Voices of the Fed

Every day, vital conversations happen all around the Eighth Federal Reserve District. Businesspeople, educators, farmers, job-seekers, homeowners, civic leaders and more have important things to say about the economy. The St. Louis Fed is listening.

Here, current and former St. Louis Fed directors and advisory council members share their perspectives on how the organization amplifies the voice of Main Street — serving as an active partner in communities big and small.

Videos:

Blog Posts:

Steven Lipstein | Susan S. Elliott | Bob Jones

Featured Videos

Elizabeth McCoy: CEO, Planters Bank Inc.

RUN TIME: 1:16

Elizabeth McCoy is CEO of Planters Bank, whose branches span western Kentucky and Montgomery County in Tennessee. She is a member of the St. Louis Fed’s board of directors and former chair of the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council. She sees an opportunity in the Fed reaching out to local businesspeople and bankers to ask for their perspectives on the economy, industry and employment. “I think it’s important that we are in a position to influence how the Federal Reserve feels about local economies and especially about rural America,” she says.

Tim Lampkin: CEO, Higher Purpose Co.

RUN TIME: 1:41

Tim Lampkin is CEO of Higher Purpose Co., an economic justice nonprofit that works with black residents across Mississippi to build community wealth. “Poverty levels here in Clarksdale and across the Delta are still very high,” Lampkin notes. He says that being a member of the St. Louis Fed’s Community Development Advisory Council offered “a huge perspective” on the happenings in his region and solutions for tackling some of its biggest challenges.

Dr. Diana Han: Vice President, Global Health, Unilever

RUN TIME: 1:12

Dr. Diana Han is Vice President, Global Health, Unilever. A member of the St. Louis Fed’s health care council, she considers it vital for members to “share with the Federal Reserve what we see, hear and feel on the front lines in our districts.” To Dr. Han, these perspectives range from key health drivers in her region to access to high-quality care at a value price.

Additional Videos

Ray Dillon: Former CEO, Deltic Timber

RUN TIME: 1:08

Ray Dillon is the former chairman of the Fed's Little Rock Branch board of directors and former CEO of Arkansas-based Deltic Timber Corp. He now serves on the St. Louis Fed’s agribusiness council, one of four industry-based advisory councils. Dillon respects how much attention is paid to gathering accurate data — “real data from the grassroots level of this country” — to help form monetary policy.

Brice Fletcher: Chairman, First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas

RUN TIME: 1:12

Rural communities matter to Brice Fletcher, the chairman of First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas. Now a former director of our Memphis Branch board, he enjoyed bringing the perspective of small-town America and agricultural areas. “I think they need a voice,” he says. “It’s rewarding to be able to take their stories to the Fed.”

Robert Martinez: Owner and Operator, Rancho La Esperanza

RUN TIME: 1:41

Robert Martinez owns and operates a livestock production business in Sevier County, Arkansas. He is a former director of the Fed’s Little Rock branch board. When asked about board meetings, he says a diverse group of leaders acts as “the eyes and ears” so that monetary policymakers have “information from every corner of the United States.”

Kathy Mazzarella: Chairman, President and CEO of Graybar

RUN TIME: 1:07

Kathy Mazzarella is chairman, president and CEO of St. Louis-based Graybar and former chair of the St. Louis Fed’s board of directors. “Our responsibility on the board is to share the input from not only our industries, but from our communities,” she said.

Jim McKelvey: Founder and CEO, Invisibly; Co-founder of Square, Third Degree Glass Factory, Cultivation Capital and LaunchCode

RUN TIME: 0:57

Jim McKelvey is the founder and CEO of Invisibly. He also co-founded Square, Third Degree Glass Factory, Cultivation Capital and LaunchCode. Now a member of the St. Louis Fed’s board of directors, he says, “The biggest misconception that I had when I came into the Fed was that it was more focused on Washington and Wall Street.” In fact, he says, the Fed does work that impacts everyday people.

Sadiqa Reynolds: CEO, Perception Institute; President, Louisville Urban League Sports and Learning Complex

RUN TIME: 1:12

Sadiqa Reynolds is CEO of the Perception Institute and president of the Louisville Urban League Sports and Learning Complex. As a member of the Louisville Branch board of directors, she values the opportunity to help economic experts see how the Fed’s work can move the needle for the disenfranchised and disadvantaged.

See our Community Development focus

Blog Posts

These posts on our On the Economy blog feature perspectives from former St. Louis Fed directors.

Steven Lipstein, Former CEO, BJC HealthCare

Steven Lipstein

Originally published March 13, 2018

Lipstein recently retired from BJC HealthCare, the St. Louis region's largest employer. He held several positions on the St. Louis Fed's board of directors, including board chair from 2009 to 2011. Lipstein said serving on the board was "a unique privilege" and discussed the importance of the Fed maintaining independence from political considerations.

Read "Reflections of a Former St. Louis Fed Director: Steven Lipstein"
Susan S. Elliott: Founder and Chairman, Systems Service Enterprises

Susan S. Elliott

Originally published June 8, 2017

Elliott founded the information technology company Systems Service Enterprises, Inc. (SSE). She served as a St. Louis Fed director from 1996 to 2000 and was the board's first female board chair. Elliott recalled her time with the Fed as "one of the most rewarding opportunities" of her career.

Read "Reflections of a Former St. Louis Fed Director: Susan S. Elliott"
Bob Jones: Chairman and CEO, Old National Bancorp

Bob Jones

Originally published March 9, 2017

Jones served as a director from 2008 to 2013. As chairman and CEO of Old National Bancorp — a community bank headquartered on Main Street in Evansville, Ind. — Jones shared how he was able to gather insights from Main Street America and bring these to the Federal Reserve Bank.

Read "Reflections of a Former St. Louis Fed Director: Bob Jones