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TONI WOODARD
THOMAS: RCGA's Wonder Woman
By Christine Imbs
If
you’ve ever had the opportunity to contact the RCGA offices, then
you’ve talked with Toni Woodard Thomas. “I’m the receptionist,
so I direct and receive calls,” she says. “But I’m also the Commerce
Magazine reprint specialist, the company notary, and the RCGA
Information Store manager. So I’m sort of like Wonder Woman, except
I do it all right from this desk.”
Although now a St. Louisan—she’s lived here about 20 years—Thomas
is originally from Coden, Ala. Gifted with the ability to sew,
she attended Alabama A&M, where she got her bachelor’s degree
in clothing, textiles and related arts.
“My Dad told me, ‘You don’t need to go to school to get a degree
in sewing. You already know how to do that,’” she says laughing.
“I guess I could have gotten a degree in something else like graphic
design, but sewing is really my first love.”
In fact, when she isn’t acting as Wonder Woman, Thomas has an
alterations business in the Central West End called GIT Apparel.
GIT stands for Guy, Ivan and Toni. Ivan is her husband of 17 years
and Guy is her son, a sophomore at Mizzou.
“I just love my son. He’s very comical. I tell him, ‘Now don’t
have me spend all this money on your education and you end up
being a comedian,’ she says laughing. “But he’s a joy to be around.
He’s going into computer engineering.”
This February will mark the eleventh year that Thomas has been
part of the RCGA team. She says the best thing about it has been
the interaction with St. Louis’ professional businessmen and women—that
and seeing first hand the revitalization of the downtown area.
“I live in the City myself, and I’m seeing all kinds of people
moving into the new lofts. It’s a great thing for the City’s economy,”
she says. “And I especially like the lights on Washington Avenue.
It really gives the downtown area a special flare, and I like
drama.”
She also likes things to be interesting. And she says sometimes
that’s exactly what answering the phones for RCGA can be—“interesting.”
“A lot of people don’t really know what the role of the RCGA is.
They think we’re everything from the library to a museum for the
city. So you can imagine some of the calls I get,” she says. “For
instance, several weeks ago I got a call from a guy wanting us
to help him sell his goat meat. So there’s never a dull moment.”
Thomas says she couldn’t be happier working at the RCGA. And without
a doubt, RCGA couldn’t be happier having her there.
“People have called me the Front Desk Diva, because they say I’m
really the one who runs things around here,” she says laughing.
“And I’m the only one here with their name on a coffee pot. And
I have my own special blend of coffee. People are always wondering
why that is. Well, longevity has its privileges.”
RCGA Staff
RCGA staff
work with our members to build regional strength and stay competitive.
We’re accomplishing this by developing our region’s essential
products—such as economic growth and vitality; community capitalism;
an educated, competitive work force; sound region-wide infrastructure;
a vital central city of the region; a forward-looking public policy
agenda; and developing distinctive industry clusters.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICE
Richard
Fleming, President & CEO
(314) 444-1100
rfleming@stlrcga.org
Karen Butchko, Executive Assistant
to the President
(314) 444-1109
kbutchko@stlrcga.org
Ellen
Hicks, Administrative Assistant
(314) 444-1178
ehicks@stlrcga.org
Beverly
Estes, Executive Vice President & COO
(314) 444-1110
bestes@stlrcga.org
Mary
Barbeau, Administrative Manager
(314) 444-1103
mbarbeau@stlrcga.org
FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Ron
Cunitz, Comptroller
(314) 444-1106
rcunitz@stlrcga.org
Laura
Taylor, Accounting Manager
(314) 444-1174
ltaylor@stlrcga.org
Donald
Grotjan, Staff Accountant
(314) 444-1129
dgrotjan@stlrcga.org
Randy
Baehr, Information Systems Manager
(314) 444-1168
rbaehr@stlrcga.org
Mary
Perez, Membership Database Specialist
(314) 444-1181
mperez@stlrcga.org
Toni
Woodard Thomas, Receptionist
(314) 444-1120
tthomas@stlrcga.org
David
Minor, General Services Coordinator
(314) 444-1186
dminor@stlrcga.org
COMMUNICATIONS
Gary
Broome, Vice President-Communications
(314) 444-1171
gbroome@stlrcga.org
Yu-Yuan
Lei, Webmaster
(314) 444-1173
dlei@stlrcga.org
Jodi
Barnes, Graphic Designer
(314) 444-1172
jbarnes@stlrcga.org
John
Bilhorn, Account Executive, St. Louis Commerce Magazine
(314) 444-1161
jbilhorn@stlrcga.org
Christine
Malinee, Account Executive, St. Louis Commerce Magazine
(314) 444-1162
cmalinee@stlrcga.org
MEMBERSHIP
AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Colin
Stahlhut,
Vice President–Membership Services
(314) 444-1145
cstahlhut@stlrcga.org
John
Diefenbach,
Vice President–Membership Development
(314) 444-1184
jdief@stlrcga.org
Lori
Meier,
Administrative Assistant
(314) 444-1147
lmeier@stlrcga.org
Mary
Britt,
Account Executive
(314) 206-3282
mbrit@stlrcga.org
Doreatha
Polites,
Account Executive
(314) 206-3288
dpolites@stlrcga.org
Christopher
Sansone,
Account Executive
(314) 206-3286
csansone@stlrcga.org
Stuart
Schelp,
Account Executive
(314) 206-3280
schelp@stlrcga.org
PUBLIC
POLICY / FORWARD METRO ST. LOUIS
C.
K. (Chip) Casteel,
Senior Vice President-Public Policy
(314) 444-1107
ccasteel@stlrcga.org
Marlo
Young,
Executive Assistant
(314) 444-1134
myoung@stlrcga.org
Susan
Stauder,
Vice President–Infrastructure & Public Policy
(314) 444-1155
sstauder@stlrcga.org
Eric
Schneider, Senior Director–Public Policy Research
(314) 444-1148
eschneider@stlrcga.org
Kevin
Riggs,
Director–Illinois Government Affairs
(314) 444-1108
kriggs@stlrcga.org
Christine
Snively,
Project Manager–Public Policy
(314) 444-1144
csnively@stlrcga.org
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Steve
Johnson,
Senior Vice President–Economic Development
(314) 444-1140
sjohnson@stlrcga.org
Felicia
Holyfield,
Executive Assistant–Economic Development
(314) 444-1118
fholyfield@stlrcga.org
Linda
Leonard, CED,
Vice President–Economic Development
(314) 444-1138
lleonard@stlrcga.org
Nancy
Krelle,
Project Manager–Economic Development
(314) 444-1113
nkrelle@stlrcga.org
Jim
Alexander,
Vice President–Business Recruitment
(314) 444-1135
jalexander@stlrcga.org
Lori
Becklenberg,
Director–Business Recruitment
(314) 444-1193
lbecklenberg@stlrcga.org
Doug
Rasmussen,
Director–Business Recruitment
(314) 444-1139
drasmussen@stlrcga.org
Tim
Alexander,
Manager–Business Research and Analysis
(314) 444-1146
talexander@stlrcga.org
Jay
DeLong, Vice
President–New Ventures & Capital Formation
(314) 444-1130
jdelong@stlrcga.org
Blair
Forlaw,
Project Manager–Greater St. Louis Works
(314)
444-1149
blair.forlaw@greaterstlouisworks.org
Lynn
Suydam,
Director, Talent Delivery Network–Greater St. Louis Works
(314) 444-1152
lynn.suydam@greaterstlouisworks.org
Mollie
Jones,
Administrative Assistant–Greater St. Louis Works
(314) 206-3279
mollie.jones@greaterstlouisworks.org
THE
COALITION FOR PLANT AND LIFE SCIENCES
Donn
Rubin,
Executive Director
(314) 206-3242
drubin@stlrcga.org
Melissa
Harrison,
Executive Assistant
(314) 206-3234
mharrison@stlrcga.org
Ben
Johnson,
Program Specialist
(314) 206-3235
bjohnson@stlrcga.org
INVEST
MIDWEST
Christine
Walsh,
Executive Director
(314) 444-1151
cwalsh@stlrcga.org
BUSINESS
DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
Valerie
Patton, Executive Director
(314) 444-1170
vpatton@stlrcga.org
Rosalind
Reese,
Project Coordinator
(314) 206-3224
rreese@stlrcga.org
Jim
Alexander Vice President, Business Recruitment
Gary Broome Vice President, Communications
C.K. “Chip” Casteel Senior Vice President, Public
Policy
Jay De Long Vice President, New Ventures and
Capital Formation
John Diefenbach Vice President, Membership Development
Beverly Estes Chief Operating Officer
Dick fleming President and CEO
Steve Johnson Senior Vice President, Economic
Development
Linda Leonard Vice President, Economic Development
Colin Stahlhut Vice President, Membership Services
Susan Stauder Vice President, Infrastructure
& Public Policy
Jim Alexander
Vice President,
Business Recruitment
Job
Description:
Jim Alexander was recruited to the RCGA in April 2003 and manages
business recruitment and expansion initiatives.
Career
Highlights:
— Returned to St. Louis in 2003 from Texas-based Praxair
Electronics. As global business development manager for this Fortune
500 company, he managed sales and marketing strategies for the
company’s gas delivery systems for the semiconductor industry.
— Economic Incentives and Site Selection Consultant
with PricewaterhouseCoopers in St. Louis.
— Manager of economic development for Centerior Energy
Corporation, a $2.5 billion investor-owned electric utility company
where he was active in leading a variety of civic and economic
development initiatives on behalf of the Cleveland community.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications at Ohio University in Athens,
Ohio. Master’s degree in Business Administration from Lake Erie
College in Ohio. Economic Development Institute, University of
Oklahoma.
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Gary Broome
Vice President,
Communications
Job
Description:
Gary Broome plays a key role in all aspects of public relations,
communications, and marketing, implementing an ongoing media relations
initiative to position the RCGA as the primary source on St. Louis
regional economic development and overall job creation. He manages
the RCGA Communications Department, including the managing editor
of St. Louis Commerce Magazine, staff writers, and a web manager.
Career
Highlights:
Gary has been a communications professional for over 20 years.
— Joined the RCGA in 1989 as assistant to the director
of public relations and communications. Later named manager of
public relations and publications, and then director of communications.
Named Vice President of Communications in October 2005.
— Prior to the RCGA, was an editor of employee publications
at St. Louis-based Edison Brothers Stores Inc., from 1981 to 1989.
Education:
Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) degree from the University of Missouri
at Columbia.
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C.K. “Chip”
Casteel
Senior Vice President,
Public Policy
Job
Description:
Chip Casteel was recruited to the RCGA in February 2007 to manage
and guide legislative relations in both Missouri and Illinois,
as well as in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the St. Louis region’s
business community. Chip’s team manages the RCGA’s Public Policy
Council and staffs the business community’s Forward Metro St.
Louis and Private Sector Infrastructure Council efforts.
Career
Highlights:
— Served as legal and legislative counsel to then-Missouri
Gov. Kit Bond, helping to achieve adoption of a major statewide
economic development program, and establish the nation’s most
comprehensive and successful early childhood education program
(Parents as Teachers, for which he serves on the national board).
— Subsequently, had a 17-year-career in senior legislative,
regulatory and governmental affairs positions for MCI Communications
Corp., both in St. Louis and in Washington, D.C., including heading
state regulatory and government affairs nationally for MCI.
— Led a group of 100 professionals as senior vice
president for Supply Chain Management at Express Scripts Inc.
in St. Louis.
Education:
Received his undergraduate degree in Public Administration and
his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
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Jay De Long
Vice President,
New Ventures and Capital Formation
Job
Description:
Jay De Long was recruited in September of 2006 from Irvine, Calif.
As part of the RCGA Economic Development Team, he works in collaboration
with area venture capital firms, in identifying and recruiting
promising start-up technology companies, as well as working to
recruit additional venture capital funding to the St Louis area.
Career
Highlights:
His nearly 20 years of economic development experience includes:
— President of Active Capital in Irvine, Calif., an
Internet-based private securities offering and listing company.
— Founder and Executive Director, Venture Point, the
nation’s only Small Business Development Center specializing in
technology companies and entrepreneurs facing issues of capital
formation, critical time-to-market, and management of fast growth.
— Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Orange
County Business Council, running technical assistance programs
supporting technology transfer, defense conversion, equity investing
and high growth enterprises.
— Directed the American Consortium of Information
Systems Technology in Moscow, Russia for three years.
— Past Chair, California Venture Forum; Past Chair,
Corporate Investment & Strategic Alliance Conference (national).
Education:
Awarded International Business Certificate from the American Graduate
School of International Management (Thunderbird) in Glendale,
Ariz. and bachelors of science degrees in Political Science and
Philosophy from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.
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John Diefenbach
Vice President,
Membership Development
Job
Description:
John Diefenbach joined the RCGA in May 1997. He is responsible
for developing and implementing strategies to increase membership
sales, retain current RCGA members, and generate advertising revenue
for St. Louis Commerce Magazine. He also recruits and trains membership
associates and directs the development of sales collateral materials.
Career
Highlights:
John has worked for several corporations as vice-president or
executive vice-president of marketing. His 25-plus years of sales
and marketing experience includes:
— Assisting in leading the RCGA membership revenue
to the #1 position among all chambers of commerce nationally.
— Leading the successful development of two start-up
companies.
— Managing the #1 profit department store for May
Company as divisional vice president and general manager at the
West County Mall.
Education:
Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Southern Illinois
University.
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Beverly
Estes
Chief Operating Officer
Job
Description:
Beverly Estes was recruited to the RCGA staff in 1997. She oversees
internal and financial operations for all RCGA departments. She
is responsible for the execution of RCGA initiatives and programs.
She staffs both the Finance/Budget Committee in developing and
monitoring the annual budget, as well as the Audit Committee,
in providing oversight of the accounting, auditing, internal control,
corporate compliance and financial reporting practices.
Career
Highlights:
Beverly has been involved in chamber of commerce activities for
over 30 years.
— Before joining the St. Louis RCGA, she worked at
the Kansas City Chamber for over 20 years, holding a variety of
positions, among them executive vice president and also acting
president of the Chamber for nine months.
— She oversaw all internal operations for the Chamber
and its affiliates including financial management, information
systems, marketing, membership and major special events.
Education:
B.A. in Management from Webster University in Kansas City. Graduate
of the Institute for Organization Management, a six-year professional
development program for association and chamber executives sponsored
by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as the institute for
Advanced Management, an executive training program for chamber
and association executives.
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Dick fleming
President and CEO
Job
Description:
Dick Fleming was recruited from Denver in 1994 as president and
CEO of the RCGA. He oversees a staff of over 50 and manages an
annual operating budget of over $12 million.
Career
Highlights:
For over 25 years, Dick has been an active civic entrepreneur,
engaged in private sector initiatives to revitalize center cities
and metropolitan areas in Atlanta, Denver and now St. Louis.
— In Colorado, served as founding president/CEO of
Downtown Denver Partnership and then as president/CEO of the Greater
Denver Chamber of Commerce.
— Served at the national level as a sub-cabinet officer
at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington.
z In Atlanta, he planed the 15,000-acre Peachtree City New Town
and then served as vice president of Central Atlanta’s CEO organization.
— Was the developer with the Rouse Company in Baltimore
in the planning and development of the 15,000-acre Columbia New
Town in suburban Baltimore and the Fanueil Hall Marketplace downtown
retail project in Boston.
— In 2005-2006, served as Chairman of the board of
the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), the organization
of 1,200 chambers.
— In December 2007, he was elected Chairman of the
Board of Partners for Livable Communities, a D.C-based national
organization composed of mayors, governors, foundation and business
executives, journalists and civic leaders.
— He is Chair-elect of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship,
also based in D.C.
Education:
Holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce and
a concurrent master’s degree in City Planning from the University
of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts, graduating magna
cum laude. Holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science
and Philosophy from Loyola College in Baltimore.
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Steve Johnson
Senior Vice President,
Economic Development
Job
Description:
Steve Johnson joined the RCGA in September 2004 and leads the
RCGA’s marketing, branding and business recruitment and expansion
efforts in the new economic development campaign.
Career
Highlights:
Steve has 20-plus years in economic development, including:
— Senior Vice President for Business Development and
Executive Vice President for the New Economy Council with the
Kansas City Area Development Council.
— Held economic development positions with chambers
of commerce in Mobile, Ala. and Jefferson City, Mo.
— Served as senior vice president for economic development
strategies with the Indianapolis-based firm of Thomas P. Miller
& Associates.
Education:
Graduated from Harding University with a bachelor’s degree in
Psychology. Also carries the highest professional designation
from the International Economic Development Council.
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Linda Leonard
Vice President,
Economic Development
Job
Description:
Recruited in 1995 as vice president of economic development, Linda
Leonard has the responsibility for helping raise the funds to
support the regional economic development initiative, Greater
St. Louis Inc. In this role, she also develops networks of relationships
with stakeholders to engage economic development investors in
the program and to ensure continued funding. She also develops
and maintains an existing business strategic intelligence program.
Career
Highlights:
Linda has 20-plus years in economic development including:
— Joined the RCGA in 1995 as director of economic
development. Led numerous activities within the economic development
division including national marketing and media relations, economic
research and analysis, regional collaboration and new business
recruitment.
— Held similar positions with the Kansas City Area
Development Council, an organization responsible for attracting
new employers and investment to the Kansas City metropolitan area,
for 12 years.
Education:
Graduated from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio with a major
in Economics and a minor in American Studies. Earned the International
Economic Development Council’s highest professional designation
(CEcD) in 1989.
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Colin Stahlhut
Vice President,
Membership Services
Job
Description:
Colin Stahlhut has been with the RCGA since 1978 serving at a
variety of key capacities. He is responsible for several of the
St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association’s membership
activities and ongoing events/ activities. For several years,
he has been responsible for providing services, programs and information
to the RCGA’s general membership.
Career
Highlights:
— Colin has many years of successful responsibility
for the Annual RCGA Golf Tournament, Leadership Exchange Trip,
RCGA Annual Meeting, Business After Hours, Breakfast with the
Gazelles, and most recently, the Top 50 Gala.
— For the past 10 years, he has worked to ensure that
annual RCGA member dues renewals are attained. For a number of
years, RCGA has been recognized as among the top tier of chambers
of commerce in membership revenue.
— Was in charge of Work Force Programs for the RCGA,
was planning coordinator for St. Louis County’s Department of
Human Resources and was director of public information for the
American Cancer Society in eastern region of Missouri.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Westminster College
in Fulton, Mo. and a master’s degree in Business Administration
from Saint Louis University.
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Susan Stauder
Vice President,
Infrastructure & Public Policy
Job
Description:
Susan Stauder works to help bring to fruition the region’s major
infrastructure projects, such as the new Mississippi River Bridge,
expansion of MetroLink, and needed major area road projects, as
well as providing guidance on a variety of public policy and regional
governance issues. She is currently serving as Chair of the St.
Louis City Planning Commission and Vice Chair of the Downtown
Economic Stimulus Authority.
Career
Highlights:
— Was recruited to the RCGA as Vice President of Infrastructure
and Public Policy in 2002, bringing with her more than 25 years
of diverse infrastructure and public policy experience and a strong
working relationship with transportation and public policy leaders
throughout the region and the states of Missouri and Illinois.
— Has served in several executive positions at the
Bi-State Development Agency since 1991. Helped shape Bi-State’s
overall operating and strategic development policies and its longer-range
plans for financing and bus and rail service improvements and
expansion.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and Geography from the
University of Washington in Seattle.
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