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Issues Exploration Opening Panel: Come learn about a St. Louis You've Never Seen
3/22/2023
5:15 PM - 7:30 PM CST

Event Description
Please join us for the opening discussion for Issues Exploration. This year, we will be exploring topics centering around aspects of St. Louis to celebrate. For our first session, we will have a panel discussion led by Lyda Krewson, former mayor of St. Louis to cue us up for the exploratory discussion over the coming months.

Lyda Krewson
Former Mayor of St. Louis (2017–2021)
In April 2017, Lyda Krewson won a historic election to become the first woman to serve as mayor of St. Louis. Prior to the election, Krewson served as 28th Ward Alderwoman. She is also a CPA and served as the CFO for an international design firm until her election as Mayor in 2017.

As Mayor, Krewson has focused intently on public safety, naming Judge Jimmie Edwards as Director of Public Safety and John Hayden as Chief of Police. She also lead the effort to pass Proposition P, a half cent sales tax to provide salary and benefit increases for police and firefighters, and a million each for summer jobs, recreation for kids, mental health, and demolition. Krewson is also focused on reducing vacant buildings, cleaning up St. Louis, increasing economic and workforce development, and providing good service to all St. Louis residents, businesses and visitors.

Krewson is known for her civility, determination and fairness in addressing issues.

During her tenure as 28th Ward Alderwoman, Krewson unapologetically took on tough and controversial issues including passing the comprehensive smoking ban, fighting for common sense gun regulation, leading the effort to reduce the Board of Aldermen from 28 to 14, and passing the city’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.  Krewson worked closely with Forest Park Forever to renovate Forest Park, and with developers to bring responsible development to the Central West End, Skinker DeBaliviere, and the Loop. She is also known for making neighborhoods more accessible for walkers and bike riders, planting over 1,500 trees, sponsoring the “doggie dining” bill, and spearheading the Sunflower + Program.
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Mary Lamie
Executive Vice President
Multi Modal Enterprises
The St. Louis Regional Freightway is led by Executive Vice President – Multi Modal Enterprises, Mary Lamie.

Mary Lamie was selected to lead the St. Louis region’s new freight district in July of 2015. As Executive Vice President – Multi Modal Enterprises she is responsible for evaluating the freight needs of the bistate region and the freight network’s operational status. She develops public-private partnerships and creates the foundation for planning, marketing and advocacy of the bistate region as a national freight hub.

She has been recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as a Woman of Influence and, in 2020, Mary was selected as one of the recipients of Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine’s inaugural Women in Supply Chain Awards. 
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Neil Richardson
President & CEO
St. Louis Development Corporation
Neal Richardson is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC). SLDC is the economic development agency for the City of St. Louis and reports directly to the Mayor.

Richardson leads the agency’s economic development activities City-wide aimed at empowering, developing, and transforming the City of St. Louis through a vibrant, just, and growing economy where all people can thrive.

Neal earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Webster University.

Prior to joining SLDC, Richardson’s professional experience included over 15 years in the real estate finance and community development industry.
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