Jill Magruder, Corporate Impact & Sustainability Principal, The Cigna Group
Member since February 2025, Judge for 2024-25 Green Schools Quest
Description of your work in green building:
I lead sustainability reporting and strategy at The Cigna Group (we have a large presence in St. Louis since we acquired Express Scripts in 2019). As part of this work, I collaborate with our Global Workplace team to make our buildings greener so we can make progress toward our goals to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and source 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Recent Green Building recognition:
While not in St. Louis, we’re proud that our Bloomfield, Connecticut, headquarters achieved LEED Gold certification earlier this year.
Sustainability passion:
Generally, waste. Food waste, single-use plastics, the plastic tchotchkes my preschooler brings home from every birthday party, the swag at corporate events… It pains me when I see someone with a single-use plastic water bottle or even when I receive yet another “reusable” water bottle at an event or conference. Over-consumerism is a problem in our country, and I’d love to start chipping away at it.
Most meaningful experience with MGGBC:
I’m a fresh member (as of February 2025) but I truly enjoyed serving as a judge for the Green Schools Quest. It was incredibly impressive and inspiring reading 30 elementary school applications that focused on everything from worm farms, to recycling bin “monsters,” to instilling a sense of advocacy in preschoolers for clean water. I’m in awe of the teachers that dedicated their time toward these efforts, and it gave me a healthy dose of optimism for our future.
What will most impact the future of green building:
I wish my answer wasn’t this given the current political environment, but I think regulation plays a huge role. While education and awareness can and will help, we need both a carrot and stick approach to make movement in this space. Plus, reaching our younger generations with projects like Green Schools Quest, so initiatives like composting and native gardens become what’s expected as they grow up vs. nice-to-haves.
Favorite LEED (or sustainability) Project:
I recently went to my first STL City game (I know, I’m way behind!) and loved seeing all the environmental sustainability aspects of the stadium. As I was “geeking” out about the landfill-recycle-compost bins and no single-use plastic, my friends finally recognized, “Oh, this is what you do for work!”
Favorite place in the St. Louis region or Missouri Gateway GBC territory:
Ooh, what a tough one. I’m a transplant from the suburbs of Chicago and I love talking up St. Louis. I love all our parks – Forest Park, Tower Grove Park, Cliff Cave, Queeny, Creve Coeur Lake, Powder Valley. There are so many options to embrace nature here.