St. Louis County Government: County Executive Page Names New Staff And A New Department Director

Press release from the St. Louis County Government:

January 24, 2022

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (January 24, 2022) - County Executive Dr. Sam Page today announced two additions to his staff and a new Director of the Department of Administration.

“We’re excited to welcome Cal, Karen, and Stephanie to St. Louis County government,” Dr. Page said. “Each of them has a unique skill set and tremendous capabilities that will add to the strong team we have assembled to lead county government through 2022 and beyond.”

Cal Harris — Chief of Staff

Cal Harris will join as Dr. Page’s new Chief of Staff. Harris will lead the County Executive’s staff in managing county government, developing strategy for County departments, and overseeing the expenditure of new federal funding. Harris will also lead the transformation of County government and the County Executive’s office to promote strategic initiatives, improve efficiency, and ensure equity continues to guide the administration’s work.

“Cal brings vast experience in policy, communications, and strategy,” Dr. Page said. “I am excited he will be joining the team and returning to his hometown.”

“Returning home to serve in the Page administration and impact policy for a community I love is truly humbling. I believe in Dr. Page’s principled approach towards governing and vision for St. Louis County, and I cannot wait to get to work,” Harris said.

Harris, a St. Louis County native, currently serves as Communications Director for the City of Baltimore. Harris received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and a Master of Public Policy from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He previously worked at the Bipartisan Policy Center and served on various political campaigns, including Nicole Galloway’s gubernatorial campaign and Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign.

“Cal is deeply committed to public service and growing opportunities for St. Louis County families,” said Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway. “County government will be well-served by his strong connections in the region and energetic work ethic.”

Harris will replace Winston Calvert, Page’s current Chief of Staff, who in December announced that he would be leaving county government to work for a non-profit foundation.

Karen Aroesty — Director of the Department of Administration

Karen Aroesty will join as the Director of St. Louis County’s Department of Administration, where she will oversee the County’s enterprise-wide services, including financial and personnel affairs, customer service, risk management, procurement, the Office of Performance Management and Budget, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

“Karen’s ability to lead diverse groups to work together toward a common goal will help her be successful in county government,” Dr. Page said. “I have known and respected Karen for years, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration in this new capacity.”

Aroesty served as Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League from 2000 through 2021, leading the agency’s mission in Missouri, eastern Kansas, and southern Illinois. She serves as the Chair of the county’s Human Relations Commission, leads the U.S Attorney’s Hate Crimes Task Force, convened the Missouri Roundtable on Bias-Based Policing, and was the first woman to chair the county’s Fire Standards Commission. She was a founding member of the Racial Equity Collaborative, a cohort of leading equity directors engaging the community on structural racism. She has provided POST continuing education training to over 2,000 police officers.

Aroesty’s new position was vacant after former director Tod Martin retired from county government last year.

Stephanie Lewis — Chief Transformation Officer

Stephanie Lewis will join as Chief Transformation Officer. In that capacity, she will oversee the transformation agenda Dr. Page has led to reform and remake county government into a more efficient, effective, and equitable organization.

“Stephanie’s creativity and her expertise in human resources will provide a big boost to our efforts to make government services more efficient and improve the constitute experience,” Dr. Page said.

Lewis is currently Vice President of FPM Communications, where she led more than $70 million in large-scale communications projects for clients including former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. She previously served as Vice President of Human Resources for People’s Health Centers, a consultant at Gateway Management Group, and Director of Human Resources and Diversity for Office Depot. She is a graduate of University of Kansas and has participated in programs through Kennesaw State University and Wharton School of Management. She currently serves as a board member of St. Louis ARCHS and the Annie Malone Historical Society, and she is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority’s local alumni chapter.

Lewis will replace Andria Nelson Roberts, who left county government this week to work for a non-profit foundation.

This press release was produced by the St. Louis County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.