Chamber Citizen of the Year Announced

Since the tornado disaster hit Ward 1 of Sunset Hills especially hard, Alderman Dee Baebler was placed in a unique position to help. As she has volunteered so many hours in the past for countless charities, Baebler immediately stepped in without thinking twice.

In honor of her service to her community, the Board of Directors of the has named Baebler Citizen of the Year. Baebler has been a member of the Chamber for about a year and a half. 

In addition to the tornado efforts, Baebler has given her time and efforts to these organizations and more: Founding Partner of Because We Care; United Way Corporate Campaign Chair; “Building for Our Future” Brick Campaign at St. Justin’s; Social Committee President of Manors at Tapawingo; Auction Chair at Ursuline Academy; Whole Kids Outreach Auction Gala Chair; Friends of Kids with Cancer Fashion Show Assistant; Missouri S&T (Rolla) Auction Gala Co-Chair; and St. Jude Children’s Hospital “Field of Hope” Auction Committee.

Her community service includes being an Alderman in Ward 1 of Sunset Hills and serving on the city’s Business Development Committee, Police Advisory Board, Founder and Chair of GO Sunset Hills Sustainability Committee and TAF Committee. 

As if community efforts aren’t enough, Baebler and her husband Drew have raised five children— one married daughter, one son serving in the Peace Corps, two daughters in college and one daughter who is graduating from high school this year.  

Baebler volunteered at St. Justin the Martyr School and Parish when her children were young and served on the St. Justin School Board. Drew is the managing partner of Bauer & Baebler Law Firm in Soulard, where Baebler works as the business development manager. Her professional background includes physician recruiter for SourceOne; founder and president of CompuJobs.net, an internet based job placement company for IT professionals; technical contracts at Anheuser-Busch; regional administrator for InTeCon; office manager for Conner Business Systems; and marketing coordinator of HOK. She also is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Foundation Center. And, in April, she is launching a new website called Because We Care. The site will give more exposure to local charities and their events. 

“I just try to participate and go where the need is. A lot of that has been local lately,” Baebler said. “Really there’s just not enough time in the day to get everything done. There’s so many needs and so many causes that really touch my heart. I wish I could do it 24/7.”

In order to manage time during the day, Baebler looks at her next day’s schedule the night before. 

“I look at my notebook where I spend time the next day on my projects. There’s always an option, like a fundraiser, but I also like to have time to help people who are friends and neighbors,” she said. “When the kids were little I had a huge color coded chart in the laundry room according to each kid. People are going to think I’m such a dork. It’s not like a task—it’s what I really get a charge out of. I can’t really say that it’s work.”

To get the Citizen of the Year award is truly a humbling thing for Baebler. She said she hasn’t really sat down and let it sink in yet. But, along the way she’s made so many good friends and met so many neighbors.

“I’m just blown away. I feel very blessed I think this community is just so close and I think it’s just the spirit of the entire community,” she said. “People help each other—they take care of each other and it feels really good to be a part of this.” 

Even thought Baebler has accomplished a ton professionally, her No. 1 accomplishment is being a good mom. 

“If I have done a good job as a mom then I’ve accomplished everything,” she said. “If you are lucky enough to be able to reach out and bring other people in—I feel like this whole group of people are like family to me.” 

Even though the awards banquet is on March 20, Baebler will be honored at the April Chamber luncheon because she will be out of town. She laughed that she talks about always being available, yet this is one of the biggest days of her life and she’s out of town.

“I will accept this award in the names of all the volunteers and our charitable neighbors. I am surprised and honored by this recognition.  I really didn’t expect anything for doing my job and caring for my neighbors,” she said. “I was humbled by the survivors’ perseverance and the generosity and outpouring of love from surrounding neighbors. I would hope that I touched some hearts and helped some people.”