Things to Note: 

- Panel discussions will tackle topics including how collaboration can: create pathways to careers in advanced manufacturing; unlock the economic power of connecting anchor institutions with diverse local suppliers; support policy changes to accelerate inclusive economic growth. 

- Featured speaker is Xavier de Souza Briggs, Ph.D., award-winning Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.  


ST. LOUIS -- To bring leaders from across the 15-county bi-state St. Louis metro together to discuss how bold and innovative forms of collaboration are necessary to drive inclusive economic growth, Greater St. Louis, Inc. will host the second Inclusive Economic Growth Summit the morning of Wednesday, October 16, in Downtown St. Louis. 

The Summit will feature panel discussions with regional leaders and a fireside chat with national expert on inclusive growth Dr. Xavier de Souza Briggs, Brookings Metro Senior Fellow. 

DETAILS FOR 2024 INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH SUMMIT 

Who 

  • Greater St. Louis, Inc. 
  • Business, civic, academic, and government leaders from across the St. Louis metro 
  • Dr. Xavier de Souza Briggs, Brookings Metro Senior Fellow  

 When 

  • Wednesday, October 16, 2024 
  • 8:00 a.m. Media setup  
  • 8:30 a.m. Event program begins 
  • 1:15 p.m. Conclusion 

 Where 

Marriott St. Louis Grand, Majestic Ballroom | 800 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63101 


Program 

Highlights of the Inclusive Economic Growth Summit include: 

 Panel 1 - Pathways to Careers in High-Growth Industries: New Collaborations in Advanced Manufacturing 

Moderator: Trezette Dixon, Senior Director, The Fellows Experience, Greater St. Louis, Inc. 

Panelists: Leslie Gill, President & CEO, Rung for Women; Dena McCaffrey, President of Jefferson College

Panel 2 - Making Supplier Diversity Real: The Brass Tacks of Leveraging Anchor Purchasing Power to Create Opportunities for Diverse Business Growth   

Moderator: Lakesha Mathis, Vice President, Strategy (SupplySTL), Greater St. Louis, Inc. 

Panelists: Lusnail Haberberger, Founder & CEO, LUZCO Technologies, LLC; Byron Witherspoon, Supplier Diversity, & Supply Chain Sustainability, Ameren; Kevin Wilson, Executive Director, St. Louis Small Business Empowerment Center 

Panel 3 - Speaking with a Unified Voice: Collaborating to Make Diverse Business Growth a Public Policy Priority 

Moderator: Adam Kazda, Vice President, Government Relations, Greater St. Louis, Inc. 

Panelists: The Hon. Christopher Belt, Illinois State Senator for the 57th District; Aimee Wehmeier, President & CEO, Paraquad; The Hon. Brian Williams, Missouri State Senator for the 14th District 

Fireside Chat - Building the Capacity for Civic Collaboration: Public-Private Partnerships to Solve Problems and Drive Inclusive Growth 

Moderator: Valerie Patton, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Greater St. Louis, Inc. 

Panelist: Dr. Xavier de Souza Briggs, Brookings Metro Senior Fellow 


Media Contact: Tony Wyche | 314-398-9991 | Tony@GreaterSTLInc.com