This month’s issue of St. Louis Commerce Magazine is focusing on the business of wealth. Our cover story by Christine Paddock features Joe Imbs, the market president and regional chairman of U.S. Bank, our region’s largest financial institution. The magazine also features the Venture Capital Annual Report. The venture capital raised throughout last year is a critical ingredient to the growth of entrepreneurial companies. Moreover, the St. Louis region continues to build on the solid foundation launched several years ago to attract venture capital investments from around the country, as well as developing a base of venture capital institutions in St. Louis. In this regard, we take a closer look at the InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum, which puts a spotlight on venture capital in St. Louis, Kansas City and the Midwest overall. It is a unique venture capital forum that has been jointly undertaken by St. Louis and Kansas City since 2000. To date, InvestMidwest has stimulated over a quarter of a billion dollars of investment in emerging firms who have been chosen to present at the Forum. This month we also take a look at another piece of the early stage of the venture capital environment by examining one of the newest players in this space called the BioGenerator, which was formed to serve the life-science community. It identifies promising life-science technology ventures and provides pre-seed and seed capital, as well as valued technical assistance. Certainly one of the reasons that St. Louis is becoming such a focus of attention for the venture capital community, both locally and nationally, are the world class research institutions and the technologies being spawned in those research institutions. Commerce Magazine asked Chancellor Mark Wrighton of Washington University in St. Louis to share his unique perspective on St. Louis as a focal point for innovative research. Another dimension of wealth creation in any community is the capacity it creates for philanthropic investment and community enhancement. St Louisans donate about $2.5 billion annually. Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation CEO Dave Luckes gives us an inside perspective of how the Foundation provides a vehicle to stimulate public purpose, for charitable giving. St. Louis distinguished itself in the 2005 United Way Campaign by raising $65.5 million. Having completed the latest successful campaign, David Steward, founder and head of World Wide Technology, shares his perspectives and hands the United Way leadership role to Maritz CEO Steve Maritz with a $66 million goal for 2006. And finally, in our spotlight this month, Christine Imbs interviews Metro CEO Larry Salci to learn more about his background and his view of the future for transit in our region. 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 President and Chief Executive Officer St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association

October 2006 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cover Story with Joseph Imbs, U.S. Bank David Steward Mark S. Wrighton Saint Louis Art Museum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.stlrcga.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.technologygateway.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Technisonic BJC SportsWorks Larry Salci David Campbell, Little Hills Winery & Restaurant