Ryan McCrea is focused on making an impact by helping organizations maximize and develop talent through creative, practical people solutions. He’s passionate about helping individuals own their careers and providing thought leadership on strategic talent management, leadership development, mentoring, team dynamics, and culture building.

Ryan most recently served as Head of Learning and Leadership Development at Ameren, where he led enterprise-wide corporate learning and leadership development programs and guided a team focused on building capability at scale. Prior to Ameren, he was Vice President and Manager of Talent Development at Commerce Bank. In that role, he launched a corporate-wide professional development program and oversaw the strategy for people and leadership growth.

Ryan has certifications in Situational Leadership, 4 Stages of Psychological Safety, DiSC, MBTI and is also a Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach. Ryan received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana and a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Ryan lives in St. Louis with his wife, Susan, and two adorable cats, Zooey and Coco. He loves music, movies, fashion, pop culture and art. Ask him about any of these topics and you may never get away. 

Ali Carson is a coach, facilitator, and talent development leader with more than 20 years of experience across human resources, learning, and organizational development. She is the founder of Movere Coaching and brings deep experience designing and leading leadership development, organizational change, and talent initiatives across industries including non-profit healthcare and law.

Ali holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration and an MBA from Southwest Missouri State University. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation, a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, a Global Listening Intelligence Certified Coach, and holds a Brain-Based Coaching Certificate through the NeuroLeadership Institute. Her work centers on helping leaders lead authentically, strengthening teams, and creating workplaces where people can do their best work. She connects big-picture strategy with practical execution to help individuals and organizations create meaningful, sustainable progress.

Grounded in authenticity and joy, Ali brings a work-hard, play-hard energy and a deep belief in leadership as a force for lasting impact. Outside of work, she is a wife, mom to two teenagers, and an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys RV camping, hiking, paddleboarding, travel of all kinds, and exploring local food scenes.

Melanie Hiller, MAIOP is a HR + People Operations Consultant with a passion for helping organizations find clarity when things feel complex or stuck. With a background in organizational psychology and human resources, she partners with leaders to untangle challenges related to culture, communication, and compliance always with a practical, human-centered approach.

As the founder of Pivot Partner Consulting, Melanie works alongside small-to-mid-sized organizations to build strong people operations, support leaders through change, and create systems that allow both the business and its people to thrive. She is especially drawn to moments of transition, believing that thoughtful structure and clear communication can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Melanie is known for her collaborative style, attention to detail, and ability to translate big ideas into clear, actionable next steps. She values transparency, psychological safety, and doing the often forgotten and overlooked work that helps teams function at their best. Above all, she believes meaningful progress happens when people feel supported, informed, and empowered to move forward together.

When she’s not working, Melanie enjoys spending time with her dog, Athena. You can often find her either reading or staying involved in her community through various volunteering adventures. She’s often drawn to spaces where learning, connection, and thoughtful conversation intersect. whether that’s through professional groups, local events, or a good cup of coffee and a meaningful chat.

Rhoda Banks is a Senior People, Culture, and Organizational Development leader with more than 15 years of experience across OD, Talent Management, Culture, and Inclusion. She has led enterprise-wide culture and talent initiatives across multiple industries, partnering closely with executive teams to build inclusive, high-performing, and engaged organizations.

Rhoda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Master’s in Human Resource Training and Development, and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Webster University, where she also serves as a part-time adjunct professor. She is an iPEC-certified coach and brings a strong systems and human-centered lens to leadership development, culture transformation, and organizational effectiveness.

Deeply committed to the OD community, Rhoda has been involved with the St. Louis OD Network for more than seven years, serving as a mentor for over seven cycles and currently as a member of the STL ODN Board, where she serves as Membership Chair. She is passionate about developing leaders, strengthening professional communities, and creating spaces where people can grow, belong, and thrive.

Rhoda is a published author of Moments: An Inspirational Devotional Journal: Stories and Words to Inspire, Confront, and Conquer Everyday Life Situations and her newest book, Daughter of an Assassin, a memoir. Through her coaching, consulting, teaching, and writing, Rhoda is known for her authenticity, optimism, and deep care for people. Often described as a “glass-half-full” leader, she lives by mottos such as “all things are temporary” and “to every problem, there is a solution,” bringing a grounded faith, resilience, and can-do spirit that inspires those around her.

Joani Alsop is experienced in organization and leadership development, leader coaching, executive assessment, and career development, in internal and external roles. Her expertise includes innovative work that strengthens leadership and organizational capability, employee development, and inclusion and belonging, to accelerate positive impact. 

Joani is the leader of Joani Alsop Coaching and Consulting. Prior roles include Director of Learning and Women in Leadership Program Facilitator for FOCUS St. Louis, Executive Coach/Consultant with a global consulting firm, and Associate Director, Career Management at Maryville University.

Joani holds a BS in Business Management and MA in Organizational Leadership & Development. She completed her coach training as a Master Business Coach and Performance Leadership Coach with B-Coach Systems. She is a FOCUS St. Louis graduate of Class 57 Women in Leadership Program. Joani is Dare to Lead trained, a Certified Breakthrough Coaching Master, Certified Happiness Trainer, certified in the Birkman and MBTI assessments, and experienced with 15 additional leadership assessment tools, including DISC, Hogan and EQi 2.0.

Joani has served in prior roles on the Executive Team as Volunteer Chair and Communications Chair as well as on the STL-ODN Program, Conference, and Mission-Vision committees.  Joani is also a member of the International Coach Federation, where she serves on the board of the St. Louis Chapter as Inclusion and Belonging Director, and on the board of Voices of American Herstory. She also is a member of the G.R.I.T. Community, and leads the G.R.I.T. Group Coaching Program.  She is an author in the #1 International Best-Seller “Tenacity – Deconstructing G.R.I.T. Collection.” 

Joani enjoys yoga, dance, singing in a community choir, travel, networking, movies, and spending time with friends and her two nephews in St. Louis.

Tatiana Johnson is the Technology Co-Chair for STL-ODN and a Human Systems Integration Specialist with a background spanning technology, UX design, learning and development, and organizational change. She holds a Masters of Science in Culture, Change, and Leadership as well as a UX Design certification, bringing a people-centered approach to digital systems, process design, and technology enablement.

In her professional work, Tatiana supports large-scale technology adoption, training strategy, and systems alignment within complex organizations at Bayer, while also leading Mosaic Consulting, where she helps organizations bridge gaps between people, process, and technology. She is passionate about using technology as a tool for clarity, empowerment, and sustainable change, and is excited to collaborate with STL-ODN members to advance thoughtful, human-centered technology practices across the OD community. 

Kristine Levinskas is a learning and development leader with a passion for mentoring, leadership development, and creating meaningful growth experiences at work. She brings a people-centered approach to organizational development, grounded in the belief that learning is most impactful when it is relational, practical, and intentionally designed.

Throughout her career, Kristine has built and led mentorship programs, redesigned onboarding experiences, and partnered with leaders to develop talent at all levels. Her work focuses on helping individuals grow confidence, critical thinking, and capability while aligning learning initiatives with organizational goals.

As Mentoring Chair for the St. Louis Organization Development Network, Kristine is committed to fostering connections that support professional growth, knowledge sharing, and community among OD practitioners. She is especially passionate about creating mentoring relationships that are inclusive, supportive, and mutually beneficial for both mentors and mentees.

Kristine values STL-ODN as a space to learn from peers, exchange ideas, and strengthen the OD profession across the St. Louis region. She believes mentorship plays a critical role in building resilient organizations and empowering individuals to thrive.

Outside of her professional work, Kristine enjoys connecting with others around learning, leadership, and development, and believes that a little humor and authenticity go a long way in creating environments where people feel safe to grow.