For Emerson, investing in community means helping create the conditions where more people and neighborhoods thrive
Emerson has been a cornerstone of the local business community for more than 130 years. The global technology and software company operates in more than 150 countries worldwide with its global headquarters based in the St. Louis region.
“We want to see thriving communities where we operate, including the home of our global headquarters, which requires evolving our support and approach to charitable giving and community engagement.”
As a leader in global automation, control and safety, and operations management solutions for industries such as power, oil, life sciences, and aerospace, the company is committed to leaving a positive impact on the communities it serves and has been a longstanding champion of the St. Louis region since its founding in 1890.
“We want to see thriving communities where we operate, including the home of our global headquarters, which requires evolving our support and approach to charitable giving and community engagement,” said Emerson Vice President of Human Resources Akberet Boykin Farr. In addition to her duties managing human resources, Boykin Farr also manages Emerson’s philanthropic efforts through the Emerson Charitable Trust.
A balance of strategic investments and employee engagement
In addition to Emerson’s giving throughout the U.S., in 2025, Boykin Farr oversaw $17.6 million in cash and in-kind donations to local causes and nonprofits in the St. Louis region, which includes ongoing support for tornado recovery efforts.
A significant focus of Emerson’s community investment now centers on education. In 2022, the corporation pledged $200 million over 10 years to advance educational equity in St. Louis and other communities throughout the U.S. This focus is a part of Emerson’s vision to create a more equitable workforce of the future by closing educational gaps that prevent all youth from achieving their full potential.
Emerson supports its focus on education with investments in nonprofits and causes that create thriving communities.
The company sees its impact as more than writing checks. Emerson employees also play a valuable role by donating their time and expertise. In addition to volunteering, Emerson employees serve as board members within local nonprofits and provide value in other capacities. “We want to be financially supportive, and we also want our leaders to be involved,” said Boykin Farr.
One of those leaders is Director of Global Operations at Emerson, Katie Noelke. A St. Louis native who spent her career at the Big Four accounting firms, with global stints in India and Argentina, Noelke joined Emerson in 2022 and serves on Beyond Housing’s board of directors and also helps lead the Women’s Leadership Network.
“Beyond Housing has tapped into all the elements that make up a community.”
Beyond Housing and the 24:1 Community
Emerson’s longstanding support for Beyond Housing reflects a shared belief that strong communities are built through many connected pieces—housing, education, health, thriving families, local business, and long-term stability.
Boykin Farr says that Beyond Housing’s comprehensive, holistic approach is a key differentiator that sets its work apart. “Beyond Housing has tapped into all the elements that make up a community,” said Boykin Farr. She notes that a community comprises many things, from its homes and schools to its retail, entertainment, and small businesses like the local donut shop.
Emerson’s relationship with Beyond Housing began decades ago through both organizations’ North St. Louis County roots and former Emerson executive, Bob Cox.
Cox first became involved with Beyond Housing through the company’s partnership with the Normandy Schools Collaborative. After retiring from Emerson in 2012, where he oversaw community relations and the Emerson Charitable Trust, Cox joined Beyond Housing’s board of directors and served three terms over nine years.
Speaking on the occasion of Beyond Housing’s 50th anniversary, Cox reflected on the transformation he witnessed firsthand throughout the 24:1 Community.
“You could see progress when you drive down Page Avenue through Pagedale. It’s very visible,” Cox said. “And when you hear the stories of Beyond Housing clients… they would come talk to the board about how the work positively impacted their lives. It was heartwarming.”
For Cox, Beyond Housing’s impact could be seen both in the revitalization of neighborhoods and in the lives of the families it served. During his time on the board, he witnessed the development of new housing, neighborhood amenities and economic development projects that helped strengthen the community while creating new opportunities for residents.
“This is a great organization,” Cox said. “A good strong plan and sticking to that plan, and seeing the results of success at the end.”
Jack Nicklaus and Normandie Reimagined
Today, Emerson continues to invest in projects that strengthen communities and create opportunities for future generations.
In 2025, the company became the lead donor of Normandie Reimagined, an ambitious effort to restore and revitalize the historic Normandie Golf Club into the new Normandie Golf Club at Emerson Park. Led by the Metropolitan Golf Foundation in partnership with Beyond Housing and other community stakeholders, the project includes a restored Jack Nicklaus-designed course while preserving a historic community asset and creating new opportunities for youth development, recreation, education, and regional economic growth.
The project reflects many of the same principles that have guided Emerson’s community investments for decades: preserving important community assets, expanding opportunity, and helping neighborhoods thrive.
Connecting the pieces
For Boykin Farr, that commitment ultimately comes back to creating the conditions that allow communities to succeed.
Strong communities, she says, are built through many interconnected pieces—quality schools, stable housing, local businesses, community gathering places, and opportunities for families to build better futures.
That is one reason Beyond Housing’s comprehensive approach continues to resonate. It recognizes that no single investment can transform a community on its own.
Instead, lasting progress happens when all those pieces begin working together.
And for Emerson, helping make that possible remains an investment worth making.
