David Steward, Black CEO, St. Louis, Missouri

Headquartered in St. Louis and recognized as a leading systems integrator and supply chain services company, World Wide Technologies

boasts more than 1,000 employees, 1.5 million-plus square feet of facilities and $2 billion in sales. The company is distinguished as the No. 1 African-American-owned enterprise in the U.S., and in 2006 Black Enterprise ranked WWT the No. 1 minority-owned business for the third consecutive year.Similarly, David has a long list of honors that include: 100 Most Infl uential Black Americans by Ebony magazine; Small Business Administration Small Business Hall of Fame Inductee; America’s 14th-Best Entrepreneur by Success magazine; and Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year, to name a few. He serves both on the executive committee and as the campaign chair for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, he is on the board of more than a dozen charitable and civic organizations.

Thelma Steward’s commitment to caring is complemented with a focus on numerous activities that enhance the St. Louis community. Her current board positions are with the St. Louis Art Museum, Sheldon Arts Foundation, Care & Counseling, and Girls, Inc.

The Stewards will be married 31 years in May of 2007, and they have two children and one son-on-law, David II and Kimberly and Jamil Blackwell. Based on David’s book, Doing Business by the Good Book: 52 Lessons on Success Straight from the Bible, the couple teaches a course by the same name at Salem in Ladue United Methodist Church.

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