Growing Global Recap

Several Distinguished Guests Spoke at the Annual Event

More than 600 people packed the Main Ballroom at Clayton’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Friday, September 22 for the Growing Global luncheon (#STLGrowingGlobal). The annual event featured many distinguished guests, including community and business leaders from near and far. It was hosted by the World Trade Center St. Louis (WTCSL), which is a division of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

The featured discussion — “Profiling the Region’s Competitiveness and Connections” — included Canada’s Consul General in Chicago John Cruickshank, Monsanto Vice President of Global Talent and Inclusion & Diversity Melissa Harper, Organization for International Investment President & CEO Nancy McLernon and Southwest Airlines Senior International Business Consultant Julian Gelvez.

Other attendees/speakers included St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, WTCSTL Executive Director Tim Nowak, WTCSTL Board President Cartan Sumner and Arch Grants Executive Director Emily Lohse-Busch. Debbie Monterrey, a personality from KMOX Radio, emceed the event and moderated the panel on global connectivity.

“St. Louis County is emerging as a key player in the global economy. Since last year, foreign companies have played a significant role in the $3 billion in capital improvements and expansions that corporations have invested in the county.” — St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger

“St. Louis exports $16 billion in goods and services annually, which directly contributes to a whopping 94,000 jobs throughout the region. And these are good-paying jobs. On average, export-supported jobs pay 20 percent more than their counterparts.” — St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson

“Our region understands global engagement. Global food will need to double (during this century) — and there’s no region better positioned than ours to help make that happen.” — U.S. Senator Roy Blunt

“Participation in the global economy is essential for the long-term economic health of any community. In St. Louis, about 50,000 jobs of private employment are supported by nearly 300 foreign-owned companies from 30 different countries.” — World Trade Center St. Louis Executive Director Tim Nowak