ST. LOUIS (March 17, 2016) — Mike DeCola, chief executive officer of HBM Holdings, has been named the 2016-2017 chair of the board of directors for United Way of Greater St. Louis. DeCola most recently served as the 2014 campaign co-chair for United Way and has led the way in generosity as a strong United Way supporter for 12 years. DeCola succeeds W. Stephen Maritz, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Maritz Inc., who held the chair position for the past two years.
DeCola has served as the 2014 United Way campaign co-chair, raising more than $73 million to help people in our region, and he has been a United Way board of directors and executive committee member since 2015.
“United Way is an outstanding organization at the forefront of philanthropic giving and continues to focus on its mission to help people in our region live their best possible lives,” DeCola said. “It’s an honor to work alongside some of the most talented and generous leaders in the St. Louis region to continue helping United Way excel in excellent service to the community. I am eager to navigate the road ahead and be involved in a new aspect of United Way’s work as board chair.”
“It has been fantastic seeing Mike’s leadership in his own company and in the United Way campaign,” said Orvin Kimbrough, president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “His passion for helping people shines through everything he does. I am excited for his leadership, innovation and enthusiasm for our region and to see where he will take us as we continue to help local people.”
About Mike DeCola
Michael A. DeCola has served as chief executive officer of HBM Holdings since his election to the position in 2014. He is also a member of HBM’s board of directors and serves as the chairman of the board for all of HBM Holdings’ portfolio companies.
Mike was hired as chief executive officer of Mississippi Lime Company in 1999, a role he served in until December 2015. Prior to joining Mississippi Lime, Mike was general manager of FMC Corporation’s Pharmaceutical Division which markets excipients to the global pharmaceutical industry. He joined FMC in 1977 and held a number of positions within the company, primarily in planning and marketing.
He is a member of the President’s Regional Advisory Board and is a class agent for Franklin and Marshall College. Mike is a former member of the Darden School Foundation’s Board of Trustees and currently serves on the advancement committee and in an advisory role for the Annual Fund. He also is a regular visiting teacher at Darden and at the MBA programs at St. Louis University and Washington University.
Currently, Mike serves on the advisory boards of Metal Exchange Corporation and Kwame Building Group. He is a board member of Enterprise Financial Services Corporation, where he also serves as the chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Executive, Nominating and Governance Committees. He is a member and former chairman of the St. Louis Regional Business Council, where he serves on the Nominating, Governance and Higher Education Collaboration Committees.
Mike serves on the Board and Executive Committee for the St. Louis Sports Commission, where he is also the Development Committee Chair. Mike was the vice-chairman of the 2013 Senior PGA Championship and is the General Chairman of the 2018 PGA Championship, which will be the centennial anniversary of the Championship.
Mike holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Franklin and Marshall College. He resides in St. Louis with his wife Lee.
Download the press release (PDF).
About United Way of Greater St. Louis
United Way of Greater St. Louis mobilizes the community with one goal in mind — helping people live their best possible lives. Located throughout 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois, United Way helps one in three people in the region build a foundation for a good quality of life through basic needs, financial stability, education, health and strong communities. For more information, contact 314-421-0700 or visit www.HelpingPeople.org.
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