Industry Councils

The St. Louis Fed’s four industry councils help to build a consistent line of communication between our staff and industry representatives. Members’ observations complement data and information developed through the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, and their keen insights on the economic conditions affecting their businesses, organizations and industries help to inform discussion at Federal Open Market Committee meetings. The councils were created in 2006; they meet twice a year.

Each council is based at one of our offices and represents an industry critical to the Eighth Federal Reserve District.

Meet the Industry Councils

Agribusiness

  • Bruce L. Ahrendsen
    Professor, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College
    Fayetteville, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Jamie Anderson

    Jamie Anderson
    Vice President, I.F. Anderson Farms Inc.
    Lonoke, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Headshot of Sharon Furches

    Sharon Furches
    Owner, Furches Farms Partnership
    Murray, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

  • Dominique Gumirakiza
    Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agriculture and Food Science, Western Kentucky University
    Bowling Green, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

  • Blake Hankins

    Blake Hankins
    Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Hankins Inc.
    Ripley, Miss.
    Memphis Zone

  • Jennifer H. James
    Owner, H&J Land Co.
    Newport, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Wade Litton
    President and CEO, Wade Inc.
    Greenwood, Miss.
    Memphis Zone

  • Carter Malloy

    Carter Malloy
    Founder and CEO, AcreTrader
    Fayetteville, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Kathleen Roberts
    Senior Vice President, Institutional Recovery Management, CoBank
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • Shari Rogge-Fidler

    Shari Rogge-Fidler
    President and CEO, Farm Foundation
    Oak Brook, Ill.
    St. Louis Zone

  • Adriano Santos

    Adriano Santos
    Senior Vice President, U.S. Area Lead, Bayer
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • Ashley C. Smith
    Co-Founder and CEO, Black Soil KY
    Lexington, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

Health Care

  • Rhamy Alejeal
    Founder and CEO, People Processes
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Carla Balch
    Founder and CEO, Spesana Inc.
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Headshot of Nick Barto

    Nick Barto
    President, BJC Health System
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • Zach Chandler
    Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp.
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Headshot of Julie Erickson

    Julie Erickson
    Former President and CEO, Rx Outreach
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • Diana Han
    Chief Health and Wellbeing Officer, Unilever
    Louisville, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

  • George Renaudin

    George Renaudin
    President, Medicare and Medicaid, Humana
    Louisville, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

  • Troy Wells
    President and CEO, Baptist Health
    Little Rock, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Casey Willis
    CEO, St. Mary’s Regional Health System
    Russellville, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

Real Estate

  • Bill Burns

    William “Bill” Burns
    Broker/Owner, RE/MAX FIRST
    Jeffersonville, Ind.
    Louisville Zone

  • Andy Cates
    Chairman and Principal, Colliers International-Memphis
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Lisa C. Ferrell
    Founder, President and CEO,
    North Bluffs Development Corp.
    North Little Rock, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • J.T. Ferstl
    President, Ferstl Valuation Services
    Little Rock, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Nate Johnson

    Nate Johnson
    Broker, RedKey Realty Leaders
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • Greg M. Joslin

    Greg M. Joslin
    Senior Broker, Colliers International Arkansas
    Little Rock, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Joshua Poag
    President and CEO, Poag Shopping Centers LLC
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Headshot of IC member Melissa Setser

    Melissa Setser
    President and CEO, The DESCO Group
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • Madison C. Silvert

    Madison C. Silvert
    President, The Malcolm Bryant Corp.
    Owensboro, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

  • Greg Spillyards

    Greg Spillyards
    Managing Director and CEO, Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Advisors
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

Transportation

  • Terry Blue
    President and CEO, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Aaron S. Burkes
    CEO, Northwest Arkansas National Airport
    Bentonville, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Bryan Day

    Bryan Day
    Executive Director, Little Rock Port Authority
    Little Rock, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • Bertram C. “Bert” Hodge
    General Manager, Heritage Ford
    Corydon, Ind.
    Louisville Zone

  • Stephanie Ivey
    Director, Southeast Transportation Workforce Center, University of Memphis
    Memphis, Tenn.
    Memphis Zone

  • Headshot of Shannon Newton

    Shannon Newton
    President, Arkansas Trucking Association
    Little Rock, Ark.
    Little Rock Zone

  • David Parrott

    David Parrott
    Vice President of Finance, UPS Airlines
    Louisville, Ky.
    Louisville Zone

  • Nihad “Nick” Sinanovic
    President, Vega Transport
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

  • John Waggoner

    John Waggoner
    Chairman and CEO, Victory Cruise Lines
    New Albany, Ind.
    Louisville Zone

  • Brent Wood
    President, Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
    St. Louis
    St. Louis Zone

Back to Top