Mayor Cara Spencer of St. Louis has appointed new leaders to her team, naming Brian Light as director of personnel and Holly Roberts as director of communications. Light will oversee the city’s workforce operations, while Roberts will lead strategic communications.
Brian Light, a St. Louis native, has more than two decades of experience in public service in the Pacific Northwest. According to the City of St. Louis, his career includes senior human resources roles in Oregon, including human resources director for the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and interim human resources administrator for the Oregon Youth Authority. Light holds both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and maintains local ties through board membership at the Luke Center for Catalytic Leadership and coaching at Sprague Little League.
Regarding his appointment, Light stated that he is eager to return to St. Louis and contribute his experience to enhancing workplace culture and supporting city employees. His term as director of personnel will begin on January 12, 2026, following the interim service of John Unnerstall, who has held the position since March.
Holly Roberts will join Mayor Spencer’s office as director of communications on January 19, 2026, initially working remotely before relocating to St. Louis in early February 2026. She brings over 15 years of experience in public relations and communications, primarily as a federal consultant in Washington, D.C. Roberts holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in communication from the University of Kentucky. Her background also includes volunteer work with Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority and the Junior League of Washington.
“I am honored to be joining Mayor Spencer’s team in serving the City of St. Louis. St. Louis is a special city – full of culture, community and resilience, and I consider it a privilege to be part of a mission-focused team working to make St. Louis even stronger,” said Holly Roberts in a statement to Mayor Spencer's office and cited by the City of St. Louis. Mayor Spencer noted that Roberts’s experience aligns with the administration’s focus on "transparency and open communications" and will support these priorities within city government.
