Inspiring wellness throughout St. Louis
Welcome to GO! St. Louis, where our mission is to inspire and support individuals and families in the St. Louis region to lead healthy and active lifestyles. With a rich history of throwing St. Louis’ largest running events, promoting wellness through our youth programs, and building regional partnerships, we’re dedicated to making fitness in St. Louis accessible and enjoyable for all.
Our Mission
GO! St. Louis, a local non-profit organization, encourages individuals and families in the St. Louis region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year round. The organization accomplishes this through community collaborations, school based programming and the creation of new and fun fitness events.
Meet the Staff
Mona Vespa
PresidentMona Vespa is a nationally respected race director and nonprofit leader who has spent more than 25 years shaping the endurance sports landscape in St. Louis. As President of GO! St. Louis since 2016, she leads one of the Midwest’s most established race organizations, delivering safe, innovative, and community-centered events that engage tens of thousands of participants each year—many of whom experience the city in new ways through its neighborhoods, streets, and shared civic spaces.
Mona’s connection to GO! St. Louis spans more than two decades, beginning as the organization’s first intern while studying French Language and Literature at Washington University. Over the years, she has advanced through key leadership roles—including Youth Programs Director and Director of Operations—gaining expertise and building relationships in event production, volunteer management, and community engagement. Her breadth of experience provides her a uniquely lasting personal connection to the people and communities GO! serves.
Under her leadership, GO! St. Louis has become a cornerstone of the region’s fitness and civic life. Mona has partnered with Greater St. Louis to evolve our city’s marathon into of the Greater St. Louis Marathon, demonstrating a commitment to the growth and sustainability to St. Louis residents and businesses. Through programs like the Mature Mile, Students on the GO!, and Read, Right, and Run, Mona is driven by a commitment to expanding access to running and wellness, ensuring programs reach individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities across the St. Louis region. She is deeply inspired by the energy of St. Louis itself—its neighborhoods, its people, and the ways in which a race can connect individuals to one another and to the city they call home.
Known for her highly collaborative leadership style, Mona builds and sustains strong relationships across a wide network of partners, including city officials, public safety leaders, corporate sponsors, local run clubs, and community organizations. She also works closely with and champions the hundreds of volunteers who power GO! St. Louis events each year, creating a spirit of shared ownership and pride that is felt from start line to finish. These partnerships are at the heart of the organization’s ability to deliver welcoming, memorable race experiences that reflect the strength and unity of the St. Louis community.
Mona also leads a predominantly all-female professional team—an uncommon model in endurance sports—reflecting her commitment to representation, inclusion, and excellence in execution.
Outside of her professional work, Mona enjoys running in Forest Park and lives in University City with her husband and four children.
Kristin Werner
Vice President of OperationsKristin Werner, Vice President of Operations, has been at GO! St. Louis since 2017. She’s been a longtime supporter of the organization’s mission, volunteering and participating in events before officially joining the team. Responsible for participant operations, Kristin oversees registration, customer service, website updates, and vendor partnerships, helping ensure exceptional experiences for participants at every GO! St. Louis event.
Outside of work, Kristin enjoys hopping on her Peloton, getting lost in a good book, crocheting, and gardening. She especially cherishes opportunities to share GO! St. Louis experiences with her supportive father, who is also a dedicated GO! St. Louis volunteer.
Karen Lester
Operations CoordinatorKaren Lester, the Operations Coordinator lured out of retirement to join GO! St. Louis, brings her enthusiasm and a rich background in logistics from her career with the U.S. Postal Service. Karen’s focus is on the Marathon Weekend Expo and managing volunteer groups, ensuring organizational efficiency within the office. A lifelong runner, she relishes the competition in local 5Ks. Karen resides in South City with her three cats, Sammy, Sophie and Stella, embodying her dedication to both the running and local community.
Stephanie True
Youth Programs CoordinatorStephanie True serves as Youth Programs Manager for GO! St. Louis, bringing decades of experience in education from both public and private schools. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about helping young people learn, grow, and succeed—making her a natural fit for leading programs that inspire healthy, active lifestyles.
A dedicated runner and enthusiastic advocate for the St. Louis running community, Stephanie combines her love of education and fitness to create meaningful experiences for youth across the region. When she’s not working or running, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Jason Pippi
Social Media ManagerJason Pippi is a marketing strategist, content creator, and co-founder of Three Run Four, a St. Louis social running club. At GO! St. Louis, they help bring events to life online through social media, digital storytelling, and community engagement, connecting more people to the region’s running and walking opportunities.
With a background in sports, live events, and digital marketing, Jason is passionate about making the running community feel welcoming, accessible, and fun for participants of all experience levels. Their work focuses on sharing the stories, people, and moments that make the St. Louis running community special.
You can usually find Jason sharing local recommendations at @jaypippi, cheering runners on at an event, or searching for the next great slice of pizza in St. Louis.
Sarah Ranson
Community Relations ManagerSarah Ranson serves as Community Relations Manager for GO! St. Louis, where she helps build connections with participants, volunteers, partners, and the broader running community. Prior to joining GO! St. Louis, Sarah worked with the renowned Bloomsday Run in Spokane, Washington, and also served on the organization’s board of directors.
An avid runner, Sarah can often be found exploring roads, parks, and trails throughout the St. Louis region. When she’s not working or running, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick, and their two sons, Luke and Landon and their two dogs.
Susan Sauer
PresidentBeth McCarter
SecretaryBrent Stevens
TreasurerCarolyn Dolan
John Fischer
Charles Kaiser
Larry Lentin
Dan Miller
Patrick Moreton
Dan Rayhawk
Lindsay Straatmann
Zar Toolan
Brian Wade
Roo Yawitz
Work With Us
At GO! St. Louis, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our team—whether as staff, board members, volunteers, or partners. If you’re driven by making a positive change and love the idea of working alongside a dedicated team, we want to hear from you. Send us an email below.
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Support GO! St. Louis
Every donation empowers our non-profit to continue to Rally the Lou by inspiring healthy, active lifestyles in the St. Louis region through exciting events and community programs.
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