2024 Capital Region 500

THE MOST POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE CAPITAL REGION

THE MOST POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE CAPITAL REGION

Transforming Communities Together As One Team

A NEW ERA OF DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry thanks the Capital Region’s 500 most influential leaders for your dedication to our Community.

We are proud and grateful to call Baton Rouge home for 45 years. We look forward to seeing our great city continue to thrive under your leadership.

THOSE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

AT THE HEART of Baton Rouge Business Report’s mission is a simple yet profound principle: We connect people.

We do this through the compelling stories in our magazine and Daily Report, through our hallmark community events such as the Business Awards & Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Business Symposium, and through our dynamic educational initiatives including the Business Report Leadership Academy and the Selling Academy. Our creative content studio, Studio E, bridges clients with their markets through innovative solutions.

This year, we deepen those connections by presenting the second edition of the Capital Region 500, which profiles the most powerful and influential business and community leaders in our community. In short, these are folks among us who are making a difference. They span all sectors: banking, finance, real estate, energy, manufacturing, education, nonprofits and more, continuing to drive our community’s prosperity.

We celebrate both the prominent figures and the hidden gems whose efforts are indispensable. This edition also honors ‘living legends’—veterans who, while they may have stepped back from day-to-day operations, still greatly impact our region.

Compiling this edition was a yearlong journey of discovery. You’ll gain insights into both the professional achievements and the personal quirks of these influential figures. Discover, for instance, Stephen Hightower’s beverage of choice, Jerry del Rio’s surprising talent, and whose bucket list calls for a trip to outer space.

We are thrilled to offer this unique resource, which we believe will educate, inspire, and engage our readers—and, above all, connect them. This compilation not only reflects the rich tapestry of talent, wisdom, culture and innovation in the Capital Region but also encourages each one of us to contribute toward making it an even better place to live, work and play.

Discover our methodology and more in this comprehensive guide, starting on page 10.

The best is indeed yet to come.

Julio Melara, Publisher

ABOUT THE COVER

For this edition of the Capital Region 500, we highlight the innovation in our community from multiple sectors: energy, insurance, real estate development, nonprofits, finance, creative and law. Our cover models represent rising stars, legends and all the powerful and influential in between. Tapping into the incredible talent of photographer Collin Richie, we shot on location in a regular hangout for those who make an impact: Jubans’ famed parlor known as the Tigre Room. We are grateful to our cover subjects, from left: Rhoman Hardy, Kristin Wall, Raedtha Vasquez, John Engquist, Christian Engle, Kenny Nguyen and Whitney LaNasa. LSU women’s basketball coach and fellow Capital Region 500 notable Kim Mulkey joined us for the shoot as well—not in person, but, as always, in frame. A special thank you to the Jubans team for their generosity and gracious hospitality.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

Don Kadair, page 6

Jordan Hefler, pages 10, 49, 57

Tim Mueller, pages 19, 65, 85

iStock, pages 104, 131

COMPASSIONATE ORTHOPAEDIC CARE

HIP REPLACEMENT

KNEE REPLACEMENT

SPORTS MEDICINE

Dr. Greene is committed to serving patients with arthritis and sports injuries, helping them regain mobility and improve their quality of life.

SPECIALTIES:

• Anterior Hip Replacement

• Knee Replacement

• Knee Arthroscopy

• Meniscus Tears

• Rotator Cuff Repair

• Sports Medicine”

BEHIND THE SCENES

HOW EXACTLY DO you identify 500 powerful and influential people in a community?

It starts with a definition: What exactly makes one powerful or influential?

For the purposes of this annual compendium, we looked through the lens of those whose contributions keep our community and economy thriving, whether they be well known or under the radar. Those to whom others in business and the community look for leadership.

We then began a full year of research. We reconsidered those who appeared in our inaugural 2023 edition. We reviewed business and other data. We requested recommendations from community leaders. We scoured our own pages and those of other media. We considered those who have been honored over the years by Business Report or other well-regarded entities. We asked for nominations from our readers.

In our final list, we have included key influencers representing every sector — banking and finance, real estate, energy, manufacturing, industrial services, professional services, media and technology, health care, arts, sports, hospitality and tourism, education, government, and philanthropy/nonprofits. We also captured those ‘living legends’ who may no longer keep regular office hours but remain influential and continue to build on their legacy nonetheless.

Rising to the top job at a major company or organization alone wasn’t enough to make it on the list. We excluded current elected officials unless they were eligible based on a nonpolitical position they hold, and we did not include more than six people from any single entity. All of those represented in these pages are based in the nine parishes that comprise the Capital Region.

Final selections were based on merit alone. We included those who insisted they didn’t want to be on the list, and we omitted others who definitely wanted to be included. Advertising played no role in our selections.

We are grateful to those busy influencers who took the time to share personal insights about themselves. Here, readers will discover information not in the official website bios: lessons learned, best business advice, hobbies and passions, books and podcasts they recommend, who they’d really like to share a meal with and more.

Our goal was to create a publication that truly represents the executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders who wield the most influence in the Capital Region. We welcome your feedback on our methodology, selections or omissions. Please email us at [email protected].

Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Chief Content Officer & Executive Editor: Penny Font

Managing Editor: Allan Schilling

News Editor: Holly Duchmann

Staff Writers: Jordan Arceneaux, Dillon Lowe

Multimedia Editor: Oscar Tickle

Contributing writers: Sam Barnes, Kelli Bozeman, Cynthea Corfah, Emily Hebert, Maggie Heyn Richardson

Contributing photographers: Don Kadair, Tim Mueller, Collin Richie

ADVERTISING

Sales Director: Kelly Lewis

Account Executives: Emma Dubuc, Nancy Bombet Ellis, Meredith LaBorde, Ethan Shipp, Matt Wambles

Digital Operations Manager: Devyn MacDonald

Customer Success Manager: Paul Huval

STUDIO E

Director: Taylor Gast

Creative Director: Timothy Coles

Corporate Media Editor: Lisa Tramontana

Content Strategist: Emily Hebert

Project Manager: Kendall Denney

Account Executive: Judith LaDousa

MARKETING

Marketing & Events Coordinator: Taylor Andrus

Marketing & Events Assistant: Mallory Romanowski

ADMINISTRATION

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher

Business Associate: Kirsten Milano

Office Coordinator: Sara Hodge

Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

CREATIVE SERVICES

Director of Creative Services: Amy Vandiver

Art Director: Hoa Vu

Senior Graphic Designers: Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, Emily Witt

Digital Graphic Designer: Ellie Gray

Graphic Designer: Sidney Rosso

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience Development Director and Digital Manager: James Hume

Audience Development Coordinator: Ivana Oubre

Audience Development Associate: Catherine Albano

Customer Experience Coordinator: Kathy Thomas

A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC

Chairman: Julio Melara

Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto

Vice President-Sales: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert

Chief Content Officer: Penny Font

Chief Digital Officer: Erin Pou

Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone

Circulation/Reprints/Subscriptions/Customer Service 225-928-1700 • email: [email protected]

DRESSING THE LEADERS OF THE CAPITAL REGION FOR OVER 40 YEARS

CUSTOM-MADE SUITS, JACKETS, SHIRTS, SHOES & JEANS

Thomas Adamek 50

Darlene Adams Rowland 32

Andrew “Andy”Adler 50

Kurt Ainsworth 101

Benny Alford 44

Diane Allen 132

Emelie Alton 29

Carlos Alvarez 58

Renee Amar 40

Jennifer L. Anderson 116

Jason Andreasen 96

Addie Armato 47

Laurie Lipsey Aronson 40

Richard Ashworth 86

Alton Ashy 70

Verge Ausberry 101

John Austin 41

James. R. Austin 116

Barbara Auten 77

Ed Baker 98

William Balhoff 132

Brent Bankston 86

Bradley Barber 21

Aubrey Lee Barber III.............................. 21

Scott Bardwell 58

Tim Barfield 110

Coletta Barrett 86

Scott Barringer 21

Robert W. Barton 116

Bob Bayham 96

Trey Beall 126

James A. Beard 21

Adam Beary 33

George Bell 77

Ralph Bender 99

Taylor Bennett 122

Scott Berg 44

Shannon Bernard 50

Jim Bernhard 132

Charles Berryman 21

Wendi Berthelot 106

Lori Bertman 77

Skip Bertman 132

Michael Beychok 70

Cecil J. “C.J.” Blache 70

Brandon Black 116

Barret Blondeau 58

Barry Blumberg 115

S. Dennis Blunt 116

David Bondy 115

Remi Bonnecaze 33

Franz Borghardt 117

Matt Borman 101

Dan Borné................................................ 132

Eric Bosch 106

Benjamin J. Boudreaux 86

Greg Bowser 33

Jack Brabham 41

D-D Breaux 132

JanetBritton 126

Camille Manning Broome..................... 77

Tee Brown 58

Mike Bruce 112

Katherine (Dr.) Castle

John Paul Caswell

Ben Cavin

Steven Ceulemans

Neil Chappell

Curtis Chastain

James “Sonny” Chastain

Chenevert

Chumney

Sarah

Barry Erwin

Connie Fabre

Fabre

Art Favre

Brent Flavin

Shawn Folks 107

John Folse 133

Jonas Fontenot

Teri Fontenot 134

Bob Fudickar 36

Kelsey Kornick Funes 118

Brett Furr 119

Daniel Gardiner 106

Torrey Garrison 23

Tonya Toups Gautreau

Ginn

Gladney

Kevin Knobloch 52

George Knost 25

Jeff Koonce 52

George Kurz 60

Mathew Laborde 60

Edward Lagucki 81

Charles Lamar 134

Whitney Lanasa....................................... 52

Karl Landreneau 60

Brandon Landry....................................... 30

Charles Landry 61

Eric Lane 44

Jason Langlois 97

Ty Larkins 109

Ginger Laurent 52

Chip Lavigne 37

Sheri Lebas 113

Brent P. LeBlanc 46

Jerry Lebold 37

Matt Lee 66

Chip Lee 37

Tommy J. LeJeune 107

Chad LeMaire 127

Justin Lemoine 97

Leonard Lemoine 26

Devin Lemoine 113

Stan Levy 123

Garry Lewis 61

Bubba Lewis 109

Richard Lipsey 26

Gary Littlefield 52

Jared Llorens 66

C.C. Lockwood 136

Luke Lognion 46

Stephen Loy 81

Kismet M. Gray 80

Andrew Maas 66

Jennifer Maggio 81

Stephen P. Maher 109

Elizabeth (Liz) Mangham 75

Michael Manning...................................... 81

Jake Manship 100

Lon Marchand 31

Gino Marino 31

Yvette Marsh 67

Amanda Martin 67

Carolyn Martin 61

Pamela Roman Mascari 121

Charles Masters 127

Chip McAlpin 37

Frank McArthur 136

Scott McCallister 31

Anne McCanless 109

Rolfe McCollister 136

Sherri McConnell 97

William McGehee 31

Matt McKay 136

Gordon McKernan 121

Wally McMakin 52

Fred McManus 26

Larry Meese 91

Julio Melara 100

Christina Melton 81

Eplett Reilly 82

Sean Reilly 124

Kevin P. Reilly Jr. 137

Trula Remson 110

Claude Reynaud Jr. 121

Ragan “Patrick” Richard..................... 122

Myra Richardson 82

Gerard “Jerry” Rispone 28

Thad Rispone 28

Dave Roberts 28

Lakeisha Robichaux 114

Brian Rodriguez 124

Heather Roemer...................................... 55

Chas Roemer 38

Donna Saurage 137

Jill Savard 38

Philip Schauer 92

John Schempf 28

Todd Schexnayder 55

Joe Sciortino 101

Peter Sclafani 32

Loren Scott 38

Peggy Scott 137

Monique Scott Spaulding 110

Aaron Scruggs 99

Steven P. Sellars 92

Jonathan Shi 40

Dennis J. Shields 67

Shingleton 137

Shipp.............................................

Sikes

Silvey

B. Songy

Speyrer 114

100 Black Men of Metro BR 83

365 Labs 129

A.C. Lewis Management 109

Acadian Consulting Group 34

Advanced Office Systems 129

Advanced Strategies Inc. 70

Advantous Consulting/ LABI lobbyist 71

Advocate 101

All Star Automotive Group 136

Alliance Safety Council 40

Altus Financial 52

Alvarez Construction 58

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area 77

Amedysis 86

Ann Connelly Fine Art 96

Anne McCanless Designs 109

Aptim Corp. 112

Arkel Group 23, 25

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co...................... 115

Arts Council Greater Baton Rouge 97

Associated Builders and Contractors - Pelican Chapter 24

Associated Grocers 133

Association of Electric Cooperatives 47

Assurance Financial 59

b1BANK 54, 55, 77

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 116

Bank of St. Francisville 51

BankPlus 50

Barber Brothers Contracting Co. 21

Bardwell Homes 58

BASF 33, 37

Baton Rouge Alliance for Students 66

Baton Rouge Area Chamber 78

Baton Rouge Area Foundation 133

Baton Rouge Area Foundation 78, 80, 82

Baton Rouge Art Gallery 96

Baton Rouge Arts Council 99

Baton Rouge Business Report, Louisiana Business Inc. 136

Baton Rouge Clinic 93

Baton Rouge Community College 68

Baton Rouge Film Commission 98

Baton Rouge Food Bank........................ 81

Baton Rouge General 87, 90, 93

Baton Rouge Health District 86

Baton Rouge Metro Airport 73

Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic 90

Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic 86

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra 96, 97

Baton Rouge Water Company 47

Baton Rouge Youth Coaltion 83

Bear Process Safety 33

Beard Construction Group 21

Benefits Solutions Company 136

Bengal Transportation Services 41

Benny’s Car Wash 44

Bernhard Capital Partners 26, 51, 52, 132

Block Companies 25

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana 83, 93

Blue

JM Test Systems Inc. 38

John Folse & Co. 133

Jones Walker 116, 122

Juban’s 32

Kadair Construction 25

Kean Miller 117, 118, 119, 121, 122

Keller Williams 59

Kevin Harris Architect 109

Kimble Properties 60

Kleinpeter Dairy 44

Knock Knock Children’s Museum 81

KPMG 134

Kurz and Hebert Commercial Real Estate 59, 60

L’Auberge Casino & Hotel 99

L&B Holdings 43

Lagivne Oil Company 37

Lamar Advertising 124

Lamar Advertising Company 123, 124, 137

Landmark Bank 50

Lane Regional Medical Center 91

LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors 106

Lard Oil Co. 38

Lee Michaels 44

LEMOINE 26

Level Homes 62

of a Single Mom 81 Lipsey’s 40, 134 Loadstar 41 Loren C. Scott & Associates 38

Louisiana Academy of Production 97

Louisiana Bankers Association 52

Louisiana Chemical Association 33

Louisiana Community & Technical College System 68

Louisiana Economic Development 36

Louisiana Entertainment & Digital Media 98

Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association 34

Louisiana Motor Transport Association 40

Louisiana Network 100

Louisiana State Senate 71

Louisiana Technology Park 81

Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp. 116

Pennington Family Foundation 82

Performance Contractors 23, 24, 133

Perry, Mengis, Balholf and Burns 121

Peterbilt of Louisiana 41

Petroleum Services Corp. 134

Phelps Dunbar 62, 116, 118, 119, 122

Pipe & Steel Industrial........................... 29

Port of Greater Baton Rouge 41

Powell Group 137

Premier Geotech and Testing 37

Premier Health Urgent Care [OLOL] 92

Preston Castille Law Firm................... 117

Price LeBlanc LLC 46

Primerica 50

ProSource Wholesale Flooring 44

Public Affairs Research Council 76

Rachel Cannon Limited Interiors 107

Rainwater Consulting 76

Raising Canes 30

Ralph’s Market 47

Rapid Impact Erosion Control 22

Red Consulting / Black Chamber of Commerce....... 82

Red River Bank 55

Red Six Media 123

Red Stick Spice Co. 31

Remson Haley Architects 110

Residential subdivisions 59

Rev Broadband 126

Ritter Maher Architects 109

River Parishes Community College 70

Roedel Parsons 70

Roofing Solutions 23

Rotolo’s........................................................ 31

Rotolo’s Craft & Crust 32

Sasso Agency 123

Savard Labor & Marine Inc. 38

Sequitor

Pangburn

Patient

Pennington

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LEADING INDUSTRIES

AUBREY “LEE” BARBER III PRESIDENT BARBER BROTHERS CONTRACTING

Relying on a lifetime’s worth of industry knowledge and experience, Lee Barber continues to build the internal and external relationships necessary for consistent longterm growth and success at Barber Brothers Contracting.  The company specializes in highway and heavy construction. A handson president, Barber splits his time between ensuring the lessons learned in the past are carried forward to the next generation and monitoring quality and efficiency of active projects in the field. Barber grew up working in the family business. After graduating from LSU, Barber quickly earned the opportunity to supervise increasingly important projects and divisions. Over the years, he has worked with some of the most talented people in the construction industry and applies his experience in his role as a leader and mentor.

EDUCATION: LSU

JAMES “JIM” BEARD PRESIDENT BEARD CONSTRUCTION GROUP

As president of Beard Construction Group, Jim Beard has helped transform the company from a small-town contractor into a sizable company employing some 500 people annually. Success stories often emerge from humble beginnings, and BCG is no exception. Along the way, Beard has firmly established BCG as a regional contender. Nestled in the Gulf South, the company’s expertise spans all phases of construction, including earthwork, mass excavation, site preparation, concrete foundations, driven piles, landfill construction, impoundment closures, and other civil-related projects across the region, spanning westward through Texas, eastward to the Florida coast, and northward to the Carolinas.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Louisiana Tech University

BRADLEY BARBER CEO AND DIRECTOR

H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES

Under Brad Barber’s leadership, this publicly held company has been on a steady, strategic growth march through nationwide acquisitions. At press time, H&E Equipment Services had 145 locations in 30 states. For decades, Barber rapidly progressed through the management ranks. He served as director of rental operations for both H&E LLC and Head & Engquist from 1998 to 2003, and then vice president of rental operations from 2003 to 2005 before transitioning into the executive vice president and general manager role in 2005. In 2008, he became executive vice president and COO of the company, a role he held for four years before becoming COO and president of the company, then later CEO, president and director until January 2021, when he took on his current role.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Barber is involved with the group When You are Ready BR, which seeks to serve those who are drug addicted and educate others about the risks of drugs.

CHARLES BERRYMAN

CHAIR

LSU BERT S. TURNER DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Charles Berryman oversees a program at LSU that over the decades has turned out many of the Capital Region’s biggest names in construction. He is chair of the construction education trust fund professorship, an endowed chair position. In 2023, LSU’s online master’s program in construction management ranked among the nation’se top 50, according to U.S. News & World Report. Berryman’s research has focused on developing pedagogical models to train displaced workers for the “green” jobs market, creating a decision support system within a digital virtual environment for residential developers and/or designers wanting to implement sustainable, green technologies into their projects and investigating sustainable materials for highway construction.

RECOGNITION: Not long after arriving at LSU in 2012, Berryman won a Leading Transformation Award for his work with LSU Digital and Continuing Education.

SCOTT BARRINGER

PRESIDENT AND CEO PALA GROUP

For 16 years, Scott Barringer has been a guiding force at Pala Group in both good times and bad. He was appointed as president and CEO in August 2008 when the founders sold the industrial construction company to its employees through an employee stock ownership plan. The following years would be characterized by steep downturns in revenue. Pala’s rocky start was a necessary step in its corporate journey, as Barringer led the company through a process of diversification. In 2012, Pala created the Smart Safety Group, an industrial safety solutions company. Then, in 2017, it acquired U.S. Fusion & Specialty Construction, providing specialty installation and welding of plastic pipe and liners. In 2021, it launched Elite Helical Solutions to expand into the helical piles market. More recently, Pala acquired Arcco Power Systems.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in industrial technology – management, Southeastern Louisiana University

RICHARD CARMOUCHE

FOUNDER

CARMOUCHE CONSTRUCTION

For more than 30 years, Richard Carmouche, founder of Carmouche Construction, has cultivated a unique vision of natural living with attention to detail in constructing a variety of high-end houses and exclusive developments in Baton Rouge. His developments are instantly recognizable— Woodgate Crossing, The Province at Moss, Jefferson Highlands, Lakeshore Gardens, LaSalle Parc, Jefferson Place 5th Filing, and Oaks on the Bluff, among others. Staying true to his traditional values, Carmouche has kept his company family owned and operated, while drawing upon the talents of his wife, real estate agent Cathy Carmouche, and their two children, project manager Michael Carmouche and real estate agent Catherine Carmouche. Carmouche is also a leader in the community as a past board member of the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and a member of the Capital Region Builders Association.

EDUCATION: LSU

STEVE CARVILLE

PRESIDENT AND PART OWNER

MILTON J. WOMACK INC.

Milton Womack has been a part of some of the Capital Region’s most iconic projects, including the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, the LSU Foundation Office Building and more. Steve Carville has been a guiding force at the company since 1982. He currently oversees projects that include hospitality, retail, residential, health care and commercial and residential land development. Carville has a passion for community involvement, and is a board member or participant in Red Cross Louisiana Capital Area, Alzheimer’s Association, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University board of trustees, Regions Bank advisory board, Associated General Contractors, St. Joseph Seminary College advisory council, St. Joseph’s Academy, CYO of Baton Rouge and Support Corporation advisory committee.

EDUCATION: LSU

STEVEN DAVIS

OWNER AND CEO

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT

Steven Davis has served in the construction field for more than 16 years, specializing in new construction, renovations and maintenance. A graduate of the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business, Davis founded his innovative and cutting-edge company in 2010, offering clients a single vendor solution using state-of-the-art technology and a heightened level of workmanship. His leadership and intensely strong work ethic motivates the FMM team to exceed client expectations.

FIRST JOB: I was a Hancock Bank teller at the age of 18. As a teller, I took personal and business deposits and the computer would show the account balance. It was the first time that I saw real wealth. I was amazed—and wanted to get there myself.

EDUCATION: LSU, business administration

PATRICK COOGAN

OWNER

RAPID IMPACT

EROSION CONTROL

Patrick Coogan has founded and/or been part of several successful Baton Rougebased companies over the years, with entrepreneurship, creativity and growth being the cornerstones of all of them. He founded Rapid Impact Erosion Control in 2022 to offer erosion control in a more efficient, faster and cost-effective manner. Prior to founding the company, Coogan was president of Champion Wealth Strategies for nine years, and president and CEO of Sports BR Inc. for two years.

FUN FACT: Coogan was a pitcher on the LSU baseball team and went on to play professionally in the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 1997 until 2002.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, business administration and management, LSU

RONNIE DAIGLE

PRESIDENT AND CO-CEO

R. J. DAIGLE & SONS/ DAIGLE INDUSTRIEs

Ronnie Daigle has worked for R.J. Daigle and Sons his entire life. He and his brother, Vance Daigle, retained ownership of the family business after their father, R.J. Daigle, retired in 2004. In the decades that followed, they have consistently grown the company’s scope of business. Although the core of the business has remained the same, Daigle spearheaded the implementation of innovative technology in the concrete industry, such as a cold asphalt patch product that is rapidly becoming an industry standard. As a 20-year resident of Ascension Parish, Daigle believes in giving back to his community, and works on numerous boards to help shape the direction of area industry and business.

A WORK AND FAMILY PHILOSOPHY: Daigle’s passion has always been for his family and for his clients. He believes that success comes from working diligenty, communicating clearly and acting consistently.

MELISSA DEGENERES

OWNER-OPERATOR

GULF COAST GRAVEL/ CRAWFORD AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES

“When I was studying for the New York bar exam, I worked in women’s cosmetics at Bloomingdale’s in New York. I helped give a makeover to Cher and to Joan Collins.”

BRIAN HAYMON, FOUNDER AND CEO LOADSTAR

Melissa deGeneres has more than 38 years of leadership experience and is the owner and operator of Gulf Coast Gravel and Crawford Aggregate Industries. In addition, she is an active volunteer with 40 years of service involving nearly 20 community organizations. She currently serves as president of the Capital Area Transit System board, is a past president of the Junior League of Baton Rouge and is a financial supporter of the Emerge Center.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in general studies PAST LIFE: She is a retired certified public accountant

TUPAC DE LA CRUZ

FOUNDER AND CEO ROOFING SOLUTIONS

Tupac de la Cruz was just 16 when he made the trip from Costa Rica to the U.S. to pursue a college education. He graduated from LSU in 2003, then founded Roofing Solutions at the age of 21 with virtually no family history in roofing or construction. Today, Roofing Solutions is one of the fastest growing and largest roofing contractors in the U.S. with annual revenues exceeding $90 million. The Baton Rouge-based company has offices scattered across the South. Since 2015, he has served as one of the youngest members of the board of directors for the National Roofing Contractors Association, where he has advocated for industry diversity and educational opportunities for minorities. He is perhaps most proud of his efforts to translate the National Roofing Contractors Association’s technical and educational content into Spanish.

HOBBY OR INTEREST: “Skydiving provides me with a thrilling escape and a chance to push my boundaries in a controlled environment.”

SHANE DOSS

PRESIDENT OPTIMAL FIELD SERVICES

As president of Optimal Field Services, Shane Doss helps clear the way for his company’s mechanical and catalyst teams to do what they do best: get quality turnaround work done safely and quickly. Doss came to Optimal with a wealth of knowledge and industrial field experience under his belt, having worked for companies such as Dow Chemical, Nooter Construction, Jacobs, and Turner Industries. He began working as a pipefitter helper, and over 30 years moved up the ranks to supervisory roles such as project and operations manager, site turnaround manager and vice president.

FUN FACT: Before working in the industrial field, Doss served four years in the Air Force.

HOBBIES: Spending time with my family outdoors, golfing, hunting, fishing and cheering on the LSU Tigers.

ANDY DUPUY

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BROWN & ROOT

Andy Dupuy has been a guiding force at Brown & Root, overseeing its transformation from a startup in 2015 into a multidisciplined industrial services company employing some 9,000 people. Dupuy has more than 40 years of experience in industrial management, having previously served as president of Shaw Power, executive vice president of the Shaw Infrastructure/E&I division and in numerous other positions prior to the sale of The Shaw Group to Chicago Bridge & Iron in 2013. At CB&I, Dupuy was senior vice president for the plant services division and president of Fossil Power for the power division from 2013 to 2015.

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: Dupuy is a past president of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pelican and Louisiana chapters. He currently serves on the board of trustees for the National Center for Construction Education and Research and on the executive committee of the Louisiana State Board for Contractors.

DEREK FIFE PRESIDENT ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS

Derek Fife graduated in 2000 from LSU with a construction management degree and began working at LandSource Inc., a land surveying company. A series of opportunities led him to Arkel Constructors, run by his father, Johnny Fife. In 2009, Fife assumed the role of vice president at Arkel, and under his guidance the company expanded into new areas with ACI Industrial Services and ACI Facility Support. Today, he is responsible for Arkel Constructors’ daily operations, overseeing all major aspects of the company including preconstruction, construction, project development and accounting. He has been personally involved with several highprofile construction projects in Baton Rouge, including Woman’s Hospital, several All Star Automotive upgrades, and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, LSU

JOHN FIFE

FOUNDER AND CHAIR

ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Johnny Fife has been in the industrial and commercial construction business for more than 30 years. He is the owner of The Arkel Constructors group of companies, comprising Arkel Constructors, a Baton Rouge-based construction company; ACI Facilities Management, a commercial building maintenance company; and Derashnie Enterprises, an intermodal trucking operation. Fife is also involved in several civic and charity organizations, primarily in the support of medical and cancer research, and is a Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport commissioner.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Simple Man,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, LSU

TORREY GARRISON

VICE PRESIDENT OF EHS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTORS

Torrey Garrison takes a rather unorthodox approach to preserving the safety culture at Performance Contractors, a Gulf South industrial construction firm that ranks among the nation’s top five in work hours. He helped institute an app- and web-based employee assistance program, or EAP, that addresses an employee’s overall well-being, whereby workers can anonymously access topics ranging from time and financial management to more serious topics such as coping with split families and crisis intervention. To further reinforce safety, Performance operates “hands-on evaluation centers’’ in Lake Charles, Houston, Mobile and Baton Rouge, where new hires literally operate the equipment before they go into the field.

FUN FACT: Garrison is an Air Force Reserve chaplain and Coast Guard civilian chaplain.

EDUCATION: Master’s degrees in theology/ theological studies and divinity, Liberty University

TODD GRIGSBY

CEO AND PRESIDENT CAJUN INDUSTRIES

Todd Grigsby assumed the role of CEO and president of Cajun Industries in 2015. Founder Lane Grigsby, his father, is now Cajun’s chair emeritus. Cajun Industries recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is one of south Louisiana’s leading industrial contractors, specializing in heavy civil, mechanical and deep foundation construction. Today, the company is a nationally recognized contractor providing fully integrated self-performed engineering, procurement and construction services to some of the world’s largest companies.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction, LSU; master’s degree in business administration, Tulane University

CARLOS GUIDRY

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION

TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP LLC

Carlos Guidry has been a mainstay at Turner Industries since 1992, and over the years has taken on roles of increasing responsibility. From 1992 to 2014, his roles have included planner, scheduler, cost engineer, projects controls manager, superintendent and project manager. In 2014, he was appointed vice president of construction and module fabrication. In that position, Guidry has overseen significant expansions in Turner’s modularization efforts. At 100 acres, Turner’s New Iberia yard, which began operating in 2021, is ideally positioned to service the offshore market.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, LSU; master’s degree in business administration, LSU

GLEN GULINO

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ISC CONSTRUCTORS

Glen Gulino has been a guiding force at ISC for years, overseeing the company’s rapid evolution to a team of more than 3,000 associates. For more than 30 years, ISC has provided electrical, instrumentation and controls solutions to world-leading manufacturers, with offices in Baton Rouge, Beaumont and Houston. Gulino has a close and longstanding relationship with the LSU College of Engineering. In fact, ISC has been recognized among the LSU 100, a distinction reserved for the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by graduates of the school. ISC also earned a position on the Roaring 10 list, which recognizes the top 10 companies based on financial performance..

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, LSU

DAVID HELVESTON

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ABC – PELICAN CHAPTER

David Helveston is president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pelican Chapter, a diverse, nonprofit trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals from across Louisiana. Founded in 1980, ABC Pelican helps members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, profitably and for the betterment of the communities in which they work. It is one of 68 ABC chapters. Prior to joining ABC, David worked as chief external affairs officer for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, as well as vice president for workforce, career and technical education. Before that, he was director of the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council and director of policy and strategic initiatives for the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in finance and Juris Doctor, LSU

JEFFERY BOND JAMES

PRINCIPAL

JB JAMES CONSTRUCTION

Jeffery James gained early experience working for his family business, T. L. James Construction in Ruston—one of the premier roadway contractors in Louisiana—and successfully worked his way up to an ownership role. Today, James is a principal with JB James Construction, a full-service heavy highway and bridge contractor based in Baton Rouge. JB James has satellite offices in Shreveport, Lake Charles, Lafayette and Covington. James is currently on the board of directors for Louisiana Good Roads. He is also active in St. Aloysius Church and participates in various charity activities for the church as well as St. Joseph’s Academy. James also participates as a Silver Donor in the annual Soaring to New Heights benefit for the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Foundation, and as a board member for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction technology, LSU

LEE JENKINS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTORS

Lee Jenkins is a 34-year veteran of the industrial construction business. Since Jenkins joined Performance Contractors in 1994, the company has grown to a $1.5 billion enterprise with more than 8,000 employees offering construction, maintenance and turnaround services for clients across the U.S. Performance Contractors was founded in 1979, achieving early success with petrochemical industry projects along the Mississippi River corridor between New Orleans and its Baton Rouge headquarters. By 2021, ongoing work with one of the nation’s largest power companies justified setting up Performance offices in its northernmost markets to date: Charlotte, North Carolina, and Evansville, Indiana. Other Performance offices are in Lake Charles, Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas.

EDUCATION: LSU

THOMAS KADAIR

OWNER/LEAD CONTRACTOR

KADAIR CONSTRUCTION

Thomas Kadair began his career as a superintendent with one of Louisiana’s largest and most recognizable homebuilders and was eventually tapped to lead all new construction projects in large-scale developments in East Baton Rouge Parish. During this time, he oversaw the construction of more than 100 new homes—giving him a unique perspective and valuable experience with complex new construction, renovation and commercial projects. Kadair has many years of experience in the management of large- and smallscale projects. He oversees an experienced network of project managers, tradespeople, subcontractors and vendors.

NICHE: Kadair Construction builds aesthetic, functional spaces that meet the unique needs of its clients.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME

“A captain doesn’t learn to be a captain in calm seas.”

THAD RISPONE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ISC CONSTRUCTORS

LAWSON KING PRESIDENT VOLKS CONSTRUCTORS

Lawson King took over as president of Volks Constructors in the footsteps of his father, who founded the company in 1980. Volks is a diversified heavy industrial contractor providing manufacturing, field services and industrial specialties to petrochemical and related industries. In an age of increasing specialization, Volks is a true “one-stop shop” that continues to excel through its strategic locations, commitment to safety, insistence on quality and record of on-time delivery. Over the years, the Volks family has endured many challenges, but through proper management and dedicated personnel Volks has emerged a stronger company.

FUN FACT: The name “Volks” is German for “folks.”

SHANE KIRKPATRICK

PRESIDENT

GROUP INDUSTRIES

After serving in the Army, Shane Kirkpatrick joined the Group Industries team in 1998 as a laborer while still in college. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibility, including project superintendent, project manager and operations manager before officially being promoted to president. A dynamic leader who knows the inner workings of the organization, Kirkpatrick oversees all facets of company operations, including estimating, purchasing, project management, safety, sales and marketing, workforce and business development, job purchasing, project management, safety and sales. Group Industries is one of the largest industrial contractors in Louisiana, with more than 1,600 completed projects.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Kirkpatrick raised more than $24,000 for the American Cancer Society by participating in the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, LSU

JASON KELLER MANAGING PARTNER

BLOCK COMPANIES

As an award-winning construction industry veteran, Jason Keller has valuable experience in every facet of multifamily, affordable housing and commercial construction. Keller has worked in construction since he was 15. He began his career upon graduating from college, estimating projects ranging from $50,000 to $100 million. Along the way, he has held numerous construction roles, including superintendent, project manager, safety director and vice president. Block clients benefit from Keller’s attentiveness, tenacity and desire to get the job right. He feels he has a unique opportunity to build affordable housing and sees it as a means for economic empowerment and community revitalization.

CAUSE OR CHARITY I”M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Tunnels to Towers Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Toys for Tots SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: Flying, to get to all places

GEORGE KNOST III

CO-OWNER

ARKEL INTERNATIONAL/ ADVANCED MODULAR POWER SYSTEMS

Under George Knost’s leadership, infrastructure and technical services company Arkel International has experienced unparalleled growth as it performs work for organizations, governments and militaries in the world’s most austere and remote locations. The company has more than 60 years of experience working overseas building plants and providing construction and power generation as well as logistical and life support. Knost also owns Advanced Modular Power Systems, which operates hundreds of “gen-sets” for BP, ExxonMobil and others.

EDUCATION: LSU

LEONARD LEMOINE

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LEMOINE

Leonard “Lenny” Lemoine has served as both an executive and principal at various construction management and contracting companies over the last 30 years. Lemoine has varied hands-on experience in both the private and public sectors of commercial, industrial and health care construction. At Lemoine, he is invested in employee success stories—from onboarding to technical training and soft skills. He feels a company’s success depends upon its ability to hire the best and create an environment and culture where employees can develop as individuals. Lemoine is a portfolio company of Bernhard Capital Partners, an infrastructure and services-focused private equity management firm, which invested in Lemoine in 2019 and partnered with management to drive growth and identify additional, complementary acquisition opportunities.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, LSU

FRED MCMANUS CEO

BROWN AND ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

Fred McManus is chief operating officer of Brown & Root, a role he has held since the company was formed in 2015. As COO, he is responsible for the operations of all Brown & Root business organizations—engineering, construction, maintenance, turnarounds, and soft crafts and. McManus has developed a track record of growth over the years. Under his leadership, Shaw’s Industrial Maintenance Services group grew from a startup with $10 million in revenue with two locations to a $600 million business in 70 locations before Shaw was sold to Chicago Bridge & Iron in 2013. He also served as senior vice president of CB&I’s Plant Services Industrial Maintenance and Engineering Services company from 2013 to 2015, responsible for operations across the U.S., North and South America, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: He is active in the Big Buddy Program and Rebulding Together

GUY OLIVER

OWNER

GW OLIVER CONSTRUCTION

From the ground up, Guy Oliver has built GW Oliver Construction into a growing practice for mid-range homes and swimming pools. When launching his company some 20 years ago, Oliver conducted business as if the economy were booming, and began an intensive marketing effort that made his brand instantly recognizable. GW Oliver Construction designs and builds pools and outdoor living spaces across the South. It also services businesses, property management companies, major hotel chains and condominium owners.

ROBERT OLIVIER

OWNER AND CEO

SIGMA ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS

Robert Olivier has quickly risen through the ranks at Sigma Engineers & Constructors. After being hired in 2006 to manage a job at Marathon Petroleum, he took an office job running pipe stress processes and managing projects. Eventually, he took on positions of increasing responsibility, first as manager of the piping department, then manager of the mechanical department, COO, CEO, president and owner. Sigma Engineers and Constructors was conceived by employees envisioning a fresh approach to the engineering marketplace. Through the years, the company has become a destination workplace for both employees and clients.

JOHN MORAN CEO

MORAN CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS

All across the country, John Moran has provided construction consulting services on facilities ranging from education to industrial. In his top role with the firm, he is focused on team and business development and strategic direction. Moran has worked in the construction field since high school when he spent summers as a laborer for a local commercial contractor gaining experience in carpentry, steel erection, metal building construction, and brick masonry. Following graduation from LSU, he gleaned his expertise as a project manager on college football stadium expansions, high-rise office buildings and health care facilities and more. His community involvement centers on programs for individuals with special needs and underserved youth. He also sits on the advisory council for I AM, a nonprofit focused on empowering children.

HOBBIES: Time at the family farm, hunting and fishing with friends, visiting family in Montana. And, of course, supporting LSU sports.

JEFF PLAUCHE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, OPERATING PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jeff Plauche is a newly appointed operating partner at Bernhard Capital Partners and is involved in all areas of the firm’s investment activities. Plauche brings 25 years of heavy construction experience to Bernhard Capital, spending the last 23 years with one of the largest civil infrastructure firms in the Southeast—Boh Bros. Construction—as a senior vice president. He is versed in managing civil infrastructure and industrial and marine project teams, as well as general corporate management, organizational structure, and leadership development. Plauche has served on numerous boards including most recently the Louisiana Tech Construction Industry advisory board.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

The Chapel on Campus at LSU.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Sports, music and fine spirits

FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Christmas. I have fantastic childhood memories and I’m making new ones as a husband and father, and taking that time each year to be humbled in my faith, grateful for life and to share love with everyone that I love.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction engineering, Louisiana Tech University; master’s in business administration, LSU

MIKE POLITO CEO MAPP

In 1991, Mike Polito stepped out on his own to launch MAPP Construction, and subsequently grew the company from a vision to the third-largest commercial general contractor in Louisiana. Actively involved in numerous community and professional organizations, Polito has served on the Associated Builders and Contractors board as well as executive committees and held the office of vice president. He is also a past chair and executive committee member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, past chair of several Capital Area United Way efforts and is a founding member and board member of the LSU Construction Industry Advisory Council. He has been active in the Young Presidents Organization since 1996 and serves on the Woman’s Hospital board of directors.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, LSU

DAVE ROBERTS

CEO

EXCEL GROUP

Dave Roberts was born in Paducah, a small city in the southwest corner of Kentucky where the Tennessee and Ohio rivers converge. His father was a contractor, and moved the family to Destrehan for work when Roberts was 13. After Roberts graduated from Destrehan High School, his family moved to Baton Rouge, where he worked with his father for a few years, attended trade school and began the grind of industrial work. He worked at several firms, including MMR Group, and gradually rose through the ranks from superintendent to construction manager to vice president. When he had an idea for a company but no money, he found an investor and three partners to launch Excel Group. Today, Excel offers a wide range of services, from pipe manufacturing and engineering to industrial construction and maintenance.

PHILANTHROPY: Roberts leads Excel’s philanthropic culture and charitable endeavors.

GERARD “JERRY” RISPONE CO-FOUNDER, OWNER AND CEO ISC CONSTRUCTORS

Just a few short years after graduating from LSU, Gerard “Jerry” Rispone embarked on a business opportunity at the age of 27 to become a co-founder of ISC with two partners, one of whom was his brother, Eddie. Over the following decades, Rispone has worked to foster consistency of character in the ISC team as the company has grown to more than 4,000 associates. Strategically located throughout the Gulf South, ISC has built a strong partnership with global industrial manufacturing leaders by successfully performing work on projects of all sizes. Along the way, ISC has earned more than 35 Associated Builders and Contractors National Project of the Year awards, 14 ABC National Safety Excellence awards and 11 Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Workforce Development Safety Excellence awards.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, LSU

JAMES “PEPPER” RUTLAND

PRESIDENT/FOUNDER/CEO

MMR GROUP

James “Pepper” Rutland’s passions for engineering, the electrical and instrumentation business, sports, and giving back to his community have all been instrumental in his life. His journey began at LSU, where he played outside linebacker and served as defensive team captain on a football scholarship. Off the field, Rutland earned a degree in construction technology and engineering. In 1991, he founded MMR Group and, under his leadership, the company grew from 25 to 5,500 employees to become one of the largest merit shop electrical and instrumentation companies in the U.S. He is a founding member of the Miracle League at Cypress Mounds, an organization that teaches children with disabilities to play baseball.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Rutland provides mentorship and internship opportunities for students and has funded several laboratories in the LSU College of Engineering.

THAD RISPONE

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ISC

CONSTRUCTORS

Thad Rispone, who serves as executive vice president of his family’s business, was hired by ISC Constructors in 1990 while attending college, mostly working summers as a craft helper and during school semesters in the estimating department to better understand the business. Since graduating from LSU with a degree in construction management, he has served in various capacities such as project controls, estimating, business development and operations. Today, Rispone is executive vice president of ISC, one of the country’s largest contractors in the industrial manufacturing sector, specializing in engineering, construction and maintenance. ISC has earned national recognition for innovative safety, quality and workforce development programs.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The woods and beach BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Pina Colada QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “A captain doesn’t learn to be a captain in calm seas.”

JOHN SCHEMPF

PRESIDENT THE NEWTRON GROUP

In his three decades at Newtron, John Schempf has held several positions, including general manager of Triad in Baton Rouge and president of NGI National Constructors, the subsidiary that handles the company’s national construction projects. The Newtron Group is one of the largest privately owned specialty electrical construction companies in the U.S. and is among the nation’s leading industrial electrical and instrumentation providers. It also offers a suite of innovative and customized analytical, automation, heat trace, integration and design solutions for a wide range of industries, with offices across the Southeast and West Coast.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, LSU

BILLY SMITH

PRESIDENT

AND CEO

SMITH TANK & STEEL

Billy Smith and his brother, Sam Smith Jr., come from a family of industrial tank builders. Billy Smith was a supervisor by the time he was 19 and eventually led his own tank division. In 1997, he and his brother created Smith Tank & Steel, a diversified company serving the chemical and oil industries, upstream, midstream and downstream, supported by its own in-house fabrication shop. The company is a nationwide contractor specializing in the construction and repair of API storage tanks, with offices in Gonzales, Livingston and Houston. The shop fabricates tanks, appurtenances and ASME vessels.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Smith was Instrumental in the establishment of The Life House, a nonprofit transitional housing facility in St. James Parish that offers a new way of life for men seeking to overcome addiction, homelessness or recent incarceration.

KYLIE SPARKS

PRESIDENT

PIPE & STEEL INDUSTRIAL

Kylie Sparks founded Pipe & Steel Industrial in 2000 as a Louisiana-based, Native American-owned firm. The company services the petrochemical, agricultural, fertilizer, and oil and gas industries with pipe and structural fabrication, civil construction and general field construction. The company recently announced plans to invest $4.3 million in an expansion of its manufacturing facilities in Livingston Parish. The project is designed to enhance job safety, create efficiencies and lower costs to clients. The company expects to create 32 new direct jobs, while retaining 57 existing positions.

EDUCATION: General Studies, Southeastern Louisiana University

CRAIG STEVENS

PRESIDENT GENESIS 360

Since Craig Stevens founded Genesis 360 in 2011, his company has evolved into a multifaceted powerhouse. Today, Genesis 360 encompasses multiple divisions— construction, grounds maintenance, building maintenance, and, more recently, IT services. Genesis 360’s growth has been organic, with each new division added in response to customers’ needs. When he created the IT division in 2022, Stevens secured contracts with some of the largest electrical service and health care insurance providers in the country, with the division earning some $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 alone.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in information technology SERVICE TO COUNTRY: Stevens is a former Air Force officer.

STEPHEN TOUPS

PRESIDENT

TURNER

INDUSTRIES

During his 27 years with Turner Industries, Stephen Toups has been a guiding force in the U.S. industrial market. He has served as chair of the National Center for Construction Education and Research, and as a member of the executive committee for the American Fuels and Petrochemical Manufacturers. The LSU graduate was recently recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors as the Construction Leader of the Year and named one of the Top 10 Breakout Technology Leaders in the nation by the Global CIO Summit. Turner Industries recently earned the top spot on the LSU Roaring 20 list, which recognizes the 20 highest-revenuegenerating LSU graduate-owned or graduateled businesses from all those that apply to be included among the LSU 100 each year. The LSU 100 recognizes the fastest-growing LSU graduate-owned or graduate-led businesses.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in finance, LSU; master’s degree in business administration, LSU

EMELIE ALTON CEO

BYRONZ RESTAURANT FAMILY

“You get what you give,” is one of Emelie Alton’s favorite pieces of wisdom, and it shows. The native Louisianan helped expand her family’s homegrown restaurant brand from its humble origins as a Mid City sandwich shop to one of the city’s most popular full-service casual eateries. Two locations of Bistro Byronz and a newer concept, Pizza Byronz, garner repeat business with something-for-everyone menus and French café vibes. Alton has served on the boards of numerous community organizations and gives back to many others through fundraising nights at her restaurants. Alton was also involved in a large pandemic relief project that helped restaurants stay afloat by serving frontline workers.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Anything with avocado, preferably at Bistro or Pizza Byronz. MOST UNUSUAL OR MEMORABLE JOB: I made and sold jewelry out of rubber puzzle pieces as a teenager. I even went to market and sold my product.

JAY DUCOTE

PRESIDENT JDD CONSULTING

Culinary entrepreneur Jay Ducote is best known for his numerous appearances on national television programs, including finishing runner-up on Season 11 of the competition reality show Food Network Star in 2015 and winning an episode of Food Network’s Superchef Grudge Match in 2013. He has also appeared on Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, Masterchef and others. Ducote started his career as a food blogger, later moving into radio. Author of the 2020 LSU Press book Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking, he has cooked at the historic James Beard House in New York twice. Ducote opened the restaurant concept Gov’t Taco and created his own line of barbecue sauces and seasonings before selling those interests to focus on culinary and travel marketing, his current pursuit. He also sits on the board of the Louisiana Travel Association.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) from Forgetting Sarah Marshall

PAUL FERACHI OWNER

CAPITOL CITY PRODUCE

Munch on something green, and there’s a good chance it was transported by Capitol City Produce. The family-owned company was founded in 1947 and distributes a wide variety of local and specialty produce—and many other non-produce items—across Louisiana and the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. Owner Paul Ferachi, grandson of founder Vincent Charles Ferachi, has led the company since 1995 and has guided it through significant expansion and modernization. Capital City Produce doubled in capacity after a $12 million investment in 2016, the same year it earned a Level 3 safety certification and “excellent” rating from the prestigious Safe Quality Food Program.

MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF WISDOM RECEIVED: The best advice that was ever given to me was actually not verbal. It was displayed in the character traits of my grandfather and father. That trait is work ethic.

OZZIE FERNANDEZ

FOUNDER AND CEO GO EAT CONCEPTS

Whether they’re looking for something quick or full service, local diners have probably experienced a Go Eat concept. The restaurant group founded by entrepreneur Ozzie Fernandez comprises 13 locations of Izzo’s Illegal Burrito, 14 locations of LIT Pizza, the modern Mexican eatery Modesto and wood-fired pizzeria Rocca. Fernandez opened the first Izzo’s in 2001, tapping into the national enthusiasm for build-it-yourself ordering. The same holds true for his QSR pizza concept, LIT. Those two brands have spread significantly throughout south Louisiana from Lafayette to the Northshore. Meanwhile, Modesto and Rocca have given Fernandez a chance to flex his creative muscle. The two restaurants are known for craft cocktails and gourmet-forward menus.

FUN FACT: Rocca cooks its pizzas at 800 degrees Fahrenheit in a stone and ceramic oven specially ordered from Italy.

STEPHEN HIGHTOWER

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CITY GROUP HOSPITALITY

From artisan barbecue to global seafood, and from a cycling-centric diner to a stylish wine bar, City Group Hospitality’s innovative restaurant concepts have helped propel Baton Rouge’s evolving restaurant scene. Stephen Hightower is City Group’s public face, maneuvering between brands almost daily to ensure they meet the enterprise’s aggressive expectations. Along with guiding operations at City Pork, Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine, Rouj Creole, Spoke & Hub, Proverbial Wine Bar, City Slice and the company’s catering and food services divisions, Hightower is also a steadfast champion of the local restaurant industry. He earned the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation’s 2021 Drago Cvitanovich Award for Outstanding Philanthropy by an Entrepreneur after leading relief efforts to help local restaurants, health care workers and schoolchildren during the pandemic.

QUIRKY TALENT: Imitating a zoo monkey

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Red Bull

NICK HUFFT OWNER

HUFFT MARCHAND HOSPITALITY

Many remember Nick Hufft’s earliest restaurant iteration, a food truck by the name of Curbside that was known for hamburgers made with freshly ground beef and its handcut fries. Hufft launched the enterprise with a $5,000 loan from his grandfather, who told the young entrepreneur, “If this is the dream you have, you can do it. You will fall. Pick yourself up. It will work out in the long run.” It did. Today, Hufft and business partner Lon Marchand operate Hufft Marchand Hospitality, whose holdings include Overpass Merchant, Gail’s Fine Ice Cream, Junior’s on Harrison in New Orleans and the lively, brick-and-mortar version of Curbside Burgers, which replaced the food truck several years ago. The restaurant group also has its own artisan pasta line.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: I’d like to rent a pirate ship and sail around the Caribbean with my family and friends and a 55-gallon barrel of dark rum.

TODD GRAVES

FOUNDER, OWNER AND CEO

RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS

Modeled after the straightforward simplicity of California-born In-N-Out Burger, the homegrown chicken finger chain Raising Cane’s just keeps growing with more than 780 restaurants in 39 states and five countries. The billion-dollar company will see the opening of 100 additional locations by the end of 2024. Todd Graves opened the first Raising Cane’s in 1996, financed partly by funds earned working as a California boilermaker and a salmon fisher in Alaska. The first location, on State Street near the LSU campus, remains. The restaurants are known for giving to community causes focused on four areas: education, hunger, active lifestyles and pet welfare. Its managing partner program is known for training and generous salaries, part of an effort to retain quality managers over the long term.

FUN FACT: In 2023, Raising Cane’s served enough of its wildly popular Cane’s Sauce to fill nearly nine Olympic swimming pools.

BRANDON LANDRY

FOUNDER

WALK-ON’S SPORTS BISTREAUX

What started as a sports bar in 2003 has grown to a 100-location concept that differentiates itself with high-quality food. Brandon Landry and Jack Warner were two walk-on members of the LSU Tigers men’s basketball team in the late ‘90s when they jotted down an idea on the back of a napkin for creating a sports bar. Their idea was to create a concept with both Cajun and Creole fare and a robust bar program. It took a few years to work out the kinks, but the brand soon ascended, later attracting investors from professional sports, including Drew Brees. The number of Walk-On’s has more than doubled since 2020. Landry also founded the quick-service burger spot Smalls Sliders, which now has 12 locations with 28 more in the works.

FUN FACT: Landry and Warner created a business plan in an LSU course taught by entrepreneurship professor Robert Justis, who gave them a C for their work. It only motivated them to keep going, Landry has said.

LON MARCHAND

OWNER

HUFFT MARCHAND HOSPITALITY

Baton Rougean Lon Marchand is part of the team that opened Overpass Merchant, Curbside Burgers and Gail’s Fine Ice Cream, along with Junior’s on Harrison in New Orleans—four concepts that fuse casual fun with unexpected ingredients. For instance, Overpass Merchant and Junior’s both serve scratch-made pasta from another Hufft Marchand venture, Il Supremo, a pasta company serving several Gulf Coast restaurants, while Gail’s serves artisan ice cream made by a pastry chef. Along with operating restaurants and spending time with his family, Marchand prioritizes an annual goal of hiking 100 trail miles a year.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Turkey po-boy “Jay’s Way,” Curly Qs and a Dr. Pepper at Jay’s Bar-B-Q

MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF WISDOM RECEIVED: The planets only align for short moments. String those moments up and make a necklace of them.

GINO MARINO

OWNER

GINO’S RESTAURANT

Approaching 60 years in the business, Gino’s Restaurant is a beloved Baton Rouge brand that has remained popular despite a changing market. High-profile business leaders, college football coaches, gastronomes and others gravitate to the family-owned restaurant, run for decades by Gino Marino. The restaurant was started by Marino’s mother, Grace “Mama” Marino in 1966. Today, Gino Marino and his team still execute her oldschool Italian menu, awash in pasta, roast lamb, veal, seafood and steak. Marino has been a longtime board member of the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society, an organization that raises money for childhood nutrition and culinary education. The Marino family was inducted into the Louisiana Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 2014.

FUN FACT: When it first opened, Gino’s was located on Perkins Road in the now-razed cinder block building later occupied by the Thai restaurant Rama. Gino’s moved to Bennington Drive in 1975 and has been there ever since.

WILLIAM MCGEHEE

OWNER

TIN ROOF BREWING CO.

Baton Rouge’s craft beer scene has grown considerably over the last decade, but it began with Tin Roof, the brainchild of Mississippi natives and LSU alums William McGehee and Charles Caldwell. The two saw opportunity in the Capital City, a college town that hadn’t yet seen investment in the craft beer movement. They incubated their idea at LSU’s Louisiana Business and Technology Center. Tin Roof’s Wyoming Street brewery and taproom opened in 2010, and canning began the following year. It has grown to include four main brands, Blonde Ale, Voodoo American Pale Ale, Paloma Gose and Roadhouse West Coast IPA, as well as seasonal and other limited releases. The taproom hosts regular events and is one of numerous businesses that have emerged on Nicholson Drive between LSU and downtown.

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ANNE MILNECK

OWNER AND CHEF

RED STICK SPICE CO.

SCOTT MCCALLISTER

WEST REGION VICE PRESIDENT

COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY UNITED

Leading 2,600 associates in 12 sales centers, Coca-Cola West Region Vice President Scott McCallister is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of CocaCola products in Louisiana and southern Mississippi. McCallister joined Coca-Cola in 1995, working first as a sales associate in his hometown of Shreveport before working his way into management and then senior leadership. He has served on numerous boards including the Louisiana Restaurant Association, United Way and Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge and Acadiana. McCallister is a Junior Achievement volunteer and teaches the nonprofit’s entrepreneurship curriculum at local elementary schools several times a year.

MOST UNUSUAL OR MEMORABLE JOB: My college roommate and I heard about a one-week job to earn $2,000 with Terminix. Once we arrived, we realized we had to work nonstop to excavate under a house through a 12-inch gap.

Since Anne Milneck bought Red Stick Spice Co. in 2012, she has transformed the brand from a small retail outlet to a multifunctional space with a gourmet products store, teaching kitchen and curated tea shop. Practiced culinarians frequent the Mid City storefront for trendy, global ingredients, but so do home cooks eager for simple solutions to the weeknight rut. The disarming Milneck is both a classically trained chef and master marketer, spreading culinary know-how through regular community events and her podcast, “Smidgen.” The store has hosted more than 600 culinary classes on both niche and practical topics. Its on-site SoGo Tea Bar has introduced to Baton Rouge a wide range of specialty beverages prepared with highquality loose teas.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Chess. Not checkers.

MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF WISDOM RECEIVED: Every woman should have a blow torch.

BRAD MIRE

PRESIDENT/CO-OWNER

ROTOLO’S PIZZA/ SOUTHFIN SOUTHERN POKE

As president of Rotolo’s Pizza, Brad Mire has helped expand one of south Louisiana’s most recognizable pizza brands. Working with company founder Mitchell Rotolo Sr., who launched the concept in 1996, Mire has been instrumental in establishing systems that have propelled the company’s steady growth. Rotolo’s along with craft concept Rotolo’s Craft & Crust have more than 30 locations across six states. Mire is also a co-owner in Baton Rouge’s first poke concept, Southfin Southern Poke, which opened in 2015. His restaurants have raised more than $12,000 for the veteran support organization Honor Flight. Mire has also been involved with the Bella Bowman Foundation, Bike MS and Heritage Ranch.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Sushi from Umami

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Keystone, Colorado. We opened a Rotolo’s Craft & Crust there two years ago, and it’s the most beautiful area year-round.

CHRIS MOTTO

EXECUTIVE CHEF

JUBANS

Call him the executive chef of one of Baton Rouge’s most iconic restaurants, a survivor of Season 18 of the reality show, Hell’s Kitchen, or, as he likes to say, a certified culinary badass, but there’s little doubt that Chris Motto has earned his stripes as a dining sector leader. Motto has served as executive chef of two of the city’s quintessential finedining establishments, including several years at Mansurs on the Boulevard, and, most recently, at the rebranded Jubans. When the popular restaurant reopened in 2022 after a multimillion-dollar overhaul, Motto was tapped to lead the kitchen, creating a Creole menu that balances tradition with trends. A popular bar and restaurant, the 400-seat establishment is one of the area’s best-known spots for special and corporate events.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “A Country Boy Can Survive,” by Hank Williams, Jr. BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Gin and tonic

MITCHELL ROTOLO JR.

ROTOLO’S CRAFT & CRUST

Awarded Pizza Today magazine’s 2019 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Mitchell Rotolo Jr. grew up in the pizza business. His father, Mitchell Rotolo Sr., launched Rotolo’s in 1996, a Baton Rouge-based chain with more than 30 stores in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Colorado. The younger Rotolo was the brains behind the chain’s upmarket concept, Rotolo’s Craft & Crust, which launched in 2016 and features different styles of pizza, splashy interiors and a large bar program. Rotolo traveled extensively to learn as much about pizza from worldwide experts when working on Craft & Crust, gaining lots of hands-on knowledge along the way. He once won two gold medals at Pizza Expo’s World Pizza Games, including one for “Fastest Dough.”

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “My Life,” by Billy Joel

QUIRKY OR UNUSUAL TALENT: Driving fast cars

DARLENE ROWLAND

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BREADA

As leader of Big River Economic & Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA), Darlene Rowland works to fulfill the organization’s mission of creating a strong local food system. BREADA’s best known program is the Red Stick Farmers Market, Louisiana’s second-longest running modern greenmarket. During peak months, it hosts around 60 growers and producers at four market locations and has been a game changer in helping Louisiana family farms stay viable. Rowland, the recipient of the John W. Barton Sr. Excellence in Nonprofit Management Rising Star Award in 2021, also oversees the Main Street Market, the permanent market space in downtown. The facility is currently undergoing a renovation and will soon host local vendors that support BREADA’s mission.

CAUSE OR CHARITY I”M PASSIONATE ABOUT: BREADA. I buy from local farmers for most of my meals.

QUIRKY OR UNUSUAL TALENT: Playing the oboe

MATT SAURAGE CHAIR COMMUNITY COFFEE

Community Coffee Chair Matt Saurage is the fourth generation in his family to lead the company started by his great-grandfather, “Cap” Saurage, in 1919. It is the largest family-owned retail coffee brand in the U.S. A Louisiana Tech University graduate who earned an MBA from Vanderbilt University, Saurage worked his way through Community Coffee’s ranks, officially starting in 1995 as a manufacturing engineer in a roasting facility and becoming president and CEO in 2005 and chair in 2012. Saurage is a founding member of World Coffee Research, an organization that provides funding for scientific research to address the impact of climate change on worldwide coffee farming.

PET PROJECT: While running one of the country’s largest coffee brands, Saurage made time to create City Roots Coffee Bar, the boutique coffee shop and roaster in Mid City’s Electric Depot.

PETER SCLAFANI

FOUNDER AND CEO

MAKING RAVING FANS

HOSPITALITY GROUP

In 2019, Peter Sclafani left a 20-year stint as executive chef and co-owner of Ruffino’s restaurant to create a restaurant group that is now among the region’s most influential. Making Raving Fans Hospitality operates two locations of Portobello’s, P-Beau’s in Denham Springs and SoLou, a trendy concept that opened in 2021. The company recently announced it will open a second location of SoLou, in Lafayette’s River Ranch development in spring 2024, the first of many planned expansions for the concept between Houston and Jacksonville, Florida. Sclafani is also a co-owner of Phil’s Oyster Bar and consulted on the rebranding of Jubans, which reopened in 2022. He was named Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: The Sclafani Salad is served at all of Sclafani’s restaurants, and hails from his family’s restaurant in New Orleans.

JIM URDIALES

OWNER

MESTIZO LOUISIANA

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

A third-generation restaurant owner, Jim Urdiales is a longtime leader in the Baton Rouge restaurant industry, having served on the boards of the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society and the Baton Rouge chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. His Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Restaurant celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Early in the restaurant’s history, Urdiales cultivated a brand that combines bedrock Mexican staples with classic Louisiana ingredients such as crawfish and sweet potatoes. Vegetarian and healthy dishes are also a priority. Although he had not always planned on owning a restaurant, the business came naturally. Urdiales grew up working at his parents’ restaurant, the nowclosed popular Airline Highway spot Carlos’.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Mestizo’s camarones. The dish features spinach and feta enchiladas topped with mole verde sauce, grilled shrimp and portobello mushrooms.

JOHN VALLUZZO PRESIDENT VALLUZZO COMPANIES

The Valluzzo name has been interchangeable with McDonald’s franchises since John Valluzzo’s grandfather, Doc Valluzzo, opened Baton Rouge’s first McDonald’s in 1964. John Valluzzo and his sons, Nicholas and Michael, opened Valluzzo Companies in 2010, an enterprise that operates 78 McDonald’s restaurants across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The company lives by a principle of “good food, good people and good neighbors,” demonstrated through employee empowerment, community service and giving back. Valluzzo has served on the boards of Catholic High School, the Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business Advisory Council, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge and Acadiana.

MOTTO: Every day is a chance to be better than yesterday.

PATRICK VALLUZZO

PRESIDENT & CEO

CITY GROUP HOSPITALITY

With seven unique restaurant/bar concepts, a catering division and a food service company serving secondary schools, City Group Hospitality is a major player in the Baton Rouge dining scene. President and CEO Patrick Valluzzo formed the hospitality group with then-City Pork restaurant operator Stephen Hightower after Valluzzo and his father and brother sold more than two dozen McDonald’s franchises. Valluzzo wanted to impact full-service dining in Baton Rouge, which he and Hightower have done with popular concepts that feature creative spins on Southern staples. Valluzzo brought large-scale systems thinking to City Group, helping it add several new concepts. Even during the pandemic, the restaurant group was in growth mode, adding Beausoleil, Spoke & Hub and the Brakes Bar to its stable of concepts. City Group employs some 400 workers.

MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF WISDOM RECEIVED: Dale Wimbrow’s motivational poem, “Guy in the Glass.”

REMI BONNECAZE

CEO

UNITED WELD HOLDINGS

Remi Bonnecaze has decades of Fortune 500 experience in the pipe and steel fabrication industry. As CEO, he oversees United Weld Holdings’ family of companies, including BendTec Fabrication & Bending and Epic Piping. BendTec is a union steel fabrication and induction business specializing in the fabrication of piping assemblies and the production of pipe bends for pipelines and steam electric power generating plants. Epic is one of the largest privately owned pipe fabrication and distribution firms in the world, leveraging master distribution lines of business to drive a vertically integrated supply chain and serve large-scale, global capital projects.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, LSU; Advanced management studies, INSEAD

GREG BOWSER

PRESIDENT & CEO

LOUISIANA CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION

Greg Bowser is president of the Louisiana Chemical Association, representing the interests of 66 chemical manufacturing companies throughout Louisiana. He is also president of the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance, a partnership of Louisiana’s chemical plants along with their suppliers, contractors and vendors. When Bowser was named president of the LCA in 2016, he became the first African American in Louisiana to lead a major statewide business trade association. Bowser has also served on the boards of Baton Rouge General Health System, YMCA, Fidelity Bank, Capital Area United Way and the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation. He currently serves on the board of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

SIDE GIG: A former LSU football player, Bowser served as an analyst for Cox Sports Television broadcasting LSU football games for more than 10 years.

ADAM BEARY

CEO AND PRESIDENT

BEAR PROCESS SAFETY

After spending several years watching some in industry treat process safety as a footnote, Adam Beary decided to create his own Louisiana-based process safety consultancy. Bear Process Safety specializes in risk mitigation for partners in the chemical, petrochemical and renewable energy space. Under Beary’s leadership, the company has grown tenfold and expanded support throughout the world. BPS received the 2022 Diversity Star Award and was named the 2024 Forum 225 Corporate Partner of the Year. Beary is an executive board member for Kid’s Orchestra in Baton Rouge, and member of EO Global and the BRAC Investor/Core Council. He is also a member of Leadership Baton Rouge Alumni (Class of 2023).

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Delpit’s Chicken Shack

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Jackson Hole, Wyoming FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Jeffrey Lebowski

CHRISTEN CAMPBELL

SITE DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY & VERBUND DIRECTOR BASF

Christen Campbell is quickly rising through the ranks at BASF, having come on board in 2012 as the Southeast Hub Process Safety Management/Risk Management program specialist and then joining the leadership team at Geismar in 2018 to become Southeast Procurement Hub manager. In that role, she was responsible for 20-plus sites from Louisiana to South Carolina. Today, she is BASF’s director of energy and sustainable technologies for North America. Her achievements have not gone unnoticed—she has been honored with a national award for emerging young leaders in manufacturing from the Manufacturing Institute, named one of Louisiana’s top emerging leaders by 10/12 Industry Report, and is a graduate and mentor of the Female Leaders Advancing Manufacturing Excellence Program at BASF. MOST VALUABLE LESSON FROM A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE: Fact and logic get you only so far. Faith and hope carry you the distance.

STEPHANIE CARGILE

U.S. SOUTHEAST REGION GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

ADVISER EXXONMOBIL

Stephanie Cargile is the familiar local face of ExxonMobil. Currently the U.S. Southeast Region government affairs adviser, she previously served as the Baton Rouge public affairs manager for 13 years, where she led governmental relations, media relations, community relations, charitable giving, communications, and issue management. She has also managed ExxonMobil’s Americas Regional Response Team for Public Affairs. In her new role, she will lead statewide government relations, policy and advocacy efforts for Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Cargile currently serves on the board of directors for the Public Affairs Research Council, the Foundation for East Baton Rouge Schools and New Schools for Baton Rouge.

UNUSUAL HOBBY OR INTEREST: Archaeology MOST VALUABLE LESSON FROM A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE: Perseverance, prayer, perspective and patience can get you through most anything.

BRAD DUTRUCH

PRESIDENT COMPLIANCE

ENVIROSYSTEMS

Brad Dutruch is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Compliance EnviroSystems. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the table regarding all aspects of sewer and stormwater evaluation techniques including closed-circuit television inspection, high-pressure cleaning, dye testing, smoke testing, manhole inspections, night flow isolations and mini-camera inspections. Dutruch has provided overall logistics and coordination of field efforts for many sanitary sewer evaluation surveys throughout the Southeast. He has served as president of the National Association of Sewer Service Companies and is a certified trainer for NASSCO’s pipeline assessment and certification program.

RESPONSIBILITIES: As an officer of CES, Dutruch assists clients in the front-end development of projects, technical assistance and management of all aspects of sewer evaluation.

ERICK COMEAUX DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND GROWTH

ORBIA FLUOR & ENERGY MATERIALS

Erick Comeaux is helping lead the charge in bringing the lithium-ion battery industry to the U.S. As Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials’ director of operations and growth, Comeaux served as principal investigator for the company during the preparation and approval of its U.S. Department of Energy grant. Prior to joining the company, he spent more than 20 years in the specialty chemicals, polymer and NGL businesses, gaining experience in the polymers, polymer additives, agricultural chemicals, chlor-alkali, olefins, refrigerant and pipeline industries. Comeaux is also president of the Baton Rouge chapter of Legatus, an international organization of Catholic business owners and executives who have committed to study, live and spread the Catholic faith. He is a licensed project management professional with 30 years of experience.

CAUSE OR CHARITY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Childbased charities and coaching youth sports DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Paris

DAVID DISMUKES

CONSULTING ECONOMIST/ MANAGING PARTNER

ACADIAN CONSULTING GROUP

David Dismukes is an expert in the analysis of economic, statistical and public policy issues in energy and regulated industries. He has worked in academia, consulting and public service over the past 34 years. Dismukes’ regulatory experience includes serving as a staff economist and forecaster/statistical analyst for the Florida Public Service Commission. He has participated in more than 350 regulatory proceedings in 27 states and has prepared expert witness testimony, reports and affidavits in more than 130 proceedings and testified before both houses of Congress. In addition to his position as a consultant and partner at ACG, Dismukes serves as a professor emeritus at the Center for Energy Studies at LSU. Prior to his recent retirement, he served as a full professor, executive director and director of policy analysis at the center.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: You’re on the right track. Don’t worry about it.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Bourbon

CONNIE FABRÉ

PRESIDENT AND CEO GBRIA

By the time she was 12, Connie Fabré had already seen much of the world. Her family lived in such far-flung places as Hong Kong, Belgium, Germany and India as her father pursued his career as an ExxonMobil engineer. Fabré earned a chemical engineering degree, and later an MBA, at LSU. In her professional career, she has worked for a variety of industry-focused companies such as Monsanto, B.F. Goodrich, Exxon Chemicals and the Louisiana Chemical Association. It has been 20 years since she took the helm at the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance, and during her tenure she has guided the organization in bringing about meaningful, impactful change, while growing the group’s revenues by more than 500%.

LAST BOOK THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ME: Life Force, by Tony Robbins PROUDEST MOMENT: When I drove a motorcycle by myself.

TOMMY FAUCHEUX

PRESIDENT LMOGA

Tommy Faucheux has extensive experience managing state government affairs and policy matters. He previously worked as director of state government affairs for Dow Chemical, where he was responsible for government affairs for Dow’s Southeast region and provided strategic public affairs support to Dow Louisiana facilities. Faucheux is past chair of the board of directors of GNO Inc. Additionally, he has served on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, on the board of the Public Affairs Research Council, and held positions on the American Chemistry Council’s state affairs committee and St. Charles Parish Economic Development Council.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in communications/ public relations, Loyola University

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” —Ronald Reagan

INSTRUMENT INSTALLATION & TECHNICAL SERVICES

ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION | POWER DISTRIBUTION

ENHANCED PANEL & MODULAR CONTROL BUILDING SERVICES

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & SECURITY SYSTEMS | MISSION

CRITICAL CONSTRUCTION | COMMISSIONING & START-UP

MAINTENANCE SERVICES | POWER DEVELOPMENT

POWER ENGINEERING & DESIGN | PIPE FABRICATION

CHRIS FERRARA

PRESIDENT AND CEO US FIRE PUMP

Chris Ferrara is a fixture in the firefighting industry. The longtime Baton Rouge volunteer firefighter who once worked as a welder and pipefitter made a name for himself as founder of Ferrara Fire Apparatus in Holden, which manufactures custom-built, heavy-duty fire apparatus, including pumpers, ladders and tankers. In 2017, he sold the company to REV Group, opting instead to focus on US Fire Pump, a Livingston Parish business he started in 2014. The company builds pumps and rental pumps, and invests in firefighting technology for industrial settings as well new foam and foam supply equipment. It also boasts one of the largest industrial firefighting teams in the world.

WORLD RECORD: US Fire Pump’s Inundator Super Pumper holds the Guinness record for the highest pumping capacity fire engine, with a rating of 5,500 gallons per minute from draft and over 10,000 GPM from a pressurized water source. The pump also has a horizontal reach of over 500 feet and a vertical reach of over 400 feet.

BRENT FLAVIN

CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO BOOMNATION

Brent Flavin has a passion for solving the inefficiencies associated with hiring workers in the skilled trades. Prior to cofounding BoomNation, Flavin’s professional background included risk management, selling commercial and residential real estate, and managing property management accounts. Over the years, he has founded and built multiple startup businesses and teams designed to disrupt market leaders and enhance customer experience in the technology, industrial, financial services and insurance industries. At its core, BoomNation is a community of more than 700,000 skilled workers from all trades that succeeds by fostering valuable connections, creating networking opportunities, and facilitating the exchange of content, advice and mutual support within the industry.

EDUCATION: Attended LSU

BOB FUDICKAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Based in Baton Rouge, Bob Fudickar is executive director of the LSU National Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which, among other things, is building the rocket that will one day send astronauts to Mars. Fudickar has spent his career in business and technology in south Louisiana, including stints at Arthur Andersen, General Electric and NASA. NCAM is located at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and is part of a partnership that includes NASA, the state of Louisiana, LSU, UNO and the UNO Research and Technology Foundation. It was originally formed in 1999 as a state-of-the-art research and production center focused on applying advanced manufacturing technologies to lightweight composite and metallic materials in support of the space program and adjacent industries.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: John Wayne, so I could listen to his stories MOST UNUSUAL JOB: Working on a river barge.

TIM HARRIS

SITE DIRECTOR

EASTMAN TAMINCO

Tim Harris’ primary responsibility as site director of Eastman Taminco is to ensure the safe operation of the plant. Born in Lafayette and raised in Arkansas, Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tulane University and later an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Harris joined the Navy, where he served as a chief engineer aboard a nuclear submarine. He then worked in various manufacturing positions of increasing responsibility. Today, he is an outspoken advocate of industry, previously serving as chair of the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance and as an executive committee member for both LCA and GBRIA. He also served on Gov. Jeff Landry’s transition team.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

—Stephen Covey

PAUL HELTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LED FAST START

Paul Helton has more than 20 years of targeted workforce development experience. As a founding member of LED FastStart, he has helped create a well-qualified and sustainable workforce in Louisiana for more than nine years. Prior to LED FastStart, Helton served as director of economic development for North Metro Technical College in Acworth, Georgia, leading the contract training, continuing education and workforce programs divisions. Helton also managed individual company workforce development projects with the successful and highly ranked Georgia Quick Start program. Prior to Georgia Quick Start, he was an independent training consultant and a master training specialist with the Navy Trident nuclear submarine program.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Excelsior College; master’s in adult education, University of Georgia

BRAD IVES

DIRECTOR

LSU INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION

Brad Ives joined LSU’s Institute for Energy Innovation in October from North Carolina’s Catawba College, which became the first certified carbon-neutral college in the Southeast under his leadership. Ives has a rare combination of experience in industry, government and academia. As assistant secretary for natural resources in North Carolina, he drafted and negotiated the state’s wind farm legislation, leading to the creation of its first wind farm. Some 30 years earlier, he helped write Shell Chemicals’ mission statement while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in political science and later his law degree at the University of North Carolina.

MOST ADVENTUROUS THINGS I’VE DONE: “I completed a 23-day Outward Bound mountaineering course between high school and college. And while in college, I spent a summer cycling 1,500 miles around Europe while retracing Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. Then, before I started my first job out of law school, I traveled around the world for a couple months.”

JERRY JONES

MEMBER

BRADLEY MURCHISON

As an attorney, Jerry Jones has assisted domestic and international clients in the development, construction and operation of world-scale manufacturing facilities. Additionally, Jones is serving in his fourth term on Louisiana’s Board of Commerce and Industry after being originally appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and then reappointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. He is now in his fifth year as chair. He also serves his local community as a member of the West Feliciana Parish Board of Adjustment. Jones has been admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

MOST MEMORABLE WISDOM RECEIVED: Contentment comes from having someone to love, something to do, and having something to look forward to.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t do for the first time what you don’t want to do the rest of your life.

MIKE JUNEAU PRESIDENT PREMIER GEOTECH AND TESTING

Mike Juneau and Jason Engen founded Premier Geotech and Testing in 2018 to fill a gap in the geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing industry. Juneau was previously vice president of Southern Earth Sciences. Rather than providing technicians who perform tests at a site and leave, Premier’s technicians and engineers are an extension of the project team, working with property owners, developers and contractors from start to finish. Premier has built a team of client-focused professionals and a state-ofthe-art lab facility to provide geotechnical and construction material testing services. Juneau, a professional engineer, was a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2022.

MOST ADVENTUROUS I’VE DONE: Riding a bull. I can remember it like it was yesterday, down to how the bones in my hand were bending when clinching the rope while sitting on the bull’s back.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” by the Scorpions

CHIP LAVIGNE

PRESIDENT

LAVIGNE OIL

A Northshore native, Chip Lavigne is president and owner of Lavigne Oil in Baton Rouge. Lavigne is an experienced property developer who wears many hats. Recently, he became a member of the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation board of trustees. Lavigne Oil is an established leader in the petroleum marketing, fuel supply and convenience store industries. Today, it delivers more than 100 million gallons of fuel annually to clients throughout the Southeast. Lavigne possesses an understanding of the industry, a commitment to improvement and growth, and a history of long-term, mutually profitable client relationships.

OTHER VENTURES: Lavigne also owns Blue Harbor Pointe service station in Mandeville.

JERRY LEBOLD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

BASF GEISMAR

Since the move into his current role in 2019, Jerry Lebold has become an active proponent of industry, serving on boards for the Louisiana Chemical Association, Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Lebold began his career as a field service engineer at McDermott International before moving to operations management roles at Ford Motor Co., Monsanto, Solutia and Israel Chemicals. In 2012, LeBold joined BASF following its acquisition of Novolyte Technologies, and subsequently served as butanediol and derivatives production director in Geismar before being promoted to vice president of performance chemicals operations in Florham Park, New Jersey. Later, he served as global operations vice president for the chemical catalysts business at BASF’s global headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in electrical engineering, master’s in mathematics, Ohio University

CHIP LEE

PRESIDENT

DELVAL FLOW CONTROLS

When Chip Lee’s stepfather approached him about starting a valve manufacturing business in 2004, he jumped at the opportunity. Not long after, DelVal Flow Controls officially opened as a partnership between his family and another valve entrepreneur’s family in India. Today, the company provides a wide range of ball valves, butterfly valves, actuators and control accessories. Products are fully integrated and cater to a wide spectrum of applications, including oil and gas, power generation, mining, chemical process, marine, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and water.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in finance, LSU; master’s in business administration, LSU

CHIP MCALPIN PRESIDENT STUPP CORP.

As part of the sixth generation to run family-owned Stupp Corp., Charles “Chip” McAlpin has made a name for himself in Baton Rouge. Before joining the company, however, the Missouri native had to first comply with Stupp’s bylaws and get an advanced degree followed by two years of experience working for an outside manufacturing company. With a master’s in business administration from Columbia, he learned the ropes at Urnex Brands, a specialty cleaning products company in upstate New York, before arriving at Stupp’s pipe manufacturing division in Baton Rouge in 2010. Over the years, McAlpin has helped grow the company through the design and implementation of programs and initiatives in cost reduction, performance enhancement and long-term sustainability.

FUN FACT: As a division of Stupp Bros. Inc., Stupp Corp. has more than 150 years of continuous family ownership.

JOHNNY MILAZZO OWNER

LARD OIL CO.

As owner, Johnny Milazzo guides Lard Oil in its mission to be the premier petroleum marketer in the region. For more than 100 years, the company has continued to grow and expand, now with 500 employees, 20 convenience stores and nine bulk plants. Its central office is located in Denham Springs, allowing for a wider distribution area throughout the region. It also serves as the largest ExxonMobil distributor in Louisiana and Mississippi, and provides 24/7 delivery service to stations, quick lubes and other commercial and industrial businesses.

RECOGNITION: Lard Oil Co. is a recipient of both the Leaders in Excellence and Gold Circle of Excellence awards given by ExxonMobil.

SCOTT MORRISON PRESIDENT JM TEST SYSTEMS

At the helm of the company his father founded, Scott Morrison ensures that JM Test Systems remains true to its original values, including a dedication to precision, dependability, quality and service. What started as a simple calibration service company has grown significantly to more than 500 employees and 10 labs at various locations across the country. All the while, the company has maintained its laboratory accreditations and certifications. This unique combination allows the company to offer unparalleled equipment solutions. JM Test Systems guarantees its customers’ equipment remains compliant by providing expanded programs such as calibration and electrical safety on-site, including bucket testing, local pickup and delivery, glove rotation and surplus management, and equipment test reminders.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in industrial technology, Southeastern Louisiana University

CHARLES E. “CHAS” ROEMER IV

CEO

CHAS ROEMER INNOVATIONS

Chas Roemer brings a unique blend of public service and successful business leadership to CRI ventures. With a diversity of investment and development in projects that range from artificial intelligence to education to traditional banking to net-zero liquefied natural gas, Roemer approaches each enterprise with an eye toward innovation. He currently serves as chair of G2 Net-Zero, a Louisiana-based LNG developer. Roemer’s public service includes two terms as an elected member on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2007-2015. He was named as one of 12 people to watch in 2012 by Business Report, as well as being named a Forty Under 40 honoree by the publication in 2001.

DETINATION OF CHOICE: Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful late in the evening.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Billy McMahon, played by Vince Vaughn in The Internship

JILL SAVARD

CEO

SAVARD LABOR & MARINE

Jill Savard opened Savard Labor and Marine in 1998 as a woman-owned business serving male-dominated industries. Overcoming numerous obstacles, Savard has become a multimillion-dollar company that continues to exceed expectations. Savard is a certified member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Associated General Contractors, Associated Builders and Contractors, the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana, Gulf Coast Safety Council and the Alliance Safety Council. A native of Baton Rouge, she attended LSU.

AT ITS CORE: Savard Labor and Marine specializes in providing its clients with skilled and unskilled blue collar labor.

DAI NGUYEN

GENERAL MANAGER

SHELL GEISMAR

Dai Nguyen manages Shell’s Geismar plant, a key facility in the evolution of Shell’s global business model. The plant not only focuses on net-zero emissions and sustainable products, but also on working more closely with area communities. After graduating from Tulane University with a degree in chemical engineering, Nguyen landed his first job at Shell’s Deer Park (Texas) plant. From there, his career with Shell took him overseas to such exotic locales as Amsterdam, Kazakhstan and Singapore as he worked his way up in the organization. Today, the Shell veteran— motivated by working outside his comfort zone, new challenges and transformation—is tasked with managing the facility that’s the foundation of the company’s strategic plans.

INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: Nguyen is on the board of directors for the Capital Area United Way, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Louisiana Chemical Association and The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

LOREN SCOTT

PRESIDENT

LOREN C. SCOTT & ASSOCIATES

Loren Scott makes 50 to 70 presentations a year on the state of—and the outlook for—the economy and the energy sector. He is part of the 32-member National Business Economic Issues Council, which meets quarterly to discuss issues of state, national and international interest. He has also been appointed to the economic advisory board of the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, a group comprising the CEOs of the Fortune 100, top university presidents and presidents of three major unions. Scott was a member of the economics faculty at LSU from 1969 to 1998, where he rose through the ranks from assistant professor to the holder of the FreeportMcMoran endowed chair of economics. He is presently professor emeritus of economics at LSU. Additionally, Scott is co-developer of the Louisiana econometric model, used to provide annual forecasts of the state’s economy.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t do it. Don’t do it!

JONATHAN SHI DIRECTOR

LSU INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER

Jonathan Shi wears many hats as a tenured professor and director of the Industrial Assessment Center. The IAC program advances a clean energy and manufacturing workforce that represents the diversity of America, and a reinvigorated manufacturing base prepared to lead the global clean energy transition. His research interests include green technologies for building and community development, modeling and simulation of construction operations, project planning and scheduling, productivity analysis and improvement, artificial neural networks, enterprise resource planning, and computer applications. Shi holds the Art E. Favre industrial construction chair research professorship.

ANNIVERSARY: This year, Shi will celebrate his 10-year anniversary in the LSU Construction Management Department.

JAY THOMPSON

CEO

SITECH LOUISIANA

James “Jay” Thompson III has diverse work experience spanning multiple industries, and has been CEO at SITECH Louisiana since April 2020. Under his leadership, the company was named one of the Capital Region’s Best Places to Work in 2021 and 2022 and earned a spot on the LSU 100 for three consecutive years. Prior to his current position, Thompson served as general manager, sales manager and business development manager, during which the company achieved significant revenue growth and emphasized customer needs, empowerment through education, and self-improvement. Thompson also worked as a service manager and service sales representative at Louisiana Cat from 2004 to 2006, and had a brief stint as chief operating officer at Coastal Ecology Group from 2006 to 2007.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in English literature and psychology, LSU; master’s in business administration, Southeastern Louisiana University.

GREG UPTON

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LSU CENTER FOR ENERGY STUDIES

During his tenure at LSU, Greg Upton has addressed numerous energy issues of significance to Louisiana, including state mineral taxes, solar tax credits, net metering policies, the impact of the oil price collapse on Louisiana’s budgetary challenges, and the implications to the Louisiana economy of lifting the crude oil export ban. He has presented research on these topics to more than 150 industry, governmental, and academic audiences, and has been quoted or cited approximately 150 times in local and national media, including The Wall Street Journal and NPR’s Marketplace. Upton holds a Ph.D. in economics from LSU.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: Spend time during the winter far enough north to enjoy the northern lights LAST BOOK THAT MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely. It’s a reminder that people do not always act in the way economic models predict.

RENEE AMAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LOUISIANA MOTOR

TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION

Renee Amar is executive director for the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the state’s premier voice for trucking. She is also executive director for LMTA’s foundation, which focuses on education and research specific to the industry. She manages TruckPAC, the association’s political action committee and is the program director for the Louisiana Trucking Education and Research Council, a quasi-governmental not-forprofit body. She serves on numerous boards representing the interests of the trucking industry. Previously, she was state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, small business and health care policy director and deputy of political action for the LABI, and vice president of the Pelican Institute. Amar founded a nonprofit in 2020, Louisiana Women Lead, to recruit and train center-right women to run for office.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Southeastern Louisiana University; master’s in social work, LSU

KATHY TRAHAN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ALLIANCE SAFETY COUNCIL

Since joining the Alliance Safety Council in 2004, Kathy Trahan has streamlined processes and developed products and services that empower member companies to make more effective use of their time and resources. Trahan is a member of digitalNOW’s advisory board, comprising some of the most accomplished and respected names in association leadership. She is also an active member of LSU’s Construction Industry Advisory Council and previously served as president. Prior to joining Alliance Safety Council, Trahan was director of the Louisiana Center for Petrochemical Training at Baton Rouge Community College, and also spent 10 years working at the PPG chemical plant in Lake Charles as an operator, lab analyst, instrument specialist and active member of PPG’s emergency squad.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in electronics, McNeese State University

LAURIE LIPSEY ARONSON

CHAIR AND CEO

LIPSEY’S AND HASPEL

Laurie Lipsey Aronson represents the third generation of the Lipsey family to own and operate Lipsey’s and Haspel. Growing up in Baton Rouge, she graduated from the University Laboratory School, then attended Emory University in Atlanta. She moved back to Baton Rouge in 1993 to be the credit manager for Lipsey’s, then began taking roles of increasing responsibility. In 1999, she became COO, before being named president of both Lipsey’s and Haspel in 2002. Aronson serves on several national boards and was the first female chair of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers. She is also a longtime board member of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

RECOGNITION: She has been honored with LSU’s College of Human Sciences & Education Alumna of Distinction Award, Entrepreneur Organization’s Marshall Klein Award, and was inducted into the University Laboratory School Foundation’s Hall of Distinction.

JOHN AUSTIN PRESIDENT BENGAL CRANE & RIGGING

As president of Bengal’s three companies— Bengal Transportation Services, Bengal Crane & Rigging and Bengal Logistics— John Austin has laid the foundation for success. At the heart of Bengal’s engineering department is a crane database and computer network that allows personnel to draw from a standardized pool of information and methods, thus increasing consistency, safety and efficiency. The department utilizes the skills and experience of its engineers, draftspersons and crane experts on each project to better utilize its fleet of cranes, equipment and people.

ORIGINS: Bengal was founded in 1995 and serves the continental U.S. and Canada.

BRIAN HAYMON

FOUNDER AND CEO LOADSTAR

Baton Rouge native Brian Haymon has 30 years of experience in the product handling and site logistics business as an owner and CEO. Loadstar provides product handling and site logistics services to refineries, chemical plants, barge lines and terminals. It loads and unloads all classes of cargo into railcars, trucks, barges and ships, and operates docks, tank farms, terminals and warehouses. Additionally, Loadstar manages site logistics for marine, rail, truck and pipeline. Early in his career, Haymon practiced law in Baton Rouge and San Diego before returning home to join the family business, Petroleum Service Corp. When the company merged with SGS, he became CEO and led the company’s growth to more than 100 locations throughout North America.

JACK BRABHAM

OWNER

PETERBILT OF LOUISIANA

Jack Brabham is an experienced owner with a demonstrated history of working in the transportation, trucking and railroad industry. The McComb native, who played football at Delta State University in the 1970s, was inspired by an uncle who was in the car and truck business. So other than a stint at LNB bank from 1979 to 1984 before buying out his uncle, he has been in the industry his entire life. Peterbilt of Louisiana has locations in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Gray and New Orleans. It offers new and used heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks and parts. Peterbilt has manufactured heavy-duty trucks since 1939.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: The bad times don’t last forever.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Good Vibrations,” by The Beach Boys ADVICE I’D GIVE: Always be truthful and honest, no matter how difficult it may be.

JAY HARDMAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PORT OF GREATER BATON ROUGE

John G. “Jay” Hardman can tout a healthy list of accomplishments since being appointed executive director by the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission in November 2006. He has overseen the design and implementation of over $45 million in infrastructure improvements for the port’s general cargo docks, road and rail, the enhancement of port security measures, and the design and development of numerous economic development projects. Additionally, he has been involved in other improvements and rehabilitation projects at the port’s Inland Rivers Marine Terminal. He is a member of the American Association of Port Authorities, the technical advisory committee of the Capital Regional Planning Committee, Baton Rouge Loop Project Stakeholders Committee and the West Baton Rouge Parish Transportation Authority Board.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, LSU

SCOTT KIRKPATRICK

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CAPITAL REGION INDUSTRY FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS

DESIRED SUPERPOWER

“Time travel. I would undo a lot of humanity’s poor environmental decisions.”

BRAD IVES, DIRECTOR, LSU INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION

Scott Kirkpatrick wears many hats. While he is the executive director of the Capital Region Industry for Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions, or CRISIS, he’s also a partner with the Louisiana lobbying and consulting firm Pelican State Partners. Prior to his current position, Kirkpatrick served on the staffs of U.S. Sen. John Breaux and U.S. Rep. Richard Baker. Returning home to Louisiana, he served in the policy office of Gov. Kathleen Blanco. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he transitioned to work with the Cypress Group on a FEMA program to rebuild homes in areas devastated by the storms. Over the past decade, his passion for advocacy has led him to launch and manage several associations addressing topics such as coastal restoration and protection, transportation investments and support for military veterans.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in government and religious studies, University of Virginia; Juris Doctor, LSU

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PATRICK MOCKLER

OWNER

MOCKLER BEVERAGE CO.

Patrick Mockler has been in the distribution business for 29 years, starting his first parttime job straight out of high school. However, he spent much of his earlier years in other places—Kansas City, Houston, Dallas and St. Louis—as his family moved. He landed in Baton Rouge following his high school graduation in order to attend LSU. In his current role, he works alongside suppliers, retailers and community groups with an eye on continuous improvement.

HOBBIES AND INTEREST: When not hanging out with his wife and their two boys, Mockler likes to read and play chess online.

FUN FACT: In 2015, he and his wife climbed a 14,000-foot mountain in Colorado.

TIMOTHY MOCKLER

OWNER

MOCKLER BEVERAGE CO.

Timothy Mockler began working for distributors while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduation, he moved to Baton Rouge in 1987 with his father, Gary, to launch Mockler Beverage Co. From a young age, Mockler remembers his dad being an advocate of hard work. That same value remained with him into adulthood and throughout his career. In fact, it is what inspires him to come to work every day.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Traveling with my wife, warm weather, beach time, music, sports and politics

HUGH RAETZSCH JR.

OWNER AND CEO

LYONS

As a third-generation president and CEO, Hugh Raetzsch Jr. functions as Lyons’ visionary, spending most of his time evaluating where the company stands, where he wants it to go and how to get it there. Raetzsch joined Lyons in 1993 and learned the business the old-fashioned way—by literally holding nearly every position in the company. Raetzsch is active across the industry, having held leadership positions on several boards, including chairing the Convenience Distribution Association and serving as president of Southern Association Wholesale Distributors. In 2022, he was the recipient of SAWD’s Leadership Award and Service Award.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Fishing, hunting and traveling with my wife and three sons

DREW TESSIER

SENIOR DIRECTOR –PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNION PACIFIC

As senior director of public affairs for Union Pacific Railroad, Drew Tessier implements Union Pacific Railroad’s corporate strategy for public affairs, government relations, legislative advocacy, corporate philanthropy, and crisis and corporate reputation management in Louisiana, Arkansas and Memphis. During his time at Union Pacific, Tessier has been closely involved with significant public-private partnerships and industrial developments in Louisiana and Arkansas. From providing transportation solutions, to playing a vital role in onshoring of industrial and manufacturing companies in what has become known as the Chemical Renaissance, to major rail and port expansion, his position has provided him experience in all areas that affect Louisiana transportation.

HOBBY OR INTEREST: Being a middle school basketball coach

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Rooster Cogburn

LOUIS VIELEE

PRESIDENT

L&B HOLDINGS

As a child growing up in rural Mississippi, Louis Vielee was inspired by his parents’ strong work and developed an interest in creating businesses by taking discarded items such as wooden crates, pieces of steel and drums, and repurposing them into items for sale. In 1984, Vielee founded L&B Transport with an initial investment of $5,000 for one truck to service Baton Rouge gas stations with bulk fuel. As demand increased, Vielee added additional drivers and trucks to expand his business. L&B Transport’s fleet has grown to approximately 385 trucks and more than 1,000 tanker trailers. Currently, he is the president of seven different companies in the video poker gaming industry and other closely related businesses.

LELA MAE WILKES

CEO AND PRESIDENT BROWN EAGLE

Lela Mae Wilkes began her career working with her father on the family dairy farm in Pride before obtaining her CPA license and becoming a staff accountant at Ethyl Corp. Wilkes joined Brown Eagle in 1977 as controller, was promoted to president in 1989 and has served as CEO since company founder R.T. Brown Jr.’s retirement the following year. She became 50% owner of Brown Eagle in 2012 and acquired 100% of the outstanding shares in 2014. She has been a pioneer in the petrochemical service industry. Wilkes is a founding member of the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance, or LCIA, and was the first woman to be a member of the board of directors; she served for the maximum 10-year term allowed by the LCIA bylaws.

WIDE REACH: Brown Eagle provides 3PL & 4PL logistics solutions for manufacturers across the U.S.

BENNY ALFORD

CO-OWNER

BENNY’S CAR WASH

Since opening its first car wash location in 1951, the car care services of Benny’s Car Wash have expanded to include detailing, oil changes, state inspections and more. The company’s Perkins Road location was the first in the world to pioneer the “express wash” concept, a technologically advanced drive-thru system that introduced an alternative to full-service washing. Benny Alford’s father, Lloyd Alford, opened the company’s first Baton Rouge location in 1953. The Alford family has irrefutably left its mark on the car wash industry in the decades since. The company now operates 11 locations throughout Baton Rouge.

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY: His son, Justin Alford, is board president of the International Carwash Association.

SCOTT BERG

PRESIDENT,

LEE MICHAELS

FINE JEWELRY

With extensive experience in the jewelry industry, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry President Scott Berg has served in leadership roles on several industry-specific boards. He previously chaired the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and contributed as a board member of Jewelers for Children. Berg’s primary focus remains on advancing the family business and fostering growth opportunities for team members, all while prioritizing community engagement and giving back. Lee Michaels, founded in 1978 by Lee and Brenda Berg, offers fine gems, loose diamonds, timepieces and giftware from some of the world’s most distinguished designers and craftspeople.

HOBBY: Boxing

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “You are judged by the company you keep.”

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Canoeing in the Swiss Alps

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Maldives

MIKE HOLLINGSWORTH

DEALER PARTNER

HOLLINGSWORTH

RICHARDS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Established in 1996 through the acquisition of River City Ford, the Hollingsworth Richards Automotive Group was later rebranded as Hollingsworth Richards Ford—a name Baton Rougeans are probably familiar with. The dealership is currently overseen by partners Mike and Gaye Hollingsworth, Kent Richards and Polly Lemoine. The company was the first Louisiana dealership to attain Blue Oval certification from Ford Motor Company, signifying an “unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction across all service tiers.” When it comes to giving back, the company has proudly sponsored the Bert Jones Golf Classic since 1994, raising over $2.1 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Hollingsworth Richards Ford has been the presenting sponsor of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala since 2008 and has donated 10 vehicles to help raise more than $2.5 million.

DANIEL KENNEDY

OWNER AND CEO

PROSOURCE WHOLESALE FLOORING

ProSource Wholesale Flooring, founded in 1999, currently operates 15 locations with an employee headcount totaling nearly 200. Owner and CEO Daniel Kennedy’s introduction to the homebuilding sector began as a warehouse manager for a carpet distributor. Prior to joining ProSource, he served as a district manager at Shaw Industries. ProSource does more than flooring, too—according to its website, the company aims to be a “one-stop shop” for all of its customers’ home remodeling needs, offering cabinets, countertops and the like.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: If money can fix your problem, then it’s not a real problem. You can always earn more money. It’s the problems money can’t fix that you need to be concerned about.

SUE ANNE KLEINPETER COX

PRESIDENT AND CEO KLEINPETER DAIRY

Founded over a century ago, Kleinpeter milk is an iconic brand in the Capital Region. When Jeff Kleinpeter retired as president and CEO in 2015, his sister, Sue Anne Kleinpeter Cox, assumed leadership after serving as chief financial officer for 28 years. To address quality control issues, Kleinpeter Cox oversaw significant company management restructuring, implemented stringent training and quality control measures and invested in new resources like milk trucks. Despite the challenges it has faced, Kleinpeter Dairy has maintained its iconic presence and continues to process thousands of gallons of milk each day.

FUN FACT: Kleinpeter was founded way back in 1913 as an on-farm creamery.

ERIC LANE

PRESIDENT GERRY LANE ENTERPRISES

Eric Lane, the son of the late Gerry Lane, started working at his father’s auto dealership as a janitor when he was just 15 years old, and by the time he was 21 he was selling cars. Four years after Gerry Lane’s death, Eric Lane’s own son, Tyler, joined the company, which continues to be a familyoperated business. Gerry Lane Enterprises has cemented itself as one of Baton Rouge’s premier auto dealerships and shows no signs of slowing down. “We owe Gerry Lane a great debt for leading the trail for us all,” Eric Lane says.

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Killing a brown bear in Alaska in 2023

MOST MEMORABLE JOB: Playing minor league baseball for four years

SPONSORED BY:

What fuels Chef Don Bergeron

Quality, service, loyalty. These are just a few of the principles that guide Chef Don Bergeron in his daily work as a private caterer and owner of Bergeron’s City Market.

Bergeron got his start in the food service industry about 20 years ago, catering small dinner parties and providing a meal delivery service for local families. Today, Bergeron’s storefront, at 8200 Jefferson Highway, offers a dine-in restaurant, event space, retail store and home for his catering business.

One essential piece to his business success is his Mercedes-Benz vehicle, a 2023 GLE 450. While Bergeron bought the vehicle for personal use, it gets used frequently to haul fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers, pick up bulk orders from local grocery warehouses, and even serves as a spacious and clean area for transporting elegant catering platters for parties.

Bergeron sources a lot of local products like fruits to make his own jams and jellies. He’s also a gardener and grows his own herbs and flowers. “On the weekends, I’ll go and get things I need and bring them back to plant them,” he says. “It’s a well-used vehicle. I’m not afraid to use it for anything. It’s a tough vehicle made to last.”

While he enjoys the feeling of luxury when he sits behind the wheel, his Mercedes is also a vehicle with impressive safety features like the lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. “I can replace the car, but I can’t replace me, so one of the big reasons I drive a Mercedes is because of the safety of the car.”

This is Bergeron’s third Mercedes vehicle, and he says Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge has been a pleasure to work with over the past 15 years. “Quite a few of the employees come

in my shop almost every day to buy lunch or get something for dinner, so I see them quite a bit,” he says. “It’s nice to do business back and forth. It’s a great relationship.”

In fact, Bergeron says, he briefly considered test driving a different brand of SUV before his last purchase but quickly decided against it. “I ended up not doing that because the quality of the vehicle that you buy here, plus the service, led me to not want to look anywhere else,” he says.

“In my business, I demand quality in the food products we offer and the service that we provide. I get the same thing by coming here. It’s the same business philosophy and melds with what we do,” he adds.

For more information about the MercedesBenz GLE 450 and the many other exceptional vehicles offered by Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge, visit online at mbobr.com, or stop by the showroom at 10949 Airline Highway.

BRENT LEBLANC

OWNER

PRICE LEBLANC TOYOTA

Price LeBlanc Toyota has been a big name in the Baton Rouge automotive space for more than 50 years. The dealership has been the proud recipient of the Toyota President’s Award numerous times over the years, and it has been a member of the Gulf States Toyota Pinnacle Club for over a quarter of a century. It is also involved with a number of charity organizations such as the Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana, the American Heart Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

MAKING MOVES: Brent LeBlanc is also active in real estate investment. Recent deals he has been involved with along with members of his family include the $24.7 million purchase of the downtown Commerce Building and the $52.5 million purchase of the Mansions in the Park on Perkins Road.

LUKE LOGNION

MANAGING DIRECTOR

LIVE AFTER FIVE AND BATON ROUGE ARTS MARKET

CO-OWNER

BRASS BY CIRCA 1857

Luke Lognion has emerged as one of the biggest names in the Baton Rouge arts scene. He is the owner of Brass by Circa 1857, a downtown gift shop that showcases the work of local artists; the facilitator of the Baton Rouge Arts Market and other arts markets in the Baton Rouge area; founder of the Work Downtown, Play Downtown initiative; and managing director of downtown concert series Live After Five. In 2023, he was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report.

CINEPHILE: I am a huge film buff. My husband, Garrett Kemp, and I host an annual black tie Oscars party at our house every year.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Shakshuka from BLDG 5

MEMORABLE WISDOM RECEIVED: My grandfather telling me that I am the only one who can live my life, so I should live it on my own terms, just so long as it brings and spreads joy.

NICK PENTAS

GENERAL MANAGER AND CO-OWNER

MERCEDES-BENZ OF BATON ROUGE

Nick Pentas started working at MercedesBenz of Baton Rouge during the summer of 2001, spending time at the dealership detailing what he calls “the most majestic machines on the planet.” He has since grown to excel at eight different positions at the dealership, and he was eventually promoted to general manager and partner. He began all of this while getting a business administration degree from LSU and raising a young family. He has also gained experience in the service side of the business, which he says has given him a competitive advantage over other general managers. When he is not at the office, he is probably spending quality time with his wife and their three children.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: You don’t know everything; never stop learning.

EARLY LIFE: I was born on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus and moved to the U.S. when I was 2. I learned to speak Greek and English at the same time.

OWNER

VARSITY SPORTS

Jenni Peters was a professional runner, but she unfortunately found that it didn’t exactly offer a sustainable income. That’s why, while teaching part time at LSU in 2000, she seized the opportunity to open a small running shop in a charming house near the Perkins Road overpass. It quickly became a staple for runners, blossoming into four stores, including two in New Orleans and one in Mandeville. She and her business have significantly contributed to shaping the local running culture. T-shirts bearing the shop’s “Run Hard, Live Easy” motto are ubiquitous among local gatherings of runners, reflecting the brand’s influence and dedication to Louisiana’s running community.

SHE SAID IT: “Baton Rouge is really kind of a hub of particularly high school running, with the girls and guys you see at the state championships. That definitely wasn’t the case when I started running.”

PRESTON Q-PETERSEN

OWNER AND OPERATOR TEAM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

In 2008, Preston Q-Petersen assumed the role of general manager at Team Automotive Group and was immediately met with a series of challenges. Against the backdrop of a growing national recession, concerns arose regarding the future of its lenders. Additionally, the team grappled with the fallout from a Toyota recall controversy, parts shortages and misinformation. Despite these challenges, the group demonstrated resilience and perseverance, ultimately overcoming the obstacles and emerging stronger than ever. His full last name is Qvistgaard-Petersen, handed down from his great-grandfather Aage of Denmark. His family eventually migrated to Q-Petersen to shorten and simplify.

PAST LIFE: Prior to joining Team Automotive Group, he was an outdoors instructor and trip director for Moondance Adventures.

LAURA ROLAND

OWNER AND LICENSED INTERIOR DESIGNER FIRESIDE ANTIQUES/ LAURA ROLAND INTERIORS

Laura Roland moved back to her hometown of Baton Rouge after graduating from Savannah College of Art & Design in 2010. She then took over her family’s well-known and well-loved European antique shop, Fireside Antiques. She became the third generation of women to run the business, developing a love for antiques and their contribution to a balanced interior. Through her shop, she has had the privilege of working with experienced interior designers from across the U.S., helping them to execute their visions with her one-of-a-kind items.

BEYOND BATON ROUGE: Seventy percent of Fireside Antiques’ orders are shipped out of state. FOUR FIERY DECADES: In 2022, Fireside Antiques celebrated its 40th anniversary.

JERRELL THOMAS

PRESIDENT

WINDOW WORLD OF BATON ROUGE

Window World of Baton Rouge’s day-to-day operations are managed by Jerell Thomas, who started with the company in 2004 in outside sales and worked his way up, being named vice president for sales and marketing in 2016. Window World of Baton Rouge has been named to Inc.’s annual list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America seven times. The company services New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles, in Louisiana; Houston, Dallas and Beaumont in Texas; and Tampa, Florida. The company has grown to a total sales volume of more than $100 million.

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: Thomas says Roland’s decision to keep prices the same rather than raise them following Hurricane Katrina impacted his views on what it means to be a leader.

BRANDON TROSCLAIR

PRESIDENT RALPH’S MARKET

Born and raised in Gonzales, Brandon Trosclair currently owns and operates 13 grocery stores across Louisiana and Mississippi and employs more than 400 people. He studied business management at LSU and took on internships with the Republican National Committee and the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. He is a staunch conservative who ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana House of Representatives and secretary of state. His brother, Ronnie, and his father, Elmore, acquired Ralph’s Supermarket in 2000. The original Ralph’s in Gonzales has been renovated and expanded several times, and the company has added three more stores across Louisiana.

FUN FACT: Trosclair first started working in his father’s grocery store at the age of 15.

EDUARDO “ED” JIMENEZ

VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ENTERGY LOUISIANA

As vice president of business and economic development for Entergy Louisiana, Eduardo “Ed” Jimenez strives to develop revenue growth initiatives and goals that support the annual sales plan for Entergy Louisiana. Prior to joining Entergy in 2011, Jimenez served as director of business development for Louisiana Economic Development, managing lead development strategies. He held various positions while at LED and managed strategic initiatives in the areas of deal structuring and valuation, contract negotiations and business process management. Previously, Jimenez was vice president of sales for Your Other Warehouse, a subsidiary of Home Depot.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in management information systems, LSU; master’s in business administration, Emory University.

FUN FACT: Jimenez was born in Costa Rica, is fluent in Spanish, and has lived in six countries.

PATRICK KERR

PRESIDENT AND CEO BATON ROUGE WATER COMPANY

During his nearly 28 years at Baton Rouge Water Company, Patrick Kerr has served in a variety of roles, including operations manager, vice president, chief operating officer, president and CEO. Prior to the water company, Kerr served for 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an attack helicopter pilot and Special Operations aviator. He was honorably discharged as a captain and attained the rank of major before separating from the Army Reserves. Kerr is the current chair of the American Water Works Association’s Water Utility Council and an active member of the Southwest Section of AWWA.

FUN FACT: The earliest record of the local water supply is dated November 1887.

ADDIE ARMATO CEO

THE ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

It was a whirlwind start for Addie Armato when she was appointed interim CEO of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives in 2021. Just a few days later, Armato was helping the state’s cooperatives deal with one of the worst hurricanes in Louisiana history as Hurricane Ida made landfall. Armato joined ALEC in May 2019, initially serving as director of member engagement. In that role, she developed communications strategies to support the state’s electric cooperatives. Her father worked at a generation and transmission cooperative, so the unique sense of family in a cooperative is something Armato has known all her life. Prior to joining ALEC, she worked as a member services representative at Pointe Coupee Electric Membership Corp. for eight years.

HOBBY: I love to cook and entertain guests. Party and event planning comes as natural to me as breathing.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The Caribbean

RANDY PIERCE

CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER DEMCO

Randy Pierce’s experience with electric cooperatives is broad, including regulatory affairs, emergency preparedness, job safety, employee training, disaster response and power supply. Prior to joining DEMCO, Pierce served for 22 years as CEO of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives and has years of in-depth experience working in the electric cooperative arena. He now uses his diverse experience to guide DEMCO to the next level of member growth and service, while promoting a welltrained workforce and culture of professional and ethical integrity.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business communications and journalism, Northwestern State University

HOBBY: Pierce plays a mean electric guitar.

BANKING & FINANCE

THOMAS ADAMEK

BOARD CHAIR

STONEHENGE CAPITAL

Thomas Adamek co-founded Stonehenge Capital in 1999 after previously working with Bank One Corporation (now JPMorgan Chase) as a managing director. At Stonehenge, Adamek continues to oversee all operational aspects of the firm along with fund management activities. With nearly 40 years of experience dealing with capital investing and corporate finance activities, Adamek has served on the boards of several privately held businesses. Adamek also is a leading voice in the community, having previously served on the board of directors for the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Teach for America and the LSU Foundation.

RECOGNITION: Adamek was inducted into the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction in 2010.

ANDREW “ANDY” ADLER

PRESIDENT –

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

BANKPLUS

Born in New Orleans, Andy Adler has a long history in Baton Rouge. He has worked in the banking and finance industry in the Capital Region for more than three decades and has held leadership roles for most of his career. Since 1999, Adler has been an executive with BankPlus, formerly State Bank & Trust and First Bank. In his current role, he oversees BankPlus’ operations as senior vice president and president of the southwest region. Over the years, he has remained active in the community, previously serving as a board member for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Catholic High School Alumni Association and the Family Services of Baton Rouge. He currently serves on the board of Louisiana Economic Development Corporation.

CARNIVAL TIME: Adler is a previous king and president of the Mystic Krewe of Achilles

YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Adler was recognized as one of the Capital Sertoma Club’s Best Dressed in 2005.

SHANNON BERNARD

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT PRIMERICA

Shannon Bernard has a penchant for helping others. She started her career as a teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish before changing paths to join the financial services industry in the early ‘90s. Since joining Primerica, one of the largest financial services marketing firms in North America, she has received numerous state and national accolades for her work and now serves as regional vice president for the company. Bernard has especially made an impact in the Livingston Parish community, where she has been a member of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade. She is a graduate of the inaugural Leadership Livingston program.

PASSION: Choir

PETE BUSH

CEO AND PARTNER

HORIZON FINANCIAL GROUP

Since Pete Bush launched Horizon Financial Group in 1999, he has helped grow the annual branch revenue from $300,000 to $23 million. The group has also grown from three initial partners in Baton Rouge to a team of 65 advisers spread across 14 states. Horizon Financial Group is one of two companies named to each of the LSU 100 lists since the original list was announced in 2011. Bush has a history of being active in the community, having served on the Tiger Athletic Foundation board from 2015 to 2022. He also introduced the Baton Rouge Uncorked event, now hosted by Forum 225.

LESSON LEARNED FROM A DIFFICULT DECISION: I learned through a failed partnership many years ago that I needed to provide my own leadership and not relegate that to others to supply it for me. Leading yourself is the first step in being able to effectively lead others.

JOHN PAUL CASWELL

PRESIDENT

IRON HORSE FINANCIAL

Despite joining the industry just a little more than a decade ago, John Paul Caswell has made a significant impact on the local financial services sector. He currently is president and managing principal at Iron Horse Financial, which serves more than 5,000 clients through its six locations. The firm was managing approximately $2.5 billion in assets as of last year. Iron Horse also maintains a strong presence when it comes to community involvement, having facilitated millions in beneficiary designations for several local nonprofits.

PASSION PROJECT: Caswell and his wife, Tiffani, established the 100 Well Project in 2016 with the goal of building wells in India and Nepal.

BEN CAVIN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LANDMARK BANK

Ben Cavin is an active member of the Zachary community while also leading Landmark Bank as it expands in the Capital Region. Cavin, who has served in a variety of leadership positions since joining Landmark in 2012, took the helm as president and CEO in 2019. In his current role he oversees four local bank branches and two loan production offices. Landmark also broke ground earlier this year on a new branch in Port Allen, the bank’s first branch in West Baton Rouge Parish. Outside the office, he is a former member of the Zachary City Council and has worked with the Zachary Rotary Club, Zachary Chamber of Commerce and Regional Arts Council of Zachary.

MENTOR: “My predecessor at Landmark Bank—he took a chance on me and put me in a position to follow in his footsteps.”

KEVIN COUHIG

FOUNDER AND CEO

SOURCE CAPITAL

Kevin Couhig wears many hats. After launching Source Capital in the late ’80s, he invested in more than 130 small businesses. He previously served on the board for PreSonus Audio and after becoming active in local politics, he was elected West Feliciana Parish president. Last year, he was a featured author at the Louisiana Book Festival in the wake of his debut novel, A Man for Others. He is currently working on a second novel, If One of Them is Dead.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “You are what you pretend to be. So be careful what you pretend to be.” – Kurt Vonnegut

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Château Montelena cabernet sauvignon

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Walter in The Big Lebowski

MOST UNUSUAL OR MEMORABLE JOB: Termite treatment operator

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Ireland

JERRY GOSS

PARTNER

GOSS WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Jerry Goss wields four decades of experience in the financial services industry. In 1981, he founded Goss Wealth Management, focusing on financial planning and investment management. The firm was previously affiliated through Wells Fargo but switched to LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer, in 2014. The firm focuses on high net worth clients, as well as on retirement plans, estates and endowments. Outside of the office, Goss is heavily involved in the local community. Over the years, he has worked with Capital Area United Way, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

PASSIONS: Playing golf and reading DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The beach

JOHN D’ANGELO

PRESIDENT AND CEO

INVESTAR BANK

Since initially founding the bank in a trailer, John D’Angelo has grown Investar Bank from less than $14 million in assets to $2.3 billion in total assets as of early 2024. The Baton Rouge-based D’Angelo has run the bank since 2006, leading it through its initial public offering in the summer of 2014 and helping it solidify its place as a community bank. Outside of the office, D’Angelo is an active member of the community and has previously served on the boards for the Louisiana Commerce and Trade Association, Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area and the Baton Rouge Symphony. D’Angelo also was honored by Business Report as its Businessperson of the Year in 2020.

HE SAID IT: “I can’t wait to wake up in the morning. When people come to work here, I make either a direct or silent commitment to them that I’m going to grow them professionally and monetarily.”

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida

RHOMAN HARDY

OPERATING PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

After retiring from Shell as a senior vice president of chemical and products for the Gulf Coast, Rhoman Hardy joined Bernhard Capital last year as an operating partner, bringing his nearly 35 years of technical and operational energy services experience with him. In his position, he works with portfolio company management teams to identify and implement operational improvements, optimize business functions and identify opportunities for scalable growth. Hardy is also involved with several community organizations. He serves as vice chair for the Baton Rouge General Hospital board and is a member of the LSU Foundation’s board. In addition, he serves on the dean’s advisory council for the LSU College of Engineering.

BEST ADVICE: “Work hard, don’t make excuses, learn and make adjustments, take care of people and don’t take yourself too seriously.”

DOUGLAS DUPONT

MARKET PRESIDENT

BANK OF ST. FRANCISVILLE

Douglas Dupont began his career in banking after graduating college in Mississippi and returning to Baton Rouge to take a job at First National Bankers Bank specializing in loan review and credit analysis. He would later serve as First National Bankers Bank’s Monroe market president for roughly three years before joining the Bank of St. Francisville as vice president of commercial lending. In 2020, he moved back to Baton Rouge to assume the role of Baton Rouge market president and oversaw the bank’s launch of its first standalone branch in Baton Rouge.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: To be a professional golfer FIRST JOB: Working construction at 16 years old

JEFF JENKINS

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jeff Jenkins teamed up with Jim Bernhard in 2013 to launch Bernhard Capital Partners as a services and infrastructure-focused private equity firm. Since its inception, the firm has expanded significantly and now has more than $2.5 billion of gross assets under management. Over the years, Bernhard Capital Partners has invested in more than 65 services-focused companies across 19 platforms, including several utility companies that collectively employ more than 19,000 globally. Out of the office, Jenkins has served on the boards of Epic Piping, SE&C, RailWorks and Atlas Technical Consultants. He has also volunteered with Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

PUBLIC SERVICE: Jeff Jenkins was appointed to Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards’ transition committee for economic development in 2015.

KEVIN KNOBLOCH

SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISER

WELLS FARGO ADVISORS

Kevin Knobloch has garnered significant recognition both in his field and through his involvement in the community. Prior to his current role with Wells Fargo Advisors, he was managing director of investments. Before that, he served as a managing director for JPMorgan Chase Bank. Knobloch has previously been named among the “Top 100 Financial Advisors” in the nation and the “No. 1 Financial Advisor in Louisiana,” by Barron’s. In the community, he has served on several boards including those of the LSU Alumni Association, Louisiana Arts and Science Museum, the St. Joseph Academy Foundation, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES: CAP, CPWA, ChFC, CLU

GINGER LAURENT

CEO

LOUISIANA BANKERS ASSOCIATION

Ginger Laurent joined the Louisiana Bankers Association in 2000 after spending nearly two decades as a banker in the Acadiana region. In 2022, she became the first woman elected to lead the organization in its 122-year history. Before that, she spent 14 years as the association’s chief operating officer. Along with her role at LBA, she is also involved with the Louisiana Bankers Service Corporation, Bankers Benefits of Louisiana and Louisiana Bankers Education Foundation. She was also featured as a Business Report Influential Women in Business honoree in 2022.

HOBBY: Exploring the back roads of Louisiana ADVICE I’D GIVE: Live well, laugh often, love much.

JEFF KOONCE PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Wondering what Bernhard Capital Partners will invest in next? Jeff Koonce is the one in the know. He’s involved in all areas of the firm’s investment activities. Before rising to partner, he was the firm’s managing director and general counsel. An expert in federal and state taxation, as well as business formations and transactions, he previously was a partner at Phelps Dunbar with multiple accolades, including Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America. For a number of years, he was in the classroom teaching the next generation of legal and business professionals, as an adjunct professor at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center and as an adjunct professor in the E. J. Ourso College of Business. In the community, he is chairman of BRAF and on the board of directors for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

MEET THE AUTHOR: Wrote West Group’s Louisiana Civil Law Treatise Limited Liability Companies and partnerships: A Guide to Business and Tax Planning

GARY LITTLEFIELD

BATON ROUGE MARKET

PRESIDENT

GULF COAST BANK & TRUST

With some four decades of banking experience behind him, Gary Littlefield has established himself as a major force in the local banking industry. He has led Gulf Coast Bank & Trust’s Baton Rouge-area efforts since 2006. He specializes in owneroccupied commercial real estate, investment real estate, and tenant buildouts, in addition to equipment, mortgage and construction loans. He is also involved with several community organizations, including the Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and has previously served on the boards of the Louisiana Bankers Association, A.C. Lewis YMCA, Red Cross and the Louisiana Real Estate Commission Appraisers Board.

WALK-UP SONG: “More than a Feeling,” by Boston

WHITNEY LANASA

SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR

STONEHENGE CAPITAL

Whitney LaNasa plays a major behindthe-scenes role in the economic growth across the markets in which Stonehenge Capital operates. She oversees a team that has invested more than $4 billion in projects that generate federal and state tax incentives designed to attract private capital investments. As an expert on federal and state economic development programs, LaNasa is frequently invited to speak at national conferences and participate on panels. In the community, she serves on the board of directors of the Historic Tax Credit Coalition, leads the Louisiana Historic Tax Credit Coalition and Louisiana Workforce Housing Coalition, and is a member of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t sweat the small stuff, it isn’t worth your time, talent or energy.

WALLY MCMAKIN

SENIOR PARTNER

ALTUS FINANCIAL

A former LSU baseball player, Wally McMakin has distinguished himself as a prominent wealth manager and philanthropist in Baton Rouge. Although he now works as a financial adviser, McMakin is credited for playing an instrumental behindthe-scenes role in making the LSU baseball program a national powerhouse by aiding in the hiring of two of the program’s most successful head coaches—Skip Bertman and Paul Mainieri. He was honored with the LSU School of Kinesiology Alumnus of Distinction Award in 2016. Over the years, McMakin has also mentored other LSU athletes who transitioned into financial management after graduation.

TurningBusinessPotential IntoPerformance

V. Graham, LLC provides corporate financial management consulting services by functioning as an outsourced CFO or financial leader, executing strategic initiatives for businesses of all sizes.

JUDE MELVILLE

PRESIDENT AND CEO

B1BANK

Jude Melville has led b1Bank as its CEO since 2005. Under his purview, the bank has experienced significant growth, expanding its footprint across Louisiana and Texas with five acquisitions. In addition, it launched a foundation, rebranded from Business First Bank to b1Bank, and transitioned to being publicly listed. In 2022, b1Bank was named Company of the Year by Business Report. Melville previously served as board chair for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry as well as the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools. He has also been involved with the Baton Rouge Downtown Development District and is a member of the Louisiana’s Committee of 100.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Patty melt at the Waffle House ON EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: “I figure if we take care of our employees, then they’ll take care of the customers.”

DAVID MULLENS

LOUISIANA MARKET

PRESIDENT

CAPITAL ONE BANK

As leader of the region’s largest financial institution, David Mullens plays a significant role in the Louisiana banking industry. As market president, Mullens oversees Capital One’s operations and strategy within the state. He has extensive banking experience in Louisiana, having spent nearly a decade as a relationship manager in Capital One’s Corporate Banking Group before serving as Baton Rouge market president and section manager for southwest and north Louisiana. In addition, Mullens is a pivotal community figure, leading the Baton Rouge Area Chamber board of directors as its chair for a second consecutive year while the organization searches for a new CEO.

HOBBIES: Hunting and riding dirt bikes WHO I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Clint Eastwood

BREAUX NADER

SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISER

LONGBRIDGE WEALTH

MANAGEMENT OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS

For more than two decades, Breaux Nader has worked in the financial planning industry, helping his clients make sound decisions with their funds. Helping people, though, is nothing new for Nader, who has made it a primary focus throughout his career. After graduating college, he led the northeast Louisiana chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, working with athletes and coaches in their efforts to spread the Christian message. Since switching to financial advising in 2002, Nader has assisted individuals, trusts and nonprofits with their financial planning and portfolio management. The Baton Rouge native has been recognized numerous times for his service to clients, including by Forbes in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 for being a Best-in-State Wealth Adviser for Louisiana.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Living on a Prayer,” by Bon Jovi

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Breakfast at Frank’s on Airline Highway

CHAD OLIVIER

PRESIDENT

OLIVIER GROUP

For more than two decades, Chad Olivier has worked to establish a top-notch wealth management firm in Baton Rouge. He started his career as a stockbroker but switched to financial advising after recognizing that relationships were at the heart of financial planning. Aside from leading the Olivier Group, he is a member of the Baton Rouge Financial Planning Association and the Baton Rouge Estate and Planning Council as well as a contributing writer for the Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association. He also hosts Money Talks on the local Fox and NBC affiliate broadcast stations.

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON ME: Impact Players, by Liz Wiseman. It’s about going above and beyond—I stress that every day with my team and my boys.

QUIRKY TALENT OR INTEREST: I love to karaoke— in my mind I sound just like the pros.

ROB POWELL

PARTNER/CMO

CARDINAL CAPITAL

Rob Powell founded Cardinal Capital in Baton Rouge with two partners in early 2015. Since founding the commercial finance consulting firm, he has helped place more than $100 million in capital with clients. Powell was a 2020 graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Baton Rouge class. Outside of Baton Rouge, Powell also serves as an instructor at the University of Arkansas, where he teaches hospitality marketing and management. Before moving to Baton Rouge and starting Cardinal Capital, he worked in the casino gaming industry.

MENTORS: “My father, who helped build Piccadilly Cafeteria, was the most significant and influential person in my life. He taught me to follow my passion and be humble. Outside of him, Steve Wynn—who taught me about people and the principles of hospitality management.”

WHO I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Bradley Cooper

RICHARD PREIS

MANAGING DIRECTOR

RAYMOND JAMES

Richard Preis has been a force in Baton Rouge’s finance industry for the past 50 years. After starting his career at Merrill Lynch, Preis, who has lived his entire life in Baton Rouge, now serves as a managing director and senior vice president at Raymond James. Preis is also a notable local developer and is responsible for Howell Place, the 197-acre redevelopment project off Harding Boulevard near the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport and Southern University. Today, Howell Place features multiple medical facilities, a charter school, several hotels and a YMCA.

WALK-UP SONG: “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong ADVICE I’D GIVE: Head down, mouth shut.

JIM PURGERSON

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

CITIZENS BANK & TRUST

Jim Purgerson joined Citizens Bank & Trust in 1999 as a loan officer and assumed the role of executive vice president in 2008. He has been praised for his ability to gather high-achieving individuals together to work toward a common goal. He was a 2003 Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree. Purgerson is a member of the Louisiana Bankers Association, CCA of Louisiana and the Council for A Better Louisiana, He also serves on the board for Baton Rouge General.

EARLY YEARS: Purgerson worked as advertising manager for The Reveille, LSU’s student-run newspaper.

PASSIONS: Cooking and fishing

HEATHER ROEMER

CHIEF OF STAFF

B1BANK

Over the course of her career, Heather Roemer has held a handful of positions at Baton Rouge-based b1Bank. After working in human resources for a decade, Roemer joined the b1Bank team in 2009 as assistant vice president for human resources. In 2020, she transitioned to director of corporate governance for the bank and president of the newly formed b1Bank Foundation, where she strives to provide education and economic development support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. She has been instrumental in several of the bank’s merger and acquisition transactions as well as in helping lay the groundwork for the bank to go public. She also serves on the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s Emerging Leaders Council.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t think everyone in the room is smarter than you. Some are, but plenty are not.

DAVID THOMPSON

CAPITAL REGION PRESIDENT

RED RIVER BANK

David Thompson has been a leader in Baton Rouge banking for decades. Since 2015, Thompson has led Red River Bank’s Capital Region properties as area president. Prior to joining Red River, he oversaw Iberia Bank’s commercial and business banking teams in the Baton Rouge market. He also previously served as an area leader for Regions Bank. Aside from his leadership skills, Thompson is known for his community service, having been involved on several area boards including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Ollie Steele Burden Manor, The Resource Foundation, St. Aloysius Catholic Church finance committee and Emerge School for Autism.

HOBBY: Riding motorcycles, mostly in the woods or backcountry gravel roads. It is a great escape from reality.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Three Little Birds,” by Bob Marley. I do not always live by it, but it does help to provide perspective.

JANE VERRET

PRESIDENT AND CEO

CAMPUS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

TODD SCHEXNAYDER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FIDELITY BANK

Todd Schexnayder has served on the Fidelity Bank board of directors since November 2021, after retiring as senior vice president and human resources director at the bank. Today, Schexnayder remains involved in the local community, chairing the board of trustees for Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. He also sits on the national board of directors for Volunteers of America, the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge board, and the LSU Foundation’s advisory board.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: The journey of 2,000 miles begins with a first step.

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Visiting all 50 states after visiting all 64 Louisiana parishes. My bucket list item is to go on an African safari, which we will complete this year.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Don’t let other individuals’ procrastinations become your emergency.”

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Champagne

Jane Verret became president and CEO of Campus Federal Credit Union after previously serving as chief administrative officer and vice president of risk management. Aside from leading the organization, she is a member of the Credit Union National Association CEO Council, Credit Union Cooperative Branching Board, Louisiana Society of CPAs, Louisiana Credit Union League and Rotary Club of Baton Rouge. Verret, who has been with the credit union nearly 30 years, was named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report in 2022.

CAUSE OR CHARITY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT:

The Petal Education Foundation is near and dear to my heart. It supports my public high school alma mater in Petal, Mississippi. Through this foundation, my family established a scholarship in memory of my dad.

STEVEN WEBB CEO

NEIGHBORS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Steven Webb has led Neighbors Federal Credit Union as CEO since 2015 after previously serving as the organization’s chief operating officer for nearly a decade. He has been instrumental in helping Neighbors expand to 10 branches and is also credited for developing and launching its indirect lending program, member business lending and the lending call center. Aside from leading Neighbors, the Capital Region’s leading credit union by total assets, he serves on the board of the Louisiana Credit Union League and has previously worked with the Baton Rouge Advocacy Center.

DISTINCTION: Steven Webb was the first Neighbors employee to complete the Certified Credit Union Executive designation.

REAL ESTATE

CARLOS ALVAREZ

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

ALVAREZ CONSTRUCTION

Not only is Carlos Alvarez the chief executive officer of Alvarez Construction, the company he founded in 1991 with his late father, but he is also a real estate broker and owner of RE/MAX Total. This allows him to be involved in all aspects of production, from negotiating land purchases to delivering the final product to buyers. His developments span a four-parish region and include Oak Colony and Dawson Bluff Townhomes in East Baton Rouge, as well as South Haven and South Creek in Livingston.

PHILANTHROPY: The family-owned construction company helps raise millions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by building the St. Jude Dream Home.

SCOTT BARDWELL

OWNER AND PRESIDENT BARDWELL HOMES

When Scott Bardwell returned to Baton Rouge in 1999 to join his father in the homebuilding company his grandfather founded, he had a vision for the business. That vision, which he has instilled as president of Bardwell Homes, is to build communities by thinking beyond the four walls, square footage and home design. Bardwell Homes specializes in community development, residential building and remodeling, and community and home design. Examples of his work include Rouzan, Highland District at Magnolia Square and Clark’s Ferry. Outside of work, Bardwell serves in leadership roles with community organizations and institutions such as First Presbyterian Church, the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and his alma mater, The Dunham School.

FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECT: Geometry

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: A run around the LSU lakes

TERRELL “TEE” BROWN

With more than 20 years of mortgage experience, Terrell “Tee” Brown is a leader in the mortgage industry. In 1999, Brown created GMFS alongside his father, former United Companies CEO Terrell Brown Sr., and three other former United Companies employees. Today, GMFS has more than 250 employees, more than 140,000 customers and $27 billion in residential mortgage funding in 23 states. The company has won numerous awards for its culture and performance, and Brown is widely respected for his quiet, hands-on, front-lines community philanthropy, raising funds for such causes as Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and St. Vincent de Paul.

CREATIVE FOOTPRINT: Brown is the creative force behind campaigns such as Geaux Local and Believe It to Achieve It at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

BARRET BLONDEAU

FOUNDER AND CEO

FALAYA

After seeing a need in the market, Barret Blondeau created the web and mobile app Falaya to help homeowners take more control over the sales process. Since Falaya’s launch in 2020, the company has sold more than 200 homes, saving homeowners $1.2 million in the process. Blondeau previously worked as a regional sales manager for a Fortune 500 company while earning his MBA at LSU and going full time into real estate. He is also a real estate investor who has flipped numerous properties and owns several rental properties across Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Falaya is based at the Nexus Louisiana Technology Park, and the business has participated in both the Idea Village’s (New Orleans) and Opportunity Machine’s (Lafayette) startup incubator programs, where it has won pitch competitions for its business concept.

BEST ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: Good things take time. FAVORITE LOCA RESTAURANT MEAL: Bone-in ribeye at Ruth’s Chris Steak House

KRISTINA CUSICK

PRESIDENT

GREATER BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

JERRY DEL RIO, DEL RIO REAL ESTATE THEY SAID IT

“All my friends are impressed with my energy at 82 and call me the go-go girl.”

Real estate is in Kristina Cusick’s genes—her grandparents were involved in the business, so getting into the profession came naturally to her. Today, Cusick, a Florida native who moved to Louisiana when she was 12, serves as president of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors. Cusick is owner/ broker of Town & Parish Realty, a small boutique firm serving Baton Rouge and surrounding communities. In addition to making things happen for buyers and sellers, she finds fulfillment in keeping agents inspired and loving

A FAVORITE LOCALE: I love to meet up with friends and have a local beer and burger at Burgersmith. SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: Organization. I try to keep one step ahead of my clients in their needs and what they are thinking about next. Maybe it’s the mama in me.

QUITA CUTRER

REAL ESTATE AGENT

BURNS & CO.

If you’re in the market to buy or sell an upscale home, chances are strong that Quita Cutrer’s number is saved to your smartphone’s “Favorites” list. After nearly 40 years in the business, Cutrer is still passionate, intense and at the top of her game. The Burns & Co. agent is on the shortlist of the most in-demand agents, whether it’s working with a former LSU football coach who’s selling, a community philanthropic icon or anyone else in the high-end market. Competition among agents can get cutthroat, and Cutrer can definitely hold her own, but her fellow agents in the well-heeled market say she’s respectful, trustworthy and easy to deal with.

ON THE SECRET TO HER SUCCESS: “To be in this business, you have to be somewhat competitive— but I do what I do, and I don’t really worry about what everybody else is doing.”

CHARLES WALLACE

JR.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

Since starting his real estate development career in the 1970s, Charles Wallace “Windy” Gladney Jr. has been involved in major projects in the Baton Rouge area. He spearheaded the development of the Greens at Millerville, a 53-acre mixed-use development off Interstate 12. It took nearly a decade before the planned project broke ground in 2015. Buc-ee’s originally announced it would anchor the Millerville site with a 60,000 square-foot retail space and more than 90 fuel pumps. The Texas rest stop chain later decided to terminate the agreement, and the rest of the development followed a similar fate. Gladney sold off the final 13.1 acres of the Millerville development to a Hammond firm in 2021. Gladney also purchased 52 acres along Nicholson Drive in 2019 and developed the 200-home Woodstock Park subdivision.

FUN FACT: After Buc-ee’s pulled out of the Millerville site, it announced plans to build its first Louisiana store in Ruston.

JERRY DEL RIO

BROKER/OWNER

DEL RIO REAL ESTATE INC.

Jerry del Rio was working as a nurse in the late 1980s when her neighbor brought her into the world of real estate. It didn’t take long for her to realize that introducing Baton Rouge newcomers to everything the area has to offer was her passion. In 1989, she earned her real estate license, and a few years later she founded her agency, Del Rio Real Estate. Today, the agency is a multimillion-dollar producer and her roster includes 14 real estate agents. Del Rio is a former president of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Le Roche Bleu QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “From my father, ‘There’s no such word as ‘can’t.’”

QUIRKY TALENT: Remembering all phone numbers, even from childhood

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Raw or chargrilled oysters at French Market Bistro

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Unsweetened iced tea

MARK HEBERT

PRINCIPAL

KURZ & HEBERT

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INC

Mark Hebert co-founded Kurz & Hebert

Commercial Real Estate in 1986 as a fullservice real estate company that provides sales, leasing and management for clients in south Louisiana. The firm specializes in marketing unique properties and finding key locations for new or expanding businesses. Hebert maintains constant connectivity to the market in order to immediately identify new users for closed buildings. He also provides development consultation and is experienced at facilitating tax-deferred property exchanges in accordance with IRS Code 1031.

CONNECTIONS: Hebert is considered one of the most knowledgeable and connected commercial real estate brokers in Baton Rouge.

TONYA TOUPS GAUTREAU

CEO

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY, FIRST CHOICE

Tonya Toups Gautreau currently leads more than 225 agents in addition to her six employees and five board members, providing them with business training, coaching and consulting. Since taking over the reins as CEO of the Keller Williams Ascension Parish franchise in 2015, she has grown the firm by more than 250%, substantially increasing both the company’s market share and profit. Most recently, she launched a new branch location with a Baton Rouge address to better serve agents and clients with a focus in the area.

QUIRKY TALENT: I am an incredible parallel parker. BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Hot tea with lemon and honey

MEMORABLE PAST JOB: I decided to become an Avon salesperson at age 12 and went door-to-door in my neighborhood to introduce myself and sell products.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Defying Gravity,” by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth

KENNY HODGES

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ASSURANCE FINANCIAL GROUP

After working with Wells Fargo for seven years following college, Kenny Hodges founded Assurance Financial in 2001 and has grown the company to 21 branch offices supported by operations centers in Baton Rouge and Charlotte, North Carolina. The company has more than 200 employees and is currently originating mortgage loans in 28 states. Hodges is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Louisiana Mortgage Lenders Association, where he has served as board president.

COLLEGE DAYS: Hodges served as Student Government Association president at Louisiana Tech University.

EARLY CAREER ASPIRATIONS: It was always my goal to be an entrepreneur. When my wife and I were in college, I used to drive her crazy discussing different business ideas. I always wanted the flexibility to determine my own success based on the effort I was willing to put forth and the results that followed.

DONNIE JARREAU JR.

PARTNER

JARREAU REAL ESTATE

Donnie Jarreau co-founded Spectrum Fitness in 1992, and the health club quickly grew to nine locations in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Jarreau sold his last Spectrum Fitness location in 2009 to focus on the real estate industry. After nearly a decade successfully building a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio, he co-founded Regymen Fitness in 2017. Today, he is the driving force behind the brand. In 2020, Jarreau rebranded his commercial real estate company into Jarreau Real Estate and added two new companies to his family: JRE Property Management and JRE Private Equity. Jarreau is passionate about volunteering with the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition, the Options Foundation, the Kids Hope Program and the nonprofit he founded, the Everyone Plays Sports Foundation.

PROUD FATHER: Outside of work, Jarreau enjoys coaching his six children in various sports.

ANTHONY KIMBLE

FOUNDER AND CEO

KIMBLE PROPERTIES

Anthony Kimble’s firm invests in and redevelops neglected and distressed historic properties in underserved neighborhoods, like the Legacy on 14th coworking and event space in south Baton Rouge and Electric Depot in Mid City. He is also working to redevelop the former site of the Valley House Hotel on Government Street. Kimble is a board member for Mid City Merchants and Thrive Baton Rouge. Previously, he was managing partner for Blue House Construction & Consulting in New Orleans. Kimble was a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2021.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Kimble is a mentor in his own youth basketball program. HE SAID IT: “Me being from Baton Rouge coming into this neighborhood is not just about the buildings … it’s about how can we use this real estate project to rebuild people also.”

GEORGE KURZ

CO-OWNER

KURZ & HEBERT

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

George Kurz and Mark Hebert founded their real estate brokerage group in 1986, and over the next 35-plus years, have managed and closed deals for some of the most prominent pieces of real estate in the city. Some of Kurz’s clients have included Mockler Beverage, The Advocate, Baton Rouge General and the Farm Bureau. Kurz, known as the behind-the-scenes muscle of the prominent brokerage group, was also involved with the beginning development of Towne Center. In the community, Kurz serves on the board of the Growth Coalition and has previously served on the boards of St. James Place, St. Francisville Area Foundation, several local banks and BRAC.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: You learn more from a sinking ship than you do from a sailing ship.

HOBBIES: Duck hunting and spending time with family

MATHEW LABORDE

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ELIFIN REALTY

Mathew Laborde started his commercial real estate brokerage career at the age of 19 and has consistently been among the top producing commercial real estate agents in the state. He has extensive experience in brokering office, industrial, retail, multifamily, land, medical and investment property sale and lease transactions. Elifin Realty, which Laborde launched in 2016, recently expanded into New Orleans and Columbus, Ohio. Elifin was named Business Report’s 2023 Company of the Year (fewer than 100 employees) and Laborde was a 2017 Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Laborde has served on the boards of BRAF, Alzheimer’s Services/ Charlie’s Place, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and Forum 35.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Dr. Pepper

DREAM JOB AS A CHILD: Architect

NORISHA KIRTS GLOVER

OWNER

NRK CONSTRUCTION

After 13 years in fundraising, Norisha Kirts Glover made an unconventional choice for a career change—construction. Glover previously worked to support education reform and higher education institutions in Washington, D.C., California and Virginia, before returning home to work for the LSU Foundation supporting the E.J. Ourso College of Business. In 2015, she put her fundraising, business development and project management skills to use when she founded NRK Construction. Her local portfolio includes Cypress at Pinchback, Gov’t Taco and Counterspace Bakery. Her community service resume includes Louisiana Workforce Investment Commission, Louisiana Economic Development, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Accountability Commission and Junior League of Baton Rouge, where she served as president.

HOBBIES: Traveling, reading, wine tasting and volunteering

KARL LANDRENEAU

DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL SALES AND LEASING

NAI LATTER & BLUM

Karl Landreneau has nearly 30 years of experience in commercial real estate. He is director of commercial sales and leasing for NAI Latter & Blum, a subsidiary of what was the largest independently owned real estate brokerage company in the Gulf South until it was recently acquired by Compass Real Estate. He is a past chair of the Louisiana Realtors Association’s commercial business and industry team, where he was recognized for his role in helping to create the first database of Louisiana commercial properties for agents. He is a past president of East Baton Rouge Parish’s commercial investment division, a graduate of CCIM’s Jay Levin Leadership Academy and a member of CCIM’s national board of directors.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: My father said, “Always remember that your hands always fit a broom. You can always get a job and remember where you came from; you’re not above anything.”

CHARLES LANDRY

PARTNER

FISHMAN HAYGOOD

Charles Landry is the influential, politically connected go-to guy in the development game when it comes to navigating the land mines of politically sensitive projects. The real estate attorney, who concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate finance, and land use and zoning, often takes a more outspoken approach to touting the merits of a zoning change, a waiver or a project’s approval. He’s an expert on both tax increment financing and public-private partnerships on complex projects. He is also widely recognized as one of the leading land use attorneys in Louisiana and he has been involved in advancing the Baton Rouge-area’s high-tech, information and entrepreneurial economic sector. Landry has also gotten into the development game himself, through his involvement with the Americana TND in Zachary and Rouzan in Southdowns.

RECOGNITION: Landry was named Businessperson of the Year by Business Report in 2006.

STEVE LEGENDRE

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT/ BATON ROUGE MARKET DIRECTOR

STIRLING PROPERTIES’ COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE DIVISION

Since 1995, Steve Legendre has focused on helping clients with the acquisition and disposition of industrial and office properties, development land, and investment properties across Louisiana and the Gulf South. He is a go-to source for site selection, as he deeply understands the nuances and analysis from both the developer and end-user perspectives. Earning a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of New Orleans in 1991, Steve began his commercial real estate career in 1995. He’s been a leader in the local real estate industry, serving as president of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors Commercial Investment Division and president-elect for the Louisiana Commercial Database Board of Directors.

PAST LIFE: Legendre, along with Ben Graham and Justin Langlois founded SVN | Graham, Langlois & Legendre, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm servicing Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.

GARRY LEWIS

LIVINGSTON PARISH DEVELOPER

This Missouri native and small-time Baton Rouge property management firm founder has made a name for himself in Livingston Parish over the past decade as an early adopter of accelerating its growth. He owns thousands of acres in Livingston Parish— much of it centered around Satsuma. The largely rural unincorporated area was noted for little more than a ballpark and an I-12 exit until his arrival. The community is now the site of a planned executive airport on 242 acres that Lewis donated; he also secured the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (he flew them in the Navy) to mark the entrance. Lewis also launched Southshire, intended to be Livingston’s first mixed-use community, following development of Suma Lake Townhomes across the interstate. A strip mall at the exit is home to his classic car collection and the Suma Crossing Theatre.

FUN FACT: He grew up on a farm in Lilburn, Missouri, a town of 1,100.

CAROLYN MARTIN

PRESIDENT & CEO

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

REALTY TRUST

Real estate and commercial finance attorney

Carolyn Martin joined Commercial Properties Realty Trust more than three decades ago as its chief financial officer. With her expertise in real estate management, business strategy, budgets, business development, financial modeling, and corporate finance, CPRT has become a nationally recognized real estate investment trust that is developing new and leading-edge real estate developments across the Southeast. She has led the organization’s evolution from a strip center company to a philanthropic organization that focuses on real estate redevelopment.

THE PORTFOLIO: During Martin’s time with CPRT, the organization has been involved in the IBM Services Center and 525 Lafayette residential tower; the upscale Acadian Village; the 30-acre Water Campus; 5401 North in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Villages at Americana in Zachary.

DUANE MIZELL

OWNER AND CEO

STUART & COMPANY

GENERAL CONTRACTORS

Duane Mizell enjoys completing tasks that show visible progress and that make going to work each day an enjoyable and rewarding experience as owner and CEO of Stuart & Company General Contractors. Mizell accepted an offer to work at Stuart in college during the business’ startup stage, which led him on the trajectory to becoming CEO of the firm. At work, he enjoys the variety of people he engages with daily and solving problems. Outside of work, Mizell is an active member of St. George Catholic Church, treasurer for the Louisiana Association of General Contractors, Sigma Nu Fraternity Alumni Association and Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Alumni Association.

MOST UNUSUAL JOB: When I was younger, I had family members that were in the livestock and dairy business. When needed, I would help do anything from bottle-feeding fawns to helping milk cows and cleaning up their mess.

D. WESLEY MOORE PARTNER

COOK, MOORE, DAVENPORT & ASSOCIATES

D. Wesley Moore has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, working as a commercial real estate appraiser, market analyst, broker, consultant and instructor. His firm, Cook, Moore, Davenport & Associates, is one of the region’s largest commercial real estate firms, and Moore has advised lenders, developers, investors and others on many south Louisiana real estate transactions. He also taught for 13 years as an adjunct instructor in LSU’s finance department and has been a contributor to the Trends in Real Estate conference since 1989.

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: “Tort reform for Louisiana. I support it by voting and supporting candidates that are not puppets of the trial attorneys.”

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Martial arts

PROUD MOMENT: When LSU asked me to become an instructor with the E.J. Ourso College of Business.

RUSSELL MOSELY

FOUNDER AND DEVELOPER LONG FARM VILLAGE

Russell Mosely is the founder and developer of Long Farm Village, a 237-acre traditional neighborhood development that is planned to include more than 1,000 housing units comprising single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and multifamily units. The master plan also includes approximately 600,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office developments. For the project, Mosely took land in the Baton Rouge outskirts that his grandfather, former U.S. Sen. Russell Long, described as “paradise” and where he used to host parties and family gatherings. Mosely, who also owns Mosely Law Firm, is a board member of the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition, Tiger Athletic Foundation, Capital Area Finance Authority, Louisiana National Guard Foundation and Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame, and has served on several other boards in the past.

WORDS OF WISDOM: My grandfather once told me to always remember that people will come to know you for what you are—not who you are.

CALVERT STONE

OWNER AND PRINCIPAL COMMERCE TITLE & ABSTRACT

Calvert Stone’s journey into the title insurance sector began when he was 14 and took on a summer job at a local tax assessor’s office. The experience laid the foundation for this future career. Today, Stone is an attorney and licensed title insurance agent for Commerce Title & Abstract Company. He is the former general counsel for a regional real estate developer, has extensive experience with oil and gas title work and is an experienced house mover and renovator. Stone has served as host of Commerce Title’s “Rousing Housing” podcast and is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Louisiana Land Title Association.

HOBBIES: Cooking, gardening and researching historic homes and buildings.

BRANON PESNELL

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF INVESTMENTS

MARCUS & MILLICHAP

Industry veteran Branon Pesnell has brokered over 15 million square feet of space since 2001 and has consistently been a top producer in the industry, averaging more than $23 million in transactional volume annually. In October 2023, Pesnell moved to the commercial real estate brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap from a director position at Corporate Realty. Pesnell, an office and industrial specialist, brings more than 23 years of experience as a commercial real estate professional. He began his career in Baton Rouge, where he quickly became the local market expert for Class A & B office space. Career stops include NAI Latter & Blum, Transwestern and Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, where he co-founded its property management division.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Anywhere in the Caribbean ADVICE I’D GIVE: Celebrate your failures as much as your success. You will learn way more from your failures.

RANDY ROUSSEL

PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

Randy Roussel is one of the top real estate attorneys in the region, regularly helping clients get project approvals. He began his career as a certified public accountant at Arthur Anderson but left the profession to study law. He clerked for the federal Fifth Circuit before entering private practice. Over the years, he has represented Wampold Companies, Waffle House, Whitney National Bank, Carmouche Construction and a variety of multifamily and commercial developers. His practice specializes in mixeduse real estate development. Following his father’s encouragement, he has been active in a number of civic and social causes and volunteers his time to nonprofit organizations including the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, the Center for Planning Excellence and Friends of Burden.

FUN FACT: He has a passion for travel and wildlife photography, and his fifth book, Your Hand in Mine, documents the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SAUN SULLIVAN

CEO, DSLD HOMES

Under Saun Sullivan’s leadership, DSLD has emerged as one of the state’s largest production builders, constructing thousands of affordable homes with amenities packages built to suit customers’ varying tastes in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Texas and beyond. The company set records during the pandemic and is considered one of the top 30 homebuilders in the nation. Sullivan has been recognized as Builder of the Year by ProBuilder, and a Company of the Year by Business Report. Sullivan got his start working with longtime Denham Springs builder Allen Thomason.

BUSINESS MODEL: “We do not do custom houses. They are like Saks Fifth Avenue and we are more like Dillard’s.”

TEAM CULTURE: “We don’t employ people who believe they can sell ice to Eskimos. If they can’t stand behind our product, they can’t sell it. And the people we hire really want to be here and believe in our products.”

TODD WAGUESPACK

MANAGING PARTNER LEVEL HOMES

With both his father and grandfather heavily involved in real estate development, it was only natural for Todd Waguespack to follow in their footsteps. He gained his first experience in the commercial side of the business, working as a leasing agent for Kurz and Hebert Commercial Real Estate, where he learned about numbers, pricing and how to think on his feet. But in the late 1990s, he had an opportunity to do some homebuilding and found it more to his liking. In 2000, with partner Kelly Sills, he founded what was then called Level Construction and Development, starting small and gradually growing to do entire developments such as Nicholson Lakes, Arlington Trace and Lake Beau Pré. Waguespack was named Business Report’s No. 1 builder for 2005-2006 and a Top 10 Home Builder in Louisiana by National Home Builder magazine in 2009.

ON HIS MANAGEMENT STYLE: “I don’t think of myself as a boss. We’re a team.”

ADONICA PELICHET DUGGAN CEO

BATON ROUGE ALLIANCE FOR STUDENTS

Adonica Pelichet Duggan launched the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students in 2021 with the mission of empowering families and everyday residents to expect more from public schools through a variety of programs. The Alliance aims to educate families about how to find a school that fits their child’s needs; to train new leaders to push for student-centered change; and to speak up for underserved communities. Duggan also created Changemakers, an eightmonth cohort that brings together dynamic individuals across sectors—corporations, nonprofits and public entities—to learn practical knowledge and civic strategies designed to improve the school system and navigate toward the goal of equitable access for all students.

WALK-UP SONG: “The Greatest,” by Sia and Kendrick Lamar ACTRESS I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Kerry

Washington

MATT LEE

VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN

LSU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Matt Lee leads a top 15 agricultural sciences research college that is a global leader in this field. He serves as chief academic officer for 10 academic departments, educating approximately 11,000 students annually. Additionally, Lee provides executive leadership and vision for the statewide LSU AgCenter operations, which include approximately 1,000 employees, 79 research and extension offices, and a research and cooperative extension funding portfolio well in excess of $100 million annually. His prior leadership positions at LSU include interim executive vice president and provost, vice provost for academic programs, and senior associate vice president for research.

MUSIC OF CHOICE: I’m an unapologetic metalhead

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Red Zeppelin Pizza

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Josey Wales, from The Outlaw Josey Wales

JOHN FLAKE PROFESSOR, CAIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL

ENGINEERING

LSU

Known for his expertise and commentary on Louisiana’s petrochemical sector, John Flake is the former chair of LSU’s Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, and he remains on staff as a professor and researcher. His research focuses on materials chemistry, catalysis and energy. He is also a researcher with the H2theFuture “green” hydrogen initiative spearheaded by GNO Inc. Flake began his career at IBM, working with technical staff at a research center. He worked as a senior research and development scientist at Motorola before moving to Baton Rouge to teach at LSU. Today, he’s involved in research regarding electrochemical processes and materials, energy storage technology, electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction and materials for lithium batteries.

LATEST RESEARCH: At LSU, he oversees a team that is researching ways to utilize carbon dioxide as an alternative fuel in the conversion of ethane to ethylene.

JARED LLORENS

DEAN

LSU E.J. OURSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Jared Llorens began his service as the ninth dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business in 2020 after first serving as a faculty member and chair of the LSU Department of Public Administration. He is known as an expert in the areas of public sector compensation and recruitment. In 2020, Llorens was also named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, an honor reserved for public leaders and scholars in the field of public administration. He is the former editor-in-chief of Public Personnel Management, and his research has been widely published in various academic outlets. He is also co-author of a textbook.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Take no one’s word for anything, including mine—but trust your experience. Know whence you came. If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go.” – James Baldwin

HOBBY: Learning about car/truck engine mechanics

TINA HOLLAND

PRESIDENT & CEO

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY

Under Tina Holland’s decade of leadership, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, or Fran U, has grown from the former Our Lady of the Lake College to a university with three schools: the School of Nursing, the School of Health Professions and the School of Arts and Sciences. Students earn professional certificates all the way to doctoral level degrees. Before coming to Baton Rouge, Holland served for more than 22 years at Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, in Indiana. Prior to her career in higher education, she served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Rare filet mignon at Stab’s

ROLE MODEL: “When it comes to living out my vocation as a wife and mother [who also has a professional life], Gwen Hamilton has been a powerful example for me. She is strong, devoted to her faith and family, and navigates personal and professional challenges with integrity, grace and skill.”

ANDREW MAAS

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

LSU

Andrew Maas was recently instrumental in securing a historic grant of up to $160 million from the National Science Foundation. The grant is the largest the foundation has ever awarded and is a measure of LSU’s commitment to pioneering a sustainable energy future for Louisiana. While Maas leads the project, there are more than 50 partner organizations from across the state involved. At LSU, Maas oversees the Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization, helping LSU researchers turn their ideas into meaningful products and businesses. He also oversees LSU Innovation Park, a business incubator with approximately 40 tech startups as tenants; and the Small Business Development Centers, a state and federally funded Louisiana network to support small businesses.

FUN FACT: Maas is a licensed attorney in Ohio and a licensed professional engineer in Texas.

YVETTE MARSH ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT MANAGEMENT

LSU FOUNDATION

A prevailing adage in the development world is that donors don’t give to causes, they give to people with causes, placing the burden of success squarely on the person doing the asking. That’s the world in which Yvette Marsh operates: making sure the LSU Foundation is staffed with the highest level of talent, and ensuring team members find satisfaction in their work. She launched the organization’s first talent management program. Her 25-year career in the field includes serving as director of training and development for LSU, and working as a management consultant with SSA Consultants. She has been honored by Business Report as an Influential Woman in Business as well as with the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Kiwanis Club of LSU, and is a member of the Echo Alliance, supporting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

QUIRKY TALENT: I have typo eyes.

UNUSUAL JOB: During high school, I was a scarf model in the mall. Both memorable and unusual.

KIM HUNTER REED

COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS

Kim Hunter Reed is the only woman in the country to have served as a state higher education leader in more than one state. Previously, she led the Colorado Department of Higher Education and served in President Barack Obama’s administration as deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Higher Education. In Louisiana, Reed is focused on increasing educational attainment, erasing achievement gaps and increasing prosperity. In January 2023, she was named one of the nation’s Top 10 Black higher education leaders by Forbes.

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: A magic wand to erase poverty

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Food insecurity on college campuses. I support it by raising awareness, hosting office food drives, improving policies and promoting student engagement.

MOST MEMORABLE JOB: Teaching children who were afraid of the water to swim at the YMCA

AMANDA MARTIN CEO

STUDYVILLE

Studyville was launched in the fall of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and three years later, it was named one of America’s Top Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the only one from Louisiana to make the list of 70 top small companies. The idea for a fun, cool tutoring center came when Martin’s teenage sons were struggling to study effectively and turn work in on time. Today, Studyville has grown to two locations: one in Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge and a second location in Alexandria. Studyville offers test prep, tutoring, homework support, college applications and admissions, home schooling help and professional exam prep for adults under one roof.

HOBBIES: Exercise, reading and hanging out with family.

GUILTY PLEASURE: Hallmark movies DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Somewhere in the mountains.

ALBERT SAMUELS

CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

KRISTA RANEY

SENIOR

VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

LSU FOUNDATION

LSU President William Tate’s ambitious Scholarship First agenda targeting five bedrock disciplines with big economic development upside is no small feat. It also takes financial strength to get there. That’s where Krista Raney comes in. As senior vice president of development, her role is to raise the capital for the initiative. She also sets the strategy for how the foundation will continue to attract private investment, while also personally cultivating relationships with high net worth LSU alums worldwide. In just 14 years at the foundation, she has jettisoned from entry level to senior management. She played a lead role in helping the systemwide Fierce for the Future campaign surpass its $1.5 billion goal three years ahead of schedule.

LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE: My trajectory changed when a full scholarship made an LSU education possible.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: Everything you want is on the other side of hard.

Albert Samuels has been quoted nationally in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Huffington Post, U.S. News and World Report, and locally in The Advocate and Business Report regarding national, state and local politics and has been a local radio and television election analyst. On the academic side, Samuels has taught courses about American government, state and local government, constitutional law, civil liberties, race relations, Louisiana politics, Black politics, politics and religion, international relations and comparative government.

NOTED AUTHOR: Samuels is the author of Is Separate Unequal: Black Colleges and the Challenge to Desegregation, which received the Best Book Award from the Race and Ethnicity Section of the American Political Science Association.

DENNIS SHIELDS

PRESIDENT-CHANCELLOR

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Dennis Shields spent his earliest years living in a Catholic orphanage, a foster home, a boys’ home and another foster home. It’s through this lens that he views higher education’s core mission of helping students succeed and have great outcomes. In July 2022, Shields was appointed president and chancellor of Southern University, where 70% of students are the first generation in their family to attend college. He is enthusiastic about creating a learning environment that fosters success. Shields previously was chancellor for the University of Wisconsin Platteville, where he oversaw significant enrollment growth and state investment. He also worked in admissions for three law schools, was dean at another and served as vice president for student affairs at The City College of New York.

COLLEGE DAYS: Shields was a basketball player for Graceland College in Iowa and has said that he learned a lot about teamwork from his time as an athlete.

JANET SIMMONS

PRESIDENT AND CEO

HOPE MINISTRIES

OF BATON ROUGE

Janet Simmons has 38 years of experience in the nonprofit industry, both professionally and as a volunteer. She began working at Hope Ministries in 2004 as volunteer coordinator and then as program director and director of operations and social enterprise before being named president and CEO in 2012. Simmons developed and implemented Hope’s Understanding the Dynamics of Poverty and Understanding Your Workforce professional development workshops. Under her leadership, Hope launched The Way to Work Sustainable Workforce Solutions division to help clients earn sustainable employment. She is the recipient of the John W. Barton Sr. Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award, the Women’s Leadership Council of Capital Area United Way’s Leadership Excellence Award, and the United Christian Faith Ministries’ Torchbearer Award.

WILLIE SMITH CHANCELLOR

BATON ROUGE

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

As the leader of Baton Rouge Community College, Willie Smith has been successful in removing institutional barriers and advocating for disadvantaged young men and women. He has been working in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System for 23 years. At BRCC, he has led initiatives that have resulted in record enrollment growth, increased graduation/retention rates and an increase in the number of students receiving training at the school. In the last three years, he has secured more than $15 million in donations to support student and institutional success.

QUIRKY TALENT: Alligator hunting

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Basil Hayden

MEMORABLE PIECE OF WISDOM: My mentor, Chris Weaver, taught me that you can’t just disagree without offering a way to make it better.

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: Growing up in poverty taught me the value of family and the courage to have integrity.

ROBERT STUART

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LSU FOUNDATION

LSU alum Robert Stuart leads the foundation that is the primary fundraising entity for academics at Louisiana’s flagship university. Stuart’s extensive volunteer experience with LSU includes service as the first chairperson of the LSU Foundation National Board; chair of the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation, an affiliate of the LSU Foundation; and immediate past chair of the LSU Foundation board of directors. During his term as chair of the LSU Foundation board, Stuart led the board in preparing LSU for the launch of the $1.5 billion Fierce for the Future Campaign The campaign, LSU’s third ever and the first to unite its campuses, surpassed its campaign goal three years earlier than anticipated. Stuart is the former national head of middle market corporate banking at Capital One and has chaired the boards of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Woman’s Hospital.

FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Rossini’s in New York City

MICHAEL STUBBLEFIELD

VICE CHANCELLOR FOR RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Through his role at Southern University, Michael Stubblefield is bringing together government and the private sector to accomplish the ambitious goals of promoting quality of life and a research-driven and resource-sustained Louisiana economy. Stubblefield serves as the university’s representative to enter into grants and contracts and oversees their execution and closure. Through his office, Stubblefield has established mentor-protégé agreements between the university and associations, national labs and private firms. He has been a direct awardee of grants and contracts from such agencies as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Army Corps of Engineers, NASA and the EPA. In addition, he has established programs for increasing undergraduate and graduate research experiences.

EARLY CAREER: As an undergraduate, he interned with Frito Lay Inc. and the CIA.

MONTY SULLIVAN

SYSTEM PRESIDENT

LOUISIANA COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

As the leader of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System since 2014, Monty Sullivan has the challenging job of making sure Louisiana’s community and technical colleges are producing qualified graduates ready to go to work in the Capital Region and beyond. That means figuring out how to make higher education work not just for traditional students but for older adults trying to manage a full life while getting education and training under their belt. It also requires working extensively with the private sector and other branches of government. Prior to his appointment as president of LCTCS, Sullivan served as chancellor of Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

HE SAID IT: “Since 2007, our country has experienced what has been called the ‘birth dearth.’ Fewer children being born ultimately means fewer 18-year-old’s to attend college.”

WILLIAM

TATE

PRESIDENT LSU

William Tate leads the LSU System, including the flagship Baton Rouge campus, and is the first Black president in the university’s history. The system has more than 55,000 students and 3,000 full-timeequivalent faculty members, an endowment with a market value of more than $900 million, and about $350 million in annual research expenditures. Tate sets the strategy for all LSU campuses and has identified cancer care, agriculture, cybersecurity, energy, and coastal science as LSU’s “pentagon” of research priorities. He previously was executive vice president for academic affairs and provost for the University of South Carolina.

FUN FACT: Before going into higher education, Tate was a high school math teacher.

FAVORITE SONG: “Lose Yourself,” by Eminem

QUINTIN TAYLOR

CHANCELLOR

RIVER PARISHES

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Quintin Taylor leads River Parishes Community College in Gonzales, which is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System that plays an instrumental role in helping meet the workforce demands of the Capital Region. Taylor began working for RPCC in 2022. He served as interim chancellor for six months before being named to the permanent position. At RPCC, his focus has been on growing the college’s enrollment, refining business operations, supporting employee development, and providing quality services to students and industry partners. He also worked for the LCTCS in 2012 as executive director of media relations and then as chief public affairs officer.

BACKGROUND: Taylor has built a strong reputation as a communications strategist and crisis communications expert.

COLLIS TEMPLE JR.

CO-FOUNDER/BOARD MEMBER

THE HARMONY CENTER/ LSU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Collis Temple Jr. was thrust into the spotlight in 1971 when he became the first Black major sports athlete to accept an athletic scholarship to LSU. Today, however, much of his work is accomplished behind the scenes where he uses his connections and clout to get things done. Temple is a real estate developer and builder, and he has developed more than 500 housing units. He also co-founded The Harmony Center, a nonprofit residential agency that provides services to the developmentally disabled, adjudicated, mentally and medically ill, as well as to victims of abuse. His civic involvements include service on the LSU Junior Division board, LSU Alumni Association board, Tiger Athletic Foundation, National L Club, BREC Commission and Baton Rouge Area Chamber. As a basketball player at LSU, he was allconference in both academics and performance.

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL: After playing for LSU, Temple signed with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and had a brief professional career.

LAURA VINSANT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TEACH FOR AMERICA

Laura Vinsant, an alum of LSU and its Manship School of Mass Communication, was drawn to Teach for America’s mission after a positive experience as a volunteer tutor. After graduating in 2007, she spent the next two years teaching second- and third-grade students at a school in north Baton Rouge and became so invested with the organization she stayed with it. Today, she serves as executive director for Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge, where she is focused on the future of the educator workforce and the innovations that must be pursued to ensure every child has access to high-quality teachers.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t wait until you feel ready.

HOBBY OR INTEREST: Among a group of dear friends, we have chosen 12 countries to focus on this year. Each month brings a new country. We plan a meal reflective of their cuisine, watch films from that region, and try to find an activity that reflects the respective culture.

ALTON ASHY PRESIDENT ADVANCED STRATEGIES INC.

Alton Ashy’s ability to quickly assess an issue and develop a winning legislative strategy has helped his firm, Advanced Strategies, achieve great success for its clients over the years. Ashy is best known for his work lobbying for the video poker industry and river pilots. He established his firm nearly two decades ago, after working as a legislative staffer for both the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives. He then transitioned into governmental relations representing big-name clients including LSU. Additional clients include Salesforce, Aetna, Coastal Conservation Association, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, LA Wallet and Waste Management.

HOBBY: Golf

PASSION: Fashion. Ashy is known for his lobbying work—and his suits.

MICHAEL BEYCHOK

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND PARTNER

OURSO BEYCHOK

Through the firm he started in 2001 with partner Trey Ourso, Michael Beychok has worked on hundreds of winning political campaigns in more than 20 states. The firm, Ourso Beychok, also has been named to Campaigns & Elections magazine’s Best Client List. Beychok has been a direct mail consultant for more than two decades, working on campaigns in dozens of states ranging from U.S. presidential elections to local races for city council seats. Beychok and Ourso both served on Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s reelection campaign committee.

HOBBY: Beychok is a prolific horse bettor, and his pick won the 2013 National Handicapping Championship, which came with a million-dollar prize. He also writes a daily column for The Advocate about his horse picks for Fair Grounds races.

C.J. BLACHE

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

ROEDEL PARSONS

Cecil “C.J.” Blache has been active in every session of the Louisiana Legislature since 1980. His law practice focuses on governmental relations and regulatory law at the state and local level, and his clients include a multitude of public and quasi-public entities as well as some of the largest corporations in the petrochemical, transportation, maritime and business arenas. Those clients have included Transdev, The Port of New Orleans, the New Orleans Aviation Board, Chevron, Reynolds American Inc. and the New Orleans Business Council. Prior to private practice, Blache served as assistant secretary of labor over employment security with the Louisiana Department of Labor and chief legal counsel to the Louisiana House Labor Committee.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Blache is active in multiple civic, business and nonprofit organizations and has served on the boards of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Liberty Bank and Trust and The Jazz and Heritage Foundation.

CAMILLE CONAWAY

SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND LOBBYIST

DELOITTE US

Camille Conaway knew early on that whatever she did in life, she wanted it to make a difference. Her career as a lobbyist led her to the nation’s capital to work on U.S. foreign policy, but she found her way back home after Hurricane Katrina and now works to impact policy at the state level. Conaway has previously worked for the United Nations, former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Blueprint Louisiana, among others. She currently serves as senior manager and a lobbyist for Deloitte US, which bills itself as the largest professional services organization in the nation. Outside of work, Conaway serves on the board of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: Take risks. Take the gamble, especially when you’re young. You won’t fall flat on your face. Don’t have a five-year plan, you’ll miss out on chances.

BUD COURSON

CO-OWNER

COURSON NICKEL

For more than 20 years, Bud Courson has been co-owner of the governmental relations and issues management firm Courson Nickel. The firm has been involved in hundreds of issues at the state and federal level, with clients comprising companies and executives from Baton Rouge to the U.K. Earlier in his career, Courson served former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, as well as the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, rising to the position of first assistant to the commissioner and then to deputy commissioner.

ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Sir Paul McCartney

ADVICE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN THEIR CAREER: “Always treat others as you want to be treated. Work as hard as you possibly can toward the goal (never leaving your family or God out of the equation). Always give a friendly smile to those you meet and lend a helping hand. Always keep ethics and legal standards in mind on every decision.”

JASON DECUIR

FOUNDING PARTNER

ADVANTOUS CONSULTING

Jason DeCuir has established himself as the go-to guy on tax policy and has been practicing in the tax arena for more than 20 years representing businesses across all industry sectors. He established Advantous Consulting, a multistate tax services firm in 2020, and Advantous Law in the fall of 2022. At Advantous, DeCuir oversees the sales and use tax, appeals and disputes, governmental relations, and business development teams. Prior to Advantous, he was a partner at a tax services firm headquartered in Dallas. He also served as chief of staff, assistant secretary and executive counsel at the Louisiana Department of Revenue from 2011 to 2014.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Serves on the boards of the Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, Cristo Rey Franciscan High School, Inspire Charter Academy, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Salvation Army and Young Leaders Academy.

FUN FACT: DeCuir was a kicker for the Howard University football team in Washington, D.C.

J. WESLEY

DANIELS JR. CEO

EAST BATON ROUGE

PARISH HOUSING AUTHORITY

With a career spanning more than 30 years, J. Wesley Daniels brings in-depth real estate experience in both the public and private sectors to his role leading the EBRPHA. Before becoming CEO of EBRPHA and Partners Southeast, Daniels served as chief operating officer for Partners Southeast, the development arm of the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority. Before his time in Baton Rouge, Daniels developed real estate projects for affordable and marketrate housing communities in Atlanta and Charlotte. His experience includes Dynasty Capital Partners, a private urban development firm, as well as the real estate development divisions of the Charlotte and Atlanta housing authorities. He has gained a unique perspective on public/private partnerships and the role of innovation in creating valuable and distinctive housing communities.

HOBBIES: Gardening and farming BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Play the long game.

RENWICK DEVILLE OWNER

HARRIS, DEVILLE & ASSOCIATES

Renwick Deville now heads a Louisiana legacy lobbying firm that counts among its clients numerous Fortune 100 companies. It has provided a voice and governmental relations in association with billions of dollars in new investments in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. Known among friends as Renny, Deville brings more than four decades of real world experience in strategic planning, business development and expansion, crisis management and scientific expertise. His approach is methodical and no-nonsense. Deville has developed communications strategies for managing many high-profile volatile issues, including litigation public relations, environmental justice and crisis communications.

EDUCATION: Deville holds a master’s degree in natural science from LSU.

DOUBLE DUTY: For more than a decade, he has been a senior adviser in public and governmental affairs to Golden Pass LNG in Houston.

SECRETARY OF THE SENATE LOUISIANA STATE SENATE

Yolanda Dixon is the first woman and first African American to serve as secretary of the Louisiana State Senate. She was elected to the position in January 2020. Dixon began working for the Senate in 1988, first as an attorney and then transitioning to working for the Senate education committee. In her current role, she advises the president, officers and members of the Senate on parliamentary procedures and the Senate rules. She is the chief administrative officer and attorney for the Senate. She is also the custodian of all records, proceedings and actions.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Her first experience volunteering was through her college sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and from there Junior League of Baton Rouge, where she was elected president of the Baton Rouge chapter—the first African American to hold the office.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

MARK DRENNEN CEO CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY

Mark Drennen took over in 2017 as head of the Capital Area Finance Authority, an agency that helps people buy homes in the nine-parish Capital Region and also aids in financing a wide range of public projects. Drennen is known throughout the Capital Region for his dynamic leadership experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. He previously served for eight years as commissioner of administration under Gov. Mike Foster. In that position, Drennen played a key role in forming public-private partnerships that revitalized downtown Baton Rouge and developed the Shaw Center for the Arts. Before joining CAFA, Drennen led operations for Cornerstone Government Affairs, providing state government relations and business consulting to a variety of clients.

NAME CHANGE: Formerly known as the East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority, the agency changed its name to the Capital Area Finance Authority, or CAFA, in 2014.

JASON DRODDY

VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND PUBLIC POLICY

LSU

An influential voice at LSU’s flagship campus, Jason Droddy’s responsibilities expanded in August 2023 when he took over a strategic planning role. His duties also include conducting research and analysis on policy issues affecting LSU and its competitiveness; representing LSU in economic and community development efforts; facilitating and advocating for new research and community projects; and leading the external affairs team in the strategic planning process. Droddy previously served as executive director of the LSU Board of Supervisors.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Your word is the only currency that counts.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Louisiana

Lagniappe’s snapper en papillote

BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING THEIR CAREER: You never know who is watching, so always act professionally.

BARRY ERWIN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA

Barry Erwin has more than 30 years of experience in the public affairs, policy and political arenas. He began doing consulting work for CABL in 1995 before taking the helm in 2001 of the statewide nonprofit that addresses issues impacting quality of life in Louisiana. Over the years, CABL has been involved in numerous public policy issues surrounding education, workforce development, state fiscal policies and governmental ethics. Prior to CABL, Erwin worked on public affairs projects and spent 15 years as a broadcast journalist covering state politics at KSLA-TV in Shreveport and WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge.

PASSION: Cooking interesting food that no one prepares at home.

FUN FACT: Erwin taught professional journalists in Zambia as part of a U.S. State Department program to aid emerging democracies.

RANDY HAYNIE

OWNER AND PRESIDENT

HAYNIE & ASSOCIATES

Randy Haynie has spent the past four decades lobbying state legislators during the administrations of seven Louisiana governors, and his influence is indisputable. Haynie’s government relations firm was established in 1980 with offices in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. He represents national corporations such as JPMorgan Chase, General Motors, MillerCoors, Caesars Entertainment, the New Orleans Saints and the National Football League. His Louisiana clients include Crescent River Pilots, Louisiana Anesthesiologists, Louisiana Engineers Society, LAMICO and Lemoine Contractors, among others. He also serves as president of Louisiana Governmental Studies, which has published a Louisiana legislative directory yearly since 1984.

HOBBY: Haynie is an avid collector of historical artifacts and art, including currency, photos of Louisiana governors and memorabilia, early maps of Louisiana and original paintings by Louisiana and Southern artists.

MIKE EDWARDS DIRECTOR

OF AVIATION

BATON ROUGE

METROPOLITAN AIRPORT

Since his appointment as director of aviation in 2018, Mike Edwards has secured more than $100 million in federal and state funding for capital improvements at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. He is responsible for a staff of 82, in addition to administering a $15 million annual operating budget. BTR is the second-largest airport in Louisiana and the Upper Gulf Region by passenger volume, and it is a major economic engine for the Baton Rouge area with a $1.1 billion annual economic impact that supports more than 4,500 direct and indirect jobs.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: ”Danger Zone,” by Kenny Loggins

HOBBY: Paddleboarding

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: 30A beaches

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Riding my bike with the kids or going on hikes with as a family QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”—Winston Churchill

ROSE HUDSON

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LOUISIANA LOTTERY

Rose Hudson is a prominent industry and community leader. She has served as Louisiana Lottery’s president and CEO since 2006 and is only the fourth in the lottery’s history. Under Hudson’s stewardship, the lottery has enjoyed some of its most successful years, garnering cumulatively more than $2.7 billion, which is used to help fund K-12 education in Louisiana. Hudson is also an industry and community leader, serving on many boards including those for Investar Bank and Woman’s Hospital.

FUN FACT: Hudson credits her parents with instilling in her a service-minded approach to life. Her father was fond of saying, “Service is the rent you pay to be part of a community.”

HER MAJESTY: Hudson was crowned queen of Karnival Krewe de Louisiane, becoming the first African American person to gain royalty status in the krewe’s history.

TAKING CARE OF MEDICALLY FRAGILE PATIENTS FOR OVER 12 YEARS

CENTER BASED APPROACH TO PEDIATRIC SKILLED NURSING CARE

Pediatric Day Health Center (PDHC) specializing in pediatric skilled nursing, developmental therapies, and daily transportation for medically fragile children in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. Passionate about improving the lives of children through medical, physical, and emotional support. Our medical day health center is available up to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

COMMON CONDITIONS:

• Seizure Disorder

• Genetic Disorders

• End-Stage Diseases

• Congenital Disorders

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• Complications of Prematurity

• Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders

• Oncological/Hematological Disorders

• Ventilator/Tracheostomy Dependence

WHO WE SERVE?

Infants & children with complex medical needs:

• Technology Dependent

• Delayed Developmentally

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INLOVINGARMSKIDS.COM 225.359.9777 2315 HARDING BLVD. BATON ROUGE, LA 70807

RANDAL JOHNSON

PARTNER, SOUTHERN STRATEGY GROUP

Knowledgeable on matters at both state and federal levels, Randal Johnson’s management of issues through legislative and regulatory action has led to the creation and retention of thousands of Louisiana jobs. He joined Southern Strategy in 2006 with more than 25 years of public sector experience. He is recognized as an expert in law enforcement investigations and administration. He also serves as president and CEO of the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association.

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: I jumped off a crane on a bungee cord, and I had many intense yet productive experiences working alongside law enforcement in the early years of my career.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Thomas Jefferson. I would ask him how he managed all of the personalities in the Continental Congress in preparing for the creation of this nation.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Keep working

JODY MONTELARO

VICE PRESIDENT OF

AFFAIRS

As vice president of public affairs for Entergy Louisiana, Jody Montelaro has oversight of all Louisiana governmental affairs on behalf of Entergy’s Louisiana companies. He also oversees the coordination of the organization’s volunteer efforts and charitable contributions. Montelaro joined Entergy in 2011 as a senior governmental affairs executive responsible for addressing the company’s legislativerelated issues with the Louisiana Legislature and various state agencies. Prior to joining Entergy, he served as senior policy adviser to Gov. Bobby Jindal. In the community, he serves on the board of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and he previously served with the Manship Theatre, New Schools for Baton Rouge, and Capital Area United Way, among others.

BOOK THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON ME: The Art of Servant Leadership

CHILDHOOD DREAM: To become a restaurant owner and chef

CAMPBELL KAUFMAN

PRESIDENT CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Camp Kaufman helped start Cornerstone in 2002 with a few colleagues in one office and a handful of clients. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to its current market position of more than 150 employees and hundreds of clients across 15 offices nationwide. Kaufman directly manages the firm’s activities, relying on his 30 years of public affairs experience. Prior to Cornerstone, Kaufmann worked for two other Washington, D.C., companies as well as on Capitol Hill for two Louisiana members of Congress.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY:

Swimming, even though I’m mostly a sinker. There’s always peace with a good swim, no matter the distance.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Stay patient and be self-aware. I find that my friends or family or business colleagues who have these two traits tend to be the most successful people I know, and the happiest.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Anything from The Chimes.

JIM NICKEL

LOBBYIST AND PARTNER

COURSON NICKEL

Jim Nickel has more than 25 years of governmental and political experience. He was hired directly out of college to work for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of then-U.S. Rep. John Breaux of Louisiana. He went on to serve in various roles including as executive director for the Louisiana Democratic Party, where he coordinated successful campaigns for dozens of statewide, legislative, parish and local offices in the ‘90s. Nickel is a regular political commentator on television and radio stations across the state. His governmental relations clients have included Sempra Energy, Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, 3M Corporation, IBM, Rite Aid Corporation, ATT, The Louisiana Police Jury Association, Motorola and Stonehenge Capital, among others.

FUN FACT: The late political commentator John Maginnis once referred to Nickel as “the most effective political operative in Louisiana politics.”

LIZ MANGHAM PARTNER

SOUTHERN STRATEGY GROUP

A founding member of SSG, Liz Mangham serves as the firm’s managing partner. Many in governmental affairs look to Mangham and her firm for guidance on the pivotal issues of the day, including education and criminal justice reform. Mangham began her career in politics working on campaigns, and after two years working on the road, she returned to Louisiana in 1996 and got her first lobbying gig with the then-Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, now called the Louisiana Association of Justice. Today, she primarily represents clients before the legislative, executive and regulatory branches of state government, focusing on issues related to criminal justice reform, infant and maternal health, the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, substance use and prevention, economic development and agricultural commodities.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: “My father said, ‘The worst decision you can make is no decision at all.’ My mother said, ‘Make your own money.’”

NIAL PATEL

PRINCIPAL AND DIRECTOR CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Recognized as a top young leader and known for his volunteer activism, Nial Patel established himself as one of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s longest-serving senior staff members before joining Cornerstone in 2011. At Cornerstone, he specializes in federal and state government relations and participates in public affairs and business advisory services. In addition, he serves on the boards of numerous local organizations.

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: “I strongly believe that an excellent education is the only way for Louisiana to succeed in so many areas. It creates economic opportunities leading to better health outcomes and infrastructure while reducing crime and fostering a vibrant quality of life.”

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Humble and Kind,” by Tim McGraw

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: I love a very cold Coke, but I typically just order tea these days.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Michael Corleone from The Godfather

STEVEN PROCOPIO

PRESIDENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

RESEARCH COUNCIL

Steven Procopio took the helm as PAR president in 2021 after serving as policy director for seven years. PAR is one of the most widely recognized nonpartisan policy organizations in Louisiana, perhaps best known for its reviews of proposed state constitutional amendments. Previously, Procopio served as chief of staff of the Louisiana Division of Administration, where he worked on several transparency and fiscal issues. Prior to that, he was director of research and accountability for the lieutenant governor’s office and the Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. In that role he was responsible for research on Louisiana’s cultural economy and legislative initiatives. He was also founding director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab.

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Education, particularly early childhood education

THREE FAVORITE THINGS: Hard apple cider, LSU football and escape rooms

LIONEL RAINEY

POLITICAL CONSULTANT

LR3 CONSULTING

Lionel Rainey III, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, started LR3 Consulting in 2013 with two goals in mind—win elections and provide superb service to his clients. Over the years, he has guided more than 25 winning campaigns, including seven statewide wins and the creation of the largest municipal incorporation since Reconstruction. He is considered one of the founding fathers of the St. George incorporation effort. Previously, he has worked on campaigns for U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, John Kennedy and Marco Rubio, and, in 2020, he was tapped for Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s transition team.

PASSION: Golf

ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: A young Clint Eastwood

MOST UNUSUAL OR MEMORABLE JOB: Working on a small family dairy farm one summer

DELIA ADAMS TAYLOR

PRESIDENT

TAYLOR MEDIA SERVICES

Through her public relations firm, Delia Taylor works with various business clients and local political candidates on important campaign issues. She earned national recognition for her work on the “Don’t Let One Bad Decision Decide Your Future” campaign encouraging high school prom safety, and her public relations campaign for Livingston Parish Public Schools’ 2021 bond proposition requesting funding for athletic facility improvements at Denham Springs High School was approved with voter support of 76%. She chairs the Livingston Parish Airport District, is past president of the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication Alumni board of directors and serves on the boards for the Baton Rouge Press Club and the National L Club.

FUN FACT: Taylor played for the LSU women’s basketball team, from 1984 to 1986.

STEPHEN WAGUESPACK

SPECIAL COUNSEL

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Stephen Waguespack served as the head of Louisiana’s largest business organization, LABI, before stepping down to run for governor in 2023. In January, he accepted a position with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce working on projects related to his areas of expertise, which include energy, insurance, legal reform, workforce development, smallbusiness issues and state-level advocacy. His professional focus has been helping Louisiana reach its full potential, which usually means working with elected officials on reform policies to make the state more competitive as well as collaborating with the business community to grow the economy. Before being selected as head of LABI, Waguespack was chief of staff for former Gov. Bobby Jindal.

WALK-UP SONG: “Front Porch Looking In,” by Lonestar

CAUSES OR CHARITIES I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: The Emerge Center, The Emerge School for Autism and Franciscan High School

PAUL RAINWATER MANAGER

RAINWATER CONSULTING

A former local and state government official who served as chief of staff for Gov. Bobby Jindal, Paul Rainwater left the role to pursue a career in the private sector. He has served as a trusted adviser to all levels of government and private sector stakeholders solving difficult infrastructure and disaster-related challenges through federal funding and program design solutions. Previously, he played a prominent role in Louisiana during its recovery from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, as well as helping the state navigate in the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He also led the effort for Gov. John Bel Edwards to develop an appropriations strategy for federal response and development of long-term recovery plans following the historic August 2016 flood.

BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT: Don’t mimic other people; make your own distinct path. It takes time, hard work and a lot of risk if you want to be successful.

COREY WILSON

SUPERINTENDENT BREC

Corey Wilson is only the sixth superintendent in BREC’s 75-year history. He was appointed to lead the BREC system in 2019, moving up from the No. 2 spot to replace the retiring Carolyn McKnight. In 2022, for the third time in BREC’s history, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration awarded BREC a gold medal for excellence in park and recreation management. Before BREC, Wilson owned and managed a financial consulting and real estate development firm in New Orleans.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Wilson is a board member of the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, a member of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, a 2014 graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s leadership program and a 2020 graduate of the Council for a Better Louisiana’s leadership program.

HOBBIES: Wilson still enjoys sports as much as he did in high school and dabbles in photography in his spare time.

BARBARA AUTEN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ALZHEIMER’S SERVICES OF THE CAPITAL AREA INC.

Barbara Auten has more than 20 years of professional experience and 37 years of volunteer and board experience in nonprofit organizations and fundraising. Following Hurricane Katrina and a move to Baton Rouge, she joined Alzheimer’s Services in 2006 and became executive director in 2008. Auten led the organization in developing the first social model respite center in Louisiana—Charlie’s Place—which was recognized as the National Adult Day Service Center of 2008. She received the John W. Barton Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in 2013 and was named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report in 2012.

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: I was a Girl Scout leader for 24 years, and I know what a difference the program can make in a girl’s life.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Rome and the Amalfi Coast THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Next Thing You Know,” by Jordan Davis

CAMILLE MANNINGBROOME

PRESIDENT AND CEO

CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE

GEORGE BELL

PRESIDENT AND C CAPITAL AREA UNITED WAY

Following three decades of experience as a health care executive, George Bell’s latest role is leading the local chapter of the United Way, an agency that raises money and distributes it to charities in the Baton Rouge area. Its focus areas include education, income stability, health and basic needs. Aside from work, Bell is heavily involved in the local community and has served on several boards over the years including Rotary Club, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Center for Planning Excellence, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Urban Congress and Mid City Redevelopment Alliance.

HOBBY: Music, as a musician (trumpet), band leader and listener

QUIRKY TALENT: I love a good pun.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Swimming THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “My Tribute (To God be the Glory)”

Through her work at the Center for Planning Excellence, Camille Manning-Broome promotes a bold, inclusive and sustainable vision for the future while ensuring Louisiana maintains its unique strengths. Her leadership and expertise on climate adaptation, people-first infrastructure and resident-led planning have been instrumental in placing Louisiana at the forefront of the conversation surrounding issues facing our changing coastlines. She was named by Business Report as a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2009 and as an Influential Woman in Business in 2019.

VALUABLE LESSON: LEARNED: Difficult experiences allow you to grow significantly if you lean into it and focus on reflection, clarity and keeping a positive perspective.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Sailing overseas, anywhere MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Bungee jumping off a bridge in Switzerland

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Criollo at Cocha

WILL CAMPBELL DIRECTOR

B1 FOUNDATION

Will Campbell is known for his involvement in the lending industry, economic development programs and community outreach initiatives. With more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, his areas of expertise include loan packaging, strategic business planning, bank management, and entrepreneurship. Currently, he serves as director of the b1 Foundation, the community outreach organization of b1Bank. Additionally, he serves as an adjunct professor at Southern University, where he teaches entrepreneurship in the MBA program. He is also a proud veteran, with 17 years of service as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.

HIDDEN TALENT OR SKILL: Most people do not know that outside of being a banker, I am a pastor of a local church.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Always live above reproach.”

BUCKET LIST ITEM: I would love to visit the Holy Land in Israel one day.

LORI BERTMAN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BERTMAN AND ASSOCIATES

Lori Bertman is a longtime philanthropy executive and consultant, helping to strengthen nonprofits and foundations, as well as corporate and donor strategic philanthropy initiatives. She was the longtime president and CEO of the Irene W. And C.B. Pennington Foundation, Louisiana’s largest private family foundation, now known as the Pennington Family Foundation. She is also co-founder of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and City Year Louisiana. She is a recognized expert in disaster-related philanthropy. Following Hurricane Katrina, Bertman organized local and national philanthropic resources to raise more than $40 million in recovery funds. She founded Bertman + Associates, a philanthropy and fund development consulting firm in 2001.

QUIRKY HOBBY OR TALENT: Hockey superfan

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Gino’s shrimp and spaghetti

MAXINE CRUMP

Maxine Crump has worked in news, public relations and media development but she says her proudest moment was when the Dialogue on Race series was held in a boardroom in Baton Rouge. Crump began her broadcast career as an announcer at WXOK and WFMF radio and then worked 15 years in news at WAFB TV, one year for BET News, and eight years covering local programming in Ascension for APTV. Additionally, she has served on the board and as a three-term president for the YWCA. Through the Dialogue on Race Louisiana, Crump has created a way of talking about race that leads to understanding and change. She was the first African American woman to live on LSU’s campus, first African American woman DJ on Baton Rouge radio, and the first African American woman news reporter on Baton Rouge television.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Sazerac

CHRIS CUMMINGS

FOUNDER AND CEO

ICONIC MOMENTS AND PASS IT DOWN

In 2021, Chris Cummings launched Iconic Moments, the first NFT marketplace exclusively for historical and cultural brands. He also founded Pass It Down, a digital storytelling platform that allows museums, galleries and businesses to create websites and virtual experiences for visitors anywhere in the world. The idea came from the experience of wanting to capture his mother’s stories after she developed early-onset dementia when he was just 17. Pass It Down has been recognized as a pioneer in experiential media by the Consumer Technology Association and Museum + Heritage Awards. Cummings advises some of the world’s leading cultural institutions on how to drive digital engagement and revenue. In 2022, Iconic Moments received a U.N. World Summit Award for innovation in culture and tourism.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY: St. Louis Cardinals games

MOTTO: Work hard, play hard.

CHRISTIAN ENGLE

PRESIDENT AND CEO

YMCA OF THE CAPITAL AREA

Christian Engle has worked for the YMCA for 34 years. Before coming to Baton Rouge in 2017, he worked for the organization in various other parts of the country. His experience with YMCA operations encompasses wellness, membership, youth programming, resident camping, summer camping and housing. In Baton Rouge, he is a member of the Rotary Club, co-chairs the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Regional Brand Task Force and is a member of BRAC’s Vibrant Downtown Taskforce. He also serves on several national YMCA committees.

MOST MEMORABLE JOB: Working as a valet at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego in high school. We interacted with famous TV and movie stars and sports athletes, but the highlight was every Sunday, when Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss and his wife, Audrey, would come to the hotel for brunch. He always had a funny story or quip for us.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Disney World

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: James Bond

HELENA CUNNINGHAM

FOUNDER AND CEO

NATIONAL HOUSING CONSULTANT SERVICES

Helena Cunningham has said that developing affordable housing is like putting together a puzzle with a missing piece. You know the who, when, where and how, but the missing piece is the financing structure, and that’s where the challenge comes in. Cunningham runs a full-service housing development and consulting firm that has helped shape the Capital Region’s real estate landscape. Over her career, she has directed the rehabilitation and new development of more than 3,000 units of multifamily affordable housing in the Gulf Coast region. Prior to founding NHCS, Cunningham served as president of the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.

DOWNTIME: I love watching sports, so my favorite way to relax after a busy day is to recline in my comfortable chair while watching sports (preferably football or tennis) with a glass of champagne.

ERIC DEXTER

VICE PRESIDENT OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

Eric Dexter’s role at BRAF involves overseeing the foundation’s major projects and implementing initiatives that align with the organization’s Opportunity Agenda. The agenda aims to build a better future for Baton Rouge and beyond, focusing on enhanced quality of life, regional resilience, strong and safe neighborhoods, healthier outcomes for families, excellence in education, and economic prosperity. He has served on numerous boards and committees and has received several awards and honors including LABI Young Businessperson-Free Enterprise Champion, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge Great Futures Gala honoree, and being named to Business Report’s Forty Under 40 list.

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: There’s not much that a good night’s rest can’t help.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Marty McFly

QUIRKY TALENT: I know a little bit about a lot of things, which makes me a ringer for trivia nights.

ANDREW FITZGERALD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER

Andrew Fitzgerald leads BRAC’s research and strategy team, and his team’s work has been featured in national publications such as the Washington Post and New York Times, as well as in-state publications such as Business Report and The Advocate. While the research team was initially conceived as a support function for other teams within BRAC, it later expanded its scope of work to help keep Capital Region residents abreast of regional economic conditions and relevant public policy issues. Fitzgerald, who was part of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 class for 2022, has served in several research roles at BRAC since joining the organization in 2015. Prior to joining BRAC, he worked as an attorney in Chicago.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: It’s hard to find a better place than Chicago in the summer. The Cubs, the lake, the food, the weather.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Pork tacos at Barracuda.

BRACE “TREY” GODFREY III

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY

BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER

Trey Godfrey leads the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s public policy and federal, state and local government affairs activity. He has a diverse background in organizational management, public policy, economic development, government relations, diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship and property development. Before joining BRAC, he served as executive director of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge and managing partner of Cyntreniks, helping to develop the Kress Building and Hotel Indigo in downtown Baton Rouge.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Take small steps every day toward becoming who you want to be. You won’t get there overnight. Consistency and discipline are more important than you think.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “I Wish,” by Skee-Lo DESTINATION OF CHOICE: St. Lucia for its jazz festival. Great music in paradise—what’s not to love?

Born to stando

Specializing inWomen and Infants

AstheONLYhospitalintheU.S.specializingingynecology andmaternitycaretoberecognizedforexcellencein infectionpreventionandpatientexperience,Woman's shinesabovetherest.Wesetthestandardinexceptional careforwomenandinfantsbecauseourpatientsand communitydeservenothinglessthanthebest.

CARISSA GRAVES

VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPIC ADVANCEMENT

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

Carissa Graves is well known in the Baton Rouge area for her work in the philanthropic sector. Graves previously served as vice president of community engagement at Franciscan High School, formerly Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School. She originally joined the staff of the school to help lead its corporate work study program. Graves is an AmeriCorps alum who taught in the program in public schools in Michigan and Washington. Graves, the wife of U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, joined the BRAF executive team in the fall of 2022 to help boost the nonprofit’s philanthropic base with her deep ties to numerous current and potential BRAF donors.

HOBBIES: Yoga, hiking, family bike rides and reading

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The coast of Italy

VENEETH IYENGAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTIVITY

CONNECTLA

Veneeth Iyengar is the first executive director for the state of Louisiana’s broadband efforts, known as ConnectLA. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating efforts among federal, state and local leaders in allocating nearly $1.6 billion in federal funds to eliminate the digital divide in Louisiana by 2029. Iyengar first joined Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s administration in 2018 and led the administration’s efforts surrounding economic development, small business, and building innovative public-private partnerships. ConnectLA has been recognized nationally, and Iyengar is often asked to speak at events for Pew Charitable Trusts, the National Governors Association, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, among others.

PEACE CORPS: Iyengar was finishing up his undergraduate degree when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened, which inspired his interest in public service. He joined the Peace Corps and focused on economic development challenges in the Philippines.

KISMET GRAY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MID CITY

REDEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE

A longtime resident of Mid-City Baton Rouge, Kismet Gray brings more than 20 years of progressive experience to her role leading the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance. The agency develops and promotes the growth and revitalization of Mid City by attracting and retaining residents and businesses. Gray began her career in nonprofit financial management and operations. Prior to joining the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, she was a staff accountant with Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge and director of finance and human resources with Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Gray has served as president of the Gamma Eta Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, with which she has more than 25 years of service.

MIKE HAMAN

SENIOR PASTOR

HEALING PLACE

Mike Haman worked at Healing Place in various roles for more than 20 years before taking the reins as senior pastor in 2013 from the church’s founder, the Rev. Dino Rizzo. Today, Haman leads one of the largest nondenominational Christian church congregations in Louisiana. Thousands of worshippers gather each Sunday at Healing Place’s nearly 60-acre campus on Highland Road. The organization now has 12 campuses, including multiple overseas locations. Haman and his wife, who also preaches at the church, oversee the Baton Rouge Dream Center, two campuses in Africa, one in Honduras and an interactive online campus. Haman is also the author of The Second Mile, which encourages people to go the distance to fulfill their purpose in life.

FUN FACT: Haman was a good enough high school basketball player that he was recruited by Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University) to play on a full scholarship.

RAYMOND JETSON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE CATALYST METROMORPHOSIS

Through the nonprofit he founded to help solve problems faced by residents of innercity neighborhoods, Raymond Jetson is motivating older Black men to mentor Black youth and young adults. Jetson has been a driving force in the redevelopment of north Baton Rouge, and he works closely with BRAF and the city-parish government on numerous initiatives. Jetson was pastor for more than 20 years at Star Hill Church and served in the state House of Representatives for more than 15 years. He previously served as CEO for the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps.

ON MENTORING: “There were always older men who poured into my life—my great uncle, my father, high school and college football coaches and acquaintances. I began to think about this word ‘legacy.’ Not what is it that I can leave behind that has my name on it, but what is it that I can leave behind that lives on after me?”

BEAUX JONES

PRESIDENT AND CEO THE WATER INSTITUTE

Beaux Jones has long been involved in Louisiana’s environmental and coastal issues, both in and out of the courtroom. He previously served as the environmental section chief for the Louisiana Department of Justice, where he represented the state of Louisiana and its agencies in a wide variety of matters ranging from environmental and coastal law to criminal and appellate law. Jones has extensive experience representing agencies, companies, and organizations inside the courtroom and internally. He was on the BP spill litigation team with the Louisiana Attorney General. Most recently, Jones was the general counsel and chief of staff at The Water Institute and a key member of the leadership team, merging the Institute’s ongoing work in science, engineering and resiliency with legal policy.

VOLUNTEER WORK: Jones has been active in the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, the Trombone Shorty Foundation, Bike Baton Rouge and Get Lit Stay Lit, a project to create solar microgrids across New Orleans.

ADAM KNAPP

CEO

COMMITTEE OF 100 FOR ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT

Adam Knapp joined the Committee of 100 in 2023, after working in economic development and public policy at various levels of private and public service for more than two decades. Although he began his career in Chicago, the Lake Charles native returned to Louisiana to serve Govs. Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco as an economic development adviser. He also worked as the policy director for Louisiana Economic Development and helped start and lead the Louisiana Recovery Authority after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Before taking on his current role, Knapp served for 15 years as president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

QUIRKY TALENT OR HOBBY: Restoring a classic truck

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Teach for America

LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Cocha

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Windfall,” by Son Volt ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Travel more

EDWARD LAGUCKI

PRESIDENT

FEDERATION OF GREATER

BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Since retiring from Shell Oil, Edward Lagucki has been involved in various local hot-button issues including short-term rentals, stormwater management and drainage, and small cell towers. Lagucki currently serves on Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s Stormwater Advisory Committee and the city-parish Complete Streets Citizens Advisory Committee. As president of the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations, Lagucki helps represent the views of more than 65,000 homeowners living in 109 member associations in the Greater Baton Rouge area. The organization was founded in 1973 and includes singlefamily neighborhood homeowner associations and civic associations in East Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Lagucki represents the Palm Hills Civic Association on the FGBRCA board.

JENNIFER MAGGIO

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

LIFE OF A SINGLE MOM

Jennifer Maggio’s personal journey through homelessness, poverty, abuse and single parenthood led to an unparalleled passion to see that no single mom walks alone. She had no way to know that three single mothers who gathered in her living room twice a month would one day lead to thousands. In 2023, Life of a Single Mom served its one millionth single mother. The organization provides support groups, life skills classes, events, product distribution, case management, licensed counseling and more. Maggio is the author of five books and is considered a national expert on single parenting and women’s issues, speaking multiple times a year.

RECOGNITION: Named a Top 10 Most Influential Person in the U.S. by Dr. John Maxwell

LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Pinetta’s VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: All things will work together for good—even the most broken, complex and beat-up portions of your life.

MICHAEL MANNING

PRESIDENT AND CEO

GREATER BATON ROUGE FOOD BANK

Since 2004, Michael Manning has been the leader of this nonprofit agency that distributes food to the needy in an 11-parish area. His management responsibilities include all aspects of fundraising and philanthropy, strategic and financial planning, public relations, finance, budget development, forecasting, risk management, human resources, information technology, purchasing and facility management. Feeding the hungry is his passion and he says he is honored to be able to do it on a daily basis.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Health club workouts at 4 a.m.

QUIRKY TALENT: I am an admitted terrible joke teller, especially “dad” jokes.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE

DINNER WITH: Mother Theresa of Calcutta. I would absolutely appreciate the opportunity to speak with and be in the presence of such a spirit of compassion and caring.

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: Healing the sick and infirmed in whatever form it would take

STEPHEN LOY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NEXUS LOUISIANA/ LOUISIANA TECH PARK

Louisiana Tech Park serves as a hub for technology development in Louisiana by providing high-tech startups with the resources to bring their products to market. Loy worked his way up the ranks of the organization, beginning with handling the park’s public relations, to eventually being responsible for the day-to-day operations of the incubator. Prior to joining the Tech Park, Loy managed public relations and legislative initiatives for the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association. He began his career with LSU’s Office of Public Relations. He is accredited in public relations and is a past president of The Public Relations Association of Louisiana— Baton Rouge chapter. He has served as treasurer of the Southern Public Relations Federation board and is a past president of the Louisiana Business Incubation Association. He currently serves on the board of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

FAVORITE SPORT: College football

CHRISTINA MELTON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KNOCK KNOCK CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Christina Melton brought 30 years of experience in public sector senior management and broadcast operations to her new role leading Knock Knock Children’s Museum. Before heading up the museum, she worked as a marketing and communications executive for Emergent Method and worked in corporate communications. For more than 20 years, she worked for Louisiana Public Broadcasting and is a four-time Emmy Award-winning producer.

HIDDEN TALENT: Competed in Junior Olympics as a springboard diver

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Thomas Jefferson. I have always been a fan of his intellect and ingenuity. I’d love to know what he thinks about our current times.

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: Time travel. I am a sucker for archaeology, and I’d love to visit earlier civilizations out of curiosity.

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Backpacking and traveling across the Scottish Highlands by myself.

CHRIS MEYER PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

Chris Meyer joined the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in 2022. As CEO, he is focused on helping Baton Rouge become the best version of itself. He says his job is to leverage the community foundation through its donors and partners to expand meaningful and transformative opportunities for everyone willing to take advantage of those opportunities. Before joining BRAF, Meyer was CEO and founder of New Schools for Baton Rouge, a nonprofit that has raised more than $80 million to recruit and support top-flight charter schools.

FUN FACT: Meyer was the first in his family to attend college, and after graduation he joined Teach for America and was assigned to a New Orleans high school.

MENTOR: ”Mr. Williams, my middle school English teacher and football coach. He pushed me to attend a more challenging high school, across town and away from my friends, that ultimately unlocked opportunities that changed my life and my family’s.”

JENNIFER EPLETT REILLY

TRUSTEE AND CO-FOUNDER CITY YEAR BATON ROUGE

For more than 30 years, Jennifer Eplett Reilly has been a leader on civic projects that crisscross sectors and bring multiple perspectives to the table. She is a co-founder and trustee of City Year, one of the country’s first and best-known national service programs. She is also a co-founder of the Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship and a former consultant to the Commission on National and Community Service. She served on Teach for America’s founding national board and is the founding board chair of New Schools for Baton Rouge.

PERSON WHO INSPIRES ME: My mom. She was a single mother, raising four children while teaching public elementary school. Our big Irish Catholic family shared lessons of faith, family and the value of education for everyone.

DIANNA PAYTON

CEO

YWCA GREATER BATON ROUGE

Dianna Payton currently serves as CEO of the YWCA Greater Baton Rouge where she strives to empower women and eliminate racism. Payton, a social worker with extensive experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, took over as CEO in 2016, guiding the organization from near closure to solid ground and national recognition. Previously, she served as director of community investment for the Capital Area United Way. At YWCA, she has restructured the organization to develop the first permanent domestic violence apartments in Baton Rouge, as well as spearheaded the creation of several new programs, including an emergency bail fund for nonviolent women as well as emergency services for victims of domestic abuse.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” – Maya Angelou SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: The ability to remove an individual’s heart of stone or hate and replace it with a heart of love and compassion.

MYRA RICHARDSON

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

LOUISIANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION

PAULA PENNINGTON DE LA BRETONNE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

IRENE W. AND C.B. PENNINGTON FOUNDATION

As a young girl, Paula Pennington de la Bretonne remembers sitting around the kitchen table when her grandfather asked her how she planned to give back. Her grandfather, oil magnate C.B. “Doc” Pennington, donated $125 million to establish the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. De la Bretonne has been actively involved for years in the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation as one of its trustees but recently announced that the family is shifting its attention to the Pennington Family Foundation, which was established last year. She supports studentathletes at LSU through the Tiger Athletic Foundation. Her dedication to the arts has attracted such music stars as Kristin Chenoweth to the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Great Performers series.

PASSION: Tennis

Myra Richardson is a public relations and community outreach specialist and founder of the award-winning startup Red Torch Consulting. She is known both locally and nationally for her activism, organizing skills and business acumen. In her previous role leading the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, she increased membership from 18 to nearly 400 members and helped significantly raise the profile of the organization.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Fresh strawberry lemonade

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: People will talk regardless, so do what makes you happy.

PROUDEST MOMENTS: ”Creating a festival celebrating Baton Rouge culture on #225Day (Feb. 25), called 225Fest. Being recognized by the Obama administration for my advocacy work at 18 years old. At 25, having my birthday declared Myra Richardson Day in Baton Rouge.”

JOHN SPAIN

SENIOR ADVISER

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

As the former executive vice president and now senior adviser to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a community foundation with assets valued at more than $700 million, John Spain has spent 20 years working to bring people together to help create multiyear, multimillion-dollar projects. Such projects include the planning and funding of an intercity passenger rail link between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, creation of the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority, and the founding of the Water Institute of the Gulf, an award-winning nonprofit focused on scientific discovery around coastal community challenges.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Chicken kabob at Gino’s with great friends.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Watersports. I live on the False River. I’m trying to keep up with three grandkids.

LUCAS SPIELFOGEL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE YOUTH COALITION

Under Lucas Spielfogel’s leadership, BRYC has grown from supporting 50 high school students in 2012-13 to serving 350 high schoolers and 670 alumni in 2023-24. Originally from New York, Spielfogel joined Teach for America and moved to Baton Rouge to teach seventhgrade social studies at Baker Middle School. He was named Teacher of the Year in each of his two years. After his TFA commitment ended, Spielfogel intended to head back north, but instead he accepted the executive director position at BRYC, where he is now in his 12th year at the helm. He is also the author of The College Playbook, a guide to the college and financial aid application process.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Rust Cohle from the first season of True Detective

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Mentone, Alabama

QUIRKY TALENT OR HOBBY: Rapping QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “The grass is greenest when you water it.”

BEVERLY BROOKS THOMPSON

MANAGING DIRECTOR

CARTER ADVANCING

PHILANTHROPY WORLDWIDE

As a professional philanthropy consultant, Beverly Brooks Thompson advises families and family foundations on philanthropic planning, in addition to advising companies on corporate responsibility and employee engagement. She has a knack for connecting people and convincing them to give back. In 2006, she directed the Forever LSU campaign, raising more than $798 million. When she joined Woman’s Hospital as its chief development officer, she launched the Foundation for Woman’s Hospital. Most recently, she created The Echo Alliance, whose members pledge an annual $1,000 donation with the pooled amount going to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

HIDDEN TALENT: Singing

FAVORITE CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL: Choir

A CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Being pushed on a swing by my grandfather until I had butterflies.

MOTTO FOR LIFE: Do good. Better.

MARY STEIN ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR

EAST BATON ROUGE

PARISH LIBRARY

Mary Stein was instrumental in the design and development of the Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard, which came in under its $43 million budget. She says her proudest professional moment was handing the giant scissors over to the library board to cut the ribbon for its dedication. In her role, she supervises all aspects of programming, public relations and marketing, grants, outreach, collection development, reference services, policies, statistics, annual report, surveys, reporting and strategic planning. She also participates in budgeting, long-range planning and capital improvement projects designs for new construction and works with the Patrons of the Public Library Friends group.

ACTRESS I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Amy Poehler

MUST READ: The Murderbot Diaries. Looking at humanity through the lens of a self-aware robot makes you see new things.

DEBORAH STERNBERG

CHAIR

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

ACADEMY OF BATON ROUGE

Deborah Sternberg founded Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge in 2018 as a yearlong academy that transforms high school students into entrepreneurs. The student participants receive grant seed funding to start their businesses, as well as help with marketing, development, communications, technology, finance and other areas. Through her work, Sternberg is engaged with key partners including LSU’s business school, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Louisiana Economic Development and more than 100 area businesses.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Roar,” by Katy Perry BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Community Coffee iced latte

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Rocky Balboa

MOST MEMORABLE JOB: Working side-by-side with CBS News anchor Dan Rather. Together, we covered breaking news stories, including President Clinton’s impeachment hearing, various hurricanes, election night coverage and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

MICHAEL TIPTON

PRESIDENT

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION

Michael Tipton joined the BCBSLA Foundation in 2015 as its president, where he manages a $50 million endowment and grantmaking programs to improve the wellbeing of children and communities across Louisiana. He is also head of community relations for BCBSLA and oversees corporate giving of more than $1 million annually and supports volunteer efforts for the company’s 3,500 Louisiana-based employees. During his tenure, employee-led community impact has grown and diversified substantially.

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Teach for America. While I’m no longer the executive director and haven’t been for some time, the experience of teaching and seeing the needs of kids in New York and in places throughout Louisiana changed my perspective in powerful ways.

HOBBY OR INTEREST: Sampling local beer, particularly Urban South beers made by my friend Jake Landry.

100 BLACK MEN

Michael W. Victorian has long been the face of the 100 Black Men movement in Baton Rouge and an active community philanthropist. He currently serves as board vice chairman of the 100 Black Men of America, and was a longtime leader of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. He joined the organization in 1994 and was named to the Baton Rouge board of directors two years later, serving for two decades, including as its president and chairman. Educational initiatives are near and dear to his heart: He was committed to the organization’s Project Excel Mentoring Program, ACT Prep Academy and a championship financial literacy team. He continues to serve on the New Schools for Baton Rouge Board of Directors. Now retired, Victorian was a longtime executive with IBM and CMA Technology Solutions.

ORIGIN STORY: Victorian is a native of Eunice.

Delivering Healthcare Across the Capital Area

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Our promise to Baton Rouge’s future fuels our determination, as well as partnerships that create new resources. These include the Southern University “Jag Mobile” mobile health unit, Ochsner Community Wellness Center on the LSU Campus and the Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery Charter School, all for the health of our community.

Visit ochsner.org/batonrouge to learn more.

HEALTH CARE

RICHARD ASHWORTH

PRESIDENT AND CEO

AMEDISYS

Richard Ashworth leads a public company that has spent the past decade undergoing a rapid growth spurt as it expands into new territories and adds services to its offerings. Ashworth stepped into his role as president and CEO of home health care company Amedisys in April 2023, just weeks before the company navigated two competing acquisition suitors. Shareholders approved UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum’s $3.3 billion bid in September 2023. Ashworth says his career in health care has been guided by three fundamental beliefs: That each patient and customer should be treated as an individual, that health care “isn’t sick care,” and that those in the industry are not solving the most important challenges in health care today unless they are also addressing health care disparities.

VOLUNTEER WORK: Ashworth has served as a board member of the American Society on Aging and is passionate about fighting ageism in society.

BENJAMIN BOUDREAUX

CEO

THE NEUROMEDICAL CENTER CLINIC

Ben Boudreaux joined the clinic in 2019 and brings more than 15 years of experience in health care administration to his role. He dove into his niche early, studying health service administration at Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, before spending more than a decade running business development and operations at multiple medical practices. Prior to 2019 he was executive vice president of business development at the Cardiovascular Institute of the South, based in Houma. During his time in Houma, he was a three-time recipient of the company’s leadership award.

FUN FACT: He earned a Six Sigma Green Belt certification from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, which specializes in training professionals in streamlining processes and improving business performance.

DR. BRENT BANKSTON

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

BATON ROUGE

ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC

Dr. Brent Bankston has served as the head team orthopedist for the LSU football team for three decades, helping keep the Tigers healthy through national championships and multiple head coaches. He is also a team doctor for several other LSU sports, including basketball, track, swimming, soccer, volleyball and gymnastics, and works with University High School athletic teams, which earns him the distinction of being the team physician for both of his alma maters. Bankston is the former chief of orthopedic surgery at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He chose his specialty because he enjoys working with patients who are healthy, active people who he can help return to their sport of choice. He attended LSU Shreveport for medical school and completed his residency at the University of South Alabama.

HOBBIES: Restoring wooden boats and golfing with friends

DR. KATE CASTLE

RADIATION ONCOLOGIST

MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

RADIATION ONCOLOGY GROUP

Before practicing in Louisiana, Dr. Kate Castle had never seen so many advanced cases of cervical cancer. Under her leadership, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Woman’s Hospital have put together a successful program designed for gynecological cancers, including a brachytherapy suite at Woman’s Cancer Pavilion. Castle is a member of The Echo Alliance, a group of women who donate $1,000 to the Cancer Center annually, and that group made possible the purchase of the Geneva Universal Gynecologic Applicator for radiation treatments, which is housed at Mary Bird’s Woman’s Hospital location and is the most advanced version on the market. While most of Mary Bird Perkins’ current cervical cancer patients come from the Greater Baton Rouge area, cancer centers across the region refer patients there.

WALK-UP SONG: “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” by Justin Timberlake

COLETTA BARRETT

VICE PRESIDENT, MISSION

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HEALTH

A cancer survivor and cardiovascular nursing specialist, Coletta Barrett is responsible for the interpretation, clarification and integration of her organization’s mission into daily practice—in essence, she takes the health system’s goals and transforms them into actions. Before joining OLOL in 2005, she was vice president of research and policy at the Louisiana Hospital Association. She is a fellow in the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and passed the Governor’s Board of Examination in 2010 to become a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: It’s going to be better than you could ever imagine—stay authentic.

MEMORABLE JOB: I was a waitress at Visko’s in Gretna while in nursing school at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. I made more as a waitress in tips than during the first two years of being a registered nurse.

STEVEN CEULEMANS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE HEALTH DISTRICT

Steven Ceulemans is responsible for organizational strategy, budget, governance and partnerships for the Baton Rouge Health District, a job he stepped into in 2019. The district’s goal is to organize the major health care entities concentrated around Essen Lane, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Perkins Road and Interstate 10 into something greater than the sum of their parts, enabling researchers and physicians to collaborate in new ways, offering patients better health care, and conducting clinical trials of the latest innovations. The hope is that a unified medical community, brought together within the bounds of a shared district, will enable Baton Rouge health care providers to combine their strengths, share their expenses and compete with medical centers nationwide, attracting patients and medical talent.

FUN FACT: Ceulemans was born in Antwerp, Belgium.

DR. NEIL

CHAPPELL

PHYSICIAN PARTNER

FERTILITY ANSWERS

One of the few reproductive endocrinology experts in Louisiana, Dr. Neil Chappell has extensive training and experience in treating the complex causes of infertility. He has received multiple awards for his research and currently has three ongoing trials. Along with his medical degree, Chappell earned a master’s in scientific clinical investigation to better conduct and interpret evidence-based medicine for the best delivery of care to patients.

MOST FULFILLING CAREER MOMENT: There are too many to choose from, but one that stands out was a very special patient who had cancer a few years back. We were able to freeze her eggs before her chemotherapy, and she came back after treatment and remission and was able to use her frozen eggs to build her family. The day I got to meet her daughter was very special.

FUN FACT: He hosts the “The Fertility Answers Podcast.”

DR. CURTIS CHASTAIN

PHYSICIAN, LAKE MEN’S HEALTH AND EXECUTIVE WELLNESS

FRANSICAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY HEALTH SYSTEM

As director of the Men’s Health Center, Dr. Curtis Chastain is focused on teaching men how making their health a priority is essential for identifying threats to longevity. An LSU graduate, Chastain has practiced medicine at Our Lady of the Lake for more than 30 years. He says that the importance of finding lifethreatening illnesses early in men’s lives cannot be overstated. Early detection of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes greatly improve the chances of living a longer, higher-quality life. Chastain is also founder and director of the Lake Executive Wellness program, which offers the “executive protector” exam—a comprehensive exam for men and women used to identify chronic disease early, and also the two biggest health threats that impact longevity—heart disease and cancer.

FUN FACT: Chastain has completed more than 3,000 “executive” exams.

HOBBIES: Hunting, fishing and playing music

CHUCK DAIGLE

CEO

OCHSNER BATON ROUGE

As the New Orleans-based health care institution expands its investment and influence across south Louisiana by adding clinics and health centers, Chuck Daigle has been given the role of overseeing the health care delivery system in the Baton Rouge market and coordinating activities with Christus in Lake Charles. His responsibilities include oversight of Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge, Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove and Ochsner Cancer Center –Baton Rouge. Daigle was previously CEO of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, executive vice president and COO at Willis Knighton Health System in Shreveport, and a vice president at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Daigle is a Baton Rouge native, who said he was ready to move home when he took on the CEO job in 2021.

PASSIONS: Boating and watersports

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Buras, Louisiana, and Venice, Italy

DR. SCOTT DAUGHERTY

COLORECTAL SURGEON BATON ROUGE GENERAL

Dr. Scott Daugherty co-founded the Baton Rouge General Advanced Robotics Institute at Baton Rouge General in 2021. The institute offers robotic-assisted surgery related to cancer, gallbladder disease, complex and simple hernia repair, gastroesophageal reflux disease, weight loss, and other conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Already a surgeon, he learned robotic surgery to expand his skill set. Now, he conducts most of his cases robotically, while also training surgeons and residents in robotic surgery. Daugherty developed a colon and rectal surgery department at Baton Rouge General and is one of the first surgeons in the country to perform the robotic Kono-S anastomosis for Crohn’s disease.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT: Sushi Yama

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Skiing in Colorado

CLAY COUNTRYMAN

PARTNER

BREAZEALE SACHSE & WILSON

Clay Countryman is one of the Capital Region’s leading health care attorneys, with a practice primarily focused on health care business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and private equity investments. He has served as legal counsel to various types of providers and provider organizations, including national and regional health systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, specialty physician groups and physician clinics. He has held several leadership positions with the American Bar Association, and in 2020 he was installed as chair-elect of the American Bar Association’s Health Law Section. He is also a speaker and writer on health care legal topics.

WALK-UP SONG: “Shine,” by Collective Soul, or “Luckenbach, Texas,” by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

FUN FACT: Countryman is related to the owners of the Nelson Knitting Company in Illinois, which was the first producer of the iconic sock monkey toys.

JONAS FONTENOT

PRESIDENT AND CEO MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

After working beside some of the world’s leading specialists at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Jonas Fontenot had brought his expertise back home to Louisiana and become an all-star at Mary Bird Perkins. But he was poised to move on to an out- of-state opportunity when the cancer center’s leaders convinced him to be part of a succession plan that culminated in Fontenot moving into the top job last year. He says he defines success for Mary Bird by its ability to increase the impact on lives within the communities it serves, whether that means geographic expansion—such as a recently announced partnership with Opelousas General Health Center that expands the cancer center’s reach into Acadiana—or delivering more resources to the patients it currently serves.

S chool E mpowerment through E conomic D iversity

Fostering Diverse Schools

Demonstration Grant

Empowering schools with tailored academic programs

Community outreach initiatives

Twin Oaks Elementary PK-5

Glasgow Middle 6-8

Broadmoor High 9-12

Specialized enrichment activities Celebrate with us!

DR. CRAIG GREENE

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON BATON ROUGE

ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC

Dr. Craig Greene is one of the region’s leading physicians in trauma care, sports medicine and joint replacements. He put his skills to use outside of his clinic by working with Serta to develop a mattress line designed to address specific needs learned through his work with patients. Half of the profits from Dr. Greene Sleep System mattress sales go to the Greene Charity, which funds humanitarian relief in disaster areas around the world. His greatest impact on the Capital Region, though, may be through his work as a member of the Public Service Commission, the five-member elected board that regulates utilities and is supposed to ensure that the rates the entities charge are fair to the public.

FUN FACT: Greene hosts the podcast “Under the Knife with Dr. Craig Greene,” where he interviews Baton Rouge-area leaders.

FAMILY BUSINESS: Greene’s wife, Kristen, and daughter Hadley founded sports apparel brand Love All Tennis Co. in 2023.

TERRI HICKS

CEO

THE SPINE HOSPITAL OF LOUISIANA

ANN HEINE

CEO

SURGICAL SPECIALTY CENTER OF BATON ROUGE

Ann Heine has served as chief executive officer of Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge since 2015. The surgical center was one of the first doctor-owned facilities in the region. Before being named CEO, she was vice president of support services, compliance officer and risk/quality manager for the center. Heine has also worked for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center as divisional director regulatory/quality/ medical staff services and for Baton Rouge General Medical Center as quality consultant and human resources coordinator. Heine is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge and regularly volunteers at the school, including sharing her expertise at career day.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Review your email before you hit the “send” button.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Seaside, Florida

Terri Hicks was named CEO in 2022, replacing Robert Blair, who led the Spine Hospital for 12 years. She brings more than 30 years of senior health care administration and operations to the role, most recently as chief financial officer for St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe. Before that, she was chief financial officer and chief operating officer at P&S Surgical Hospital in Monroe, while also overseeing management of a second surgical hospital in the Monroe area. The Spine Hospital of Louisiana is the surgical and pain management branch of one of the nation’s only private medical campuses—which also includes The NeuroMedical Center and The NeuroMedical Center Rehabilitation Hospital—dedicated to specialized care in the neurosciences.

FUN FACT: The Spine Hospital of Louisiana is a fivetime recipient of the Louisiana Nurses Foundation’s Hospital of the Year Nightingale Award (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020).

CHERI JOHNSON

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/ CHIEF NURSING OFFICER WOMAN’S HOSPITAL

Cheri Johnson began her tenure as chief nursing officer for Woman’s Hospital in 2019, and is responsible for overseeing nursing care and surgical services for the largest delivery hospital in Louisiana. Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in labor and delivery, intensive care, and pediatrics. She is passionate about improving the lives of women and infants in Louisiana and serves on the American Hospital Association’s Maternal and Child Health Council, where she works to address disparities in maternal health on both a local and national level.

MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF ADVICE: I had a difficult decision to make about whether to take a leadership position and a nurse who reported to me told me, “Don’t look back.” She was thinking about my future and knew that it would be valuable for my career. I am glad I took her advice.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

DR. LAURA HETZLER

FACIAL PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON OUR LADY OF THE LAKE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER/ MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

Dr. Laura Hetzler’s surgical practice is based out of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, where she treats a wide variety of conditions. Her work ranges from cosmetic surgery and minimally invasive procedures to reconstructive procedures following skin cancer or trauma. Hetzler’s research focuses on facial nerve repair and recovery. In 2017, she founded the Facial Nerve Disorders Multidisciplinary Clinic for surgical management of facial paralysis and facial retraining following nerve injury. She also is a professor and vice chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the LSU School of Medicine.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Stop worrying, the hard work pays off. It’s also OK to stand still for a minute—life is not a race.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Anything coastal with fresh seafood and a view of the water

DR. SANJAY JUNEJA

HEMATOLOGIST AND MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST

MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

Dr. Sanjay Juneja is one of Baton Rouge’s leading oncologists, but if you spend much time on social media you might know him better as TheOncDoc. As a social media influencer, he partners with various organizations and often participates in local and national media interviews and speaking engagements. He is board certified in hematology, medical oncology and internal medicine and serves as chief of Baton Rouge General’s oncology service line.

FUN FACT: Juneja hosts the “Target: Cancer Podcast.”

CAREER DREAM AS A CHILD: “Middle school science teacher. You have the opportunity to break down the vast complexity and seemingly celestial orchestration of factors that lead to life and being and how they all relate to one another, so that kids can value and respect the world we live in.”

DR. JOHN KIRWAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world leader in investigating the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. John Kirwan, tapped to lead the center in 2017, is an internationally renowned obesity, diabetes and nutrition scientist whose professional expertise includes over 30 years of research, teaching and service in the obesity and diabetes fields. He is also politically savvy, as evidenced by his ability to bring together state government, LSU, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Pennington’s foundation and other stakeholders to establish the Metamor Institute, the bariatric and metabolic surgery center on Pennington’s campus.

RESEARCH: Kirwan is currently leading Louisiana’s participation in the national RECOVER initiative, or Researching Covid to Enhance Recovery. The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, created the RECOVER initiative to learn more about the longterm effects of COVID to discern how to prevent, mitigate, and treat “long COVID.”

LARRY MEESE

CEO

LANE REGIONAL

MEDICAL

CENTER

Lane Regional Medical Center may not be among the largest health care providers in the Capital Region, but it’s a critical primary health care resource for more than 200,000 residents in the northern suburbs of East Baton Rouge Parish and the Felicianas. Larry Meese, tapped to head the facility in 2017, is from Pittsburgh and has more than 12 years of health care leadership experience, including eight years as CEO of Jackson Hospital in Marianna, Florida. Under Meese’s direction, the hospital has quickly grown its sphere of care and last year broke ground on a $90 million expansion that will include a new four-story tower, 48 new intensive care unit rooms and other upgrades. In October 2023, the hospital opened a new pharmacy. Meese is a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives, a 10-year Army veteran and a graduate of Cornell University.

HOBBIES: Skiing, reading and watching sports

AL MOREAU III

PRESIDENT, CEO AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST

MOREAU PHYSICAL THERAPY

Part of a prominent Baton Rouge sports and fitness family, Al Moreau III leads the pioneering physical therapy business started in 1977 by his father, Al Moreau Jr. Moreau Physical Therapy now has more than 20 locations across south Louisiana. Over the years it has expanded its services to include aquatic and pediatric therapy, neurological rehabilitation, wellness, weight loss, occupational health, and preventive services. It also helps companies save on health care costs through injury prevention programs. The company’s leaders say they are always looking for ways to expand health and wellness services.

MOTTOS FOR LIVING: “Think different” and “enjoy the moment.’”

FIRST JOB: My first job was working as a lifeguard at Fennwood Hills Country Club in Zachary when I was 13 or 14. This job taught me to put the safety and care of others first, and it was nice to earn my own money to use as I wanted.

DR. CATHERINE O’NEAL

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HEALTH

Dr. Catherine O’Neal, known as Katie, was promoted to her current position in March 2020, just in time to become the public face of the COVID-19 pandemic response, not just for her organization but in many ways for the Capital Region health care community as a whole. The infectious disease specialist had a pretty good idea about what to expect from the spread of the novel coronavirus, but it didn’t prepare her or her colleagues for the level of planning, care and strategy that was required to get Louisiana through the subsequent two years. She has also worked with the Southeastern Conference as part of its COVID-19 task force, helping determine the state of play during the pandemic. In her role with OLOL she helps ensure the sprawling health system delivers a consistent standard of care.

DR. RUBIN PATEL

CEO

PATIENT PLUS URGENT CARE

Dr. Rubin Patel launched his company in 2016 to bring quality health care closer to more Baton Rouge-area communities, especially those in traditionally underserved areas.“It was important to bring urgent care to an area of town that had few options,” he says, explaining why the first clinic opened in Mid City. The internist was inspired to launch the business after running Ochsner’s urgent care operations in Baton Rouge. Patient Plus has nine locations—spanning the entire socioeconomic spectrum—in the Capital Region with one on the way in Hammond near Southeastern Louisiana University. On the horizon is the incorporation of AI technology designed to support clinical decision-making while reducing patient costs.

about the same age as Patel was when he decided to leave Ochsner and build Patient Plus.

RENE RAGAS

PRESIDENT AND CEO WOMAN’S HOSPITAL

Rene Ragas started his career in health care as a nursing assistant and says that experience has led him to view his work as an executive through a patient-focused lens. Before coming to Woman’s Hospital in 2022, Ragas was a health care executive in the Baton Rouge area and surrounding regions for more than 20 years. He served as Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System’s Northshore market president and as CEO of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa. As Northshore market president, Ragas oversaw Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital in Slidell and Our Lady of the Lake Pontchartrain Surgery Center in Mandeville. He provided oversight to a network of more than 60 primary care and specialty physicians in the region.

WALK-UP SONG: “Born on the Bayou,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

FUN FACT: All three of Ragas’ children were born at

DR. GUNJAN

RAINA

CONCIERGE MEDICINE

PHYSICIAN

HEAL 360

Dr. Gunjan Raina is one of the Capital Region’s leaders in concierge medicine, which allows patients to pay an annual fee for perks like same-day appointments and a physician who is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Raina practiced medicine in Baton Rouge for 12 years before changing her business model, saying she “didn’t want to practice conveyor belt medicine.” With a concierge model, Raina sees fewer patients overall, but is able to spend more time connecting with each of them. Raina has a passion for helping others on their journey to be the healthiest version of themselves and strives to treat her patients holistically, incorporating diet and exercise changes as well as medication. She also practices medicine in Canada and India.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Jerry Maguire BOOK THAT HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON ME: How Not to Die, by Michael Greger

STEVE SELLARS

CEO

PREMIER HEALTH

URGENT CARE

The clinic that would become the first Premier-affiliated urgent care clinic was opened in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center more than 20 years ago—at a time when urgent care was a new concept for the Capital Region— and the company soon began replicating its partnership urgent care model in other markets. The company that Steve Sellars leads now is on pace to operate more than 85 partnership clinics in 13 states, with more expansion planned. Partners in the Capital Region still include Lake Urgent Care and Lake After Hours. Sellars has worked exclusively in urgent care management since 2004, growing Premier Health by more than 500% since 2010. Last year, Premier Health ranked No. 2 on the list of the world’s fastestgrowing businesses owned or led by an LSU graduate. BY THE NUMBERS: Premier Health’s clinics treat roughly 1 million patients each year.

CHRISTY REEVES

VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENGAGEMENT

OCHSNER HEALTH

Christy Reeves takes Ochsner’s ongoing business objectives and transforms them into strategies for the health system to connect with the community. She has a long track record of bringing different groups together to form strong strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Ochsner in 2019, Reeves moved two national nonprofits out of bankruptcy and into stability. She is passionate about helping girls and women reach their full potential, working with organizations to promote women’s leadership. Through her work, she has secured strategic partnerships with global brands such as Levi’s, JCrew and Netflix. Reeves also led all external and brand partnerships on behalf of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana for nearly a decade as executive director of its foundation.

HOBBY: Traveling to new places to run halfmarathons

ACTRESS I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Meryl Streep

MANDY SHIPP

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL RESEARCH

MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

DR. PHILIP SCHAUER

PROFESSOR OF METABOLIC SURGERY, METAMOR INSTITUTE DIRECTOR

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

Luring Dr. Philip Schauer, a world-renowned bariatric surgeon, away from the Cleveland Clinic in 2019 to develop a bariatric surgery program in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and several other stakeholders was a major coup for Pennington and Executive Director John Kirwan. The Metamor Institute is a patientfacing program that treats people with obesity by using combination therapies that include bariatric surgery, new obesity drugs, nutrition and exercise counseling, and behavioral health support. Teams of doctors and researchers at Pennington have been doing world-class research related to obesity and diabetes for decades, and Schauer says applying those scientific findings to patient cases gives the Metamor Institute a leg up over other obesity centers around the country.

FUN FACT: Schauer has completed more than 8,000 surgeries for obesity and diabetes.

Mandy Shipp oversees teams working on behalf of all seven Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center locations across southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Having joined the organization in January 2022, Shipp’s focus is on building and strengthening Mary Bird’s ongoing commitment to leading-edge cancer care research. She uses her expertise to ensure patients can access trials that will be an additive to the treatment with the goal of an enhanced outcome. She is well known in the community as an established and highly respected clinical trials director. She has more than 20 years of experience facilitating contracts, managing budgets and engaging in institutional project management.

FUN FACT: Shipp worked at Pennington Biomedical Research Center for more than 16 years before joining Mary Bird.

HOBBY: Cooking is both a passion and a hobby for me. I never follow a recipe. I get ideas for recipes by reading several and then come up with my own.

JOHN SIKES

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER DPI ANESTHESIA

In developing DPI Anesthesia, John Sikes, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, has created a comprehensive platform for both medical facilities and individual health care clients that has led to rapid corporate growth. Founded in 2003, DPI has expanded into a multifaceted corporation serving a client base across the Southeast. The company’s business model was originally a staffing system, stationing its nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists at the health centers with which DPI had contracts. However, after a market shift in 2007 left DPI with few staff members and even fewer contracts, Sikes and the executive team pivoted to a fee-for-service model. Sikes has also worked for Lane Regional Medical Center and West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero.

FUN FACT: Sikes worked as a nurse for five years before going back to school at Charity Hospital New Orleans/Xavier University to become a certified nurse anesthetist.

ED SILVEY

CEO AND CLINIC

ADMINISTRATOR

THE BATON ROUGE CLINIC

Despite being in business for more than 75 years, The Baton Rouge Clinic has had only two CEOs since it was founded on Plank Road. However, Ed Silvey has said that he plans to work only a few more years before retiring. Silvey says that while some people may believe that health care organizations can become outdated if there are few staff changes, his clinic cultivates a culture of innovation. It is now the largest independent medical group practice in Louisiana, comprising the main clinic on Perkins Road, satellite locations throughout the area, and a team of approximately 800.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Listen more, talk less.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: I would like to be able to leap over tall buildings, that way I would not have to climb stairs all day.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEMS: Maison Lacour and Palermo Ristorante

TIFFANY STEWART

DUDLEY & BEVERLY COATES ENDOWED PROFESSOR

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

A licensed clinical psychologist, Tiffany Stewart’s work is dedicated to translational science—taking health behavior change programs from bench (science) to bedside (tools everyone can use) to tackle nutrition, fitness, sleep, body image, and mental resilience. Stewart has been a pioneer in the development and testing of e-health technologies to bring prevention and treatment efforts to people in need. She was the lead scientist on a project that created the Body Morph Assessment, one of the first computerized procedures for measuring body image.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Fried green tomatoes/crab and brie soup at Roberto’s ADVICE I’D GIVE: Show up no matter what, both physically and mentally. Acknowledge and pay attention in the moment and experience the journey. Everyone is focused on where they want to end up. With this one-pointed focus, we miss life along the way.

DAVID SLAUGHTER

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER ORION LABORATORIES

David Slaughter and his wife, Rachael, started Orion out of a home office in 2017. In the beginning, Rachael Slaughter would help provide phlebotomy services for labs, managing logistics and staffing for the clinics, while David Slaughter would arrange laboratory services for clients. But they struggled to find a good laboratory to process medical tests, so they started their own. Now they’re running the largest independent laboratory in the state. Orion began COVID-19 testing for the movie industry in New Orleans and then expanded to testing area disability homes and public schools in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. In 2022, having grown to employ about 120 people, the company purchased the CitiPlace Centre II office building for nearly $6.9 million and launched Orion Therapeutics, a subsidiary for testing medical marijuana.

FUN FACT: Slaughter worked at Commercial Properties Realty Trust for five years.

EDGARDO TENREIRO

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE GENERAL

Edgardo Tenreiro took over as interim CEO at Baton Rouge General in August 2016, less than two weeks before historic flooding devastated the region. His focus immediately shifted to working with the team at BRG to care for patients affected by the disaster, while at the same time helping the many team members who also were personally impacted. In 2020, BRG opened a $30 million Prairieville hospital, its third and the first outside of Baton Rouge, and Tenreiro later guided the hospital through a new partnership with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. He began his career at NCH Healthcare System in Naples, Florida, where he spent nearly 20 years working in various clinical and support roles.

HOBBIES: Hiking, photography and travel

FUN FACT: Tenreiro has worked with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Talent Action Collaborative to place high school students in internship programs.

CHUCK SPICER

BATON ROUGE MARKET PRESIDENT

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HEALTH/FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY HEALTH SYSTEM

Chuck Spicer came to Baton Rouge in 2022, replacing Scott Wester and bringing almost 30 years of health care administration experience to the table at Our Lady of the Lake Health. He previously was president and CEO of OU Medicine in Oklahoma City, helping to lead the organization’s transition to the nonprofit OU Medicine Health System in 2018. He says making the move to Louisiana after more than 17 years in Oklahoma ignited his intellectual curiosity. “It was really hard walking in the door for the first time in 17 years realizing how much I didn’t know,” Spicer says. “But it’s been kind of fun to not know anything and be curious.” OLOL is the region’s largest hospital with more than $4 billion in annual patient revenue.

WALK-UP SONG: “Can’t Stop,” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

DO-OVER WISH: That I had played one more round of golf with my dad

DR. STEVEN UDVARHELYI

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA

Dr. Steven Udvarhelyi joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana—the dominant health care provider in the state—in 2016. A board-certified internist, Udvarhelyi has more than 25 years of experience in the health insurance industry. Previously, he spent nearly 20 years with Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. With the on-again-off-again proposed sale of BCBS to Elevance Health, there has been speculation about Udvarhelyi’s future. However, he has said that if the sale were to happen that he would stay on, at least initially.

HOBBY: Golfing

A MUST-READ: Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. It’s the story of the 1936 U.S. Olympic rowing team and it highlights the magic of teamwork. At our company, I am constantly emphasizing the power of teams and what they can accomplish.

Baton Rouge’s only land-based casino has everything you need for your next meeting or event. We offer unique and intimate flexible spaces with some of the best views of the Mississippi River.

JASON ANDREASEN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE GALLERY

Jason Andreasen has been at the helm of Baton Rouge Gallery for over 15 years, initially joining the organization in 2007. Originally from Miami, he made the Red Stick his home in 2005 and has since been deeply invested in its arts scene. With a fervent dedication to promoting the arts in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana, he has propelled Baton Rouge Gallery to new heights during his tenure, achieving milestones in attendance, programming, charitable contributions, art sales and more. He frequently lectures about the economic and cultural significance of arts in the region, advocating for increased support to harness their transformative potential.

A STORIED CAREER: He worked as a freelance entertainment journalist from 2007 to 2010, interviewing and profiling artists such as Robert Williams and George Clinton.

ROBERT “BOB” BAYHAM

PRESIDENT AND CFO

THE CELTIC GROUP

Over the course of the past three decades, Robert “Bob” Bayham has played a pivotal role in The Celtic Group’s continued success as its president and CFO. The Celtic Group, initially established with the founding of Celtic Marine Corp. in July 1985, has evolved into a network of four companies. These include Celtic Marine and Logistics, Celtic International Shipping Agency, Celtic Real Estate, and the latest venture—Celtic Studios. Notably, Celtic Studios stands as Louisiana’s premier full-service studio and soundstage complex, marking a significant milestone in The Celtic Group’s expansion. Celtic Studios also holds the distinction of being a founding member of the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association.

HOBBIES: Boating and Mustangs

KRIS CANGELOSI

OWNER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

CANGELOSI DANCE PROJECT

In 2006, Baton Rouge native Kris Cangelosi established the nonprofit Cangelosi Dance Project with the aim of providing children with training in classical ballet and contemporary dance. Alongside her role as a choreographer, she boasts extensive experience as a professional dancer, both nationally and internationally. Throughout her career, she has actively contributed to various community boards and presently engages with organizations such as the Knock It Out MS Foundation. She remains dedicated to community involvement, participating annually in events like Big Buddy’s Dancing for Big Buddy and Dancing for a Cause in Ascension Parish. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was honored as an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report in 2014.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: Flying. Skip the traffic.

ANN CONNELLY

OWNER

ANN CONNELLY FINE ART

Educated as a fine artist, Ann Connelly has taken those design principles and moved into different sectors of the arts as a creative entrepreneur. She started her career working with architects, museums and interior designers, giving her a wide variety of opportunities to develop her personal aesthetic for fine art and design. She launched Ann Connelly Fine Art in 1989, and today the business has grown to an enterprise with a team of professionals specializing in fine art and custom framing services at its 5,500-square-foot Baton Rouge location.

HOBBY: Gardening and sewing

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “A-O-K,” by Tai Verdes

MARIE CONSTANTIN

OWNER

MARIE CONSTANTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Still photographer Marie Constantin gained international recognition for her photographic works depicting the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta when the Vatican selected one of her photos to hang in St. Peter’s Square for Mother Teresa’s 2003 beatification ceremony. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, her commercial work has taken her to industrial plants, hospitals and a host of hometown businesses in Baton Rouge. Earlier in her career, her work took her to some of the world’s most impoverished slums—Calcutta, Haiti, Nicaragua and Tijuana—where she photographed and worked alongside Catholic nuns serving the poor. She continues her activist work to this day, advocating for flooding and litter initiatives in Baton Rouge.

HOBBY: Learning to play the fiddle

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Yellow Submarine,” by The Beatles

BORISLAVA ILTCHEVA

CONCERTMASTER

BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Borislava Iltcheva began playing the violin at the age of 5. Throughout her education at the Bulgarian National Academy, LSU and Indiana University, she was mentored by esteemed violin teachers like Alexander Iltchev, Evgenia Maria Popova, Kevork Mardirossian and Mauricio Fuks. Currently, she serves as the concertmaster of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and as assistant professor of violin at the University of Southern Mississippi. She has achieved acclaim and recognition through her participation in numerous national and international competitions. Her performances have taken her to various locations across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S.

CHARITY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Heifer International, which provides beehives, livestock and poultry to underdeveloped communities around the world

PROUDEST MOMENT: Performing at Carnegie Hall in January 2024 in a sold-out concert

ADAM JOHNSON

MUSIC DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

A native of Canada, Adam Johnson serves as music director for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, a role he stepped into in June 2023. He completed his tenure as resident conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal in 2019 and has conducted over 80 concerts with the orchestra. He recorded his first full album, Riopelle Symphonique, with the OSM in 2022. Prior to his time with the OSM, he worked with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for three seasons. He continues to conduct orchestras across Canada on a regular basis, and he has also led orchestras in Germany and Spain.

HOBBIES: Backcountry skiing and mountain climbing

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: Right here in the moment we are already whole. It’s focusing on the past or the future that causes our suffering.

SHERRI MCCONNELL

PRESIDENT

MCCONNELL & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING

Sherri McConnell is an economic developer working at the intersection of culture, creativity and business. She gained recognition for her role in Louisiana’s triple-digit growth in the entertainment industry as executive director of Louisiana Entertainment, a division of Louisiana Economic Development. There, she developed policy and strategies designed to attract and grow creative business and develop opportunities for existing businesses to thrive. She is notable for her efforts to enhance Louisiana’s entertainment industry by focusing on homegrown filmmaking and the creation of full-time permanent jobs. Her work in creative place-making, public policy, strategic planning and project management for clients across the U.S. has resulted in a clear and effective model for creative industry development.

HOBBY: Interior design

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: Keep some things to yourself. You don’t have to share everything, even if it is the truth.

JASON LANGLOIS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MANSHIP THEATRE

As the newly named leader of Manship Theatre, Jason Langlois has been charged with nurturing the theater’s reputation and fostering a strong connection with the community. He has been an integral part of the organization since its inception in 2005 and brings a wealth of experience in theater management with a strong background in marketing, event planning, programming and staff development to the job. Langlois is a 2006 graduate of LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business with a focus in marketing. This background, coupled with his deep understanding of audience development and strategic planning, have made him a vital part of the organization. He has also been selected as one of 25 development fellows in the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

QUIRKY TALENT: Worked as a carpenter for many years and still enjoys the trade/craft.

HOBBY: Big fan of English Premier League Soccer THEME SONG: ”Yellow Brick Road,” by Elton John

PATRICK MULHEARN

FOUNDER AND INCUBATING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LOUISIANA ACADEMY OF PRODUCTION

Patrick Mulhearn is founder and incubating executive director of the Louisiana Academy of Production, a planned charter high school scheduled to open at Baton Rouge’s Celtic Studios in August 2025. Inspired by and affiliated with the Roybal Film & Television Magnet in Los Angeles, the school’s mission is to build a more inclusive pipeline of historically underrepresented students in Louisiana who are interested in obtaining behind-the-camera jobs in the film, television and digital media industries. He also is the owner of Mulhearn & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in content development, finance and the production of motion pictures. Previously, he was senior director of strategic initiatives at Louisiana Economic Development.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: The Hangout in Port Allen

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “I Won’t Back Down,” by Tom Petty

JUSTIN LEMOINE FOUNDER

MIDCITY

MAKERS MARKET

Justin Lemoine and a group of his friends launched the MidCity Makers Market in 2015, and what began as a small holiday trunk show with just 12 vendors quickly grew into a monthly market showcasing the work of nearly 290 artists. Those artists work in mediums ranging from paintings, sculptures and jewelry to glasswork, baked items and leather goods. Currently, he serves as executive director of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.

ARCHITECTURE: Lemoine is also a seasoned landscape architect. He has owned and operated ELS Landscape Architecture Studio for over 11 years.

HE SAID IT: “I’ve always had an eagerness to be involved in things that bring people together. I want to help people remember what’s so special about Louisiana. This is a place people should want to live and celebrate.”

MICHAEL O’CONNOR CHAIR AND CEO

THE CELTIC GROUP

Since 1989, Celtic Group Chair and CEO Michael O’Connor has been instrumental in his organization’s continued success. The Celtic Group, initially established with the founding of Celtic Marine Corp. in July 1985, has evolved into a network of four companies. These include Celtic Marine and Logistics, Celtic International Shipping Agency, Celtic Real Estate, and the latest venture—Celtic Studios. Notably, Celtic Studios stands as Louisiana’s premier full-service studio and soundstage complex, marking a significant milestone in The Celtic Group’s expansion. Celtic Studios also holds the distinction of being a founding member of the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: Rome was not built in a day.

CORY PARKER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CELTIC STUDIOS

Cory Parker stepped into his role as executive director of the Celtic Group in January. Parker is a Texas native and former business agent of IATSE Local 478, the largest behind-thecamera union in Louisiana. He got his start in film and television in 2001 working in set decoration and relocated to Louisiana in 2004 to be a part of the state’s blossoming film and television industry. His film credits include box office hits such as 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Expendables and Olympus Has Fallen. He also serves as an executive board member of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association, a role that has allowed him to work closely with government policymakers and legislators to protect the Louisianans whose livelihoods depend on the success of the state’s film and television industry.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Get out on the dance floor!

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: The nature walk at the Rural Life Museum

CHRISTOPHER STELLY

EXECUTIVE GROUP DIRECTOR

LOUISIANA ENTERTAINMENT & DIGITAL INTERACTIVE MEDIA

LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In his role with Louisiana Economic Development, Christopher Stelly coordinates and manages the administration of seven statutory incentive programs. He is tasked with leading policy development for the entertainment industry and recommends potential legislative changes, monitors and tracks performance of his division’s programs across multiple platforms, and oversees the development and execution of marketing and communications plans. Additionally, Stelly leads business development as well as trade missions for the state of Louisiana at a number of events around the globe. He oversees a staff of seven full-time professionals.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Fried chicken club at Brew-Bacher’s Grill

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “All You Need is Love,” by The Beatles

CASEY PHILLIPS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE WALLS PROJECT

Since co-founding The Walls Project in 2012, Casey Phillips has been dedicated to growing the impact of the organization alongside committed team members and volunteers.

To date, The Walls Project has created over $4 million in economic opportunity for grassroots creatives, reactivated miles of urban blight, trained over 3,500 community members in tech and distributed tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce. Before co-founding The Walls Project, Phillips launched The Force Agency in Los Angeles in 2006 specializing in branding and concert booking and promotion. He is also a founding member of the OneRouge Coalitions.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: Traveling to outer space HOBBY: Writing long-form fiction

GARLAND GOODWIN WILSON

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF MOVING COLORS PRODUCTIONS

Garland Goodwin Wilson serves as artistic director for Of Moving Colors Productions, a contemporary dance theater company. She’s a self-described “choreographer, creator, collaborator and cheerleader.” Her experiences in training and performing in dance, theater and music have taken her all around the world—Asia, Europe, South America and beyond. She studied modern and contemporary dance at centers and festivals such as the José Limón Institute in New York City and the Impulstanz Vienna International Dance Festival. She’s the president of the Louisiana Alliance for Dance and an advisory board member for Palissimo Dance in New York City. She has also served as a grant panelist for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: Get off the couch, invest in the arts and keep moving!

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: City Pork’s Jefferson Airplane cocktail

KATIE PRYOR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE FILM COMMISSION

Katie Pryor has served as executive director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission since being appointed by Mayor Sharon Weston Broome in April 2017. She works to attract, retain and grow the creative economy and industry support in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana. She is a film advocate and regular speaker at film festivals and markets around the world. She is also an adjunct professor in LSU’s film program. Her course focuses on industry trends, the social impact of screen storytelling and the economic power of representation in film. She is a cofounder of Film USA, a national 501(c)6 trade organization of state and regional film commissions across the country that promotes the U.S. film industry worldwide.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Phryne Fisher PROUDEST MOMENT: Seeing her students get jobs and internships

ED BAKER

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF HOTEL OPERATIONS

EXECUTIVE HOTEL MANAGEMENT

With nearly 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ed Baker’s career has been a long and successful one. His professional journey with Executive Hotel Management began in November 1985 when he assumed the role of general manager at the Hilton Hotel in Columbia, Missouri. During his tenure, he orchestrated multiple expansions of the property and navigated its transition to the Holiday Inn brand. In 1993, he relocated to Louisiana to oversee the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn properties in Baton Rouge, transitioning to his current position as executive vice president.

DYNAMIC DUO: He is married to Kathy Baker, who also holds a prominent position on the executive team of the Crowne Plaza property.

KIM GINN

GENERAL MANAGER

L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL

Since Penn Gaming acquired L’Auberge Baton Rouge in 2018, Kim Ginn has served as its general manager. She is responsible for day-to-day operations, guest services and, ultimately, the financial success of L’Auberge Baton Rouge, which is consistently the Capital Region’s highest-earning casino. She has been with L’Auberge Baton Rouge since 2010, starting out as vice president of marketing and working her way up the corporate ladder over the years that followed. Prior to that, she worked with Argosy Gaming for 12 years, meaning she has accrued more than 25 years of casino experience to date.

RECOGNITION: She was named one of Business Report’s Influential Women in Business in 2014, the same year she took home L’Auberge Baton Rouge’s Excellence in Leadership Award.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: She serves on several community boards, including the board of directors of Hope Ministries and LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication Alumni Board.

JILL KIDDER

PRESIDENT AND CEO

VISIT BATON ROUGE

With more than three decades of hospitality, tourism, marketing, management and economic development experience, Jill Kidder took over leadership of Visit Baton Rouge—the agency charged with marketing Baton Rouge to visitors— in 2022. Kidder’s skills were developed through hotel sales and executive management posts throughout the Southeast and beyond, with plenty of CVB, convention center and downtown development experience in between. Before coming to Visit Baton Rouge, she was at the helm of the Louisiana Travel Association. Today, she is focused on making Baton Rouge the best destination it can be.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Kidder won’t name any names, but she says her favorite dishes to eat are grilled oysters, seafood gumbo and barbecue shrimp.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: New York City

GARY JUPITER

GENERAL MANAGER

EMBASSY SUITES

BATON ROUGE

BLUE SKY HOSPITALITY SOLUTIONS

Gary Jupiter has been a fixture in the Baton Rouge hospitality industry for nearly two decades. He got his start at Homewood Suites by Hilton in 2005, and has managed hotels throughout Baton Rouge and Houston. He was an area manager for Hospitality America before joining Embassy Suites Baton Rouge at Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions as a general manager. In his time with DoubleTree, the inn was ranked in the top 10% for the brand in guest satisfaction. He is the first vice president of the Louisiana Hotel and Lodging Association, and represents the Baton Rouge Lodging Association on the Visit Baton Rouge Board of Directors. In 2015, he was honored as one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40.

FIRST JOB: McKenzie’s Bakery, Uptown New Orleans. I worked mornings during the summer after my junior year in high school. I learned that smelling doughnuts for long periods of time is not fun and that I don’t want to be in a profession that starts at 3 a.m.

SCOTT MICHELET

GENERAL MANAGER

CROWNE PLAZA

EXECUTIVE CENTER

With decades of leadership experience in the hospitality sector, Scott Michelet brings a wealth of knowledge to his role at Crowne Plaza Executive Center. Having assumed the position of general manager in 2012, he leverages over 40 years of expertise in facilities management, employee relations and strategic planning. His journey in the hospitality industry started in high school, and he progressively ascended through leadership roles in hotels spanning four states following his college graduation. At Crowne Plaza, he oversees a dedicated team of 150 individuals and manages the day-to-day operations of the hotel. Additionally, he emerged as a prominent advocate for the hospitality sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing valuable leadership and guidance as hotels across the state faced closures.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Honig cabernet sauvignon PROUDEST MOMENT: The birth of my first grandchild, Scottlynn Blair

AARON SCRUGGS

OWNER, TALENT BUYER AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER CHELSEA’S LIVE

At the age of 16, Aaron Scruggs got his start in the music industry as a production manager for The Big House skatepark, a big player in Texas’ electronic music scene at the time. He relocated to Baton Rouge after high school and began focusing his efforts on organizing electronic dance music events. That path led him to a decade-long tenure at Spanish Moon, which ended with the venue’s closure in 2017. In 2020, Scruggs teamed up with Grant Miller and Dave Remmetter, the original owners of Chelsea’s Cafe, to conceptualize a music venue together. Their collaboration culminated in the opening of Chelsea’s Live, which has since become one of Baton Rouge’s premier concert venues.

HE SAID IT: “I just want to keep building the Chelsea’s brand. It’d be amazing to one day open another one—somewhere in the South, maybe another college town.”

RALPH BENDER CFO

MANSHIP MEDIA

Ralph Bender serves as CFO of Manship Media, a broadcasting group in Baton Rouge and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Prior to joining the Manship family of businesses, he spent a number of years in public accounting with both regional and national firms. He has previously served as chair of the Society of Louisiana CPAs, which recognized him as an Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry. He is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs and has served as chair of its national AICPA CFO Conference. He is a two-time past chair of the Media Financial Management Association, past chair of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and past chair of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

HOBBY: Playing guitar

MOST UNUSUAL JOB: Two summers as a roustabout on a drilling rig

JIM ENGSTER

OWNER AND PRESIDENT

LOUISIANA RADIO NETWORK AND TIGER RAG MAGAZINE

Jim Engster is owner and president of Louisiana Radio Network, which provides political, sports and agricultural news to listeners across the state. He also hosts Talk Louisiana on WRKF, Baton Rouge’s NPR affiliate, and is a political analyst for WAFBTV where he has been featured in election night coverage since 2002. He also hosted Ask the Governor, a monthly call-in show that allowed listeners to speak with Gov. John Bel Edwards, for 93 months. It became the longest-running gubernatorial radio program in Louisiana history.

BOOK OF IMPACT: After Visiting Friends: A Son’s Story, by Michael Hainey. As a young child, he solves the mystery of his father’s death. I was 8 when my father died and had been fascinated by his life.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Two egg whites and a biscuit from Louie’s Café THEME SONG: “Stuck in the Middle With You,” by Stealers Wheel. “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you.”

FLYNN FOSTER

PRESIDENT

AND CEO GUARANTY CORP.

Flynn Foster assumed the role of president at the Guaranty Corp. in 2011, continuing the family legacy established by his grandfather, George Foster Sr., and his father, George Foster Jr. Presently, he serves as both president and CEO of Guaranty Corp. and Guaranty Media, while also chairing the board of directors for Guaranty Corp. Under his leadership, the company has diversified its portfolio to include digital media and podcast production through a strategic acquisition of Gatorworks and the establishment of Drop Biscuit Studios. He has been actively involved with the company’s senior living entity since 2010. Prior to joining the company, he accumulated 18 years of experience in the financial services sector.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area, the American Cancer Society, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Dreams Come True are a few of the organizations that Guaranty Corp. supports.

HOBBY: Duck hunting

JULIO MELARA

PRESIDENT AND CEO

MELARA ENTERPRISES

Julio Melara is a dynamic entrepreneur and accomplished executive with a rich portfolio that spans multiple industries. As the proactive owner of Melara Enterprises, Melara directs a multimedia conglomerate that delivers a wide array of services to a diverse clientele. The company publishes prominent titles such as Business Report, 225 magazine, InRegister magazine, Daily Report, 10/12 Industry Report, and various specialized publications. Melara also founded Business Report’s Executive Leadership Academy, a program dedicated to the professional advancement of entrepreneurs and leaders. He also is CEO and founder of creative agency Studio E. In 2023, Melara expanded his influence in the media production landscape by acquiring Launch Media, a venture specializing in video production and visual communications.

BEST WISDOM RECEIVED: When I was 24 years old.

“The man that knows how will always have a job. The man that knows why will always be the boss.”

IVORY D. PAYNE

PUBLISHER AND CEO

GLOBAL IMPACT MEDIA

Ivory D. Payne is a prominent figure within Louisiana’s Black media landscape. As a second-generation newspaper publisher and graphic designer, he currently holds the positions of CEO and publisher at The Baton Rouge Weekly Press newspaper, one of Baton Rouge’s oldest African Americanowned newspapers. He is also the founder of 24/7 PraiseRadio.com, a distinguished Black gospel internet radio station. He has served as president of the Louisiana Black Publisher Association for the past five years, demonstrating his dedication to fostering growth and collaboration within the Black media community.

BEYOND MEDIA: He is ordained as a bishop and pastor, fulfilling the role of assistant pastor at Greater New Birth Full Gospel Fellowship under the leadership of his father, Bishop Ivory J. Payne.

JAKE MANSHIP

PRESIDENT AND CEO MANSHIP MEDIA

The Manship family name has been intertwined with Baton Rouge media for more than a century. The legacy began when Charles Manship Sr. bought Baton Rouge’s ailing newspaper in 1909, and today, the Manship name is still seemingly everywhere you look. Jake Manship, president and CEO of Manship Media, is carrying on that legacy. His family’s suite of businesses includes WBRZ-TV here in Baton Rouge—the only local station not owned by a conglomerate— and KRGV-TV in Texas.

PASSING THE TORCH: He took over Manship Media management in 2023 from his uncle, Richard Manship, who remains board chair and oversees the family’s outlets.

GORDY RUSH

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

GUARANTY MEDIA

Gordy Rush serves as vice president and general manager of Guaranty Media, which includes Eagle 98.1, the flagship radio station for LSU sports. This fall will mark his 26th season covering LSU football as the sideline reporter for the LSU Sports Radio Network. A New Orleans native, LSU football fans might remember him as a hard-hitting special teams player for the Tigers from 1988 through 1990. He has collected several prestigious awards including the 2013 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcaster of the Year, given to the state’s top broadcast executive, and the 2009 Golden Mike Award for the state’s top on-air talent.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Brandon Dunes, Oregon QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” – Simon Sinek

JOE SCIORTINO

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

WAFB-TV

With over 30 years of broadcasting experience, Joe Sciortino holds significant influence in the Capital Region. His broadcasting career began at WWL-TV in New Orleans, advancing from a studio assistant to production manager over the course of his 19-year tenure there. He then joined WAFB-TV for five years before pursuing opportunities in Arkansas. Notably, he served as vice president and general manager of WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, overseeing the station’s comprehensive facility renovation. In 2016, he returned to Louisiana as vice president and general manager of KSLA-TV in Shreveport. He eventually returned to WAFB in 2020, where he presently oversees day-to-day operations for the station.

EARLY CAREER: During his first stint at WAFB, he worked in sales.

JUDI TERZOTIS

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

THE ADVOCATE

Judi Terzotis currently holds the role of president and publisher at The Advocate, The Times-Picayune and nola.com. Prior to joining Georges Media Group in 2018, she dedicated the majority of her 30-year career to Gannett. Starting as a sales consultant, she ascended the ranks to become a regional publisher overseeing eight markets across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Growing up, she attended eleven different schools, ultimately graduating from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a degree in communications. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in the community, serving on various boards of directors and acting as a facilitator at the esteemed American Press Institute in Washington, D.C. She was named Editor & Publisher magazine’s Publisher of the Year in 2021 and Business Report’s Businessperson of the Year in 2022.

MOTTO: “Two feet in or two feet out.”

KURT AINSWORTH

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO MARUCCI SPORTS

Kurt Ainsworth, a former collegiate and professional baseball pitcher, is the CEO of Marucci Sports, an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Baton Rouge. He started the Marucci Bat Company in 2004 and co-founded Marucci Sports in 2009. He was named CEO in 2014. In November 2023, three years after being acquired by the investment firm Compass Diversified Holdings, the company was purchased by Fox Factory Holding Corp. for $572 million. Marucci Sports has become the most-used brand of bat in professional baseball, and, in recent years, the company has expanded its product line to include apparel, gloves, helmets and more.

BRINGING HOME THE GOLD: He won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. national baseball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: He played professional baseball for two MLB teams: the Baltimore Orioles and the San Francisco Giants.

VERGE AUSBERRY

EXECUTIVE DEPUTY

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

LSU

Verge Ausberry, a former LSU football standout, was appointed to the role of executive deputy director of athletics and executive director of external relations for the university in July 2019. In his capacity as executive deputy director of athletics, he oversees formalized planning and operational processes within the athletic department on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, he serves as the sport administrator for the football and men’s basketball programs, while also acting as the departmental liaison for the Tiger Athletic Foundation, LSU Sports Properties (the multimedia rights holder) and the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: He started as an intern in the compliance office before becoming an academic adviser for student-athletes.

RECOGNITION: In 2018, he was honored as the LSU National L Club Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

SYLVIA WEATHERSPOON

ANCHOR

WBRZ-TV

Sylvia Weatherspoon is an award-winning veteran television and radio news anchor at WBRZ-TV News 2, as well as a digital content creator, voice and film actor, motivational speaker and writer. Over the past 40 years, she has emerged as a consistent and trusted source of the information that matters most to Baton Rouge. She has been honored with many awards and accolades over the years. She is the founder and president of Sylvia’s Toys for Christmas, a charitable organization providing new toys and summer scholarships to children in underserved communities in East Baton Rouge Parish. She also serves on the board of the Baton Rouge Area Children’s Advisory Council.

HOBBIES: Acting and Christmas tree decorating QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

MATT BORMAN

PRESIDENT AND CEO TIGER ATHLETIC FOUNDATION

In April 2021, Matt Borman assumed the role of president and CEO of the Tiger Athletic Foundation after more than 17 years in collegiate athletics fundraising. Prior to joining the TAF, he served as deputy athletic director at the University of Georgia. During his tenure, he spearheaded the most successful fundraising period in the history of Bulldog athletics, amassing over $140 million in donations within a four-year span and surpassing 1,200 donors to major giving initiatives. Before his time at Georgia, he served as the University of West Virginia’s lead fundraiser and as executive director of the Mountaineer Club, where he also achieved record-breaking fundraising results.

FAMILY MAN: He and his wife, Carter, have two daughters, Mary Carter and Winnie.

HE SAID IT: “We definitely want to take advantage of the times when things are going really good. But we appreciate the fans even more in the times where maybe they’re not.”

JAY CLARK COACH

LSU GYMNASTICS

This spring, Georgia native Jay Clark led the LSU Tigers to a historic achievement: their first national championship in gymnastics. He has a long history of pushing the team to the top: Former Coach D-D Breaux hired him after the 2012 season to be her top assistant. He rose to co-head coach in 2020 and became the head coach in 2021 upon her retirement. The Tigers soon began their ascent, finishing four times as a national runner-up. In 2024, LSU’s record was 31-3—its best ever. The team is already attracting a top-tier recruiting class that includes U.S. Pan American Games team members Kaliya Lincoln and Zoe Miller. At press time, Clark was expected to remain at LSU despite garnering interest from the University of Georgia.

PAST LIFE: Before Clark joined LSU, he spent 20 seasons at the University of Georgia where he helped guide that team to seven NCAA National Titles and 14 Southeastern Conference Championships.

BRIAN KELLY

HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

LSU

While he has yet to secure a national title, Brian Kelly’s first two seasons at LSU have not been a disappointment. He led the Tigers to impressive wins over Alabama and Ole Miss in his first year with the program, along with road victories over Arkansas, Auburn and Florida. And in 2023, he guided the Tigers to a 10-win season—aided by the spectacular performance of Heisman Trophy quarterback Jayden Daniels—which concluded with a victory over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Dating back to his time as head coach at Notre Dame, Kelly has now won at least 10 games for seven straight years, the longest active streak among all FBS coaches.

CAREER SHIFT: After graduating from college with a degree in political science, he spent a couple of years coaching softball.

GIVING BACK: His wife, Paqui, after surviving breast cancer, went on to start the Kelly Cares Foundation.

TAYLOR JACOBS

ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, NIL & STATEGIC INITIATIVES

LSU

She is the point person for all things NIL, and LSU has been at the forefront of the NIL revolution. Last fall, the university boasted multiple athletes at the top of the valuation list and will be prominently featured in the forthcoming Amazon Prime documentary, The Money Game. Formerly the compliance coordinator for LSU athletics overseeing recruiting visits for LSU, Taylor Jacobs was promoted to her current role in November 2022. She and her team created the program that guides student-athletes, coaches and the community in successfully navigating NIL opportunities. During her first year managing NIL, Jacobs introduced events such as Geaux Time and Build Your Board that serve as opportunities for the student-athletes to engage with business leaders from Baton Rouge and enhance their NIL opportunities.

LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: My husband and I love French Market Bistro. Whenever we do get a date night, we love to sit at the bar and enjoy the night ... of course with some chargrilled oysters!

KIM MULKEY

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

LSU

In the short time since her return to Louisiana, Kim Mulkey has achieved a remarkable feat as head coach of the LSU women’s basketball program: securing its first national championship. Despite having to integrate nine new players for the 2022-23 season— with only one returning contributor—she was able to lead her team to victory during March Madness. The historic win over the University of Iowa cemented her status as the first head coach in college basketball history to clinch national championships with multiple programs—three at Baylor and one at LSU. She also won a championship as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech and two as a player at Louisiana Tech.

OLYMPIAN: She represented the U.S. at the 1984 Olympics. Her team won all six games and claimed the gold medal.

WEST COAST TO THE BAYOU: While her basketball prowess undoubtedly developed in Louisiana, she is a native of California.

JAY JOHNSON

HEAD BASEBALL COACH

LSU

Jay Johnson has quite an impressive résumé. His track record is characterized by postseason triumphs, dynamic lineups and top-tier recruiting classes, solidifying his status as one of the premier college baseball coaches in the U.S. He now leads one of the country’s most esteemed college baseball programs, and he was instrumental in guiding LSU to the 2023 College World Series title—a feat he achieved in just his second season at the university. That title marked the seventh national championship for the LSU baseball program.

DYNAMIC DUO: His wife, Maureen, is a former University of Arizona soccer player.

BACKGROUND: Prior to joining LSU, he served as head coach of the Point Loma Nazarene University Sea Lions, the University of Nevada Wolf Pack and the University of Arizona Wildcats.

SCOTT WOODWARD

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

LSU

In April 2019, Baton Rouge native and LSU alumnus Scott Woodward assumed the role of director of athletics at his alma mater. Under his stewardship, LSU has secured five national championships within just five years. His tenure has further reinforced LSU’s standing as a prominent contender for national titles across various sports. Notably, the impact of his leadership is evidenced by the recruitment of championship-caliber coaches such as football coach Brian Kelly, baseball coach Jay Johnson and women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey—all of whom have made significant contributions to LSU’s athletic success.

ON HIRING: “I hire people who are proven and who I think have the ability to have good success here at LSU. But it starts off with very smart people.”

CAREER SHIFT: Prior to working in higher education, he co-owned a government and public relations firm in Baton Rouge. His firm provided strategic policy direction to Fortune 500 corporations.

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United Fire & Water Damage of LA, LLC

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WENDI BERTHELOT DIRECTOR

LAPORTE

CPAs AND BUSINESS ADVISORS

Wendi Berthelot has established herself as a leader in the Baton Rouge office of LaPorte, where she began her professional career in 2003. She works with privately held companies, real estate clients, nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies. Outside of work, Berthelot is most passionate about education and ensuring that all children have access to opportunities. She also consults and provides oversight for nonprofits. In addition, she has served on boards and committees for Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge as well as the Manship Theatre and was honored by Business Report as one of its Forty under 40 for 2015.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Company you Keep,” by Maren Morris

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Melanie Smooter in Sweet Home Alabama

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Climbing hanging bridges and zip lining in Costa Rica. As an accountant, I’m not much of a risk-taker.

ERIC BOSCH

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LAPORTE CPAs & BUSINESS ADVISORS

Eric Bosch was elected president and CEO of LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors in 2021 after beginning his professional career there in 1990. Licensed in both Louisiana and Mississippi, Bosch provides accounting and auditing services to financial institutions, manufacturing firms, governmental entities and nonprofits. Bosch honed his leadership skills as a member of LaPorte’s executive committee, as co-chair of the compensation committee, and as a leader with both the health care and financial services industry groups. He served as a faculty member for Delgado Community College’s 10,000 Small Business Program and is an adjunct professor with the University of New Orleans.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING: Our employees are our greatest asset. As such, it’s critical to provide team members with the training necessary to progress in their careers, along with the flexibility needed to help them thrive in both their personal and professional lives.

SARA DOWNING

MANAGING PARTNER

TWRU CPAs AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS

TWRU CPAs and Financial Advisors grew out of a dream by A. Edgar Thomas in the late 1940s to break away from the corporate world and become a sole practitioner. Today, the firm has nearly 30 employees and 15 CPAs, including Sara Downing. Downing began working for TWRU upon graduating from LSU in 1990. She was named a partner in 2002 and became managing partner in 2015. She is a member of the Rotary Club and First United Methodist Church and serves on the board for Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge. She is also past president of the Junior League of Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Little Theater Board of Governors. Downing is a graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Baton Rouge program, and, in 2005, was honored as one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40.

HOBBIES: Fishing, cooking and volunteering

DAN GARDINER

PARTNER

EISNERAMPER

Drawing on his nearly three decades of experience in the accounting industry, Dan Gardiner excels in leading teams tackling clients’ most formidable business challenges. Whether in the private sector or nonprofit arena, Gardiner helps organizations navigate complex financial challenges with innovative solutions and effective communication strategies. Prior to joining EisnerAmper, Gardiner, who grew up in Crowley, served as managing partner and CEO for Baton Rouge-based Postlethwaite & Netterville, as a corporate controller for Community Coffee, and as a financial reporting manager for international leasing company Aggreko. In his first four-year term as CEO for P&N, the firm experienced growth of more than 50 percent. In addition to his professional pursuits, Gardiner serves as vice chair of Franciscan University and treasurer for BRAF.

SOMETHING I’VE LEARNED THE HARD WAY: Don’t take shortcuts—do it right the first time.

ROBERT DAIGREPONT

PRESIDENT

DAIGREPOINT & BRIAN

As a chicken finger startup known as Raising Cane’s was establishing its epic roots near the LSU campus, Robert Daigrepont served as its CFO. At the time, he had just started his accounting firm, Daigrepont & Brian. He served in that role during the eatery’s initial meteoric rise to 178 units by the close of 2013. Today, the CPA, executive, investor and community volunteer is chair of Currency Bank, which formed after he and a group of investors led by Charles Chiasson acquired a north Louisiana financial institution known as Commerce Community Bank, in 2021. He also is the CEO of Baton Rouge-based investment firm Heston Loren Capital Partners. Daigrepoint serves on the community advisory board for the Junior League of Baton Rouge and has also served in various roles for other nonprofits.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED: Daigrepont got his professional start at Ernst & Young.

VANESSA GRAHAM

OWNER

VGRAHAM

With more than 25 years of experience as chief financial officer and controller for small and midsized companies in the Baton Rouge area, Vanessa Graham has established an impressive track record of helping business owners meet their growth goals and overcome challenges. Graham, who launched her firm in 2012, began her career with KPMG before joining software development firm APPRO Systems, which was later sold to Equifax and where Graham continued to work for two years. Graham is active in the community and has served on boards and committees for Thrive Charter School, First United Methodist Church, Rotary International and Louisiana Tech Park. In 2021, Business Report honored the CPA as an on of its Influential Women in Business.

ON VGRAHAM’S APPROACH: “We’re hands-on in everything we do. When we’re not on-site we’re collaborating here in the office.”

BRIDGET KAIGLER

PRESIDENT BRINGING LEADERSHIP BACK

In addition to being a seasoned accountant with more than 20 years of experience in tax and financial analysis, Bridget Kaigler launched her own company, Bringing Leadership Back LLC, to assist organizations in reaching strategic goals. Kaigler serves on several boards for nonprofits and professional associations, supporting advocacy efforts aimed at poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, education, and promoting the CPA brand, including as chair-elect of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. In 2023, she was named a Top 100 Under 50 Executive, by Diversity MBA Media; and a Top Entrepreneurial Woman to Watch, by Career Mastered Magazine. Additional honors include being named among the Top 50 Women in Accounting for 2021 by Ignition and earning the LCPA Distinguished Public Service Award. InRegister magazine honored Kaigler in 2019 as one of its Women with a Cause.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Rise Up,” by Andra Day BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Red wine

TOMMY LEJEUNE

MANAGING PARTNER

FAULK & WINKLER

Tommy LeJeune has been instrumental in his clients’ growth, banking on his more than 30 years of experience in the industry with a broad-based focus on financial consulting and compliance. In one instance, he assisted a client with their participation in a state business incentive program where they received approximately $300,000 in tax incentives. LeJeune has served as an audit partner with Faulk & Winkler since 2000, working with governmental, not-for-profit and professional services clients. He also assists closely held business entities with their financial and tax consulting needs. LeJeune is an active member of the community and serves on the finance committee for St. Joseph’s Academy.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Keep an open mind and work ethic.

PROUDEST MOMENT: The birth of my child and being a part of her life. She recently graduated from LSU’s dental hygiene school and chose to stay in Baton Rouge.

JAY MONTALBANO

MANAGING PARTNER

HANNIS T. BOURGEOIS

Jay Montalbano was named managing partner at Hannis T. Bourgeois in 2020 after being with the company since 1999. In his role, he oversees all business, financial and operational aspects of the firm’s offices in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Hammond, New Orleans and Alexandria. He also concentrates on accounting, assurance, consulting, and growth needs of companies in the construction industry. He is a former president of the Baton Rouge chapter of LCPA, a former board member for Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge & Acadiana, and a former president and board member with the South Central Chapter of CFMA. In addition, Montalbano is a graduate of BRAC’s 2010 Leadership Baton Rouge class.

ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Ryan Reynolds

BEST ADVICE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: When adversity strikes, and it will, don’t give up. Nothing worth having comes easy.

MELANIE TALLEY DIRECTOR EISNERAMPER

As a director in EisnerAmper’s Baton Rouge office, Melanie Talley specializes in association management and works with various clients. Prior to her role with EisnerAmper, Talley was a principal with Postlethwaite & Netterville, which was acquired by EisnerAmper in 2023. In her current role, Talley primarily assists clients with governance and policy development. Functioning as a chief staff member on numerous boards, she provides clients with a neutral stance on the execution of an organization’s mission, strategies and goals. In the community she has served as a member of the National Charity League Sustainer Committee – River Road chapter.

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: It is a bad day, not a bad life. We have so much to be thankful for—don’t sweat the small stuff.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “I would rather hire a man with enthusiasm than a man that knows everything.”

RACHEL CANNON

FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL INTERIOR DESIGNER

RACHEL CANNON LIMITED INTERIORS

Rachel Cannon founded her interior design business in 2009 without any business training but with the simple philosophy that creating a haven of style and comfort is not just a desire for most people, but a necessity. In 2020, Traditional Home magazine included Cannon on a list of rising stars of design and named her a “New Trad” designer. She holds qualifications from the National Council for Interior Design, Louisiana State Board of Interior Designers, National Kitchen & Bath Association and the American Society of Interior Designers. Cannon is active in the community and was a founding member of the Mary Bird Perkins Echo Alliance.

QUIRKY TALENT OR INTEREST: I’m a carpool karaoke superstar.

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED FROM A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE: Your gut is always right, and you must learn to trust it.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t align yourself with someone who wants to keep you small.

SHAWN FOLKS

OWNER AND CEO

GUARANTEE RESTORATION SERVICES

Shawn Folks began working at his parents’ company, Guarantee Restoration Services, around the age of 5 and has been with the company for some 35 years. He took over as CEO in 2014 after his parents retired. He had previously been a technician with the company before working his way up to production manager, where he served in that role for 10 years. What began as a carpet cleaning company has grown into a major player in the restoration services industry in the Gulf Coast region, specializing in fire, water and mold remediation. Since Folks has taken the helm, the company has expanded from one location to five across Louisiana and Mississippi.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Adam Sandler’s characters in The Waterboy, Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Orange Beach

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t sweat the small stuff and make friends with everyone. You never know who you will meet.

KEVIN HARRIS

PRINCIPAL

KEVIN HARRIS ARCHITECT

Homebuyers looking to design their dream home can take a page from Kevin Harris— quite literally—when it comes to residential design. His 2015 book, The Forever Home: How to Work with an Architect to Design the Home of Your Dreams, was a new release bestseller. But the accomplishments don’t stop there for Harris. Over his distinguished career, he has been honored with numerous design awards including one from the National Endowment of the Arts. Harris, who founded his firm in 1982, has been featured, along with his work, in more than 50 books and print publications, including The New York Times. In a 2011 interview with Business Report, Harris said, “For architecture to really be lasting, it needs to address the culture, the lifestyle and the climate as well as the budget, and be able to balance and endure all of those things.”

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Start saving early. DESTINATION OF CHOICE: British Virgin Islands

GERALD D. “JERRY” HEBERT

MANAGING PARTNER AND CEO

GRACE HEBERT CURTIS ARCHITECTS

As an architect, managing partner and CEO for Grace Hebert Curtis Architects, Jerry Hebert has worked diligently to maintain the growth of the firm in the Capital Region and beyond by adding to its extensive client list. Local GHC projects include Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove, the LSU student recreation center, Louisiana Farm Bureau corporate headquarters, Ascension Parish Courthouse, the downtown offices of Jones Walker, and Liberty High School, for which it earned a Rose Award. In addition to being a key player in the industry, Hebert also sits on several local, regional and state boards and committees, including being appointed in 2014 to the LSU University College Advisory Board made up of 30 business and community leaders.

EXPANSION: GHC acquired Texas-based architectural firm Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford and Florida-based firm Bullock Tice Associates in 2023.

TY LARKINS

PRINCIPAL

TY LARKINS INTERIORS

Lawyer-turned-interior designer Ty Larkins has received a wealth of attention for his work since launching Ty Larkins Interiors in 2006. Larkins’ firm specializes in highend residential and commercial hospitality projects. His designs have been featured in such publications as House Beautiful, Southern Living, HGTV Magazine, Louisiana Homes and Gardens, Louisiana Life, and New Orleans Magazine. He has also appeared on the HGTV series Dream House for a home he designed for a home he designed for a family in a Chicago suburb.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coffee to start the day and red wine to end it.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Have a plan for your life that serves as a goal for where you think you want to end up, but don’t be a slave to your plan when the universe nudges you to make a detour.

A.C. LEWIS MANAGEMENT

Dating back to the late 1930s, A.C. Lewis Jr. built and managed scores of hotels and apartment communities across the Baton Rouge area. The Mid City A.C. Lewis YMCA is named in his honor. The company is now run by his son, Bubba Lewis III, who has more than 30 years of experience in managing multifamily housing, commercial office and retail leasing, as well as commercial construction, including office complexes and apartments. The firm manages 10 properties totaling 2,000 units in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Houma.

SWEET TREAT: Lewis’ love for Blue Bell Ice Cream was such that before it was available locally, he would grab some friends, hop on a private plane and fly to Texas to score some of the creamy goodness.

STEPHEN P. MAHER

PRINCIPAL RITTER MAHER ARCHITECTS

Drive around Baton Rouge and it’s readily apparent that some of the most interesting building designs are coming from Steve Maher and the design team at Ritter Maher Architects. There’s the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, the student center at Catholic High, the City Farm office project and the PreSonus Audio Electronics headquarters to name a few. Maher, one of the first LEED-accredited architects in Baton Rouge and a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, has worked on projects across the South and the Eastern Seaboard. He did his architect training in New York City and then returned to launch the firm with Scott Ritter.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Slow down MOST UNUSUAL JOB: I was a cook at George’s under the overpass for a few years in college. I left every night exhausted and smelling like a cheeseburger, but I made good friends and learned important lessons working in the service industry.

ANNE MCCANLESS

OWNER

ANNE MCCANLESS DESIGNS

Anne McCanless founded Anne McCanless Designs in the late 1980s, after a few years of flipping homes and working under a design mentor in Shreveport. In her business, she works with architects and builders on home designs, and helps clients with furniture selection, paint colors, draperies and accessories. McCanless strives to enlighten others on the importance of shopping local, especially when it comes to making a house a home. In 2018, McCanless and business partner Amy Marionneaux opened Texture, a home decor, gifts and design consulting shop in The Village at Willow Grove.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HIRING A PROFESSIONAL:

“All too often people see a picture of a room on Pinterest or Instagram and try to copy it, but what they forget is the careful thought and planning that went into making that room fit an individual’s goals.” ON LOUISIANA’S IMPRINT ON DESIGN: “Good architects and the beautiful textures have left a Louisiana shaped imprint on the design industry that has uniquely placed us on the map.” A.C. “BUBBA” LEWIS III OWNER

J. DYKE NELSON

FOUNDER AND MANAGING MEMBER

DNA WORKSHOP

J. Dyke Nelson, together with his team at DNA Workshop, has made a major impact on Baton Rouge’s architectural landscape, working on numerous historic renovations to large mixed-use buildings, with a focus on sustainability. Among DNA Workshop’s most notable projects are Red Stick Social, Jubans Restaurant and 440 on Third. Nelson, who is licensed to practice in more than 30 states, founded DNA Workshop after relocating from San Francisco with his wife. He has been a practicing architect since 1996. In 2023, Nelson announced plans to open a third DNA Workshop location in Dallas, to go with its existing offices in Baton Rouge and Richmond, Virginia.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Tequila ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t worry so much. It will all work out if you work hard. Enjoy the journey.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” —Winston Churchill

MONIQUE SCOTTSPAULDING

FRANCHISE OWNER

JANI-KING OF BATON ROUGE

Monique Scott-Spaulding is a serial entrepreneur who launched Jani-King of Baton Rouge—a franchise of the Dallasbased cleaning service—in 1998 while still in her 20s. The operation’s success can be partly attributed to the fact that Spaulding spent two full years researching what type of business she wanted to run. Spaulding also serves as chief operations officer for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and is heavily involved in the community, working with nonprofits including the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, The Emerge Center, Junior League of Baton Rouge and Teach for America. Business Report named her a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2009 and an Influential Woman in Business in 2017.

SHE SAID IT: “Your staff represents you, so you want to cultivate a culture of people that know their value and understand the value of your customer and the value of delivering consistent valuable service.”

MARVIN “BUDDY” RAGLAND

ARCHITECT AND PRINCIPAL

COLEMAN PARTNERS ARCHITECTS

Marvin “Buddy” Ragland has carved out an influential role in the Capital Region through both his architectural design and his behindthe-scenes efforts to improve the area’s quality of life. Ragland led the design on the Water Campus and downtown Hilton, as well as on renovations to the Bon Carre Business Center. In the community, Ragland has served on boards associated with Louisiana Lighthouse, Baton Rouge Gallery, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Club of Baton Rouge, among others. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, having formerly been a regional director and lobbyist with the organization as well as a past president of the Baton Rouge chapter. Ragland is also an architect in residence at the LSU School of Architecture.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: Anything by The Who QUIRKY TALENT OR INTEREST: Beekeeping

TRULA REMSON

PRINCIPAL

RHH ARCHITECTS

The LSU Football Operations Center. Knock Knock Children’s Museum. Nicholson Gateway Development. Baton Rouge Magnet High School. Some of Baton Rouge’s most iconic architectural projects have passed through the doors of RHH Architects and Trula Remson’s team. As a principal at the firm, the Bogalusa native is heavily involved in the early stages of projects to serve as an advocate for clients, ensuring their needs are realized. In the community, she has served in leadership roles at the local and national level. Over the years, she has been involved in the Mid-City Redevelopment Board of Directors, the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and the LSU School of Architecture Advisory Board. She is currently on the board of directors for Resource Bank.

HOBBIES: Traveling to new destinations to experience architecture and urban planning, boating, watching LSU football, and listening to the music of her hero, Elvis.

KENNETH TIPTON JR

ARCHITECT AND MANAGING

PRINCIPAL

TIPTON ASSOCIATES

From the Stephenson Pet Clinic at LSU to St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy to the sanctuary restoration at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Baton Rouge, Tipton Associates has left an enduring mark on the Capital Region when it comes to architectural design. Other projects the firm has been involved with include the restoration of the Huey P. Long Field House at LSU and multiple student housing projects at Louisiana Tech. Leading the Tipton team since 1983 is architect and managing principal Kenneth Tipton Jr. Under his leadership, Tipton Associates has grown from a local firm to one that works in more than 30 states. Among the adjectives that colleagues use to describe Tipton are compassionate, visionary and untiring. From 1988 to 2016, Tipton served as an adjunct professor with the LSU School of Architecture.

ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Robert Redford

TIM BARFIELD

PRINCIPAL AND PRESIDENT CSRS

If there’s a major design, development, planning or transportation infrastructure project in south Louisiana, there’s a good chance Baton Rouge-based CSRS is involved. Tim Barfield joined CSRS in 2016, bringing his extensive business, governmental, legal and financial expertise to lead the firm and help develop its next generation of leaders. Prior to CSRS, he served as secretary for the Louisiana Department of Revenue, executive counsel for the Office of the Governor, and executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Barfield also served for over a decade as an executive at Fortune 500 company The Shaw Group, a leader in engineering, technology, construction and disaster recovery.

ON CSRS: “We’re a very unusual company and coming up with our elevator speech is very difficult.” ON THE NEED TO KEEP LEARNING: “We may get older, and our body may be falling apart, but I think we’re always having to try to improve ourselves.”

MICHAEL BRUCE

SENIOR PRINCIPAL

STANTEC

Over a career that spans nearly four decades, Mike Bruce has managed or participated in the design of traffic, bridge, highway and general civil engineering projects and been a trusted adviser to Louisiana cities and parishes on transportation issues. His role on the Government Street project was instrumental in making the corridor more accessible and people friendly. His experience ranges from minor urban street rehabilitation to rural highways to urban interstate construction including geometrics for several major interstate interchanges. Stantec was one of the companies awarded a contract for the LSU lakes project and was also selected along with CSRS to manage the parishwide MovEBR road improvements.

HE SAID IT: “With limited resources, innovative solutions in transportation are critical to improving quality of life.”

ANITA BYRNE PARTNER

SSA CONSULTANTS

After serving as a consultant and providing project support for a decade, Anita Byrne was named partner for SSA Consultants in 2016. The business management and organizational development firm provides consulting services to a client base that includes small, familyowned businesses, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and public-sector initiatives such as Blueprint Louisiana. She has been named both an Influential Woman in Business and a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report. Byrne sits on several boards in the community and is a member of the Mary Bird Perkins Echo Alliance and BRAF’s Civic Initiatives Committee. Byrne recently completed an MBA from the College of William and Mary.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Walking my dog, Lincoln VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED FROM A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE: Do the next right thing, especially if it is hard.

RACHEL DIRESTO

MANAGING DIRECTOR

EMERGENT METHOD

Rachel DiResto describes herself as a coalition builder, community leader and an advocate for transformative change. She has more than two decades of experience in community planning, public outreach and stakeholder engagement, disaster recovery programs, transportation policy, public referendums, and planning at every scale. Among her responsibilities as managing director at Emergent Method is leading statewide outreach and strategic communication for the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, a $3 billion CDBG housing program in response to Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida. Specializing in infrastructure issues, DiResto has developed proactive strategies for advancing solutions to complex community and regional planning issues.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Get outside your comfort zone often. Sometimes being uncomfortable is exactly what you need to grow and learn.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Beautiful Day,” by U2

MARK FALLON

CHAIR AND CEO

APTIM CORP.

Baton Rouge-based environmental and infrastructure solutions firm Aptim is ranked among the nation’s top 10 companies for environmental and nuclear waste management by Engineering News-Record. At the helm is Mark Fallon, who was appointed chair and CEO in 2020. Two years later, in 2022, Aptim moved its headquarters to The Water Campus along the Mississippi River. Prior to joining Aptim, Fallon served as president and CEO of both Envirocon, a national remediation and decommissioning contractor, and Modern Machinery, a distributor of heavy construction and mining equipment. Fallon is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Advisory Board. In 2013, he was invited to serve on the advisory committee of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., or EXIM.

EARLY CAREER: Fallon began his professional career at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he served as an adviser to the secretary of energy.

PERRY FRANKLIN PRESIDENT

FRANKLIN ASSOCIATES

Perry Franklin’s life was forever changed by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Executive director of the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance at the time, Franklin was on the front lines of the recovery effort, volunteering with the state to help create a housing trust fund for storm victims. His work in the wake of the storm led him to form Franklin Associates in 2005. The firm provides long-term disaster recovery and grant management to communities trying to rebuild. It also conducts outreach and public engagement for urban planning and revitalization projects. More recently, Franklin Associates worked with the state in 2020 and 2021 to curb the transmission of COVID-19 by managing seven hotels that were converted into non-congregate housing shelters.

HE SAID IT: “I feel very good that we have done something to shape the importance of public involvement. It all ties back to our mission, putting people first.”

DIMA GHAWI

LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT

DIMA GHAWI LLC

Dima Ghawi motivates and activates those around her to reimagine their potential, grow into leaders and create inclusive corporate cultures. Ghawi arrived in the Capital Region in 2013 as an executive for IBM with a mission to manage training and community outreach, and strengthen the IBM brand in Louisiana. Two years later, she established her global consulting company. Ghawi’s memoir, Breaking Vases, has garnered multiple awards, including the 2018 Writer’s Digest Grand Prize Award. She has been named both an Influential Woman in Business and a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report. She received a President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama in 2014.

PROUDEST MOMENT: When I graduated from college, because that’s when I became the first educated woman in my family.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: San Diego to visit my mom

STUART GILLY MANAGING PARTNER

TRILITY PARTNERS

Stuart Gilly is an entrepreneurial mentor and a business strategist. At Trility Partners, a boutique investment firm he founded in 2019, his focus is guiding business owners through pivotal growth and exit strategies. In addition, Gilly manages investor relations. This year, Trility officially launched the Trility Alliance, a community of local entrepreneurs, advisers and investors who empower small business owners. In 2009, Gilly launched Skyhawk, a diversified security and technology company, before exiting after 10 years. Gilly is active in the community, serving as a board member for Manners of the Heart since 2017. He also founded First Tuesday in 2022, with the goal of redefining the relationship between businesses and community service.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Light House Coffee

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Frank “The Tank” Ricard

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: North Carolina

RHAOUL A. GUILLAUME

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER GOTECH INC.

Rhaoul Guillaume started the professional engineering and consulting firm Gotech in 1981. The firm has extensive experience with both private and public companies, including local, state and federal government agencies. Under his leadership, Gotech has consulted on projects across Louisiana and beyond. Before launching Gotech, Guillaume served as a consultant during the construction of the Louisiana Superdome, monitoring all civil and structural aspects of construction, including piling, concrete and steel. The Ghillaume family developed Pointe-Marie, a 120-acre village located off of River Road in south Baton Rouge, adjacent to the L’auberge Casino and Resort.

MEMORABLE JOBS: Interning during college in Idaho, Wyoming and California in the engineering and surveying industry fields and as a field engineer for a construction company.

MIKE HACKLEY

CEO

HACKLEY ENTERPRISES

After selling the ultra-successful startup BBQGuys in 2020 and exiting the company. Mike Hackley launched a new act in the form of a disaster recovery venture eponymously named Hackley Enterprises. Before being sold, BBQGuys had grown into the largest online retailer in the U.S. for high-end barbecue grills and outdoor products. Hackley’s new company, which he chose to headquarter in Lake Charles, targets publicand private-sector clients for cleanup, debris removal and demolition services following disasters. Hackley invested his own money to buy backhoes, excavators and trailers. Hackley sees the need for the company’s services growing as climate change increases the frequency and severity of weather events.

ON THE DECISION TO SELL BBQGUYS: “It was like, ‘What are you doing? You’re working all the time. You’ve grown this company into a huge company and now it’s time to kick back and spend time with the children and grandchildren.’”

BEVERLY HAYDEL

PRESIDENT AND CEO

SEQUITUR CONSULTING

From playing point guard on the Harvard women’s basketball team to working on Wall Street fresh out of college to launching her own consulting business, Beverly Haydel knows what it takes to compete and take on challenges. And those feats only begin to tell her story. Haydel also had a legal career in Washington, D.C., was an associate general counsel for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and served as a policy adviser to Gov. Bobby Jindal. She founded Sequitur Consulting in 2017 to help clients in the private, public and nonprofit sectors execute and manage projects from start to finish. Her clients include such big names as Ochsner Health and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2022, Business Report honored Haydel as an Influential Woman in Business.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Chargrilled oysters at Mansurs on the Boulevard

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

SHERRI LEBAS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT GEC

Sherri LeBas is a well-known figure in the engineering and transportation industry, with over 24 years working for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and six years at the Division of Administration. Prior to joining GEC, she served as secretary of the agency, overseeing an annual budget of $1.7 billion and over 4,200 employees. She was inducted into the LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Hall of Distinction in 2011 and received the Louisiana Engineering Society Charles M. Kerr Award for Public Relations. She was selected for the 2017 Women Transportation Seminar Woman of the Year Award, and Business Report named her one of its Influential Women in Business in 2018.

CAREER MOVE: In the late 1980s, LeBas was a young engineer at DOTD when she was tapped to oversee a major project: the Interstate 49 interchange in Shreveport. It was a project that, in many ways, made her career.

OWNER AND PRESIDENT SUCCESS LABS

Devin Lemoine has been helping people successfully manage their careers, teams and organizations for 20 years. Her team of consultants at Success Labs focuses primarily on partnering with local and global companies to create custom leadership development, talent management and succession planning processes to meet their short- and long-term talent development needs. Lemoine has a particular interest in helping health care and petrochemical manufacturing clients navigate their talent crunch. She is an in-demand speaker locally and nationally on leadership, talent management and career development. She serves on the WRKF board of directors and is past chair of the Baton Rouge Gallery board of directors. Among her many honors and awards: Business Report named her an Influential Woman in Business in 2016.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Orange LaCroix during the day and a cold beer or vodka martini after work DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Costa Rica

LAKEISHA ROBICHAUX

CEO CHIEF OF MINDS

As a high-profile business strategist, human resources veteran, author and CEO, Lakeisha Robichaux is on a mission to help the next generation of small business owners advance. She founded Chief of Minds as an HR and organizational development strategy firm in 2014, working with government agencies and private and nonprofit organizations to provide HR and business organizational support. In 2020, she launched BizChiefs, a business development membership platform, as an extension of the Chief of Minds brand. Robichaux is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and is a member of the Leadership Council for the National Small Business Association. She is also president of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Express Yourself,” by Donald Lawrence

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Bullfish Bistro

CHRISTEL SLAUGHTER

CEO

SSA CONSULTANTS

Christel Slaughter has established herself as a leader in business, academia, and in the community. Prior to embarking on her consulting career, Slaughter, who holds a Ph.D. in systems management and organizational design, was a professor at LSU for seven years. Her expertise is rooted in organizational design and development, specializing in such areas as change management, performance improvement, strategic planning and leadership development. Among her many honors, Slaughter is a past recipient of the Brotherhood Sisterhood award for Greater Baton Rouge that recognizes individuals who have devoted their professional, philanthropic and volunteer capacities to humanitarian services.

ON WHAT IT TAKES FOR A BUSINESS TO SUCCEED: “The equation is the same for all organizations. Businesses are only as good as the leadership and talent they have.”

JOHN SNOW

PRINCIPAL

EMERGENT METHOD

Improving clients’ organizational performance, communications, programs, and initiatives across sectors such as higher education, local and state government, technology, infrastructure, and health care has been John Snow’s primary focus as a strategy consultant and member of the leadership team at Emergent Method. Since its start in 2012, Emergent Method has grown to more than 200 employees across the U.S. with clients in more than 20 states. Snow’s work has earned him numerous honors including the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication’s T.C. Shields Award for outstanding alumni service in recognition of his dedication to the university and school. And, in 2022, Forum 35 recognized Snow with its Baton Rouge Original award in honor of his service to the city’s young professionals throughout his career.

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: Flying, because I am, without fail, always late

MICHAEL SONGY

PRINCIPAL AND CEO

CSRS

Michael Songy played an integral role in the restructuring of CSRS into a marketdriven organization designed to better meet clients’ needs. Songy, a civil engineer with nearly 40 years of experience, has taken on various consulting assignments including transportation planning and management of capital improvement programs such as the East Baton Rouge City-Parish Green Light Plan, feasibility analyses for land development strategies, engineering and stormwater management, and impact assessments for local governing authorities such as the Southwest Louisiana Regional Impact Study. In addition to being CEO for CSRS, Songy served as company president for more than nine years before stepping down in 2016.

RECOGNITION: Songy was inducted into the LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Hall of Distinction in 2015.

NICK SPEYRER PRESIDENT EMERGENT

METHOD

Nick Speyrer founded strategic management consulting firm Emergent Method in 2012. And while the firm offers bedrock management services, it’s constantly maneuvering into new areas that bring added value to clients. In recent years, that’s meant offering quantitative and qualitative research to help clients engage with their customers in meaningful ways. Speyrer is known for the energetic way he approaches tasks— with absolute intolerance for doing things halfway. The Opelousas native stays active in the community, having served on boards for several organizations including the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the Capital Area United Way, and Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

LEADERSHIP SKILL I’VE LEARNED THE HARD WAY: One person can’t do it all, and the only way to scale is by being a responsible delegator.

MELISSA THOMPSON

CONSULTANT AND COACH

SUCCESS LABS

Originally from Arkansas, Melissa Thompson has lived in Baton Rouge since 2012. As a coach and consultant, she works with individuals and companies to grow leaders, build teams and drive results through great people strategy. Thompson, who holds a Ph.D., previously served as director of talent development at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. She currently serves as an organizer and speaker coach for TEDxBatonRouge. She is also a board member for the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, a founding member of the Mary Bird Perkins Echo Alliance, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Pickleball. I’m terrible at it but it’s fun.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Anything from BLDG 5 or Mestizo BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coconut LaCroix

BARRY BLUMBERG CEO

BLUMBERG AND ASSOCIATES

Blumberg and Associates Inc. has established itself as one of the top commercial insurance agencies in the Capital Region, led by CEO and founder Barry Blumberg with his more than 30 years of experience in the commercial insurance market. The firm specializes in mid- to large-size commercial accounts of all types. Though accounts are largely concentrated in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, the firm does business throughout Louisiana as well as five other Southern states. Outside of work, Blumberg has been a member of Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and YMCA of the Capital Area, and has donated to the Woman’s Hospital Foundation and Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

PASSIONS: Playing golf, attending LSU athletic events and collecting LSU sports memorabilia

DAVID BONDY

FOUNDER AND CEO

LUBA WORKERS’ COMP

David Bondy credits a relationship-driven mentality as the reason why nine out of 10 policyholders return each year to LUBA. But behind that philosophy lies aggressive claims management, active loss prevention and disciplined underwriting. One key to LUBA’s birth was Bondy’s lobbying of the Louisiana Legislature in 1979 to pass a bill enabling the creation of the state’s first workers’ compensation group self-insurance funds. Bondy went on to launch LUBA in 1991. Since its founding, it has evolved into one of Louisiana’s largest workers’ comp providers and has expanded into Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. In 2011, Bondy was inducted into the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Bondy has volunteered his personal time to serve on the boards of more than 15 nonprofit organizations.

BRAD FIFE

REGIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.

In February, Brad Fife was promoted to regional executive vice president of the Southeast Region for Gallagher. Offices he oversees include Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport and Plattenville. In this role, Fife is responsible for ensuring that the offices have sustainable growth as well as successful marketing, account management and operational performance. Fife also serves as area president of the Gallagher Global Brokerage operation in Baton Rouge, leading the firm’s property and casualty operations. Before joining Gallagher, he served as senior vice president of McNeary Inc., which was acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in 2016. Fife carries a certified insurance counselor, or CIC, designation and is a member of the LWCC Agency Council.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Fife is a supporter of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

DUANE HARDY

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND STATE MANAGER FARM BUREAU INSURANCE

Duane Hardy’s career with Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance spans more than three decades. He assumed the role of executive vice president and state manager in October 20022. He was previously based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, serving for more than four years as Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company’s senior vice president for claims— his only stint outside of Louisiana. Hardy began his career with Louisiana Farm Bureau in the late 1980s, moving up the company ladder, in succession, to physical damage manager, district claims manager, products manager and vice president for claims. The Farm Bureau Federation is the largest—and most powerful—lobbying voice for farmers in Louisiana.

EARLY CAREER: Hardy began working at Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance in 1988 as a claims representative.

MICHAEL DILEO

PRESIDENT

AND CEO

STONETRUST WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Michael Dileo is a senior commercial insurance executive with more than 30 years of workers’ compensation underwriting, claims, and management experience. He has been with Stonetrust since 2010. Dileo earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, or CPCU, designation in 2004. Stonetrust began in 1993 as a workers’ compensation self-insurance fund. Since then, it has evolved into a stock insurance company licensed in 28 states, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. In June 2022, AM Best upgraded Stonetrust’s financial strength rating to A- (excellent) from B++ (good), reflecting sustained favorable results in balance sheet strength and operating performance.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Dileo is a director of the Magnolia Lakes Estates Homeowners Association.

BRIAN PANGBURN

PRINCIPAL AND CEO THE PANGBURN GROUP

Brian Pangburn founded what is now the Pangburn Group in 1996 and has served as the organization’s president since 2002 and CEO since 2012. Pangburn is a computer scientist who turned a college summer job in the ‘90s into a successful career providing comprehensive record-keeping solutions for nonqualified benefit plans and employerowned life insurance. The company services a broad spectrum of clients from small corporations and community banks to Fortune 500 public companies. It routinely ranks as one of the top companies in Business Report’s Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge program.

QUIRKY TALENT: I’m a moderately successful picklock.

SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: The ability to go to sleep on command. I would use it to get more sleep.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Surf and turf at Ma Mama’s Kitchen in New Roads

KRISTIN WALL

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LOUISIANA WORKERS” COMPENSATION CORP.

Kristin Wall joined LWCC in its first year of operation in 1992 as managing claims attorney and four years later was promoted to general counsel. In this role, she was instrumental in developing legislation for the corporation on a state and federal level. Subsequently, Wall was promoted to executive vice president and COO in 1998. The board of directors went on to name her president and COO in 2004 and then president and CEO in 2006. Wall is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and was formerly a licensed insurance agent. She also serves on the boards of several organizations including the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Thank You for Being a Friend,” by Andrew Gold

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Have better balance and attention between family and business. You generally don’t get do-overs, but if you do, take advantage of them.

BOB BARTON

MANAGING PARTNER

TAYLOR, PORTER, BROOKS & PHILLIPS

Bob Barton, co-chair of the firm’s business and commercial litigation practice, is a leading voice in that field, representing local and national businesses in litigation, transactions, and regulatory and compliance matters. His varied practice includes being a mediator with The Patterson Resolution Group. Also prominent in sports law, Barton represents several universities and is considered an expert on the subject matter. Barton has been selected for inclusion in both Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers, in the business litigation category. He is a member of the Committee of 100.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Buy that Apple stock.

LAST BOOK: I reread To Kill a Mockingbird last year. Great book about standing up for what’s right even when it is difficult or not popular.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Well done is better than well said.” – Ben Franklin

JENNIFER ANDERSON

ATTORNEY

BAKER DONELSON

Jennifer Anderson, an expert in labor and employment law with more than 27 years of experience, focuses her practice on wage and hour compliance, arbitration and litigation. She represents publicly traded and private companies in a variety of industries, with expertise in advising and defending energy clients. Licensed to practice in both Texas and Louisiana, she has represented employers in more than 200 Fair Labor Standards Act cases. Anderson spent more than 23 years at Jones Walker in Baton Rouge before moving her practice to Baker Donelson as a shareholder in the firm. Best Lawyers recognized her as Lawyer of the Year in the Labor Law - Management category. In January 2023, Anderson was named one of InRegister magazine’s “Women with a Cause” for her animal rescue work.

JAMES R. AUSTIN

ATTORNEY

BUTLER SNOW

James R. Austin is one of the best known and most highly respected attorneys in the market, having practiced law for 45 years while specializing in banking and real estate law. He is responsible for supporting Butler Snow’s managed assets department with a portfolio of loans and real estate in excess of $400 million. Austin is regularly named as one of the top lawyers in the country by industry publication Best Lawyers. Throughout his career in the Capital Region, Austin has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations, serving on the boards of the Louisiana Banking Association, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Baton Rouge Symphony, both the Baton Rouge and Louisiana Bar associations and the Rotary Club.

PAST LIFE: He previously served as the lead attorney in the Banc One Corporation’s law department for its private banking line of business, and as senior vice president, legal counsel and assistant secretary for Premier Bank.

BRANDON BLACK

PARTNER

JONES WALKER

Companies with complex commercial disputes—commercial transactions, environmental and toxic torts, the federal False Claims Act and other matters—often turn to Black. His experience is wide ranging and also includes creditors’ rights in bankruptcies, RICO, insurance coverage disputes and more. He got his start as a CPA at KPMG, and later served as a law clerk to former U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola.

NONPROFIT CAUSES: Black, who has a son with special needs, maintains leadership roles at nonprofits that serve the special needs community: Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy, Louisiana Special Olympics and ARC of Baton Rouge.

ADVICE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: “In any organization, the best performers consistently do more than is expected, are patient, are eager to learn, expect to earn their success, and are team players who put the interests of others ahead of their own. Over time, these performers will be the most valuable and most successful.”

S. DENNIS BLUNT

VICE MANAGING PARTNER, BATON ROUGE OFFICE

PHELPS DUNBAR

Dennis Blunt is an experienced trial litigator with a reputation for guiding clients through complex legal disputes. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, including business torts, products liability, casualty litigation, lender liability and more. He represents clients across a wide spectrum of industries, including public utilities, education, health care, insurance and financial institutions. He is chair of the Public Affairs Research Council and a member of the Capital Area Finance Authority. He also serves on the board for the Companion Animal Alliance, having worked to develop its current public-private partnership with the city of Baton Rouge. He is a past chair of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: “Please plan. Plan as much as you can. Commit your plan to writing. The plan isn’t real if it’s not written. Execute the plan and plan to pivot. Don’t be afraid to fail.”

QUIRKY TALENT: My family refers to me as a storehouse of useless information.

FRANZ BORGHARDT

OWNER AND CRIMINAL

DEFENSE ATTORNEY

BORGHARDT LAW FIRM

Franz Borghardt is widely known for his civic involvement and initiatives. He has two passions in particular: criminal justice reform and cuisine. As an attorney, he is a frequent voice for criminal justice reform, speaking out on such high-profile topics as the Ronald Green case and jury bias. Early in his career, he was a high-profile advocate for foodie-focused efforts, like the 2016 Baton Rouge Brunches group, the Baton Rouge Burgers competition and the 2017 Capital City Mac Fest. He has also hosted The Geaux Rouge Show, showcasing the cultural, artistic and culinary scenes of the community and Legally Unfiltered on Talk 107.3 with fellow attorney Richard Sprinkle.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Anthony Bourdain. I think he was incredible and I loved Parts Unknown

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: I flew to the Arctic Circle and landed on a glacier.

MOST UNUSUAL JOB: Uber driver

JOHN

STONE CAMPBELL III

PARTNER/LAWYER

TAYLOR PORTER

Practicing law since 1995, Taylor Porter partner John Campbell III focuses primarily on litigation and serves as co-chair of the firm’s professional liability, insurance, casualty, product liability and personal injury litigation practice. In the last several years, his work has mainly involved commercial litigation, construction litigation, contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty litigation, real estate litigation, class actions, admiralty and maritime cases, premises liability and general tort litigation, and insurance coverage and litigation.

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “Somewhere in the Middle,” Cody Jinks

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Southwest Montana ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME: Jeremiah Johnson

PRESTON CASTILLE

ATTORNEY

PRESTON CASTILLE

LAW FIRM

After 28 years practicing at Taylor Porter, Preston Castille launched his own small firm specializing in commercial litigation and transactions, as well as education and corporate law and policy. He is an advocate for education, serving as president of Helix Community Schools, the charter operator behind Baton Rouge’s first aviation academy, and as District 8 representative of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, representing 14 parishes. He is also on the board of directors for the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. His community involvement also extends to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Center for Planning Excellence.

EARLY SUCCESS: He was valedictorian of Plaisance High School in St. Landry Parish.

PAST LIFE: Prior to attending law school, Castille worked as an economist for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.

JAMES “SONNY” CHASTAIN PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

Sonny Chastain is a go-to lawyer for business litigation and intellectual property, representing clients in disputes regarding contract negotiations, banking, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair trade practices and consumer finance. He advises clients in matters regarding copyright and trademark, brand management, and IP infringement. Chastain also has experience litigating insurance disputes. He is listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. He was listed by Best Lawyers as the Baton Rouge Lawyer of the Year in Trademark Law for 2018, 2021 and 2023. He serves as a mediator with Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions.

KEY CASES: He represented a manufacturer of works of art in copyright infringement and unfair competition, as well as a shoe manufacturer in defending trademark and unfair competition claims.

EARLY RISER: Chastain was recognized as a Business Report Forty Under 40 in 1999.

SCOTT CHENEVERT ATTORNEY

FISHMAN HAYGOOD

A graduate of Catholic High School, Scott Chenevert has practiced law for more than 25 years, primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate governance and finance. He has represented some of the Capital Region’s biggest firms in transactions, including Bernhard Energy Solutions, H&E Equipment Services, Danos, Engquist Development and General Informatics. Chenevert also serves on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, and as a member of the Southeast Super-Region Committee. He served on the Baton Rouge Area Chamber board of directors from 2006 to 2013, including a stint in 2012 as its chair.

BIG DEALS: Chenevert represented Capital City Press in its sale to Georges Media Group.

G. BLANE CLARK JR.

PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

G. Blane Clark is the former managing partner for the firm. He has more than 35 years of experience in industrial, commercial and health care transactions, working with clients in planning their structure and helping with day-to-day business issues. Clark has advised shareholders on the relative rights of holders of a majority or minority equity position. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America guide for corporate law and M&A since 2007, as Lawyer of the Year in mergers and acquisitions law in 2021 and for corporate law in 2022. He is also listed among the top corporate and M&A lawyers in Louisiana by Chambers USA.

WALK-UP SONG: “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen

PASSION: Listening to music at the Red Dragon Listening Room or The Manship Theatre

ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME: Robert Duvall

LINDA PEREZ CLARK

MANAGING PARTNER KEAN MILLER

Linda Perez Clark has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in a wide variety of transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions, and engineering, procurement, construction and constructionrelated contracts for energy projects in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. She also assists clients with master services and supply agreements, development and negotiation of companywide standard form agreements, and entity structure and governance. She has been instrumental in the firm’s award-winning diversity and inclusion initiatives and has been named one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 and Influential Women in Business.

BEST ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “99.99% of the stuff we worry about never materializes as a real problem.”

BEST ADVICE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: “Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself, always have stretch goals or activities that take you out of your comfort zone, and never stop learning.”

TOM CLARK ATTORNEY

BREAZELLE, SACHSE & WILSON

Tom Clark is known for representing entities ranging in size from Fortune 500 companies to locally owned sole proprietorships. His practice focuses on insurance regulatory law and dispute resolution, state procurement and contract dispute resolution, complex commercial litigation, executive and legislative branch government relations, and filmed entertainment representation. In the insurance arena. Clark is active with state legislators and administrators in the intent and interpretation of laws and regulations. He previously served as president and chair of The Committee of 100 for Economic Development; he remains on its executive committee. He also holds leadership positions with the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana and the Property and Casualty Commission.

IN TRANSITION: Clark was appointed to Gov. Jeff Landry’s transition committee on insurance and directly assisted Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple throughout his transition as well.

JILL CRAFT

CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY

JILL L CRAFT, ATTORNEY AT LAW

Aside from a brief period at the beginning of her law practice, Jill Craft has practiced law on her own terms. She committed herself to working on behalf of the voiceless and empowering victims of discrimination, civil rights abuses and sexual trauma. Craft has successfully litigated numerous high-profile cases, including one of the first ADA HIV harassment cases in the country. The attorney has presented numerous continuing education programs on employment litigation, trial advocacy, ethics, and professionalism. She has earned several awards throughout her career, including the Joseph Keogh award from the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Racial Justice Award.

THEME SONG: “I Will Survive,” by Gloria Gaynor QUIRKY TALENT: Laying tile and hanging drywall

UNUSUAL JOB: “When I was 14 in Connecticut, I picked tobacco in the summer. It was very hard manual labor, but I learned the importance of hard work and the value of getting a solid education.”

ANNE CROCHET PARTNER

TAYLOR PORTER

Anne Crochet has carved out an impressive— and respected—reputation representing business and industry, especially the petrochemical sector, in environmental and toxic tort matters. She is the practice group leader for Taylor Porter’s environmental regulation and litigation team, providing environmental regulatory compliance advice, securing environmental permits, defending enforcement actions and protecting interests through litigation for clients. Crochet joined the firm in 1999 and has been recognized for her work by Best Lawyers, which named her Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge for environmental law in 2014, 2020 and 2023. Crochet’s professional memberships include Louisiana Association of Business & Industry, Air & Waste Management Association and the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: Baton Rouge Blues

Foundation Executive Committee and City Club of Baton Rouge Board of Governors

MICHAEL D. FERACHI

MANAGING MEMBER

MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD

A Catholic High School graduate, Michael Ferachi has practiced law in Baton Rouge as a trial and appellate attorney for more than 27 years, focusing on consumer finance litigation, class actions, business disputes and insurance defense. In 2021, Ferachi became managing member of McGlinchey Stafford, leading the firm in its concentrated effort to modernize and shift with the changing legal industry through its #McGlincheyForward initiative. Over the course of his career, Ferachi has litigated disputes involving consumer finance institutions of all sizes as well as airlines, outdoor advertising, commercial finance entities and construction companies.

PHILOSOPHY: “I view myself not so much as a litigator but as a problem-solver. Sometimes those problems reach the courtroom, sometimes not. But what gives me the greatest satisfaction is solving my clients’ problems and—whenever possible— making sure they stay solved.”

HOBBIES: Live music concerts and visiting Disney World

KELSEY KORNICK FUNES

PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

Named a Construction Law Trailblazer by the National Law Journal in 2022, Kelsey Kornick Funes has made a name for herself representing both plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving public and private construction projects in the Gulf Coast region. She routinely speaks at seminars and briefings on construction-related topics and is the author of a number of published works on the topic. Funes is an active member of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law and is an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s Construction Panel.

FAVORITE CAUSE: She is vice chair of the Center for Planning Excellence board of directors and helped start the Visionary Circle to build a sustainable pipeline of membership support. ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: “Don’t despair— what you see as setbacks or failures are teaching you the things you need to know to reach your greatest potential.”

BRETT FURR

PARTNER

TAYLOR PORTER

Brett Furr is one of the region’s top litigators in the commercial, banking and real estate sectors but he is perhaps more widely known to the general public as one of the attorneys representing the city of Baton Rouge in its case against the St. George incorporation, likening its plan of government to “the back end of a rental car agreement.” He is the former chair of the banking law section of the National Lawyers Association and recently served on a task force to update local court rules for the Middle District’s U.S. Bankruptcy Court. He has been honored by Louisiana Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and has twice been honored by his peers as Baton Rouge Real Estate Litigation Lawyer of the Year.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, Louisiana Business & Technology Center

RAISING MONEY: Furr co-chaired the capital campaign that raised $6.5 million for the University Laboratory School Foundation.

SCOTT HENSGENS

MANAGING PARTNER

BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON

Scott Hensgens is the firm’s managing partner, elected at the relatively young age of 38. He’s also an important voice in the growth of the Baton Rouge business community. Passionate about trademark law, his practice is heavily concentrated on representing businesses and individuals in trademark and copyright registration and litigation. He is deeply involved in the Baton Rouge community, serving in leadership roles for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, the Downtown Development District, the Junior League of Baton Rouge, the Public Affairs Research Council and many others.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The mountains

ACTOR I’D WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: I think it would be George Clooney. My “friends” think it would be Rowan Atkinson.

DO-OVER WISH: “As Darius Rucker famously sang: ‘Thank God for all I missed, ‘cause it led me here to this.’ I’m perfectly happy right where I am in my life. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

WALT GREEN PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

Walt Green focuses his practice on data privacy and governmental investigations. He was the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana and the executive director for the National Center for Disaster Fraud from 2013 to 2017. He retired from the U.S. Department of Justice with over 20 years of federal experience. Additionally, Green served in the Marine Corps for over 30 years and retired with the rank of colonel. Since entering private practice, Green has been a sought-after speaker and commentator on fraud, cybersecurity and data privacy issues. He earned a spot on the National Law Journal’s 2017 Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer’s list, which highlights the top 25 attorneys who have helped make a difference in the fight against criminal cyber activity.

WALK-UP SONG: “All Eyes on Me,” Tupac DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Italy

MAUREEN HARBOURT OF COUNSEL KEAN MILLER

Maureen Harbourt has more than three decades of environmental law experience, representing local, national and international industrial clients in a variety of substantive environmental areas. She also is a champion for diversity in the legal profession, having been a founding member of the firm’s diversity council. She was recognized as one of Business Report’s Influential Women in Business in 2010 and was listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers (2008-2023). In 2010 and 2022, Harbourt was included on the Top 25 Women Attorneys in Louisiana list. She was listed as a top lawyer in Chambers USA (2018-2022) in environmental law and also listed in Best Lawyers in America (2006-2023) and as Baton Rouge Lawyer of the Year in Environmental Law for 2012 and 2021.

ADVICE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: Don’t neglect your family and friends. Make time for them.

MARY TERRELL JOSEPH

ATTORNEY

MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD

Mary Terrell Joseph has advised clients on collections matters and creditors’ rights, including both retail and commercial collections, for more than 50 years. She has a passion for bettering the Baton Rouge community that has driven her to civic involvement and nonprofit leadership. This passion inspired years of volunteerism with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, LSU Museum of Art, the Baton Rouge Gallery, the Capital Area United Way, the Capital Area Network, the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, The Emerge Center and many others. Her honors have been many, including being named Distinguished Attorney by the Louisiana Bar Foundation.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Do your best. Angels can do no more.”

MOST ADVENTUROUS THING I’VE DONE: Camping for eight months in Europe after college and before law school.

LEE C. KANTROW

ATTORNEY

BUTLER SNOW

Lee C. Kantrow has practiced law in Louisiana for more than five decades. He specializes in corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. He represents a diverse group of business clients including hospitals, health care providers, insurers, telecommunications companies and nonprofits. Kantrow is part of a multigenerational family of lawyers in Baton Rouge: His father founded law firm Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer and son Jacob Kantrow also practices law in Butler Snow’s business services group. Kantrow regularly advises boards of directors on governance and other matters and has been recognized as a top attorney by Chambers USA.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in economics, Tulane; Juris Doctor, Harvard University

Phelps Marks 40-Year Tradition Serving the Capital City Community

Phelps, the state’s oldest continuous law firm, may also be the most uniquely Louisiana. Founded in New Orleans in 1853, the full-service firm now includes 14 offices across the Southeast and in London, with a team of 400 lawyers assisting thousands of clients.

GROWING WITH CLIENTS IN BATON ROUGE’S BIGGEST MARKETS

“We strive to address client needs wherever and however they arise,” says Ragan Richard, managing partner of Phelps’ Baton Rouge office, which is celebrating its 40th year. “We have always focused on strategic growth, targeting the markets that matter to our clients across the Southeast.”

Those goals made Phelps’ expansion into Baton Rouge an easy decision. Opened in 1984, Phelps’ first regional office brought firm resources to businesses across Louisiana and gave Phelps insight into emerging trends to help clients expand. In the four decades since, Phelps has been a driving force in the city’s development. Phelps has been instrumental in furthering the region’s real estate, commercial and industrial developments and assisting community hospitals, universities, governing bodies, businesses and citizens.

“It is remarkable how many thriving businesses incubated in Louisiana,” says Richard. “Many of our clients have been with us since they started

their business. They know we will be there during the high and the low times, standing beside them every step of the way. We have developed enduring friendships with many of our clients, which is one of the most rewarding parts of our practice.”

“We take pride in the work we do for Baton Rouge’s industries,” says Richard. “You touch so many lives in markets like agriculture, because there are so many families, businesses and civic leaders supporting those industries. Our team offers wide-ranging assistance, from governance of agricultural associations to addressing transportation, immigration, IP, employment and tax issues. It is amazing to see Louisiana companies leading these industries and their impact on the global economy.”

Phelps also supports the construction and real estate industries. “We can look out our office window or travel down River Road and see manufacturing facilities, neighborhoods, office buildings, hotels, apartments and retail spaces where our services played an integral role,” says Richard. “It gives us great pride knowing we’ve helped bring these projects from inception to fruition.”

“Our Mississippi River corridor attracts and supports growth for Louisiana and non-Louisiana companies wanting to expand,” says Dennis Blunt, Phelps’ Baton Rouge vice-managing partner. “Our longstanding partnership with local industries led to strategic development and unique growth

opportunities within those markets. We were here as these industries grew and helped them through those expansion efforts.”

In addition to its long track record of supporting Baton Rouge’s core industries, Phelps works alongside leaders in emerging fields. LSU’s brightest minds are blazing trails in biomedical and energy innovations, putting Baton Rouge at the forefront of cutting-edge advances with global significance. Companies shaping the future of health care, tech and renewables rely on Phelps’ counsel to develop, protect and maximize intellectual property and guide their expansion.

BUILDING UP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Forming partnerships with Baton Rouge businesses means getting to know the people behind them, too. Phelps’ lawyers coach kids’ sports, mentor at local schools, and join in a wide range of civic efforts. The firm hosts LSU tailgates and crawfish boils, leads service opportunities at shelters, and fundraises for area charities, in addition to providing scholarships and pro bono legal services.

“Our firm, our livelihoods and our families are rooted in this community,” says Blunt. “We want to be good lawyers, but we also want to be good citizens, good family members and good community leaders.”

PAMELA R. MASCARI

PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

Pamela Mascari’s practice focuses on complex litigation and regulatory matters, primarily in the oil and gas, pipeline, energy and environmental areas. She has experience in the energy, petrochemical and manufacturing industries and advises clients on litigation strategy. She’s also known for her extensive experience handling complex litigation in multidistrict litigation proceedings in federal district courts outside of Louisiana. She has been recognized by Louisiana Super Lawyers (2011-2023) and was included on the Top 25 Women Attorneys in Louisiana and Top 50 Attorneys in Louisiana lists (2022-2023). Mascari serves on the advisory council of the Mineral Law Institute at the LSU Law Center and has been on the mineral law committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute since 2018.

PASSION: Sports of any kind

NONPROFIT CAUSES: Alzheimer’s Services of Baton Rouge, Women’s Energy Network Foundation, Louisiana Art & Science Museum

GORDON MCKERNAN

OWNER AND ATTORNEY

GORDON MCKERNAN INJURY ATTORNEYS

Gordon McKernan has perhaps the most recognizable face in Baton Rouge. The personal injury attorney started his firm in 1992, but his guerrilla marketing campaign of endless billboards in recent years has paid off by garnering him more fame and attention than the highest-profile court case ever could. McKernan also entered the name, image and likeness space in college athletics, dishing out NIL deals to male and female star athletes at LSU, Louisiana Tech and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. But outside of the relentless, self-aware advertising, McKernan and his firm also dedicate hours of volunteer work and financial resources to support good causes in the community, like the Mary Bird Perkins Foundation, Redstick CARES, Sickle Cell Foundation of Baton Rouge and Companion Animal Alliance.

HOBBIES: Reading, traveling, hunting, fishing, exercising and coaching his children’s sports teams

JOHN PERRY

PARTNER AND OWNER

PERRY, BALHOFF, MENGIS & BURNS

John Perry has practiced as a civil defense attorney and a plaintiff’s attorney, earning the uncommon distinction of serving on both the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel’s board of directors and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association’s board of governors. He still tries select cases, but his primary focus these days is as a mediator, where he’s widely regarded as tops in the region. Perry is also a partner and founding member of the alternative dispute resolution firm Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions. He is a member of many professional organizations including the American College of Trial Lawyers. Perry has been appointed as a special master in large-value settlement cases, and the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed him to serve as a judge pro tempore.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in business, Nicholls State; Juris Doctor, LSU

COLLEGE ATHLETE: Starting point guard and captain of the Nicholls State basketball team

MARY OLIVE PIERSON ATTORNEY

AT LAW

Widely known as Ollie or MOP, this highprofile defense attorney has made a name for herself as a frequently sassy and sometimes salty lawyer who has never been one to bite her tongue or practice political correctness. Once notably referred to by a plaintiff as a “red-headed barracuda,” her searing oneline media sound bites, her nobody-talkseverybody-walks legal strategy and her loyalty are legendary. She has represented some of the biggest names in the Capital Region, most recently fighting the St. George incorporation on behalf of the city of Baton Rouge. She was one of just seven women in her LSU Law School class. From 1978 to 1980, Pierson had a side gig as a meat pie entrepreneur, opening MOP’s Great American Meat Pie Co. on Government Street.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Do the same thing over.

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Vincent LaGuardia Gambini in My Cousin Vinny

DARREL PAPILLION

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

In 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Darrel Papillion to the federal bench. Papillion, a former Business Report Forty under 40 honoree, had been a partner in Baton Rougebased firm Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, LLC since 2009 and specialized in handling cases dealing with wrongful death, product liability and serious personal injury. The Eunice-born LSU alum started his career as a law clerk for Louisiana Supreme Court Associate Justice Catherine D. Kimball from 1994 to 1995, and moved to Baton Rouge in 1999 to join Moore, Walters & Thompson as an associate. He was also a partner at Moore, Walters, Thompson, Thomas, Papillion & Cullens from 2001 to 2009.

QUICK CONFIRMATION: Papillon was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in just 10 weeks, an unusual achievement in today’s political climate.

FUN FACT: As a teenager, Papillion hosted a KEUN radio show in French.

CLAUDE REYNAUD JR.

PARTNER

BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON

Litigator Claude Reynaud Jr. has built his career focusing on antitrust and intellectual property, as well as cases involving fiduciary duty disputes. After making partner in 1981, Reynaud went on to become chief general counsel to the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association in 1998. Among other notable cases, Reynaud represented the city of Alexandria in litigation against Cleco over alleged overcharges to the city’s utility, resulting in a $50.7 million settlement for the city in 2014. Part of the effort nearly 20 years ago to revitalize downtown Baton Rouge, Reynaud is the past chairman of the Visit Baton Rouge’s board of directors. He has a history of community service, which includes volunteering with Preserve Louisiana to promote the state’s architectural and cultural history.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in corporate finance, LSU; Juris Doctor, Tulane

RAGAN RICHARD

MANAGING PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

Attorney Ragan Richard focuses mainly on corporate transactions, real estate and finance. Transactions can range from acquisitions and mergers to divestitures. He also is involved in matters of corporate governance and organization of large and small companies. He was a critical player in the Nicholson Gateway Project near LSU, facilitating the university’s public-private partnership that paved the way for the development. Richard has been active in the Baton Rouge community, serving on the boards of St. Joseph’s Academy, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

QUIRKY TALENT: When I was younger while waterskiing, I frequently dropped the slalom ski and barefooted.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Focus on the future, not on the past. Smile more. Love your neighbor. Listen to your wife. Seek virtue, avoid vice. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances.

RANDY YOUNG

PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

Randy Young is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and has more than 25 years of experience in energy and utility regulation litigation. He joined the law firm in 1992 and currently practices primarily in the areas of energy, utility regulation and river pilotage regulation. He also has experience in trucking regulatory matters and telecommunications and environmental litigation. Chambers USA has listed him among the top Energy & Natural Resources lawyers since 2011.

HOBBY: Road trips west

MUST READ: Last Bus to Wisdom. Its impact: “Life is a journey of adventures to be experienced.”

QUIRKY TALENT: I grew up training and showing horses.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The grays are dominant and shades enumerable.”

LEWIS UNGLESBY

ATTORNEY

UNGLESBY LAW FIRM

Lewis Unglesby is a larger-than-life character in Baton Rouge law. Through the years, he has been the go-to bulldog for defendants in some of the community’s most prominent criminal cases: Stephen Edwards; former U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr.; bad guy-turned-government informant Barry Seal; former state Sen. Heulette “Clo” Fontenot; former Livingston Parish President Dewey Ratcliff; teamsters business manager Keith Partin; and Rodney Peairs. Restaurateur Al Copeland sought him out when divorcing his wife. A former roughneck and gas station manager who fell in love with the profession watching Perry Mason, he has won millions of dollars going up against corporations and made enduring case law. His son Lance joined the Napoleon Street firm in 2009.

DO-OVER WISH: I would need an entire book. BATON ROUGE DIRECTION: “We have everything we need but need to get out of the way of progress.” DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Woodville, Mississippi

TAYLOR BENNETT

FOUNDER AND CEO MESH

Over the last 20 years, Mesh CEO and founder Taylor Bennett has grown his business from a two-person design shop to one of the most recognized full-service marketing firms in Baton Rouge. In 2021, Bennett won the EA Pete Goldsby Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Advertising Federation of Baton Rouge. As a company, Mesh has won over 300 local, regional and national Addy Awards. Bennett and Mesh are frequent supporters of a variety of nonprofits across Louisiana. The firm has developed marketing campaigns and advertising designs for nonprofits with little or no budget that are making big impacts in Baton Rouge. Bennett currently serves on the board of trustees of The Dunham School and is also a longtime member of the American Advertising Federation.

PROUDEST MOMENT: The day each one of my kids was born.

QUIRKY OR UNUSUAL TALENT: Having a photographic memory for numbers

RAEDTHA VASQUEZ

PARTNER

JONES WALKER

Raedtha Vasquez is a legal force in economic development projects and public-private partnerships. Her work as underwriters’ counsel for the $294 million bond sale for the restoration of the Louisiana Superdome in the wake of Hurricane Katrina was awarded Deal of the Year in the Southeast Region by The Bond Buyer. At Jones Walker, she is a partner in the tax practice group, advising clients on commercial transactions, including real estate matters, construction lending, municipal bond transactions and tax increment financing. Her current practice focus is representing lenders and investors in affordable housing transactions. National retailers involved in significant real estate transactions as well as colleges and universities addressing infrastructure needs also are among her clients.

HOBBY: Playing Mah Jongg. I’m obsessed! QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “We had found the stars, you and I. And this is given once only.”

CRAIG CHUMNEY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN

Franklin Printing Co. was founded as a small Baton Rouge print shop by E.J. and Inez Land in 1922. The business grew and changed its name to Franklin Press in 1949, providing high-quality commercial printing. Craig Chumney was hired as vice president in 1996 after Franklin Press merged with DigiTrans, a data marketing firm he founded in 1985. The merger was an important milestone for both companies, allowing them to combine a century’s worth of printing experience with the data skill set developed at DigiTrans. Chumney has been president of the company, which is now known simply as Franklin, since 2020. Franklin serves customers of all sizes, providing data, mailing and printing solutions.

EDUCATION: Chumney graduated from LSU in 1985.

EARLY CLIENTS: American Express, NASA and the FBI were early clients of DigiTrans, Chumney’s first company.

MATT DARDENNE CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT RED SIX MEDIA

Baton Rouge-native Matt Dardenne founded Red Six Media when he was 22, one month after graduating from LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. Under his helm, the agency, which will celebrate its 15-year anniversary in June, has grown to a staff of 26, drawing and retaining major clients such as Turner Industries, ExxonMobil and the Tiger Athletic Foundation. It has created 20 nationally awarded commercials and made significant impacts in Louisiana, including creating the state’s new litter prevention campaign, “Let Louisiana Shine.” Dardenne is an active community leader and volunteers with organizations such as the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge. He has received countless awards and honors through his work, including 36 national Telly Awards.

PROUDEST MOMENT: The birth of my daughter. There’s nothing my wife can’t do.

ADRIAN OWEN JONES

CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER THREESIXTYEIGHT

Adrian Owen Jones is chief growth officer and EOS integrator at ThreeSixtyEight, a national award-winning creative agency in Baton Rouge. She has served as the growth and change catalyst within the company, working with the team to leverage data, technology and talent to produce truly uncommon creative work. Prior to joining ThreeSixtyEight, she served as associate vice president for advancement services at the LSU Foundation, where she helped build the operations that led LSU to launch its record-setting $1.5 billion campaign. Jones has nearly two decades of experience working with companies to help them thrive in the digital age. She is also cocurator and president of Assembly Required, a community initiative aimed at making Baton Rouge the creative capital of the South.

CAUSE I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Developing women leaders as a mentor and coach through organizations like the Early Career Women’s Collective and She Runs It.

ANN EDELMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA ZEHNDER COMMUNICATIONS

Over the last four decades, Ann Edelman has cemented her place as an expert in strategic public relations and crisis communication. Through her experience she helped build and protect local, regional and national brands in health care, economic development, finance, insurance, tourism and philanthropy. She is vice president of public relations and media at Zehnder Communications, where she has worked for the last 18 years. Edelman is frequently called to present on crisis prevention and communication mitigation and has extensive experience with complex new scenarios ranging from cybersecurity breaches to natural disaster recovery. She began her career working with legendary political and advertising consultant Gus Weill.

VALUABLE LESSON FROM A DIFFICULT DECISION: Consider the potential positive outcomes. There’s always opportunity in a crisis.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: You don’t have to leave Louisiana to find remarkable career opportunities.

STAN LEVY

FOUNDER AND CEO

SASSO

Stan Levy is the founder and CEO of Sasso, a national branding and marketing agency that he launched in Baton Rouge in 2011. The company is now a highly sought-after agency, winning hundreds of industry awards. A Louisiana-native, Levy graduated from LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication in 1999. He began his career in Los Angeles working at Ticketmaster. He has worked with major brands such as JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, Ford, Nike and others. Levy was named a Forty under 40 honoree by Business Report and Marketer of the Year by Sales and Marketing Executives of Greater Baton Rouge. He has supported many organizations including the United Way, the American Cancer Society and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize they were close to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

JAY JOHNSON

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO LAMAR ADVERTISING

Jay Johnson has served as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Lamar Advertising Company since October 2019. Prior to joining Lamar, he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company. He was also senior vice president and treasurer of Host Hotels & Resorts and served in a variety of senior leadership roles at KeyBank Real Estate Capital and Bank of America. Prior to those roles, Johnson was in the management consulting practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the investment banking group at Prudential Securities, and the industrial markets trading division of Enron Corporation. He currently serves as a board member of Newell Brands, a global consumer goods company, and SBA Communications, a leading owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure.

HOMETOWN: Bastrop

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in economics, Morehouse College; MBA, Harvard Business School

KENNY NGUYEN

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER THREESIXTYEIGHT

Kenny Nguyen co-founded ThreeSixtyEight in 2016 with the vision of helping Baton Rouge become the creative capital of the South. The agency operates as a strategic creative and technology partner to foster growing brands and leaders. It has worked with more than 100 brands globally, including Unilever, Opportunity at Work, and Living Water International. It recently made Adweek’s list of Fastest Growing Agencies and has been named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age. Nguyen is actively involved in supporting STARS (workers skilled through alternative routes) and is an advisory council member for the social enterprise Opportunity@Work, which raises awareness about workers who are overlooked for higher-wage jobs because they don’t have a college degree.

FUN FACT: His dog’s name is Taco Corgnelius INTEREST OUTSIDE OF WORK: Nguyen is an investor in Soji: Modern Asian restaurant in Baton Rouge.

SEAN REILLY

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LAMAR ADVERTISING

Sean Reilly began his career at Lamar Advertising in 1987 and served as director from 1989 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2003. He was promoted to chief operating officer and president of the company’s outdoor division, roles he performed until February 2011. He has served as CEO since then and as president since February 2020. Outside of his work at Lamar, which is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in North America, Reilly has been an active member of the community, working with and serving on the boards of many organizations including Volunteers of America, Reserve Telephone Company and the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. He also co-chairs the Louisiana Flagship Coalition and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization.

POLITICS: Reilly served as a state representative in the Louisiana Legislature from 1988 to 1996.

BRIAN RODRIGUEZ

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

GATORWORKS

Brian Rodriguez began his career as an entrepreneur and web consultant at an early age, founding Gatorworks while he was at LSU earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Gatorworks has worked with hundreds of clients on design, advertising, web development and online marketing projects. Clients come from a wide range of sectors including government, health care, education and retail. In August 2017, Gatorworks was acquired by Guaranty Corporation but Rodriguez continues to serve as president. He is a graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership class (2016-2017) and also served on the Emerging Leaders Council at Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “There’s winning, and there’s learning. There is no losing.”

PROUDEST MOMENT: The births of both of my boys. Professionally, it would be the acquisition of the company I founded and grew over many years.

STEPHEN ST. CYR

PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER

VIVID INK GRAPHICS

Stephen St. Cyr is president and controller of Vivid Ink Graphics, a printing and design company that specializes in custom interior and exterior designs. He founded the company with a focus on developing a culture of customer service and making complicated projects relatable. St. Cyr was inspired to start his own business after spending nearly a year on active duty with Operation Desert Storm. VividInk Graphics grew by creating graphics for a wide roster of clients including Loyola University, Ochsner, Touro Infirmary, LSU athletics, and Community Coffee. St. Cyr has an undergraduate degree in QBA/ business and a master’s in finance from LSU. He is a member of the American Advertising Federation, the Baton Rouge Ancient Athletes Society and the Bocage Racquet Club. He is also a parishioner of Christ the King Church.

FUN FACT: St. Cyr earned his pilot’s license in 2008.

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Playing tennis and basketball

TOMMY TALLEY

FOUNDER AND CHIEF STORYTELLER

ECHO TANGO

Tommy Talley loves telling good stories. His career started in Los Angeles working in the film and television industry. He was inspired by documentary and reality TV-style film work, which led to the style of storytelling he does today as founder of Echo Tango, a branding and design studio. Originally from Baton Rouge, Talley studied photography at LSU. He returned to his hometown in 2009, where he founded Echo Tango. Talley refers to himself as chief storyteller because it describes his hybrid work in marketing and as a documentary-style filmmaker. The agency has worked with national brands such as Adidas, and has been involved in collaborations with Twitch and DoorDash and Twitch and Samsung Mobile. Talley has directed more than 50 commercials for Walmart as part of an award-winning national campaign.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Tell the ones worth telling, the ones that move the needle.”

HUNTER TERRITO

PRESIDENT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

XDESIGN

Hunter Territo joined the Xdesign team in 2007 as an intern. Now as president and majority owner, he leads the team from the first point of contact through to implementation. Xdesign is a full-service marketing and branding firm that was founded in 1990. Territo has a background in branding and strategy and teaches a 3000-level advertising strategy class as an adjunct instructor at LSU. He also helped LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication execute its digital media initiative, overhauling course curriculum and mentoring students to prepare them for the industry. He is a recipient of the Ralph Sims Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advertising Education and was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Be patient QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who takes the credit.” – Harry S. Truman

BO WHITE

FOUNDER AND CEO CLICK HERE DIGITAL

Bo White founded his first startup company, Click Here Publishing, in the 1990s, offering website design services in the early days of the internet. Now called Click Here Digital, the company is an award-winning full-service digital marketing agency. During his 30-year career White has had leadership roles in or consulted with companies such as Zappos, Groupon, and Beyond Commerce. He was the president and co-owner of NewOrleans.com Media LLC from 2010 to 2013. The Click Here Digital team manages several hundred digital marketing clients, including Hendrick Automotive Group and Southeast Toyota. Its portfolio also includes major law firms as well as hospitals and several ecommerce clients. White earned a degree in computer science from LSU.

FUN FACT: White founded Click Here Publishing in 1993 in his LSU apartment.

OTEY L. WHITE III

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, AND OWNER

OTEY WHITE & ASSOCIATES

Otey L. White III is founder, president, and owner of Otey White & Associates, one of the largest advertising agencies in the state. The firm specialize in retail and image advertising, sports marketing, web design, and digital and social media. It works with clients in more than 30 states. Its extensive client list includes NAPA Auto Parts, the West Baton Rouge Parish School District, East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority, and the LSU athletic department. The firm has also worked with many state and local government entities. White is a graduate of the Manship School of Mass Communication at LSU and serves on the Manship Board of Visitors. He also has served on various nonprofit boards and committees including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

UNUSUAL HOBBY: Ice fishing

FAVORITE WAY TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY: Running, especially in extreme heat

ROB WISE

CEO AND CO-OWNER ITINSPIRED

Rob Wise, along with co-owners Anthony Sauro and Brett Vaughn, founded ITinspired in Baton Rouge in 2012. Their vision was to provide a more personal approach to IT services, working with businesses to help them take control and utilize technology to positively impact results. The company specializes in IT consulting, network and server administration, and website design. Wise has more than 20 years of experience working with computers, taking on roles from computer repair technician to network services manager—and now CEO of his own firm. The company earned a place on the 2023 LSU 100 list of fastest-growing companies owned or led by an LSU graduate. In 2020, Wise received the Excellence in Sales and Marketing Award from the Sales and Marketing Executives of Greater Baton Rouge.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Key West, Florida SUPERHERO PERSONA: Emmet Brickowski from The LEGO Movie

TREY BEALL PRESIDENT

GULF COAST OFFICE PRODUCTS

Trey Beall has seen the office equipment industry change a lot in the 25 years he has been at Gulf Coast Office Products. Copiers are now networked printers, scanners and fax machines, in addition to their traditional role of making simple copies. As president of the company, Beall has had to stay ahead of the curve to remain relevant to his clients’ needs. “Just when I think they’ve done it all,” he has said, “they have something new on the horizon.” The 46-year-old company is the largest locally owned copier distributor in Louisiana. It serves organizations in the health care, banking, petrochemical, law, industrial and accounting sectors. Gulf Coast Office Products is a longtime supporter of the Dunham School, as an advocate and sharing business advice with students.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in general studies, LSU FAVORITE BUSINESS LUNCH: J. Alexander’s HARDEST LEADERSHIP LESSON: No one is going to do it for you.

JANET BRITTON GENERAL COUNSEL AND EVP OF HUMAN RESOURCES REV

Janet Britton is responsible for providing strategic leadership and guidance through complex business, legal and regulatory issues at REV, where she serves as general counsel and executive vice president. Britton has been in the telecommunications sector for 27 years, 23 of which have been at REV. Her previous position was staff attorney for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Britton has served on the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission and the Louisiana Information Technology & Communications Resiliency Task Force as well as with the Louisiana Telecommunications Association, the Ascension Chamber of Commerce and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

PROUDEST MOMENT: I assisted in launching a wireless product—from zero to launch in less than four months.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Anywhere where I am surrounded by Cajun French speakers.

JOSH DESCANT

Josh Descant has extensive experience building teams and achieving strategic clarity, operational improvement and cultural change in fast-paced business environments. He is the CEO of REV, a position he has held since 2020, where he is responsible for more than 400 employees who service over 60,000 residential and business customers. Descant’s previous leadership positions at the company include president, executive vice president of product development and marketing, and director of information services. He led the rebranding of three businesses—RTC, Eatel and Vision Communications—under the unified flag of REV. Descant is a member of USTelecom’s leadership committee, Ascension Chamber of Commerce, and The Committee of 100, representing the Capital Region. He served in the Marine Corps for eight years.

PASTIME: Descant unwinds by catching up on blogs and news and by reading anything that teaches him something new.

CALVIN FABRE

FOUNDER, CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER AND SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Calvin Fabre started out writing software code in his garage and then studied computer science in college. Now he is sharing his decades of carefully honed skills and experience with clients across the Gulf Coast. In 1997, he founded Envoc, an award-winning digital marketing and software development firm. Headquartered in Baton Rouge and with an office in Hammond, Fabre leads a team that provides complex software design, mobile and web app hosting and support, e-commerce, identity management and verification, and more. Envoc may be best known for creating LA Wallet, the first app-based digital driver’s license in the U.S. that is considered equivalent to a physical license or ID. It now has the ability to display concealed handgun permits.

IN THE NEWS: Fabre advocates the need for ageverification standards for certain online content and social media access through digital ID technology like LA Wallet.

CHAD LEMAIRE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

CMA TECHNOLOGY

SOLUTIONS

Chad LeMaire has been leading teams of IT professionals for more than 30 years. He has been CEO of CMA Technology Solutions since 2003 and, more recently, assumed the role of chair. One of the largest firms in the Capital Region, LeMaire’s staff of over 70 employees provides IT consulting, virtualization, cloud hosting and backup, disaster recovery, wireless networking, and video surveillance, among other services. He joined the 39-year-old firm in 1997 in the role of executive vice president of sales and marketing and was promoted to president and CEO five years later. The impact of LeMaire’s leadership was instrumental in CMA being recognized year after year as one of Business Report’s Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in mass communications, McNeese State University

CHARLES MASTERS

SENIOR PARTNER/CLIENT SERVICE LEADER

IBM

From the IBM building in Baton Rouge, Charles Masters oversees six client centers across North America, from Monroe to Calgary. His team of 2,500 IBMers, as they are known, serves more than 300 clients. He arrived in February 2019, opening the doors to the taxpayer-funded building and allowing reporters their first glimpse inside. Moving into the 525 Lafayette apartment complex next to IBM, he has embraced his new Louisiana home, telling businesspeople upon his arrival that now was the time to “change the world” through technology, and that Baton Rouge is the “right place” to do it. The employees he leads are working on advanced skills in technologies such as Java, SAP, Oracle, Big Data, blockchain and others.

iN THE COMMUNITY: In April, Masters hosted seven students from Southern University who are being recognized with the IBM Masters Award for their aspirations to do groundbreaking work in disruptive innovation.

ERIN MONROE

MARKET VICE PRESIDENT, GREATER LOUISIANA

COX COMMUNICATIONS

Erin Monroe oversees operations and leads 750 employees across the Baton Rouge and Lafayette markets in her role as market vice president for Greater Louisiana at Cox Communications. She is an attorney and corporate executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in advocacy, policy development, media and community relations. Prior to arriving at Cox in 2019, she was executive vice president and COO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and then went on to serve as special counsel to Gov. John Bel Edwards. Monroe is actively involved in many local nonprofit organizations, including the Woman’s Hospital Foundation, City Year Baton Rouge, Center for Planning Excellence, Junior League of Baton Rouge and The Links Incorporated.

QUIRKY TALENT: I can take a power nap in any setting.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK: “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” – Dr. Mae Jemison

JEFF MOULTON

FOUNDER

STEPHENSON TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Jeff Moulton is on the cutting edge of cybersecurity strategy and innovation, working at the highest levels to ensure national security. The Pennsylvania native is the founder of LSU’s nonprofit applied research and development corporation, Stephenson Technologies Corporation, and president and board chair of Stephenson Stellar Corporation and Stephenson Endeavors Corporation. Moulton has deep experience within the intelligence communities assessing and defining corporate-level and globally deployable network security solutions. He has been appointed to the ODNI/NSA Computational Cyber Security in Compromised Environments, the Secretary of the Air Force’s Cyber Vision 2025 Committee and other key entities.

PAST LIFE: Moulton had a 24-year career with the U.S. Air Force and served in a top management position at the Naval Surface Warfare Center and for the Air Force Special Operations Command.

DONALD MONISTERE

CEO AND PRESIDENT GENERAL INFORMATICS

Hammond native Donald Monistere is a seasoned tech executive who is looking to further accelerate the already fast-paced growth of General Informatics. As president and CEO, he is focusing on the firm’s day-to-day operations as it continues to expand into new markets. Monistere’s most recent experience prior to General Informatics was at tech firms IBML, C-Spire, TekLinks and Vista Information Systems, spanning from 1993 to 2020 and where he held roles as CEO, COO and vice president. He also began writing books on the side, publishing Enhanced Life Performance: Achieving the Best Version of Self in 2017, followed by two more books in the series: Enhanced Executive Performance in 2020 and Enhanced Corporate Performance in 2022.

PHILANTHROPIC PASSIONS: City Schools, National Association of People Against Bullying ADVICE I’D GIVE: If you’re sitting at a table and everyone looks, thinks and acts like you, sit at another table.

NATALIE NOEL

FOUNDER AND CRM & MARKETING STRATEGIST TECH ADVOCATE GROUP

Natalie Noel is a serial entrepreneur. She is the founder of Tech Advocate Group and, with her father Chip, launched the Noel Family Distillery in Donaldsonville, one of a handful of rum distilleries in Louisiana. She’s also CEO and co-founder of Well Theory and The Healing Sole, partnering with Dr. Meredith Warner. TAG’s focus is helping companies across the country unify their sales and marketing initiatives. Before founding TAG, Natalie served as COO for a Louisiana-based custom software company and vice president of sales for a CRM software consulting company. She also gained experience working for top technology organizations in New York City and Washington, D.C.

PAST LIFE: Noel attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on a collegiate basketball scholarship.

A CITY OF PRIDE, PROGRESS & POSSIBILITIES

St. Gabriel is a city with many advantages. Our public services, our police protection, our youth programs, our senior programs, and our economic development efforts are just a few of the benefits that we take seriously.

Uniquely situated to partner with world class industry, our state’s Capital and our region’s educational powerhouses, St. Gabriel offers our resident’s a lifestyle unlike any other in the Capital Region.

The residents of St. Gabriel, both corporate and residential, have an impact on the city as a whole. Our partnerships are leading us to become a city of excellence and achievement moving forward.

PAUL POKORNEY OWNER

ADVANCED OFFICE SYSTEMS

After working in the business technology industry for six years in Orlando, Florida, Paul Pokorney established Advanced Office Systems when he got the opportunity to start his own company. He thought Baton Rouge would be a good fit because Louisiana was experiencing growth in the oil and gas industry. Even though the economy was in decline and interest rates were at an all-time high, his gamble paid off. Originally a copier company, Advanced Office Systems has evolved into a managed services provider specializing in IT solutions, print management and document imaging services. Pokorney’s outfit also provides office equipment and medical billing services. It hasn’t just expanded its offerings, but also its footprint with the additions of locations in New Orleans and Alexandria.

FUN FACT: A family-owned company since it opened its doors over 40 years ago, Pokorney’s two sons have also joined the company to continue that tradition.

SHAWN USHER

FOUNDER & CEO SPARKHOUND

Shawn Usher has a results-driven approach to helping businesses solve their technology problems through technology and leadership. He applies that philosophy to Sparkhound, which he founded in 1998. Focusing the company’s solutions in three key areas— managed IT infrastructure, digital automation and contact center operations—Sparkhound works with mid-market companies that need to improve their use of technology to become more efficient, reduce overhead and positively impact their bottom line. Usher is also active in the community, serving on the boards of Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Iberia Bank and the Louisiana Arts & Science Museum.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in business and an MBA, LSU

ADVICE I’D GIVE: “Hire the best people. My job gets a lot easier and I look like a genius with the right people on my team.”

ERIC ROMERO DIRECTOR,

INFORMATION SERVICES

CITY OF BATON ROUGE/

PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

Under Eric Romero’s direction, the cityparish government has made significant technological strides in digital transparency, particularly through its award-winning Open Data BR platform. He started working for the city of Baton Rouge in 1995 as a COBOL programmer responsible for mainframe computers in City Hall’s basement. Now he runs the Information Services shop. For nine years running, the Center for Digital Government has named Baton Rouge a Top 10 Digital City in the midsized cities category. The city-parish has also launched and expanded its Citizen Data Academy to teach residents with on-demand approach how to navigate the city’s open data platforms. Up next is an AI chatbot that will allow residents to ask questions, find resources and report issues.

PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION: “We always look to our peer cities for best practices, and not just cities of our size. We look at the big boys, too.”

SEAN SULLIVAN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, MARKETING AND STRATEGY TRANSFORMYX

Sean Sullivan is a senior technology leader who specializes in business development, cross-functional team management and product development. He is senior vice president of sales, marketing and strategy for Transformyx. Sullivan holds the same position at Atlanta-based Lockstep Technology Group, which acquired Transformyx in 2022. He is responsible for leading the post-acquisition integration of the software-as-a-service companies. The other priorities of his position are the development and launch of new content and technology products spanning business-tobusiness data solutions, enterprise software and business-to-client mobile applications, as well as building inside and field sales from the ground up. Sullivan has worked on the tech side of companies in the media, entertainment and education industries.

PERSONAL SLOGAN: “Innovation by ideation, collaboration and grit.”

PADMA VATSAVAI

FOUNDER & CEO VINFORMATIX

Padma Vatsavai wasn’t concerned about the state of Baton Rouge’s tech sector in the early 2000s, or about the fact she wasn’t connected in a “who you know” city, or that women weren’t seen as tech players, or that she was a mother to two children. She knew that she was driven, smart and determined to start her own business. Which she did in 2008, launching Vinformatix, a software development firm providing technological solutions to improve medical administration and research, business processes and public sector initiatives. She has directed numerous successful projects for state, federal, and local government as well as the private and nonprofit sectors. An expert in health care software systems, she developed an electronic health records solution that was awarded Technology Product of the Year by the Louisiana Technology Council.

FAVORITE HIDDEN GEM: It’s not very hidden, but I love getting lost in Circa 1857.

CEO

365LABS

Mo Vij describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, a business leader, an inventor and a real estate developer. As the founder and CEO of 365Labs, he is building technology to power public safety for the next 20 years. In 2022, his company was ranked by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing software companies in America. Today, 365Labs’ products are being used by public safety agencies across the U.S. and in more than a dozen countries. He is also the founder of General Informatics, and the developer of the @Highland business complex that houses both.

DO-OVER WISH: I’d respell my name with a “Meaux” instead of “Mo.”

HONORS: Inc. magazine named 365Labs one of the top three fastest-growing public safety companies in 2023, and ranked it No. 314 across all industries on its annual Inc. 5000 list. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

LIVING LEGENDS

DIANE ALLEN

FOUNDER

DIANE ALLEN AND ASSOCIATES (NOW DAA MEDIA + MARKETING)

Diane Allen began her career in advertising in 1970 working as an advertising manager for national industrial conglomerate Anvil Industries. Through this work she coordinated advertising for 32 subsidiary companies in the U.S. In 1976, Allen founded Diane Allen and Associates Advertising/Public Relations, a full-service advertising agency. Over three decades the firm has developed advertising campaigns in every medium, from broadcast to print to digital. Last year, the firm shared a significant milestone when Allen and cofounder Al McDugg successfully transferred ownership of the firm to Nancy Steiner and Donny Charbonnet..

RECOGNITION: Allen is a recipient of the Pete Goldsby Award, presented by the Baton Rouge Advertising Federation. She also has been honored with the Capital Area United Way Spirit Award for her work with the organization.

WILLIAM “BILL” BALHOFF

FORMER CEO AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

POSTLETHWAITE AND NETTERVILLE

Bill Balhoff dedicated nearly 50 years to P&N, the former top Baton Rouge-based accounting advisory firm that was acquired by EisnerAmper in 2023. While serving as managing director and CEO, he was instrumental in building the firm into the largest Louisiana-based accounting firm. He currently sits on the board of the International Federation of Accountants and previously served as board chair of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was named among the “Top 100 Most Influential People” in the accounting profession by both Accounting Today and CPA Magazine.

FUN FACT: Balhoff grew up in a family of 11 children. HE SAID IT: “I started out majoring in chemical engineering, but I quickly realized that wasn’t the right path for me. I enjoyed working with people, which steered me into the business school [at LSU]. I was also good at math, so accounting seemed like the right fit.”

JIM BERNHARD

FOUNDER AND PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jim Bernhard is founder and partner of Bernhard Capital Partners, a Baton Rougebased private equity firm. He is involved in all areas of the firm’s investment activities and serves as chair of the investment committee and on the portfolio committee. Prior to founding Bernhard Capital, he started The Shaw Group in 1987 with a small personal investment. He grew the company into a leading global energy services firm with over $6 billion in revenue and 25,000 employees. Bernhard is regarded as an expert in the energy services industry and has testified before the U.S. Senate’s Energy Subcommittee on pending energy issues in the U.S. and globally. He previously served as board chair for both Bernhard LLC and Epic Piping.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: He founded the Every Kid a King Foundation in 2009 to support better opportunities in education and health care for children.

SKIP BERTMAN

FORMER HEAD BASEBALL

COACH/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

LSU

Skip Bertman had a remarkable career as LSU’s baseball coach from 1984 to 2001, transforming the program into a national champion while attracting enormous fan support. Named National Coach of the Year six times, he led his team to nine 50-win seasons and five national championships. Under his guidance more than 100 players were drafted to play professional baseball. After he retired from baseball in 2001 he became LSU’s athletic director, serving in that capacity until 2008. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and was a member of the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. As LSU’s athletic director, Bertman oversaw a massive upgrade to the university’s sports facilities in collaboration with the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

RECOGNITION: In 2013, the field at Alex Box Stadium was officially dedicated as Skip Bertman Field.

DAN BORNÉ

SPORTS ANNOUNCER/ FORMER PRESIDENT

LSU/LOUISIANA CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION

He might have the most recognizable voice in South Louisiana—at least among football fans. Since 1985, Dan Borné has taken the microphone in Tiger Stadium to call out plays at LSU football games. He got the job unexpectedly. Nearly 30 years ago, Borné decided to write a letter expressing interest in the gig. Many months passed until he got a call from the LSU athletic department saying it had found his letter. He got the job. He has also taken on many diverse roles throughout the years. He was head of the Louisiana Chemical Association and Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance for 28 years. He was an aide to Gov. Edwin W. Edwards in the 1970s and is currently a spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge.

EARLY CAREER: Fresh out of graduate school, Borné landed a job at WAFB-TV anchoring sports and news.

FUN FACT: Borné has been behind the microphone for 39 years.

D-D BREAUX

FORMER COACH

LSU WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

Under D-D Breaux’s helm, LSU’s gymnastics’ program became a powerhouse. Often considered a pioneer of collegiate gymnastics, Breaux built the gymnastics program at LSU from the ground up, beginning with her first season in 1978. Her squad won the inaugural SEC championship in1981 and returned to the top again in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2016, Breaux fulfilled a dream of opening a training center for the program, which is now considered the top gymnastics facility in the world. She retired from coaching in 2020. Breaux and her team also were involved in supporting a variety of health care causes including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association.

A BORN GYMNAST: Breaux was a Junior Olympic national champion and would have competed at the 1972 Olympic trials if not for a career-ending knee injury.

J.H. “JAY” CAMPBELL

FORMER CEO

ASSOCIATED GROCERS

Shreveport native J.H. “Jay” Cambell Jr. served at Associated Grocers for 45 years before retiring in March 2017. He was president and CEO from 1995 until 2015 and served as executive chair during his final two years with the company. He is currently the manager of Client Consulting Services. He is chair of the Capital Area Road and Bridge District, which is pushing for a long-awaited new Mississippi River bridge for the Capital Region, and is a member of the boards for Hi Nabor Supermarket Inc. and Community Coffee. He has previously served on the boards of the National Grocers Association and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

CAUSE OR CHARITY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT: Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Catholic Charities

THEME SONG FOR MY LIFE: “You’ve Got a Friend,” by James Taylor BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Single malt scotch SUPERPOWER I’D CHOOSE: The ability to cure those with painful illnesses, diseases or injuries.

DON DAIGLE

FORME VICE PRESIDENT

EXXONMOBIL

Don Daigle served numerous executive and managerial roles at ExxonMobil during his 43-year career with the company. He retired in 2006 having served as vice president of refining for ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company. Prior to retiring, he was active in a number of industry trade organizations, serving on various committees. He was a member of the executive committee for the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association and a past chair of the general committee on refining for the American Petroleum Institute. He chaired two studies commissioned by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. He is also a past chair of the advisory council to the dean of LSU’s engineering school. Daigle felt that his roots were in Louisiana and decided to retire in Baton Rouge.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: He is a former board chair for Our Lady of the Lake and has served on boards for BRAF and Legatus, an organization of Catholic business leaders.

JOHN DAVIES

FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

John Davies led the Baton Rouge Area Foundation for 33 years before retiring in 2021. During his tenure, he helped increase BRAF’s assets from $5 million to $722 million and the foundation granted more than $550 million to nonprofit organizations and projects while also acting as a think tank for pushing big ideas, and social initiatives. Significant community projects bearing BRAF’s fingerprints include the Water Campus, New Schools for Baton Rouge, the IBM office project, and the plan to restore the LSU and City Park lakes. Davies previously served as director of college relations at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina, where he helped increase enrollment by 50% at the college. He has led or held board seats for a variety of organizations including the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and the Shaw Center of the Arts..

FUN FACT: The son of an American diplomat, Davies grew up in Lima, Peru.

JOHN ENGQUIST BOARD CHAIR

H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES

John Engquist is known as one of Baton Rouge’s most prolific residential real estate developers, overseeing the creation of such traditional neighborhood developments as Americana in Zachary and Adelia at Old Goodwood. He is currently board chair of H&E Equipment Services, a heavy equipment dealership founded by his father in 1961. The company generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue and has nearly 90 locations across the U.S. He also has served on the boards of many private companies and organizations including the Leadership Council of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and the board of directors for Business First Bank in Baton Rouge. Engquist is also a dedicated philanthropist and helped fund the pediatric oncology floor of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

PHILANTHROPY: Engquist founded the Dream Day Foundation to help fight pediatric cancer and support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

ART FAVRE CHAIR

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTORS

Growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, Art Favre developed an early interest in construction working on projects with his father. He moved to Louisiana to study at LSU and began his career as an estimator for a company that built chemical plants and refineries. He started Performance Contractors in 1979, which now handles projects on a national scale and employs thousands. He is a big supporter of America’s veterans and instituted a veterans employment program at Performance Contractors offering career opportunities for veterans and active military members interested in working in industrial construction. Among his many accolades, he was honored with the Louisiana Legends Award in 2022.

EARLY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: Building a house with my dad

THOUGHTS ON LOUISIANA: “There are a lot of things to keep in mind when living in Louisiana. In my mind, at the top of the list are the people.”

JOHN FOLSE

CHEF

JOHN FOLSE & CO.

Chef John Folse’s passion for Louisiana culture and cuisine was fostered from an early age. He had a dream of sharing this passion with the world when he opened Lafitte’s Landing Restaurant in 1978. He traveled all over the world throughout the 1980s introducing Louisiana’s culinary traditions to other cultures. In 1988, the Louisiana Legislature even gave him the moniker, “Louisiana’s Culinary Ambassador to the World.” The success of Folse’s first restaurant led to a slew of other ventures including publishing, catering and events management, as well as the television series “A Taste of Louisiana.” He also ventured into education with the opening of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University in 1994. He has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his prolific 40-year career, including Louisiana Restaurateur of the Year.

In

TERI FONTENOT

CEO EMERITUS

WOMAN’S HOSPITAL

Teri Fontenot began her career at Woman’s Hospital in 1992 as chief financial officer before becoming CEO in 1996. Woman’s, which is the only independent nonprofit women’s hospital in the U.S., became the largest birthing hospital in Louisiana during her tenure. Also under her watch, the health care system opened a $340 million replacement campus in 2012 and established a partnership with Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center to open a specialized breast and gynecologic cancer facility. Fontenot, who remained as CEO until her retirement in 2019, serves on the American College of Healthcare Executives board of governors and has chaired other boards, including the American Hospital Association. She has earned several awards including the ACHE Service and Spirits Award.

RECOGNITION: Fontenot was honored by Business Report as its Businessperson of the Year in 2013.

J. GERARD

“JERRY” JOLLY

PARTNER (RETIRED)

KPMG

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Jerry Jolly has also lived and worked in New Orleans and Houston during his career. The certified public accountant and chartered adviser in philanthropy was a longtime partner in the accounting firm of KPMG until his retirement as a partner in 2012. In his career with KPMG, Jolly served in a variety of roles, including managing partner of the Baton Rouge office, national managing partner of the firm’s mid-market business, and was a member of the firm’s operating committee and board of directors. Since 2012, Jolly has provided consulting services focused on strategic and succession planning, estate planning and philanthropy.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t let your career consume your life.

QUIRKY TALENT: Made personal appearances as Ronald McDonald in college

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Maverick in Top Gun

LANE GRIGSBY

FOUNDER

CAJUN INDUSTRIES

Lane Grigsby founded Cajun Contractors and Engineers in 1973, choosing the name because he had recently completed a project along Bayou Lafourche and had become enamored of the people and culture there. “And somebody told me you never want to name a company after yourself because if it fails, that’s all they think about when they hear your name,” he said. Since 1990, the expanding company now known as Cajun Industries has been listed among Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 Contractors. Grigsby also founded the Atlantic Company of America, a historical restoration business responsible for the restoration of the Washington Monument. He has served in leadership roles in various organizations including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and LABI. He was inducted into the LSU Engineering Hall of Distinction and is a Business Report Hall of Fame laureate.

FUN FACT: He briefly attended West Point before returning to earn a civil engineering degree at LSU.

CHARLES LAMAR

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

CHARLES LAMAR FAMILY FOUNDATION

Charles Lamar is an attorney, businessperson and a major philanthropist for causes affecting the Baton Rouge community. He founded the Charles Lamar Family Foundation in 2000 to serve as a permanent vehicle for his family to provide financial support to emerging and expanding nonprofit organizations. The foundation primarily funds causes related to arts and culture, animal welfare, conservation, disaster relief, education, medicine and social services. Lamar is a former director, secretary and general counsel for Lamar Advertising as well as chair and CEO of Woodlawn Investments. He has given his time to serve on nonprofit boards like the Lamar-Dixon Expo Foundation, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, Alzheimer’s Services of Greater Baton Rouge and BRAF.

INSPIRATION: Lamar cites his cousin and mentor, the late Kevin Reilly Sr., as an inspiration for his own dedication to philanthropy.

CORDELL HAYMON

RETIRED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

SGS PETROLEUM SERVICE CORP.

Louisiana native Cordell Haymon, the former senior vice president of SGS Petroleum Service Corporation, can count among his many accomplishments growing the business started by his father from a handful of employees to a company that now employs more than 3,500. He served for 54 years at the company before retiring in 2019. During that time Haymon, who is a graduate of the LSU Law Center, also maintained a private law practice for 25 years. Over the years, he has been a big supporter of education and the arts, serving as board chair for Teach for America-South Louisiana, a board member for the Baton Rouge High School Foundation and as a member of the Committee for Education Excellence for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. He has earned many honors for his community service over the years, including the 2017 Golden Deeds Award.

FAMILY: Haymon is married to Louisiana Poet Laureate Ava Leavell Haymon and has two children and three grandchildren.

RICHARD LIPSEY

CHAIR

LIPSEY’S

Richard Lipsey’s entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen have helped him grow a local, family-owned sporting goods store into one of the largest independently owned gun distributors in the U.S. His prowess as a dealmaker has also earned him the reputation as one of the Capital City’s most important civic voices. Lipsey has been heavily involved in the Capital Area United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Baton Rouge Rotary and Istrouma Area Council, as well as chairing the Board of Regents and helping to rename and reorganize the Tiger Athletic Foundation. In recognition of his community service, he’s received accolades such as the Anti-Defamation League’s Humanitarian Award, the Golden Deeds Award, and was inducted into Business Report’s Hall of Fame in 2012.

PASSIONS: Wildlife conservation and collecting duck decoys and antique guns

ADVICE I’D GIVE: In any economy, you need to find a niche.

C.C. LOCKWOOD

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

Wildlife photographer C.C. Lockwood has been documenting Louisiana wetlands since the 1970s. His work has earned him acclaim and a host of awards over the course of his 50-year career including the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography and the Louisiana Legend Award from Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He was also named Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. His work has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic, and he has published more than 10 books. His “Flat Lake Sunset” photo was chosen by the U.S. Postal Service as Louisiana’s commemorative bicentennial stamp in 2011. Lockwood co-founded the nonprofit organizations The Clean Team and Baton Rouge Audubon Society.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: Confusion in a crowd is healed by solitude in a swamp.

FRANK MCARTHUR

RETIRED

THE BENEFITS SOLUTIONS GROUP

Frank McArthur successfully sold The Benefits Solutions Group to National Financial Partners in 2008. McArthur was also a partner in McArthur Sanchez Associates, a life insurance and estate planning firm, for more than 40 years. Since moving to Baton Rouge in 1978, McArthur has served on the boards of more than 20 nonprofit organizations including the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Woman’s Hospital, Louisiana United Methodist Foundation, Louisiana Public Broadcasting Foundation for Excellence, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Jubans’

Hallelujah Crab

PROUDEST MOMENT: Receiving the Brotherhood & Sisterhood Award as it recognized not just the work I have done civically, philanthropically, and in the Methodist Church, but also speaks to my personal commitment to racial equality in Baton Rouge.

ROLFE MCCOLLISTER JR.

CO-FOUNDER

BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT

Rolfe McCollister Jr. is best known as the founder of the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report but he’s also a driving force in politics, playing key behind-the-scenes roles with two governors—Buddy Roemer and Bobby Jindal—and twice serving on the LSU Board of Supervisors. He is active with nonprofits, having served on numerous organizational boards, and has played a key role in various entrepreneurial efforts. His 40-year career with Business Report also saw the company launch 225 magazine, 10/12 Industry Report and numerous online newsletters, including Daily Report. There was also the acquisition of InRegister magazine. He is also a co-founder of two community banks, The Business Bank, which sold to BancorpSouth, and b1Bank, where McCollister continues to serve on the board.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t be in a hurry. Enjoy the journey with those you love. Your calendar reflects your priorities, so make sure you get it right.

MATT MCKAY

CHAIR, PRESIDENT

AND CEO

ALL STAR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Over the years, Matt McKay has grown All Star Automotive Group from the single dealership he started with John Noland in 1987 into a portfolio of dealerships in Greater Baton Rouge and Alexandria. He became the sole owner of All Star in 2008, and the company has sold vehicles from manufacturers Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Nissan, Ram, Toyota and Volvo at its locations. In addition to sales, the automotive group also includes five collision repair centers and a parts warehouse. McKay has been an active philanthropist in the community, supporting causes such as The Ascension Fund, Scholastic Read and Rise program, McKay Academic Center for Excellence, The Emerge Center, Thrive and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: “Joe Dean Sr. once told me, ‘[There is] no fertilizer like the farmer’s footsteps.’”

JAKE NETTERVILLE

FORMER CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

POSTLETHWAITE & NETTERVILLE

Jake Netterville is best known for his work at the firm that bears his name, Postlethwaite & Netterville, where he was appointed managing partner in 1977. Under his leadership, P&N was chosen for the high-profile assignment of auditing claims from BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Netterville has dedicated his time to a number of local organizations, like the LSU Dean’s Advisory Council, Tiger Athletic Foundation, East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority and Society of Louisiana CPAs. He was named Business Report’s 2019 Hall of Fame laureate.

PASSION: An avid golfer, he has played historic courses like St. Andrews and Augusta National. RECOGNITION: In 2000, Netterville was inducted into the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business Administration Hall of Distinction, and in 2017 he was inducted into the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction.

JOHN NOLAND

RETIRED FOUNDER

ALL STAR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Few people have had a greater impact on Baton Rouge—albeit often behind the scenes—than John Noland, who has been a philanthropic force behind the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and many of its initiatives. Recruited by John Davies to serve as BRAF’s first president and CEO, Noland was critical in the establishment of the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority. Trained as an attorney, Noland turned his sights toward the business landscape, launching All Star Automotive Group with his business partner, Matt McKay, in 1987. After expanding the company’s portfolio of dealerships, Noland exited the group in 2008. Along with McKay and Lindsey Landreneau, he developed some 700 houses in Jefferson Crossing and Manchac Place. He is a devoted member of St. James Episcopal Church and was a 2014 Business Report Hall of Fame laureate.

EDUCATION: University of North Carolina; Juris Doctor, LSU

NANETTE NOLAND CEO

THE POWELL GROUP

Nannette Noland has always been a bit ahead of her time. Her father taught her how to drive a car once she could see over the steering wheel, and she had a strong desire to fly a plane long before she turned 16, the legal age to hold a pilot’s license. So it wasn’t much of a stretch for her to become CEO of her family’s business, The Powell Group, in 1991. At the time, it was a rare thing for a woman to hold such a position. But in the ensuing three decades she has guided the diversified holding company through decades of unparalleled growth in agribusiness, radio broadcasting and real estate. Today, The Powell Group operates the largest rice farm in Louisiana, and its rice processing plant sells 100-pound bags of rice to the Caribbean basin, West Africa and Europe.

HOBBY: She relishes her role as a soloist at St. James Episcopal Church.

MENTORS: Milton J. Womack founder Milton Womack and John W. Barton Sr., owner of Jack’s Cookies.

KEVIN REILLY JR.

EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIR LAMAR ADVERTISING CO.

Kevin Reilly Jr. has been a leading figure at Lamar Advertising Co. since 1978, when he first joined the family-owned company. Past roles at Lamar include CEO, president and outdoor division president. During his career, he’s seen the company become publicly traded, complete significant acquisitions and add new technologies like digital signage to its arsenal of advertising offerings. Reilly actively gives back to his industry and community, through his service as past chair of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and on the boards of local nonprofits such as The Water Institute, The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana and The Wilbur Marvin Foundation.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Harvard University FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Threeflavor whole fish at Thai Kitchen ADVICE I’D GIVE: Leave people, places and organizations better off than you found them.

JAMES “JIM” ROLAND

CEO AND FOUNDER

WINDOW WORLD OF BATON ROUGE

Jim Roland is best known as the founder of Window World of Baton Rouge, which has been the No. 1 franchisee in the Window World system since 2006. He started the company in 2002 and has grown it into the fifth-largest exterior remodeling contractor in the U.S. and No. 1 in unit sales of windows. His prior experiences running Magnetite Corp. and Roland and DiGiulio Construction provided him with a business acumen that allowed his latest business to quickly expand in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Houston. This year, Business Report named Roland a Business Hall of Fame laureate.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, LSU

HOBBIES: Expedition hunting, whitewater rafting and mountain climbing

ADVICE I’D GIVE: This may not be the job you’re going to have for the rest of your life, and that’s fine. But you’re here. Do the very best you can, and maybe you’ll learn something that will become useful somewhere else.

DONNA M. SAURAGE

OWNER

COMMUNITY COFFEE

Donna Saurage is a community activist and philanthropist who has been a shareholder of Community Coffee for 66 years. She serves on the board of Community Coffee Company—the No. 1 family-owned retail coffee brand in America—as chair of the citizenship committee. Saurage is the sole manager of CCC Holding, which owns Community Coffee Company. She has been in a leadership position with more than 50 nonprofit organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents in our state. Currently, she serves as a director or director emeritus on the boards of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and New Schools for Baton Rouge, among others.

HOBBY: Sailing

QUIRKY TALENT: I can fall asleep in less than a minute after my head hits the pillow.

PEGGY SCOTT

BOARD CHAIR CLECO

Peggy Scott has been a member of the board for Louisiana-based power company Central Louisiana Electric Co-Op since 2016 and currently serves as board chair. From February 2017 to December 2017, she served as chairperson and interim chief executive officer of Cleco Corporate Holdings. Scott previously served as executive vice president, COO and CFO for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Before that, she was an office managing partner with Deloitte and has held senior executive positions. Scott has received several accolades for her work, including being named one of the 10 Outstanding Young Women of America, Wall Street Journal’s national financial executive of the year, and being inducted into the American Institute of CPAs Hall of Fame. Business Report named her a Business Hall of Fame laureate in 2020.

PASSION: Fast cars and traveling to Washington, D.C., with my grandchildren

PATRICK SHINGLETON

COMMUNICATOR AND FACILITATOR

PAT SHINGLETON PRODUCTIONS

Patrick Shingleton was a weathercaster with WBRZ-TV from 1981 until his retirement in 2021. As chief forecaster for the station, he brought his own style of reporting to the 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m. editions of News 2 Louisiana. Originally from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, he attended Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh. He is the president of Pat Shingleton Productions and has produced, distributed and syndicated various shows, such as the locally produced game show We Play Baton Rouge, The Fifth Quarter and late-night talk show Hotline After Dark. He has held membership in various professional organizations including the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Association and the National Association of Television Program Executives.

HANS STERNBERG CHAIR

HIGHFLYER HUMAN RESOURCES LLC

Hans Sternberg has a long and rich list of business accomplishments to his name. He is best known for Goudchaux’s on Main Street, the family business he and his brother Josef took over as owners in 1965. Once the longest retail store in the world, it was an institution in the community until it was sold to a national retailer in 1992. More recent endeavors include Highflyer Human Resources, an HR management software and training company, and two entities he launched and later sold, Starmount Life Insurance Co. and AlwaysCare Benefits. Sternberg has been involved in many charities through the years and is an active member of the Jewish community. Business Report named him and Josef 1987 Executives of the Year and, in 2011, named Sternberg a Business Hall of Fame laureate.

AUTHOR: Sternberg wrote We Were Merchants, an autobiography about his family’s emigration from Nazi Germany and his successes in business.

CHARLES VALLUZZO

FOUNDER

MCBR MANAGEMENT

Charles “Charlie” Valluzzo introduced McDonald’s to the Capital City in the 1960s. From opening the first location on Plank Road, he grew his empire into 75 locations across two states. In 2018, Valluzzo decided it was time to retire, and sold his company, McBR Management, to an ownership group in Lafayette. Over his 60-year career, he also gave back generously to the community. Valluzzo has served on the boards of Alzheimer’s Services, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, Commercial Properties Realty Trust, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Safety Council of the Louisiana Capital Area, BRAF, and many others. He has been inducted into the Special Olympics Louisiana Hall of Fame and Catholic High School Hall of Fame. Business Report named him its 1995 Businessperson of the Year and he was inducted into Business Report’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

EDUCATION: Western Michigan University

NEWTON THOMAS

FOUNDER AND OWNER

THE NEWTRON GROUP

Newton Thomas has grown The Newtron Group into one of the largest privately owned specialty electrical construction companies in the nation. He founded the company in 1973, which started out as a union industrial instrumentation contractor. The company now has offices across the Southeast and West Coast. Its portfolio of subsidiary companies includes Triad Electric & Controls, Newtron Mechanical, Newtron Heat Trace, Com-Net Services and Newtron Electrical Services. Thomas has served on the boards of Premier Bank, Baton Rouge Water Co. and the Baton Rouge Marine Institute. The Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants named Newtron Group the 1989 Free Enterprise Company of the Year in Louisiana, and Business Report honored the company as its 1990 Company of the Year.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, LSU; Harvard Business School (executive education)

MIKE WAMPOLD

CHAIR AND CEO

WAMPOLD COMPANIES

Mike Wampold has remade the Baton Rouge landscape through his 40-plus years in development, construction, renovation, ownership, and management of real estate holdings. As chair and CEO of Wampold Companies, he oversees strategic corporate planning, corporate financing and new project development. Some of his most notable Baton Rouge development projects include the Shaw Plaza office building, Crescent at University Lake condominiums, Bayonne at Southshore apartments, I & II City Plaza office buildings, the Renaissance and Watermark hotels, and the 1,800-acre mixeduse development Harveston. Wampold has been a member and director of numerous industry and civic organizations such as Baton Rouge Business Bank, Tiger Athletic Foundation, Woman’s Hospital and the LSU Foundation, among others. He was Business Report’s 2001 Businessperson of the Year.

HOBBIES: Hunting, fishing and horseback riding

ROLAND TOUPS

EXECUTIVE CHAIR

TURNER INDUSTRIES

GROUP

Roland Toups played a significant role in the growth and influence of Turner Industries, the company he managed until stepping away in 2022 to pass the mantle to his son, Stephen. Business Report ranked Turner Industries No. 3 on its most recent list of the Top 100 Private Companies. A major contractor with ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge operations, the company is viewed by industry groups as one of the top contractors in the world. Toups also spearheaded construction of a workforce training facility. Toups was a long-serving member of the Louisiana Board of Regents (1997- 2011), and he is also a supporter of Catholic organizations and a major contributor to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Business Report named Toups a Business Hall of Fame laureate in 2007, and he received the Ed Steimel Achievement Award in 2017 from LABI

EDUCATION: Georgia Tech

BOBBY YARBOROUGH

CEO

MANDA FINE MEATS

Bobby Yarborough is a third-generation owner of Manda Fine Meats, which produces and sells Louisiana-style meats and sausages. He took over as CEO of the 76-year-old meat processing company in 1997. Manda’s products include smoked sausages, andouille, boudin, hog head cheese and deli meats. The company’s success ranks it No. 85 on Business Report’s most recent list of the Top 100 private companies. Business Report also recognized Yarborough as its 2009 Businessperson of the Year and as a Business Hall of Fame laureate in 2017. As a philanthropist, Yarborough has donated his time and efforts to nonprofits such as the Boys & Girls Club of Baton Rouge, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and YMCA of the Capital Area.

PASSION: I enjoy working with and helping others get to a place they’re trying to get to.

ADVICE I’D GIVE: To whom much is given, much is required.