Vanessa Foster Cooksey
President & CEO at Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Margarette Purvis
Vanessa Foster is a gem among corporate philanthropy executives. I've had the pleasure of knowing her and her work for several years. She is unafraid to think outside of the box while being constantly mindful of existing resources and how they may be best utilized. Vanessa has an inclusive, engaging leadership style that ensures that partners FEEL apart of the team and decision making process. She is committed to aligning resouces with community needs in a way that is fresh and respectful. I highly recommend Ms. Foster...without hesitancy!
Tom Alexander
Vanessa is a bundle of positive energy. She works well in an environment of growth and pushing the possibilities. She thrives on building new relationships and fulfilling her ideals of achievement and accomplishment.
Margarette Purvis
Vanessa Foster is a gem among corporate philanthropy executives. I've had the pleasure of knowing her and her work for several years. She is unafraid to think outside of the box while being constantly mindful of existing resources and how they may be best utilized. Vanessa has an inclusive, engaging leadership style that ensures that partners FEEL apart of the team and decision making process. She is committed to aligning resouces with community needs in a way that is fresh and respectful. I highly recommend Ms. Foster...without hesitancy!
Tom Alexander
Vanessa is a bundle of positive energy. She works well in an environment of growth and pushing the possibilities. She thrives on building new relationships and fulfilling her ideals of achievement and accomplishment.
Margarette Purvis
Vanessa Foster is a gem among corporate philanthropy executives. I've had the pleasure of knowing her and her work for several years. She is unafraid to think outside of the box while being constantly mindful of existing resources and how they may be best utilized. Vanessa has an inclusive, engaging leadership style that ensures that partners FEEL apart of the team and decision making process. She is committed to aligning resouces with community needs in a way that is fresh and respectful. I highly recommend Ms. Foster...without hesitancy!
Tom Alexander
Vanessa is a bundle of positive energy. She works well in an environment of growth and pushing the possibilities. She thrives on building new relationships and fulfilling her ideals of achievement and accomplishment.
Margarette Purvis
Vanessa Foster is a gem among corporate philanthropy executives. I've had the pleasure of knowing her and her work for several years. She is unafraid to think outside of the box while being constantly mindful of existing resources and how they may be best utilized. Vanessa has an inclusive, engaging leadership style that ensures that partners FEEL apart of the team and decision making process. She is committed to aligning resouces with community needs in a way that is fresh and respectful. I highly recommend Ms. Foster...without hesitancy!
Tom Alexander
Vanessa is a bundle of positive energy. She works well in an environment of growth and pushing the possibilities. She thrives on building new relationships and fulfilling her ideals of achievement and accomplishment.
Experience
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Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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President & CEO
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Nov 2020 - Present
The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC) is the largest public funder of arts and culture in the region. RAC promotes, fosters, and encourages a full creative life for every St. Louisan through its grants, programs and special initiatives that strengthen and enrich our community. Serving as RAC’s third leader and first President and CEO, Vanessa is responsible for the organization’s vision, day-to-day operations and leading the implementation of its five-year strategic plan released in March 2020.
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Founder & CEO
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2019 - Present
As Vested Urban Farms' Founder & CEO, Vanessa Cooksey is committed to helping people live their best lives through a commitment to plant-powered nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Deeply impacted by her father's death from pancreatic cancer, Vanessa began her health journey in 1997 and studied a variety of wellness programs and platforms over the years. She aligned her efforts with the Juice Plus (JP) Company in 2019 as a Partner and quickly grew by building a national sales team for residential Tower Gardens. In 2020, she received the JP Team Builder award. Building on the success of her residential Tower Garden business, she is leveraging her corporate career experience to grow Vested Urban Farms' commercial farms business.
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Civic Leadership and Board Service
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1994 - Present
Vanessa’s humanitarian efforts over the last three decades have helped promote and advance human welfare and social reform around the globe. Having served as board chair for more than 15 local, regional and national boards, Vanessa is highly sought-after for her expertise in governance, organizational culture, talent development and reputation risk management. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her current active board positions are:Vice Chair, Deaconess Foundation Board of Trustees (https://deaconess.org)Director, SIFMA Foundation for Investor Education Board of Directors (https://www.sifma.org/about/sifma-foundation/)Director, VoteRunLead Board of Directors (https://voterunlead.org)Member, Mercy Health Patient and Co-Worker Experience Committee of the Board of Directors (https://www.mercy.net)
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Various Companies
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United States
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700 & Above Employee
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Career Highlights
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1994 - 2020
Vanessa has more than 25 years of business and civic leadership experience. She’s held marketing, communications and philanthropy leadership positions across a variety of industries and sectors in Dallas, Atlanta and St. Louis. Vanessa is known for her ability to build results-driven partnerships, facilitate dynamic collaborations, create high-performing teams and effectively convene diverse stakeholders. Vanessa is a serious change-maker and has led innovative arts, education, technology and health & wellness programs reaching millions of children and adults over the course of her career. She has received more than 50 awards including the 2018 St. Louis American Corporate Executive of the Year. Previous career experiences include:• Director of Strategic Communications & Student Engagement @ Washington University in St. Louis (2020) • Managing Director of Communications and Marketing @ Spire Energy (2019)• Senior Vice President, Community Relations Senior Manager @ Wells Fargo (2013-2018)• Senior Director of Community Affairs @ Anheuser-Busch Inbev (2011-2013) • Director of Community and Government Relations & President SUPERVALU Foundation @ SUPERVALU and Director of Communications & Community Relations @ Save-A-Lot Food Stores (2008-2011)• Senior Manager of Marketing and Community Relations & Online Marketing Coordinator @ Cartoon Network (2005-2008; 1999-2001)• E-Communications Manager & Webmaster @ The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Communications (2003-2005)• Marketing Specialist @ CNN Newsource Sales (2002-2003)• Communications & Information Officer @ The Atlanta Committee for Public Education (2001-2002)• Media Consultant & Freelance Producer @ Very Nessa’cery Media (1994-1999)
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Education
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2016 - 2017
Eisenhower Fellowships
2016 USA Fellow -
2015 - 2016
Webster University
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), International/Global Studies -
1996 - 1999
The University of Texas at Austin
BS, Radio-TV-Film -
1995 - 1996
Dillard University
N/A, General
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