Emily Underwood
Connect With St. Louis – Chair
A native St. Louisan, Emily Rowe Underwood was raised in Webster Groves. After graduating from high school, she spent one year living abroad in Viterbo, Italy, and one year at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, before returning home to complete her degree in English Literature at Washington University. In 2003 she joined the Community Education & Events staff at the Missouri History Museum, where she currently serves as Special Events Coordinator. Both at the Museum and with Connect With, she is proud to deliver programs that educate the public about our region and the world, inspire action, provoke thoughtful discussion about current issues, and bring together people from all corners of the St. Louis community. Emily also sits on the boards of the Greater St. Louis English Teachers Association and FOCUS St. Louis. In her spare moments, she enjoys reading, playing piano, thrift shopping, and road-tripping to concerts with her husband Jason.
TeKay Brown
Connect With St. Louis – Co-Chair
TeKay Brown is the co-Chair of Connect With St. Louis, and also serves as the chair of the Connect With Leadership Series; an initiative developed to increase the level of business and civic engagement for the young and talented in the St. Louis Metropolitan region. TeKay splits her time as a member of the Pattonville School District Human Resource team and as First Lieutentant and acting commander of the 131st Bomb Wing Student Flight. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri St. Louis where she received her B.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior and Accounting; and an MBA in Human Resource Management from Webster University. She received her commissioning in the United States Air Force from the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, TN. An avid community volunteer and recent honoree for the 7th Edition Who’s Who in Black St. Louis, TeKay has served on over 42 boards and committees in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. She is extremely passionate about the advancement of quality urban education, and a member of Metro Christian Worship Center who’s vision is building the urban world. She is a proud native of the “Bootheel” in southern Missouri.
Jarel Loveless
Events Chair
Jarel Loveless currently serves as the Events Chair on the Connect With St. Louis Board. Jarel is the Director of Annual Giving and Affinity Groups at the Saint Louis Science Center, leading annual giving efforts and the Emerging Leadership Council. Before returning to his hometown of St. Louis and embarking upon his nonprofit career, Jarel worked as a reporter at the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. In addition, Jarel serves on the Finance Committee of the Southwind Alumni Association. In his spare time, Jarel is a musician–playing the trumpet, guitar and violin. He traveled 30,000 miles over six months performing with the Marion Cadets and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. He’s also written music performed by Carbondale Community High School Marching Terriers and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Marching Salukis.
Carlos Suarez
Membership Chair
Carlos Suarez works at JCI as Assistant to the President. His role includes executing the President’s travel schedule to more than 50 countries per year, where JCI members are targeting solutions to the unique problems in their communities to build a better world. As Connect With St. Louis Membership Chair, he serves member organizations by improving services and communicates with potential organizations. He is also involved with the United Nations Association of Saint Louis, serves as Chair for the Vanguard Cabinet’s Transportation Committee and plays other leadership roles throughout the Saint Louis community.
Ryanne Tilley
Communications Chair
Ryanne Tilley was born and raised in St. Louis, and as someone who loves her hometown, she wants to break all the barriers that can make St. Louis a hard place to plug into. Her role as communications chair is the perfect outlet for helping St. Louis’ young professionals connect to each other, area nonprofits and the St. Louis community. In her “real life,” Ryanne is an education specialist at MRCT Benefits Plus, and coaches small business owners and their employees to help them make smart choices with their benefits and financial strategies. She spent several years in fundraising in the nonprofit sector in St. Louis, and has also worked in corporate marketing for U.S. Bank and employment communications for JWT Inside. When not at work or promoting a Connect With event, this graduate of Truman State University and Thames Valley University in London, England, can usually be found traveling, running at Forest Park, enjoying happy hour at her favorite wine bar, volunteering at her church, or playing with her new nephew.
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