Hillary Frey
Executive Director
Hillary provides overall strategic direction, coordinates community outreach for cohesive system development, and facilitates communication and alignment among partnering organizations in order to further develop and improve employment opportunities for St. Louis youth.
Prior to joining STL Youth Jobs, Hillary served as coordinator for the Policy Forum at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, an initiative responsible for advancing evidence-based public policy through an active program of education, discourse and research. In this position, she was responsible for the development and management of programming and events, building external partnerships, and collaborations and developing strategic engagement opportunities to foster the connection between academia and civic life. Hillary also previously held roles as the Public Policy Director for Parents as Teachers and Director of Communications and Advocacy for the Missouri Charter Public School Association. She began her career as an education and children’s policy advisor for Missouri Governor Matt Blunt.
Hillary received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She resides in St. Louis city with her husband and two sons.
First Job: Lifeguard
Valuable Takeaway: Time management. Learning to prioritize a summer job while balancing other commitments.
Jerica Robinson
Director of Operations
Jerica provides leadership and strategic vision on the administration of the organization, overseeing office administration, fiscal management and compliance, technology and human resources.
Prior to this position, Jerica served as Director of Partnerships & Impact. She also served as Lead Job Coach then as Program Coordinator within MERS Goodwill Industries’ STL Youth Jobs partnership. Jerica is truly excited about, growth opportunity and the ability to serve youth in a different but meaningful and expanded capacity.
She is a firm believer that it takes a village to raise our young people. Jerica experienced this first-hand while growing up in her local YMCA where she was later employed as the Camp Director. The YMCA is a place where she matured and gained long-lasting relationships that supported her personal and professional growth. The Monsanto Family YMCA will always be her home away from home.
Jerica is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Southeast Missouri State University and a master’s degree in social work from Saint Louis University. She loves her St. Louis community. Her personal mission is to better our community one day at a time.
First Job: Monsanto Family YMCA, Hub Attendant
Valuable Takeaways: Teamwork, communication skills, and flexibility.
Courtney Dowdall
Director of Partnerships & Impact
Courtney manages strategic partnerships, provides oversight to the network of partner agencies responsible for implementing the STL Youth Jobs’ service model. She works with external program evaluators, development teams, and partner agency leadership to align program activities to required measurement tools, activities, and desired outcomes.
Prior to joining STL Youth Jobs, Courtney served as Director of Research and Evaluation for Area Resources for Community and Human Resources (ARCHS), a strategic community partnership designated through the Family and Community Trust (FACT). Courtney also previously held roles as Director of Evaluation at Nine PBS and Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Anthropological Association. She began her career as a case manager and then program coordinator for Supported Employment and Transition services at MERS/Goodwill.
Courtney received her bachelor of arts degree in anthropology and sociology from Truman State University and doctoral degree in comparative sociology from Florida International University. She resides in St. Louis City with her husband and two kitties.
First Job: Busser/prep cook
Valuable Takeaway: Being a team player. Learning to fill gaps from back to front of house keeps the whole organization moving more smoothly and helps identify opportunities for improvement.
Lindsey Forsythe
Director of Employer Relations
Lindsey is responsible for the implementation of STL Youth Jobs’ employer relations model, which includes fostering relationships with current and prospective employers, while also being responsive to regional labor market and educational trends. She ensures youth participants are connected to opportunities that support their success and growth.
Prior to joining STL Youth Jobs, Lindsey worked as a Project Manager for LUME Institute’s Workforce Development Program. In that role, she oversaw all aspects of LUME’s Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, which placed unemployed and underemployed workers on a career pathway in early childhood education. Lindsey has also worked as an American Graduate Project Manager at the Nine Network of Public Media and on a variety of community and economic development projects as a social work practicum student. She developed a passion for community development while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nkurenkuru, Namibia.
Lindsey received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri – Columbia and a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in the City of St. Louis with her husband, Scott, and their three sons.
First Job: Long John Silver’s/A&W
Valuable Takeaway: “If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean!”
Amanda Kissel
Partnerships & Impact Manager
Amanda assists the Director of Partnerships & Impact in maintaining relationships with our program providers. Amanda also assists in program development, recruiting youth, and advocating for opportunities available through the STL Youth Jobs network. Amanda has worked with STL Youth Jobs since 2017 as a practicum student at MERS Goodwill Industries. She loved working with and impacting the lives of young people and returned every summer while in school to continue to serve. After years of clinical social work experience and direct work with clients, she is excited for the opportunity to work in a program administrative role. Amanda’s advice to young people is to take every opportunity that is in front of you because you never know where it will lead you. You never know who you will meet and what you will learn along the way.
Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Fontbonne University. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker and has a master’s degree in social work from Saint Louis University. She lives in St. Louis with her husband, two girls, and fur baby Daisy. Outside of her love for serving the community and spending time with her family, she loves to watch reality TV, spend time outside, spend time with friends, and explore new coffee shops.
First job: Serendipity Beyond Design
Valuable takeaways: Learning how to save money. I, like most kids, wanted to spend it on clothes or items that everyone had at the time. Working for my own money really helped teach me the responsibility that goes with saving and spending money wisely.
jANAE kING
Employer Relations Manager
Janae is responsible for assisting with employer recruitment and outreach, ongoing communication with employer partners, and management of employer contacts. She is passionate about pairing youth with employers that will aid in their growth and development.
Prior to this position, Janae served as a Job Coach from 2020-2022 within MERS Goodwill Industries’ STL Youth Jobs partnership. Janae loved working directly with youth to support them in their employment journey. She led job readiness trainings, supervised the Youth Ambassadors team, and helped create systems that make the youth onboarding process run smoothly.
Janae began her nonprofit career in 2018 at Youth in Need, where she served as a Youth Care Worker in the group home. While there, she learned the strengths-based philosophy is the key to connection.
First Job: Mathews Dickey Boys and Girls Club, Camp Counselor
Valuable Takeaway: Teamwork, Money Management and Customer Service.
Xiá simmons
Director of Development
Xiá works to maintain and cultivate lasting relationships with current and prospective donors to accomplish important mission goals and substantially grow the organization.
Xiá began her nonprofit career as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2013, working through Mission: St Louis as a Program Assistant placed at an organization that served women with mental illness and substance use disorders.
She first worked with STL Youth Jobs as a Job Coach and Lead Job Coach between 2015 – 2018, working one-on-one to support youth in reaching their personal, educational, and career goals. Prior to returning to STL Youth Jobs, Xiá worked as coordinator of Health Information Services and Data Analyst for the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition and also an Admissions Advisor for St Louis Community College – Forest Park.
Xiá earned both a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in public policy administration from University of Missouri-St. Louis. Through her education and work experience, Xiá believes that youth are our future; therefore, it is important to invest in theirs. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to return to STL Youth Jobs, a place she considers home.
First Job: Jamestown 14 Cine, Concessions Team Member
Valuable Takeaways: Customer service and time management.
Rita Donohoe
Development Manager
Rita supports the Director of Development with the execution of annual development plans, including major gifts and individual giving, grant strategies, corporate and foundation relations, and stewardship of current and prospective donors. Rita is responsible for fostering a donor-centered approach to building and cultivating lasting relationships with current and prospective donors.
Rita began her career working in legal aid in Boston through the Americorps Legal Advocates of Massachusetts program after graduating from college. After completing the Americorps program, Rita continued her work in public service as a paralegal in the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston for three years. Inspired by this challenging work and the dedication of her colleagues and community partners, Rita decided to pursue a degree in social work and relocated to St. Louis to obtain her master’s degree.
Rita earned her bachelor's degree from Tufts University with a degree in philosophy and Spanish, and completed her master’s degree in social work with a focus on violence prevention, social policy and nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis in 2023. Outside of these interests, Rita loves spending time in Forest Park (running, biking, bird watching, you name it!), reading, and exploring the St. Louis food scene.
First Job: Waitress
Valuable takeaways: Collaboration and communication are key!
keegan reynolds
Relationship Manager
Keegan is responsible for supporting, maintaining, and enhancing relationships with stakeholders, including job seekers, employer partners, job coaches, and workforce partner agencies.
Before joining the STLYJ team, Keegan served as a Lead Job Coach for MERS Goodwill, a program partner of STL Youth Jobs, from 2021-2023. As Lead Job Coach, Keegan coordinated programmatic timelines, trained/supported other job coaches, and worked 1:1 with youth as a mentor to help them navigate the workforce. Keegan is thrilled to use his previous experience to support youth on a larger scale and create an even more enriching experience for interns overall.
Previous to job coaching, Keegan received his Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Spanish from Lindenwood University, as well as his Master of Arts in World History from Saint Louis University. Keegan's training as a historian and passion to support others give him the motivation and confidence to leave the world a better place than he found it.
First Job: Rally's/Checkers Fast Food Restaurant
Valuable Takeaways: customer service, teamwork, and initiative!
Jen Feuerborn
Director of Accounting
Jen has overall responsibility for the financial management of the organization. This involves planning, managing, organizing, and directing activities related to organizational financial operations including budgeting, cash flow, forecasting, accounting, government and financial reporting and banking relationship management.
Prior to joining STL Youth Jobs, Jen worked as an Experienced Tax Manager with BDO USA, PC, a national public accounting firm. She has also held Director roles at Boston Scientific Corporation, Yum! Brands, and Archer Daniels Midland Company, where she was responsible for ensuring the proper financial reporting of global income taxes for these Fortune 500 ranked multinational corporations. Jen has also worked for multiple public accounting firms and started her career at the Internal Revenue Service. Her experience coordinating the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs for the Kansas-Missouri District sparked her passion for volunteer work.
Jen received her bachelor’s of science in accounting from Truman State University and her master’s in taxation from Villanova University. Jen is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Jen lives in St. Louis city with her husband, Daniel, and their dog, Ellie. Jen enjoys traveling the world and trying new local restaurants.
First job: Hardee’s cashier
Valuable takeaways: Customer service, teamwork, and the value of finding an enjoyable career
Board of Directors
Katherine Mauschbaugh, Chair - Enterprise Holdings
Maurice Brown, Treasurer - St. Louis Community Foundation
Patrick Brown, Secretary - Ameren
Brad Mauzy - First Bank
Khalia Collier - St. Louis Surge
Blake Emerson - J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Sherita Haigler - United Way of Greater St. Louis
Daniel Kronberg - Polsinelli
Matt Ampleman - Dowd Bennett
STL Youth Jobs participates in a cost-sharing plan for covered healthcare services through Anthem.