Erin Brooks, Chair
Erin Brooks is a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP specializing in environmental law with a focus in redevelopment and sustainable land use. She counsels companies in a number of industries, including real estate developers, agribusiness, food and beverage, renewable energy, finance and manufacturing. Erin earned a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and B.A. from Truman State University.
Erin lives in the Central West End with her husband, Josh Udelhofen, and enjoys long walks in Forest Park, hiking and skiing.
Laura Bryant, Vice Chair
Mirowitz Center at Covenant Place
Laura Bryant serves as Educational Programs & Special Events Manager at the Mirowitz Center, which is an affiliate of the Covenant Place Foundation. She previously served as the Assistant Vice President of Government & Public Affairs Communications for Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Laura began her career with Southwestern Bell/AT&T before moving to The May Department Stores Company and Enterprise, and subsequently to the Mirowitz Center.
She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and graduated with a B.A. in Journalism (magazine) as well as a B.A. in Russian Area Studies. Her career also includes 14 years of public service in the City of Creve Coeur, Missouri. She served as a Planning & Zoning Commissioner for four years, then was elected to City Council, eventually serving five two-year terms before being termed-out. In 2006, the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce awarded Laura its “Legislator of the Year” Award in recognition of her efforts to champion the rights of residential and commercial property owners against Eminent Domain abuse.
Amy Altholz, Treasurer
Amy Altholz is the Partner-in-Charge of RubinBrown’s Not-for-Profit Services Group, leading a team to provide audit, tax and other professional services to not-for-profit organizations across the country. Amy has been with RubinBrown since 2003, specializing in both not-for-profit organizations as well as assurance services.
Amy graduated Magma Cum Laude with a B.S.B.A. and M.S.B.A. from Washington University. In addition to proudly serving as Board Treasurer of Operation Food Search, Amy also serves as the Board Treasurer of Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts as well as current Finance Committee and former Board member of the Women’s Foundation of Greater Saint Louis. Amy is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Washington University. In her free time, Amy enjoys volunteering, supporting the vibrant St. Louis arts community and traveling the globe.
Dara Webb, Secretary
Dara Webb is a results-driven healthcare executive with over 15 years of experience in various settings including community health, consulting and large integrated health systems. She is currently the Executive Director of Population Health for Mercy Clinic. Most recently, she was able to put her personal passion for community health into action by leading the COVID vaccine clinics for Mercy Health.
Active in the community, Dara holds seats on the boards of Urban League and CareSTL Health and is a Cabinet Member of the Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society. She provides her expertise to future professionals as adjunct faculty at Webster University, Harris-Stowe State University and Washington University.
With her civic leadership experience at The St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative and Focus Impact Fellows, Dara was selected for the 2021-22 cohort of Leadership St. Louis. She is grateful for the opportunity to integrate key learnings from the program into her daily work.
In her free time, Dara enjoys traveling and taking walks with her 100-pound rescue dog, Mr. Bosley.
Nik Brym
Nik Brym is the Chief Financial Officer at Wee Ones. At Wee Ones, Nik oversees several different aspects of the business, including finance, accounting, Human Resources, and operations. Prior to Wee Ones, Nik served as the Director of Finance with GardaWorld. And, ahead of GradaWorld, Nik served as a public accountant, where he was able to counsel many different businesses throughout several industries.
Before joining the Board of Directors in 2019, Nik spent seven years serving on the young professionals’ board for Operation Food Search, with his last four years serving as president. Nik has also served as President for Strange Cares, a nonprofit geared towards helping underprivileged kids by offering scholarships in hopes of helping them realize their dreams and potential.
Nik is a proud business graduate of the University of Missouri – St Louis, holding a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He continues to mentor students from UMSL and is of service to the University at different levels.
Nik and his wife, Gina, are the proud parents of two children.
Maxine Clark
Maxine Clark is the Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop®, and today, there are over 350 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide. Maxine stepped down from her CEB (Chief Executive Bear) position in 2013 to start her next act — to help unleash the potential of women and minority entrepreneurs and to use her entrepreneurial skills to create platforms and places that give access to more St. Louis families.
Maxine is a Founding Managing Director of Prosper Women’s Capital; additionally, she is on the Board of Advisors of Lewis and Clark Ventures and is an advisor to the TxO Fund. Maxine is a member of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Board of Directors and was a recent member of Footlocker, Inc. Board of Directors. Maxine is also an Emeritus member of the Washington University Board of Trustees and a board member of Barnes Jewish Hospital, Goldfarb School of Nursing, New America and PBS national Nine PBS boards. In 2017 Maxine was named to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame and in 2015 was named Women of the Year by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation.
Maxine is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Louis University, an Honorary Doctor in Human Letters from the University of Missouri St. Louis and an Honorary Associates degree from St. Louis Community College
She lives in Clayton, Missouri with her husband Bob Fox.
Ryan Cuba
Ryan Cuba is the Chief Business Development & Transformation Officer for Schnuck Markets, Inc., where he leads the planning and implementation of strategic initiatives across the organization, as well as expansion efforts. He also oversees pharmacy, operations support, total inventory loss, e-commerce and procurement of goods not for resale. He is a member of the Strategy Team, comprised of the company’s most senior executives.
Ryan joined Schnuck Markets, Inc. in 2006 as the Director of Financial Planning & Budgeting before being promoted to Vice President of Store Operations in 2009. He was named Chief Store Merchant in 2015, where he oversaw all stores across the company’s footprint. He was promoted to his current role in 2018 and has since led the integration of 19 acquired Shop ‘n Save stores.
Ryan began his career at GE Capital as a Financial Analyst before moving to May Department Stores, where he spent 12 years in a variety of leadership roles. Prior to joining Schnucks, he was the May Company’s Vice President of Capital Planning & Analysis.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Missouri – Columbia and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from St. Louis University.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Food Search and supports Junior Achievement and the United Way.
Ryan and his wife, Cindy, are the proud parents of three children.
Pepe Finn
Pepe Prince Finn is the Chairperson of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Stern Brothers, a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) Investment Banking Firm. She is a seasoned executive with a broad range of experience and civic commitment.
Pepe is actively engaged in the St. Louis community. She served as both a trustee and chairperson of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Board of Trustees. She serves on several boards, including Nine PBS and Temple Emanuel, and is a trustee on the New York City Citizen’s Budget Commission. She also serves on the national board of the Institute for Southern Jewish Life.
In 2011, Pepe was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the 25 most influential business women. She received her BA in Political Philosophy from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1980 and her JD from St. Louis University School of Law in 1987.
Lisa Pelikan
Lisa Pelikan is a Principal at Edward Jones, where she is responsible for training financial advisors on the firm’s advisory programs. She has been with Edward Jones since 2007. Prior to that, she worked at A.G. Edwards for 18 years in a similar capacity.
She graduated with a B.A., Cum Laude, from Denison University and earned a J.D. at St. Louis University School of Law. She has served on the boards of the St. Charles County City-County Library District, Youth in Need and the Board of Education for the St. Charles School District.
Lisa lives in St. Charles County and has two grown sons.
Alan Schultz
Alan Schultz is the Head of Project Procurement, North America at Bayer where he is responsible for managing procurement activities related to capital investment in the region. Prior to the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer, he held various roles related to facilities management, capital investment, and procurement within Monsanto since 2005. Before Monsanto, he worked at Washington Group International (now AECOM) for eight years in a project engineering capacity and spent seven years as a senior associate with a Cleveland area architectural firm.
He graduated with his Bachelor of Architecture degree from University of Kansas and earned an M.B.A. from the Weatherhead School at Case Western Reserve University. Alan is a licensed architect. He has served as past lead of the Monsanto Access Diversity Network, promoting disability awareness in the workplace. As part of the network, Alan had the opportunity to lead Monsanto’s partnership with the Missouri AgrAbility Project, a USDA program cultivating success in agriculture, employment and rural life for people with disabilities and their families.
Alan lives in Wildwood and has two daughters.
Lucas Signorelli
Lucas Signorelli is a native St. Louisan dedicated to making our region a healthy, vibrant, and prosperous community for all people. After graduating from Truman State University with a BA in Economics, Lucas has worked in a diverse array of industries ranging from financial services, nonprofit management, and entrepreneurship, to organic agriculture and grassroots sustainability.
Lucas was the founding Executive Director of the St. Louis MetroMarket, a nonprofit mobile grocery store with a mission of increasing healthy food access in the St. Louis region. Currently, he runs a commercial insurance practice at The Daniel & Henry Co., hosts the “Speak Up St. Louis” podcast and also serves as a board member for People’s Community Action Corporation.
Ultimately, what Lucas values most is family, community, stewardship, and working with others to elevate St. Louis.
Steve Spratt
Steve Spratt is the Vice President of Marketing Operations at Ascension. In this role, he is responsible for operations, human resources and finance for the function as well as media buying, brand implementation and the Ascension Charity Classic. Steve earned a B.A. in Accounting from Buena Vista University and an M.B.A. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
Steve currently serves on the Board of Norwood Hills Country Club. Previous board experience includes the First Tee of Greater St. Louis and the Board of Education for the Ladue School District. Steve lives in Creve Coeur and is the married father of two children.
Jessica Stephan
Jessica Stephan is Logistics Director for Bunge, a global leader in agribusiness, food ingredients, fuel and fertilizer. She leads a team of individuals charged with managing multi-port vessel logistics for the company’s North American agribusiness division. In this role, Jessica represents North America on the Global Logistics team to manage and align bulk commodity flows and vessel freight for multiple value chains. Since joining the company in 2008, Jessica held several merchandising and trading positions prior to switching career paths to supply chain and logistics.
Jessica graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Agriculture Education and an M.S. in Agribusiness. She developed a passion for agriculture from growing up on a small farm in South Central Illinois. This experience led her to organizations like 4-H and Future Farmers of America, where she enjoyed serving members and the community in various leadership roles through college and into her professional career. Currently, Jessica is the President of Bunge’s FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter, co-lead of the Women of Bunge Employee Resource Group and serves on industry committees with National Grain and Feed Association and North American Export Grain Association. Additionally, she volunteers locally with Junior Achievement and Ronald McDonald House.
Jessica lives in Wildwood with her husband, Patrick, daughters, Dylan and Alex, and dog, cat, and turtle. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling and snow skiing with family and friends.
Rick Stevens
As president of Christian Hospital, Rick Stevens is responsible for strategic leadership and positioning Christian Hospital as a provider of quality critical health care services in north St. Louis County. Prior to joining BJC in 2016, Rick was with Sutter California Pacific Medical Center St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco, where he served for four years as chief administrative officer and vice president.
Rick holds a master’s degree in public health from Meharry Medical College and a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is board certified in healthcare management. He serves on the boards of North County, Inc., St. Louis Integrated Health Network, Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America, KIPP St. Louis, UMSL’s Chancellor’s Council and Logan University. He is also a member of the Florissant Valley Kiwanis.
