QUALITY JOBS
Quality jobs provide full-time workers with living wages, comprehensive employee benefits, and opportunities for growth and advancement. They’re a key lever for economic mobility.
The IPP’s first Solution Design Cohort is bringing together employers, service providers, funders, and job seekers to co-design scalable, sustainable, and systemic solutions to increase access to quality jobs for people with low incomes.
SOLUTION DESIGN COHORT
The initial Solution Design Cohort is a broad group of St. Louisans who work in collaboration to create dynamic solutions. This group includes nonprofit representatives, leaders from corporations, institutions, community associations, and community voices of varying backgrounds.
Tamiko Armstead
Cardinal Ritter College
Prep High School
Sean Armstrong
Washington University in St. Louis
Vianey Beltran
Wells Fargo
Yoni Blumberg
WEPOWER
D’Andre Braddix, EdD
SLCC
Maggie Farrell
Missouri Works Initiative
Kyon Favell
St. Louis Community Member – Youth
Kiara Fortson
ArchKey
Hillary Frey
St. Louis Youth Jobs
Leslie Gill
Rung for Women
Keith George
BJC Health
Richard von Glahn
Missouri Jobs with Justice
Michael Holmes
Urban League of
Metropolitan St. Louis
Brandi Jahnke
Connections to Success
Connie Johnson
SLATE
Shanise Johnson
Boys & Girls Club of
Greater St. Louis
Michael Jones
Friendly Temple Church
Jerrick King
St. Louis Community Member – Youth
Shannon Koenig
St. Louis County Housing
Evelyn Kumeh
St. Louis Community Member
Irene Li
St. Louis Community Member
Sal Martinez
Employment Connection
Jamerah McNichols
St. Louis Community Member – Youth
Bob Olwig
World Wide Technology
Suzanne Sierra
St. Louis Mosaic Project
Patricia Smith
St. Louis Community Member
Kristin Sobolik
University of Missouri,
St. Louis
Susan Stith
Concordance
Michael Woods
Dream Builders 4 Equity
QUALITY JOBS CHAMPIONS
Three Quality Jobs Champions promote the successful implementation of solutions by securing strategic partnerships, providing thought leadership, and inspiring ambassadorship among both the Solution Design Cohort and the Collaborative Partner Committee.
KEITH GEORGE
Vice President, Talent Strategies at BJC HealthKeith George has over 12 years of experience in human resources and talent acquisition. Keith has held various leadership positions at prominent organizations such as BJC HealthCare, Ascension, Comcast, Lumeris, and Discover Financial Services. Keith’s roles have focused on talent strategy, workforce analytics, talent acquisition, talent management, and development. Keith has a demonstrated track record of driving innovation and transformation in the healthcare and media industries.
LESLIE GILL
President & CEO, Rung for WomenFor over 25 years, Leslie Gill has made a significant impact on the St. Louis community. Her leadership at Rung for Women focuses on providing holistic self-sufficiency and career paths for women, helping them move up the economic opportunity ladder. Leslie’s experience includes serving as the CEO of Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center and Executive Director of College Summit. Recognized for her leadership, Leslie was awarded the Titan 100 Award recognizing top CEOs and executives in 2024 and named among the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Businesswomen in 2022.
EVELYN KUMEH
Founder, Humanity First
Evelyn T. Kumeh is the founder of Humanity First, a mission-driven organization advancing equitable opportunities and inclusive growth. With a degree in Political Science and International Relations, she brings extensive experience in government investigations and community engagement. Evelyn previously served as a Job Developer with the International Institute of St. Louis and investigated workforce, housing, and public accommodation discrimination with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
ENHANCED LABOR MARKET ANALYSIS
The IPP’s Enhanced Labor Market Analysis (ELMA) was developed to help the St. Louis region move from fragmented insight to coordinated action.
By combining job demand data with real-world economic conditions, ELMA reveals where quality jobs exist, who is disconnected from them, and where targeted action can unlock the region’s talent and potential.