St. Louis's largest annual international business awards event was well-attended.
2018 marked the 20th anniversary of Growing Global, the largest annual international business event in St. Louis. The 2018 theme, The Political Economy of Trade, took a closer look at the challenges and opportunities of globalization with a panel of experts from the region’s leading trading partners. More than 670 business, civic and elected leaders were in attendance.

Photo Courtesy: World Trade Center St. Louis
For more than 25 years, as the international division of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis (WTC) has supported growth for the region’s businesses, most importantly, ensuring St. Louis companies are represented in an increasingly global marketplace.

Photo Courtesy: World Trade Center St. Louis
Established in 1998, Growing Global is WTC’s signature event. The annual luncheon provides a regional forum to address timely international issues and their effects on globally growing companies. Since its inception, Growing Global has become the St. Louis region’s largest and most publicized international business gathering. Each year, 700 international business leaders from throughout the St. Louis region attend this dynamic forum.

Photo Courtesy: World Trade Center St. Louis
Previous Keynote Speakers:
2016 – Foreign Direct Investment Panel discussion with BioMerieux, KWS, Nidec and Nestle Purina
2015 – Thomas Hillman, Managing Principal, FTL Capital and founder, Lewis & Clark Ventures
2014 – His Excellency, Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Singapore Ambassador to the United States
2013 – Brett D. Begemann, President & Chief Commercial Officer, Monsanto
2012 – The Honorable Scot Marciel, United States Ambassador to Indonesia
2011 – Edward L. Monser, President & COO, Emerson
2010 – The Honorable Gary Locke, United States Secretary of Commerce
2009 – Gregory H. Boyce, Chairman and CEO, Peabody Energy
2008 – Brian T. Moynihan, CEO, Bank of America

Photo Courtesy: World Trade Center St. Louis
Previous Global Ambassador Award Winners:
2016 – The Yield Lab
2015 – The Honorable Kevin O’Malley, United States Ambassador to Ireland
2014 – The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
2013 – Denny Coleman, CEO, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership & Zsolt Rumy, President & CEO, Zoltek
2012 – Anna Crosslin, President & CEO, International Institute & Bob Fox, Chairman Casa de Salud
2011 – The Honorable Christopher “Kit” Bond, United States Senator
2010 – Mark S. Wrighton, Ph.D., Chancellor, Washington University in St. Louis