization to win the international honor, beating out six other finalists that included The Dow Chemical Company, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Kellogg’s and Procter & Gamble. Resource Optimization & Innovation was recognized for providing the impetus for an organization-wide medication safety initiative called Mercy Meds. The program resulted in a redesign of Mercy’s medication administration process, ensuring that the right medication is given to the right patient in the right dosage at the right time. The annual award honors an organization’s outstanding innovations as demonstrated by customer satisfaction achievements, quantifiable and sustainable cost-savings, and revenue generation. Redbirds Are Winners—Once Again By Bill Beggs Jr. Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr., General Manager Walt Jocketty and Manager Tony LaRussa received this years Right Arm of St. Louis Award, given since 1975 to those who have contributed leadership and service to the community. “I thought he had the wrong extension at Busch Stadium,” DeWitt said of the call he got from Dick Fleming, RCGA president and CEO. Then, referring specifically to the name of the award, DeWitt quipped: “I thought he was looking for Adam Wainwright.” The glory of a championship may attract positive national attention for awhile, but the economic impact of the new stadium and Ballpark Village development will mean billions to the regional economy in general—and downtown in particular—for 12 months a year. Scott Schnuck, outgoing RCGA chairman, was joined by a chorus of regional political leaders to help drive this point home. “Our baseball team is a big reason for the turnaround of the City,” said Mayor Francis Slay, noting that acclaim for the long-awaited championship is one thing, but more important in the long run are “new revenues and reversing the negative image of the City.” In his final act as chair, supermarket scion Schnuck handed the reins to a literal power broker—Gary Rainwater, CEO of AmerenUE. St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, new St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, Madison County Board Chair Alan Dunston and St. Clair County Board Chair Mark Kern each conveyed welcome to the dinner audience. Dunston underscored the importance of a new Mississippi River bridge to “true regionalism” and the continued growth and well-being of the region. During the dinner in the storied Khorassan Room, a video touting the “Perfectly Centered. Remarkably Connected.” marketing campaign was shown, featuring testimonials from recent transplants to the Gateway City interspersed with comments by high-level execs in the public and private sector. When clips recapping the amazing 2006 Cardinal season came onscreen, they brought loud applause, the only thing absent being rally towels whipped feverishly overhead. Mike Shannon, former player and longtime announcer, interviewed DeWitt and Jocketty “live” on a comfy-looking set with plush furniture, tables and lamps to one side of the podium. “We just don’t blow our horns loud enough,” Shannon said. “But athletics gives you the opportunity to do that. Joe Torre once said that here in St. Louis we treat players like royalty.” Shannon joked with Jocketty regarding the deal he’d just sealed with Mark Mulder. “Texas was going to top any offer that was out there,” said Jocketty. Referring to the multi-year signing of slugger Albert Pujols, Shannon said “yeah, but how do you call your boss and say I want to give this guy $100 million?” bringing laughs from most everyone in the room—including DeWitt. For the most part, the event had a lighthearted, celebratory flavor—even when Schnuck, during his opening remarks, warned that another winter storm was bearing down on the region. “We honor the weather forecasters who predict nasty weather,” he said, breaking into a grin. “You can stop at your neighborhood grocery store on the way home.” Corporate Sponsors A. G. EDWARDS & SONS INC. AMEREN CORP. ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES INC. ARMSTRONG TEASDALE LLP AT&T MISSOURI ASCENSION HEALTH BJC HEALTHCARE BROWN SHOE COMPANY INC. BRYAN CAVE LLP COLLIERS TURLEY MARTIN TUCKER CITY OF WASHINGTON, MISSOURI COMMERCE BANK DELOITTE THE DESCO GROUP THE DOE RUN COMPANY EDWARD JONES EMERSON EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES FOUNDATION & THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES FOUNDATION FIRST BANK FLEISHMAN-HILLARD INC. GALLOP, JOHNSON & NEUMAN, L.C. GKN AEROSPACE-AEROSTRUCTURES GRAYBAR ELECTRIC COMPANY INC. HOK GROUP INC. HYATT REGENCY–ST. LOUIS ISLE OF CAPRI CASINOS INC. KELLY MITCHELL GROUP INC. KMOX RADIO/INFINITY BROADCASTING KPMG LLP KWMU-FM MCEAGEL PROPERTIES LLC & PARIC CORPORATION MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES MCCORMACK BARON SALAZAR INC. METRO MONSANTO COMPANY PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL #562 PRESIDENT CASINOS INC. RUBINBROWN LLP SCHNUCKS SIGMA-ALDRICH CORPORATION SISTERS OF MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION SOUTHWEST BANK ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL INC. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS ST. LOUIS COMMERCE MAGAZINE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ECONOMIC COUNCIL ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH ST. LOUIS RAMS THOMPSON COBURN LLP UMB BANK N.A. UNIVERSAL PRINTING COMPANY UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURi-ST. LOUIS U.S. BANK WALTON CONSTRUCTION LLC

February 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cover story with Bill McNamara, Macy’s Midwest. Created by Jim Hodges. Robbyn Wahby Teach for America - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.stlrcga.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Doug Moore Blair Forlaw Rodney Crim Dr. John McGuire - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -