This Year's Honorees

Through their work, honorees are inclusive in their approach to leadership and are actively engaged in addressing issues facing the St. Louis region. With effective and ethical leadership, these honorees have made a significant and positive impact in our community.

James R. Kimmey, M.D., M.P.H.
President and CEO
Missouri Foundation for Health

James R. Kimmey, M.D., M.P.H. is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mis-souri Foundation for Health, a position he has held since October, 2001. The Missouri Founda-tion for Health is the state's largest health foundation with assets of more than $1.3 billion. Prior to joining the Foundation, Kimmey held a number of senior positions at Saint Louis University beginning in 1987, He served as Director of the University's Center for Health Services Educa-tion and Research [1987-1991]; Founding Dean of its School of Public Health [1991-1993]; Vice President for Health Sciences and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center [1993-1998]; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Uni-versity [1998-2000]; and Director of the Institute for Urban Health Policy [2000-2001]. He was appointed Professor Emeritus of Public Health in 2001.

Dr. Kimmey has held many leadership positions in non-profit and professional organizations throughout his career. Among these were President of the World Federation of Public Health As-sociations, President of the American Health Planning Association, Chair of the Accrediting Commission on Health Services Administration, Chair of the Community Health Planning Sec-tion of APHA, Chair of the Task Force on Accreditation for the Health Professions, Commis-sioner of the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission, Chair of St. Louis ConnectCare, a safety net provider, President of the Metropolitan St. Louis Hospital Council, and President of the St. Louis Chapter of the Missouri Public Health Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy and the Board of the Re-gional Commerce and Growth Association. In 2005, he was elected to the Board of Grantmakers in Health, the national association for foundations working in the health area.

Among the awards and honors he has received are the Public Health Service Commendation Medal, 1968; the Richard H. Schlesinger Award for Achievement in Health Planning (APHA/AHPA), 1978; Alpha Sigma Nu, Saint Louis University, 1993; Missouri Health Com-municator of the Year, 1994, Missouri Hospital Association; James R. Kimmey Award for Ex-cellence in Health Planning, APHA, 1994; and the Archbishop John May Award for Health Lea-dership from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, 2002.

In 2005, he was profiled as a "St. Louis Character" in the St. Louis Business Journal and as a community leader in St. Louis Business magazine. The Business Journal also named him as one of nineteen St. Louis "Power Brokers" in its 25th Anniversary Issue.

Sue Stepleton, Ph.D., MBA, LCSW
President and CEO
National Center for Parents as Teachers

Susan Stepleton has more than 30 years experience in early childhood, human service, nonprofit management and public policy, serving as chief executive of the National Center for Parents as Teachers since 2002. Parents as Teachers is the largest parent education program in the nation, serving 300,000 families every year by providing evidence-based parenting information and guidance through personal visits with families. Parents as Teachers also serves families in six countries outside the United States. Since 2006, Stepleton serves on the Missouri Governor's Coordinating Board for Early Childhood. She serves on the St. Louis Mayor's Commission on Children, Youth and Families; the Advantage Capital Community Development Fund National Advisory Board; the University of Missouri-St. Louis Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program Advisory Board; and is co-chair of the Child Welfare League of American's Prevention, Protection and Family Services National Advisory Committee; is vice-chair of Eden Seminary's board of directors; and chair of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work Professional Advisory Committee at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to master's degrees in social work and business administration, she holds a doctorate in public policy analysis and administration. Stepleton has been named a Distinguished Alumna of both Washington University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has received numerous professional awards and recognitions.

View Past Honorees