Cory Boss is a senior manager with Deloitte. Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Cory came to St. Louis to attend Saint Louis University. He’s been here ever since. A part of GenNext since 2005 as one of the original members of the steering committee, Cory has remained a member of the committee for the same reasons that GenNext was founded – it’s a dynamic group of outstanding individuals with a heart for helping people.
Hobbies
“I’m blessed with a wonderful family and love to spend time with them. I have a passion for music – most any kind – and also spend a significant time in sports – playing, watching and discussing.”
Nikki Crawford’s participation with United Way dates back to high school and is very much a family tradition. Her parents are both active in the United Way community in Washington, Missouri, and she has been participating in campaign events for several years. Her involvement with GenNext started in 2006 and has been a great way to connect her love for the United Way with meeting new people in St. Louis.
Nikki operates a financial services practice through Northwestern Mutual where she builds relationships with individuals and business owners to provide financial security for their families and businesses.
Favorite vacation spot
“Anywhere where there is a beach.”
Erin Prest is a senior associate in the tax services group at Anders Minkler and Diehl LLP. There, she concentrates on individual and corporate tax planning, wealth management services and not-for-profit tax compliance and consulting.
Erin is a long-time volunteer, and when she moved to St. Louis, she wanted to find an organization that she was passionate about. From the very first GenNext service project, she was hooked. Since joining in the summer of 2006, she has introduced other young professionals from her firm to the organization and has been able to give back to those groups that do so much to help the people in need.
Favorite sports team
“I bleed orange and blue for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. The Braggin’ Rights game and March Madness are like national holidays for me.”
Favorite GenNext activity
“My favorite experience was last fall at the Grace Hill Head Start facility on South Grand. We cleaned playground equipment and helped with some cleaning inside as well. Before we left, one of the employees gave us a heartwarming thank you for giving the kids a clean school to return to.”
Anna Gettemeier grew up in St. Louis and graduated from Saint Louis University with a degree in integrated marketing. After working for four years in the marketing field, Anna returned to school to get a degree in interior design. She currently works at Save-A-Lot’s corporate office as a store planner and helps lead the corporation’s environmental team.
Anna has been involved with the annual campaign for the United Way ever since her entry into the workforce. A couple of years ago, she was searching for young professional groups in St. Louis to join and felt that GenNext was a great fit for her. The balance of learning with the CEO lunches, the volunteering experiences and the social opportunities is what makes GenNext so unique.
Hobbies
Reading, traveling, “finding the environmental tragedy in everything and then trying to fix it”
Katie McGovern joined the GenNext steering committee in 2008. She found out about GenNext when the group came to do a service project at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter, a United Way agency where she used to work. The project made a strong impact in the day-to-day work at the agency, and she was quickly recruited to join GenNext’s steering committee. Katie is now the associate development director at Voices for Children, an area nonprofit organization providing legal and social advocacy for abused and neglected children placed in St. Louis city foster care. She says she enjoys being a part GenNext because it is a diverse group where everyone can make a new friend.
Hobbies
“I love being outside and being active. I am a new and non-competitive tri-athlete, so some of my regular hobbies include jogging, swimming and riding my bike.”
David Gonzalez, the United Way GenNext staff liaison, serves as a point of contact between the two agencies. When David is not working on GenNext events, he is serving as a member of the United Way campaign team, working with companies like Monsanto, Brown Shoe, Bank of America, Pfizer and Maritz. David helped create the GenNext group in 2005; since, he has met many talented and caring volunteers. He is inspired that so many young professionals are invested in their community and its future.
David is originally from Boston and loves the Red Sox and Patriots. Much like Jason Bateman in Juno, David believes rock music attained perfection in 1993. He enjoys Blackthorn pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts, but not at the same time.
Paul Eisenstein is a graduate of Saint Louis University and has spent much of his life focused on improving the community. Paul was a member of AmeriCorps in San Francisco. In St. Louis Paul has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters (a United Way agency), Metropolis and FOCUS St. Louis. Paul is the director of operations at the Center for Citizen Leadership.
Chris LeBeau is a planning associate in the strategic planning department at BJC Health Care. He’s responsible for helping BJC hospitals do research on capital purchases, facilitating strategic planning for the future and determining physician market demand.
Chris grew up in St. Louis and took a “four-year hiatus” to attend Truman State. He got involved with GenNext when he attended the 2006 Downtown is Alive event. He says he was addicted as soon as he got involved.
Chris was named one of St. Louis’ Top 30 under 30 by the St. Louis Business Journal in 2008.
Favorite TV show as a kid
“Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers!”
Morning person or night person?
“I’m pretty energetic all the time, but in college, I could never do homework late into the evening. I’ve got more energy in the morning than most people do, so I guess a morning person.”
Michael Lofton works in human resources as a talent manager and Total Rewards specialist at Brown Shoe Company. His family moved to St. Louis from Detroit after Michael graduated high school, but he didn’t make St. Louis his home until after college and graduate school.
Michael heard about GenNext through staff member Evan Krauss, who encouraged him to apply for the steering committee. Michael had worked on United Way fundraising campaigns before and was looking to get involved with the volunteer side as well.
Cardinals or Rams?
“Cardinals. Absolutely.”
Where would you most like to visit?
“Beijing or Tokyo. I would like to see how much their government affects education there. I would want to see how much they stress education in their households. I would explore how much their country has developed over the years, by studying their math and science scores and how much technology has developed.”
Kameron Murphy is a litigation associate at Carmody MacDonald. Kameron received his bachelor’s in journalism and his J.D. at Mizzou. In college, Kameron served as a mentor for two years at a local elementary school. After college, Kameron continued to be active with children, volunteering with Read Across America and Junior Achievement.
Kameron got involved with GenNext when friend and steering committee Nikki Crawford suggested it as a way to meet his desire for an organization that combined social and service events.
Which restaurant would you take an out-of-town guest to?
“The Scottish Arms in the Central West End. I like the Scot Arms because it’s got a good beer list and a nice, laid-back atmosphere. Plus, you can’t get good mince and tatties just anywhere.”
Matt Schneider works for Emerson in a “hard to explain” job — he works as an analyst for the CTO, managing internal research and development funding as well as an outside venture capital fund. He came to St. Louis after receiving his MBA from Carnegie Mellon. Matt, who has a Ph.D. in engineering as well, was looking for a job that would combine both his interests, and found it at Emerson.
Matt, who’s volunteered since high school, found GenNext via an Internet search. He immediately liked the organization and joined the steering committee in 2009.
Favorite late-night host?
“I’m more of a Leno/O’Brien fan, and the whole crew over at Saturday Night Live.”
Kevin Byerley works at Citi as a senior data analyst. Kevin has been with Citi for over seven years. He has a bachelor’s degree from Truman University and a master’s from Washington University. Kevin has been involved with GenNext since 2006.
What was your first car?
“My first car was an ‘85, 4-door, Chevy Cavalier. It had 160,000 miles on it. It was great!”
Megan Kniffen is a catering sales manager at Chase Park Plaza. Megan is from the little town of Mt. Vernon, Ill., and a graduate of SIUE. In addition to her work with GenNext, Megan is also a member of River City Professionals, St. Louis Young Ambassadors and FUEL for the City.
Coffee or tea?
“Neither. I don’t drink coffee or tea! I actually drink Coke.”
Chris Mayer is an senior product manager for Express Scripts. Chris recently moved back to St. Louis and has been heavily involved with GenNext this year. Before coming back to St. Louis, Chris spent several years working in Texas. There he worked with Junior Achievement and served as a board member for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Whitney Sparks is a marketing research specialist at Monsanto. She is relatively new to St. Louis, but has quickly gotten involved in her new community. Whitney started a GenNext group at Monsanto to help engage many of their younger employees. She is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio and studied abroad in China and Italy.
Are you a morning person or a night person?
“Definitely a morning person. Probably an annoyingly morning person.”
Melissa Vanost is a vehicle administration coordinator at Enterprise Holdings. She has done several projects this year, including projects at St. Vincent’s DePaul, Mary Ryder Home, Delta Gamma and United Way’s Servathon.
Melissa has a degree in political science from Truman University.
Amanda Harper, United Way GenNext staff liaison, works to ensure that young professionals have quality service and leadership experiences with GenNext. In addition to her GenNext responsibilities, Amanda is a member of the United Way campaign team.
Amanda came to St. Louis almost seven years ago to attend Washington University and ended up liking it so much that she stayed. Her favorite things about the city are Tower Grove Park, the tango and swing dancing communities, free museums, Pho Grand and Ted Drewes. She still doesn’t get provel cheese or the high school question thing.
Cory Boss
Nikki Crawford 
Erin Prest 
Anna Gettemeier 
Katie McGovern 
David Gonzalez 
Paul Eisenstein 
Chris LeBeau 
Michael Lofton 
Kameron Murphy 
Matt Schneider 
Kevin Byerley 
Megan Kniffen 
Chris Mayer 
Whitney Sparks 
Melissa Vanost 
Amanda Harper