2017 IRISH GUEST OF HONOR

Mary Mitchell O’Connor is a Fine Gael TD for the Dún Laoghaire Constituency. Mary was elected to Dáil Éireann on her first attempt in the 2011 General Election and topped the poll in the General Election, February 2016. On 06 May 2016 Mary was appointed as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Mary is a hard working TD, and is passionate about the needs and concerns of the constituents of Dún Laoghaire and of the country. She is committed to economic growth, supporting small businesses and improving education and health.

Mary has crusaded for improved pupil teacher ratio, additional resource hours for students with disabilities and Government reform of childcare. She has worked on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, advocated for healthy eating and decreasing obesity and helped raise the age for Breast Checks to 69.

In Dáil Éireann, Mary served on the following committees:

• Committee on Health and Children
• Select sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs
• Select sub-Committee on Health
• Internal Fine Gael Education Committee
• Internal Fine Gael Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Committee

In 2011, Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed Mary as the Chairperson of the Internal Fine Gael Education Committee based on her successful career in education. She also wrote the first draft of the Fine Gael Education Manifesto 2016.

Mary was a School Principal in Scoil Cholmcille in Skryne, Co. Meath before taking the reins of The Harold School in Glasthule, Co. Dublin, a large urban school of over 600 pupils. Mary has an Honours
Masters’ Degree in Education and Management from National University Ireland, (NUI) Maynooth.

Mary also served as a County Councillor on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. She was elected for two consecutive terms in June 2004 and re-elected in June 2009.

Mary successfully ran her own business in the past and is extremely supportive of local business and enterprise. Mary continues to work closely with Business Associations and Chambers of Commerce
and businesses in the Dún Laoghaire Constituency and has held a number of conferences for local businesses.

Mary lives in Cabinteely and is a mother of two sons. Her favourite day off work is spent in Croke Park with her family and friends.

2017 HONORARY PARADE MARSHAL

John Saunders was appointed FleishmanHillard’s President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2015 – only the fourth person to hold that title in the history of a firm that celebrated its 70^th birthday in 2016. FleishmanHillard is one of the world’s leading corporate communications firms with 85 offices globally.

From 2011, John held the role of Regional President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). From 2007, he held the role of Regional President for Continental Europe and Eurasia, having been named as Regional Director for Europe in October 2004.

Before assuming his regional leadership positions, John led FleishmanHillard Saunders. He founded the business in 1990 and helped grow it into Ireland’s largest public relations consultancy and one of FleishmanHillard’s most successful international offices. The Irish operation also won more awards than any other firm during his time there.

John is a member of a range of professional bodies and is regularly invited to share a perspective on communications-related topics. Countries where he has undertaken speaking engagements include: Austria, Germany, Iceland, India, Iran, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K. and the United States. In December 2007, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. John was President of ICCO (The International Communications Consultancy Organisation), the global representative body for the PR industry, from 2005-2007. In 2011, he became the 15^th inductee to ICCO Hall of Fame. John has also been a member of the Europe and Central Asia Committee at the World Economic Forum. He is a member of both the Europe Circle of Communicators and of the Arthur W. Page Society. He was recently appointed to the Board of the Omnicom Public Relations Group.

Prior to his public relations career, John was a staff journalist with Radio Telefis Eireann – the Irish state broadcaster.

He is married to Jean for the past 36 years. They have three children – Colin, Caroline and Hannah, as well as a granddaughter, Matilda. John is a native of Dublin and now resides here in St. Louis. His love affair with the city began 31 years ago in 1986 when Anheuser-Busch began sponsoring the world famous Irish Derby horse race for which his firm managed publicity in Ireland. In fact, in 1994, he marched in the St. Louis Parade as a guest of the late Michael J. Roarty of Anheuser-Busch – another former Grand Marshal. In December last year, he was inducted into the Irish-American Business 100 list by “Irish America” magazine and was keynote speaker at a gala luncheon at New York’s Metropolitan Club.

He is fiercely proud that FleishmanHillard HQ continues to be located here in the Midwest. “St. Louis is our secret sauce,” he says.

POLICE OFFICER

Sergeant Thomas Lake joined the Metropolitan Police Department as a police officer on October 7, 1996. As an officer, he served the First District, Second District, Sixth District and the North Patrol Detectives Bureau.

On April 17, 2007, Sgt. Lake was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was transferred to the First District, and as a sergeant, also served the Narcotics Unit, Fourth District and the Internal Affairs Division. He is currently assigned to the Second District.

As an officer, Sgt. Lake was awarded “Officer of the Month” in 2004 and received a “Meritorious Service Award” in 2001. Sgt. Lake holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from University of Nebraska.

On November 20, 2016, Sgt. Lake was struck twice in the face after a suspect fired shots into his police vehicle while waiting at a red light on Hampton Ave. Sgt. Lake was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital the next day. We thank Sgt. Lake for his dedicated and courageous service to our department and to the citizens of St. Louis.

EMS

EMS Inventory Supervisor Tracy Brady is the consummate EMS professional!  Securing her EMS license in 1986, she has almost thirty years’ experience in nearly every aspect of Emergency Medical Services!  Starting out on the ambulance as an EMT-B, worked in the EMS Dispatch Center, EMS Billing, and currently serves as the EMS Inventory Supervisor.  In addition to being the “EMS Go-To,” Supervisor Brady remains active in the community. She is the past President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, a past member of LAOH (Ladies Ancient Order Hibernians), and a strong advocate for veterans

FIREFIGHTER

Retired Firefighter Matthew Held joined the St. Louis Fire Department in April 1992. On February 2, 2003, he responded to a house fire at N. Kingshighway & Wabada.  Due to the fire’s advanced progression and the deteriorating building conditions, the Incident Commander evacuated the building.  Firefighter Held and his partner were exiting the building and on the front porch when the upper portion of the brick building collapsed, trapping both firefighters under the rubble.  After nine surgeries and extensive physical therapy, Firefighter Held was informed that his injuries were career ending. Firefighter Held continues to advocate for the fire service. He actively supports the IAFF/Local 73 Chapter and works closely with Responder Rescue.