Mayor Cara Spencer has appointed Stephen Davis as St. Louis’ new chief economic development officer, tapping an experienced SLDC leader to help drive business growth, major projects, and more inclusive economic development across the city.1
Davis joins the Mayor’s Office from SLDC, where he served as vice president of strategic partnerships and initiatives.
St. Louis, MO — June 1, 2026 — Mayor Cara Spencer announced today the appointment of Stephen Davis as the City’s new chief economic development officer, effective Monday, June 1. Davis, a seasoned leader in economic development, joins the Mayor’s Office from the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), where he has served as vice president of strategic partnerships and initiatives since 2022.
In this high-impact role, Davis will serve as the mayor’s strategic advisor on business conditions and a primary liaison to major private and institutional stakeholders, including employers, developers, and regional leaders. He will define and accelerate the City’s economic agenda, expand the tax base, and address equity and racial disparities through targeted economic initiatives. Davis will also chair the SLDC board and lead the City’s top-priority economic development projects.
“Stephen brings a proven track record of facilitating catalytic investments and building the collaborative partnerships necessary to drive St. Louis’s economic future,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “His deep roots in our innovation ecosystem and his success in business retention and expansion make him the ideal leader to advance our vision for an inclusive and resilient economy.”
A Record of Catalytic Investment
During his tenure as vice president at SLDC, Davis secured catalytic investments across advanced manufacturing, bioscience, geospatial innovation, and entrepreneurship sectors. He served as the primary business retention and expansion lead for major employers, including Boeing, MilliporeSigma, Anheuser-Busch, ICL, Procter & Gamble, and Anders Certified Public Accountants. He also strengthened regional innovation ecosystems through his work with GeoFutures, AMICSTL, BioSTL, and Harris-Stowe.
“We at SLDC appreciate Stephen’s years of service here and wish him well with driving forward economic development in the city,” said SLDC President and CEO Stephen Westbrooks. “We’re excited Stephen will continue working with SLDC and other city departments in his new role.”
Award-Winning Leadership
Davis’s leadership has earned significant recognition. He received the 2023 Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council for Business Retention & Expansion leadership, and the 2025 Business Retention & Expansion Award from the Missouri Economic Development Council for his work on the $1.9 billion Boeing expansion. He also earned the 2025 Special Achievement in GIS Award from ESRI for developing a Digital Twin to support community development in The Ville.
“St. Louis succeeds when public, private, and community partners work together toward a shared vision,” said Davis. “I am honored to support Mayor Spencer’s administration in strengthening our competitive position and ensuring that our economic growth benefits every neighborhood in our city.”
Experience and Background
Before becoming vice president, Davis served as a major projects manager at SLDC, where he managed strategic development projects, workforce initiatives, and business incentive negotiations. Prior to joining SLDC, he was a regional engagement senior project manager for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, serving the St. Louis region. In that role, he supported employer expansions, administered federal and state grant funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and funded key infrastructure projects through the Governor’s Transportation Cost-Share program.
Davis holds an MBA from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University. He is an active community leader, serving on the boards of T-REX, the Cortex Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and the First Tee of Greater St. Louis.
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