Jefonte (Jay) Nelson

Jay Nelson (he/him/his) most recently served as the Boards and Commissions Liaison and Custodian of Records for St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, where he collaborated with the St. Louis County and Regional boards, commissions, and committees to develop information, recommendations, and appointments for consideration by county officials and ensured the requirements of local, state, and federal laws and policies regarding the advisory board, commissions, and committees where met. Jay oversaw the implementation of the County’s Boards and Commission Website, the County’s first public appointment tracker for Boards and Commissions, and the County’s first internal Boards and Commissions policies and procedures handbook. During Jay’s time in the County Executive’s Office, he successively oversaw the appointments and approvals of 300 appointees with 48% women participation and 44% minority participation. Jay began his career in public service in the Missouri State Senate for State Senator Jamilah Nasheed as the Director of Community Affairs, where he fought for legislation to expunge non-violent criminal records, sex trafficking awareness and served as the project manager to mitigate mice infestation in St. Louis Clinton Peabody Housing Project.

Jay was named 30 under 30 in 2018 by the Missouri Times and Top 100 List of Lifesavers in 2019 by the Missouri Times. Born in Akron, Ohio, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Jay recently graduated from the FOCUS St. Louis Emerging Leaders program. He spends his free time listening to Jay-Z and spending time with family and friends.