St. Louis Business Innovator, Developer Chosen Among Top Young Professionals

When it comes to helping develop the St. Louis County and City economy and connecting businesses, Florissant native Alison Zeidler might have a hand in making it happen.

The St. Louis Business Journal recently recognized Zeidler, project manager and analyst for the St. Louis County Economic Council, as one of its 30 under 30.

“It’s a service job and a little weird to get recognition for it,” she said. “Visibility is cool, but the honor doesn’t change my everyday life.”

Zeidler, 28, describes herself as a juggler in many ways as her job functions might some days deal with connecting people with companies and helping companies invest in bringing work to St. Louis County to doing miscellaneous research. She also manages Foreign Trade Zone No. 102 for St. Louis City and County.

She has helped bring more than $753.4 million in investment and 3,319 jobs in St. Louis County projects announced or completed in 2013, according to the Business Journal. 

She didn’t have a clear path for her current position following her graduation from University of Missouri-St. Louis, but she said in her first job as a project management assistant is where it began to form.

Zeidler said someone recommended that she would make a great economic developer, and after networking and pursuing it, she got a job with the St. Louis Economic Council.

She said in the past three years with the organization, she has learned a great deal and while many might have high goals and aspirations for the future, hers are simple.

“In 10 years, I want to understand tools even more,” she said. “I want to figure out more innovative ways to promote St. Louis.”

As a North County native, and she remains a Florissant resident, she said that her position and others like her  say a lot about the area.

“We’re doers,” Zeidler said. “We say ‘heck yeah’ to everything and then we actually do it.”

The St. Louis Business Journal honored Zeidler and 29 others July 18 at the Coronado Ballroom.