Home-Grown Global Impact for 2010

In 1980 entrepreneur Rodger Riney founded his securities company with two branch offices in St. Louis and Arizona. 20 years later Scottrade has hired more than 2,000 employees, opened more than 350 branches and has helped put the financial spotlight on St. Louis County.

"Scottrade is a growing global force in online securities trading," contends Dean Akande. "This is a home-grown company with a global impact that puts St. Louis on the map."

Scottrade is just one of the encouraging signs Akande sees for putting the region back on track in 2010. His other insights are highlighted in a special section of this week's St. Louis Business Journal.

Don't Count Dubai Out

News from the Middle East country of Dubai continued to shape financial markets around the world this week. First Abu Dhabi agreed to settle some of Dubai’s debts. Then stocks fell on doubts the city-state will meet all its obligations. Dean Benjamin Akande, who just returned from Dubai, predicted before Abu Dhabi’s intercession that the emirate should not be underestimated.

Read Dean Akande’s assessment in the St. Louis Beacon then click here to watch his report on Fox News.

Never By Chance

Just as leaders are made and not born great business doesn't just happen. In Never By Chance: Aligning People and Strategy Through Intentional Leadership authors Chuck Feltz, Joe Calloway and Kris Young outline the power of deliberate direction and how in 2010 embracing intentional leadership will separate business survivors from those going bankrupt. Never By Chance tops Webster BizTalk Book Clubs' "must reads" for the year.

Click here to read the review and here to listen to Dean Akande's interview with co-author Chuck Feltz.