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Trailblazer Award & Annual St. Louis Forum Business Meeting
8/24/2023
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST

Event Description
Join us to celebrate our 2023 Trailblazer, Mary Alice Ryan!

The Trailblazer Award was created in 1994 to recognize a woman who’s an influential community leader, "the first” in her field, or made a significant contribution toward elevating the image of women in business.

Sheila Burkett, Forum’s president, will review what we accomplished in the past year and Zundra Bryant, Forum's President-Elect will share how we continue to thrive for the coming year. Important forum business requiring members votes will also be conducted.

Mary Alice Ryan
President Emeritus 
St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System

Mary Alice Ryan was President and CEO of St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System, which touched the lives of over 8,700 seniors and their caregivers each year. When she retired in 2021, she had been part of St. Andrew’s for 38 years and had ultimate responsibility for the operation of all communities and programs, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing communities, and life plan communities, as well as a management and consulting company, an in-home senior service organization, and a charitable foundation.

Mary Alice has been recognized on both state and national levels for her abilities and commitment to services for older adults.  On a national level, Ms. Ryan has held numerous appointments with LeadingAge, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors.  She has also served on the board of the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA), LeadingAge’s Risk Management board (ARM), and LeadingAge’s Development Corporation (ADC).

On the local level, Mary Alice was a Past President of LeadingAge Missouri, the recipient of that organization’s Presidential Award for Outstanding Service, as well as the E. Willis Piehl Award, which is their highest award of honor.  She was an adjunct faculty member in Health Administration at Washington University in St. Louis.   She received the Woman of Worth award from the Older Women’s League in St. Louis and she participated in the Leadership St. Louis program.  She also served on the board of STL Village.
  • First woman CEO of St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System
  • First woman Board Chair of the MO Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
  • First woman Board Chair of AAHSA Development Corporation
  • First woman Chair of the Institute on the Future of Aging Services
  • First woman to receive Washington University Health Administration Distinguished Alumnus Award

Mary Alice has been a visionary in the field of senior services, having overseen the creation of many cutting-edge programs.  Highlights include:
  • Caring Workplace, which won IAHSA’s Award of Excellence and LeadingAge Missouri’s  Excellence in Service Award for creating a corporate benefits program designed to help caregivers balance their work and personal lives;
  • St. Andrew’s fund development initiative, which raises over $1.5 annually to assist low-income and at-risk older adults with housing and home care services;
  • Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans program, which won LeadingAge Missouri’s Distinguished Service Award for helping to enhance society’s perception of aging by celebrating the lives and contributions of active older adults aged 75 and better

Some of the Awards Mary Alice has received:
  • LeadingAge Mo Visionary Award 2017
  • McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor 2020
  • LeadingAge Mo Willis Piehl Award of Honor 2001
  • Continuing Care Hall of Fame 2021
  • STL Business Journal Most Influential Business Women 2021
  • Titan 100, Inaugural St. Louis class 2022