5 on your side | Kelly Jackson is the new co-anchor for the 10 p.m. weekday newscast alongside Mike Bush. A veteran journalist, she earned a degree in radio/TV broadcasting with a minor in political science from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. Jackson first came to 5 On Your Side in 1998. She spent 10 years at KSDK before moving to its sister-station News10 in Sacramento, California. In 2010, she returned to 5 On Your Side. Jackson’s many accolades include Mid-America Emmy Awards, a national award for the Alliance for Women in Media and honors from the Urban League for balanced reporting.
saint louis zoo
Sabarras George has been appointed the next WildCare Park director. He brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience to the role. George worked at the Detroit Zoological Society for almost six years, most recently serving as vice president of operations and facilities and COO. During his tenure, he oversaw all internal operations at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. He received his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership and change management from Colorado State University.
mercy
The health care system has created three new leadership roles for specialty service lines. Brian Connor now leads neurosciences. He has previous experience as COO at Health First in Melbourne, Florida, and working at the Oklahoma Stroke & Neurological Institute. Michelle Fortune spearheads surgery and gastroenterology. She most recently served as CEO at St. Luke’s Hospital in Columbus, North Carolina, and she previously led the outpatient surgery center, perioperative services and anesthesia at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and National Surgical Hospitals in Chicago. Dawn Martin has assumed responsibility for the women and children service line. Most recently, she led as president and CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida.
niche food group
Chef Gerard Craft’s restaurant group has selected Ryan Hux as COO for Porano Pasta, its fast casual customizable bowl, salad and Detroit-style pizza concept opening in Des Peres this spring. A 15-year veteran of the restaurant business, Hux has worked for national brands, including Shake Shack and Raising Cane’s. He is the first leadership hire for Porano Pasta, which is being reintroduced to St. Louis after its successful run downtown from 2016 to 2018.
united way of greater st. louis
The nonprofit named Kiesha Hammock vice president of community investment. In the position, she will oversee United Way investment opportunities, portfolio managers and volunteers. She most recently served at the Deaconess Foundation as director of partnership and capacity building. Hammock serves on the board for Philanthropy Missouri, and in 2015, she was named a member of the 10th ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program class.