St. Louis has long been known for its leadership in the beverage industry and is still known as a leader in shoes. But what many people do not realize is that St. Louis has become a major center for the financial services industry. This sector has grown to where more brokers call St. Louis home today than any place in the United States outside of Wall Street. To that end, this month’s cover story features the head of one of the firms that is driving the leadership role in the financial services industry for St. Louis, namely Jim Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones.
Edward Jones is once again listed on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Along that theme, this month’s issue takes an in-depth look at the issue of talent recruitment and talent retention with a human-resource roundtable. Participants include: Kevin Nussbaum of CBIZ Human Capital Services, Mark Grieman of Right Management, Christina Hayes of Professional Employment Group, Tisha Mason of Manpower Professional, and Warren Winer of Towers Perrin.
In an initiative aiming to build on St. Louis’ reputation as an ideal place for recruiting and retaining IT workers, this month’s magazine includes a story about an initiative spearheaded by the RCGA. Greater St. Louis Works brings together a diverse group of public and private sector partners, including WorkforceStLouis2.0, the IT Coalition of Innovate St. Louis, the Workforce Investment Boards of St. Louis County, the City of
St. Louis, St. Charles County, and other state and local partners. Funding to enhance
St. Louis’ competitive position is provided through a grant from the Missouri Division of Workforce Development.
Rounding out the issue on talent retention and recruitment are articles by Shera Dalin on creative benefits to retain good employees and by Bill Beggs Jr. with a national look at the so-called “Young & Restless.” The story provides the perspective of consultant Joe Cortright of Portland who has done research for both the Brookings Institute and a national group called CEO for Cities.
Before retaining employees you need to educate them. In that vain, Jim Nicholson features the METS Coalition, which has grown out of a summit convened by Gov. Matt Blunt and developed into a preschool through graduate level action plan.
Over the years, St. Louis has distinguished itself in the area of corporate giving. While we are the 18th largest metro area in the country, United Way of Greater St. Louis funding is the 5th largest. This month’s Commerce examines the arts and cultural united giving effort in St. Louis through the Arts & Education
Council. The group is hoping to build similar results to the strong social services record that the United Way has developed. For a
region whose brand—Perfectly Centered. Remarkably Connected.—is predicated on top tier quality of life institutions, there is a growing link between the region’s economic competitiveness and its arts and cultural institutions. To that end, we see the A&E campaign as a critical variable in our
economic development strategy.
In this month’s “On the Town” section, we have a special two-page photo spread that highlights the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S.’s visit to St. Louis. In addition to briefings on various aspects of the St. Louis region, members of the Missouri Congressional delegation, local elected leaders and business leaders received Zhou Wenzhong at a welcome dinner at the St. Louis Club. The World Trade Center Saint Louis and the RCGA also co-hosted a community leader luncheon for the ambassador at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
“A Day in the Work Life” focuses on Scott Zajac, a senior managing director of the private equity firm Advantage Capital Partners. This month’s “Spotlight” is on Don Lents, chairman of Bryan Cave, one of the nation's leading law firms.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of
St. Louis Commerce Magazine. As always, please send your comments and suggestions to us at dfleming@stlrcga.org.
RICHARD C.D. FLEMING
Publisher, St. Louis Commerce Magazine
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