As associate director, public affairs for Pfizer Global Research and Develop, St. Louis Laboratories, Ed Bryant brings almost 15 years of expertise and training in developing and executing effective strategic and integrated communications solutions for a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations. A hallmark of his work has been developing and executing communications and community engagement programs that are integrated with the goals and objectives of an organization. Prior to joining Pfizer in 2005, he was director of community engagement and communications for the St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC), for three years, leading efforts to develop and strengthen the linkages between the RHC’s member organizations, government officials, the media and community groups. With Kupper Park Communications, from 2000-2002, Bryant developed community and media relations campaigns for a number of clients, including the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Saint Louis University, Domino Sugar, Express Scripts and The American Osteopathic Association. Bryant serves on the Board of the Coro Leadership Center of St. Louis and on the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ Community Investment Committee. He is a member of PRSA, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the St. Louis American Health Advisory Committee, the Missouri Training and Employment Council, and FOCUS St. Louis. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Memphis and a master’s degree in public policy from Regent University.

June Fowler

As vice president of corporate and public communications, BJC HealthCare, June McAllister Fowler leads internal, external and public policy communications and community relations efforts on behalf of BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health-care organizations in the United States and one of Missouri's largest private employers. She has responsibility for multiple areas, including media relations, executive communications, community affairs, creative services, web development, media services and the employee newspaper. Prior to joining BJC, she was senior director of communications and community affairs for Tyco Healthcare/Mallinckrodt. Fowler began her career as an urban planner with St. Louis County government, ultimately serving as director of the Department of Planning. Fowler earned her master's degree in urban affairs from Washington University in St. Louis after completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Fowler has been an active volunteer throughout the region for many years. She currently serves as vice president of the St. Louis County Economic Council and is a board member of the St. Louis Science Center, Forest Park Forever, Associated Industries of Missouri and Citizens for Modern Transit. She has served as a member of UMB Bank's St. Louis Advisory Board and is a past chair of both the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis and the Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy. Fowler has received a number of awards in recognition of her leadership and service.

Kelly Malone

Kelly Malone has spent more than 15 years in public relations and internal communications.She joined Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. in 1993 where she worked with several clients including Anheuser-Busch, JC Penney and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.During this time she became specialized in sports marketing public relations, which led to her position as director of communications for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) in Daytona Beach, Fla. Malone moved back to St. Louis with Anheuser-Busch Companies where she was the director of internal and external communications for the company’s operations around the globe. Today she manages communications and events for Citi St. Louis. Malone holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale.

Maria Palumbo

Maria C. Palumbo serves as business leader of worldwide communications at the St. Louis headquarters of MasterCard Global Technology and Operations, the company's largest division, where her responsibilities include community affairs, corporate philanthropy, executive and employee communications and media relations. She directs the company's St. Louis community affairs program including Project Math, a corporate giving initiative to advance excellence in the teaching of math, which was honored with the 2008 PRSA Silver Anvil Award for excellence in community relations. Prior to this assignment, she served as Communications Director, which included managing community affairs and supporting executive and employee communications. Maria joined MasterCard in 2000 after working as a consultant for MasterCard and as an intern at Shandwick International. A member of PRSA, she holds a master's degree in English literary studies from University of Durham in Durham, England, and a bachelor's degree in English and history from Saint Louis University.

Sheldon Ripson

Sheldon Ripson is a 25-year veteran of local television news gathering and delivery. He has been News Director at St. Louis' KPLR-TV (Channel 11) for 10 years. He has been a television reporter, anchor, producer and news director in six cities. Ripson is a 1983 graduate of the Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication, which honored him as a 2006 Distinguished Alumnus. He lives in Eureka with wife Jacqueline and three children, Madison (8), Joseph (7), and Nicholas (3).