Alderlady Shameem Clark Hubbard is a dedicated advocate for the residents of the 10Th Ward in the City Of St. Louis serving on the Board of Aldermen since 2019. With a primary focus on public health and safety, education, and community development, she works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for her constituents. Known for her ability to build strong relationships and foster open communication, Alderlady Clark Hubbard has made significant strides in creating trust between the community and law enforcement, with public safety remaining a top priority. In her service and commitment to youth advocacy she actively promotes educational initiatives that empower students and families. Beyond her legislative duties, Alderlady Hubbard is deeply invested in community wellness and sustainable growth. As a wife, a mother of five, a grandmother, and a proud St. Louis Public School parent, she understands the importance of family and community support. She has sponsored, co-sponsored, and passed over 220 plus mboard bills and counting aimed at anti-discrimination, anti-displacement, and equitable development policies. Known for her accessibility and accountability, she continues to engage her constituents, business owners, and colleagues to work toward the common goal of building and strengthening communities that have long been divided. Her dedication and bridge-building efforts set an example of collaborative leadership for the greater good of St. Louis.

With more than two decades of experience in travel and tourism, Brad Dean is president and CEO of Explore St. Louis, leading the charge to promote the city as a must-visit destination and positioning America’s Center and The Dome as top choices for conventions, concerts and events.

Before joining Explore St. Louis, Dean served as CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, where he played a pivotal role in revitalizing the island’s tourism industry. Taking the helm in 2018, he spearheaded efforts to boost economic growth and reestablish Puerto Rico as a premier travel destination, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Dean’s career began in Puerto Rico as a financial analyst for General Electric, where he also met his wife. In 1993, he transitioned into hospitality, joining the Rank Corporation as unit controller for its Hard Rock Café chain. Two years later, he was tapped to launch and lead the Myrtle Beach location, which quickly became one of the company’s top-performing outlets.

In 1998, Dean took on a leadership role with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce as chief financial officer. By 2003, he was named president and CEO, guiding the region’s tourism industry to unprecedented growth. Under his leadership, the chamber earned national recognition and was named Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2015.

A respected voice in the travel and tourism industry, Dean serves in leadership roles with organizations including the U.S. Travel Association, Destinations International and Meeting Professionals International. He is a member of the National Council of State Tourism Directors and vice chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.

In 2021, he was named State Tourism Director of the Year by the National Council of State Tourism Directors of the U.S. Travel Association, honoring his contributions to Puerto Rico’s tourism renaissance. Beyond his professional achievements, he remains committed to community service and philanthropy.

Originally from Illinois, Dean holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Illinois. Now calling St. Louis home, he continues to drive innovation and economic impact through tourism.

Mayor Cara Spencer was sworn in as the 48th mayor of the City of St. Louis on April 15, 2025. A proven leader with a deep commitment to public service, she is focused on building a stronger, more prosperous city for all St. Louisans.

Born and raised in St. Louis, she became the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics from Truman State University. Her early career took her to cities across the country, where she saw firsthand the transformative impact of smart urban planning, economic investment, and engaged leadership. Inspired by those experiences, Mayor Spencer returned home and successfully ran for the Board of Aldermen in 2015, where she’s worked ever since to put St. Louis on a path toward shared prosperity.

Mayor Spencer continues to lead the charge to make city government more transparent, efficient, and accountable. During her time as an alderperson, she authored legislation to curb predatory lending, improve air quality, and bring greater transparency to campaign finance. As a champion of public safety, she passed the city’s first meaningful gun control law in decades, closing a loophole that allowed minors and individuals without permits to possess firearms. Since the law’s passage in 2023, the city has seen a 15% decline in juvenile shooting victims.

A strong advocate for responsible governance, Mayor Spencer helped stop the privatization of Lambert International Airport, protecting one of the city's most valuable public assets. She’s pushed for greater oversight in public spending, exposing mismanagement of federal relief funds and calling for more strategic use of Rams settlement dollars to revitalize downtown.

Mayor Spencer’s work extends deep into the neighborhoods of St. Louis. She co-developed the innovative “mow-to-own” program, giving residents a path to reclaim and care for vacant lots. She led efforts to regulate short-term rentals, protect housing stock, and ensure that public contracts benefit local businesses. A staunch defender of the city’s historic architecture and cultural institutions, she champions investments in parks, museums, and iconic landmarks that define St. Louis.

A dedicated mother, community advocate, and problem-solver, Mayor Spencer is committed to building a safer, more equitable, and vibrant city. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old son, Cy, and can often be found cycling, hiking Missouri’s trails, or cross-country skiing through her neighborhood.

Karen Branding is the president and CEO of the Regional Business Council, which brings together CEOs of 100 large St. Louis companies to act on high-impact issues for the betterment of the region. RBC believes everyone deserves a good education, a path to a good career and a safe neighborhood.

Before RBC, Karen was senior vice president for external engagement and corporate communications at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for 13 years. Prior to the St. Louis Fed, Karen was the associate dean of marketing and communications for Washington University’s Olin Business School. She was with Anheuser-Busch for 15 years, including serving as president and CEO of its Busch Creative Services subsidiary. Her early career was in Washington, DC, where she was a presidential management fellow with the Treasury Department and policy analyst at the Office of Management and Budget.

Karen earned her B.A. from Drake University, master’s in public affairs from Indiana University and MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

A native St. Louisan, Karen is an active community volunteer, serving on several civic and nonprofit boards. She is the recipient of Washington University’s Emory Award for leadership and scholarship, YWCA’s Leader of Distinction Award and Drake University’s Alumni Loyalty Award.

Lesley S. Hoffarth, P.E., has served as the President & Executive Director of the nonprofit conservancy Forest Park Forever since January 2010. In this role, Hoffarth has been leading the organization through strategic growth and a transition of its mission. While the organization was initially focused just on helping restore Forest Park after decades of deterioration, the conservancy has expanded its mission to partner with the City of St. Louis to sustain the Park forever, as well as improve the visitor experience.

In 2011, Hoffarth successfully negotiated a first-in-the-nation innovative agreement with the City of St. Louis that forms a true partnership in caring for the Park, secures City funding for ongoing Park maintenance and builds the next phase of capital projects. Between 2013 – 2017, Hoffarth and her team undertook Forever: The Campaign for Forest Park’s Future, the most ambitious fundraising initiative in Forest Park history. The conservancy met and exceeded its $130 million goal, raising more than $139 million in gifts and pledges for the Park.

In 2024, Hoffarth led the renewal and extension of Forest Park Forever’s innovative partnership agreement with the City of St. Louis for a 20- to 30-year term, securing the Park’s future for decades to come, and launched the $100 million Imagine the Glade capital campaign to restore Steinberg Rink and transform its surroundings for year-round activity.

During her leadership of Forest Park Forever and in partnership with the City, Forest Park has been voted “Best City Park” in the country multiple times in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, among other regional and national accolades for the Park’s quality and diversity of activities.