Fast Forward STL

This special episode of Fast Forward STL Live was recorded before a live audience at St. Louis CITY SC’s corporate headquarters. Presented by Greater St. Louis, Inc., CEO Ron Kitchens kicked off the discussion, and host Keith Alper interviewed an all-star panel:

• Brad Dean (President & CEO, Explore St. Louis)
• Marc Schreiber (President, St. Louis Sports Commission)
• Carolyn Kindle (CEO & Member of Owners...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper speaks with Brad Dean, president and CEO of Explore St. Louis. From leading tourism growth in Puerto Rico to now driving conventions, meetings, concerts, and major events in St. Louis, Brad is helping shape the future of St. Louis as one of America’s great destination cities. Tune in to hear lessons learned through his previous roles in Puerto Rico and Myrtle Bea...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper speaks with St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer. A St. Louis native and first-generation college graduate, Spencer has built her career in public service, with a focus on transparency, public safety, neighborhood revitalization, and responsible governance. A year-plus into her tenure as mayor, she reflects on the challenges and lessons so far, the importance of alignment between g...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper speaks with Ed Glotzbach, Tournament Chairperson of the 2026 BMW Championship, coming to Bellerive Country Club August 18–23. Glotzbach shares lessons from a career that includes leadership roles at Southwestern Bell/AT&T, TPI, and Spire Energy before taking listeners behind the scenes of the years of planning behind the scenes of the years of plann...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper speaks with Missouri State Senator Brian Williams. Since first being elected in 2018 to represent Missouri’s 14th Senate District, which covers portions of St. Louis County, Williams has championed criminal justice reform, expanded access to healthcare, and secured major investments for the region. Now, as a candidate for St. Louis County executive, Williams disc...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, The Muny’s artistic director and executive producer, Mike Isaacson, joins host Keith Alper. Isaacson discusses his career journey from Broadway and The Fox to leading The Muny’s transformation, now in the midst of its 108th season. He shares how a $100 million capital campaign and a commitment to innovation have elevated every aspect of one of St. Louis’ mos...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper is joined by Donn Rubin, founding president and CEO of BioSTL. They go deep on the partnerships and leadership that’s helping position St. Louis as a leader in the biosciences. Rubin also shares his career journey, explains why collaboration is essential to attracting talent and investment, and explores what’s ahead for one of the region’s fastest-gro...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Clementine’s Creamery owner Tamara Keefe comes on the show. Hear how she turned a childhood family tradition into a multi-state brand that’s now in 30 Schnucks stores, launched selective Midwest-first franchising, opened a parlor on Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and more. Keefe shares why she left a successful corporate career to make Clementin...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper sits down with Amy Shaw, the president and CEO of Nine PBS who’s helping shape the future of public media in St. Louis and beyond, while leading her organization through a period of significant change that still keeps community at the center of its mission. Shaw shares now Nine PBS is adapting to the desires of modern audiences, including plans to make its c...

 In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper speaks with St. Louis City Comptroller Donna Baringer about about leadership, public service, and the challenges of modernizing city government. Baringer shares her journey finding her way into public service having grown up in the state's capital and later returning as a Missouri House representative, before her unexpected victory in the race for St. Louis' comptroll...

 In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper speaks with Tarlton Corporation executive chair and CEO Tracy Hart—a trailblazing corporate leader who has tripled the company’s growth, all while helping shape St. Louis through both construction and civic leadership. Tarlton has played a role in transforming some of the city’s most recognizable spaces, including The Muny, the St. Louis Zoo, th...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper sits down Marie-Hélène Bernard, president and CEO of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She shares how one of the nation’s oldest orchestras continues to break barriers and redefine its role in the community. Drawing from her immigrant roots, she’s expanding access to music and looking to build a more inclusive future for the arts locally. Bernard also goes deep on the $14...

 In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper sits down with Emily Hemingway, a tech entrepreneur who has spent two decades driving innovation and economic growth in communities across the country. Most recently as founding CEO of Tech STL—a nonprofit focused on proactively growing the tech ecosystem in the St. Louis metro area—she launched one of the region’s largest tech communities and STL Te...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper sits down with Steve O’Loughlin, president of Lodging Hospitality Management (LHM), Missouri’s largest hotel operator, with 19 hotels and more than 5,000 rooms; plus Westport Plaza, St. Louis Union Station, several restaurants, and a growing portfolio of experiences—including the Aquarium, The Polar Express, and seasonal pop-ups. Steve shares how he grew up in the h...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper sits down with Adam Birenbaum, chief executive officer of Focus Partners Wealth. Adam shares his intern-to-CEO story at the St. Louis-based wealth management firm, explains why comprehensive financial planning beats old-school brokerages, and weighs in on AI’s role in the industry. The conversation shifts to civics, where Adam makes a passionate case for mer...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper sits down with Mike Mazzeo, dean of WashU Olin Business School. Hear about his journey from Stanford-trained economist and longtime Northwestern professor to university leadership during the rapid changes of 2020. Mazzeo outlines WashU Olin’s programs and shares why strengthening ties with St. Louis executives and alumni is key to deeper ...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper sits down with Rusty Keeley, CEO of Keeley Companies and new chairman of the Regional Business Council. Keeley shares how he grew his father’s asphalt paving business into a diversified empire topping 5,000 employees, employing a “fail fast, fail forward” philosophy and people-first culture. The discussion tackles some of St. Louis&rsqu...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper sits down with St. Louis native Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Block (formerly Square), to talk about the lessons he’s learned from building a global company and how those ideas apply beyond business. From launching Mira and co-founding Third Degree Glass Factory, to growing a global fintech company, McKelvey reflects on curiosity, creativity, an...