Frank Hamsher has had long-term, high-level experience in the public and private sectors in St. Louis in public relations, civic issues leadership, community development, and management of crises and controversies. Now an independent public policy and communications consultant, he has been senior vice president and partner at the headquarters of a leading international public relations firm (FleishmanHillard), director of community development and counsel to the mayor of St. Louis, and a partner at a major St. Louis-based regional law firm (now Husch Blackwell).He was for many years senior public affairs counselor to Civic Progress, team leader for crisis management for various national Fortune 500 corporations, and communications counsel for foundations and civic entities ranging from the Danforth Foundation to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Hamsher serves or has recently served on the boards of numerous St. Louis organizations, including the History Museum Subdistrict (chair), Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (executive committee), United Way, University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Council, New City School (past chair), Deaconess Foundation (past vice chair) and the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis. He has also been active in an advisory capacity to the Danforth Plant Sciences Center and FOCUS St. Louis. He and his wife were founding members of Bridges Across Racial Polarization, a national award winning program to develop relationships and common ground among various ethnic groups in St. Louis.