December 2025 Membership Newsletter

Board Member Message

Jason Stone

Outgoing President

314-278-7474

Friends –

For the last two years, it has been my honor to serve as Executive Connections’ president. As we close out this year and my tenure comes to its end, I’ve been thinking back on the experience of leading such an impressive group of people.

I remember getting the call from Curt Kinney that my name had been put forward. There are some wildly accomplished people in EC, and I suffer from imposter syndrome, so I hesitated -- but only briefly. I wasn’t about to let such a great opportunity pass me by.

I remember standing in front of a packed landing party and introducing myself by parodying the old Hair Club for Men commercial: “I’m not just the EC president, I’m also a member in transition!” Two years on, thanks to some classic EC-style networking, I’m very much enjoying my role at Byrne Software.

I remember my first strategy meeting, wondering how we would manage growing beyond 500 members. I am so grateful that now, at 545, I’ve been supported every step of the way by smart, capable board members. Jeffry Reed, Rick Hall, Mary Houlihan, Sandhya Vollala, Rose O’Brien, Karen Loiterstein, Karen Moceri, Rob Godlewski, and Jan Alonzo - thank you for everything.

As I pass the baton to our next president, Rick Hall, I look forward to staying an active member of the group and watching eagerly to see where he takes us next.

Thank you, everyone. Happy Holidays!

Jason

Networking Corner - Members in Transition

Daniel Delgado

LinkedIn Profile

daniel.e.delgado@gmail.com

312-520-5583

Seeking: Strategic leadership opportunities where I can drive transformation at the intersection of technology, innovation, and organizational change. I'm energized by roles that leverage cross industry experience to solve complex problems, whether building next-generation platforms, scaling teams, or creating new market opportunities.

Topic of interest: Building in the White Space: How cross industry thinking creates breakthrough solutions

One unique aspect of me: I'm wired to spot structural challenges before they become crises. While others optimize existing systems, I question whether we're solving the right problem and then build the solutions.

My Story

I've spent my career translating complex technology into business value from pioneering AI driven security platforms at a $38B global transportation leader, to launching voice trading infrastructure for capital markets and architecting financial market connectivity. My four pending patents reflect a persistent focus on innovation, while my teaching role at Ranken Technical College keeps me grounded in developing the talent pipeline. Whether it's building teams, scaling products, I thrive at the intersection of strategic vision and hands-on execution across industries.

Kristi Hampton

LinkedIn Profile

kristihampton700@gmail.com

240-246-4711

Seeking: I’m looking to join a leadership team that values both the vitality of its organization and its employees where I can continue to lead transformational initiatives that integrate strategic alignment, operational excellence, development (both at the individual and organizational level), and workplace culture to drive strategic growth and foster a thriving, high-performing, purpose-driven workplace.

Topic of interest: I am truly passionate about making a difference. I lead at the intersection of strategy, operations, organizational development, and culture. I build strong collaborative relationships and use evidence-based approaches to evaluate and improve each of these areas. In other words, I’m like the primary care physician for living organizational systems with a focus on improving the vitality and alignment of each part of the system: the heart (the mission, vision, and strategic priorities), the brain (the employees who are operationalizing the strategic plan and creating the organizational culture), and the muscles (the output or work products). By having my finger on the pulse of the organization, I’m able to see across systems and maximize performance while also uniting the workforce with a strong sense of purpose.

One unique aspect of me: I have a courageous, curious, and compassionate spirit. This drives me in all aspects of my life and contributes to my love of exploring new places by traveling and hiking. While I’m exploring, I also enjoy taking nature photographs that capture the unique beauty of different landscapes around the globe. At work, my courage, curiosity, and compassion serve as my “leadership compass” and drive me to explore new ways to enact positive change and help organizations and people thrive.

My Story

I’m a strategic, visionary, results-driven leader with 25 years of experience successfully advancing complex, globally dispersed organizations. I have a proven history of transforming organizations into high-performing, thriving enterprises by enhancing strategic planning and alignment, maximizing operational and programmatic performance, strengthening leadership capacity, and improving organizational culture.

In addition to being a trusted leader in the federal government, for the last 15 years, I have also provided leadership and executive coaching across all major industries, including Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, impacting leaders in companies with a combined net worth of $4.2 trillion and government organizations with a combined budget of $2 trillion.

My experience leading large complex federal organizations and serving as an executive leadership coach to leaders in prominent companies provides me with a deep appreciation for real-world challenges and gives me a unique lens that helps organizations and leaders effectively enact transformational change.

Nancy Schwartz

LinkedIn Profile

nancygschwartz@gmail.com

314-304-8010

Seeking: I excel at growing mid-sized firms, delivering BSC and B2B marketing strategies that align stakeholders, deepen engagement, and increase retention.

Topic of interest: I absolutely adore using video to communicate. I have extensive production experience, from multi-million-dollar live-action commercials to low-cost, high-quality custom animation.

One unique aspect of me: The joy in discovering the perfect conversation starter. My secret career goal: Being a professional speaker. (I was a check presenter on the Jerry Lewis National Telethon, live in front of 60 M viewers multiple times, which helps make you "fearless")

My Story

I am a marketing leader with deep experience in regulated industries, including wealth management, experiential retail, health and wellness, and franchising. I worked for two St. Louis success stories, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies, both of which became publicly traded, global operations during my tenure. I also worked for two private start-ups, one in creative services and the other in functional medicine and wellness. Most recently, I served as Head of Marketing for Buckingham Wealth Partners (now Focus Wealth Partners), a financial advisory firm supporting consumers and advisors.

What I am proudest of in my career is my ability to develop collaborative, trust-based relationships at all levels of an organization and with external vendors and agencies, which is essential to effective marketing. On a related note, I have also built an incredible network of colleagues in St. Louis and across the country. This network brings me joy, helps me learn, and offers support I never could have imagined early in my career. I feel fortunate to now count my EC connections among this group.

Recent Landings

Pat McGinnis

Managing Partner & CEO

GRC Partners

pat.mcginnis@me.com

Jeff Schweikert

Realtor

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Select Properties

jmschweikert@gmail.com

Chris Klope

CEO

ArchStar Packaging Group

caklope@gmail.com

Saving this space for you.

Lessons Learned in Landing

Caroline Battles

Connector of people, ideas and purpose

Chief Administrative Officer

SSM Health

caroline.battles@ssmhealth.com

314-495-8355

My transition was, above all else, an exercise in patience and grace. I often say patience is a virtue—just not one of mine. From the very beginning, I told myself I would take the time to find the right role, the perfect fit. I was fortunate to have both freedom and time, but I didn’t enjoy the uncertainty that came with it. I also didn’t think it would actually take so much time. I had to work hard to settle in, slow down, and appreciate the space between where I had been and where I hoped to go.

Executive Connections played a central role in helping me navigate that space. I needed the structure, and I remain grateful for the peer support, honest feedback, and genuine connection. I enjoyed the people I met, the stories they shared, the questions they posed, and the encouragement they offered. Career transitions are not solitary endeavors, and no one knows this better than the EC community.

The generosity of time and talent within the membership was remarkable. Being with others who were navigating or had experienced similar changes kept me grounded and motivated. The relationships and friendships I built along the way have been incredibly impactful and lasting.

The group setting provided a framework that made the transition feel manageable, offering accountability, best practices, and lessons learned. One of my few regrets was not adopting the tools and acting on some insights more quickly. Staying organized is critical—I had no problem doing the “work”—connecting with others was a joy, but I wish I had taken the time to set up a better system for managing contacts at the beginning of my search. I didn’t anticipate ending up with a spreadsheet of more than 300 amazing people. I really should have listened to folks in my group and set up a personal CRM.

The other key lesson was the importance of crafting a personal narrative and delivering it. When you reach a certain point, several experiences just don’t make the bio. I had a tough time crafting a concise overview that told the story I wanted to tell and resonated with people who had more linear paths or discrete skill sets. The constant practice and feedback from my group were critical to getting to delivery.

Today, I am in a fantastic role, waking up every day with gratitude and a sense that I am exactly where I should be at this moment. I carry a renewed appreciation for patience and an even greater appreciation for community and support. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without the journey or the people who helped shape it. Reach out - I’d love to connect and apologies in advance if you have to send more than one note to get something set up!