November/December 2019

For nearly 40 years, YWCA Metro St. Louis has set the standard for recognition of outstanding women whose accomplishments draw accolades from their professional peers and the community at large. Long before the presence of women in C-suites or board rooms was as common as it is today, YWCA championed the rights and value of women in the workforce. By recognizing exceptional women publicly, YWCA amplified their voices, presented role models to young women and drew attention to an under-utilized talent pool. The honorees are called Leaders of Distinction and, collectively, they comprise the YWCA Academy of Leaders.

Today, the YWCA Academy of Leaders numbers in the hundreds and is comprised of a Who’s Who of amazing St. Louis women. The 2019 honorees who join them will be celebrated at the annual YWCA Leader Lunch on December 12th before hundreds of guests at the St. Louis Union Station Grand Ballroom. These women represent the fields of corporate management, health management, entrepreneurship, racial justice, philanthropy and non-profit. A Future Leader selected from the ranks of impressive area high school seniors will be honored, and YWCA is especially proud to announce the selective Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Carol Duhme in honor of her decades of work to improve lives in St. Louis.

This year’s YWCA Leaders of Distinction are:

Ruth Kim, General Counsel, Sr. VP & Sr. Partner, Fleishman Hillard

Dr. Celeste Player, VP & General Manager, Operations, Express Scripts

Lisa Stump, President, Lashly & Baer, P.C.

Nancy Wolfe, SVP, HR Global Commercial Operations, Bayer Crop Science

Barbara C. Archer, Managing Director, Partner, HighTower St. Louis Wealth Advisors

JoAnne Levy, Vice President, Mercy Research, Mercy Health System

Theresa Ruzicka, President, Catholic Charities of St. Louis

Dr. Mary McKay, Dean, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis,

Alison Ferring, Philanthropist and Community Volunteer

Future Leader Kaylin Walters, Nerinx Hall High School

Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree Carol Duhme

For more information, contact Aimee Frey, (314) 531-1115, ext.5230, afrey@ywcastlouis.org.

YWCA Metro St. Louis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and eliminating racism. YWCA offers housing for homeless women, crisis intervention, support and counseling for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, economic empowerment for women, early learning, youth and teen development, and racial justice training. YWCA is a United Way of Greater St. Louis member agency.