Fast Forward STL

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL , host Keith Alper is joined by Donn Rubin, founding president and CEO of  BioSTL . They go deep on the partnerships and leadership that’s helping position St. Louis as a leader in the biosciences. Rubin also shares his career journey, explains why collaboration is essential to attracting talent and investment, and explores what’s ahead fo...

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,   Clementine’s Creamery  owner Tamara Keefe comes on the show. Hear how she turned a childhood family tradition into a multi-state brand that’s now in 30 Schnucks stores, launched selective Midwest-first franchising, opened a parlor on Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and more. Keefe shares why she left a succe...

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  Keith Alper sits down with Amy Shaw, the president and CEO of  Nine PBS  who’s helping shape the future of public media in St. Louis and beyond, while leading her organization through a period of significant change that still keeps community at the center of its mission. Shaw shares now Nine PBS is adapting to the desires of modern...

 In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  Keith Alper speaks with St. Louis City Comptroller  Donna Baringer about about leadership, public service, and the challenges of modernizing city government. Baringer shares her journey finding her way into public service having grown up in the state's capital and later returning as a Missouri House representative, before her unexpected victo...

 In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  Keith Alper speaks with  Tarlton Corporation  executive chair and CEO Tracy Hart—a trailblazing corporate leader who has tripled the company’s growth, all while helping shape St. Louis through both construction and civic leadership. Tarlton has played a role in transforming some of the city’s most recognizable spaces, i...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper sits down Marie-Hélène Bernard, president and CEO of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She shares how one of the nation’s oldest orchestras continues to break barriers and redefine its role in the community. Drawing from her immigrant roots, she’s expanding access to music and looking to build a more inclusive future for th...

 In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  Keith Alper sits down with Emily Hemingway, a tech entrepreneur who has spent two decades driving innovation and economic growth in communities across the country. Most recently as founding CEO of  Tech STL —a nonprofit focused on proactively growing the tech ecosystem in the St. Louis metro area—she launched one of the region&rsq...

In this episode of Fast Forward STL, Keith Alper sits down with Steve O’Loughlin, president of Lodging Hospitality Management (LHM), Missouri’s largest hotel operator, with 19 hotels and more than 5,000 rooms; plus Westport Plaza, St. Louis Union Station, several restaurants, and a growing portfolio of experiences—including the Aquarium, The Polar Express, and seasonal pop-ups. S...

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  host Keith Alper sits down with Adam Birenbaum, chief executive officer of  Focus Partners Wealth . Adam shares his intern-to-CEO story at the St. Louis-based wealth management firm, explains why comprehensive financial planning beats old-school brokerages, and weighs in on AI’s role in the industry. The conversation shifts to civics, wh...

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  host Keith Alper sits down with  Mike Mazzeo , dean of  WashU Olin Business School . Hear about his journey from Stanford-trained economist and longtime Northwestern professor to university leadership during the rapid changes of 2020. Mazzeo outlines WashU Olin’s programs and shares why strengthening ties with St. Lou...

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL ,  host Keith Alper sits down with Rusty Keeley, CEO of  Keeley Companies  and new chairman of the  Regional Business Council . Keeley shares how he grew his father’s asphalt paving business into a diversified empire topping 5,000 employees, employing a “fail fast, fail forward” philosophy and people-first culture. The...

In this episode of  Fast Forward STL , host Keith Alper sits down with St. Louis native Jim McKelvey, co-founder of  Block  (formerly Square), to talk about the lessons he’s learned from building a global company and how those ideas apply beyond business. From launching  Mira  and co-founding  Third Degree Glass Factory , to growing a global fintech company, McK...

In the debut episode of  Fast Forward STL , host Keith Alper interviews David Karandish, an accomplished entrepreneur and CEO of  Capacity , an AI-driven support automation platform. David shares his entrepreneurial journey from his early ventures to selling a company for nearly $1 billion and discusses how Capacity supports businesses by automating customer service tasks. He also addres...

Fast Forward STL  is a business and innovation podcast hosted by entrepreneur, investor, producer, and CEO of The Nitrous Effect companies, Keith Alper. Each episode features leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators doing remarkable work connected to St. Louis and the greater region. Together, they explore ideas, stories, and strategies that shape growth, spark curiosity, and occasionally make...