Staff

Bruce Bailey – Executive Director

Bruce Bailey has a degree in Public Administration from Webster University. He worked in government and social service for over 35 years, 15 of which were agencies serving youth. He began his career as a congressional aid, then as special assistant to Judge Noah Weinstein at the St. Louis County Juvenile Court. Subsequently, Bruce served as the Executive Director of two non-profit agencies developing Outdoor Education and Youth Corps programs. In 1994 Bruce directed a pilot program for the Corporation for National Service followed by
serving as the founding Executive Director of AmeriCorps St. Louis. In 2002, Bruce received the Mel Carnahan Service Award for Exemplary Leadership to the Citizens of Missouri. Bruce has served as the Chairperson of Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and is an advisor to the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) with expertise in volunteer coordination and donations management.

AmeriCorps St Louis Program Director Kathleen BechererM. Kathleen Becherer – Program Director

Kathleen Becherer received both her Bachelor’s degree in Social Service and Individualized Master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Webster University along with post graduate study at the University of Louisville in Crime Prevention. Kathleen is a Graduate of the CORO Foundation’s Women in Leadership, and has been certified as a Community Mediator and Diversity Trainer. She has worked in government and social service programs for over 35 years, nearly all of which focused on at-risk youth. She is a founding Program Director of AmeriCorps St. Louis Education Corps. In 2005, Kathleen received the Women of the Well Achievement Award, and in 2008 the UMSL Regional Institute for Tutorial Education Award, each one for her exemplary life-long commitment to women and children.

Staff Leadership

Jerron M. Johnson- Manager of Administration and Support

Jerron Johnson has his B.S. in Business Administration from Florida A&M University. Jerron has a history of community service beginning in high school on into college and continuing to the present working with youth in education and music. Jerron served as a mentor and as a volunteer coordinator in his two years of service in AmeriCorps St. Louis. After his service, Jerron served as the Administrative Assistant for one year followed by four years as the Program Coordinator of the Education Corps. He now works as the Manager of Administration and Support. Because of his enormous dedication to service, President Bush presented him with the National Exemplary President’s Service Award in 2008.  In addition to his community service involvement, Jerron is an accomplished musician serving as the Music Director of his church.

AmeriCorps Fellows

Tom Schweiss- Emergency Response Team E-Mail

Tom Schweiss received his B.S. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. After college he worked in Mt Hood National Forest in Oregon doing environmental education and interpretation for forest visitors.  Tom then served with the Washington Conservation Corps in Olympic National Park doing backcountry trail work, environmental restoration, and a variety of service projects.  He served with AmeriCorps St. Louis for two years as a member, leading teams performing conservation work and responding to wildfires, floods, and ice-storms in Missouri.  After completing his service with AmeriCorps St. Louis, he returned to work with the Washington Conservation Corps as the supervisor of the Mt Rainier Spike Crew.  Tom is excited to serve again with AmeriCorps St Louis!

Will Burks- Emergency Response Team E-Mail

William Burks joined the Emergency Response Team in 2009.  During his two years with the program he fell in love with national service.  In 2011 Will received the AmeriCorps State Service Award. This award is given by the Missouri Community Service Commission to service members who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service over and beyond the requirements of their designated program.  By the time Will completed his second term of service as a Team Leader with ACSTL in 2011,  he had accumulated over 4,000 hours of service. He then went back to school to complete his AAS in Automotive Technologies, a skill that has shown to be very helpful.  In the summer of 2012 Will returned to the Emergency Response Team as a Fellow and is excited to help lead and mentor the next round of AmeriCorps Saint Louis members as they complete their year of invaluable service to this country.  He enjoys supporting communities across the United States be it through conservation, wildland fire response, or disaster response.

Lisa Formanik- Emergency Response Team E-Mail

Coming Soon!