St. Louis Regional Chamber announces Arcus award winners

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The St. Louis Regional Chamber honored companies and organizations for their contribution to the St. Louis region’s economic growth at the 6th Annual Arcus Awards.

The Arcus Awards were held on Thursday, notably in Academy-Awards-style. RubinBrown LLP presented the program and KMOX’s Tom Ackerman was the host. Arcus, Latin for ‘arch’ is used to symbolize the Gateway Arch, the unifying symbol of the bi-state region.

“RubinBrown’s actions and investments in the St. Louis community are guided by our core values which can be most simply summarized as ‘Be Your Best For Others,'” John Herber, Jr., chairman of RubinBrown, said. “This involves a commitment to service, excellence, and caring for the St. Louis community, our clients, and each other.”

St. Louis Regional Chamber reported that over 700 executives, entrepreneurs and, civic leaders registered for the dinner program to participate in honoring the achievements of top companies and organizations for inspiring “a greater St. Louis.”

A panel of business leaders, scholars and, executives selected twelve award winners based on their contributions to the St. Louis region’s economy and quality of life.

Categories to honor the leadership include corporate citizenship; entrepreneurship; public policy; inclusive business solutions; infrastructure and transportation; workforce development and talent attraction; technological advancement; and cultural engagement.

According to the St. Louis Regional Chamber, the Arcus Awards categories also included regional economic impact for companies of various sizes who created jobs in the region from October 1, 2017, until September 30, 2018.

The 6th Annual Arcus Awards winners are as follows:

Ameren Corporate Citizen Award: Leidos
For enhancing the quality of life and making positive changes that impact St. Louisans across the social, cultural and economic spectrum through philanthropic giving, community involvement by employees and/or partnerships with state and local governments.

BMO Harris St. Louis Spirit Award: TIE – Black & Veatch and St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN)
For risk-taking, advancing on innovation, cutting-edge technology, or industry best practice that extends St. Louis’ rich history and global reputation as a hub of innovation and forward-looking vision.

Achievement in Entrepreneurship: Benson Hill Biosystems
For providing leadership through the launch or growth of a start-up company, contributions to forming early-stage capital, or supporting entrepreneurship training.

Achievement in Inclusive Business Solutions: BioSTL’s Bioscience & Entrepreneurial Inclusion Initiative
For a corporation or diverse business owner demonstrating exemplary work in the area of inclusive business solutions by achieving measurable growth in the business enterprise over a 1-year period [October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018] or has implemented an innovative solution which includes a diverse business enterprise.

Achievement in Workforce & Talent Development: Mission: St. Louis
For providing leadership through the creation of a program or initiative that promotes college degree attainment, improved educational outcomes or on-the-job training.

Achievement in Public Policy: Better Together
For providing leadership through the creation of a program or initiative that unites the public and private sectors to advance and secure policy necessary to make St. Louis a better place to live, work and invest.

Achievement in Technology: Coolfire Solutions
For the development and use of technology in area of manufacturing, IT, financial services, biosciences, health, logistics, robotics, AI, etc.

Achievement in Infrastructure & Transportation: Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
For any company, organization or agency that has shown leadership and creativity for innovative programs relative to transportation and infrastructure in the St. Louis Region. This includes, but is not limited to roadways, bridges, airports, railway, waterways, structures, etc.

Achievement in Regional Economic Impact
For the creation of quality new jobs in the St. Louis region from the period of October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Nominees were, but are not limited to: commercial, retail, manufacturing, any type of for-profit or not-for-profit business in the Metropolitan St. Louis Region. Nominees would be from all three areas of enterprises and would be sorted in the appropriate subcategories once the nomination form has been received:
Small Enterprise: Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois
Medium Enterprise: GCL Solar Materials
Large Enterprise: Prairie Farms

Achievement in Cultural Engagement (Sports, Arts, Culture & Entertainment): Bellerive Country Club
For the best example of leadership in organizing and successfully presenting a sporting event, festival, exhibition, media reporting, etc. which showcases the St. Louis region in a positive light, garnering favorable local, national and/or international attention or recognition.

People’s Choice Award: Wings of Hope
Sponsored by RubinBrown LLP

Wings of Hope was the winner of the 3rd Annual People’s Choice Award, receiving the most votes from over 13,000 individual votes across the region, including the event’s live voting.

“We celebrate each of these inspiring companies for their achievements and their commitment to being their best for others,” Herber said.

Each winner in the categories listed above received a hand-crafted art piece designed by Mitch Horstmann of St. Louis Sculpture Factory.

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