Wendell Covington has been a leader and pioneer in youth development for over 26 years. He has positively impacted over 30,000 youth in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Additionally he has partnered with hundreds of non-profit and educational organizations locally, regionally, and nationally.

In 2022, Mr. Covington became Executive Director of the VP Community Impact Foundation. In this role he will lead the Community Impact Foundation to fully utilize the deep professional skill sets of VP St. Louis members to enrich the St. Louis community through service, entrepreneurial connection, medical advancement, board leadership, and student mentorship. The mission of the Foundation is to “make St Louis a better place to live for all.”

Prior to this role, Mr. Covington served as Regional Executive Director for NPower Missouri, part of a national tech training program headquartered in Brooklyn New York. Additionally, he served as President and CEO of the historic Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls club where he championed a scholar-athletic curriculum. In 2017, his leadership enabled Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ club to be named as “Neighborhood Builder of the Year” by Bank of America. This award was only given to 62 leaders nationally. He was also a community partner with MLS4daLou ownership group to bring Major League soccer to the city of St. Louis.

Prior to becoming President and CEO, Wendell Covington was a national leader for dual enrollment and dual credit movement with the Bill and Melinda Gates funded, National Gateway to College program. He served on the national leadership team, where he provided training and technical assistance to dual enrollment programs in Missouri, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Mississippi. He also served as an advisor to the national Gateway to College leadership team. Because of his efforts thousands of youth have had opportunities to attend colleges and universities.

Mr. Covington was also a pioneer of the Father Involvement initiative in early childhood education, youth workforce development, as well as scholar-athletics. He is respected for his innovative approach to executive leadership, strategic planning, and fundraising and development.

Mr. Covington has received a number of awards the following is a few to date:

• Most Distinguished in Leadership Award, Delux Magazine, 2018
• National Neighborhood Builder of the Year, St. Louis Market, Bank of America, 2017
• Inducted into the Power 100, Delux Magazine, 2016
• Community Service Award, NAACP-E.St. Louis Branch, 2016
• 20 Most Influential St. Louisans, Gazelle Magazine, 2016
• Lifetime Achievement Award, YWCA Headstart, 2016
• Kappa Alpha Psi Leadership Award, Belleville/O’fallon Alumni Chapter 2016