Annie Schlafly - Co-founder

Annie is passionate about welcoming new people to St. Louis and the bi-state region, to ensure that everyone who moves here has a positive  experience. In the past, she has served on the St. Louis Internship, on Women's Society of Washington University as a president , on the board of the St. Louis Public Library Foundation and she has been Chairman of the Board of St. Luke’s Hospital.  In all these positions, she has worked to develop strategies to make each organization stronger financially. She is a past recipient of the Woman of Achievement Award. Annie and her husband, Joe, live in the city. Their four children are married and they have 7 grandchildren.

Susan Gobbo - Co-founder  & Program Director

Susan is a Brazilian with Portuguese and Italian Heritages.  Susan has a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy and a Graduation degree in Respiratory Therapy. In Brazil, she worked as a Physical Therapist for more than 15 years in the ICU of a Heart Hospital. 

Finding no support for herself as an expatriate spouse—and passionate about learning different cultures and connecting people—she co-founded the St. Louis International Spouses Group to help other international women feel welcomed and accepted in their new home. Susan also co-founded  The International Mentoring Program (IMP)which connects international women with local women to help integrate their families into the St. Louis area. This organization became officially a 501c3 organization and she is now the IMP Program director.

Furthermore, she co-founded the Immigrant Professional Women's Network Group with the mission to educate and elevate immigrant professional women to integrate and thrive in the St. Louis region. This organization became officially a 501c3 organization in which Susan is part of the Board. 

Susan works as a part-time consultant for the Women's Connector Program of the St. Louis Mosaic Project / The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership which represents a larger effort by the region to attract and retain immigrants in our region, where she plays an important role as a Mosaic Ambassador and part of the Mosaic Women Connector Program.  

Susan also holds positions in other organizations, bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to the table, and contributing to St. Louis’s economic and cultural growth, enriching life for the community. 

Susan received the St. Louis Mosaic Project Award in 2018 for outstanding dedication to growing the St. Louis region, the St. Louis Women of Achievement Multicultural Enrichment Award in 2020,  The United Nations of St Louis Diversity as a Mary T Hall Award in 2022, the International Institute's Community Advocacy  Award in 2023, among others. 

By loving “The Lou,” Susan wants everyone who moves to St. Louis to have this same feeling.  Susan and her husband Mauricio and their daughter have been living in St. Louis since 2008 which they now call home. 

Laura Wilson - Executive Director

Laura is a native St. Louisan. Her previous roles include Chief of Development at Epworth Children and Family Services and Vice President of Development at Mission: St. Louis both located in the greater St. Louis area working towards bettering St. Louis. Before working at Mission: St. Louis, Laura worked as a political fundraiser for members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate in Washington, DC. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Cultures and Politics in 2010 and is a graduate of Focus St. Louis' Leadership St. Louis class of 2018-2019. 

She is an avid Michigan State Sports fan and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.