Most Influential Business Women 2005: Kathleen Killion - St. Louis Business Journal:

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The internal program, with an operating budget of $530,000, spend s $350,000 on health screenings for all BJC's external education program operates ona $1.6 milliob budget, and Killion expectw to grow the project to 150,000 teachers and children in the next year. "Health care is a challenginvg industry," Killion said. "Inspiring people to take care of themselvews isa challenge." Three years ago BJC launched the Health Hall of Fame, a program that honord 13 people who demonstrate a healthy lifestyle and are makinyg an impact. The program spotlightx each person during a September Cardinalsbasebalo game.
Killion said at times she felt as though she were swimming upstream while instituting the internal healthhliteracy program. BJC previously tried to implement asimilare program, but Killion said the timinf wasn't right. Although she admits the processa at times was frustratingand disheartening, she never consideredr giving up. "Giving up is not an option. It'as not in my fiber," she Killion worked tirelessly to gain communithy support for the effort from several heavy including , the , the and . Through a contract with Weight BJC employees have lost a totalof 5,60 0 pounds over the past 14 months.
44, joined BJC's corporate team seven years ago as a management Originally from theEast Coast, Killioj moved west to study physical therapy at and graduate in 1983 with a bachelofr of science degree. Outside the office, Killion logs a six-mile run each day, and in her free time she can be foun riding English saddle on herWarmblood horse, She recently authored and published her firstt children's book, "The Glass Two thousand copies of the 23-page, hardcover book were published in its firsgt run by Imagine That Enterpris Publisher, a small St. Louis-based publisher.
Killion was recently awarded a nationa deal withBarnes & Noble Booksellers and a local deal with Killion, who is involvexd in many areas of the community, has worked with the St. Louiss Sports Commission on sportsmanship programx forschool children. "When you look at all she does -- and does well -- you stansd back and all you can do isadmire it, because you can't keep up," said St. Louis Sports Commissionb PresidentFrank Viverito, who met Killion a year ago when she joinee the commission's board of directors. Viverito said Killion's children's book is a wonderful example of how multidimensionalshe is.
The storyy follows a young girl who has a glase heart in her search fortrue love. Killion focusesd on issues relevant tochildrejn -- bullies, self-esteem and love. In an effort to sharse the book's message with children, Killion is visiting area where she reads her book and then has the studentsx draw their hearts and name the feelings they The artwork is scheduled to be displayesd at the Saint Louis ScienceCentedr Feb. 11 through Feb. 15, just in time for Valentine'sa Day. After "The Glass Slipper" was published, Killion hosted a reception for the book with about 150 Viverito said.
"Within three days, I -- and I assumer everyone else -- received a handwritten thank you for makinf that a special nightfor her," he "Instead of from us to her. It'x the little things that really saya