Ethics: A Foundation For Success - Alumni Conversations

Warner Baxter

Executive Chairman

Ameren Corporation

Warner Baxter is executive chairman of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. During his more than 25-year tenure at Ameren, Mr. Baxter has served in a variety of leadership roles, including the chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Ameren, a role he held from 2014 through 2021. He had previously served as chief financial officer and president of Ameren Missouri. Before joining Ameren in 1995, Warner Baxter served as a senior manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers' national office in New York City, serving as one of the firm’s liaisons with the major accounting standard-setting bodies in the United States. From 1983 to 1993, Mr. Baxter worked in the firm’s St. Louis office, where he provided auditing and consulting services to clients in a variety of industries, including the energy industry. Warner Baxter earned a B.S. in Accounting from UMSL's College of Business Administration and has made meaningful and long-lasting contributions to higher education through his involvement with the University of Missouri System. Warner Baxter is a 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. 

Orv Kimbrough

Chairman and CEO

Midwest Bank Center

Orvin Kimbrough serves as the Chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre, where he helps to empower people, enable businesses and energize neighborhoods through the strength of the Bank’s financial services. Establishing his career in banking, Mr. Kimbrough became an inspiring leader who has boosted the life trajectory of tens of thousands of people through his work in the nonprofit sector, while becoming the first and only African American to lead one of the 100+ mainstream banks in the St.├óÔé¼┬»Louis region. Prior to his success in the region, Orvin Kimbrough received his B.S. in Social Work from UMC, an MBA from UMSL's College of Business, and an MA in theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology. In addition to his current role, also in the St. Louis area, Mr. Kimbrough is an adjunct instructor at WashU in St. Louis teaching effective team leadership. Orvin Kimbrough is a 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. 

Marcela Manjarrez

Retired Executive Vice President & Chief Communication Officer

Centene Corporation

Marcela Manjarrez has over 20 years of experience in strategic communications, central banking, economic research, and analysis. As of May 2022, Ms. Manjarrez retired as Executive Vice President, Chief Communications Officer for Centene Corporation. She oversaw all strategic communications, media and public relations across the Centene enterprise; including all health plans and specialty subsidiaries, and served as its main media spokesperson. She also managed the Centene Charitable Foundation. Ms. Manjarrez spent seven years at Centene Corporation. Throughout her career, Marcela Manjarrez has been recognized in Latino Leaders Magazine as one of the Top Latino Executives in Corporate America in 2018, one of the Top Latinos in C-Suite in 2019, and one of the Top Latinos in Corporate America in December 2020 and 2021. She is originally from Mexico City and has lived in St. Louis for the past 27 years, receiving a B.S. in Economics from UMSL and an MA in Economics from WashU in St. Louis. Marcela Manjarrez is a 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. 

Joseph Stieven

President, Chairman and CEO

Stieven Capital Advisors

With over 30 years in the financial industry, Joseph A. Stieven is the president, chairman, and CEO of Stieven Capital Advisors, L.P., established in 2005. After graduating from UMSL's College of Business Administration with a BSBA in Finance in 1982, Mr. Stieven began his career in 1983 as an Analyst/Examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Shortly after, in 1985, he became Senior Vice President and Director of the Financial Institutions Research Group at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company (until 2005) and graduated with an MBA from UMSL's College of Business Administration. During the course of his career, the American Banker Magazine recognized him as the top sell-side research analyst for the Midwest region. Joe Stieven has worked on over 100 bank and thrift transactions over the past decade. He has managed nine financial institution equity trusts, raising over $200 million and gaining national recognition. Joe Stieven’s insights into the financial services industry and the economy, have made him a frequent speaker and resource for financial industry events and publications. Joe Stieven is a 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. 

Sandra Van Trease

CEO SVT Strategic Advisors Retired Group President,

BJC Healthcare

Sandra Van Trease has provided strategic guidance and oversight on public, private, and not-for-profit boards for over 20 years, serving as chairperson for Audit and Health, Safety, Security & Environment committees and as a member of Compensation, Nominating & Governance and Executive committees. As of August 2020, Sandra Van Trease retired as Group President for BJC HealthCare, after joining the company in 2004, where she provided strategic leadership and direction, having accountability for overall business and growth strategies to ensure outstanding clinical quality, operating efficiencies, regulatory compliance, and financial stability for a select group of BJC’s hospitals and the BJC Medical Group. Ms. Van Trease also served as President of the BJC Accountable Care Organization LLC.  She holds a BS in Business Administration from UMSL's College of Business Administration, an MBA from WashU in St. Louis, and a Directorship Certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Van Trease is also a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. Sandra Van Trease is a 2000 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient.