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Rachel Anderson
Executive Director, efactory of Missouri State University
Jonas Arjes
Executive Vice President/Chief Economic Development Officer at Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB - Taney County Partnership
Allie Bennett, DBA, CEcD, CCC
Manager of Economic Development and Member services at Northeast PowerAllie Bennett is the Manager of Economic Development and Member Services at Northeast Power, a transmission electric cooperative serving member-distribution cooperatives in northeast Missouri and southeast Iowa. Allie was born and raised in Monroe City, Missouri. She attended college at the University of Missouri and achieved her bachelor’s degree in agriculture. She has also earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in administration. In 2016, Allie began her electric cooperative career at Macon Electric Cooperative as the Marketing and Communications Manager. In 2020, Allie joined Northeast Power in her current position, providing value-added services to the member-distribution cooperatives served by Northeast Power and working in coordination with local, statewide and national economic development organizations to collaborate on a number of efforts.
Jason Brown
Vice President and Economist at Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityJason Brown is a Vice President and Economist in the Economic Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In this role, he oversees the regional research and policy function at the bank. Brown also serves as Executive Director of the Kansas City Federal Statistical Research Data Center. He conducts research on issues related to regional economic growth, emerging industries, natural resource development, and economic structural change in rural versus urban areas.
Prior to joining the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Jason was an economist at the USDA Economic Research Service in Washington, D.C. He holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University.
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Clayton Campbell
Deputy State Treasurer at Missouri State Treasurer’s OfficeEC
Paul Eisenstein
Director, Strategy and Performance Division of Missouri Department of Economic DevelopmentPaul Eisenstein is the Department of Economic Development’s (DED) Senior Director of Operations. Paul supports DED’s Director’s Office and oversees DED’s strategy, financial operations, and human resources functions. Paul has been with DED since 2017.
Paul earned his Bachelor’s from Saint Louis University and his Executive MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Paul is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a graduate of the Missouri Chamber’s Leadership Missouri class of 2023.
Sheri Flanigan-Vazquez
COO at Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestmen CorporationSheri Flanigan-Vazquez, MSW, is the Chief Operating Officer of Justine PETERSEN where she joined staff in 1998. She is also a founder of Great Rivers Community Capital, a Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) wholly owned by Justine PETERSEN. Sheri has a Master of Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She dedicated a year of service as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) coordinating English as a Second Language classes. Prior to joining Justine PETERSEN staff, Sheri was the Executive Director of La Casa Latina, a grassroots organization that assists non-English speaking Latinos, for three years where she oversaw agency operations. She was a founding board member of Choices Federal Credit Union, a former member of the Community Advisory Board of IFF and a current member the Advisory Board of Midwest Renewable Capital.
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Dell Gines, PhD
Chief Innovation Officer at International Economic Development Council
Brian Grace
Partner at Nexus GroupBrian began working in Missouri politics at the age of 19. He worked for a Jefferson City lobbying firm for three years while attending the University of Missouri. Upon graduation, he went to work for Matt Blunt’s gubernatorial campaign. He then served Governor Blunt as Policy Director at the Department of Economic Development. He left the Blunt Administration at the end of 2007 to begin his lobbying career. He served as a Principal for ten years at the global law firm, Dentons.
In 2018 Brian co-founded Nexus Group – a full-service government affairs firm headquartered in Jefferson City.
Brian is one of the most sought after and accomplished lobbyists in Missouri. He specializes in quarterbacking large, complex lobbying initiatives that span all facets of the Legislative and Executive branches. He also has an expertise in the creation and implementation of tax incentives for business development, job creation, and infrastructure development.
Recognitions
“Legislative Session Winners,” The Missouri Times, 2020, 2022
"The 100+ List," The Missouri Times, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
"40 Under 40," St. Louis Business Journal, 2014
"St. Louis Character," St. Louis Business Journal, 2013
"Pro Bono Challenge," The Missouri Times, 2013
"30 Under 30," St. Louis Business Journal, 2008
Michelle Hataway
Director of MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTJJ
Jody James
Executive Director of South Central Workforce Investment Board
Benjamin Jones
Director - Economic Development of City Utilities of Springfield, MissouriBen is employed as the Director – Economic Development for City Utilities of Springfield and is a proud graduate of Leadership Springfield Class #37. He has 27 years of Economic Development experience, starting in his hometown of Montgomery City near St. Louis. In 2006 he moved to Lebanon, Missouri to lead their Economic Development effort; in 2011 Ben began his career with City Utilities. He holds the certification of “Economic Development Finance Professional,”, is a past-President of the Missouri Economic Development Council, and in 2000 was named Missouri’s “Economic Development Professional of the Year.”
Ben holds a Master of International Business from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Public Administration from Columbia College.
Ben served his country in the United States Army, spending two years on active duty at Ft. Bragg, NC, and 6 years in the Missouri National Guard. He was honorably discharged in 1992 as a Sergeant at the end of his tour.
Ben has two grown daughters, both married, who live in the St. Louis area. He also has three granddaughters and three grandsons. Ben and his wife Carmen are active in their church, like to travel, and both enjoy St. Louis Blues and MSU Ice Bears hockey.
Megan Miller
Attorney at Gilmore & Bell, P.C.Megan E. Miller is an attorney with the law firm Gilmore & Bell, P.C., and operates in their Kansas City office. Ms. Miller was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 2015. She received her B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics, Emphasis in Public Policy & Communication (cum laude) from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri in 2012 and her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2015, where she served as a staff member of the UMKC Law Review and Managing Editor of The Urban Lawyer. Megan practices both general municipal finance and economic development law and serves many different political subdivisions throughout the state of Missouri. She currently serves as the Chair of the Public Policy Committee for MEDC.
Gretchen Morse
President/COO at Workforce Development Board of Southeast MissouriGretchen has over 20 years of experience in designing, implementing, and overseeing workforce development programs in the Southeast Region. These programs drive community growth and economic development by improving employment rates and enhancing career opportunities throughout the Southeast Region. She grew up in the Southeast Region and has built many valuable career relationships through the years geared towards workforce development. She has been involved with many Federal grants, State grants, and is very well educated with The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Her level of professional expertise adds value to the thirteen counties that they serve within the Southeast Region. One of her passions is seeing people succeed through the programs they oversee.
She is a certified Missouri Workforce Development Professional, a National Workforce Development Professional and a member of the Training & Employment Administrators of Missouri (TEAM).
Outside of her professional life, she enjoys as much time as possible with her family; she loves to travel, Jeep off-roading, camping, and hiking.
Lori Myers
Director of St. Charles County Workforce & Business DevelopmentLori Myers is the Director for the St. Charles County Department of Workforce & Business Development which operates the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County. Lori has worked for this department for over 21 years and has held a variety of positions. Prior to working for Workforce, Lori has also worked for the County’s Department of Corrections and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Lori has Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration as well as Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She serves on the board of directors of the Lewis & Clark Society for Human Resources Management, the board of directors of the Community Council of St. Charles County, is a board member and 2020 graduate of Vision Leadership St. Charles County.
Kathy Nelson
President & CEO of Kansas City Sports Commission & FoundationKathy Nelson is a strong believer in the economic, social and community-building benefits of sports. She works to promote Kansas City locally and nationally with the goal of attracting, retaining and facilitating sports events and organizations in the bi-state area.
Nelson has become an influential leader in Kansas City. In recognition of her contribution, The Kansas City Star included Nelson on their 2020 list of the 50 Most Influential People in Kansas City Sports History, ranking her at #38 and making her one of only four women represented. Prior to that, she had been named one of the 20 Most Influential Sports Figures in Kansas City placing her at #5 behind Clark Hunt (CEO/owner of the Kansas City Chiefs), Dayton Moore (Kansas City Royals general manager), Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City’s Coach/Technical Director) and David Glass (former owner of the Kansas City Royals). In 2020, Nelson was enshrined into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2019, Kathy was selected to receive the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Leadership Award. In 2018, Nelson received the Sports Tourism Executive/CEO of the Year award, a national honor. She has also been named to Kansas City Business Journal’s Power 100 list (2018 & 2019) and was crowned Grand Champion at the Dancing with Kansas City Stars benefiting Cristo Rey. In 2017, Kathy and the Sports Commission were honored as Sports Commission of the Year from Compete Magazine. And in 2016, Nelson was selected to serve on the Sports ETA (formerly known as the National Association of Sports Commissions) Board of Directors.
Kathy is included in the book They Shoot…They Score! by Dr. Patrick Rishe as a national leader in sports. Kathy was honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City with the John J. “Buck” O’Neil Diamond MVP Award for her dedication to the Boys and Girls Clubs, their sports programs and the youth they serve.
Nelson first joined the KC Sports Commission in August of 2010 as the WIN for KC Director then moved into the President & CEO of the KC Sports Commission in November 2011. Prior to joining the KC Sports Commission staff, she was an active volunteer and member of WIN for KC and the KC Sports Commission for over ten years. She was previously on the WIN for KC Advisory Board and has also been involved on the Women’s Sports Award Celebration committee. In 2010 she served as chair for the event, which featured Billie Jean King.
Prior to the KC Sports Commission, Nelson served in senior management roles in marketing, sales and promotions at Time Warner Cable and Metro Sports and held a number of roles at FOX 4/WDAF-TV in Kansas City including creative services manager, producer, reporter and editor.
Along her career path, Nelson has received numerous Telly, Emmy and cable television awards for television production, specifically sports production. She was the first woman to win a regional Emmy for the production of an NFL game in the early 2000’s. She attended Truman State University.
Nelson continues to be a featured speaker for numerous organizations such as various local city chambers, rotary clubs, universities and other miscellaneous community events. In her free time you can find Nelson volunteering in the community. She is married with two very active daughters who are also involved in volunteering and participating in their community.
Sherri Rhuems
Executive Director of Workforce Innovation Board of Southwest MissouriSherri Rhuems brings more than 17 years of expertise in workforce development. Her journey started as the Quality Assurance Coordinator and Equal Opportunity Officer for the Workforce Investment Board, leading to her appointment as the Executive Director in 2017. The Workforce Board of Southwest Missouri manages Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds for seven counties as well as other state and federal workforce grant programs within Missouri's extensive workforce development framework.
Sherri enjoys creating innovative programs with her team to help individuals overcome employment challenges. On weekends, she cherishes time with her three children and seven grandchildren, then unwinds with her spouse by the lake.
Jack Scatizzi
Executive Director of Missouri Technology CorporationES
Ericka Schmeeckle
Interim Director of Workforce Development at Ozark Workforce Development Board
Andrea Sitzes
Market Exec. VP at Arvest BankAndrea Sitzes currently serves as Christian County Market Executive / Vice President for Arvest Bank, specializing in economic development and commercial lending. Prior to Arvest, Sitzes founded Show Me Christian County as President / CEO and Executive Director for the Ozark Chamber of Commerce.
Growing up with a strong work ethic, Andrea is a 7th generation farmer’s daughter. Starting at an early age, she started a public relations business at the age of 16. Sitzes is a graduate of College of the Ozarks and Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute. She is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional and currently serves as Treasurer for the Missouri Economic Development Council.
With unapologetic professionalism, Andrea focuses on customer service and sound business practices, which she attributes to her early career spending nine years in hospitality at Big Cedar Lodge and the Chateau on the Lake.
She and husband Michael have been married for 16 years and have one son, Ezra (age 10), and one furbaby Charlie (age 12). She is a Missouri girl, loves all things lake and outdoors. Passionate about health-esteem. Andrea’s personal vision is to impact, inspire, ignite, and empower.
James Stapleton, Ph.D
Co-Founder of CodefiDr. James Stapleton is a nationally recognized entrepreneurship champion. He has been a creative and tech startup founder, coach, investor, and regional entrepreneurship ecosystem developer for over 30 years, and is driven by a passion to help improve the quality of others’ lives.
James co-founded Codefi in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 2014. Codefi’s award-winning approach centers on boosting regional economies by catalyzing the high-growth entrepreneurship pipeline, filling gaps in early-stage capital, creating high-quality digital occupations, and increasing technical education and skill-building. Codefi has supported the launch of 80 startups that have raised $50 million in equity capital and created over 400 tech jobs. It has also trained over 600 adult software developers and introduced coding to thousands of 5th-8th grade students across the United States.
Dr. Stapleton has worked for over 15 years with federal, state, and local agencies and leaders, advocating for increased focus on regional tech-based economic and workforce development, especially in smaller metros. In 2022, Codefi partnered with the efactory at Missouri State University and with the support of over 100 leading companies and strategic partners, launched the Southern Missouri Innovation Network. Innovate SOMO connects a group of regional nodes and communities across the southernmost 47 counties in Missouri, to the resources and expertise needed to transform entrepreneurial support and workforce development.
Dr. Stapleton earned a Ph. D. from Southern Illinois University, and an MBA and M.S. in Education from New Hampshire College. He was also formerly a tenured Associate Professor in Business and founding Executive Director of the Douglas C. Green Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Southeast Missouri State University, which delivered entrepreneurship development programs in nine states across the lower Mississippi Delta region.
James and his wife Stacy love to cook and travel, especially to wine regions across the country and around the world. He’s also an avid auto enthusiast and enjoys working on the two 1960’s hotrod trucks he built.
Cara Weber
Vice President, Special Projects at Missouri PartnershipCara Weber currently serves as Vice President, Special Projects for Missouri Partnership. Cara leads Missouri Partnership’s Shared Services team and provides advanced support to Project Management and Business Development.
Cara began her career in economic development with Missouri Partnership in 2010 as a Business Recruitment Coordinator, where she provided support for location identification, incentive proposal coordination, and more. She then worked in a site selection consulting role for Duff & Phelps in the Site Selection and Incentives Advisory practice, where she focused much of her time on Missouri Works projects and New Markets Tax Credit projects across the country. She then served in a regional economic development role as Vice President of Business Attraction for AllianceSTL (now Greater St. Louis, Inc.) where she was responsible for business attraction efforts for the Greater St. Louis Region before returning to Missouri Partnership in 2021.
Cara is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and holds a B.S. in Political Science and an MBA with a specialization in Management. Cara serves on the board of the St. Louis Fashion Fund. She and her husband John are proud parents to two children, Jack and Mary.
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