St. Louis Development Corporation Welcomes Stephanie Grise as EVP, Chief Operating Officer
St. Louis, MO (June 3, 2024) — Today, the independent economic development agency serving the City of St. Louis — St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) — is pleased to welcome experienced lawyer, equitable strategist, people leader and process builder, Stephanie Grise, JD, MBA as its first-ever EVP, Chief Operating Officer. As COO, Stephanie will play a crucial role in steering the organization toward its goals, with effective implementation of the Economic Justice Action Plan at the forefront.
As a key member of the senior management team reporting to SLDC’s President & CEO, Neal Richardson, Stephanie will be instrumental in developing and implementing operational strategies that align with SLDC's mission to empower, develop and transform St. Louis through a vibrant, just and growing economy where all people can thrive. She will oversee all internal operational functions, processes and procedures, including economic research and analysis, finance, contract compliance, marketing and communications, and human resources.
“This is a pivotal time for the transformation of SLDC, which is why we created a new role that demands a leader who can efficiently manage resources, monitor performance against benchmarks and drive operational excellence throughout the organization,” Richardson said. “I am confident that Stephanie is that leader and am excited about the experience, enthusiasm and equitable principles she brings to SLDC. Stephanie is a seasoned executive known for giving balanced advice, leading strategy and investing in people. Her skillset is uniquely aligned with the organization and is what we need to effectively operationalize SLDC into the future.”
A 25-year St. Louisan, Stephanie earned her Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Washington University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Cornell University. She joins SLDC with 20 years of legal, banking and not-for-profit experience helping community development participants — financial institutions non-profits and government agencies — deepen and grow their impact. She combines legal and business acumen, equity-centered leadership, a love of process and an inherent drive for action to meet organizational needs. To learn more about Stephanie’s professional experience, visit her LinkedIn profile.
“I am excited to join SLDC in this critically important role, bringing my career full circle by putting my earlier experience with state and local economic development incentives back into practice,” added Grise. “Advocating for racial equity has been a focal point of my career and community service, so I am honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with Neal and the SLDC team to operationalize that work every day through the Economic Justice Action Plan.”