2025 Baton Rouge Business Report 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

LABOR OF

CELEBRATING 400,000 BIRTHS

More than just a milestone—it’s a reflection of the trust and care that have defined every delivery since 1968. From preparing for arrival day to welcoming home your bundle of joy, we offer support at every step of your journey. Thanks to our incredible team, world class physicians and state-of-the-art facility, you and your baby receive compassionate care before, during, and after delivery.

SHAPING OUR NEXT ERA OF OPPORTUNITY

LEADERSHIP SHAPES EVERYTHING. It fuels the economy, strengthens communities, drives innovation—and pushes a region like ours into its next era of opportunity.

Welcome to the third edition of The Capital Region 500, Baton Rouge Business Report’s definitive guide to the power players and changemakers shaping the future of the Capital Region.

This isn’t just a list of titles and roles. It’s a snapshot of the energy, ambition and talent that make this community thrive. In these pages, you’ll meet CEOs, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, public servants and visionaries whose work crosses every sector—from banking and education to real estate, health care, energy and beyond.

We also pay tribute to the “living legends”—leaders whose influence continues to ripple outward even after they’ve stepped back from daily operations.

You’ll find professional achievements, personal passions, and a few unexpected surprises—Todd Graves’ bucket list item, Patrick Valluzzo’s productivity edge and which banking executive’s passion is exploring Louisiana’s back roads.

At Business Report, our mission is simple: Connect. Inspire. Inform. And we believe The Capital Region 500 does exactly that.

Learn more about how we built this year’s list on page 10—and get ready to meet the leaders shaping what’s next.

The momentum is real—and it’s just getting started.

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: The Colonel’s Club in the heart of the Perkins Overpass District. We are grateful to our cover subjects, from left: Linda Perez Clark, Jerell Thomas, Laurie Lipsey Aronson, Brian Haymon, Stephen Toups (seated) and Craig Stevens. A special thank you to The Colonel’s Club team for their generosity and gracious hospitality.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

Don Kadair, page 6

TahJah Harmony, page 10

Sean Gasser, page 13

Courtesy Shell, page 19

Courtesy The Watermark, page 51

Tim Mueller, page 16, 69, 91, 115

Jordan Hefler, page 103

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 2024 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 editors@businessreport.com.

Publisher: Julio Melara

Associate Publisher: Erin Pou

EDITORIAL

Executive Editor: Penny Font

Managing Editor: Allan Schilling

News Editor: Holly Duchmann

Staff Writers: Jordan Arceneaux, Cynthea Corfah, Dillon Lowe

Contributing Writers: Sam Barnes, Kelli Bozeman, Maggie Heyn Richardson

Contributing Photographers: Jackie Haxthausen, Don Kadair, Tim Mueller, Collin Richie

ADVERTISING

Sales & Marketing Operations Manager: Kynley Lemoine

Senior Multimedia Marketing Consultant & Team Leader: Kelly Lewis

Multimedia Marketing Consultants: Rachel Andrus, David Burton, Nicole Crochet, Emma Walker

Multimedia Marketing Consultant/Custom Publishing: Judith LaDousa

Digital Operations Manager: Devyn MacDonald

Partner Success Manager: Matt Wambles

Digital Operations Coordinator: Sydney Deville

Corporate Communications Strategist: Mark Lorando

Content Strategist: Emily Hebert

STUDIO E

Creative Director: Timothy Coles

Custom Content Editor: Lisa Tramontana

Business Development Manager: Manny Fajardo

Creative Producer: Jessi Bajoie

Post-Production Supervisor: Taylor Stoma

Production Supervisor: Ari Ross

MARKETING

Marketing & Events Assistant: Mallory Romanowski

ADMINISTRATION

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher

Business Associate: Kirsten Milano

Office Coordinator: Donna Curry

Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

CREATIVE SERVICES

Creative Services Manager: Ellie Gray

Art Director: Hoa Vu

Senior Graphic Designers: Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, Sidney Rosso

Graphic Designer: Britt Benoit

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Chief Technology Officer: James Hume

Audience Development Campaign Manager: Catherine Albano

Circulation and Client Experience Manager: Ivana Oubre

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: circulation@businessreport.com

Congratulations to Our Leaders NAMED TO

THE CAPITAL AREA 500

We’re proud to celebrate our outstanding leaders recognized by Baton Rouge Business Report as part of the Capital Area 500. Their leadership, dedication and impact help shape the future of healthcare in our community, and we’re honored to have them on our team.

E.J. Kuiper

President & CEO

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System

Curtis Chastain II, MD

Director, Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Men’s Health and Executive Wellness

Charles L. “Chuck” Spicer Jr., FACHE

President

Our Lady of the Lake Health and Our Lady of the Angels Health

Laura Hetzler, MD

Director, Our Lady of the Lake Health Cleft Team

Professor and Vice Chair, LSU Department of Otolaryngology

Catherine O’Neal, MD

Chief Academic Officer Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System

Mark Laperouse, MD

Medical Director, Emergency Services Our Lady of the Lake Health

Index

Thomas Adamek 52

Darlene Adams Rowland 34

Andrew “Andy” Adler 52

Kurt Ainsworth 109

Justin Alford 46

Benny Alford 146

Diane Allen 146

Emelie Alton 30

Carlos Alvarez 61

Renee Amar 43

Jennifer L. Anderson 128

Jason Andreasen 102

Addie Armato 49

Laurie Lipsey Aronson 43

Richard Ashworth 92

Alton Ashy 75

Verge Ausberry 109

John Austin 43

James. R. Austin 128

Barbara Auten 82

Chris Bachman 30

William Balhoff 146

Brent Bankston 92

Bradley Barber 21

Aubrey Lee Barber III 21

Scott Bardwell 61

Tim Barfield 122

Scott Barringer 21

Robert W. Barton 128

Jordan Basham 136

Trey Beall 140

Adam Beary 35

George Bell 82

Shane Bellanger 21

Taylor Bennett 136

Scott Berg 46

Lee Michael Berg 146

Jim Bernhard 146

Charles Berryman 21

Wendi Berthelot 116

Skip Bertman 146

Michael Beychok 75

Cecil J. “C.J.” Blache 75

Brandon Black 129

Barret Blondeau 61

Barry Blumberg 126

S. Dennis Blunt 129

David Bondy 126

Remi Bonnecaze 35

Franz Borghardt 129

Matt Borman 111

Dan Borné 147

Eric Bosch 116

Benjamin J. Boudreaux 92

Jack Brabham 43

D-D Breaux 147

Janet Britton 140

Camille Manning Broome 82

Tee Brown 61

Pete Bush 52

Anita Byrne 122

David Caldwell 126

Brian Camerlinck 92 Will

Steve Carville

Preston Castille

Katherine (Dr.) Castle

John Paul Caswell

Ben Cavin

Steven Ceulemans

Neil Chappell

Keith Chappell

Curtis Chastain

James “Sonny” Chastain

Chumney

Sarah

Shawn Folks

John Folse

Jonas Fontenot

Teri Fontenot

Bob Fudickar

Kelsey Kornick Funes

Daniel Gardiner

Torrey Garrison

Gaudin

Tonya Toups Gautreau

Gladney

Goss

John Kirwan 97

Sue Anne Kleinpeter Cox 46

Adam Knapp 85

Kevin Knobloch 53

George Knost 26

Jeff Koonce 55

EJ Kuiper 97

George Kurz 63

Mathew Laborde 63

Edward Lagucki 85

Charles Lamar 150

Whitney Lanasa 55

Karl Landreneau 63

Brandon Landry 32

Charles Landry 63

Eric Lane 46

Jason Langlois 103

Mark Laperouse 97

Ty Larkins 119

Ginger Laurent 55

Chip Lavigne 39

Brent P. LeBlanc 48

Jerry Lebold 41

Matt Lee 72

Chip Lee 41

Steve Legendre 66

Tommy J. LeJeune 117

Chad LeMaire 141

Justin Lemoine 103

Leonard Lemoine 26

Stan Levy 138

Garry Lewis 66

Bubba Lewis 119

Richard Lipsey 150

Gary Littlefield 55

C.C. Lockwood 150

Stephen Loy 85

Jennifer Maggio 88

Stephen P. Maher 119

Liz Mangham 79

Michael Manning 88

Jake Manship 107

Lon Marchand 32

Gino Marino 32

Yvette Marsh 72

Amanda Martin 72

Carolyn Martin 66

Pamela Roman Mascari 133

Charles Masters 141

Chip McAlpin 41

Frank McArthur 151

Scott McCallister 32

Anne McCanless 119

Rolfe McCollister 151

Sherri McConnell 103

Matt McKay 151

Gordon McKernan 133

Wally McMakin 55

Fred McManus 26

Julio Melara 107

Christina Melton 88

Jude Melville 55

Chris Meyer 88

Eddie Rispone 153

Scott Ritter 120

Dave

Lakeisha Robichaux

Chas Roemer

Mitch Rotolo

Samuels

Rutland

Schexnayder

Sciortino

Sclafani

Shenkan

Shingleton

Silvey

B. Songy

Speyrer

100 Black Men of Metro BR 83

365 Labs 142

A.C. Lewis Management 119

Advanced Office Systems 142

Advanced Strategies Inc. 75

Advantous Consulting 77

All Star Automotive Group 151

Alliance Safety Council 42

Altus Financial 55

Alvarez Construction 61

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area 82

Amedysis 92

Ann Connelly Fine Art 102

Anne McCanless Designs 119

Aptim Corp. 122

Arkel Group 24, 26

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 126 Arts Council

Greater Baton Rouge 103

Associated Builders and Contractors - Pelican Chapter 25

Associated Grocers 147

Association of Electric

Cooperatives 49

Assurance Financial 62

b1BANK 55, 57, 82

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 128

Bank of St. Francisville 53

BankPlus 52

Barber Brothers Contracting Co. 21

Bardwell Homes 61

BASF Geismar 41

Baton Rouge Alliance for Students 71

Baton Rouge Area Chamber 83

Baton Rouge

Area Foundation 83, 88, 154

Baton Rouge Art Gallery 102

Baton Rouge Business Report . 151

Baton Rouge Clinic 100

Baton Rouge Community College 73

Baton Rouge Film Commission 103

Baton Rouge Food Bank 88

Baton Rouge General 95, 97, 101

Baton Rouge Health District 92

Baton Rouge Metro Airport 78

Baton Rouge

Orthopaedic Clinic 92, 95

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra 102

Baton Rouge Water Company 49

Baton Rouge Youth Coaltion 89

BCBS of Louisiana Foundation 89

Bear Process Safety 35

Benefits Solutions Company 151

Bengal Transportation Services 43

Benny’s Car Wash 46

Bernhard Capital Partners 27, 53, 55, 146

Bipartisan Policy Center 78

Block Companies 26

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana 92

Blumberg & Associates 126

Borghardt Law Firm 129

Bradley Murchison 39

BREADA 34

Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson 94, 130, 135

Bringing Leadership Back 116

Brown & Root

Industrial Services 24, 26

Brown Eagle Group 45

Burns and Company 61

Butler Snow 128, 133

Byronz Restaurant Family 30

Cajun Industries 24, 148

Campus Federal Credit Union 57

Cangelosi Dance Project 102

Capital Area Finance Authority 77

Capital Area United Way 82

Capital City Produce 30

Innovations 41 Chief of Minds 125 Citizens Bank and Trust 56

City Group Hospitality 35

City of Baton Rouge/ Parish of East Baton Rouge 142 Community Coffee 32, 34 City Year Baton Rouge 89

Jackson Architects 117 Coleman Partners Architects 120 Colleen Waguespack Interiors 120 Commerce Title

EJ Ourso School of Business -LSU 71

EisnerAmper

JB James Construction 25

Jill L. Craft Attorney at Law 130

JM Test Systems Inc. 41

Jones Walker 129, 135

Juban’s 34

Kadair Construction 25

Kean Miller 129, 130, 132, 133, 135

Keller Williams 62

Kevin Harris Architect 119

Kimble Properties 63

Kleinpeter Dairy 46

Knock Knock Children’s Museum 88

KPMG 150

Kurz and Hebert Commercial Real Estate 62, 63

L’Auberge Casino & Hotel 104

L&B Holdings 45

Lagivne Oil Company 39

Lamar Advertising 138, 153

Landmark Bank 52

LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors 116

Lard Oil Co. 41

LCTCS 73

Leaders for a Better Louisiana 85

Lee Michaels 46, 146

LEMOINE 26

Level Homes 67

Life of a Single Mom 88

Lipseys 43, 150

Little Rouge Hen 122

Loadstar 45

Loren C. Scott & Associates 42

Louisiana Academy of Production 103, 104

Louisiana Bankers Association 55

Louisiana Chemical Association 36

Louisiana Entertainment & Digital Media 104

Louisiana First News 107

Mosely Law Firm 66

NAI Latter & Blum 63

National Center for Advanced Manufacturing 38

National Housing Consultant Services 82

Neighbors Federal Credit Union 57

NeuroMedical Center 92

Newtron Group 29, 154

NRK Construction 63

Ochsner Health 94, 100

Of Moving Colors Productions 104

Olivier Group 56

Optimal Field Services 24

Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials 36

Orion Laboratories 101

Otey White & Associates Advertising 140

Ourso Beychok 75

PALA Group 21

Pangburn Group 128

Patient Plus Urgent Care 98

Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association 38

Louisiana Motor Transport Association 43

Louisiana Network 106

Lousiana Lottery 78

LR3 Consulting 81

LSU 21, 42, 71, 72, 73, 75, 78, 85, 109, 110, 146, 147

LSU Center for Energy Studies 42

LSU Institute for Energy Innovation 39

LUBA Casualty Insurance 126

LWCC 128, 133

Lyons Speciality Group 45

Making Raving Fans

Hospitality Group 34

Manda Fine Meats 154

Manship Media 107

Manship Theatre 103

MAPP Construction 27

Marcus & Millichap 67

Marie Constantin Photography 102

Marucci Sports 109

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center 92, 94, 95, 100, 101

McBR Management 154

McGlinchey Stafford 132

Melara Enterprises 107

Mercedes Benz of Baton Rouge 48

MESH 136

Mestizo 35

Metromorphosis 85

MidCity Makers Market 103

Milton J Womack 22

MMR Group 29

Moody Price 36

Moran Construction Consultants 27

Moreau Physical Therapy 98

Morgan Keegan 56

Pennington Biomedical Research Center 95, 97, 100, 101

Pennington Foundation 88

Performance Contractors 24, 25, 148

Peterbilt of Louisiana 43

Petroleum Services Corp 150

Phelps Dunbar 67, 129, 132, 135

Pipe & Steel Industrial 29

Port of Baton Rouge 43

Powell Group 151

Premier Geotech and Testing 39

Preston Castille Law Firm 129

Price LeBlanc 48

ProSource Wholesale Flooring 46

Public Affairs Research Council 81

Queen of Sparkles 48

R.J. Daigle & Sons....................................22

Rachel Cannon Limited Interiors 117

Rainwater Consulting 81

Raising Canes 30

Ralph’s Market 49

Rapid Impact Erosion Control 22

Red Consulting 89

Red River Bank 57

Red Six Media 136

Remson Haley Architects 120

Residential subdivisions 62

Rev 140

Ritter Maher Architects 119, 120

River Parishes Community College 73

Roedel Parsons 75

Roofing Solutions 22

Rotolo’s 34

Ruth’s Chris 30

Sasso Agency 138

Savard Labor & Marine Inc. 42

Sequitor Consulting 124

Shaw Center for the Arts 104

Sigma Engineers and Constructors 27

Five-S has a reputation for delivering truly dynamic heavy site civil development services. Since 2013, Five-S has supplied, transported, and offloaded more than 40 million tons of aggregates and fill material. In the last two years, Five-S has completed site development for multiple clients across the United States, developing over 6000 acres of unimproved land. Visit our website to learn more about our services and past projects.

• Clearing and Grubbing

• Mass Grading

• Cut-to-Fill Excavation

• Deep Excavation and Embankment

• Storm Drainage

• Erosion Control

• Concrete Foundation Work + Flat Work

• Marine Construction

• Coastal Restoration & Preservation

• Aggregate and Fill Import

• Transportation and Logistics

• Material Handling

• In-House Material Testing

• Quality Control & Support

FOOD

Leading Industries

AUBREY “LEE” BARBER III

PRESIDENT

BARBER BROTHERS CONTRACTING

As with many of the past and present Barber executives, Lee Barber grew up in the family business. He started his career working part time at age 15, then joined the company full time just a few years later. 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 that experience in his role as a leader and mentor. Barber is a handson president who splits his time between preserving the lessons of generations past and monitoring quality and efficiency of active projects in the field. Continuing the growth of the company in an increasingly competitive industry is important to him. As such, Barber strives to build the internal and external relationships necessary for consistent longterm success at Barber Brothers Contracting.

FUN FACT: Barber Bros. was founded in the 1920s.

SHANE BELLANGER

CEO

SPECIALTY WELDING AND TURNAROUNDS

Shane Bellanger believes that the key to success is simple—it’s in the people you employ. As such, he hires only elite, qualified craftspeople, then gives them the tools that they need to succeed. Bellanger also understands the importance of safety, schedule, budget and quality on every industrial project, no exception. Upon its inception in 2014, SWAT’s founders identified a need in the industrial market for better execution, quality and technical expertise during turnarounds, and focused on assembling a strong crew specifically tailored for that market. It’s been a successful formula—SWAT now has a coverage area spanning some 17 states and a nationwide craft labor database of more than 10,000.

BRADLEY BARBER

CEO AND DIRECTOR

H&E RENTALS

Bradley Barber has been undeniably instrumental in H&E Rentals’ success over the years. He served as director of rental operations for both H&E LLC and Head & Engquist from 1998 to 2003, 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, and then later CEO, president and director up until January 2021. Today, as CEO and director, he guides H&E Rentals—one of the largest integrated equipment services companies in the U.S. with 89 full-service facilities throughout the country.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He 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 (Chuck) Berryman has served 37 years in various, and sometimes concurrent, administrative roles in academia, professional organizations and the construction industry. During that time, he has overseen a program that has turned out several of the Capital Region’s biggest names in construction. Berryman has developed multiple academic degree programs during his career, authored and/or co-authored 40-plus published manuscripts and initiated approximately $21.1 million in research projects as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator. He has been chair of the Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management in the College of Engineering at LSU since 2012 and holds an endowed chair position for the Construction Education Trust Fund Professorship.

RECOGNITION: Recipient of the Outstanding Researcher and Educator awards from the Associated Schools of Construction.

SCOTT BARRINGER

PRESIDENT AND CEO PALA GROUP

Scott Barringer has guided Pala Group on a successful, albeit rocky, journey in the years after Pala Group’s original founders sold the industrial construction company to their employees through an employee stock ownership plan. Today, Pala’s group of growing companies relentlessly focuses on delivering the best possible service to its customers and creating value for their group of employeeowners. Diversification and acquisitions have been crucial to Pala’s success, and technological investments such as 3D laser modeling and upcoming robotic welding equipment demonstrate Pala Group’s commitment to innovation. Looking ahead, Pala Group aims for further diversification and growth, led by the younger generation within the company.

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

RICHARD CARMOUCHE

FOUNDER

CARMOUCHE CONSTRUCTION

EDUCATION: LSU CONSTRUCTION

Richard Carmouche’s mostly family-run luxury homebuilding company—his wife and children are project managers and real estate agents—reflects his unique vision for natural living with an attention to detail. Under his guidance, for more than 30 years Carmouche Construction has been a premier builder of high-end houses and exclusive developments in Baton Rouge, including Woodgate Crossing, The Province at Moss Side, Jefferson Highlands, Lakeshore Gardens, LaSalle Parc, Jefferson Place 5th Filing, and Oaks on the Bluff. Its commercial developments include The Village at Willow Grove, The Grove, One Oak Square and Siegen Highlands. Carmouche also carries weight in the Baton Rouge community as a participant on several committees and as a member of the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge.

UNIQUE NICHE: SWAT has master service agreements with more than 50 U.S. facilities.

STEVE CARVILLE

PRESIDENT AND PART OWNER

MILTON J. WOMACK INC.

Much like his company’s namesake, Steve Carville has a passion for community involvement. Case in point: Carville 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 the Support Corporation advisory committee. A guiding force at Milton J. Womack since 1982, Carville currently oversees construction in a variety of areas, including hospitality, retail, residential, health care and commercial and residential land development. Additionally, he is involved in real estate development and management.

EDUCATION: LSU

STEVEN DAVIS JR.

MANAGING PARTNER

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT

Having served in the construction industry for some 17 years, Steven Davis Jr. specializes in new construction, renovations and maintenance. His intensely strong work ethic has been instrumental in the success of Facilities Maintenance Management, which offers clients a single vendor solution for their maintenance and construction needs. All work is performed by a staff of skilled employees, which provides a competitive edge in pricing, increased efficiency and the highest-quality workmanship.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from LSU

PATRICK COOGAN

OWNER

RAPID IMPACT

EROSION CONTROL

Much of Patrick Coogan’s success over the years can be attributed to the principles instilled within him as a collegiate and professional baseball player. Coogan played collegiately at LSU from 1993 to 1997 and then went on to play professionally in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He received All-American, All-SEC and Academic AllSEC honors while competing for the Tigers. He departed athletics to begin his career in the wealth management business in 2002 where he and his partners started a successful firm that continues to thrive. He founded Champion Wealth Strategies in 2009 and quickly grew the business to a local, regional and nationally known firm. He founded Rapid Impact Erosion Control in 2022 to offer erosion control in a more efficient, faster and cost-effective manner.

RECOGNITION: He was a Business Report Forty Under 40 nominee in 2012 and made the LSU 100 list in 2015. In 2018, he was inducted into the Catholic High School Grizzly Greats.

MELISSA DEGENERES

OWNER-OPERATOR

GULF COAST GRAVEL/ CRAWFORD AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES

Melissa deGeneres currently owns and operates two businesses within the Capital Region: Gulf Coast Gravel and Crawford Aggregate Industries. In her career, she has accumulated more than 38 years of leadership experience. She is also an active volunteer in the community 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: She holds a bachelor’s degree in general studies.

FUN FACT: She is a retired certified public accountant

NICHOLAS DAIGLE

PRESIDENT AND CO-CEO

R. J. DAIGLE & SONS/ DAIGLE INDUSTRIEs

Nicholas Daigle grew up around his family’s asphalt business, working in every aspect of the firm throughout his high school summers and college breaks. Ultimately, he and his brothers, Ethan and Colin, became part of the next generation of leadership at the 48-year-old company and now manage both R. J. Daigle & Sons and Daigle Industries. Daigle has continued to grow into his position of president and co-CEO, graduating from the Leadership Ascension Class of 2016 and currently serving as president of the Louisiana Asphalt Pavement Association.

EDUCATION: Daigle is a 2010 graduate of LSU, with concentrations in business administration and communication studies.

TUPAC DE LA CRUZ

FOUNDER, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR & PARTNER ROOFING SOLUTIONS

Some of the most recognizable rooflines in Baton Rouge are the work of Roofing Solutions, the company founded in 2004 by then-21-year-old Costa Rica-native Tupac de la Cruz, who at the time had virtually no family history in roofing or construction. Today, the Baton Rouge based company is one of the top 50 largest roofing contractors in the U.S. with offices scattered across the South. Since 2015, de la Cruz has also served as one of the youngest members on the board of directors for the National Roofing Contractors Association. He is most proud of his efforts to translate the National Roofing Contractors Association’s technical and education content into Spanish.

PROUDEST MOMENT: “Becoming a father is undoubtedly one of my most profound and proudest moments. It’s a milestone that marks the beginning of a journey filled with love, responsibility and endless joy.”

SHANE DOSS

PRESIDENT OPTIMAL FIELD SERVICES

Shane Doss came to Optimal Field Services with a wealth of knowledge and industrial field experience under his belt, after working for companies such as Dow Chemical, 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. Along the way, Doss learned that honesty, trust and integrity are the cornerstones of good business. Today, as president of Optimal Field Services, he helps clear the way for his company’s mechanical and catalyst teams to do what they do best—get quality work done safely and quickly.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: He enjoys spending time with his family outdoors, golfing, hunting, fishing and cheering on the LSU Tigers. MILITARY SERVICE: U.S. Air Force.

ANDY DUPUY

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BROWN & ROOT

Andy Dupuy has been instrumental in the growth of Brown & Root from a startup in 2015 to a comprehensive, multidiscipline industrial services company employing some 9,000 people across the U. S. and North America. He 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 of construction for the Plant Services Division and president of Fossil Power for the Power Division. He has also been instrumental in industry leadership positions, particularly as a past president of the Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter and Louisiana State Chapter.

EARLY CAREER: In his early years, Dupuy got his start as a pipe detailer and industrial estimator.

DEREK FIFE

PRESIDENT ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS

Derek Fife’s responsibilities cover all aspects of operations from procurement to execution to the financial management of the organization. In his current role, Fife provides alignment, leadership and oversight to critical decisions that impact projects and processes. His experience with Arkel Constructors began in 2000, where he quickly ascended in the organization to become vice president in 2009 and president in 2017. Today, he is an active hands-on manager who stays involved in much of the day-today responsibilities of running a successful company. Outside of work, Fife is heavily involved in the community, volunteering his time and resources to assist less fortunate and disadvantaged youths.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Fife sits on the boards of St. Joseph’s Academy and the Woman’s Hospital Foundation and is also president of Sportsplex of Baton Rouge.

MOTTO: Make it happen!

JOHN FIFE

FOUNDER AND CHAIR ARKEL CONSTRUCTORS

Since founding Arkel Constructors in 1996, Johnny Fife has guided the company to its status as one of the premiere commercial and industrial building general contractors in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast. Fife hired the right people and instilled in them the core values of integrity, work ethic and customer service from day one. Those values remain the backbone of the company today. Fife continues to serve as chair of Arkel Constructors and in that role provides operational oversight to the organization and assists in the alignment of key aspects of the company. Fife is also active in the Baton Rouge community with commitments to the American Cancer Society, Baton Rouge Airport Commission, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and TRUCE (a community support group).

THEME SONG: “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 leans upon his diverse background as an Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard chaplain in his current role at Performance Contractors. As such, he takes a rather unorthodox approach to preserving the company’s safety culture. He helped institute an app- and web-based employee assistance program 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. Performance also discusses the EAP at monthly meetings and reinforces everything in monthly emails. 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.

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

TODD GRIGSBY

CEO AND PRESIDENT

CAJUN INDUSTRIES

Todd Grigsby had some big shoes to fill when he assumed the role of CEO and president of Cajun Industries after his father, founder Lane Grigsby, stepped down in 2015. Nevertheless, under his oversight Cajun Industries has experienced unparalleled growth to become one of south Louisiana’s leading industrial contractors, specializing in heavy civil, mechanical and deep-foundation construction. 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, a mainstay at Turner Industries since 1992, has taken on roles of increasing responsibility over the years. From 1992 to 2014, his roles included planner, scheduler, cost engineer, project controls manager, superintendent and project manager. And in 2014, he was appointed vice president of construction and module fabrication, whereby he oversaw significant expansions in Turner’s modularization efforts. His responsibilities have included hands-on as well as supervisory positions ranging from procurement, material receiving, planning, cost control, field engineering, project engineering, and management of projects. Guidry has also been a certified NCCER instructor and has taught print reading at the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors training center.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF? Stick with your core beliefs and what your parents instilled in you. BUCKET LIST ITEM: Learn to fly airplanes

GLEN GULINO

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ISC CONSTRUCTORS

Under Glen Gulino’s leadership, ISC has strengthened its connections with the local community and maintained a close and long-standing relationship with the LSU College of Engineering. ISC has appeared on the LSU 100 list, a distinction reserved for the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by graduates of the school. It has also earned a position on the Roaring 10 list, which recognizes the top 10 companies based on financial performance. 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. ISC provides electrical, instrumentation and controls solutions to world-leading manufacturers, with offices in Baton Rouge, Houston and Beaumont, Texas.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, 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. James has participated in many professional organizations as a board member and currently sits on the board of directors for Louisiana Good Roads, is 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 is 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

Since Lee Jenkins joined Performance Contractors in 1994, the company has grown into 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. In 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

DAVID HELVESTON

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ABC – PELICAN CHAPTER

David Helveston is an advocate for nearly 400 construction companies and leads a passionate team of skilled training instructors who educate more than 3,000 craft professionals every year. He also facilitates volunteer opportunities for ABC members such as Build Your Future Day, which showcases careers in construction to thousands of high school students. Prior to joining ABC, Helveston 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. Previously, he was director of the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council and director of policy and strategic initiatives for the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Founded in 1980, ABC Pelican helps members develop people, win work, and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably.

DREAM CAREER AS A CHILD: “A professional tree climber. I wanted to own my own tree service so that I could always be the guy at the top of the tree.”

THOMAS KADAIR

OWNER/LEAD CONTRACTOR

KADAIR CONSTRUCTION

Thomas Kadair has decades of experience in the management of large- and smallscale projects. He began his career as a superintendent and was eventually tapped to lead all of the new construction projects in large-scale developments in East Baton Rouge Parish. During that 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. Today, he oversees an experienced network of project managers, tradespeople, subcontractors and vendors, and helps the company maintain its reputation for building aesthetic, functional spaces that meet the unique needs of its clients.

FIRST JOB: I cut grass starting in the seventh grade and continued to run that business until about halfway through college.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Discipline equals freedom.

JASON KELLER MANAGING PARTNER

BLOCK COMPANIES

As managing partner for Block Companies, Jason Keller has built a reputation as an award-winning construction industry veteran. Keller has worked in construction since he was 15, and has overseen work on apartments, retail, office buildings, schools, rehabilitation, public works plants, prisons, hospitals, airport terminals, historical projects, demolition, warehouses and athletic field projects. Whether providing affordable housing for Katrina evacuees or revitalizing a senior living landmark in Houston, Keller considers it a privilege to be able to provide economic empowerment and revitalize communities through the construction of affordable housing and advancing sustainable living.

EDUCATION: He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Hunting and fishing are where he finds his peace.

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. Company founder and owner Laverne King remains an active member of the Volks management team.

SHANE KIRKPATRICK

PRESIDENT

GROUP INDUSTRIES

Shane Kirkpatrick has more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry at Group Contractors and has served as the company’s president for the last 15 years. After serving in the U.S. Army, Kirkpatrick joined the Group team in 1998 as a laborer while still in college. Since then, he held the titles of project superintendent, project manager and operations manager before officially being promoted to president. A dynamic leader who knows the inner workings of the organization, he oversees all facets of company operations, including estimating, purchasing, project management, safety, sales and marketing, and workforce and business development. He has served as a board member for the ABC Bayou Chapter, ABC Pelican Chapter and ABC National. Currently, he serves as the ABC Pelican ICC committee chair and vice chair of governmental relations.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Kirkpatrick raised more than $24,000 for the American Cancer Society by participating in the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign.

GEORGE KNOST III

CO-OWNER AND PRESIDENT

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 a 60-plus-year history of 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 K. “Lenny” Lemoine has served as both an executive and principal with construction management and contracting firms for more than 40 years. Under his leadership, Lemoine has established itself as a market leader in both public and private sectors of building construction, disaster response and recovery, and program management. Lemoine began his career at Cottonport Lumber Company, a familyowned retail lumber yard. After the yard’s assets were sold in 1979, Lemoine and his brother transitioned the business into a general contracting and construction management firm and relocated to Lafayette. Lemoine was responsible for developing operational control systems to manage consistent growth and geographic diversification. In 2001, he assumed his current role as CEO of Lemoine.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, LSU

FRED MCMANUS CEO

BROWN AND ROOT

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

Fred McManus has developed a track record of growth over the years. After 20 years with Jacobs Engineering and its field services subsidiary, JE Merit Constructors, McManus joined The Shaw Group in March 1999 to grow its industrial engineering and maintenance business. Under his leadership, Shaw’s industrial maintenance services group grew from a startup with $10 million in revenue to a $600 million business before Shaw was sold to Chicago Bridge & Iron in 2013. He then 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. Today, McManus is COO of Brown & Root, a role he has held since the company was formed in 2015.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He is active in the Big Buddy Program and Rebuilding Together.

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. 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: He enjoys spending time at the family farm, hunting and fishing with friends, visiting family in Montana, and, of course, supporting LSU sports.

GUY OLIVER

OWNER & COO

GW OLIVER CONSTRUCTION

When launching his company some 20 years ago, Guy Oliver began an intensive marketing effort that made his brand instantly recognizable. In the process, he built GW Oliver Construction into a growing practice for mid-range homes and swimming pools. Today, 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.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Oliver is an elder on the board of The Chapel on Campus at LSU.

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 before eventually taking on positions of increasing responsibility, first as manager of the piping department and then as 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. Over the years, the company has become a destination workplace.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Sports, music and fine spirit connoisseur

BUCKET LIST ITEM: A whisky tour of Scotland FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Christmas. It brings back fantastic childhood memories and allows me to make new ones as a husband and father.

JEFF PLAUCHE

OPERATING PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jeff Plauche brings 25 years of construction and construction management experience to Bernhard Capital Partners, having spent much of his career with Boh Bros. Construction Co., one of the largest civil infrastructure firms in the Southeast. Prior to this current role, he held several positions of increasing responsibility managing civil infrastructure, industrial and marine project teams and overseeing corporate management, organizational structures and leadership development over his 23-year tenure with Boh. He now supports a range of dynamic businesses and high-quality management teams in growing the next generation of critical businesses serving the broader energy and infrastructure services economy.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He has served on numerous boards, including the Louisiana Tech Construction Industry advisory board, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Construction Education Trust Fund.

MIKE POLITO CEO MAPP

In 1991, MAPP Construction started out small, pursuing only public bid work from its original office on Corporate Boulevard. But Mike Polito always knew the company would grow bigger, as he had cut his teeth on large projects and had a growth mindset. A watershed moment came in 1993, when MAPP was awarded the $30 million Catfish Town renovation project in Baton Rouge. Additional milestones included the LSU Tiger Stadium expansion in 1998, and the Shaw Group World Headquarters in 2000. Outside of work, Polito is actively involved in numerous community and professional organizations, including having served on the Associated Builders and Contractors board, as well as on executive committees and holding the office of vice president. He is also a past chair and executive committee member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, LSU

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 last several years, 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 dozens of Associated Builders and Contractors National Project of the Year awards, ABC National Safety Excellence awards and Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Workforce Development Safety Excellence awards.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, LSU

THAD RISPONE

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ISC CONSTRUCTORS

Thad Rispone 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. Rispone feels that the cornerstone of any successful business is in hiring great people and creating a culture in which they thrive. In that vein, ISC has earned national recognition for its innovative safety, quality and workforce development programs.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The woods or beach QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK: “A captain doesn’t learn to be a captain in calm seas.”

JOHN SCHEMPF PRESIDENT THE NEWTRON GROUP

John Schempf recently celebrated his 30th anniversary at The Newtron Group. In his three decades at Newtron, 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

DAVE ROBERTS CEO EXCEL GROUP

When Dave Roberts had an idea for a company but no money, he found an investor and three partners to launch Excel Group. Through hard work, sacrifices and tenacity, Roberts now owns and operates a company consistently ranked as one of Associated Builders and Contractors’ Top Performers. Today, Excel offers a wide range of services, from pipe manufacturing and engineering to industrial construction and maintenance. Through Roberts’ direction, Excel is also dedicated to supporting many charitable organizations by donating company resources and encouraging employees to volunteer continuously. In addition to these donations, Excel teammates frequently visit local schools throughout the school year, often speaking directly to students and educating them with hands-on skills.

FUN FACT: A native of Paduch, Kentucky, Roberts moved with his family to Destrehan at the age of 13 when his father needed to relocate for work.

JAMES “PEPPER” RUTLAND

PRESIDENT/FOUNDER/CEO

MMR GROUP

Ever since Pepper Rutland founded MMR Group in 1991, the company has been building on a tradition of success in electrical and instrumentation construction, maintenance, and technical services. Engineering News-Record consistently places MMR Group at the top of its list of U.S. specialty contractors. Rutland’s passion has without a doubt shaped the industrial construction industry and provided thousands of careers for families across the globe. Rutland is an active philanthropist and much of his time and effort goes into donating to his alma mater, LSU. He is an active board member of LSU’s Charles McClendon Scholarship Foundation.

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

BILLY SMITH

PRESIDENT AND CEO

SMITH TANK & STEEL

Billy Smith comes from a family of industrial tank builders; he was a supervisor by the time he was 19 and eventually led his own tank division. Then 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.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Smith helped establish 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. In 2023, the company 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 for clients. A fundamental principle guiding Sparks’ path has been reinvesting the company’s earnings into the team and the organization. Sparks consistently attributes the company’s achievements to the collective effort of those who have supported his vision. The company is distinguished by its proficient team dedicated to delivering safety and quality to clients.

EDUCATION: General studies, Southeastern Louisiana University

CRAIG STEVENS

PRESIDENT GENESIS 360

Craig Stevens started small in 2011 by offering parking lot striping services and has since grown into a one-stop shop for any type of construction, building maintenance, ground maintenance and IT services for commercial and federal clients across the U.S.. Stevens was recently selected as SBA Veteran Champion of the Year and his company was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies. He is a community supporter and has served on the boards for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club, BREC, Home Builders Association, Better Business Bureau, Ascension Chamber, LABI, Innovation Catalyst, and Mary Bird Perkins Foundation. He is also a graduate of Leadership Ascension and BRACs Drive Minority Business Accelerator.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: I’ve stepped foot in North Korea.

MOST UNUSUAL JOB: Selling aluminum cans and coke bottles as a kid

STEPHEN TOUPS

PRESIDENT TURNER INDUSTRIES

When Stephen Toups took the reins at Turner from his father, Roland Toups, in 2019, the company’s clients were primarily in the energy and petrochemical sectors and were located almost exclusively along the Gulf Coast. In the six years since, Toups has grown Turner’s footprint to 30 states and branched into new service lines such as advanced manufacturing. Turner is one of Louisiana’s largest private companies with more than $3.2 billion in annual revenue and more than 20,000 employees. Its various divisions specialize in industrial construction, maintenance, pipe fabrication and large equipment fleet services. Over the years, Toups has served as chair of the National Center for Construction Education and Research and is a past chair of the LCTCS Foundation board of directors.

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

CHRIS BACHMAN

OWNER

RUTH’S CHRIS

It was back in 2015 that Chris Bachman acquired the iconic Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on Constitution Avenue for a cool $2.35 million from Texas-based Bekmet Ltd. He now oversees the Baton Rouge institution that fellow restaurateur TJ Moran opened in 1977 and has served politicians and city leaders for more than a generation. Three years later, Bachman also acquired Tio Javi’s from Moran’s family for $1.4 million. Bachman got his start working at a Moran-owned Ruth’s Chris restaurant in Chicago.

REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION: Along with Carlos Betancourt Jr., Bachman bought the 21,000-square-foot former Cort Furniture building through their LLC BB Prime Property in 2023 for $2.5 million. The building sits between Ruth’s Chris and Tio Javi’s in the 4700 Block of Constitution Avenue.

PAUL FERACHI

CEO AND OWNER

CAPITOL CITY PRODUCE

Paul Ferachi is the owner and CEO of Capitol City Produce, a family-owned wholesale produce distributor founded in 1947. The company delivers fruits, vegetables, frozen products, dairy items, cold beverages, baked goods and other food supplies to its growing customer base in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. It has distribution centers in Baton Rouge and Robertsdale, Alabama. Ferachi was a 2005 Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree, and under his leadership, Capitol City Produce was recognized in 2017 as Business Report’s Company of the Year (with 100 or more employees).

EARLY START: At the age of 10, I was driving forklifts and eventually assumed the role of president and CEO of the company in 1995.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: The best advice ever given to me was not verbal. It was displayed to me in the character traits of my grandfather and father. That trait is work ethic.

EMELIE KANTROW ALTON

CEO

BYRONZ RESTAURANT

FAMILY

Emelie Alton is the CEO of Byronz Restaurant Family, a local restaurant group that began as a mom-and-pop sandwich shop in the ‘80s and relaunched as a neighborhood restaurant in 2005. Byronz Restaurant Family has three concepts in Baton Rouge and one in Mandeville. Alton led the local restaurant in the relocation and rebranding of its Mid City Bistro Byronz location to the design-forward Brasserie Byronz. Over the last two decades, Bistro Byronz has become a local favorite and was a runner-up for Best Lunch Spot in the 2024 Best of 225 Awards.

A FAVORITE SONG: “Humble and Kind,” by Tim McGraw

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama

TODD GRAVES

OWNER AND FOUNDER

RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS

Todd Graves has become a household name among U.S. business leaders. As owner and founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Graves has grown his Baton Rouge chicken finger joint, founded in 1996, into a rapidly expanding empire with more than 65,000 employees. In 2024, the restaurant chain opened 118 new restaurants across the U.S. In March, Raising Cane’s was ranked as the No. 29 Top Workplace in the United States by USA Today, its third year qualifying for the list. Graves’ high-energy, community focus and innovative creative team have been the driving force behind the rising brand.

MOTTO: Nothing ever happens unless you pursue a vision fanatically.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: I love to travel. Next on my list is to visit Machu Picchu in Peru. When you work hard growing and running a business, it’s important to take time to reset and have cultural experiences that enrich your life in other ways.

Shell Congratulates Melissa Dotson on being named to

the 2025 Capital Region 500

As an engineer working for Shell, Melissa Dotson prioritizes mentorship and development in the workplace and in the community through organizations such as the National Charity League, the Junior League of Greater Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, the LSU Chemical Engineering Advisory Board and others.

Melissa is currently on special assignment as Southern University Chemical Engineering Program Manager, where she is working to strengthen relationships between education and industry by leading the development of the University’s new chemical engineering curriculum.

The contributions of people like Melissa are why Shell is the Rhythm of Louisiana.

CELTON HAYDON JR.

CEO AND PRESIDENT

CC’S COFFEE HOUSE

Celton Haydon genuinely wants to serve the best coffee and provide the best customer experience at CC’s Coffee House. As CEO and president of the Louisiana-born coffee shop since 2013, he has led the company in adding more drive-thru-focused coffee houses, offering quick Chick-fil-A-style drivethru ordering services with team members, releasing a new app with in-app purchasing, and launching a franchising program. Haydon started his journey at the company as a store manager in 2001 and worked his way to the top over 24 years.

A MUST READ: I reread Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People annually. It resets the highest, yet attainable, standards of leadership and community stewardship.

MOTIVATIONAL SONGS: Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” is the ultimate motivational song for tough times. Donnie McClurkin’s “We Fall Down” rekindles my faith and humbles me in the face of adversity. This way, I remember where my help comes from.

NICK

HUFFT CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

HUFFT MARCHAND HOSPITALITY

Nick Hufft is the CEO and co-founder of Hufft Marchand Hospitality, founded in 2020 with business partner Lon Marchand. Before launching his hospitality group, Hufft was most known for his food truck-turnedrestaurant Curbside Burgers. He opened the Mid City restaurant in 2016 after serving burgers from his food truck for more than a decade. What started as a thriving food truck parked outside of Tigerland bars offering late-night eats has grown into a bustling brick-and-mortar and food truck business. As Hufft has continued to grow, his vision and team have grown with him. He and Marchand own six food concepts in Louisiana and a catering company.

HOMETOWN: New Orleans

IN THE COMMUNITY: Hufft co-organized Fundraiser Under the Overpass, which benefited victims of the historic 2016 floods.

LON MARCHAND

OWNER AND CO-FOUNDER

HUFFT MARCHAND HOSPITALITY

Lon Marchand and business partner Nick Hufft co-founded Hufft Marchand Hospitality in 2020 to manage their expanding group of restaurants: Curbside Burgers, The Overpass Merchant and Gail’s Fine Ice Cream, in Baton Rouge; New Orleans concepts Junior’s on Harrison and Il Supremo; and Barcar, in Metairie. The colorful and creative Baton Rouge eateries feature playful culinary twists on classic American dining staples like burgers, ice cream and brunch. Gail’s Fine Ice Cream opened its first location in New Orleans and was introduced to the Capital Region in 2022.

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

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: The planets only align for short moments. String those moments up and make a necklace of them.

GINO MARINO

OWNER

GINO’S RESTAURANT

You can’t talk about Italian food in Baton Rouge without mentioning Gino’s Restaurant. The Italian restaurant was established in 1966 by the Marino family, who had immigrated to the U.S. from Sicily between 1955 and 1958. Gino Marino is the owner of the beloved Bennington Avenue staple, founded by his late mother, Grace “Mama” Marino. The restaurant is known for its signature arancini, a small fried ball of rice made with stuffed ground meat, sauce, peas and Parmigiano cheese. Over the last 40 years, Gino’s has become a go-to place for business deals, family outings and date nights.

ATHLETIC PAST: Marino was inducted into the Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. He rushed for 1,412 yards during his four years playing for the Lions, the ninth-most in SLU history.

GIVING BACK: He helped Southeastern Louisiana University secure over $1 million in gifts through his association with the directors of the Irene and C.B. Pennington Foundation.

BRANDON LANDRY

FOUNDER

WALK-ONS SPORTS

BISTREAUX, SMALLS SLIDERS, SUPPER CLUB

Brandon Landry is the brains behind some of the most successful restaurants born in Baton Rouge. He is the founder and chair of WalkOns Sports Bistreaux and Smalls Sliders and opened his Baton Rouge fine-dining concept, Supper Club, in 2022. Much like Walk-Ons, Smalls Sliders is proving to be a rising star in the U.S. restaurant industry. Since opening his first location in 2019, the cheeseburger sliders franchise has expanded nationwide with new modular cans opening in multiple cities every month. Appreciative of a good underdog story, Landry wants to inspire and help others lead teams that turn concepts into disruptive brands.

WHERE THE DREAM BEGAN: The discipline and team mentality that I learned as a walk-on with the LSU basketball team have helped me in my current position.

HOMETOWN: White Castle, Louisiana. I grew up as a farmer’s kid.

SCOTT MCCALLISTER

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY UNITED

If there’s one soda brand Scott McCallister knows from the inside out, it’s Coca-Cola. McCallister has worked within different sectors of the soda company for 25 years. In 2015, he became the division director at Coca-Cola Bottling Company before stepping into his role as regional vice president in 2022. Founded in 1906, the Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co. started in a small downtown building with a one-horse wagon as the distribution system. Today, the Baton Rouge location serves as the headquarters for Coca-Cola United’s West Region, with a growing footprint in Louisiana and south Mississippi. McCallister leads some 2,600 associates in 12 sales centers across the region.

EDUCATION: Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas

IN THE COMMUNITY: McCallister is a board member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

BRAD MIRE

PRESIDENT/CO-OWNER

ROTOLO’S PIZZA/ SOUTHFIN POKE

Brad Mire is the president of Rotolo’s Pizzeria and co-owner of Southfin Poke. The Rayne native was named a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2022, recognized for his leadership in the restaurant industry. He led more than 30 restaurants through COVID-19 and introduced the Rotolo’s brand into new states. Through his restaurant’s fundraising efforts, he raised more than $12,000 for Honor Flight Louisiana, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring veterans, in 2022.

FIRST JOB: I worked in the milk vault (which is a giant warehouse/milk freezer) at Borden’s Milk in Lafayette.

FIRST SET OF WHEELS: 1996 Mitsubishi Galant. I got rid of it when the front end started dragging on the ground and the left blinker wouldn’t turn off.

CHRIS MOTTO

EXECUTIVE CHEF

JUBANS

Baton Rouge chef Chris Motto was a contestant on Season 18 of reality show “Hell’s Kitchen,” and he continues to bring the heat to the Capital Region as executive chef at Jubans. The elevated and stylish fine-dining restaurant boasts seafood-centric dishes, including the Hallelujah Crab, Lobster 2 Ways and Andouille-crusted redfish with a modern twist. Open since 1983 and renovated in 2022, Jubans is the picture-perfect backdrop for jazz brunches, corporate events and birthday parties. Motto, a Loreauville native, made a name for himself as the former chef at Mansurs on the Boulevard for 12 years. He was recognized as the 2021 Best Chef by 225 Magazine and honored as a Business Report Forty Under 40.

MOTIVATIONAL SONG: “Change,” by Blind Melon, or “Motivation,” by T.I.

GO-TO COMFORT FOOD: Tacos. Must be flour tortilla. Other than that, anything goes.

DARLENE ADAMS ROWLAND

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BREADA

For more than 16 years, Darlene Adams Rowland has helped grow the Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance, or BREADA. She started her career with BREADA as a director of development in 2009 before working her way up to executive director in 2021. Under her leadership, the nonprofit operates four Red Stick Market locations, advocates for food policy changes on state and national levels, hosts farm-to-school activities in local schools and provides financial assistance to farmers during natural disasters and crises. Before joining BREADA, she was an account executive at a national finance company until the 2008 stock market crash. Searching for a community-based career, she pivoted to the local farmer-centric nonprofit.

A FAVORITE SONG: “Better Together,” by Jack Johnson

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: My grandmother’s pearls

MATT SAURAGE

CHAIR AND OWNER CITY ROOTS AND COMMUNITY COFFEE

The Saurage family has been a force in the local coffee industry for more than 100 years. Henry Norman “Cap” Saurage founded Community Coffee in 1919, a coffee retail brand that continues to be family owned five generations later. Matt Saurage, the fourth generation of Cap’s lineage, is co-owner of CC’s Coffee House, which launched its franchise program in 2025 with plans for continued growth. He has been the board chair of Community Coffee since 2012. Saurage also owns the neighborhood coffee roaster and cafe City Roots Coffee Bar at Electric Depot. He is a founding member of the nonprofit World Coffee Research and director and past chair of the National Coffee Association USA.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Saurage has been a director for two leading organizations in the Capital Region: New Schools of Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

MITCH ROTOLO

FOUNDER AND CEO

ROTOLO’S

Before it was a rapidly growing franchise, Mitch Rotolo founded Rotolo’s Pizzeria in 1996 as a casual Italian restaurant near LSU. With two brands under Rotolo’s umbrella, the CEO is on his way to meeting the company’s goal of expanding the business into nine states with 40 locations by the end of 2025. Rotolo’s has seven locations in the Greater Baton Rouge area and 21 restaurants in Louisiana. His son, Mitch Rotolo Jr., has kept the pizza tradition alive as a six-time World Pizza Games champion, winning the fastest dough stretch and the pizza triathlon.

THOUGHTS ON FRANCHISE GROWTH, CIRCA 2012: “We didn’t develop a concept on paper to develop a franchise brand. I built a restaurant that I wanted to run, and it evolved into something that other people wanted to be a part of.”

FROM THE RED STICK TO THE CRESCENT CITY: Rotolo’s was the official pizza of the New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana Superdome in 2009.

PETER SCLAFANI

PARTNER AND CEO

MAKING RAVING FANS HOSPITALITY GROUP

As a third-generation chef, Peter Sclafani grew up in restaurants. Before he formed Making Raving Fans Hospitality Group in 2020 with the founder of Portebello’s, Kiva Guidroz, Sclafani was the executive chef and owner of Ruffino’s Italian Restaurant for more than 20 years. In 2019, he became a co-owner of Phil’s Oyster Bar. His hospitality group introduced a new concept, Solou, to Baton Rouge in 2021 and opened a second location in Lafayette in 2024. Recognized for decades of culinary innovation, Sclafani was named the Jamie Shannon Outstanding Chef in 2015 by the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation and the Restaurateur of the Year by the Louisiana Restaurant Association three times. He was also invited twice to cook at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City.

AUTHOR: Sclafani wrote a cookbook in 2013 called Seasons of Louisiana

MOTTO: Make it better every day.

JIM URDIALES

OWNER/CHEF

MESTIZO LOUISIANA

MEXICAN CUISINE

Jim Urdiales opened his Mexican restaurant, Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine, in 1999. In business for more than 25 years, Mestizo has evolved with customers’ growing tastes, offering expanded menus, including keto, vegetarian and gluten-free options. With 47 years in the restaurant industry, Urdiales knows what it takes to pivot and thrive in a challenging and uncertain market. Outside of his restaurant, he is a board member of the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society and the National Federation of Independent Business. He is a former board member and president of the Louisiana Restaurant Association – Baton Rouge.

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Tony Montana (fictional character in the movie Scarface)

MEMORABLE EMBARRASSING MOMENT: Getting busted in middle school for selling bubble gum at recess. I had an early entrepreneurial spirit.

JOHN VALLUZZO

OWNER AND OPERATOR

VALLUZZO COMPANIES

John Valluzzo is one of three owners and operators at Valluzzo Companies. The family-owned business established by John, Nicholas and Michael Valluzzo in 2010 has become one of the most successful companies in Baton Rouge. The company manages 79 McDonald’s locations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Valluzzo Companies was recognized by USA Today as a 2025 Top Place to Work, one of only three local companies to receive the honor this year. It earned the Ronald Award from McDonald’s in 2017, recognizing the top 1% of McDonald’s owners and operators nationwide who have made outstanding contributions to the McDonald’s brand and serving their customers and community. John Valluzzo has served on the boards for Catholic High School and the Greater Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

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

KIT WONG

OWNER

ICHIBAN AND BORU

The Asian food scene in Baton Rouge has exploded with the influence of entrepreneur Kit Wong. He opened his first Baton Rouge restaurant, Chinese Inn, in the 1970s and Mandarin Seafood in the 1980s before selling it four decades later. Since then, he and his sons opened the popular Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar in 2003. Much like Wong, his sons also pursued restaurant entrepreneurship. Together, they also opened the ramen restaurant Boru in 2020. From being a busboy in New Orleans to working his way up as an owner of multiple fan-favorite restaurants in Baton Rouge, his impact on the local culinary scene continues to grow through he and his sons.

FAMILY LEGACY: Wong’s sons Randy, Eddie, Ronnie and Patrick are co-owners of Ichiban and Boru, in addition to real estate ventures in the Capital Region.

A FAN FAVORITE: Ichiban has won the “Best Sushi” category every year since 2014 in the 225 Magazine Best of 225 awards.

ADAM BEARY CEO AND PRESIDENT BEAR PROCESS SAFETY

Adam Beary saw a need and filled it when he created his own Louisiana-based process safety consultancy. He had spent years watching safety being treated as a footnote and wanted to make a change in the industrial space. In the years that followed, Bear Process Safety grew tenfold and expanded throughout the country and globally, specializing in risk mitigation for partners in the chemical, petrochemical and renewable energy space. Another of Beary’s passions is community advocacy— he is an executive board member for Kid’s Orchestra in Baton Rouge, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and BRAC Investor/ Core Council. Other awards and distinctions include Leadership Baton Rouge Alumni (Class of 2023), 2024 LSU100 Top 25, 2022 Diversity Star Award and 2022 Forty Under 40 recognition.

MOTTO: Dance to your own drum MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: The ability to craft and sell a vision.

PATRICK VALLUZZO

PRESIDENT & CEO

CITY GROUP HOSPITALITY

As president and CEO of City Group Hospitality, one of the Capital Region’s leading restaurant and catering groups, Patrick Valluzzo has a full plate. City Group is behind established concepts like City Pork, Rouj Creole and City Slice Pints + Pizza. It has also opened or taken ownership of other concepts, including Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine, Spoke & Hub and Proverbial Wine Bistro. The company opened four restaurants during the pandemic and has grown its staff from less than 100 employees to 400. Raised in a family of restaurant entrepreneurs, Valluzzo worked with his family business, Valluzzo Family Restaurants, as a McDonald’s franchisee before stepping into his role at City Group Hospitality. He is also a longtime executive board member of the Baton Rouge Soccer Club.

PRODUCTIVITY EDGE: Waking up before most people, at 4:30 a.m.

A FAVORITE SONG: “American Pie,” by Don McLean.

REMI BONNECAZE

CEO

UNITED WELD HOLDINGS

Remi Bonnecaze’s leadership acumen in the pipe and steel fabrication space has been honed over decades. As CEO, he manages United Weld Holdings’ family of companies, comprising 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

STEPHANIE CARGILE

U.S. SOUTHEAST REGION

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

ADVISER

EXXONMOBIL

While Stephanie Cargile is the familiar local face of ExxonMobil, she has a big footprint in the community space as well. Currently, she is also president of Foundation for EBR School System, a nonprofit that supports students and teachers in public schools. She is particularly proud of her role with others in creating the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiatives in 2012, with the goal of ensuring neighbors living next to ExxonMobil’s complex would have access to training and jobs at the facilities. In her current role with ExxonMobil, she leads statewide government relations, policy and advocacy efforts for Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK: A mentor shared this quote: “The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” –Helen Keller from her 1903 essay, Optimism. DO-OVER WISH: I would have agreed to work internationally for a few years.

KEITH CHAPPELL

CFO AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT THE CELTIC GROUP

Keith Chappell is the CFO and senior vice president of a dynamic and diverse group of companies with several specialized subsidiaries including marine and logistics, where it provides end-to-end solutions such as freight forwarding (maritime/truck/rail), warehousing and customs. With over 20 years of diverse expertise, Chappell provides strategic leadership across multiple critical functions, including finance and accounting, information technology, human resources, real estate, administration and film studio operations. He is a passionate advocate for economic development and social welfare in Louisiana, participating in several key organizations such as Committee of 100 for Economic Development, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Baton Rouge Regional Chamber Executive Committee.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: A trip to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I love the history and the event, and it’s a chance to see another country.

DAVID CRESSON

PRESIDENT & CEO

LOUISIANA CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION

David Cresson brings a diversity of statewide leadership experience to his new role as president and CEO of the Louisiana Chemical Association, having served as CEO of Louisiana’s Coastal Conservation Association for nearly two decades. At CCA, he managed a board of more than 200 members statewide while advocating for fisheries and coastal conservation through regulation, legislation and outreach. Cresson formally assumed leadership of LCA in March, although former president Greg Bowser will continue to support the transition as needed through the end of 2025.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama

DANNY DANIEL JR. PRESIDENT AND CEO MOODY PRICE

Danny Daniel Jr. has been a guiding force at Moody Price—one of the largest U.S. providers of instrumentation, filtration, steam/energy management and highpressure products—since 1986. Under Daniel’s leadership, the company has purposely given back to those communities that have supported its growth and success. The company collects donations for area food banks, veterans, first responders, children’s hospitals and Christian organizations. Moody Price’s long-term partnerships with leading manufacturers in the industry enable it to provide quality products and services, and the operational experience and knowledge of its 100-plus associates allow it to simplify the procurement process and maximize customer profitability.

FUN FACT: In 2024, Moody Price collected more than $200,000 for food banks in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama.

ERICK COMEAUX

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND GROWTH

ORBIA FLUOR & ENERGY MATERIALS

In many ways, Erick Comeaux has become the local voice for the lithium-ion battery industry. 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. He has an extensive industrial background, having spent more than 20 years in the specialty chemicals, polymer and NGL businesses. 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 and has obtained project management and engineering management certifications through LSU.

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED: “God writes straight with crooked lines. The great moments in our lives rarely follow a straight course, but we must keep faith in his divine providence.”

REGINA DAVIS

MANAGER, BATON ROUGE COMPLEX

EXXONMOBIL

As a first-generation college graduate and trailblazing refinery manager, Regina Davis is passionate about creating opportunities for others. Mentorship has been central to her nearly 30-year career at ExxonMobil, where she now leads the company’s largest integrated facility. Davis actively mentors more than a dozen young professionals and college students, and has guided over 50 mentees throughout her career. She plays a critical role in the company’s Introduce A Girl to Engineering” Day, mentors female students at Thrive Academy and turos in math at Istrouma Middle Magnet School. “My passion is the underserved community, and in particular females. That’s what resonates with my heart.”

INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “I’m Every Woman,” by Chaka Khan.

ON A MISSION: To paraphrase Michelle Obama, success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”

On behalf of the entire team at SITECH Louisiana, we proudly congratulate our CEO, Jay Thompson, on being recognized once again in the Capital Region 500, an annual honor reserved for the most powerful and influential leaders shaping the future of our state.

Jay, your leadership is more than just strategic, it’s transformational. Through your unwavering dedication to innovation, people, and purpose, you’ve built more than a successful company; you have helped build a better Louisiana! You shape our team to become leaders themselves, investing in our growth through education, leadership training, and a culture rooted in self-improvement. You inspire us to be lifelong learners, not just in our work, but in who we are. From jobsite to boardroom, your passion for progress drives real impact across our communities. You champion technology with heart, lead with integrity, and make decisions that uplift both our team and the industry as a whole.

We are grateful for your vision, your trust in us, and your constant drive to raise the bar. You push us to step outside of our comfort zones and give us the grace, the space, and support to grow while we do it. You’ve created a culture where excellence, collaboration, and gratitude are not just values, they are how we operate every single day!

This honor is not just a reflection of who you are as a leader, but of what SITECH Louisiana stands for as a team under your guidance. Thank you for setting the pace, leading the way, and never losing sight of the people behind the progress.

We are honored to walk this path with you.

With deep appreciation and pride, YourSITECHLouisianaFamily Congratulations, Jay!

MELISSA DOTSON

EXPANSION MANAGER

SHELL GEISMER CHEMICAL

For Melissa Dotson, paying it forward isn’t a catchphrase—it’s a mission. A pivotal summer program at LSU helped launch her chemical engineering career, and now Dotson ensures others have the same chance to succeed. Through Shell employee resource groups, the Junior League of Baton Rouge, and the National Charity League, she actively mentors the next generation, encouraging them to unlock their potential and bring their authentic selves to the table. Beyond work, Dotson’s commitment runs deep: She serves on the LSU Chemical Engineering Advisory Board, is a trustee and secretary for the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, and has held leadership roles in organizations like Jack and Jill and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

BEST ADVICE: Don’t be defeated within the momentary setbacks. There is something meant for ahead.

CHELSEA DUFRENE

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR LED FASTSTART

Chelsea Dufrene is the newly appointed executive director of LED FastStart, the state’s workforce development solution for companies relocating and expanding in Louisiana. Dufrene leads a team of training, recruitment and creative specialists as well as project managers focused on delivering customized workforce programs for Louisiana companies and developing new initiatives to grow Louisiana’s skilled workforce. Prior to joining LED, she led the economic development marketing initiatives for Entergy’s service territories in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Her experience includes organizational and leadership development, strategic planning, digital marketing and workforce technology.

RECOGNITION: Dufrene was recently named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report IN THE COMMUNITY: She is a board member of the Manship Theatre and recent board president for the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center.

CONNIE FABRÉ

PRESIDENT AND CEO

GBRIA

Connie Fabré stepped into her role as president and CEO of GBRIA in 2019 after serving as the organization’s executive director for over 15 years. And in September, she was given the dual role of president and CEO of the Louisiana Construction Education Foundation. Fabré has more than 25 years of experience working in chemical plant production, quality management, business consulting, governmental and public affairs, and association management. 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 GBRIA, and during her tenure she has brought meaningful, impactful change, while growing the group’s revenues by more than 500%.

A PROUD MOMENT: Driving a motorcycle by myself for the first time.

TOMMY FAUCHEUX

PRESIDENT LMOGA

Tommy Faucheux’s overriding goal is to create opportunities for the oil and gas industry of Louisiana. As such, he strives to put Louisiana in a better position to support industry investment and growth as the energy industry undergoes a global transition. He leads a team of six members and works closely with member companies and allied trade associations in Louisiana to achieve the Louisiana MidContinent Oil & Gas Association’s mission. Faucheux currently serves on boards for several organizations, including the LSU Institute for Energy, LABI, and the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana.

MOTTO: “Nunc coepi,” which is Latin for “Now I begin.”

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: Humility. We must recognize that despite professional success, attention and large egos, we are human. We are not perfect. We need to be comfortable with who we are, which includes knowing our strengths and our areas where we can grow.

BRAD DUTRUCH CEO

COMPLIANCE ENVIROSYSTEMS

Brad Dutruch has racked up more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of sewer and stormwater evaluation techniques. He is a certified trainer for NASSCO’s pipeline assessment and certification program and has been involved in the evaluation of over 40 million linear feet of sanitary sewer. Along the way, he has managed and executed some of the largest projects in the country, including complex tunnel evaluations and off-road cleaning operations. Additionally, Dutruch has provided overall logistics and coordination of field efforts for many sanitary sewer evaluation surveys throughout the Southeast. He has also served as president of the National Association of Sewer Service Companies, which sets the industry standard for the rehabilitation of underground utilities.

PROVIDING EXPERTISE: Dutruch played a critical role from 2005 to 2009 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

BOB FUDICKAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Baton Rouge-based Bob Fudickar has spent his entire career in business and technology, including stints at Arthur Andersen, General Electric and NASA. The LSU National Center for Advanced Manufacturing is located at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East and is part of a partnership that includes NASA, the state of Louisiana, LSU, the University of New Orleans and the UNO Research and Technology Foundation. Fudickar is executive director of the center, which is building the rocket that will carry astronauts to Mars. It was originally created as a research and production center focused on applying advanced manufacturing technologies to lightweight composite and metallic materials in support of NASA.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE RECEIVED: Listen to successful people.

BOOK THAT MADE AN IMPRESSION: Grit Don’t Quit!, by Dennis Swanberg

TYLER GRAY SECRETARY

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

Prior to his appointment last year as secretary of DENR, Tyler Gray had already worn a lot of hats, most recently as corporate secretary and director of corporate and government affairs for Placid Refining Company, an independent and privately owned oil and gas company, where he was responsible for corporate structure, human resources and external affairs. Before that, he headed up the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association. Earlier in his career, Gray served as an attorney in the State Office of Conservation and for the city of New Orleans. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from James Madison University in Virginia, a law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and an MBA with a specialization in economics from LSU.

WIELDING INFLUENCE: Gray is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and currently serves on several public and private boards and commissions.

TIM HARRIS PRESIDENT AND CEO RES CONTRACTORS

Tim Harris 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 the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance. He also serves on the LSU Chemical Engineering Academic advisory board. 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. In 2024, Harris left his job as site director of Eastman Taminco to become president of RES Contractors.

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

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” –Stephen Covey

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 after it had become the first certified carbon-neutral college in the Southeast under his leadership. Ives possesses a rare combination of experience in industry, government and academia. As assistant secretary for natural resources in North Carolina from 2013 to 2015, he drafted and negotiated the state’s wind farm legislation. 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. Ives’ experience working with oil and gas companies on new technologies supports a successful transition to lower-carbon sources of energy across the Gulf Coast.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE FOR OTHERS: Abide by the monkey rule. Just like a monkey swinging on a vine doesn’t let go until it grabs the next vine, don’t quit a job until you have accepted another one.

JERRY JONES

MEMBER

BRADLEY MURCHISON

As a partner in Bradley Murchison’s Baton Rouge office, Jerry Jones has the bandwidth to handle a host of issues in the legal arena. He has assisted domestic and international clients in the development, construction and operation of world-scale manufacturing facilities. Additionally, he provides counsel to private and public entities on local, state and federal governmental regulation; lobbying and governmental relations before local and state stakeholders; environmental permitting and compliance; public works contracts; contract negotiations, disputes and administration; and energy. Additionally, he is serving his fourth term on Louisiana’s Board of Commerce and Industry and his fifth year as board chair. Jones also serves his local community as a member of the West Feliciana Parish Board of Adjustment.

ALL ACCESS: Jones is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

MIKE JUNEAU

PRESIDENT

PREMIER GEOTECH AND TESTING

In 2016, Mike Juneau noticed shortcomings in the geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing industry and set out to help found Premier Geotech and Testing. Premier’s technicians and engineers are an extension of the project team, working hand-in-hand with property owners, developers and contractors from project start to finish. Since its inception, Premier has built a team of client-focused professionals and a state-of-the-art lab facility to provide comprehensive geotechnical and construction material testing services.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: Balance. Being able to balance all the tasks and objects thrown your way without losing your wife and being able to sleep at night is the only way you will survive and actually be happy.

STRATEGY FOR STAYING AHEAD OF INDUSTRY

DISRUPTIONS: The early bird gets the worm, and the grind must become part of your soul. You must think outside the box! If you only think in one direction, you will get passed up before you know it.

CHIP LAVIGNE

PRESIDENT

LAVIGNE OIL

Chip Lavigne helped turn Lavigne Oil into an established leader in the petroleum marketing, fuel supply and convenience store industries. Today, the company 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. A Northshore native, he is an experienced property developer who wears many hats. Recently, he became a member of the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation board of trustees.

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

CONGRATULATIONS TO...

U.S. Southeast Region Government Affairs Advisor

Baton Rouge Complex Refinery Manager Retired Vice President

for being named among the most influential people in the Greater Baton Rouge area

STEPHANIE CARGILE

REGINA DAVIS

DON DAIGLE

JERRY LEBOLD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT BASF GEISMAR

Jerry Lebold has become an active proponent of industry by serving on the boards of 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. He later transitioned to the chemical sector, managing operations at Monsanto, Solutia and Israel Chemicals. In 2012, he joined BASF 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 Germany.

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

CHIP LEE

PRESIDENT DELVAL FLOW CONTROLS

In the spring of 2003, Chip Lee’s stepfather, Len Bordelon, approached him about starting a valve manufacturing business together. He and his sister jumped at the opportunity and DelVal Flow Controls officially opened in September 2005 as a partnership between their family and another valve entrepreneur’s family in India. Under Chip Lee’s guidance, DelVal Flow Controls has evolved into a customer-centric organization that 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 degree in business administration, LSU

CHIP MCALPIN

PRESIDENT STUPP CORP.

Over the years, Chip McAlpin has facilitated significant growth at Stupp Corp. through the design and implementation of programs and initiatives in cost reduction, performance enhancement and long-term sustainability. Stupp’s mission is to support America’s goal of energy independence by responsibly producing high integrity pipes and services for the safe transportation of oil, gas and associated products. As part of the sixth generation to run family-owned Stupp Corp., McAlpin first earned a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University and then 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.

FUN FACT: Stupp Corp. has more than 150 years of continuous family ownership.

JOHNNY MILAZZO

OWNER

LARD OIL CO.

Johnny Milazzo is on a 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 handed out by ExxonMobil.

SCOTT MORRISON

EXECUTIVE CHAIR

JM TEST SYSTEMS

In January, Scott Morrison assumed a new role as executive chair of JM Test Systems, where he will support the company’s strategic and growth priorities. Under his previous position as CEO, Morrison ensured that JM Test Systems remained 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. The company guarantees its customers’ equipment remains compliant by providing expanded programs such as calibration and electrical safety on-site.

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

CHARLES E. “CHAS” ROEMER IV CEO

CHAS ROEMER INNOVATIONS

With a diversity of investment and development in projects that span from artificial intelligence to education to traditional banking to net-zero liquefied natural gas, Chas 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 a state-elected member on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He was named as one of 12 people to watch in 2012 by Business Report and also honored as a member of its Forty Under 40 class in 2001.

FUN FACT: Roemer graduated with honors from Harvard University in 1992 and was selected to give the Harvard Oration during graduation ceremonies.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He has served on numerous nonprofit boards and particularly enjoys his academic- and sports-related service in the area of education.

JILL SAVARD

CEO

SAVARD LABOR & MARINE

Jill Savard overcame numerous hurdles when she first opened Savard Labor and Marine back in 1998, not the least of which was being a female business owner serving predominantly male-dominated businesses. She overcame those initial obstacles to develop what has become a multimilliondollar company that continues to exceed expectations. She is also a leader in industry as 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.

EDUCATION: A native of Baton Rouge, Savard attended LSU.

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 department faculty at LSU from 1969 to 1998, where he rose through the ranks from assistant professor to the holder of the Freeport-McMoran endowed chair of economics. Additionally, Scott is co-developer of the Louisiana econometric model, used for providing annual forecasts of the Louisiana economy.

DISTINCTION: From 1983 to 1996, Scott chaired the economics department at LSU.

JONATHAN SHI DIRECTOR

LSU INDUSTRIAL

ASSESSMENT CENTER

Jonathan Shi is the guiding force at the Industrial Assessment Center at LSU. 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.

RECOGNITION: During an LSU baseball game versus Vanderbilt on April 4, 2024, Shi was recognized with the Worley Professor of Excellence Award.

JAY THOMPSON CEO SITECH

LOUISIANA

Under James “Jay” Thompson III’s leadership, SITECH was named as 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.

KATHY TRAHAN PRESIDENT AND CEO ALLIANCE SAFETY COUNCIL

Moving into the leadership position at Alliance Safety Council was a natural fit for Kathy Trahan in 2004. Prior to joining the council, she 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. While at Alliance Safety Council, 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 and has been awarded the Alden Andre PTEC Service Award for her contributions to workforce development projects.

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

GREG UPTON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LSU CENTER FOR ENERGY STUDIES

Greg Upton has contributed to more than 40 publications and presented research to more than 200 industry, governmental and academic audiences, including testifying in committees of both chambers of the Louisiana Legislature and a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives. He is regularly interviewed on live talk radio and other news outlets and has been quoted or cited more than 250 times in local and national media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and NPR. Additionally, he is the vice president of conferences for the U.S. Association for Energy Economics, a member of the University Advisory Board to the Center for Legislative Energy & Environmental Research and an appointee to the National Petroleum Council.

EDUCATION: Upton holds a Ph.D. in economics from LSU, where he also received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics.

RENEE AMAR

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

LOUISIANA MOTOR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION

Renee Amar’s name has become synonymous with the Louisiana trucking industry. For years, she has served as executive director of the state’s premier voice for trucking—the Louisiana Motor Transport Association. But her reach extends much further. She is also executive director of LMTA’s foundation, which focuses on education and research specific to the industry; manages TruckPAC, the association’s political action committee; and is the program director for the Louisiana Trucking Education and Research Council. Additionally, Amar serves on numerous boards representing the interests of the trucking industry. She also founded the nonprofit group Louisiana Women Lead in 2020 to recruit and train center-right women to run for office.

FUN FACT: Amar resides in Baton Rouge with her husband, Randy, and their three dogs, Reba, Marty and Winston.

IN THE COMMUNITY: She volunteers at her church and various animal welfare shelters in the area.

LAURIE LIPSEY ARONSON

CHAIR AND CEO

LIPSEY’S AND HASPEL

Laurie Lipsey Aronson is the third generation of her family to own and operate Lipsey’s and Haspel. Over the years, she has been an active leader in the community, serving on several national boards and having the distinction of becoming the first female chair of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers. She also serves on the council of the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. Over her career, Aronson has received numerous awards and distinctions, including LSU’s College of Human Sciences & Education Alumna of Distinction Award, University Laboratory School Foundation’s Hall of Distinction, Entrepreneur Organization’s Marshall Klein Award, Business Report’s Influential Women in Business and Forty Under 40, and InRegister’s Top 15 Rising Stars.

FUN FACT: Aronson has served as queen of the Krewe of Achilles and queen of the Karnival Krewe de Louisiane.

JOHN AUSTIN

PRESIDENT

BENGAL CRANE & RIGGING

John Austin has expanded his influence in the state’s logistics sector in recent years. In addition to being president of Bengal’s three companies—Bengal Transportation Services, Bengal Crane & Rigging and Bengal Logistics—Austin now serves on the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry. The influential statewide board represents major economic groups across Louisiana and oversees essential tax incentive programs. Founded in 1995, Bengal is a specialized carrier serving the continental U.S. and Canada.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I believe God is managing affairs and that he doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So, what is there to worry about?” –Henry Ford

MY BEST MANAGEMENT ADVICE: “Treating people the way you want to be treated and having a heart for our employees. I try to see everyone as an individual, making this company whole. Without them, there would be no Bengal.”

JACK BRABHAM

OWNER

PETERBILT OF LOUISIANA

As owner of Peterbilt of Louisiana, Jack Brabham has a long and storied history of leadership in the transportation, trucking and railroad industries. Over the years, Brabham has honed his skills in negotiation, operations management, customer service, sales and strategic planning, all grounded in his business administration degree from Delta State University. His company’s reach extends across south Louisiana, with locations in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Gray and New Orleans. It offers new and used heavyduty and medium-duty trucks and parts. Peterbilt has manufactured heavy-duty trucks since 1939.

MY BEST ADVICE: Always be truthful and honest, no matter how difficult it may be.

JULIE FISHER-CORMIER

COMMISSIONER

OFFICE OF MULTIMODAL COMMERCE, LOUISIANA DOTD

Julia Fisher-Cormier comes from a family of public servants. Prior to taking the position of commissioner at the Office of Multimodal Commerce, she served as chief commercial officer at Louisiana’s largest tonnage port, the Port of South Louisiana. She also served as a council member in St. Charles Parish from 2012 to 2024. During her time on the council, she gained insight into public-private partnerships. Fisher-Cormier was an effective leader on the council—during her tenure she served as council chair twice, executive board member for the Police Jury Association, vice chair of the Public Safety and Justice Committee for the National Association of County Officials, and as a board member on the Regional Planning Commission.

EDUCATION: She is a graduate of Hahnville High School and furthered her education at the University of New Orleans. She also recently completed Certified Louisiana Economic Developer curriculum, Leadership River Region, and the NACo Professional Development Leadership Academy.

JAY HARDMAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PORT OF GREATER BATON ROUGE

John G. “Jay” Hardman held several key staff positions at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge before being appointed as its executive director in November 2006. Today, Hardman is responsible for the port’s day-to-day management, with a focus on the port’s mission of supporting international and domestic commerce and facilitating economic development. During his tenure, Hardman has been responsible for the design and implementation of more than $45 million in infrastructure improvements to the port’s general cargo docks, road and rail, as well as enhancing port security measures and designing and developing new economic development projects. He has been involved in other improvements and rehabilitation projects at the port’s Inland Rivers Marine Terminal.

BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION: Originally from Covington, Hardman graduated from LSU in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

BRIAN HAYMON CEO LOADSTAR PRODUCT HANDLING SERVICES

Education is a passion for Brian Haymon. In addition to more than 30 years of experience in the product handling and site logistics business, he founded the LSU Honors College Advisory Council, which he still chairs, and in 2013 was one of the founding members of New Schools of Baton Rouge. A native of Baton Rouge, Haymon grew up in the public school system. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, he returned to Baton Rouge to earn his law degree at LSU. Today, Loadstar Product Handling Services 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.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: ChatGPT would say integrity. I would add intelligence, vision, energy, passion, resilience, empathy and selfawareness.

SCOTT KIRKPATRICK

LOBBYIST, K2 ADVOCACY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CAPITAL REGION INDUSTRY FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS

Scott Kirkpatrick wears many hats. While he’s 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 K2 Advocacy. Among other clients, Kirkpatrick represents the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana, American Traffic Solutions and Louisiana Notary Association. He also has a passion for community service—in January, Kirkpatrick was named as the new chair of the Baton Rouge General board of directors. He has served on the BRG board since 2019.

EDUCATION: Kilpatrick holds a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on government and religious studies from the University of Virginia. He received his law degree from LSU.

HUGH RAETZSCH JR. OWNER AND CEO LYONS

As a third-generation president and CEO of wholesale grocery distributor Lyons Specialty Co., Hugh Raetzsch Jr. is a visionary, of sorts, spending most of his time evaluating where the company stands, where he wants it to go and how to get it there. Raetzsch learned the business the old-fashioned way—by literally holding nearly every position in the company. He literally grew up in the business, working summers and holidays throughout high school and college. He was appointed president of the company in 1998, and then later became the majority owner and CEO. Under his leadership, the company’s facilities have grown to more than 110,000 square feet with approximately 15,000 square feet of office space and another 15,000 square feet of freezer/cooler space.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Stay patient and focused and enjoy the ride, it goes by very fast. PROFESSIONAL MOTTO: Work with the intensity and focus you expect your people to work with.

DREW TESSIER

SENIOR DIRECTOR –

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

UNION PACIFIC

Over the last two decades, Drew Tessier has represented Union Pacific in Louisiana, Arkansas and east Texas as special representative to the president, and later as director and senior director of public affairs. Along the way, he has established a strategic community presence by engaging and building relationships with key stakeholders and elected officials to protect the franchise and advance major projects. Tessier routinely meets with state and local government officials on policy matters and manages lobbyists in both Louisiana and Arkansas, reviewing key legislation and appearing and lobbying for Union Pacific.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Middle school basketball coach

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Rooster Cogburn

DREAM DINNER COMPANION: Alexander the Great. Not only did he conquer the known world, but he also built cities that still bear significance today.

LOUIS VIELEE

PRESIDENT

L&B HOLDINGS

Louis Vielee has always been a bit of an entrepreneur. Inspired by his parents’ strong work ethic in rural Mississippi, Vielee as a child would take old items and repurpose them into items for sale. In 1984, Vielee founded L & B Transport with an initial investment of $5,000 for one truck to service local gas stations with bulk fuel in Baton Rouge. Today, L & B Transport’s fleet has grown to approximately 385 trucks and over 1,000 tanker trailers. Vielee founded TMI Enterprise and Grand Paradise Casino in 1994 as an effort to transition his current trucking terminal into a full-service truck stop. Grand Paradise Truck Stop was founded with a full-service restaurant and a 50-seat video poker casino in Port Allen. After getting his start with one truck stop, he now owns six.

ON THE BOARD: Vielee serves as director of the Louisiana Video Gaming Association board.

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, who joined Brown Eagle in 1977 as controller, was promoted to president in 1989 and has served as CEO since 1990. She is a founding member of the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance and was the first woman on the board of directors. She has been a pillar of the Baton Rouge community and has earned an impressive list of accolades, including being inducted into Northwestern State University’s Hall of Distinction and being named one of the Capital Region’s Influential Women in Business by Business Report.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Wilkes has been a supporter and member of such organizations as Volunteers in Public Schools, Rotary, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Manship Theatre, and the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center,

JUSTIN ALFORD

CO-OWNER

BENNY’S CAR WASH

Justin Alford is a third-generation co-owner of Benny’s Car Wash, a family-run business that has been a Baton Rouge staple since 1951. He joined full time in 1989 after graduating from Catholic High School and has helped grow Benny’s into a regional powerhouse with nine locations. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its services to include gas stations, oil changes and convenience stores. A former president of the International Carwash Association, Alford helped pioneer the first express car wash in the U.S. through a partnership with Innovative Control Systems.

A FAMILY BUSINESS: Alford works alongside his father, Benny, and brother, Jason. His daughter, Helen, represents the fourth generation.

FUN FACT: The Plank Road location appeared in the 1982 film The Toy, starring Richard Pryor.

SCOTT BERG PRESIDENT

LEE MICHAELS

FINE JEWELRY

Scott Berg is one of three brothers leading Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, a family-owned luxury retail brand founded by his parents in 1978. After gaining experience at Zales and in New York’s jewelry industry, Berg returned to Baton Rouge to join the business as a diamond buyer. Today, he helps oversee 10 stores across four states and a staff of about 200. Berg holds an MBA from LSU and a graduate gemologist certification from the Gemological Institute of America.

MIKE HOLLINGSWORTH

PARTNER

HOLLINGSWORTH

RICHARDS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Mike Hollingsworth is a partner in Hollingsworth Richards Automotive Group, a company he helped grow after acquiring River City Ford in 1996. Hollingsworth Richards Ford was the first dealership in Louisiana to earn Blue Oval certification from Ford for excellence in customer satisfaction. The company has nearly 160 employees and is deeply involved in philanthropy. It has helped raise more than $4.6 million through events like the Bert Jones Golf Classic and the JDRF Gala.

RECOGNITION: Hollingsworth Richards Ford earned Ford’s 2022 President’s Award, a top honor for customer service.

DANIEL KENNEDY

OWNER AND CEO

PROSOURCE WHOLESALE FLOORING

Daniel Kennedy has led ProSource Wholesale Flooring since its founding in 1999, following a long career in the homebuilding industry that began in a warehouse. Today, his company includes four ProSource stores, a Carpet One, a granite fabrication business and a commercial division. Kennedy’s focus on customer service and product diversity has made ProSource a go-to for remodeling needs. He serves on the board of the Home Builders Association and is a platinum industry partner.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Rocky DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Park City, Utah

SUE ANNE KLEINPETER COX

PRESIDENT AND CEO

KLEINPETER DAIRY

Sue Anne Kleinpeter Cox leads Kleinpeter Dairy, one of Louisiana’s oldest family-run businesses. A fourth-generation leader, she stepped into the CEO role after serving 28 years as chief financial officer. Known for her financial acumen and deep understanding of the business, Cox has helped the company navigate industry shifts—including the challenges of school milk deliveries during the COVID 19 pandemic. Her leadership has earned her recognition as one of the region’s most influential women in business.

FAMILY LEGACY: Kleinpeter Dairy was founded in 1913 as an on-farm creamery.

FUN FACT: Cox has worked with the company for 47 years.

ERIC LANE

PRESIDENT

GERRY LANE ENTERPRISES

Eric Lane started at Gerry Lane Enterprises as a janitor at 15. By 21, he was selling cars— and never looked back. Now president and CEO, he has expanded the family business to include multiple dealerships across the Capital Region. Lane’s leadership recently earned him the 2024 Louisiana Dealer of the Year title, and he is also the Louisiana nominee for the 2025 Ally TIME Dealer of the Year award.

FUN FACT: Lane spent four years playing minor league baseball for the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians organizations.

MOTTO: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

FUN FACT: Berg’s hobby is boxing, and when he’s not in the boardroom he’s often in the ring.

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.

JAIME GLAS ODOM

FOUNDER & CEO

QUEEN OF SPARKLES

Jaime Glas Odom blends engineering smarts with entrepreneurial sparkle. The LSU alumna—who holds degrees in petroleum engineering and international trade and finance—launched Queen of Sparkles in 2021, transforming her love for bold, expressive fashion into a rapidly growing apparel brand. Known for its colorful sequins and gameday glam, Queen of Sparkles now holds licenses with 45 universities, the New Orleans Saints, and Professional Bull Riders Inc. The brand’s popularity soared thanks in part to a highprofile fan: LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey. Honored as Business Report’s 2024 Young Businessperson of the Year, Odom is now expanding internationally and setting her sights on dream deals with the NFL and NBA.

BIG NAMES: Coach Kim Mulkey often wears Queen of Sparkles during games.

DREAM DEAL: “I really want Disney. That’s like the ultimate deal.”

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, detailing what he calls “the most majestic machines on the planet.” He would go on to excel in eight different positions at the dealership, and 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 usually spending quality time with his wife and their three children.

ADVICE TO 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.

JENNI PETERS

OWNER

VARSITY SPORTS

Jenni Peters, a former U.S. Track & Field athlete and Olympic Marathon Trials competitor, turned her passion for running into a thriving business. She launched Varsity Sports in 2000 near the Perkins Road overpass, growing it into a beloved local chain with four locations. The stores, often set in repurposed houses, are known for their warm vibe, expert service and weekly group runs. Peters also taught marketing at LSU for 25 years and led marketing for LSU athletics.

FUN FACT: Peters was ranked among the world’s top 20 female track athletes by Track and Field News in 1988.

PIVOTAL MOMENT: She competed in her first race after friends lured her with a T-shirt and free beer.

PRESTON Q-PETERSEN

OWNER AND OPERATOR TEAM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Since 2008, Preston Q-Petersen has helped steer Team Automotive Group’s growth, including opening Team Honda of Acadiana in 2019. A former outdoors instructor, Petersen brings a customer-first approach to business. He was a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree and supports Baton Rouge Green through dealership initiatives. He earned his business degree from Texas Christian University.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: To be a professional race car driver.

FIRST JOB: Firewood service. “Take care of customers and they’ll come back.”

LAURA ROLAND

OWNER AND LICENSED INTERIOR DESIGNER FIRESIDE ANTIQUES/ LAURA ROLAND INTERIORS

Laura Roland blends classic European antiques with fresh, livable design through her dual businesses: Fireside Antiques and Laura Roland Interiors. After earning her degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she returned to Baton Rouge in 2010 to run the family business. She represents the third generation of women to lead Fireside and has collaborated with designers nationwide to help bring her visions to life.

RECOGNITION: She was a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2022.

SIGNATURE STYLE: Timeless spaces anchored by curated antiques

JERRELL THOMAS PRESIDENT WINDOW WORLD OF BATON ROUGE

As president of Window World of Baton Rouge, Jerrell Thomas oversees one of the national franchise’s best-performing locations. Under his leadership, Window World of Baton Rouge has grown into a $100 million operation and has landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies seven times. He began in outside sales in 2004 and rose to vice president of sales and marketing before becoming president. Thomas also leads locations in Lafayette and Lake Charles.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He serves on the board of Son of a Saint, mentoring young men.

FUN FACT: Thomas runs multiple Window World franchises across three states.

BRANDON TROSCLAIR

PRESIDENT RALPH’S MARKET

Brandon Trosclair owns and operates 13 grocery stores across Louisiana and Mississippi, including Ralph’s Market, Save A Lot, and Butcher Boy Groceries. A secondgeneration grocer, he stepped up when his family acquired Ralph’s in 2000. He’s also a licensed Save A Lot operator in the New Orleans area. Trosclair studied business at LSU and held internships in Washington, D.C., with the Republican National Committee and Heritage Foundation.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Horse racing, flying planes, karate, and travel.

FAVORITE FOOD: Jambalaya.

ADDIE ARMATO CEO

THE ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

For Addie Armato, working as CEO of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives is a lot like being at home. She was practically raised in the industry, as her father worked his entire life at a generation and transmission cooperative. Prior to joining ALEC, she worked as a member services representative at Pointe Coupee Electric Membership Corp. for eight years. Armato then 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. Just a few days after being appointed interim CEO in 2021, Armato received a baptism by fire as she had to assist the state’s cooperatives in responding to one of the worst hurricanes in Louisiana history as Hurricane Ida made landfall.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK: “Alone we are strong, together we are stronger.”

EDUARDO “ED” JIMENEZ

VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ENTERGY LOUISIANA

Entergy’s Eduardo “Ed” Jimenez has an undeniable passion for customer service. Over the years, he has served on the executive boards of the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association, the Friends of the Baton Rouge Zoo, the Council for A Better Louisiana, the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, One Acadiana, the Louisiana Business and Technology Center at LSU and the board of trustees of FranU. Since joining Entergy in 2011, Jimenez has devoted his attention to the development of revenue growth initiatives and goals that support the annual sales plan for Entergy Louisiana. Prior to his current role as vice president of business and economic development, he served as director of business development for LED.

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 30 years at Baton Rouge Water Company, Patrick Kerr has served in numerous roles including operations manager, vice president, chief operating officer, president and CEO. Kerr has served in several industry leadership positions, including as chair of the American Water Works Association’s Water Utility Council and as an active member of the Southwest Section of AWWA. In 2023-24, he served as president of AWWA and is currently past president. The AWWA is an international, nonprofit, scientific and educational society dedicated to providing total water solutions assuring the effective management of water.

MILITARY SERVICE: 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 U.S. Army Reserves.

RANDY PIERCE

CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER DEMCO

Randy Pierce has years of cumulative experience in the electric cooperative arena. He now uses his diverse experience to guide DEMCO to the next level of superior member growth and service, while promoting a well-trained workforce and culture of professional and ethical integrity. His experience with electric cooperatives spans across numerous disciplines, 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. In 2018, Pierce joined DEMCO as CEO and general manager.

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

HOBBY OR PASSION: His golf game can be compared to that of Tiger Woods (although not very closely) and he plays a mean electric guitar.

Congr ul

ions,Dougl

on being named to the Capital Region 500!

“As banking has gotten more complex and with more regulations, BSF stood out to me. They were easy to deal with. They are responsive, and the deal came together quickly and without a hitch.”

-Robby

Piper, The Storage Center

Jake Vascocu, Commercial Loan O cer, Robby Piper BSF customer, Douglas Dupont EVP/Market President

Banking & Finance

THOMAS ADAMEK

PRESIDENT

STONEHENGE CAPITAL

After co-founding Stonehenge Capital Company in 1999, Thomas Adamek today serves as president and board chair of the company, overseeing operations and fund management. In 2024, the company invested more than $170 million in growing companie and closed 21 deals. Adamek wields nearly 40 years of experience dealing with capital investing and corporate finance activities. Before Stonehenge, Adamek spent 16 years with Bank One Corporation—now JPMorgan Chase & Co.—and its affiliates. Outside of work, Amadek is heavily involved in the community, and has served on the boards of multiple local private companies, as well as the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Teach For America.

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

FUN FACT: He used to own a Vespa scooter.

ANDREW “ANDY” ADLER

PRESIDENT –

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA BANKPLUS

Andy Adler has more than 30 years of experience in the Capital Region banking industry. After working briefly with NationsBank in Dallas, Adler returned to the Baton Rouge market in 1992 to work at Regions Bank of Louisiana, formerly Guaranty Bank, as assistant vice president and commercial loan officer. He would later serve as executive vice president with State Bank until it was acquired by Mississippi-based BankPlus in 2020. He currently serves as a senior vice president and southwest Louisiana president for BankPlus. Outside of the bank, Adler holds memberships to both the Baton Rouge Country Club and City Club of Baton Rouge. He also has previously served on the boards of several local organizations, including the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Catholic High School Alumni Association and Family Services of Baton Rouge

FUN FACT: Adler is a previous king and president of the Mystic Krewe of Achilles.

PETE BUSH

CEO AND PARTNER

HORIZON FINANCIAL GROUP

Pete Bush got his start in the financial services industry in 1991 when he started his career at McMakin Financial. In 1999, Bush broke off with two others to start Horizon Financial Group, which has experienced remarkable growth since its inception. Over the years, it has grown from three initial partners in Baton Rouge to a team of 65 advisers spread across 14 states, and Bush helped grow the national adviser network from less than $1.8 million in revenue in 2011 to more than $27 million by 2024. Beyond his work as an adviser, he founded the Baton Rouge Uncorked event in 2007 and served on the board of the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation from 2015 to 2022

BEST ADVICE: From my days with Skip Bertman: “Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass.”

PUBLISHED: Pete Bush published the books The Runway Decade and The Challenges of Big League Money.

JOHN PAUL CASWELL

CEO AND CHIEF

INVESTMENT OFFICER

IRON HORSE FINANCIAL

John Paul Caswell began his career in the insurance industry at the age of 24 in Springfield, Missouri, with Torchmark Corp. The Missouri native pivoted to the financial services industry in 2013 when he joined Iron Horse Financial in Baton Rouge. Since coming on board, the organization has been listed among Business Report’s Top 100 Private Companies numerous times. As of 2023, the firm was managing approximately $2.5 billion in assets, and in 2020 contributed $3 million in beneficiary designations to two dozen local nonprofits. Caswell is active in the community, volunteering with the Cub Scouts and Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Leadership for Advanced Underwriting, American Cancer Society and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

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

HOBBY OR PASSION: Reading

BEN CAVIN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LANDMARK BANK

A banking industry veteran, Ben Cavin started his career at Regions Bank in Zachary before joining Landmark Bank in 2012. Over the years, he has risen through the ranks of the organization, eventually taking the helm as its leader in 2019. Today, Cavin is spearheading Landmark Bank’s expansion across the Capital Region as the organization’s president and CEO. Cavin, a 2022 Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree, previously served on Zachary’s city council and was named the Young Professional of the Year by his hometown chamber of commerce. Most recently, Cavin was named to the Lane Regional Medical Center board of commissioners.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Cavin has an eBay store, where he buys and sells sports cards and sportsrelated collectibles and memorabilia.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: As long as you don’t quit, it always gets better.

JOHN D’ANGELO

PRESIDENT AND CEO

INVESTAR BANK

John D’Angelo started Investar Bank in 2006 in a trailer and with less than $14 million in assets. Since then, he has led the bank as its president and CEO, as well as CEO and president of the bank’s holding company since 2013. D’Angelo is credited for leading the bank through its initial public offering in the summer of 2014, helping grow its assets to more than $2.3 billion and helping it solidify its place in the Capital Region as a trusted community bank. D’Angelo was honored by Business Report as its 2020 Businessperson of the Year. 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.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida

HOBBY: “I am a foodie. My hobby is experiencing restaurants and food throughout the U.S.”

DOUGLAS DUPONT

MARKET PRESIDENT

BANK OF ST. FRANCISVILLE

Douglas Dupont started his banking career in Baton Rouge with First National Bankers Bank, where he specialized in loan review and credit analysis. In 2015, he accepted the position of Monroe market president with First National Bank, which led him to relocate to north Louisiana for roughly three years. In 2018, he joined the Bank of St. Francisville as its vice president of commercial lending, and in 2020, returned to Baton Rouge to oversee the bank’s expansion into the city as Baton Rouge market president. The institution opened its first stand-alone bank in Baton Rouge in the fall of 2022. Dupont is a member of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge.

FIRST JOB: “Construction at 16 years old. Learned: I better keep my @@@ in school, because it was hard.”

PROFESSIONAL “AHA” MOMENT: Learning that I can deliver on promises made

SCOTT GAUDIN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

CURRENCY BANK

Scott Gaudin was named president and CEO of Currency Bank in 2024, succeeding Charles Chaisson. One of the bank’s founders, Gaudin previously served as chief lending officer and executive vice president for the organization, which maintains branches in Louisiana and Arkansas. Currency Bank is in a growth phase and has nearly tripled its assets since it was acquired by a group of Baton Rouge investors in 2021. In January, the bank moved its headquarters to Baton Rouge from north Louisiana. Gaudin has experience in leading organizations into new markets and previously managed Investar Bank’s West Baton Rouge market.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Gaudin has been a member of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge since 2019.

ON THE RADIO: Gaudin was featured on the 107.3 FM morning show, Mornings with Brian, in 2023 to discuss whether Baton Rouge would feel repercussions from the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

JERRY GOSS

PARTNER

GOSS WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Jerry Goss has been a force in the Baton Rouge financial services industry for more than four decades. In the early ‘80s, he founded Goss Wealth Management, a financial planning and investment management firm where today he serves as CEO and managing director of investments. Over the years, the company has been affiliated with some of the most prestigious names in financial planning, including A.G. Edwards & Sons, Wells Fargo and, most recently, LPL Financial—the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer. Outside of work, Goss has been an active member of the community, serving over the years with Capital Area United Way, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Golf DESTINATION OF CHOICE: The beach

JEFF JENKINS CO-FOUNDER

AND PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jeff Jenkins is a co-founder of Bernhard Capital Partners and has helped guide the company to invest in more than 65 servicesfocused companies across 19 platforms, including several utility companies that collectively employ more than 22,000 globally. In 2013, Jenkins teamed with Jim Bernhard to launch the services and infrastructure-focused private equity firm, which oversees more than $5 billion in gross assets under management. Outside of the office, Jenkins has served on the boards of Epic Piping, SE&C, RailWorks and Atlas Technical Consultants and has also volunteered with Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

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

PAST EXPERIENCE: Before co-founding Bernhard Capital Partners, Jenkins worked for the Shaw Group for a decade.

“I’m like one of those big friendly bears from an old Disney movie!”

PETE BUSH, CEO AND PARTNER, HORIZON FINANCIAL GROUP

KEVIN KNOBLOCH

MANAGING DIRECTOR

WELLS FARGO ADVISORS

Kevin Knobloch wields decades of experience in the Baton Rouge-area financial advisory sector. Knobloch, who began his career more than 25 years ago, has been recognized among the “Top 100 Financial Advisors” in the nation and as the “No. 1 Financial Advisor in Louisiana,” by Barron’s. Before joining Wells Fargo Advisors, he served as a managing director for JPMorgan Chase Bank. In the community, he has served on boards for several organizations, including 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

GIVING BACK: The Kevin and Debbie Knobloch Scholarship is awarded through LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business.

JEFF KOONCE PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jeff Koonce initially joined Bernhard Capital Partners as general counsel in 2015 and was promoted to managing director in 2018, and partner in 2021. In his current role, he serves as a member of Bernhard Capital’s investment and portfolio committees and is involved in all aspects of the firm’s investment activities. Koonce has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, as well as Louisiana Super Lawyers, and was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in tax law by Best Lawyers in America. The LSU alum has been involved in numerous community organizations, including serving on the board of directors for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

FAVORITE LOCAL MEAL: Gino’s Veal Sorrentina (with Laurence bread) DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Lake St. John. I love to ski.

WHITNEY LANASA

SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR

STONEHENGE CAPITAL

Since joining Stonehenge Capital in 2005, Whitney Lanasa has risen through the ranks of the organization and is a major behindthe-scenes player in the economic growth in markets where Stonehenge operates. The team she oversees has invested more than $8 billion in projects generating federal and state incentives. She works with historic tax credits, as well as tax credits associated with renewable energy, low-income housing and the film industry. Lanasa, a 2020 Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree, is involved with a handful of organizations across the community, including the Louisiana Historic Tax Credit Coalition, Louisiana Workforce Housing Coalition, and Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy.

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

CHILDHOOD DREAM: “Lawyer, always”

GARY LITTLEFIELD

BATON ROUGE MARKET

PRESIDENT

GULF COAST BANK & TRUST

For nearly 20 years, Gary Littlefield has led Gulf Coast Bank & Trust operations in Baton Rouge as its market president. With more than 40 years in the banking industry, he specializes in owner-occupied commercial real estate, investment real estate, SBA loans, equipment loans, mortgage loans, construction loans and tenant build-outs. He has also remained active in several professional and community organizations. He has been a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge since 1994 and previously served on the boards of the Louisiana Bankers Association, A.C. Lewis YMCA, Red Cross, the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, the Louisiana Real Estate Commission Appraisers Board and is a former member of the City Club of Baton Rouge’s board of governors.

PROUD MOMENT: “My year as chair of the Louisiana Bankers Association”

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

WALLY MCMAKIN

REGISTERED PRINCIPAL

ALTUS FINANCIAL

Wally McMakin is a prominent Baton Rouge wealth manager whose influence extends outside the corporate world and into local baseball dugouts. A former third-baseman for the LSU Tigers, McMakin is credited for being a powerful behind-the-scenes influence in helping the school hire two of the baseball program’s most successful head coaches— Skip Bertman and Paul Mainieri—helping the program develop into a perrenial national championship contender. He has also served as a mentor and provided jobs to numerous former LSU athletes who got into financial management after graduation, including Jesse Daigle, Mickey Guidry and Patrick Coogan. He was honored with the LSU School of Kinesiology Alumnus of Distinction Award in 2016.

POWER COUPLE: McMakin is married to former WBRZ-TV anchor Andrea Clessi.

WALK-UP SONG: “Let’s Stay Together,” by Al Green

GINGER LAURENT

CEO

LOUISIANA BANKERS ASSOCIATION

Ginger Laurent celebrated 25 years working with the Louisiana Bankers Association this year. The banking industry veteran served as the organization’s chief operating officer for 14 years before being tapped to serve as CEO in 2022. Laurent, a 2022 Business Report Influential Women in Business honoree, is the first woman elected to lead the organization in its 122-year history. LBA advocates for Louisiana’s banking industry on both a state and federal level and offers hundreds of training opportunities each year to local bankers. She remains active in the community and has worked with the Louisiana Bankers Service Corporation, Bankers Benefits of Louisiana and the Louisiana Bankers Education Foundation. Along with three friends, she co-founded the Pointe Coupee Parish Young Leaders Program in 2001.

FAVORITE BOOK: To Kill A Mockingbird HOBBY OR PASSION: Exploring Louisiana’s back roads

JUDE MELVILLE

CHAIR AND CEO

B1BANK

Jude Melville has led b1Bank as its CEO since 2005 and is credited for leading the institution through a significant period of growth. Under his leadership, the bank has expanded its footprint across both Louisiana and Texas with several strategic acquisitions and launched a foundation. Melville, a U.S. military veteran, oversaw the institution’s rebranding from Business First Bank to b1Bank, as well as the bank’s transition to being a publicly listed company. In 2022, b1Bank was named Company of the Year by Business Report. Away from the bank, Melville has been involved with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, the Committee of 100 and the Baton Rouge Downtown Development District

WALK-UP SONG: “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” by Waylon Jennings

BOOK RECOMMENDATION: War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy

DAVID MULLENS

SENIOR VP AND REGIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKING

MANAGER

CAPITAL ONE BANK

David Mullens plays a significant role in the Louisiana banking industry as a long-standing leader of the region’s largest financial institution, Capital One Bank. Mullens has overseen Capital One’s operations and strategy within the state as the market president since spring 2023. Before assuming leadership for the whole state, Mullens oversaw operations in the Capital Region. In addition to his work in banking, Mullens is an influential community figure and led the Baton Rouge Area Chamber board of directors as its chair for two years while the organization searched for a new CEO. Over the years, he has been involved with The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Leadership Program and the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Hunting and riding dirt bikes

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Clint Eastwood

BREAUX NADER

SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISER

LONGBRIDGE WEALTH

MANAGEMENT OF WELLS

FARGO ADVISORS

Breaux Nader has worked in the financial planning industry in the Capital Region for two decades managing investment portfolios and providing planning for individuals, trusts and nonprofits. He has been recognized by Forbes as a best-in-state wealth adviser nearly every year since 2018. In addition to his individual Forbes recognition, Breaux and his partner, Brandon Hurley, were named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management team in 2023 and 2025. He was also recognized by Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as a Platinum Council Member from 2011 to 2022, a distinction held by a select group of advisers within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. Before becoming a financial adviser, he led the northeast Louisiana chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

THEME SONG: “Living on a Prayer,” by Bon Jovi FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Breakfast at Frank’s on Airline Highway

CHAD OLIVIER

PRESIDENT OLIVIER GROUP

Chad Olivier has been working in the Capital Region financial services industry for more than 25 years. Originally a stockbroker, he pivoted to financial advising to focus more on building relationships with clients. Today, Olivier owns Baton Rouge-based wealth management firm Olivier Group. Olivier’s professional involvement extends past the office to his membership in the Baton Rouge Financial Planning Association and the Baton Rouge Estate and Planning Council. He contributes as a writer for the Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association and also hosts Money Talks on the local Fox and NBC affiliates’ broadcast stations.

HOBBY OR PASSION: “I have four boys and I love playing tennis with them or coaching any of their sports.”

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

ROB POWELL

PARTNER

CARDINAL CAPITAL

A Baton Rouge native, Rob Powell garnered experience at a variety of companies, including Walt Disney, a casino group in Minnesota and Rainforest Cafe, before moving back to Louisiana in 2012. After returning home, he and two partners co-founded Cardinal Capital, a commercial finance and brokerage consulting firm with lending institutions and businesses across the nation. Since its inception in 2015, the firm has helped place more than $100 million in capital with clients. Powell is active in the community and was a 2020 graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Baton Rouge class. Powell serves as an instructor at the University of Arkansas, where he teaches hospitality marketing and management.

MENTOR: “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.”

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Bradley Cooper

RICHARD PREIS

FINANCIAL ADVISER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

RAYMOND JAMES

Richard Preis has been a force in the Baton Rouge financial industry for 50 years, wielding decades of experience as both a financial adviser and real estate developer. After starting his career at Merrill Lynch in 1974, Preis is now a managing director and senior vice president at Raymond James. Aside from financial advising, Preis is also a notable local developer. Among Preis’ most notable projects are 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.

FIRST JOB: “My first job was with City National Bank here in Baton Rouge as a financial trainee.” BEST ADVICE: “Head down, mouth shut is my favorite saying.”

JIM PURGERSON

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

CITIZENS BANK & TRUST

Jim Purgerson joined the banking industry as a loan officer and worked his way up the ranks, taking the helm as executive vice president of Citizens Bank & Trust. He now leads a team of commercial lenders and has helped grow the bank’s loan portfolio to more than $300 million. Outside of the office, Purgerson remains an active member of the community and was named a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2003. He is a member of the Louisiana Bankers Association, CCA of Louisiana, and the Council for A Better Louisiana. He has also served on the board of Baton Rouge General, as well as on the board of his own bank.

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

STRATEGY FOR STAYING AHEAD OF INDUSTRY DISRUPTIONS: “Read frequently; listen to podcasts; keep informed through collaboration with peers in the banking industry.”

HEATHER ROEMER

CHIEF OF STAFF

B1BANK | PRESIDENT B1 FOUNDATION

After working in the human resources sector for a decade, Heather Roemer joined the b1Bank team in 2009 and has held a handful of positions in the years since. She is credited for helping with several of the bank’s merger and acquisition transactions as well as playing a key role in laying the groundwork for the bank to go public. She now serves as chief of staff for the bank as well as president of the newly formed B1 Foundation, where she strives to provide education and economic development support to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

PROFESSIONAL ‘AHA’ MOMENT: “While I was pregnant, my boss floated the idea of our bank starting a foundation and me leading it. … I realized this could be exactly the new challenge I was looking for.”

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

TODD SCHEXNAYDER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FIDELITY BANK

Following his retirement, Todd Schexnayder has remained an active member in the financial community, having served on the Fidelity Bank board of directors since November 2021. Before serving as Fidelity’s senior vice president and human resources director, Schexnayder was senior vice president for human resources at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. During his tenure at BCBS, the company was named one of Business Report’s Best Places to Work. Today, Schexnayder remains involved with several local organizations across the Capital Region. He works with the board of trustees for Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Volunteers of America and the LSU Foundation’s advisory board. He was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction in 2021.

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

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

JERRY VASCOCU

PRESIDENT

B1BANK

Jerry Vascocu remains an influential member of the Capital Region banking community through his position at b1Bank and his community service endeavors. Vascocu, who joined b1Bank in 2022 as chief administrative officer, currently serves as the bank’s president, overseeing the coordination of banking, operations, risk and credit functions. Wielding 30 years of varied banking experience, he is credited with helping develop new products and introducing new technology to the organization. Vascocu has served in board leadership roles across Louisiana, most recently for One Acadiana, Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital and its foundation, and UL Lafayette’s College of Business and athletic foundation.

ACADIANA TIES: Vascocu used to live in Lafayette.

EARLY CAREER: Vascocu’s first career-related job was with AmSouth Bank in Birmingham, Alabama.

JANE VERRET

CEO AND PRESIDENT

CAMPUS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Jane Verret is an influential force in the Capital Region banking and finance industry with more than three decades of experience at Campus Federal Credit Union. A previous Business Report Influential Women in Business honoree, Verret took the helm as CEO and president of Campus Federal Credit Union in 2019 after serving as the organization’s 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.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE FOR OTHERS: “Be true to yourself and your core values. Never compromise your integrity for short-term gain. Consistency, honesty and staying grounded in your principles will ultimately lead to long-term success.”

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: “Resilience. Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart.”

DAVID THOMPSON

CAPITAL REGION PRESIDENT

RED RIVER BANK

David Thompson has served as a leader in the Capital Region banking industry for decades, working with such financial institutions as Red River Bank, Iberia Bank and Regions Bank. Since 2015, Thompson has led Red River Bank’s Capital Region properties as area president. He also previously oversaw Iberia Bank’s commercial and business banking teams in the Baton Rouge market. Outside of the office, Thompson remains active through community service and has worked with 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.

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

FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER: Michael Corleone from The Godfather

STEVEN E. WEBB CEO

NEIGHBORS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Steven Webb’s experience leading credit unions has made him an influential force in the local banking industry. Webb took the helm as CEO for Neighbors Federal Credit Union in 2015 after serving as the organization’s operations officer for nearly a decade, overseeing business, lending and mortgage services and managing all operational processes. Webb is credited for leading Neighbors as it expanded across the region to 10 branches and for developing and launching its indirect lending program, member business lending and the lending call center. Outside of the office, Webb works with the Louisiana Credit Union League and the Baton Rouge Advocacy Center.

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

Representation: Webb carried the Louisiana flag at the 2024 Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., one of the largest credit union advocacy events of the year.

CARLOS ALVAREZ

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

ALVAREZ CONSTRUCTION

Carlos Alvarez co-founded Alvarez Construction with his late father, Jairo, in 1991, helping create one of Louisiana’s largest production homebuilders. As CEO, Alvarez stays hands-on—from land acquisition to handing over keys. The company has developments across four parishes, including new projects such as Oak Colony and Dawson Bluff in East Baton Rouge, Deer Trail in St. Tammany, and South Haven and South Creek in Livingston Parish.

FAMILY BUSINESS: Alvarez leads the company alongside siblings Ana Alvarez-Tanner (CFO) and Sebastian Alvarez (COO).

GIVING BACK: Since 1999, Alvarez Construction has donated a home annually for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, raising over $20 million.

SCOTT BARDWELL

OWNER AND PRESIDENT

BARDWELL HOMES

After a stint in real estate investment banking, Scott Bardwell returned to Baton Rouge in 1999 to join the homebuilding company founded by his grandfather in 1946. Today, Bardwell Homes is known for creating thoughtfully designed residential communities such as The Lakes at Harveston and Inniswylde. Bardwell, himself, is deeply involved in both business and the community, serving on local boards and staying active in his church and alma mater, The Dunham School.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Tombstone

DREAM DESTINATION: The mountains in summertime

BARRET BLONDEAU

FOUNDER AND CEO

FALAYA

Barret Blondeau launched Falaya to modernize real estate transactions and give homeowners more control. The platform offers flat-fee listings and tech-driven tools for efficient, costeffective sales. A Louisiana native, Blondeau named the company after the Atchafalaya River—symbolizing a smoother path through real estate. Since its launch, Falaya has sold over 210 properties worth a combined $50 million, saving users around $1.5 million in commissions.

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: “Good things take time.”

EDUCATION: LSU—Marketing (B.S.) and Finance (MBA)

TERRELL “TEE” BROWN

PRESIDENT

GMFS MORTGAGE

Terrell “Tee” Brown co-founded GMFS Mortgage in 1999 and helped grow it into a regional powerhouse. The company has funded over $30 billion in home loans for more than 160,000 customers. Under Brown’s leadership, GMFS now employs about 250 people and supports causes like Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, donating more than $104,000.

RECOGNITION: Brown was named a “Game Changer” by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

RECENT MOVE: GMFS recently struck a deal to buy back its business from Ready Capital Corp.

KRISTINA CUSICK

PRESIDENT

GREATER BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

Kristina Cusick, broker/owner of Town & Parish Realty, has been helping buyers and sellers across the Capital Region since 2004. Cusick, who is now the president of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, is well known for her hands-on, client-first approach. A Florida native who moved to Baton Rouge at the age of 12, she now calls Ascension Parish home.

A FAVORITE HANGOUT: Burgersmith

SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE: Organization. “Maybe it’s the mama in me.”

QUITA CUTRER

REAL ESTATE AGENT BURNS & CO.

With more than four decades in the business, Quita Cutrer is a fixture in Baton Rouge real estate. A top producer at Burns & Co., she specializes in high-end homes and consistently ranks among the area’s top residential agents. Her market savvy and long-term client relationships have kept her in high demand and her perspective of the local housing market is regularly sought by area publications.

A BIG YEAR: Cutrer was involved in three of the top 10 Baton Rouge home sales of 2023.

FUN FACT: She has sold the same Highland Road estate, once owned by Nick Saban, four times since 2005.

JERRY DEL RIO

BROKER/OWNER

DEL RIO REAL ESTATE INC.

Jerry del Rio made the leap from psychiatric nursing to real estate more than 30 years ago—and has never looked back. Inspired by a neighbor’s relocation business, she discovered a passion for helping families find their place in Baton Rouge. Today, her multimillion-dollar real estate firm includes a team of 10 agents focused on smooth, personalized service. Considered a local industry expert, del Rio’s opinion is regularly sought by area publications in covering the local real estate market, and the homes she represents are often included in roundups of the area’s most expensive deals.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Unsweetened iced tea

TONYA TOUPS GAUTREAU

CEO

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY, FIRST CHOICE

Tonya Toups Gautreau became CEO of Keller Williams Realty, First Choice in 2015, following nine years as an agent. Since taking the helm, she has grown the company’s market share and profits. Her leadership extends into training, professional development and community outreach. She also serves on the board of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors.

FAVORITE DRINK: Hot tea with lemon and honey

EARLY ENTREPRENEUR: She began selling Avon door-to-door at age 12

CHARLES WALLACE

“WINDY” GLADNEY JR.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

Windy Gladney has been instrumental in shaping Baton Rouge development for more than 40 years. His projects include the Greens at Millerville, Cheval Trails in Zachary, and Woodstock Park off Nicholson Drive. Though Buc-ee’s backed out of the Millerville site, Gladney sold the final acreage to Stoa Group, which built The Waters at Millerville apartments.

FUN FACT: Two of his major developments— Woodstock Park and Cheval Trails—are Alvarez Construction communities.

MARK HEBERT

PRINCIPAL

KURZ & HEBERT

COMMERCIAL

REAL ESTATE

Mark Hebert co-founded Kurz & Hebert in 1986 and has since become a go-to expert in commercial real estate across Louisiana. Known for marketing distinctive properties, he played a key role in bringing Costco to Baton Rouge. The firm manages over 2.2 million square feet of commercial space and offers leasing, development, and consulting services.

RECOGNITION: Hebert was a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 1995.

KENNY HODGES PRESIDENT AND CEO ASSURANCE FINANCIAL

GROUP

Kenny Hodges founded Assurance Financial in 2001 with a mission to do mortgage lending differently—by building a supportdriven team culture. The company has since grown to 23 branches across 44 states and earned honors from National Mortgage News as one of the best mortgage companies to work for. A past president of the Louisiana Mortgage Lenders Association, Hodges is also on the advisory board at Louisiana Tech University.

GIVING BACK: Assurance Financial has raised more than $600,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since 2018.

DONNIE JARREAU JR.

PARTNER

JARREAU REAL ESTATE

Donnie Jarreau has spent more than three decades shaping Baton Rouge’s business and real estate landscape. He began his real estate career at Latter & Blum in 1989, but soon pivoted to entrepreneurship—co-founding Spectrum Fitness in 1992 and growing it to nine locations before selling the last one in 2009. That year, he turned his full attention to real estate, building a successful portfolio before launching Regymen Fitness in 2017. In 2020, he rebranded his real estate company as Jarreau Real Estate and expanded operations with JRE Property Management and JRE Private Equity. His firm now manages about 1.3 million square feet across 30 properties and oversees a $200 million retail real estate portfolio.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Jarreau is active with the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition, Options Foundation, and Kids Hope.

FUN FACT: He is a father of six and coaches his children in various sports.

ANTHONY KIMBLE

FOUNDER AND CEO

KIMBLE PROPERTIES

Anthony Kimble is leading a new wave of revitalization in Baton Rouge. A former PR and marketing professional, he returned home in 2013 and followed his parents’ path into real estate. Since then, Kimble has made a name for himself through transformative urban redevelopment projects. His company, Kimble Properties, focuses on affordable housing and commercial investments, with over $30 million in projects completed. Notable efforts include the restoration of the Hotel Lincoln and Lincoln Theater, as well as the acquisition of 13 inner-city properties for long-term rental. Kimble’s impact extends beyond real estate. He co-founded the Glen Davis Foundation and opened a reading center at Carver Library. He was named a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2021.

FUN FACT: Kimble played football at Stanford University.

SPEAKER: He delivered a TEDx talk on real estate and group economics.

MATHEW LABORDE

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ELIFIN REALTY

Matthew Laborde launched his commercial real estate career at 19 and hasn’t looked back. After becoming a top producer at several firms, he founded Elifin Realty in 2016. Today, the company leads the Baton Rouge market in commercial transactions. Elifin was named Business Report’s 2023 Company of the Year (less than 100 employees) and earned BRAC’s 2020 Business Growth Award after tripling its staff. Laborde has brokered deals across retail, industrial, multifamily, and land sectors and serves on the board of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors.

FUN FACT: Laborde earned the elite CCIM designation at 23—one of the youngest in the world to do so.

HIGH ACHIEVER: He was Beau Box’s top producer in 2015.

NORISHA KIRTS GLOVER OWNER

NRK CONSTRUCTION

Norisha Kirts Glover took an unconventional route to construction. After a successful 12-year career in fundraising across the country, she returned to Louisiana to work at the LSU Foundation. In 2015, she pivoted to commercial construction, founding NRK Construction. Since then, she has led high-profile local projects including Brownfields Elementary, Cypress at Pinchback, Providence Place, Gov’t Taco, and Counterspace Bakery. Her influence in business and workforce development has earned her spots on several boards and commissions. Glover’s accolades include Business Report’s Influential Women in Business (2020) and Forty Under 40 (2014).

IN THE COMMUNITY: Glover is a former president of the Junior League of Baton Rouge and a board member of Currency Bank, OLOL Foundation, and Montessori School of Baton Rouge.

FUN FACT: She is passionate about mentoring women and minority entrepreneurs.

KARL LANDRENEAU

DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL SALES AND LEASING NAI LATTER & BLUM

Karl Landreneau has spent more than three decades helping shape Louisiana’s commercial real estate landscape. As director of commercial sales and leasing at NAI Latter & Blum, now under Compass Real Estate, he oversees five offices and 120 brokers statewide. Landreneau has held nearly every leadership position in the industry, including 2014 president of the CCIM Institute and interim CEO in 2021. He continues to serve on CCIM’s national board and is a respected voice in the commercial real estate community.

EDUCATION: UL Lafayette

RECOGNITION: He is a recipient of the CCIM Susan B. Groeneveld Award

GEORGE KURZ

CO-OWNER

KURZ & HEBERT

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

A fixture in Baton Rouge real estate, George Kurz co-founded Kurz & Hebert in 1986 and has been instrumental in some of the Capital Region’s most high-profile commercial deals. The firm’s client list includes Mockler Beverage, Baton Rouge General, The Advocate, and Louisiana Farm Bureau, with landmark projects like the early development of Towne Center. Kurz is known for helping clients identify strategic locations for growth and for navigating complex transactions with a personal touch. He has served on boards for organizations, including St. James Place, several local banks, the Growth Coalition and BRAC. Kurz was also a long-standing member of the East Baton Rouge Zoning Review Committee.

HOBBY OR PASSION: An avid duck hunter, Kurz enjoys spending time outdoors and with his family. LEGACY ROLE: He has played a key role in shaping Baton Rouge’s commercial corridor for more than four decades.

CHARLES LANDRY

PARTNER

FISHMAN HAYGOOD

Known as the “Godfather of Growth,” attorney Charles Landry has helped shape major developments across Baton Rouge. His legal work spans mixed-use, industrial and residential projects like Americana in Zachary and Rouzan in Southdowns. Landry chaired the East Baton Rouge Zoning Advisory Committee and contributed to drafting zoning laws across the region. He has also played an instrumental role in transformative developments like the Water Campus and Memorial Park. Beyond law, he’s active in philanthropy and governance, serving on such boards as the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and LSU Foundation.

FUN FACT: Landry co-edited The Foreign Investor’s Guide to Doing Business in Louisiana

RECOGNITION: He was Business Report’s 2006 Businessperson of the Year.

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Ivy Adams Loan Officer Asst.

Sarah Quintana Processor

John Patton

Toby Arceneaux

Halen Cox

Caden Turner

Nichelle Vicknair

Transaction Coordinator

Isaiah Arceneaux

Officer Asst.

Brent Barnett

Dawn Talbot Processor

Amy Decell Processor Sarah Delaney Processor

Aaron Taravella

Shelby Magee Processor

Mark Griffin

Troy Schroeder

Lainey Franklin

Officer Asst.

Alisa Eaton

Laura Tubbe Loan Transaction Coordinator

Clayton Wood

Charmayne Brown Processor

STEVE LEGENDRE

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT/ BATON ROUGE MARKET

DIRECTOR

STIRLING PROPERTIES

Steve Legendre brings nearly 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, with a focus on industrial, office, land, and investment properties. Before joining Stirling Properties, he co-founded SVN | Graham, Langlois & Legendre. Legendre earned his CCIM designation in 2001 and has led multiple industry boards, including GBRAR’s commercial investment division and the Louisiana Commercial Database. He is also engaged in community growth through Project 70805, a nonprofit focused on north Baton Rouge.

EDUCATION: University of New Orleans

RECOGNITION: He earned the 2024 NAR National Commercial Award.

GARRY LEWIS

LIVINGSTON PARISH DEVELOPER

Garry Lewis, founder of Garry Lewis Properties, helped transform Livingston Parish from rural farmland into a growing residential and commercial hub. Originally from Missouri, Lewis moved to Louisiana and began acquiring property around Satsuma, eventually owning thousands of acres. His developments include Suma Crossing Shopping Center and Suma Lake Townhomes. He also donated 242 acres for the planned Livingston Parish airport and launched Southshire, the area’s first mixeduse community.

FUN FACT: Lewis grew up on a farm in Lilburn, Missouri.

CAROLYN MARTIN

PRESIDENT & CEO

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

REALTY TRUST

Carolyn Martin leads Commercial Properties Realty Trust, a Baton Rougebased real estate investment trust with a national footprint. She joined the company more than 30 years ago as CFO and later became CEO, guiding CPRT through major developments across the Southeast. Under her leadership, CPRT has completed highprofile projects like the Water Campus and IBM Services Center in Baton Rouge, and 5401 North in Raleigh, North Carolina.

IN ADDITION: Martin oversees Acadian Village, 525 Lafayette, and numerous mixed-use developments.

EARLIER DAYS: She is a former commercial finance attorney.

DUANE MIZELL

OWNER AND CEO

STUART & COMPANY

GENERAL CONTRACTORS

Duane Mizell joined Stuart & Company during its startup phase while still a student at LSU. Nearly two decades later, he’s now co-owner and CEO. Mizell oversees project management and operations, emphasizing transparency and lasting client partnerships. He has been instrumental in growing the company’s footprint in commercial construction. Outside of work, Mizell is an active member of St. George Catholic Church and serves as treasurer for the Louisiana Association of General Contractors.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Mizell enjoys coaching his two sons’ sports teams.

RECOGNITION: He was a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree in 2018.

D. WESLEY MOORE

PARTNER

COOK, MOORE, DAVENPORT & ASSOCIATES

With over 35 years of experience, D. Wesley Moore is a seasoned real estate appraiser and consultant. As a partner at Cook, Moore, Davenport & Associates, he specializes in commercial, industrial and multifamily valuations. He holds numerous industry designations—including CRE, MAI, CCIM and ASA—and is a licensed broker and certified appraiser in Louisiana and Mississippi. Moore has also taught real estate finance and valuation at LSU for over a decade.

FUN FACT: Moore holds advanced belts in taekwondo and jujitsu.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: A European river cruise

RUSSELL MOSELY

FOUNDER AND DEVELOPER LONG FARM VILLAGE

Real estate developer and attorney Russell Mosely is the visionary behind Long Farm Village, a 237-acre traditional neighborhood development in Baton Rouge that blends housing, retail, office space and restaurants. A former law clerk and attorney, Mosely also owns Mosely Law Firm. He’s deeply engaged in the civic space, having served on boards including the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition, Louisiana National Guard Foundation and the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

FUN FACT: Long Farm Village sits on land once used by Mosely’s grandfather, Sen. Russell Long, for family gatherings.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He has held leadership roles with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

BRANON PESNELL

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF INVESTMENTS

MARCUS & MILLICHAP

Branon Pesnell has brokered over 15 million square feet of commercial space over his 23-year career. Now at Marcus & Millichap, he specializes in office and industrial transactions and consistently averages over $23 million in annual volume. He began his career in Baton Rouge and helped launch the property management division at Beau Box Commercial Real Estate. His resume includes roles at NAI Latter & Blum, Transwestern, and Corporate Realty.

BIG-TIME DEAL: Pesnell co-brokered the 2024 sale of a 48,000-square-foot industrial building to Cornerstone Flooring Companies.

LEADERSHIP: Pesnell is a past president of the Louisiana chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.

RANDY ROUSSEL PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

Attorney Randy Roussel brings decades of experience in real estate, finance and banking law to Phelps Dunbar. A former CPA and federal law clerk, he has represented such major clients as Hancock Whitney, Carmouche Construction and Wampold Companies. Roussel advises on financing, acquisitions and development across sectors, including hospitality and multifamily. He also gives back through civic service, volunteering for organizations like the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and Center for Planning Excellence.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Photography

DREAM DINNER COMPANIONS: Lucas Spielfogel and Elon Musk—for conversations on education and innovation

CALVERT STONE

OWNER AND PRINCIPAL COMMERCE TITLE & ABSTRACT

Calvert Stone got his start in real estate at the age of 14, working a summer job at a local tax assessor’s office. That early experience led to a career in title insurance and real estate law. Today, he is managing partner of Commerce Title & Abstract, where he’s also a licensed title agent and attorney. Stone previously served as general counsel for a regional developer and has experience in oil and gas title work.

SIDE PROJECT: Stone hosts the “Rousing Housing” podcast, which features local real estate experts.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Cooking, gardening and researching historic homes.

SAUN SULLIVAN CEO,

DSLD HOMES

Saun Sullivan is the driving force behind DSLD Homes, one of Louisiana’s top homebuilders. After selling his previous company to D.R. Horton in 2006, he launched DSLD in 2008. The company started with 51 homes its first year and quickly scaled. By 2013, DSLD was delivering more than 1,100 homes annually—a 60% increase in just two years. It’s now considered one of the fastestgrowing builders in the country and was named a Company of the Year by Business Report in 2019.

FUN FACT: DSLD generates more than $1.4 million in revenue per employee annually.

EARLY YEARS: Sullivan got his start working for Denham Springs builder Allen Thomason.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with—choose wisely. Not all the people who will party with you will starve with you.

SETH IRBY CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER & SVP, LWCC

TODD WAGUESPACK

MANAGING PARTNER LEVEL HOMES

Todd Waguespack co-founded Level Homes in 2000 and has been CEO since 2005. He started his career in commercial leasing but found his calling in homebuilding. Under his leadership, Level Homes has expanded beyond Baton Rouge to North and South Carolina, offering homes from $169,900 to $600,000. The company has developed popular communities like Nicholson Lakes and Arlington Trace and was named one of Builder Magazine’s “Next 100 Fastest Growing Builders.”

RECOGNITION: Waguespack was Business Report’s Young Businessperson of the Year for 2014 and was named a 40 Under 40 by Pro Builder.

FUN FACT: Level Homes builds in 18 Louisiana communities across six parishes.

Kenny Hodges Founder & CEO

LAMONT COLE

SUPERINTENDENT

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOLS

When the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board unanimously approved LaMont Cole to serve as its new superintendent last summer, the city breathed a collective sigh of relief. The appointment came on the heels of a fraught search process in which a fractured school board found little common ground. On a mission to restore faith in the system and close its achievement gaps through data analysis, the former Metro Council member calls the post “the most important work of my lifetime.” He has wasted no time getting to work, setting a goal for the system to earn a “B” rating under Louisiana’s accountability system, focusing on improving literacy and math proficiency, strengthening graduation rates and closing achievement gaps for at-risk students.

PERSONAL MANTRA: “There are only two times in life when one must commit him/herself to any level of significant success when working to serve people: when you feel like it and when you don’t.”

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.

MOTTO: It will all be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY IN A LEADER: Humility. We all make mistakes, and we need to operate in a spirit of vulnerability to inspire others to feel safe to grow in our presence.

JOHN FLAKE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT

LSU OFFICE OF RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Born and raised in Louisiana, Flake received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Louisiana Tech University and his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech. His research focus is on energy storage, electrochemical processes and materials, including electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction, which is a key technology for the “use” component of carbon capture, use and storage, or CCUS, as it can transform CO2 into valuable chemicals such as ethylene and ethanol. Before and during his time at LSU, Flake has worked with industry, including for IBM and Motorola, where he developed processes to make computer chips for laptops and cellphones used all around the world.

ON A MISSION: My goal is to bring people together that normally wouldn’t collaborate. To grow research, you have to see the connections and get people to do things outside their comfort zone.

TINA HOLLAND PRESIDENT & CEO FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY

Under Tina Holland’s decade of leadership, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, or FranU, has grown from the former Our Lady of the Lake College to a university with three schools. Students earn professional certificates all the way to doctoral level degrees. The institution also built its first signature building, raised record philanthropic gifts and improved its operations across campus. 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. She has already announced her retirement this year; David Bellar will take her place in mid-July.

GO-TO DESTINATION: Wherever my grandchildren happen to be

BEST ADVICE: Don’t try to do everything, but do whatever God asks of you.

KIM HUNTER REED

COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION STATE OF LOUISIANA

Along with the Louisiana Board of Regents, Kim Hunter Reed leads the state’s talent development efforts, focused on increasing educational attainment, erasing achievement gaps and increasing prosperity. To reach the state’s goal of doubling the number of credentials awarded annually by 2030, she promotes transformational policies and deep collaboration, advancing the regents’ talent imperative. She is a nationally recognized student advocate with extensive higher education and government experience, including a stint in President Barack Obama’s administration as deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education and leading the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Oh the places you will go because of hard work, amazing blessings and relentless preparation.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER PATH: U.S. diplomat or kindergarten teacher

MATT LEE

VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN LSU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Matt Lee is the vice president for agriculture at the LSU AgCenter and dean of the LSU College of Agriculture. In these roles he articulates the vision, strategy and organizational culture necessary to continually advance what is already one of the top agricultural universities in the country. Under his leadership the organization has set records in enrollment, research funding, and cooperative extension impact. Prior to joining the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture, he served in several leadership capacities at LSU, including interim executive vice president and provost. He has more than 60 peerreviewed scholarly papers and numerous other publications.

MOTTO: #Winning MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY IN A LEADER: There is no substitute for authenticity. It is the foundation for trust, collaboration, motivation and the many other ingredients that go into success.

RUSSELL CROOK

DEAN

LSU E.J. OURSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Russell Crook assumes the top spot in LSU business education on July 28, which at press time was pending approval by the board of supervisors. A University of Tennessee department head credited with growth and innovation, he has been lauded for reaching new heights in faculty research output, industry partnerships and student success. He is widely expected to do the same at LSU. He holds a doctoral degree in strategic management and an undergraduate degree in economics from Florida State University, as well as an MBA from American University. His research focuses on topics at the intersection of strategic management and entrepreneurship, and what helps organizations improve their performance..

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: Before earning his doctorate, Crook worked for American Airlines, U.S. Airways and IBM in a variety of capacities, including strategic planning and global procurement.

YVETTE MARSH ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT MANAGEMENT LSU FOUNDATION

A leader in workforce strategy and organizational development, Yvette Marsh has spent more than two decades building talent pipelines, shaping leadership programs, and driving cultural change. As assistant vice president of talent management at the LSU Foundation, she designs initiatives that improve retention, succession planning, and performance. Her work is grounded in both academic expertise and practical experience, with a Ph.D. in human resource and leadership development and a master’s in information systems. Marsh began her career in banking, then moved into higher education and consulting, where she led major training and change-management efforts for universities, corporations, and nonprofits. At LSU, she also created the university’s leadership development programs for faculty and staff, including the Chancellor’s Executive Leadership Program.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Do it anyway.

AMANDA

MARTIN CEO

STUDYVILLE

Amanda Martin is the founder and CEO of Studyville, a pioneering company delivering high-quality tutoring solutions. A magna cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas, Amanda founded Studyville to bridge gaps in academic support with data-driven, impactful tutoring services. Under her leadership, Studyville has garnered national recognition, including being named one of America’s Top Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2023 and earning Martin the title of one of the 2024 Influential Women in Business by Business Report. Martin’s leadership extends beyond education; she is the co-founder of Opera Louisiane and the founder of The Fur Ball.

DO-OVER WISH: I wouldn’t do anything over. I’ve fallen on my face and have learned from it every single time.

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.

DO-OVER WISH: I don’t know that I believe in doovers, because I think every experience you have good or bad—teaches you something.

ALBERT L. SAMUELS

CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND GEOGRAPHY

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Albert Samuels has spent over two decades shaping minds and civic discourse at Southern University, where he serves as chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography. The Shreveport native joined the Southern faculty full time in 1999 after a year of teaching in Georgia. Since then, he has taught a wide range of courses spanning government, civil liberties, race relations, Louisiana politics and international affairs. A nationally recognized scholar and commentator, 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.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: His political commentary has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, and U.S. News & World Report

DENNIS SHIELDS

PRESIDENT-CHANCELLOR

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Dennis Shields brings a legacy of access, equity and institutional growth to his role as president of the Southern University System and chancellor of Southern University and A&M College. Appointed in 2022, Shields succeeded longtime leader Ray Belton and became the chief executive of the nation’s only historically Black university system. A lifelong advocate for underrepresented students, he has also held key admissions and leadership roles at Duke, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa law schools, as well as The City College of New York. With degrees in business and law, Shields brings a unique combination of legal acumen and executive leadership to his role, guiding Southern toward continued growth and excellence.

ORIGIN STORY: I come from sort of unusual origins.I spent the first five years of my life in a Catholic orphanage, and after that grew up in a foster home, a boys’ home and another foster home.

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.

DREAM DINNER COMPANIONS: To discuss success, I would like to dine with Warren Buffett and Colin Powell.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Always fight for others.

ROBERT STUART PRESIDENT AND CEO LSU FOUNDATION

Robert Stuart leads the LSU Foundation, the university’s primary academic fundraising arm, where he plays a key role in driving strategic philanthropy to support Louisiana’s flagship institution. A seasoned banking executive and LSU alumnus, Stuart previously served as Capital One’s national head of middle market corporate banking before transitioning into higher education advancement. His longstanding volunteerism with LSU includes serving as the first chair of the LSU Foundation National Board and chairing the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation. As chair of the LSU Foundation board of directors, Stuart helped prepare the university for its $1.5 billion Fierce for the Future campaign—LSU’s first system-wide campaign—which exceeded its goal three years ahead of schedule.

SIDE GIG: Stuart led REFF’s involvement in beginning the collaborative effort to restore the six lakes bordering LSU’s campus, the LSU Lakes Project.

MONTY SULLIVAN

SYSTEM PRESIDENT LOUISIANA COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

As president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System since 2014, Monty Sullivan has led transformative initiatives to enhance workforce development and educational access across the state. Under his leadership, LCTCS has maintained a nine-year tuition freeze, ensuring affordability for students. Sullivan has been instrumental in forging partnerships with industry leaders to align educational programs with workforce needs. Notably, LCTCS entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Hyundai, positioning the system to develop training programs tailored to the company’s operations. Additionally, the system has launched initiatives to transform health care workforce training, addressing critical shortages in the sector.

KEEPING IT AFFORDABLE: Sullivan’s commitment to keeping education accessible is exemplified by LCTCS’s decision to maintain steady tuition rates for nearly a decade.

WILLIAM F. TATE IV

As the first African American president of a university in the Southeastern Conference and the first to lead LSU, William F. Tate IV is reshaping the future of Louisiana’s flagship university system. Since taking office in 2021, Tate has driven record-breaking growth in research funding, enrollment quality and economic impact. Under his leadership, LSU has surpassed $700 million in public and private investment—including the largest gift in its history. An internationally recognized scholar and education executive, Tate has elevated LSU’s national stature in cybersecurity, energy, agriculture, coastal science and public health.

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: I played baseball. My Little League team was Chicago’s South Side champion. We competed at Wrigley Field and Old Comiskey Park, the home of the White Sox.

MICHAEL STUBBLEFIELD

VICE CHANCELLOR FOR RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Michael Stubblefield oversees the university’s research centers, sponsored programs and strategic initiatives, including the Louisiana Small Business Development Center hosted at Southern University. Stubblefield has been instrumental in securing grants and contracts from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NASA and the EPA. He has also established mentorprotégé agreements between the university and various associations, national labs and private firms. His efforts have led to the development of programs aimed at increasing undergraduate and graduate research experiences, as well as initiatives focused on small business and economic development.

EARLY CAREER: Stubblefields had internships at prominent organizations, including the CIA and Frito-Lay.

QUINTIN TAYLOR

CHANCELLOR

RIVER PARISHES

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Quintin D. Taylor leads River Parishes Community College, a pivotal institution within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Since his appointment as chancellor in 2022. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning RPCC as a central player in regional workforce development. Under his guidance, RPCC is set to play a significant role in Hyundai Motor Group’s $5.8 billion investment in a new steel manufacturing facility in Ascension Parish. The college, in collaboration with Louisiana Economic Development and LED FastStart, will develop a $30 million state-of-the-art workforce training center in Donaldsonville.

ON A MISSION: Taylor has emphasized the importance of changing perceptions about community colleges, stating that “changing hearts and minds” has been a challenge, but efforts have been made to shift perceptions about community college education.

DARE TO Lead Congratulation

s TO SUPERINTENDENT LAMONT COLE

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System proudly celebrates Superintendent LaMont Cole for being named a 2025 Capital Region 500 honoree.

Through his visionary leadership and commitment to educational excellence in our community, we are transforming lives and creating a world-class educational experience.

COLLIS TEMPLE JR.

MEMBER

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. His past and present 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.

FUN FACT: As a basketball player at LSU, Temple was all-conference in both academics and on the court.

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

DAVID TIDWELL

PRESIDENT & CEO HOPE MINISTRIES

David Tidwell brings more than 30 years of experience across ministry, business and nonprofit leadership to his role as president and CEO of HOPE Ministries, a Baton Rouge-based organization dedicated to preventing homelessness and promoting self-sufficiency. A Baker native and ordained minister, Tidwell has led statewide faith-based initiatives, operated a successful retail business, and directed workforce training programs designed to lift families out of poverty. Since joining HOPE Ministries in 2017, Tidwell has helped grow the organization’s social enterprise and launch new certification pathways through its acclaimed The Way to Work program. Prior to becoming CEO in 2025, he served four years as chief operating officer, driving operational expansion and strategic partnerships.

THE ENTREPRENEUR: Tidwell ran a teacher supply store and warehouse for 14 years.

HOBBIES: Gardening, camping and cooking

LAURA VINSANT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TEACH FOR AMERICA

Laura Vinsant has dedicated her career to advancing educational equity in the Capital Region. Since becoming executive director of Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge in 2015, she has expanded the region’s impact through innovative programming, strategic partnerships and a focus on literacy outcomes. Under her leadership, the region launched the Ignite Fellowship, a virtual tutoring initiative that pairs college students with K–3 students for one-on-one literacy support. Since its 2021 debut, Ignite has expanded to five schools and aims to double the region’s third-grade reading proficiency to 82% by 2030. Vinsant’s work has earned widespread recognition, including being named one of Business Report’s 2025 Influential Women in Business.

LESSON LEARNED: The most important leadership lesson I’ve learned is that there’s always a third way. Creating meaningful change requires us to move beyond either/or thinking.

ALTON ASHY

PRESIDENT

ADVANCED STRATEGIES INC.

Alton Ashy has been a prominent figure in Louisiana’s governmental affairs for over two decades. His career began as a legislative staffer for both the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives, providing him with a deep understanding of the state’s legislative processes. Leveraging this experience, Ashy founded Advanced Strategies, a Baton Rouge-based firm specializing in high-profile legislative issues and strategic governmental relations. Under his leadership, the firm has successfully represented a diverse clientele, including LSU, Entergy, Waste Management, and the Louisiana Video Gaming Association. His work has had a significant impact on industries ranging from health care to gaming, solidifying his reputation as a trusted adviser and effective lobbyist in the Capital Region.

STYLE SIGNATURE: Known for his impeccable fashion sense, Ashy is often recognized for his sharp suits and polished appearance.

MICHAEL BEYCHOK

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND PARTNER

OURSO BEYCHOK

Michael Beychok is the creative force behind Ourso Beychok, a Baton Rougebased political consulting firm renowned for its innovative direct mail strategies. Since co-founding the firm in 2001 with Trey Ourso, Beychok has contributed to numerous successful campaigns across more than 20 states, ranging from local elections to presidential races. The firm has been named to Campaigns & Elections magazine’s Best Client List. His expertise in crafting persuasive mail pieces has earned the firm multiple accolades, including prestigious Pollie and Reed awards. Beychok’s creative approach often blends humor and sharp messaging. He’s an accomplished horse racing handicapper, having won the 2012 National Handicapping Championship and its $1 million prize.

FAMILY COLLAB: Beychok has collaborated professionally with his son, Bradley Beychok, a fellow political consultant.

C.J. BLACHE

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

ROEDEL PARSONS

Cecil “C.J.” Blache, a shareholder at Roedel Parsons Blache Fontana Piontek & Pisano, has been a prominent figure in Louisiana’s legal and governmental landscape for over four decades. Since 1980, he has actively participated in every session of the Louisiana Legislature, offering his expertise in governmental relations and regulatory law at both state and local levels. Blache’s clientele includes public entities and major corporations in sectors such as petrochemicals, transportation and maritime industries. Beyond his legal practice, Blache is deeply involved in civic and nonprofit organizations, having served on the boards of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Liberty Bank and Trust, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: As a child, Blache was among the first to integrate public schools in New Orleans, marking a significant moment in the city’s civil rights history.

CAMILLE CONAWAY

SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND LOBBYIST

DELOITTE US

Camille Conaway is a senior manager at Deloitte Consulting, focusing on state and local government clients in Louisiana. In this role, she leverages her extensive experience in public policy and government relations to support initiatives that drive innovation and efficiency within public sector operations. Conaway’s career includes significant positions with the United Nations, former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Blueprint Louisiana. She is also an active member of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, contributing to policy discussions that impact the state’s economic landscape.

MULTILINGUAL SKILLS: Conaway is proficient in English, Spanish and French, enhancing her ability to engage with diverse communities and stakeholders.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Beyond her professional endeavors, she is an avid traveler and selfdescribed “juggler-in-chief,” balancing her career with family life and community involvement.

JASON DECUIR

FOUNDING PARTNER

ADVANTOUS CONSULTING

Jason DeCuir operates the multistate tax services firm Advantous Consulting and is founding partner of Advantous Law, both based in Baton Rouge. With over two decades of experience in state and local tax policy, DeCuir has represented businesses across various industries, managing complex tax matters and advocating for sound tax reforms. His public service includes roles as chief of staff, assistant secretary, and executive counsel at the Louisiana Department of Revenue, where he spearheaded significant tax reform efforts. He has also been active on the boards of several organizations, including the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Salvation Army.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: DeCuir was a placekicker for the Howard University football team, earning Academic All-American honors.

HOBBY OR PASSION: He serves as a color commentator for high school football on a major television network in Louisiana.

BUD COURSON

CO-OWNER

COURSON NICKEL

For over two decades, Bud Courson has co-led Courson Nickel, a prominent governmental relations and issues management firm based in Baton Rouge. His career in public service began at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, where he ascended to deputy commissioner, managing a $100 million budget and overseeing 1,200 employees. His influence extended internationally when he joined the 1985 Louisiana trade delegation to Taiwan, contributing to a sister-state agreement and facilitating the establishment of the nation’s first major alligator tannery by a French company. He has played pivotal roles in gubernatorial inaugurations, including those of Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal.

CLIENT LIST: 3M, CH2M Hill, Sempra Energy, City of Baton Rouge, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, IBM, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists, among others

RENWICK DEVILLE

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER HARRIS, DEVILLE & ASSOCIATES

Renwick “Renny” DeVille has spent more than four decades at the forefront of Louisiana’s public affairs and crisis communications landscape. The firm he leads represents Fortune 100 clients and investment projects across the Gulf Coast. Deville is nationally recognized for his expertise in strategic planning, environmental justice, litigation communications and crisis management. His methodical, data-driven approach—often grounded in public opinion research—has made him a trusted adviser on high-stakes issues ranging from operational or reputational crises to navigating regulatory and permitting processes. In addition to his leadership at HDA, DeVille has served as senior public affairs adviser to Golden Pass LNG in Houston.

CLIENT LIST: The firm’s client list includes Google, ExxonMobil, BASF and Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

J. WESLEY

DANIELS JR.

CEO

EAST BATON ROUGE

PARISH HOUSING AUTHORITY

J. Wesley Daniels Jr. leads the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority and its development arm, Partners Southeast, with a missiondriven approach and private sector discipline. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its regional footprint, secured a $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant, and launched a $500 million transformation strategy expected to deliver more than 2,500 new residential units. With more than 30 years of public and private sector real estate experience—including past leadership roles at the Atlanta and Charlotte housing authorities—Daniels has built a national reputation for using public-private partnerships to drive urban revitalization. He is also a member of the National Advisory Council for Provident Resources Group, contributing to affordable housing strategies nationwide.

GREEN PIONEER: In Charlotte, Daniels led development of the first LEED Gold-certified 100% public housing high-rise in the U.S.

MARK DRENNEN

PRESIDENT & CEO

CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY

When Mark Drennen took the helm of the Capital Area Finance Authority in 2017, he brought a clear vision: use its resources to help build stronger communities and drive growth across the nine-parish Capital Region. With more than 30 years in public policy, including eight years as Louisiana’s Commissioner of Administration under Gov. Mike Foster, Drennen is no stranger to big initiatives. He helped spark downtown Baton Rouge’s revitalization, including projects like the Shaw Center for the Arts. Before CAFA, he led Louisiana operations for Cornerstone Government Affairs and served as president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. Drennen also serves on several community boards, including the Manship Theatre and Visit Baton Rouge.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: When the Baton Rouge Area Foundation chose Drennen as the third winner of the Marcia Kaplan Kantrow Baton Rouge Visionary Award in 2018, Drennen gave his $5,000 prize to the St. Francisville Area Foundation.

JASON DRODDY

VICE PRESIDENT OF INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

LSU

Jason Droddy plays a pivotal role in shaping the university’s strategic direction. In August 2023, he expanded his responsibilities to include leading LSU’s strategic planning efforts, guiding the institution through a comprehensive review of its long-term goals and initiatives. Droddy’s career at LSU spans over two decades, during which he has held various leadership positions, including chief of staff to the LSU Office of the President, executive director of the LSU Board of Supervisors and interim vice president of strategic communications. His extensive experience in governmental relations and public policy has been instrumental in advancing LSU’s mission and fostering collaborations across the state.

PROUDEST MOMENT: Passage of legislation related to operational efficiencies for higher education. I had put several years into the work and thought it was the most I could do for LSU.

MIKE EDWARDS

DIRECTOR OF AVIATION

BATON ROUGE

METROPOLITAN AIRPORT

Mike Edwards has been steering the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) since 2018, bringing over 15 years of airport management experience to the role. Under his leadership, BTR has secured more than $100 million in federal and state funding for capital improvements, enhancing both infrastructure and passenger experience. Edwards oversees a team of 82 employees and manages a $15 million annual operating budget. His strategic initiatives include expanding air service, developing the Aviation Business Park, and launching innovative workforce development programs like the partnership with Helix Aviation Academy—a charter school focusing on aviation and STEM education.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: Backbone. It’s important for a leader to be able to stand firm in the face of adversity while also possessing the flexibility to adapt to an ever-changing landscape.

BARRY ERWIN

CHIEF POLICY OFFICER

LEADERS FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA

Barry Erwin has long been a prominent figure in Louisiana’s public policy landscape. As the former President and CEO of the Council for a Better Louisiana, he championed initiatives in education reform, fiscal policy and government accountability. In 2025, CABL merged with the Committee of 100 for Economic Development to form Leaders for a Better Louisiana, where Erwin now serves as chief policy officer. In this role, he continues to advocate for data-driven policies aimed at improving education outcomes, addressing the state’s insurance crisis and fostering economic development. Erwin’s extensive experience includes a 15year career in journalism, during which he covered state politics and government.

CAUSE HE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: Erwin has taught professional journalists in Zambia as part of a U.S. State Department program to aid emerging democracies.

GARRET GRAVES

ENERGY ADVISORY COUNCIL BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER

Garret Graves, former U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 6th District, is currently channeling his extensive experience into shaping national energy policy as a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Energy Advisory Council. In this role, he collaborates with a diverse group of leaders to address critical challenges like energy affordability, infrastructure modernization and emission reductions. During his decade in Congress (2015–2025), Graves was recognized for his pragmatic approach to complex issues, notably serving as a key Republican negotiator during the 2023 debt ceiling discussions. His legislative focus often centered on energy, infrastructure and environmental resilience.

BIG MOVE: In his final term, Graves co-led a bipartisan effort with U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger to advance the Social Security Fairness Act, demonstrating his commitment to cross-party collaboration.

RANDY HAYNIE

OWNER AND PRESIDENT

HAYNIE & ASSOCIATES

For more than 40 years, Randy Haynie has been a powerful presence at the Louisiana State Capitol, successfully navigating the administrations of seven governors. He founded Haynie & Associates in 1980, building it into one of the state’s most respected government relations firms with offices in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Haynie’s client roster includes major national brands like JPMorgan Chase, General Motors, MillerCoors, Caesars Entertainment, the New Orleans Saints, and the NFL, along with key Louisiana-based organizations such as Crescent River Port Pilots, Louisiana Engineering Society, LAMICO and Lemoine. Haynie’s deep institutional knowledge and trusted relationships have made him a go-to adviser for corporate and industry leaders across Louisiana.

HOBBIES: Haynie collects rare Louisiana currency, early state maps and original Southern artwork.

ROSE HUDSON

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LOUISIANA LOTTERY

Rose Hudson has led the Louisiana Lottery Corporation since 2006, guiding the organization through some of its most successful years. Under her leadership, the lottery has generated more than $2.7 billion for K-12 education in Louisiana, helping to fund classrooms across the state. Hudson, who is just the fourth CEO in the lottery’s history, is widely respected both within her industry and across the community. She serves on numerous boards, including those of Investar Bank and Mary Bird Perkins Foundation, reflecting her broader commitment to civic leadership. Known for her steady hand, strategic mindset and passion for service, Hudson continues to be a powerful force in business and philanthropy across the Capital Region and beyond.

BEST ADVICE: Hudson credits her parents for instilling in her a lifelong belief in service, recalling her father’s advice: “Service is the rent you pay to be part of a community.”

RANDAL JOHNSON PARTNER

SOUTHERN STRATEGY GROUP

Randal Johnson has built a career on navigating complex issues at the intersection of law enforcement, legislation and public policy. A partner at Southern Strategy Group since 2006, Johnson brings more than 25 years of public sector experience—including expertise in multijurisdictional investigations, legislative affairs and crisis management. Before joining the firm, he served as deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, where he helped guide legislative packages and coordinated emergency preparedness efforts during hurricanes and natural disasters. A graduate of the Department of Justice’s national law enforcement academies, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME: “There is a destiny that makes us brothers: None goes his way alone: All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.” –Edwin Markham

CAMPBELL KAUFMAN

PRESIDENT

CORNERSTONE

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Campbell “Camp” Kaufman has been with Cornerstone Government Affairs since its founding in 2002, helping the firm grow from a handful of clients to a national presence with more than 170 employees across 15 offices. As president, Kaufman oversees Cornerstone’s state government relations and public affairs units, bringing 30 years of public affairs experience to the role. Kaufman has also been involved in Republican campaigns at the local, state and national levels. He previously served on the boards of LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, LSU’s National Foundation, the First Tee of Washington, D.C., and the Leadership Giving Program at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School.

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.

JODY MONTELARO

VICE PRESIDENT OF

Jody Montelaro serves as vice president of public affairs for Entergy Louisiana, overseeing the company’s governmental relations across the state along with volunteer initiatives and charitable contributions. He joined Entergy in 2011 after roles as senior policy adviser to Gov. Bobby Jindal, secretary of the Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board, and assistant executive counsel to the governor. Before entering public service, Montelaro practiced corporate litigation at Adams and Reese and clerked for Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball. A Loyola University College of Law honors graduate, he remains active in the civic and nonprofit community. In 2014, he was recognized as one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 honorees.

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION: The Art of Servant Leadership

CHILDHOOD DREAM: To become a restaurant owner and chef

JIM NICKEL

LOBBYIST AND PARTNER

COURSON NICKEL

Jim Nickel has been a fixture in Louisiana politics for over 25 years, blending sharp political instincts with a deep understanding of the state’s unique political landscape. A native of Crowley and an LSU graduate, Nickel’s political journey began straight out of college when he joined Congressman John Breaux’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. He later served in Washington, D.C., including in the role of national events director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In 1991, Nickel returned to Louisiana to serve as executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, coordinating numerous successful campaigns across various levels of government. He was elected party chair in 1995 and later managed Breaux’s Senate reelection campaign in 1997.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: Political commentator John Maginnis once referred to Nickel as “the most effective political operative in Louisiana politics.”

LIZ MANGHAM

MANAGING PARTNER

SOUTHERN STRATEGY GROUP

A founding member of Southern Strategy Group, Liz Mangham serves as the firm’s managing partner, guiding client strategy across the legislative, executive and regulatory branches of Louisiana government. With a background in campaign management, she applies grassroots and coalition-based strategies to even the most complex lobbying efforts. Mangham has been recognized as one of the Top 100 “Louisiana Influencers” and a “National Rising Star” by Campaigns & Elections magazine. She was named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report in 2023. She serves on the boards of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, BREADA and the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: She and her husband, John Shiroda, share their home with two rescue dogs, Rooster and Cowboy.

NIAL PATEL

PRINCIPAL AND DIRECTOR CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Nial Patel is a seasoned government relations professional with a rich background in public service and advocacy. Before joining Cornerstone in 2011, he served nearly a decade on Gov. Bobby Jindal’s senior staff, contributing to both his congressional and gubernatorial campaigns. At Cornerstone, Patel specializes in federal and state government relations, public affairs and business advisory services. An alumnus of LSU, Patel earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. His commitment to community service is evident through his involvement with organizations such as the Southeast Super Region Committee and the boards for New Schools for Baton Rouge and Teach for America. In 2025, he is serving as the chair of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

DREAM DINNER COMPANION: Elon Musk. It would be interesting to see how he thinks. I’d like to talk about his process to continue to innovate.

“At Partners Southeast, we are committed to creating spaces that uplift people and neighborhoods, ensuring that every family has ACCESS to the dignity and security of a well-built home.”

J. Wesley Daniels, Jr. CEO of Partners Southeast

INNOVATIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

PARTNERS SOUTHEAST

As stewards of our mission to create exceptional, sustainable housing opportunities, the Board of Commissioners recognizes the transformative

leadership of J. Wesley Daniels, Jr., CEO of Partners Southeast. Since taking on the role, Daniels has guided the organization with strategic vision and relentless commitment, redefining what affordable housing can be for Baton Rouge and beyond. Under his leadership, developments like Cypress River Lofts and Cypress at Ardendale are setting new standards for what families and seniors deserve: modern, energy efficient homes integrated with education, wellness, and economic opportunity.

Thanks to Daniels’ ability to navigate complex funding environments, build resilient partnerships, and overcome development challenges, more than 450 new homes are rising in the Capital Region. Through Partners Southeast, these communities are anchored in dignity, opportunity, and long-term community impact.

The Board of Commissioners Partners Southeast

STEVEN PROCOPIO

PRESIDENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL

Steven Procopio has been leading the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) since 2021, bringing a wealth of experience in public policy and research to the role. Before stepping into this position, he served as PAR’s policy director starting in 2014, where he guided the organization’s research agenda on key issues affecting the state. Prior to his tenure at PAR, Procopio held significant roles in state government, including chief of staff at the Louisiana Division of Administration, where he focused on transparency and fiscal matters. He also served as director of research and accountability for the lieutenant governor’s office and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. He was also the founding director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab.

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF: Appreciate your metabolism; it won’t last.

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION: Freakonomics. It should be required reading.

LIONEL RAINEY

POLITICAL CONSULTANT

LR3 CONSULTING

Lionel Rainey III, founder and president of LR3 Consulting, has carved a distinctive path in Louisiana politics and public relations. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Rainey launched LR3 in 2013 with a clear mission: to win elections and provide exceptional service to clients. Since then, his firm has guided over 40 successful campaigns, including eight statewide victories and the establishment of Louisiana’s fifth-largest city, St. George. Rainey’s political acumen has been sought after by prominent figures, having worked on campaigns for U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, John Kennedy, and Marco Rubio. Beyond politics, LR3 has provided crisis management and public relations services to a diverse clientele.

DIFFICULT LESSON LEARNED: I have failed more than I have succeeded. I’ve learned that nothing worthwhile comes for free and if you plan on doing something with lasting impact you will make equally as many enemies as friends.

PAUL RAINWATER MANAGER

RAINWATER CONSULTING

Paul Rainwater is a seasoned leader in disaster recovery and infrastructure management, with over three decades of experience in both public service and the private sector. Currently, he serves as a senior consultant at Cornerstone Government Affairs and leads Rainwater Consulting, advising clients on complex infrastructure and disaster-related challenges. He is also chief strategy officer and senior vice president of Plexos Group. In 2024, Gov. Jeff Landry appointed him to chair a task force focused on improving the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, building on his previous role as interim emergency manager of the utility following the 2017 floods. Rainwater’s military service includes deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, earning him the Bronze Star.

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.

KYLE RUCKERT CHIEF OF STAFF

LOUISIANA GOVERNOR

JEFF LANDRY

Kyle Ruckert is a seasoned political strategist and top GOP operative whose specialty is electing hard-right conservatives. With nearly two decades of experience in senior management roles on Capitol Hill, Ruckert has been instrumental in shaping conservative political landscapes both federally and within Louisiana. He previously served as chief of staff to former U.S. Sen. David Vitter and managed Vitter’s 2015 gubernatorial campaign. Ruckert’s expertise extends to advising multiple presidential campaigns and orchestrating numerous statewide and legislative races. In 2023, he led Gov. Jeff Landry’s transition team, assembling a leadership group that included prominent figures such as Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone.

DELIA TAYLOR PRESIDENT

TAYLOR MEDIA SERVICES

Delia Taylor is a seasoned public relations professional and civic leader involved in multiple aspects of community development in Livingston Parish. As chair of the Livingston Parish Airport District since 2016, she has been instrumental in advancing the Livingston Executive Airport project. Under her leadership, the district acquired over 242 acres near the Satsuma exit on Interstate 12, laying the groundwork for a new general aviation airport. Taylor’s career spans over three decades in public relations, during which she has provided strategic communication services to a diverse array of clients through her firm, Taylor Media Services. Her expertise has been recognized by her peers, earning her the title of Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s Practitioner of the Year.

WHAT OTHES MAY NOT KNOW: Taylor played for the LSU women’s basketball team under legendary coach Sue Gunter from 1984 to 1986.

STEPHEN WAGUESPACK

PRESIDENT

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INSTITUTE FOR LEGAL REFORM

In his roles with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Stephen Waguespack focuses on areas such as energy, insurance, legal reform, workforce development, small business issues, and state-level advocacy. Before joining the organization in January 2024, Waguespack led the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry for a decade, representing over 2,200 businesses and 324,000 employees. Under his leadership, LABI became a prominent voice for pro-business policies in Louisiana. In 2023, he ran for governor of Louisiana, finishing third in a competitive field. Waguespack’s extensive experience includes serving as chief of staff and executive counsel to former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and spending a decade working on Capitol Hill.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION: How Good is Good Enough, by Andy Stanley. It’s an easy read and a clear road map on how to live an enjoyable, impactful life on your way to heaven.

FAMILY TIES: His wife, Lynnel Ruckert, is a notable political figure herself, having served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and playing a pivotal role in his ascent to House majority whip.

BARBARA AUTEN

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

ALZHEIMER’S SERVICES OF THE CAPITAL AREA INC.

Barbara Auten has spent nearly two decades transforming Alzheimer’s care in Baton Rouge. Since joining Alzheimer’s Services in 2006 and becoming executive director in 2008, she has led the organization in creating Charlie’s Place, Louisiana’s first social model respite center. The center was recognized as a National Adult Day Services Center of Distinction in 2008, setting a new standard in compassionate dementia care. A third Charlie’s Place is currently being developed in Baker. Auten’s visionary leadership earned her the John W. Barton Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in 2013. With more than 20 years of professional experience and nearly 40 years of board and volunteer service in nonprofits, she continues to champion innovative programs and resources for families affected by Alzheimer’s. Auten was named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report in 2012.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Sewing

GEORGE BELL

PRESIDENT AND CEO

CAPITAL AREA UNITED WAY

George Bell’s leadership is shaping a stronger, more resilient Baton Rouge. With more than 30 years of experience as a health care executive, he now leads Capital Area United Way, driving impactful initiatives in education, income stability, health and basic needs. Under his guidance, the organization raises and distributes millions to local charities. Beyond his role, Bell is deeply embedded in the community, serving on boards such as the 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. His dedication to both strategic leadership and grassroots advocacy makes him a key force behind meaningful change in the region.

regularly with his George Bell and Friends ensemble.

CAMILLE MANNINGBROOME

PRESIDENT AND CEO

CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE

Camille Manning-Broome is shaping Louisiana’s future through bold, sustainable planning. As president and CEO of the Center for Planning Excellence, or CPEX, she leads efforts to promote climate adaptation, people-first infrastructure and residentled development. Her expertise has made Louisiana a national model in tackling coastal challenges and creating resilient communities. Under her leadership, CPEX continues to drive innovative policies and collaborative solutions that preserve the region’s unique character while preparing it for the future. Manning-Broome’s impact has earned her widespread recognition—she was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report in 2009 and an Influential Woman in Business in 2019.

ANIMAL SHE IDENTIFIES WITH THE MOST: An owl, symbolizing wisdom, intuition and the ability to see the bigger picture

WILL CAMPBELL DIRECTOR

B1 FOUNDATION

Will Campbell is driving economic growth and financial empowerment in Baton Rouge. With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, he specializes in loan packaging, strategic business planning and bank management, helping businesses and individuals achieve their goals. As director of the b1 Foundation, the community outreach arm of b1Bank, he leads philanthropic initiatives that support local causes and promote financial literacy. Campbell also shares his expertise as an adjunct professor at Southern University, teaching entrepreneurship in the MBA program and inspiring the next generation of business leaders. A U.S. Army Reserve veteran, he served 17 years as a captain.

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Denzel Washington ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING THEIR CAREER: Do not seek money. Seek the Lord and fulfill your divine purpose in life.

CHRIS CUMMINGS

FOUNDER AND CEO

ICONIC MOMENTS AND PASS IT DOWN

Chris Cummings is revolutionizing digital storytelling for cultural institutions. In 2021, he launched Iconic Moments, the first non-fungible token, or NFT, marketplace exclusively for historical and cultural brands, helping institutions drive digital engagement and revenue. He also founded Pass It Down, a platform that allows museums, galleries and businesses to create immersive virtual experiences accessible from anywhere in the world. The idea stemmed from his desire to capture his mother’s stories after she was diagnosed with 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.

UNEXPECTED CAREER CHANGE: “While practicing law, I had a little voice in the back of my head pulling me in this direction to help families dealing with memory loss.”

HELENA CUNNINGHAM

FOUNDER AND CEO

NATIONAL HOUSING CONSULTANT SERVICES

Helena Cunningham is reshaping the Capital Region’s housing landscape by making affordable housing a reality. As founder and CEO of NHCS, a full-service housing development and consulting firm, she has directed the rehabilitation and development of more than 3,000 multifamily housing units across the Gulf Coast region. Her expertise lies in navigating complex financing structures. Before launching NHCS, Cunningham served as president of the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, where she championed policies and programs that expanded access to affordable housing. Her visionary leadership continues to transform communities by creating sustainable, accessible living spaces.

LESSON LEARNED: To take risks and be confident. Although I had a great support system of family and close friends who encouraged me to become an entrepreneur, initially I lacked confidence to venture outside my comfort zone and open NHCS.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Bell has a lifelong passion for music and plays the trumpet

ERIC DEXTER

VICE PRESIDENT OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

Eric Dexter is driving change in Baton Rouge through his work at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. In his current role, he oversees major projects and leads efforts that align with BRAF’s Opportunity Agenda, which promotes regional resilience, safer neighborhoods, healthier families, educational excellence and economic prosperity. Dexter’s influence extends beyond his role, as he serves on numerous boards and committees. His impact has earned him several honors, including LABI Young Businessperson – Free Enterprise Champion, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge Great Futures Gala honoree, and a spot on Business Report’s Forty Under 40 list.

HARDEST CHALLENGE: “Being fired multiple times early in my career. The belief in my talent and abilities along with my mom’s words to me of ‘keep going’ allowed me to break through the wall of failures that blocked me from being successful.”

CARISSA GRAVES

VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPIC ADVANCEMENT

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

ANDREW FITZGERALD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY & RESEARCH

BATON ROUGE

AREA CHAMBER

Andrew Fitzgerald is driving data-informed decision-making that shapes Baton Rouge’s economic landscape. As senior vice president of strategy and research at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, his team’s insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Business Report and The Advocate. Under his leadership, BRAC’s research has evolved from an internal support function to a critical resource for Capital Region residents, offering valuable analysis on economic conditions and public policy. Fitzgerald, a member of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2022, joined BRAC in 2015 and has held several research roles, helping guide policy and business strategies. Before BRAC, he worked as an attorney in Chicago, specializing in corporate and commercial litigation.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: “I knew at an early age that I wanted to be a lawyer. All that changed after a few years practicing law.”

Carissa Graves is strengthening Baton Rouge’s philanthropic landscape through her leadership at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Since joining the BRAF executive team in 2022, she has leveraged her deep community ties to expand the nonprofit’s philanthropic base and increase donor engagement. Previously, Graves served as vice president of community engagement at Franciscan High School, formerly Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School, where she helped lead its corporate workstudy program, creating opportunities for students to gain real-world experience. An AmeriCorps alum, she also taught in public schools in Michigan and Washington.

met while they were both teaching outdoor wilderness trips.

MIKE HAMAN

SENIOR PASTOR HEALING PLACE

Mike Haman is leading one of Louisiana’s largest nondenominational churches with a mission to serve and inspire. As senior pastor of Healing Place Church since 2013, he oversees a nearly 60-acre campus on Highland Road, where thousands gather for worship each Sunday. Under his leadership, the church has expanded to 12 campuses, including locations in Africa, Honduras, and an interactive online campus. Haman and his wife, who also preaches at the church, oversee the Baton Rouge Dream Center, providing outreach and support to underserved communities. A published author, Haman wrote The Second Mile, which encourages readers to go beyond expectations to fulfill their purpose. With more than 20 years of ministry experience, he continues to guide Healing Place’s growth.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “I love the way of life here in this city. I love the spirit and the hospitality of the people—and the LSU football!”

BRACE “TREY” GODFREY III

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY

BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER

Trey Godfrey is driving policy and progress in Baton Rouge through his leadership at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. As senior vice president of policy, he oversees public policy and government affairs at the federal, state and local levels, shaping initiatives that promote economic growth and equity. With a diverse background in organizational management, economic development, and diversity and inclusion, Godfrey brings a strategic, community-focused approach to his role. Before joining BRAC, he served as executive director of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, empowering youth through mentorship and advocacy. He was also managing partner of Cyntreniks, where he helped develop the Kress Building and Hotel Indigo.

FUN FACT: Godfrey attended Tulane University, where he earned a football scholarship and played defensive back. He also coached at alma mater Episcopal High for several seasons.

ANDRE HARMON

PRESIDENT

100

BLACK MEN

Andre Harmon is a committed leader and community advocate best known for his impactful role as president of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. Under his leadership the chapter has seen historic growth, including a record-breaking intake of 125 new members and the expansion of its flagship mentoring program, Project Excel, which now supports 147 young men. Harmon also led the 100’s collegiate chapters at Southern University and LSU’s first intake of women. Harmon is also the driving force behind “Not From This House,” a youth intervention initiative in partnership with local justice leaders. A U.S. Army veteran, he served 21 years as a chief warrant officer in the Army Reserve. He is currently a senior systems analyst with the federal government.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION: In 2024, the chapter earned national recognition, winning Mentee of the Year and high honors in the African American History Challenge.

POWER COUPLE: Graves is married to former U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, whom she

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.

RAYMOND JETSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE CATALYST METROMORPHOSIS

Raymond Jetson is empowering communities and bridging generations through his transformative leadership. As founder of MetroMorphosis, a nonprofit dedicated to solving inner-city challenges, he motivates older Black men to mentor Black youth, fostering positive change and opportunity. A driving force in the redevelopment of north Baton Rouge, Jetson collaborates with BRAF and the city-parish government on numerous revitalization initiatives. His influence spans decades—he served for more than 20 years as pastor of Star Hill Church and for 15 years in the Louisiana House of Representatives, advocating for equity and progress. He also previously led the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps as CEO.

FUN FACT: He has served as a source for USA Today, The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

BEAUX JONES

PRESIDENT AND CEO

THE WATER INSTITUTE

Beaux Jones is shaping the future of Louisiana’s environment through his legal expertise and policy leadership. With a career dedicated to coastal protection and environmental law, he previously served as environmental section chief for the Louisiana Department of Justice, representing the state in cases ranging from environmental and coastal law to criminal and appellate matters. Jones was also part of the BP spill litigation team with the Louisiana attorney general, helping hold responsible parties accountable. Prior to becoming president and CEO, he served as general counsel and chief of staff at the Water Institute. With extensive courtroom and policy experience, Jones is a driving force behind environmental advocacy and coastal protection in Louisiana.

ON SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES: “We can have both a measurable impact on other people’s ability to be resilient, but also create economic, cultural and intellectual opportunities for the state of Louisiana.”

ADAM KNAPP CEO

LEADERS FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA

As CEO of the newly formed Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Adam Knapp is driving economic growth and shaping policy across Louisiana. The organization, which was formed when the Committee of 100 for Economic Development merged with the Council for a Better Louisiana, or CABL, aims to create a unified voice for business and policy advocacy. This strategic alliance strengthens efforts to promote economic competitiveness and advance public policy initiatives that benefit the state. Knapp previously served 15 years as president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber before becoming CEO for the Committee of 100. A Lake Charles native, he returned to Louisiana after starting his career in Chicago to serve as an economic development adviser to Govs. Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Travel more.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM: Cocha

EDWARD LAGUCKI

PRESIDENT FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Edward Lagucki is amplifying the voice of Baton Rouge homeowners through his advocacy and civic leadership. As president of the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations, he represents more than 65,000 homeowners across 109 member associations in East Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes. Since retiring from Shell Oil, Lagucki has been a driving force on key local issues, including short-term rentals, stormwater management, drainage and small cell tower regulations. He was named to the city-parish Stormwater Advisory Committee and the Complete Streets Citizens Advisory Committee, helping shape infrastructure and public policy that impacts residents.

CAREER WITH SHELL: He worked for Shell Oil for 33 years, serving as engineering and maintenance manager when he retired.

STEPHEN LOY

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION FUEL

Stephen Loy is a key architect behind Louisiana’s growing tech ecosystem. In his new role as director of technology commercialization at LSU-led Future Use of Energy in Louisiana, or FUEL, he is driving innovation by helping high-tech startups transform their ideas into marketready solutions. Prior to joining the FUEL partnership, Loy served as executive director of Louisiana Technology Park and Nexus Louisiana, where he played a pivotal role in accelerating startups and fostering the state’s entrepreneurial landscape. His journey from handling public relations to leading business development reflects his deep expertise in both communication and community building.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He is past president of the Baton Rouge chapter of The Public Relations Association of Louisiana, served as treasurer for the Southern Public Relations Federation and was a Baton Rouge Area Chamber board member.

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JENNIFER MAGGIO

CHIEF

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

LIFE OF A SINGLE MOM

Jennifer Maggio’s life story is the driving force behind her unwavering commitment to single mothers. From overcoming homelessness, poverty, abuse and single parenthood, Maggio transformed her experiences into a nationwide movement. What began as small support gatherings in her living room has grown into Life of a Single Mom, an organization that in 2023 reached a milestone of having served 1 million single mothers. The organization provides a broad range of services, including support groups, life skills classes and counseling, all aimed at empowering single moms and helping them thrive. Maggio, an author of five books, is regarded as a national expert on single parenting and women’s issues and speaks at conferences throughout the year.

FUN FACT: Maggio is a twin.

ADVICE ON HOW TO MAKE THE CAPITAL REGION A BETTER PLACE: Focus on fatherlessness and its impact on the future.

MICHAEL MANNING

PRESIDENT AND CEO

GREATER BATON ROUGE FOOD BANK

Since 2004, Michael Manning has guided the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in its mission to fight hunger across 11 parishes. He plans to retire in December 2025. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its reach and impact, serving thousands in need each year. Manning’s broad management role spans everything from fundraising and financial planning to human resources and facility management, ensuring the food bank’s operations run smoothly and efficiently. The food bank is not just a resource but a lifeline for many, and Manning’s dedication has been pivotal in raising awareness and support for the cause. His leadership has kept the organization at the forefront of local philanthropy, providing food and hope to individuals and families facing adversity.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING THEIR CAREER: Listen and do not be afraid to ask questions.

CHRISTINA MELTON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KNOCK KNOCK

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Christina Melton’s leadership of Knock Knock Children’s Museum blends over 30 years of experience in public sector management, corporate communications and broadcast operations. Her previous roles include serving as a marketing and communications executive for Emergent Method and leading projects as a four-time Emmy Award-winning producer at Louisiana Public Broadcasting for more than two decades. Melton’s ability to merge creative storytelling with operational excellence has been instrumental in transforming the museum into an educational space that engages children and families, as she continues to play a pivotal role in fostering a creative environment for Baton Rouge’s youh.

STRATEGY FOR STAYING AHEAD OF INDUSTRY DISRUPTIONS: “I think it’s important to be a good listener and to seek out opinions, but then also to be confident in your ability to make definitive choices.

CHRIS MEYER PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE AREA

FOUNDATION

Chris Meyer’s leadership of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation is centered on creating lasting, positive change in the community. Since joining in 2022, he has focused on using the foundation’s resources to drive transformative opportunities for all Baton Rouge residents. Meyer’s vision is to align donors and partners to foster growth, innovation and inclusion across the region. Before taking the helm at BRAF, he founded and served as CEO of New Schools for Baton Rouge, a nonprofit that raised more than $80 million to support high-quality charter schools. This experience in education and philanthropy has fueled his commitment to expanding access to opportunity, particularly for underserved communities. Meyer’s approach is about collaboration, innovation and ensuring that everyone in Baton Rouge has the tools they need to thrive.

: If you get lost, you can always look back to find where you’re going.

DIANNA PAYTON

YWCA GREATER BATON ROUGE

Dianna Payton has transformed the YWCA Greater Baton Rouge from the brink of closure into a nationally recognized organization, driving impactful change for women and communities of color. As CEO since 2016, Payton, a seasoned social worker with deep roots in the public and nonprofit sectors, has expanded the YWCA’s reach and influence. Under her leadership, the organization has launched innovative programs including an emergency bail fund for nonviolent women and vital support services for victims of domestic abuse. Before joining the YWCA, Payton served as director of community investment for the Capital Area United Way, further solidifying her commitment to social justice and community well-being. Her leadership is a beacon for empowering women, eliminating racism and addressing systemic inequalities.

RECOGNITION: Payton is a 2021 Business Report Influential Women in Business honoree.

PAULA PENNINGTON DE LA BRETONNE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

IRENE W. AND C.B. PENNINGTON FOUNDATION

Paula Pennington de la Bretonne’s legacy is built on a foundation of philanthropy, deeply rooted in her family’s tradition of giving. As a trustee of the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, she continues her grandfather’s vision, which includes the Pennington Biomedical Research Center—a $125 million gift to Louisiana. Recently, the Pennington family redirected its focus to the Pennington Family Foundation, established in 2024, broadening its philanthropic impact. De la Bretonne is also a champion for studentathletes at LSU, supporting them through the Tiger Athletic Foundation. Her passion for the arts has also left a profound mark on Baton Rouge, bringing performers to the city through the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Great Performers series.

HOBBY OR PASSION: “My grandfather always encouraged me in music and dance. It’s my individual passion.”

JENNIFER

EPLETT

REILLY

TRUSTEE AND CO-FOUNDER CITY YEAR INC.

Jennifer Eplett Reilly has spent more than 30 years creating and nurturing initiatives that bridge sectors and unite diverse perspectives for the greater good. As a co-founder and trustee of City Year, one of the nation’s most respected national service programs, she has helped shape the landscape of public service in America. Her passion for community impact also led her to cofound the Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship and advise the Commission on National and Community Service. Reilly’s influence extends to education, where she was an early advocate for Teach for America, serving on its founding national board. She also led New Schools for Baton Rouge as its founding board chair, helping drive educational reform in the region.

ADVICE FOR YOUNG WOMEN: “Be bold, be bold, be bold! Find a professional purpose that aligns with your passion and true worth. Whatever path you choose, make service a part of it.”

MARY STEIN

ASSISTANT LIBRARY

DIRECTOR

EAST BATON ROUGE

PARISH LIBRARY

Mary Stein’s leadership played a key role in bringing the Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard to life, delivering the $43 million project under budget and on time. Her proudest moment, she says, was the ribboncutting ceremony, where she passed the giant scissors to the library board to mark the dedication. As assistant director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system, Stein oversees programming, public relations, marketing, grants, outreach, collection development and reference services. Her impact goes beyond daily operations, as she is involved in budgeting, long-range planning and capital improvement projects. Stein also works closely with the Patrons of the Public Library Friends group, ensuring the library’s continued growth and success.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Music, science fiction and “crafty things”

MYRA RICHARDSON

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

LOUISIANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION

Myra Richardson’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for community outreach have made her a recognized force in Baton Rouge and beyond. As the founder of the award-winning Red Torch Consulting, she combines public relations expertise with a deep commitment to activism and organizing. Known for her strategic approach, Richardson’s leadership at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce was transformative—growing membership from 18 to nearly 400 and elevating the organization’s visibility and impact in the community. With a strong track record in business development and social advocacy, Richardson continues to leverage her skills to empower businesses and underserved communities, making meaningful strides in economic development and representation.

FUN FACT: She is the creator of the annual 225Fest, celebrating culture in the Capital Region.

BEVERLY BROOKS THOMPSON

MANAGING DIRECTOR

CARTER ADVANCING

PHILANTHROPY WORLDWIDE

Beverly Brooks Thompson is a trusted guide in the world of philanthropy, helping families, foundations and businesses shape their giving strategies. With a gift for connecting people to causes, she has made a lasting impact on Baton Rouge’s charitable landscape. Thompson was instrumental in directing the Forever LSU campaign, which raised over $798 million, and served as chief development officer at Woman’s Hospital, where she launched the Foundation for Woman’s Hospital. Her latest creation, The Echo Alliance, unites individuals with a shared commitment to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, pooling annual donations to drive significant impact. Whether fostering corporate responsibility or guiding individual giving, Thompson’s work continues to shape the community’s future.

WHAT GETS HER MOVING IN THE MORNING: Buckets of coffee

MOTTO: Do good, better.

LUCAS SPIELFOGEL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE YOUTH COALITION

Lucas Spielfogel has transformed the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition into a driving force in helping local high school students overcome barriers to attending college, growing its reach from 50 students in 2012 to 350 high schoolers and 670 alumni in 2023-24. A New York native, Spielfogel moved to Baton Rouge with Teach For America, where he earned Teacher of the Year honors for two consecutive years teaching seventh-grade social studies at Baker Middle School. Though his initial plan was to return to the Northeast, Spielfogel stayed in Baton Rouge, accepting the executive director role at BRYC. Over the past 12 years, he has built an organization that empowers students through college access programs and support. As the author of The College Playbook, Spielfogel is also committed to helping students navigate the complex financial aid process.

ON HOW HE ENDED UP IN BATON ROUGE: “It just felt like a place where I could plant roots, and that’s exactly what happened.”

MICHAEL

TIPTON PRESIDENT LOUISIANA BLUE FOUNDATION

Michael Tipton has been a driving force in improving the well-being of Louisiana’s communities since joining the Louisiana Blue Foundation (formerly the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation) in 2015. As president, he manages a $50 million endowment and leads grantmaking efforts aimed at enhancing the lives of children and families across the state. Tipton also oversees community relations for the foundation, directing corporate giving exceeding $1 million annually and fostering volunteerism among the company’s 3,500 Louisiana-based employees. Under his leadership, the foundation’s employeeled community initiatives have expanded and diversified, making a lasting impact in neighborhoods statewide.

DREAM DINNER COMPANIONS: Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. They were/are both people who think differently, who challenged conventions and who changed the context of life around us.

Health Care

RICHARD ASHWORTH

PRESIDENT AND CEO AMEDISYS

Before becoming president and CEO of Amedisys in 2023, Richard Ashworth went from being a Walgreens store clerk in 1992 to becoming the president of Walgreens in 2020. With a background in pharmacy, retail, and health and wellness services, Ashworth believes in addressing health care disparities, treating patients humanely and offering preventive care instead of sick care. Amedysis has offices in Baton Rouge and Nashville, Tennessee. Before joining Amedysis, he was the president and CEO of Tivity Health, a leading provider of healthy, life-changing fitness and wellness solutions.

FUN FACT: As president and CEO of Tivity Health, flagship brand SilverSneakers set a mark recognized by Guinness World Records for the most viewers of a dance fitness livestream on Facebook, in August 2022.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Boating and fitness

BRYAN CAMERLINCK

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LOUISIANA BLUE

Bryan Camerlinck was named president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana—now rebranded as Louisiana Blue—in 2024 amid a series of organizational changes following the failure of a planned sale of BCBSLA to Elevance Health. Camerlinck, who replaced Steve Udvarhelyi as president and CEO, joined Louisiana Blue in 2016 as chief financial officer and was promoted to the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2021. Prior to joining Louisiana Blue, Camerlinck held roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City for more than 20 years, including CFO and president and CEO of the company’s subsidiaries. As a multiskilled executive, he started his career as an auditor with Ernst and Young, one of the “Big Four” global accounting firms.

FUN FACT: Camerlinck is a CPA.

EDUCATION: He earned a degree in accounting and pre-law from Kansas State University.

DR. BRENT BANKSTON

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

BATON ROUGE

ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC

As a hip, knee and sports medicine specialist at Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic, helping people feel better is in Dr. Brent Bankston’s bones. For decades, the LSU alumnus has provided orthopedic services to athletes at LSU, University High School and Parkview High School. He has been the head team orthopedist for various LSU athletic programs, and in 2017, he was named the Southeastern Conference Physician of the Year.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Football, hunting and fishing

IN THE COMMUNITY: Bankston participated in Operation WALK in Cuba in 2004 and 2007 and a disaster mission to Haiti in 2010 following a massive earthquake.

BENJAMIN J. BOUDREAUX

CEO

THE NEUROMEDICAL CENTER CLINIC

Benjamin J. Boudreaux has worked in health care administration for nearly 20 years. In 2019, he became the CEO of The NeuroMedical Center Clinic. Prior to joining the clinic, he held leadership roles at the Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Houma and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. He was the executive vice president of business development for the Cardiovascular Institute of the South for nine years, expanding services, physician recruitment and hospital contracting relations. The NeuroMedical Center Clinic has satellite clinics in Baton Rouge, Brusly, Convington, Crowley, Eunice, Gonzales, Hammond, St. Francisville, Slidell, Walker and Zachary.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Boudreaux serves on the Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans Reach for the Stars Committee.

EDUCATION: He earned a bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake College and an MBA from Nicholls State University.

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

STEVEN CEULEMANS

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE HEALTH DISTRICT

Belgian native and future-minded health care executive Steven Ceulmans became president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Health District in 2023. With more than 20 years of experience in health and life science research, technology development, cluster innovation, management and policy, Ceulmans is passionate about technology-driven innovation and partnerships in health care. Before stepping into his current role at the Baton Rouge Health District, he was the executive director at the district for five years. His earlier positions include laboratory director at North Oaks Health System, vice president of innovation and technology for the Birmingham Business Alliance in Alabama, and the commercialization director for the New Orleans BioInnovation Center.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

MOTIVATIONAL SONG: “Papa,” by Stef Bos

DR. NEIL CHAPPELL

PHYSICIAN PARTNER FERTILITY ANSWERS

Dr. Neil Chappell first became interested in medicine in high school after attending a forum and watching an open heart surgery. While attending LSU, his interest in biology, endocrinology and anatomy grew. His passion led him to become a fertility specialist with expertise in areas like subfertility, recurrent miscarriage, PCOS, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and surgical options for fibroids, uterine anomalies and endometriosis. An advocate for patient rights, he is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Center for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: Chappell is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.

RECOGNITION: Chappell was a 2023 Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree.

CLAY COUNTRYMAN

PARTNER

BREAZEALE SACHSE & WILSON

Clay Countryman is a partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson LLP’s Baton Rouge office. He focuses on advising health care providers on compliance with federal and state health care laws and regulations. He represents health care industry clients with business transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity investments. Countryman has held several leadership positions with the American Bar Association and is a former Chair of the ABA Health Law Section. He is also a nationally recognized speaker and author.

A MUST-READ: Half Time, by Bob Buford. It focuses on how to create a new vision for the second half of your life.

MOTIVATIONAL SONGS: “America,” by Neil Diamond; and “Let’s Go,” by Trick Daddy

DR. CURTIS CHASTAIN

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

LAKE MEN’S HEALTH AND EXECUTIVE WELLNESS CENTER

Dr. Curtis Chastain is a forward-thinking and passionate leader whose commitment to health care goes beyond the typical nine-tofive. He is the medical director of the Lake Men’s Health Center, a concierge-style primary care practice designed for men’s health care needs. The Baton Rouge native is a leading expert in men’s health and executive wellness, a thought leader in the health care sector and has dedicated his career to optimizing high-achieving professionals’ long-term health and performance. Chastain has worked with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center since 1993, where he leads the OLOL Executive Wellness program and provides high-level, data-driven health evaluations.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: The more you try to control your destiny, the more miserable you become. Let go and let God.

A MUST READ: Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy: The Simple Art of Taking Back Your Life, by Matthew Kelly

CHUCK DAIGLE

CEO

OCHSNER HEALTH

BATON ROUGE AND LAKE CHARLES

Amid a global pandemic and one of the most strenuous times in health care, Chuck Daigle became the CEO of Ochsner Health Baton Rouge and Lake Charles in 2021. Before shifting his focus to the Capital Region, he was the founding CEO of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. He has worked in health care management and health insurance for more than three decades, including as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Willis Knighton Health System in Shreveport and vice president of management and professional services at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Don’t get caught up in the race of life, and remember that accomplishment comes in many shapes, sizes and forms.

MOTIVATIONAL SONG: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” by Journey

JODI CONACHEN COO

MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

Jodi Conachen knows what it means to lead with heart—and results. As chief operating officer of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Conachen helps steer one of Louisiana’s leading cancer care organizations, overseeing operations and driving strategic initiatives. She’s no newcomer to the mission: Before stepping into the COO role, she served as vice president of marketing and communications, helping to elevate Mary Bird Perkins’ reputation for excellence and expanding its reach across Louisiana. A passionate advocate for patient-centered care, Conachen has been instrumental in developing innovative partnerships and expanding services to meet the needs of communities throughout the state. Her career spans leadership roles at Community Coffee Company, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and Woman’s Hospital.

CHILDHOOD GOAL: I wanted to matter.

DR. ANDREW DALOVISIO

HEMATOLOGIST AND ONCOLOGIST

MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

Dr. Andrew Dalovisio is director of the myeloma, lymphoma, and cellular therapy program at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. He was announced as the new director of the program in January 2025. In his practice, he focuses on multiple myeloma, plasma cell disorders and lymphoma. He is a member of various professional organizations, including the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, the International Myeloma Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

FAVORITE SONG: Any and all songs by John Prine. I think he is the greatest lyricist to ever live.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: I want to take my family on an extended African safari. I enjoy being in nature and bonding with my two sons.

DR. R. SCOTT DAUGHERTY JR.

ROBOTIC COLON AND RECTAL SURGEON

BR GENERAL ADVANCED ROBOTICS INSTITUTE

Dr. R. Scott Daugherty Jr. is an expert in treating colorectal diseases with advanced technologies. In 2021, he co-founded the Baton Rouge General Advanced Robotics Institute. He was also one of the first U.S. surgeons to perform the robotic Kono-S anastomosis for Crohn’s disease. The Lafayette native specializes in treating a wide range of colorectal diseases, including colon, rectal and anal cancers; inflammatory bowel disease; rectal prolapse; hemorrhoids; anal fissures; diverticulitis; perirectal abscess/ fistula; and pilonidal disease.

BEST ADVICE: Time is priceless. There’s no price tag you can place on it. Never give up a chance to spend time with a loved one or to take that trip on your bucket list.

FAVORITE SONG: “Baby Got Back,” by Sir Mix-aLot. It’s a colorectal surgery theme song

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 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 in 2023. 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.

FUN FACT: Fontenot was part of the medical team that provided care for LSU’s live tiger mascot, Mike VI, in 2016.

ANN HEINE

CEO

SURGICAL SPECIALTY CENTER

Anne Heine has been CEO of the Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge since 2016. Before being promoted to her current role, she served as the vice president of support services and compliance officer for the center for more than 18 years. Her career history includes being a divisional director at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for more than three years and a quality consultant with Baton Rouge General Medical Center for nearly nine years.

EDUCATION: Heine earned a bachelor’s in consumer sciences from LSU.

EARLY DAYS: She attended St. Joseph’s Academy

DR. LAURA HETZLER

DIRECTOR

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CLEFT TEAM

A leader in both surgical innovation and medical education, Dr. Laura Hetzler has played a pivotal role in advancing otolaryngology care and training at the LSU Health Sciences Center. She is a professor with the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and is program director of the LSU Department of Otolaryngology, where she joined the team in 2010 and was named vice chair in New Orleans in 2022. The facial, plastic and reconstructive surgeon also founded the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial team. Hetzler’s practice is based out of Baton Rouge at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

CAUSE SHE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: Hetzler participates in humanitarian missions around the globe as part of cleft lip and palate surgical teams. HOMETOWN: Opelousas

DR. CRAIG GREENE

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

BATON ROUGE

ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC

Dr. Craig Greene is an orthopedic surgeon, specializing in hip and knee surgery, joint replacement, arthroscopy and sports medicine. He helps patients regain mobility and enjoy life without pain or disability. Throughout his career, he has held many roles, including that of a Louisiana state Senate head page, a research assistant at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a chief of surgery at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans. In 2017, Greene was elected to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, where he served eight years. He has been an orthopedic surgeon at Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic since 2006. In 2011, he founded the Dr. Greene Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid in disaster relief globally.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: Greene was a strong safety on the LSU football team from 1992 to 1994.

TERRI HICKS

PRESIDENT & CEO

THE SPINE HOSPITAL OF LOUISIANA AT THE NEUROMEDICAL CENTER

Terri Hicks became the CEO of The Spine Hospital of Louisiana at the NeuroMedical Center in 2022. Before taking on the role, she accumulated more than 30 years of senior health care administration experience. She was the CFO for St. Francis Medical Center and was the CFO and COO at P&S Surgical Hospital in Monroe for more than 20 years, while also overseeing the management of Monroe Surgical Hospital. The Spine Hospital of Louisiana has completed more than 25,000 spine surgeries and over 65,000 pain management procedures since being founded in 2004 and continues to focus on the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of spinerelated conditions.

A MUST-READ: Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown. It’s a powerful book of insight about what it takes to lead, and a lot of times, that takes courage over comfort. She writes about how to lead with empathy, connection and courage.

MOTIVATIONAL SONG: “The Climb,” by Miley Cyrus

Committed to Baton Rouge. Focused on Your Health.

At Ochsner Baton Rouge, delivering exceptional, trusted healthcare to our patients is what we do best. Our talented and experienced teams work within and across our network, including our hospitals, clinics, outpatient, and short-stay surgery facilities to provide in-person and digital options to meet you wherever you are on your healthcare journey. With over 650 physicians and advanced practice providers across more than 30 specialties, we deliver leading-edge, evidence-based care tailored to your needs — right here in the Capital region. Every day, our goal remains to strengthen the communities we serve by putting patients first. As Baton Rouge grows, so does our commitment to providing reliable, accessible healthcare — today and for the future.

Visit ochsner.org/batonrouge to learn more.

CHERI JOHNSON

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/ CHIEF NURSING OFFICER WOMAN’S HOSPITAL

Cheri Johnson is an established leader and advocate for women and infants. She started working at Woman’s Hospital in 2006 and over the years has worked her way up to chief nursing officer and executive vice president. Woman’s Hospital is the largest women’s care specialty hospital in Louisiana. At Woman’s, Johnson opened a dedicated COVID-19 unit and organized staff for critical patients. She also helped open Louisiana’s first 10bed inpatient perinatal mental health unit. Johnson has won numerous awards, including being named the Louisiana State Nurses Association’s Nurse of the Year in 2011, and serves on various task forces and committees dedicated to women and infants.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: You are more capable than you ever imagined. Don’t let yourself get in the way of accomplishing great things.

A MUST-READ: All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. My oldest daughter is blind so this one speaks to me.

E.J. KUIPER

PRESIDENT

FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES

OF OUR LADY HEALTH SYSTEM

E.J. Kuiper started his career as a physical therapist before becoming a hospital executive as a result of his frustration with his hospital’s leadership. Kuiper would later become president and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 2024 after holding leadership roles in Nebraska, Illinois and Florida for nearly three decades. Originally from the Netherlands, Kuiper was seen as a rising star in the U.S. health care system and was selected in a national search for his Baton Rouge role. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and was recognized as one of 101 Academic Medical Center CEOs to watch in 2023 by Becker’s Hospital Review.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: Kuiper is a big fan of Lady Gaga.

A MUST-READ: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell. The book is all about exploring the adaptive unconscious.

DR. SANJAY JUNEJA

FOUNDER & VICE PRESIDENT

TENSORBLACK AND MEDFLUENCERS, CLINICAL AI OPERATIONS

Dr. Sanjay Juneja is a triple board-certified hematologist and oncologist committed to democratizing innovation in cancer care. Known as TheOncDoc on social media, he has gained over 581,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. He hosts the “Target Cancer: Podcast,” with over 2 million downloads across more than 100 countries. Recognized globally for his influence, Juneja was invited to the White House’s Healthcare Leaders in Social Media roundtable in 2023 and named the first-ever recipient of Targeted Oncology’s 2024 Oncology Icons award. Juneja is vice president of clinical AI applications at Tempus AI. He serves on the editorial board of AI in Precision Oncology and co-founded TensorBlack and Medfluencers. He is an advocate for health equity, contributing to policy efforts at state and federal levels.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Boxing. It really challenges emotional control and poise.

MARK LAPEROUSE

MEDICAL DIRECTOR/ CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE

Dr. Mark Laperouse is a compassionate, confident and community-centric leader in the local health care space. As the medical director and chief medical officer of emergency services at Our Lady of the Lake, he passionately advocates for health care advancements, technology utilization and better patient experiences. He was a key player in implementing IntelliSep, a rapid sepsis test in the emergency department and is helping spearhead renovations and improvements to the Our Lady of the Lake emergency department.

MUST-READS: The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins, and The 5 Types of Wealth, by Sahil Bloom. I have been on a personal mission for the last two years to better myself mentally and emotionally. Simple systems and structures with tried-and-true approaches make all the difference.

FAVORITE PODCAST: “The Warrior Dad with Jeff Wickersham.” Not only is his message and mission incredible, but his guests also have great perspectives on how to live happier and more fulfilling lives.

DR. JOHN KIRWAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

John Kirwan has been the executive director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center since 2018. He is an internationally renowned obesity, diabetes and nutrition scientist with over 30 years of research, training, teaching and service in the obesity and diabetes fields. He has generated more than $50 million in research funding, primarily from the National Institutes of Health and the food, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Before taking on his role at Pennington, he was director of the Metabolic Translational Research Center and professor of molecular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Throughout his career, he has been a professor of integrated physiology, molecular medicine and nutrition at various institutions.

PUBLISHED RESEARCH: He has had more than 200 scientific papers related to diabetes and metabolism published in peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA

RANDY J. MIRE

CEO AND FOUNDER CAPITOL WELLNESS SOLUTIONS

This local pharmacist and cannabis executive is expanding the medical marijuana industry in the South. Randy J. Mire is the founder and CEO of Capitol Wellness Solutions, a medical marijuana dispensary in Baton Rouge. After opening his first Baton Rouge dispensary in 2019, Mire opened his second location in 2024 in partnership with globally recognized cannabis brand Cookies. He has been working in the pharmacy business since receiving his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2007. Outside of Baton Rouge, he is the CEO and founder of Southern Crop, a brand house for Mississippi cannabis cultivation and processing.

MOTTO: Life‘s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: I love to travel with my family and Alaska is on my bucket list because of the great fishing and wildlife experiences.

AL MOREAU III

PRESIDENT MOREAU PHYSICAL THERAPY

Al Moreau III is the president of Moreau Physical Therapy, a family-owned company founded in 1977. With a passion for teaching the next generation of physical therapists, he and his father’s leadership have led to the expansion of the therapy, rehabilitation and wellness practice to more than 23 locations. Founded in Zachary by his father, Al Moreau Jr., Moreau Physical Therapy has locations in the Greater Baton Rouge area, Acadiana, New Orleans, and Beaumont and Lumberton, Texas.

FUN FACT: He attended Catholic High School HOBBY OR PASSION: Duck hunting MOTTO: Think different and enjoy the moment.

RENE RAGAS

PRESIDENT AND CEO

WOMAN’S HOSPITAL

In 2022, Rene Ragas became president and CEO of Woman’s Hospital, the largest singlehospital birthing facility in Louisiana. Before Woman’s, he was a health care executive for more than 20 years, leading local hospitals and health care systems as the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System’s Northshore market president and CEO of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa. Under Ragas’ leadership, Woman’s opened Louisiana’s first inpatient perinatal mental health unit in 2024. Woman’s was named a World’s Best Hospital by Newsweek and one of the Best Midsize Employers in 2024. Ragas is the chair of the Louisiana Hospital Association, an executive committee member of the Baton Rouge Health District and a member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber board.

A MUST-READ: First Break All the Rules, by Marcus Buckingham. It taught me that a strong leader is pivotal in cultivating environments where employees and companies can truly excel.

DR. CATHERINE O’NEAL

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY HEALTH SYSTEM

Dr. Catherine O’Neal was appointed chief academic officer for Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in August 2024. She has been practicing medicine since 2003, specializing in research and treatment of infectious diseases. Throughout her career, she has held various clinical leadership roles. In 2020, she was appointed chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, days before the state’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. During the pandemic, O’Neal became a leading voice in providing valuable information to the public as well as state officials. Since 2009, O’Neal has been a faculty member of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, where she is an associate professor of clinical medicine and infectious diseases.

HOMETOWN: Mamou, Louisiana

RECOGNITION: O’Neal was one of Business Report’s Influential Women in Business honorees in 2022.

DR. RUBIN PATEL

FOUNDER AND CEO

PATIENT PLUS URGENT CARE

Dr. Rubin Patel, founder and CEO of Patient Plus Urgent Care, opened his first Patient Plus Urgent Care clinic in Baton Rouge in 2016. Patel has rapidly expanded his business with 11 locations throughout Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Hammond, Brusly and New Orleans. Before launching his urgent care company, Patel was the head of Ochsner Baton Rouge’s urgent care department. He enjoyed the variety of cases and unpredictability that came with after-hours urgent care shifts, and in 2015 left Ochsner to pursue his passion and capitalize on the growing industry.

EARLY DAYS: Patel attended Episcopal School of Baton Rouge.

FUN FACT: His father built one of the first hotels in Gonzales at age 44.

DR. GUNJAN RAINA

CONCIERGE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

BATON ROUGE GENERAL

Practicing as a concierge physician, Dr. Gunjan Raina is fueled by helping others on their journey to becoming the healthiest version of themselves. She offers personalized family medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She practices in Canada and India and can speak English, French and Hindi. She hosts health and wellness events and posts educational social media content on such topics as hormone health, menopause, men’s health, and nutrition. After focusing on obesity treatment for five years, she aims to become a menopause expert and educate and empower women about their health and lifestyle options to live optimally.

A MUST-READ: The New Menopause, by Dr. Mary Claire Haver. She has transformed how women feel about themselves and how they can improve their lives.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: To write a book and be able to share my story

LEANNE REDMAN

DIRECTOR, NUTRITION OBESITY RESEARCH CENTER; ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR FOR SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

At Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Leanne Redman is helping to change the way the world thinks about health—one discovery at a time. As director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center and associate executive director for scientific education, she leads critical studies on energy metabolism, obesity and maternal health. Redman’s work explores how lifestyle factors during pregnancy can influence lifelong health outcomes. Her research has positioned her as a leading voice nationally—earning her the 2025 E.V. McCollum Award from the American Society for Nutrition.

AUSSIE ROOTS: Originally from Australia, Redman completed her undergraduate studies at Southern Cross University and earned her Ph.D. in obstetrics and gynecology from the University of Adelaide. ON A MISSION: Her research focuses on how lifestyle, diet and physical activity influence body composition and energy metabolism.

WHERE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES MEET!

Celebrating nearly a decade of service in the Capital Region, The BRidge Agency is a Baton Rouge-based nonprofit dedicated to community and economic development, youth empowerment, and holistic support for underserved families.

Established in 2017, our work spans innovative youth development programs, trauma-informed support, and resources directly reaching low-income youth and families. From mentoring initiatives like the National Police Athletic League to partnerships with prominent organizations, we are on a mission to create pathways for resilience, wellness, and stability. Through partnerships, we leverage community resources to empower young people, enhance families' quality of life, and promote equitable access to essential services. Our agency coordinates the day-to-day provision of access to resources and necessities for impoverished and vulnerable low to moderate youth and adult residents who reside within Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes and works collaboratively with entities and other resources on behalf of the underserved population to connect to other available services for those in need.

In June of 2022, we were recognized by Goldman Sachs through their One Million Black Women Initiative as 1 of 50 black woman-led transformational organizations within the U.S. and featured in the Washington Post.

admin@bridgeagencyinc.org · (225) 238-7248 www.bridgeagencyinc.org

WHAT WE DO

The BRidge Agency provides a powerful network of programs designed to foster resilience, stability, and opportunity:

• Resource Connection Center

Offering essential services like the Diaper Depot and referral connections to meet urgent needs parish-wide.

• The BRidge Club

Youth development sessions that build leadership, life skills, academic support, trauma awareness, and healthy relationship education for ages 10–17.

• BRidge Agency P.A.L.

A nationally connected initiative fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and youth through mentorship and recreation.

• Comprehensive Care Initiative

Coordinating access to healthcare, education, and social services for underserved neighborhoods through strategic partnerships.

• Summer Youth Enrichment

Free camps for youth (ages 7–12) and paid internships for teens (13–18) focusing on leadership, advocacy, and future readiness.

• Legacy Literacy 4 All

Empowering marginalized adults with education on estate planning, property ownership, and financial literacy.

• Thriving Families

A parent-focused program providing the tools to build strong, healthy, abuse-free homes.

PARTNER WITH US

• Be a Mentor

• Volunteer at Community Events

• Partner to promote Youth Advocacy & Leadership Development

• Host A BRidge Event

• Donate Basic Essentials

• Be A BRidge Builder Community Partner

CHRISTY REEVES

VICE

PRESIDENT

OCHSNER HEALTH

Christy Reeves may be the vice president of Ochsner Health, but her impact has reached far beyond health care. She joined Ochsner Health in 2019. Before then, she held various leadership roles at national nonprofits, including Girl Scouts of the USA, Single Stop, and I Am That Girl. Under her leadership, Ochsner has established innovative community partnerships, including the Jag Mobile—a mobile health clinic in partnership with Southern University’s School of Nursing that provides services to underserved communities surrounding Southern’s campus.

MOTTO: Embrace every opportunity. If none exists, create one.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: I grew up struggling with weight and fitness. It wasn’t until my 40s, when I ran my first marathon, that I realized I was capable of more. Since then, I’ve raced in Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota and beyond. If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self: Everyone is an athlete— including you.

MANDY SHIPP

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL RESEARCH

MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

Mandy Shipp has worked in clinical research for more than 25 years. Prior to becoming the director of clinical research at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in 2022, she coordinated pharmaceutical studies at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and led research at the Metabolic Center of Louisiana. Since joining Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, the organization has expanded its clinical research program, opening a genetic services clinic to help boost cancer prevention and precision medicine strategies.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Take the risk. I have been afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone for most of my life. I finally did three and a half years ago when I quit my job after 20 years and took a new one at Mary Bird Perkins. The only thing I regret about my decision is that I didn’t do it sooner.

MOTIVATIONAL SONG: “Rise Up,” by Andra Day

DR. PHILIP SCHAUER

BARIATRIC SURGEON AND PROFESSOR

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

Dr. Philip Schauer is a professor of metabolic surgery and director of the bariatric and metabolic initiative at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. He has authored more than 400 scientific papers, 60 textbook chapters and three textbooks related to obesity, bariatric/ metabolic surgery and gastrointestinal surgery. Schauer has also given over 250 international lectures on the subject of metabolic surgery and trained more than 200 postgraduate surgeons and 100 fellows. In addition, he is founder of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Symposium and the founder and former chair of ObesityWeek, an international conference for obesity researchers and clinicians.

A PROLIFIC SURGEON: Schauer has performed more than 8,000 operations for severe obesity and diabetes across five continents

RECOGNITION: He was awarded the SAGES Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy Award in 2018 and the Cleveland Clinic 2015 Sones Award, the highest honor for scientific innovation at Cleveland Clinic.

PETER KATZMARZYK

PROFESSOR

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

Katzmarzyk is an internationally recognized leader in the field of physical activity and obesity, with a special emphasis on pediatrics and ethnic health disparities. To that end, he has conducted large clinical and populationbased studies in children and adults for more than two decades. Katzmarzyk has a special interest in global health, and has a record of building research capacity in physical activity and obesity research in developing countries. He is the associate executive director for Population and Public Health Sciences at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center where he holds the Marie Edana Corcoran Endowed Chair in Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes.

A NATIONAL ADVOCATE: Katzmarzyk plays a leading role in national health advocacy initiatives, having chaired the Research Advisory Committee for the U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth for the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance.

JOHN SIKES

John Sikes is the CEO and co-founder of DPI Anesthesia. Founded in 2003, DPI Anesthesia expanded from a nurse anesthetist staffing company to a Business Report Top 100 Private Company, providing hospitals and surgery centers with full-range anesthesia services. DPI employs more than 100 employees and has credentialed over 350 anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina. Before launching his anesthesia group, Sikes was a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Lane Regional Medical Center and West Jefferson Medical Center.

EDUCATION: He earned an MBA from LSU Shreveport, a master of science from Xavier University and a bachelor of science in nursing from UL Lafayette.

RECOGNITION: DPI was named on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

ED SILVEY

CEO

THE BATON ROUGE CLINIC

This health care administration veteran has been CEO of The Baton Rouge Clinic for more than 35 years and has more than 55 years in the industry. In 2013, Silvey was awarded the Harry Harwick Lifetime Achievement Award by the American College of Medical Practice Executives. He was chair for three years of the Medical Group Management Association Government Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., during the debate on health care reform. He has served on numerous boards, been a guest speaker at several universities, and is a national speaker on physician recruitment and retention.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: To be able to celebrate my 65th wedding anniversary in 10 years

FAVORITE SONGS: I love tropical beach music. It makes me happy. Jessie Rice’s “Hammock in Havana” and “Beer on a Beach,” and Don Middlebrook’s “Beach Bar Serenade” and “I Stole Jimmy Buffett’s TV Guide” stand out.

DAVID SLAUGHTER

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER ORION LABORATORIES

David Slaughter, CEO and co-founder of Orion Laboratories, has positioned the Baton Rouge-based company as a leader in clinical diagnostics across the Southeast. Under his leadership, Orion has expanded its capabilities, operating a 32,000-square-foot headquarters with an annual testing capacity of 12 million samples. His commitment to efficiency has significantly improved regional health care, with over 95% of routine results delivered by the next morning, eliminating the need for out-of-state testing. Beyond traditional diagnostics, Slaughter spearheaded the launch of Louisiana’s first ISO-certified cannabis testing lab through Orion Therapeutics, supporting the state’s medical marijuana industry.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Bet on yourself earlier and embrace calculated risks.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE: “Success comes from doing the unglamorous work others avoid.” It taught me the value of perseverance and grit.

CHARLES “CHUCK” SPICER

PRESIDENT

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HEALTH

After years of administrative and leadership roles in Texas and Oklahoma, Charles “Chuck” Spicer was selected in 2022 to lead Our Lady of the Lake Health as president. Since then, OLOL has continued to be an influential force in the local health care industry. Under Spicer’s leadership, OLOL has attracted top talent in the medical field, opened an infusion center in Ascension Parish, added cutting-edge cancer, sepsis and heart condition treatments, and opened a community impact center providing rentfree workspaces for local nonprofits. Spicer serves on the board of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Baton Rouge Health District, Capital Area United Way and the Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Manage your relationships better than your financial portfolio. MOTTO: Inspired by Jim Valvano’s famous quote: “If you laugh, you think and you cry, that’s a full day.”

EDGARDO TENREIRO

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE GENERAL

Edgardo Tenreiro was named CEO of Baton Rouge General in 2017 after serving as BRG’s executive vice president and chief operating officer for eight years. He has worked in management roles for hospital systems for nearly three decades in Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Illinois, including as a COO, CEO, and vice president, overseeing cardiology, oncology, surgery services, revenue cycle, outpatient clinics, operations, physician network development, marketing, and quality. He serves as treasurer of the Louisiana Hospital Association and is a member of various boards, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Baton Rouge Health District.

A MUST-READ: Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future, by Patrick Deneen. It is an inspiring (but incomplete) diagnosis of Liberalism’s failure.

BRYANT VOTH

CEO

WEILER PLASTIC

SURGERY GROUP

In 2024, Weiler Plastic Surgery Group purchased the former Hamilton Telecommunications property on Bluebonnet Centre Boulevard for $2.5 million to open an administration building and call center for its growing plastic surgery business. Under Bryant Voth’s leadership, Weiler Plastic Surgery Group has expanded throughout Louisiana with locations in Baton Rouge, Covington, Denham Springs, Hammond, Lafayette, Metairie, Slidell and Prairieville. Voth has been with the company since 2016, starting as the director of operations before becoming CEO in 2021.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Voth volunteers at Baton Rouge General and Lafayette General Health.

EDUCATION: He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from LSU.

TIFFANY STEWART

DUDLEY & BEVERLY COATES PROFESSOR | DIRECTOR, BEHAVIOR TECHNOLOGY LAB: HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, & RESILIENCE

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

Tiffany Stewart, director of the Behavior Technology Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, is a trailblazer in translational research—bridging science and real-world health solutions. A clinical psychologist and endowed professor, she works with high-performance populations, including U.S. Army soldiers, Olympians and NCAA athletes, to enhance performance, resilience and overall well-being. Acquiring more than $20 million in grant funding, Stewart has spearheaded groundbreaking projects, developing evidence-based mental optimization programs and cutting-edge technologies. She has received numerous accolades including being named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report.

MOTTO: “Clarity comes from stillness.” The practice of mindfulness is key to keeping perspective.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS

CANCER CENTER

ADMINISTRATOR

MARY BIRD PERKINS

CANCER CENTER

Michelle Williams became the cancer center administrator at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s Baton Rouge locations in 2024. She oversees the cancer center’s comprehensive oncology programs, including medical and radiation oncology programs. Before joining Mary Bird Perkins, she served in the U.S. Navy for almost 24 years. She has also held various roles in health care administration at in-home health care services company VieMed, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center and Mary Bird Perkins in Lafayette.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Listen to your mom. BUCKET LIST ITEM: My husband and I retiring from our second careers before age 60 so we can spend time with our adult kids and granddaughter

Arts & Entertainment

JASON ANDREASEN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

BATON ROUGE GALLERY

For nearly two decades, Jason Andreasen has been one of the most prominent advocates and champions of Baton Rouge’s arts scene. He first stepped into his role as president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Art Gallery in 2007. In that position, he has led the gallery to reach new heights in terms of artist participation, attendance, programming, charitable donations and art sales.

ON THE BEAT: Before joining the Baton Rouge Art Gallery, Andreasen worked as a freelance entertainment journalist.

RECOGNITION: In 2022, Andreasen was named one of 225 Magazine’s People to Watch in the Capital Region.

KRIS CANGELOSI

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

CANGELOSI DANCE PROJECT

As the artistic director and owner of Cangelosi Dance Project, Kris Cangelosi has dedicated her career to shaping aspiring dancers, emphasizing form, technique and artistic development. She has also taught at institutions such as the University of South Carolina and Virginia School of the Arts. Beyond the studio, she is an advocate for using dance to support charitable causes like the Dancing for Big Buddy program.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: Traveling to France, Greece and Italy

HOW SHE INSPIRES HER TEAM: Hard work makes great results. The more committed, focused and self-motivated you are, the more success you will find.

ANN CONNELLY FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ANN CONNELLY FINE ART

Through her gallery, Ann Connelly works to elevate both emerging and established artists, many of whom call Baton Rouge home. She has also sought to foster relationships that extend beyond her gallery’s walls, spearheading community arts initiatives and sharing her space with educational organizations and nonprofits in need. She credits her company’s success to its culture of authenticity, exceptional customer service and meaningful experiences.

DREAM DINNER COMPANION: Isabelle de Borchgrave, a Belgian artist and designer who recently died. Every day, she sought to learn something new. To me, she is one of those artists who created three lifetimes of work.

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert

MARIE CONSTANTIN

OWNER

MARIE CONSTANTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Marie Constantin is both a celebrated photographer whose work has reached global audiences and a relentless advocate for environmental stewardship. Her career in photography reached a pinnacle when the Vatican chose her image of Mother Teresa to be unveiled at St. Peter’s Basilica before the pope and 300,000 attendees. She has also led multiple efforts to tackle litter in Baton Rouge; notably, she successfully lobbied for a $1 million state allocation to address pollution in Capitol Lake.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Read more books.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: At the end of the day, honest and respectful relationships are more important than accomplishments.

BORISLAVA ILTCHEVA

CONCERTMASTER

BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

A violinist since the age of 5, Borislava Iltcheva earned her bachelor’s degree from the Bulgarian National Academy and her master’s and doctorate degrees in violin performance from LSU. She has trained under seasoned instructors like Mauricio Fuks, Alexander Iltchev, Kevork Mardirossian and Evgenia Maria Popova. Over the years, her work has garnered prizes from a number of national and international competitions. She currently serves as the concertmaster of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and as assistant professor of violin at the University of Southern Mississippi.

PROUDEST MOMENT: Performing at Carnegie Hall in January 2024 in a sold-out concert ON TOUR: She has performed recitals throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S.

ADAM JOHNSON

MUSIC DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Maestro Adam Johnson took the helm as music director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra in July 2023 following an intensive multiyear search. An award-winning conductor with an international reputation, he has led orchestras throughout Europe and North America, including the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal where he served as resident conductor. His versatility extends beyond classical music—he has conducted sold-out performances in jazz, pop and Broadway styles and regularly collaborates on major studio recordings.

RECOGNITION: Johnson’s album Riopelle Symphonique, recorded with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, earned him an Opus Prize in 2018.

BEYOND THE PODIUM: Johnson has also designed educational materials for music teachers and programs to introduce more young people to music.

JASON LANGLOIS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MANSHIP THEATRE

A cornerstone of downtown’s Manship Theatre since its inception in 2005, Jason Langlois stepped into the role of executive director in 2024, bringing with him nearly two decades of experience in event planning, marketing and theater management. A graduate of LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business, he has played a pivotal role in Manship Theatre’s audience development and strategic planning efforts, helping to shape the theater’s reputation as a premier arts venue.

FUN FACT: Langlois has worked with Manship Theatre since day one.

SHOES TO FILL: Langlois succeeded Melanie Couvillon, who had served as Manship Theatre’s executive director since 2017.

JUSTIN LEMOINE FOUNDER

MIDCITY MAKERS MARKET

In 2015, Justin Lemoine and his friends Paul Claxton and Dustin and Melanie Ellis launched MidCity Makers Market—a community event that sought to highlight the best of what the Capital Region has to offer when it comes to artists and creators of all stripes. It began as a small holiday trunk show but has evolved to become a fixture of Baton Rouge’s arts scene, with monthly markets featuring a rotation of nearly 300 makers. He currently serves as executive director of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, and he has also owned and operated ELS Landscape Architecture Studio for over 12 years.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: Skydiving, because risk is essential to life

DO-OVER WISH: None. It’s a long game that requires mistakes.

SHERRI MCCONNELL

CREATIVE INDUSTRY

POLICY ADVISER

SHERRI MCCONNELL INC.

Sherri McConnell has a long history of impact in Louisiana’s entertainment industry. Notably, she received national recognition for guiding the state’s triple-digit entertainment industry growth as executive director of Louisiana Entertainment, a division of Louisiana Economic Development, from 2007 to 2011. Today, she serves as creative industry policy adviser for the Arts Council of Baton Rouge and as public policy consultant for LED’s Office of Entertainment Industry Development.

EARLIER IN HER CAREER: McConnell’s career includes a stint as director of governmental affairs for the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

DRIVING FORCE: McConnell says her love for creativity and culture drives her to find ways to maximize regional strengths that propel economic development and quality of life.

PATRICK MULHEARN

CEO

IRREVOCABLE DESIGNEE LLC

Patrick Mulhearn is a film industry consultant who has worked in Louisiana’s film industry for the past 25 years, including as executive director of Celtic Studios from 2009 to 2017. In February, he embarked on a new journey when he launched Irrevocable Designee LLC, a new business aimed at helping both filmmakers and Louisiana taxpayers get the most out of the state’s motion picture tax credit system. The business acts as a matchmaker, connecting production companies looking to monetize their tax credits faster with taxpayers looking to reduce their state tax burdens. He is also founder of the Louisiana Academy of Production, opening in 2026.

MOTTO: Play chess, not checkers.

STRATEGY FOR STAYING AHEAD OF INDUSTRY DISRUPTIONS: Be the industry disruptor!

CASEY PHILLIPS

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE WALLS PROJECT

Casey Phillips is the co-founder and executive director of The Walls Project, a “community reactivation” nonprofit aimed at stimulating Louisiana’s creative economy. Though he has relocated to Dallas, where the organization has been expanding, he will continue leading the Baton Rouge organization alongside newly named co-executive director Ashlyn Harrison. Established in 2012, The Walls Project leads alliances, events and programs throughout the community with a focus on the arts. Since its inception, the organization has generated over $5 million in income for creatives; completed 173 murals and sculptural installations; trained 3,500 individuals in coding for the web; and built and maintained over 15 community farms.

NOT A ONE-TRICK PONY: Phillips is also founder of The Force Agency, a brand strategy group for art organizations, global brands, live music venues and small businesses. The agency got its start in Los Angeles and relocated to Louisiana in 2011.

KATIE PATTON PRYOR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BATON ROUGE FILM COMMISSION

As executive director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission, Katie Patton Pryor is shaping the future of the Capital Region’s film industry. A co-founder of Film USA, she’s dedicated to expanding opportunities for local talent, from high school students to emerging professionals. She also plays an active role in industry organizations like Film Louisiana and the Louisiana Academy of Production, ensuring that Baton Rouge remains a competitive destination for film and television production. Whether she’s mentoring students, facilitating major productions or creating pathways for young filmmakers to attend the Cannes Film Festival, one goal is clear: She wants to position Baton Rouge as a hub for creatives.

MOTTO: “Life is a tragedy for those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.”

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION: Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss

PRISCILLA SIMPSON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SHAW CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Priscilla Simpson first joined downtown’s Shaw Center for the Arts in 2013 as director of events and operations. In 2023, she was named executive director of the 125,000-square-foot contemporary visual and performing arts facility on Lafayette Street that includes Manship Theatre, the LSU Museum of Art and the LSU School of Art Gallery, as well as dining and retail options. In her role as executive director, she oversees all of the Shaw Center’s operations.

EARLIER IN HER CAREER: Before joining the Shaw Center for the Arts, Simpson worked as a communications specialist for Advance Innovative Education for over six years.

IN HER OWN WORDS: “The Shaw Center for the Arts offers an open, urban setting that fosters creativity. It is a creative catalyst for Baton Rouge and Louisiana and is a visually stunning venue for those looking to deviate from a standard meeting space.”

CHRISTOPHER STELLY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUISIANA ENTERTAINMENT/ DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Christopher Stelly is a driving force behind Louisiana’s digital media and entertainment industries. In his time at Louisiana Economic Development, he has played a key role in positioning the state as a top-tier destination for film, television and digital media production. With a focus on long-term industry growth, he continues to advocate for policies that support business expansion and workforce development in the entertainment sector. He has held six different roles at LED over the years, first as business development manager from 2004 to 2007. He adopted his current titles in March 2024 as part of LED’s larger restructuring efforts.

DREAM DINNER COMPANIONS: Elon Musk and Steve Jobs

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES FOR A LEADER: Integrity, honesty and humility. Be honest enough to recognize that you will never know everything. In other words, it’s OK to say, “I don’t know.”

GARLAND GOODWIN WILSON

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF MOVING COLORS PRODUCTIONS

With a career spanning continents and cultures, Garland Goodwin Wilson has dedicated her life to dance as both a performer and visionary leader. A graduate of LSU’s theater program, she has trained in modern dance at renowned institutions like Impulstanz Vienna and the José Limón Institute in New York and has toured internationally with TNZTT Dance Theatre and Windows Dance Company. She has served as Of Moving Colors Productions’ artistic director since 1997. In that role, she has choreographed dozens of productions and expanded the organization’s reach to more than 100 venues.

A GLOBAL INFLUENCE: Wilson’s work has taken her across Asia, Europe and Latin America.

LOCAL IMPACT: Wilson has shaped dance education in Baton Rouge through roles at Capitol High School, Scotlandville Magnet High School, The Runnels School, Playmakers of Baton Rouge and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

KIM GINN

GENERAL MANAGER

L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL

Guiding Baton Rouge’s premier casino to new heights, Kim Ginn exemplifies leadership in the gaming industry. After joining L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge as vice president of marketing in 2010, she became the first team member of the Greenfield project, a 500-acre development in south Baton Rouge. Her dedication led to her promotion to general manager in 2018. Under her leadership, L’Auberge has maintained its status as the Capital Region’s highest-earning casino. Beyond her professional role, she actively contributes to the community, serving on boards such as the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation and Visit Baton Rouge. Her commitment to excellence has earned her accolades, including being honored in 2014 as one of Business Report’s Influential Women in Business.

FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS: English

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Family trips to the beach

FALLON BUCKNER WARD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LOUISIANA ACADEMY OF PRODUCTION

Fallon Buckner Ward is spearheading the effort to establish the Louisiana Academy of Production, a new 9-12 charter school with an emphasis on film and digital media, in Baton Rouge. The concept is new to the region—once operational, the school will offer high school students both core academic instruction and specialized training in production-related fields. Those students would be able to graduate with industryrecognized certifications, giving them an early leg up in the job market. LAAP had its charter approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in November, and it’s expected to launch in August 2026.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: Going on a safari in Africa CAUSE SHE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: As a lifelong advocate for youth development, I am deeply passionate about Louisiana United Basketball. I dedicate my spring and summer to coaching and mentoring young athletes.

GARY JUPITER

AREA MANAGER

HOSPITALITY AMERICA

With nearly two decades in the hospitality industry, Gary Jupiter has significantly shaped Baton Rouge’s hotel sector. Beginning his career at Homewood Suites by Hilton in 2005, he advanced to manage hotels in Baton Rouge and Houston. His leadership led the DoubleTree by Hilton Baton Rouge to rank in the top 10% for guest satisfaction within the brand. As an area manager for Hospitality America, he oversees the Courtyard by Marriott Baton Rouge Downtown and Hampton Inn Baton Rouge Downtown hotels. His commitment to the industry is evident through his roles as first vice president of the Louisiana Hotel and Lodging Association and as chair of the Visit Baton Rouge board of directors, representing the Baton Rouge Lodging Association. In 2015, his contributions were recognized when he was honored as one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: Be a 6-foot-5 point guard in the NBA

JILL KIDDER

PRESIDENT AND CEO

VISIT BATON ROUGE

Jill Kidder has spent her career shaping the tourism and hospitality industry, bringing over 30 years of expertise to her role as president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge. Her career includes hotel sales and executive management roles across the Southeast, as well as significant experience with convention and visitors’ bureaus, convention centers and downtown development. Prior to joining Visit Baton Rouge, Kidder led the Louisiana Travel Association, advocating for the state’s tourism industry. In her current role, she focuses on enhancing Baton Rouge’s appeal as a premier destination, leading initiatives to rebrand the city by 2026 and highlight its unique culture. Kidder’s leadership extends to her previous appointment as chair of the Southeast Tourism Society’s board of directors, reflecting her commitment to regional tourism growth.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Horseback riding with her dad

FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS: American history

JIM ENGSTER

OWNER AND PRESIDENT

LOUISIANA RADIO NETWORK AND TIGER RAG MAGAZINE

For more than three decades, Jim Engster has been a trusted voice in Louisiana journalism, covering everything from high-stakes political campaigns to the ever-passionate world of LSU football. As president of the Louisiana Radio Network and Tiger Rag Magazine, he continues to shape the state’s media landscape. He has interviewed nine Louisiana governors and reported on every gubernatorial election since 1975, bringing insightful analysis to listeners across the state. Whether unpacking policy shifts or the latest sports headlines, he remains a fixture of the local media landscape.

POLITICAL SPECTRUM: Engster has conducted in-depth interviews with national figures like Bill Clinton, Jesse Ventura and Jerry Brown.

RECORD SETTER: Engster’s Ask the Governor callin show ran for 93 months, making it the longest running gubernatorial radio program in Louisiana history.

MY

FIRST SET OF WHEELS

“A Toyota Tercel. Nicknamed One-Eyed Willie because the left headlight would constantly go out.”

RAEDTHA VASQUEZ PARTNER, JONES WALKER

SCOTT MICHELET

GENERAL MANAGER

CROWNE PLAZA

EXECUTIVE CENTER

Guiding Baton Rouge’s hospitality sector through both prosperous and challenging times, Scott Michelet has demonstrated unwavering commitment and adaptability. Beginning his career in high school, Michelet amassed over 40 years of experience across four states before becoming general manager of the Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge in 2012. There, he oversees daily operations and leads a dedicated team of 150 professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michelet emerged as a prominent advocate for the hospitality sector, providing valuable guidance as hotels across the state faced unprecedented challenges. His strategic vision and dedication have solidified his reputation as a pillar of Baton Rouge’s business community.

BRINGING CHANGE: Under Michelet’s leadership, the hotel has introduced innovative amenities such as an outdoor fitness center.

FLYNN FOSTER

PRESIDENT AND CEO GUARANTY CORP.

Flynn Foster is a third-generation leader of Guaranty Corp., carrying the torch once held by his father and his grandfather before him. Under his leadership, the media group known primarily for its former ownership of the WAFB-TV broadcast news station has diversified its portfolio to include digital media and podcast production through a strategic acquisition of Gatorworks. He also helped form the Guaranty Foundation in 2015, which has supported a number of local and national charities.

A STORIED CAREER: Over the years, Foster has also served on the boards of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters and Visit Baton Rouge, among other organizations. HOBBY OR PASSION: Foster is an avid duck hunter.

KEVIN HALL

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER GEORGES MEDIA GROUP

Georges Media Group is the parent company of The Times-Picayune and The Advocate. Kevin Hall stepped into his role as president of the media group in 2023, and in 2024, he was named publisher. He succeeded Judi Terzotis, who stepped down from handling the company’s day-to-day management to take on a new role as CEO. Hall brings more than 25 years of experience on the business and sales side of media operations to his role. Notably, he served as a regional vice president of sales for Gannett and the USA Today Network.

EARLIER IN HIS CAREER: Hall’s career includes a stint as chief sales and marketing officer for Central Control, which operates nursing and hospice facilities throughout Louisiana.

BUSINESS GOALS: “Growing our audience both online and in print will remain a key priority for us alongside a diversified revenue strategy.”

TIM INGRAM

GENERAL MANAGER

LOUISIANA FIRST NEWS

Tim Ingram assumed his role as general manager of Nexstar Media Group’s Baton Rouge broadcast and digital operations in 2024. He brings nearly 20 years of executive broadcast television management, sales and marketing experience to his role. Under his leadership, Fox 44 News and NBC 33 News, a pair of local broadcast news stations formerly under the banner of BRProud, launched a new joint brand called Louisiana First News. Ingram received his bachelor’s degree in radio and television from Arkansas State University.

RECOGNITION: In 2019, Ingram was honored as General Manager of the Year by Broadcast & Cable Magazine

FAMILY: Ingram and his wife, Rhonda, have been married for 24 years and have two children.

JAKE MANSHIP

CEO

MANSHIP MEDIA

Jake Manship is carrying forward his family’s century-long commitment to local journalism. Appointed CEO and president of Manship Media in 2023, he oversees WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, KRGV-TV in Texas, and the company’s broader media operations. Before stepping into his current role, he worked alongside his uncle, Richard Manship, for a decade, helping guide the company’s broadcast and print portfolios. Under his leadership, WBRZ and KRGV have expanded their news coverage, grown their teams and invested in cutting-edge broadcast technology to better serve their audiences.

FAMILY LEGACY: Manship represents the fourth generation of his family to lead Manship Media.

FUN FACT: WBRZ-TV is the only locally owned television news station in Baton Rouge.

JULIO MELARA

PRESIDENT AND CEO

MELARA ENTERPRISES

Julio Melara is the president and CEO of Melara Enterprises, a multimedia company that publishes Baton Rouge Business Report, 225 Magazine, inRegister Magazine, 10/12 Industry Report, the Daily Report newsletter and a variety of other niche publications and websites. He is also the founder of the Business Report Leadership Academy, an exclusive program for advancing professionals and entrepreneurs that offers the best of personal development, professional growth, leadership exposure and insight from guest CEO speakers. Melara is also CEO and founder of Studio E–a content, communications and creative studio that helps businesses engage and connect with their clients by helping them tell their story and optimizing their content in creative ways on multiple platforms.

THE AUTHOR: Melara is the author of several books, including the newly released Mental Snacks 2: Nourishment for Your Mind and Fuel for Your Life, and is a sought-after speaker.

IVORY PAYNE

PUBLISHER AND CEO

GLOBAL IMPACT MEDIA

As publisher and CEO of Baton Rouge Weekly Press, Ivory Payne is at the helm of Louisiana’s oldest African American-owned weekly newspaper, now celebrating 45 years of service. Beyond print media, Payne leads 24/7 PraiseRadio.com, a four-time Stellar Award-nominated internet gospel station, and Leaders Publications, which highlights African American excellence through coffee tablestyle directories. His dedication to amplifying Black voices extends to his role as president of the Louisiana Black Publishers and Media Association, where he champions the growth and preservation of Black media in the state.

A CALLING: Payne is also an ordained pastor, following in the footsteps of his father and mentor, Bishop Ivory Payne.

RECOGNITION: In February, Payne received the Champion Entrepreneurship and Community Development Award from the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus.

GORDY RUSH

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

GUARANTY MEDIA

An award-winning leader in Baton Rouge’s broadcasting industry, Gordy Rush serves as vice president and general manager of Guaranty Media, overseeing some of the region’s most influential radio stations: Eagle 98.1, 100.7 The Tiger, 104.5/104.9 ESPN Baton Rouge and Talk 107.3 FM. Before stepping into his current role in 2010, he served as Guaranty’s director of sales for more than eight years. If you’re a longtime LSU football fan, you might remember him from his time on the gridiron from 1988 to 1990 as a special teams player for the Tigers.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: London. I have never been and would love to see my favorite soccer team, Tottenham.

PIVOTAL CAREER MOMENT: When I was promoted to my current position in 2010.

JOE SCIORTINO VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

WAFB-TV

A Louisiana native with more than 30 years of broadcasting experience, Joe Sciortino returned to WAFB-TV as vice president and general manager in 2020 after a storied career across the region. He began his journey at WWL-TV in New Orleans, where he worked his way up from studio assistant to production manager before transitioning into sales at WAFB. His career then took him to multiple markets, including Jonesboro, Arkansas; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and Shreveport. He and his wife, Suzette, have three sons and a granddaughter.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “I love this state. It is my home and where I have spent most of my broadcasting career.”

SHOES TO FILL: Sciortino succeeded Ronna Corrente, who joined the WAFB-TV team as general manager in 2018.

ANDREW SHENKAN

GENERAL MANAGER

WBRZ-TV

Andrew Shenkan stepped into his role as general manager of WBRZ-TV in June 2024, bringing with him decades of experience in broadcasting leadership. A former sales manager at the station, he spent the prior four years as vice president and general manager of WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky, following a 14-year tenure leading KATCTV in Lafayette. His career has also included roles at Blair Television and Diversified Communications, equipping him with a deep understanding of media operations and strategy.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Shenkan also serves as a board member of the Rotary Club.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “Baton Rouge has always held a special place in my heart, and I am excited to reconnect with the community and contribute to its growth,”

JUDI TERZOTIS

CEO

GEORGES MEDIA GROUP

Judi Terzotis stepped down from her role as publisher of Georges Media Group to take on a new role as CEO of the company in October. She was succeeded as publisher by Kevin Hall. As publisher, she handled the dayto-day management of the company, a media group that publishes The Advocate, The TimesPicayune and nola.com. As publisher, she oversaw the company’s growth from its base in south Louisiana into a statewide media presence with the launch of The ShreveportBossier City Advocate. A 40-year veteran of the news industry, she first joined Georges Media from Gannett Media in 2018.

RECOGNITION: Terzotis was honored by Business Report as Businessperson of the Year in 2022. WELL CONNECTED: Terzotis is a member of the boards of directors at America’s Newspapers and the Local Media Association.

KURT AINSWORTH

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

MARUCCI SPORTS

Kurt Ainsworth, a former Catholic High, LSU and major league baseball pitcher, is a co-founder and CEO of Baton Rouge-based equipment manufacturing company Marucci Sports. He started the Marucci Bat Company in 2004 with Jack Marucci and Joe Lawrence while recovering from an injury. In 2005, first baseman Eduardo Perez of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays introduced the Louisiana lumber to the major leagues. Four years later, Ainsworth co-founded Marucci Sports and was named CEO in 2014. The Fox Factory Holding Corp. acquired Marucci Sports for $572 million in 2023. Marucci bats have become the most used bat in Major League Baseball, overtaking Louisville Slugger.

ALL AMERICAN: He was an All-American pitcher at LSU in his sophomore season after he posted a 13-6 record and a 3.45 ERA.

FIRST ROUND PICK: The LSU star was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 24th overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft.

VERGE AUSBERRY

EXECUTIVE DEPUTY

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

LSU

Verge Ausberry has been a part of LSU athletics for 23 years. He was appointed to his current roles of executive deputy director of athletics and executive director of external relations for the university in 2019. As executive deputy AD, Ausberry is responsible for daily formalized planning and processes within the athletic department. He also serves as the sport administrator for the football and men’s basketball programs and the departmental liaison for the Tiger Athletic Foundation, multimedia rights holder LSU Sports Properties, and the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.

GRIDIRON GREAT: As a middle linebacker for the Tigers, Ausberry was a four-year letter winner and leading tackler on defense for two years. He helped lead the team to two SEC championships and four bowl game appearances.

FURTHERING HIS EDUCATION: The New Iberia native is a doctoral candidate in higher education administration.

SYLVIA WEATHERSPOON

ANCHOR

WBRZ-TV

Sylvia Weatherspoon has become an institution in Baton Rouge’s media landscape. She recently celebrated her 31st year with WBRZ-TV, where her work as an anchor has led her to become one of the most trusted sources of information in the Capital Region. Over the years, she has been recognized with numerous accolades and awards related to excellence in reporting from various broadcasting industry organizations, including the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. She is also a fundraiser and philanthropist for numerous programs benefiting children in the Greater Baton Rouge area.

CAUSE SHE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: Since 2015, Weatherspoon has served as the founder and president of Sylvia’s Toys For Christmas, a charitable organization that provides toys and scholarships to children in under-resourced communities in East Baton Rouge Parish.

HOW SHE GOT HER START: Weatherspoon secured her first job in radio while she was a sophomore studying broadcast journalism at LSU.

MATT BORMAN

PRESIDENT AND CEO TIGER ATHLETIC FOUNDATION

Matthew Borman, who has overseen recordsetting efforts for over 17 years in collegiate athletics fundraising, was named president and CEO for the Tiger Athletic Foundation in April 2021. Borman joined TAF after serving as deputy athletic director at the University of Georgia. During his four-year tenure there, Borman oversaw the most successful fundraising period in the athletic program’s history, amassing over $140 million. Prior to his time in Georgia, Borman served as West Virginia’s lead fundraiser and executive director of the Mountaineer Club, where he also achieved record-breaking fundraising results.

FUN FACT: His grandfather, Frank Borman, was commander on the first manned orbit of the moon.

PIVOTAL CAREER MOMENT: After Borman’s boss left West Virginia University, the school’s athletic director promoted the 33-year-old to a role leading the athletic fundraising operation.

TAYLOR JACOBS

ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF NIL & STATEGIC INITIATIVES

LSU

In a nutshell, Taylor Jacobs handles all things NIL at LSU, which has been at the forefront of the name, image and likeness movement. Last year saw several LSU student-athletes near the top of NIL valuation lists. Also in 2024, the Amazon Prime documentary The Money Game was released. Jacobs took the lead on getting the deal to the finish line, filming on campus and assisting in the launch and premiere of the series, which followed LSU athletes through their sports seasons while navigating NIL. She also helped in launching NILSU, an educational-based department providing ongoing support and resources to LSU studentathletes in the NIL space. In addition, she was instrumental in launching and implementing Build Your Board, an event that allows businesses in the Baton Rouge area to connect with LSU student-athletes.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Interior design. That is if I could decorate a new house every week. PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Blake Lively

KIM MULKEY

WOMEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

LSU

Kim Mulkey is known primarily for her championship-winning credentials as a women’s college basketball coach, but she also draws significant attention for her exuberant fashion on the sidelines. In her second season at LSU, she led the program to its first national title in school history. With the win over Iowa in April 2023, she became the first head coach in college basketball history to win national championships with multiple schools. She won three titles at Baylor before leaving for LSU. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

AS A PLAYER: She was an All-American point guard at Louisiana Tech, winning back-to-back championships as a player, including the inaugural NCAA title in 1982.

LOUISIANA ROOTS: Mulkey was born in California but spent her childhood in Tickfaw. She led her Hammond High School basketball team to four consecutive state championships.

JAY JOHNSON

HEAD BASEBALL COACH

LSU

Jay Johnson is a national championshipwinning college baseball coach with nearly 500 career wins. He forever etched his name in LSU’s storied baseball history when he led the Tigers to the 2023 College World Series title in his second year with the program. The championship marked the baseball program’s seventh NCAA title. Johnson is known as an elite recruiter, posting a top five recruiting class in three of the last four years, according to scouting organization Perfect Game. He has developed 30 major leaguers during his collegiate coaching career, including pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and outfielder Dylan Crews of the Washington Nationals, who each made their major league debuts in 2024.

EARLY COACHING CAREER: Johnson’s coaching career began at his alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene, where he served as an assistant coach from 2002 to 2004 before accepting the head coaching position in 2005 at age 27.

SCOTT WOODWARD

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

LSU

Baton Rouge native and LSU alumnus Scott Woodward was named director of athletics at his alma mater in 2019. Woodward had been LSU’s director of external affairs from 2000 to 2004, a role in which he served as a liaison between the university and government and corporate leaders. Prior to becoming athletic director at LSU, he served as AD at the University of Washington for eight years, followed by a three-year stint as AD at Texas A&M. At LSU, he has solidified the university’s reputation as a national title contender in most every major sport, bringing in such championship-caliber coaches as Kim Mulkey, Jay Johnson and Brian Kelly to lead high-profile programs.

FUN FACT: Woodward is a 1981 alumnus of Catholic High School.

WINNING WAYS: Under his tenure, LSU has captured five national titles in five years.

BRIAN KELLY

HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

LSU

Brian Kelly completed his third year as head football coach at LSU’s in 2024, posting a 9-4 record following consecutive 10-win seasons in his first two years. LSU’s 17 SEC victories during Brian Kelly’s three-year span trails only Georgia (22) and Alabama (19). Recently, LSU added its third straight top 10 high school signing class to accompany the nation’s No. 1-rated transfer portal class. Thirty-nine players on LSU’s 2024 roster had earned SEC Academic Honor Roll status, the most in school history. Before coming to LSU, Kelly was head coach at Notre Dame, where he compiled a 92-40 record over 12 seasons, making him the winningest coach in the storied program’s history. Kelly’s overall record as a college football head coach is 292-107-2.

BEFORE HE WAS A COACH: Kelly was a four-year club football player at Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, as a linebacker. FUN FACT: Kelly’s father, Paul, was an alderman in Boston.

KELI ZINN

EXECUTIVE DEPUTY

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/ CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

LSU ATHLETICS

Keli Zinn is a transformative leader in collegiate athletics. Since joining LSU in 2022, she has overseen a period of remarkable success, with the Tigers securing three national championships in baseball, gymnastics, and women’s basketball, along with two SEC titles in gymnastics and women’s track. Under her guidance, 20 of LSU’s 21 varsity sports reached postseason competition, and the university achieved a top-10 finish in the Director’s Cup for the first time since 2008–09. Her innovative approach has also led to significant advancements in revenue generation and fan engagement. She renegotiated LSU’s multimedia rights partnership, resulting in a 21% increase in value, and played a pivotal role in the development of “The Money Game,” an NIL-focused documentary series on Amazon Prime Video.

LEADERSHIP LESSON: Be firm, but kind. I learned it through getting it wrong and getting it right and watching others do the same.

INSPIRATIONAL SONG: Katy Perry – “Rise”

Laurie Haspel Lipsey

Richard Lipsey

WENDI BERTHELOT DIRECTOR

LAPORTE CPAs AND BUSINESS ADVISORS

Since joining LaPorte in 2003, Wendi Berthelot has become a cornerstone of the Baton Rouge office. As director of audit and assurance services, she specializes in guiding privately held companies, real estate clients, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations through complex financial landscapes. Beyond her technical expertise, Berthelot is passionate about mentorship, actively participating in LaPorte’s formal mentorship program to nurture the next generation of CPAs. Her commitment to community is evident through her volunteer work with organizations like Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge. She was honored as one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 in 2015.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: Lots of travel. There are so many places I want to see and things to do.

AN IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: People will go above and beyond for you if they trust that you will do the same for them.

DAN GARDINER

PARTNER

EISNERAMPER

Dan Gardiner, a Crowley native, has spent nearly 30 years helping organizations— from nonprofits to major corporations— navigate complex financial landscapes. As partner-in-charge of Gulf Coast Markets at EisnerAmper, he leads with a people-first mindset and a sharp eye for innovation. Before joining EisnerAmper, Gardiner served as CEO of Postlethwaite & Netterville, where he oversaw more than 50% growth during his first four years. His earlier roles include corporate controller at Community Coffee and financial reporting manager at Aggreko. Gardiner’s leadership extends beyond the boardroom: he is vice chair of FranU, treasurer of BRAF, and chair of the finance committee at St. Aloysius Parish.

LEADERSHIP: Gardiner is a past president of the Baton Rouge chapter of the Society of Louisiana CPAs.

FUN FACT: He completed executive education at Harvard Business School.

ERIC BOSCH PRESIDENT AND CEO

LAPORTE

CPAs & BUSINESS ADVISORS

Eric Bosch’s journey with LaPorte began in 1990, culminating in his appointment as president and CEO in December 2021. With over three decades of experience, Bosch has provided accounting and auditing services across various sectors, including financial institutions, manufacturing firms, governmental entities and nonprofits. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to excellence and innovation, guiding LaPorte through evolving industry landscapes. Bosch’s influence extends beyond the firm; he has served as a faculty member for Delgado Community College’s 10,000 Small Business Program and as an adjunct professor at the University of New Orleans, helping to shape the future of the accounting profession.

RECOGNITION: Bosch was named to Forbes’ 2025 America’s Best-In-State CPAs list.

LENDING HIS EXPERIENCE: He serves on the Accounting Advisory Council at the University of New Orleans.

VANESSA GRAHAM

OWNER

VGRAHAM

With more than 25 years of financial leadership in Baton Rouge, Vanessa Graham has earned a reputation for helping small and midsize businesses grow strategically. After starting her career at KPMG, she joined APPRO Systems, a software firm later acquired by Equifax—where she stayed on for two years post-sale. In 2012, she founded V. Graham to provide outsourced CFO and controller services to businesses navigating growth or transition. She is also a committed community leader, serving on boards and committees for Thrive Charter School and First United Methodist Church. In 2021, Business Report named her one of its Influential Women in Business.

BEHIND THE PODIUM: Graham is a regular speaker on business financial strategy.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: The ability to listen and not react in the moment. Often the pause will allow time for the most productive solutions to be identified

SARA DOWNING

MANAGING PARTNER

TWRU CPAs AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Sara Downing’s career with TWRU began immediately after earning her accounting degree from LSU in 1990. Her dedication and leadership led to her becoming a partner in 2002 and ascending to managing partner in 2015. Under her guidance, TWRU has grown into one of Baton Rouge’s most respected accounting firms, known for its commitment to client relationships. Downing’s influence extends beyond the office; she actively participates in organizations like the Rotary Club, First United Methodist Church, and Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge. Downing is a graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Baton Rouge program and was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report in 2005.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Downing is a past president of both the Junior League of Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Little Theater board of governors. HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Fishing, cooking and volunteering

BRIDGET KAIGLER

PRESIDENT

BRINGING LEADERSHIP BACK

Bridget Kaigler blends two decades of accounting experience with a passion for leadership development. Through her firm, Bringing Leadership Back LLC, she works with individuals and organizations to unlock potential, build leaders and align strategy with impact. A CPA and seasoned tax expert, Kaigler is also deeply involved in community service and professional advocacy. She chairs nonprofit boards and is chair-elect of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. Her work focuses on poverty alleviation, youth development, and education. She has earned several honors and distinctions, including Top 100 Under 50 Executive (Diversity MBA Media), Top Entrepreneurial Woman to Watch (Career Mastered), and Top 50 Women in Accounting (Ignition).

BEHIND THE PODIUM: Kaigler frequently speaks on leadership and diversity in accounting.

RECOGNITION: She was honored by InRegister in 2019 as a Woman with a Cause.

TOMMY LEJEUNE

MANAGING PARTNER

FAULK & WINKLER

For more than 30 years, Tommy LeJeune has been a trusted adviser to closely held businesses, nonprofits and public entities across Louisiana. A managing partner at Faulk & Winkler, a firm that has served Louisiana for more than 40 years, LeJeune combines financial consulting and tax compliance expertise to help clients make smarter, growth-driven decisions. His work often delivers measurable impact—like securing a $300,000 tax incentive for one client through a state business program. LeJeune has been with the firm since 2000, serving as an audit partner and strategic consultant. “We help business owners focus on what they do best while we manage the financial complexity,” he says. Beyond the office, LeJeune is committed to education and community, serving on the finance committee for St. Joseph’s Academy.

MOTTO: Dress well for every occasion.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Embrace change and innovation.

ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN & FACILITY MANAGEMENT >>

RACHEL CANNON

FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL

INTERIOR DESIGNER

RACHEL CANNON

LIMITED INTERIORS

Rachel Cannon launched her Baton Rougebased design studio in 2009 with a bold idea: that a home should be a haven, especially for those who need peace to recharge. A selfdescribed “loudmouth introvert,” Cannon has become a national voice for designing spaces that balance beauty and emotional well-being. Her firm, Rachel Cannon Limited Interiors, is known for its vibrant color palettes, timeless details and thoughtful layouts that support both productivity and calm. In 2020, Traditional Home named her a “New Trad” designer, spotlighting her as a rising star in the field. Cannon also gives back locally, having helped launch the Mary Bird Perkins’ Echo Alliance to support cancer care.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Making mistakes isn’t failure—it’s how you develop judgment and improve. DO-OVER WISH: I would have gone straight into interior design as my major, instead of stopping off in pre-med and graphic design first. I always knew I wanted to do this, and I should have just gone for it.

JAY MONTALBANO

MANAGING PARTNER

HANNIS T. BOURGEOIS

Jay Montalbano leads one of the region’s largest accounting firms with a focus on growth, innovation and industry specialization. Named managing partner of Hannis T. Bourgeois in 2020, Montalbano oversees operations for five offices across south Louisiana. With more than two decades at the firm, he brings deep insight into the accounting and consulting needs of the construction industry, helping clients navigate everything from regulatory changes to economic cycles. “We’re not just accountants—we’re strategic partners,” he says. Montalbano’s leadership extends beyond the office, with active roles in professional and civic organizations, including Junior Achievement.

EXPANSION: He played a key role in HTB’s expansion to Alexandria in 2023.

CAUSE HE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: He is a longtime supporter of financial literacy through Junior Achievement.

TOMMIE COCKFIELD

PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER

COCKFIELD JACKSON ARCHITECTS

With a career spanning more than four decades, Tommie Cockfield has left an indelible mark on the built environment of Baton Rouge and beyond. As co-founder of Cockfield Jackson Architects, he has helped shape some of the Capital Region’s most recognizable spaces—from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Main Branch to the LSU Tiger Stadium locker rooms and Stab’s Prime Restaurant. His designs have earned numerous accolades and national publication features, but Cockfield also makes time to serve the community through board roles with the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, St. Joseph’s Academy, and First Bank and Trust.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: When he’s not designing, Cockfield enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and travel.

DESIGN LEGACY: His projects have been featured in national publications and honored with multiple design awards.

MELANIE

DIRECTOR

EISNERAMPER

TALLEY

Melanie Talley brings deep expertise in association management to her role as director at EisnerAmper’s Baton Rouge office. After serving as a principal with Postlethwaite & Netterville—acquired by EisnerAmper in 2023—she now works closely with boards and leadership teams to strengthen governance, develop policies and guide strategic execution. Talley also specializes in meeting planning and accreditation processes, often acting as a chief staff member to ensure organizations stay focused on their mission. Known for her steady, neutral leadership style, she helps clients align operations with long-term goals. Talley is an active voice in the association world was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report in 2024.

IN THE COMMUNITY: She is a member of the National Charity League – River Road chapter.

CERTIFICATION: Tally earned her CAE credential in 2017, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in association management.

SHAWN FOLKS

OWNER AND CEO

GUARANTEE RESTORATION SERVICES

Shawn Folks has been immersed in the restoration business since childhood, starting at his parents’ company, Guarantee Restoration Services, at the age of 5. Over the past 35 years, he has climbed the ranks from technician to production manager, and in 2014, he took over as CEO. Under his leadership, the company has transformed from a local carpet cleaning service into a regional powerhouse in disaster recovery, specializing in fire, water and mold remediation. Guarantee Restoration now operates six offices across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with plans to expand further along the Gulf Coast.

ORIGINS: Guarantee Restoration Services was founded in 1974 by Shawn’s parents, William “Chunky” and Ellen Folks, starting as a carpet cleaning business in their one-bedroom apartment. EMERGENCY MITIGATION: Guarantee Restoration has completed approximately $25 million in emergency mitigation and remediation services for state universities and other entities since 2016.

KEVIN HARRIS

PRINCIPAL

KEVIN HARRIS ARCHITECT

Kevin Harris has been shaping the architectural landscape of Baton Rouge and beyond since founding his firm in 1982. Renowned for his ability to blend historical authenticity with modern functionality, Harris specializes in creating homes that resonate with the culture, lifestyle and climate of the Gulf South. His 2015 book, The Forever Home: How to Work with an Architect to Design the Home of Your Dreams, became an Amazon bestseller, offering readers insights into thoughtful residential design. Harris’ work has garnered over a dozen national and international awards, including recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts and the AIA Gulf States Region. Beyond his practice, Harris contributes to the architectural community through teaching, writing and serving on professional boards.

MORE MEDIA EXPOSURE: Harris’ work has been showcased on HGTV’s Before and After

A.C. “BUBBA” LEWIS III

OWNER

A.C. LEWIS MANAGEMENT

Carrying on a family legacy that began in the 1930s, Bubba Lewis leads A.C. Lewis Management with a deep understanding of commercial and multifamily real estate. The company, founded by his father, is best known for its pivotal role in shaping Baton Rouge’s Mid City and beyond. With more than 30 years of experience, Lewis oversees the management of 10 properties with 2,000 units across Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Houma. His expertise spans from commercial construction to retail leasing, all rooted in a commitment to community impact.

WELL-KNOWN NAME: The Mid City YMCA is named after his father, A.C. Lewis Jr.

EDUCATION: Lewis is a graduate of LSU.

GERALD D. “JERRY” HEBERT

MANAGING PARTNER AND CEO

GRACE HEBERT CURTIS ARCHITECTS

As managing partner and CEO of Grace Hebert Curtis Architects, Jerry Hebert has helped shape the Capital Region’s built environment while growing the firm’s reach across the Gulf South. Under his leadership, GHC has delivered some of the region’s most recognizable projects, including Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove, LSU’s student recreation center, the Ascension Parish Courthouse, and Liberty High School— which earned a Rose Award. Hebert’s clientfocused approach and strong civic engagement have made him a sought-after voice in the design community. In 2014, he was appointed to the LSU University College Advisory Board, joining a select group of 30 regional leaders.

OTHER PROJECTS: GHC also designed new courthouses for Livingston and St. Martin Parishes. BOARD SERVICE: Hebert has served on the board of AIA Louisiana, the state component of the national American Institute of Architects.

STEPHEN P. MAHER

PRINCIPAL

RITTER MAHER ARCHITECTS

Stephen Maher has helped shape the Baton Rouge landscape with some of its most striking and innovative designs. As principal at Ritter Maher Architects, he has been behind standout projects like the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, Catholic High’s student center, the City Farm development, and the PreSonus Audio Electronics headquarters. One of Baton Rouge’s first LEED-accredited architects, Maher is also a fellow of the American Institute of Architects—a national recognition of excellence. After training in New York City, he returned to Louisiana to co-found Ritter Maher with Scott Ritter, bringing big-city vision to local projects across the South and East Coast.

ANOTHER NOTED PROJECT: Ritter Maher designed the renovation of the historic Entergy building downtown.

RECOGNITION: The firm has earned multiple AIA Louisiana design awards.

TY LARKINS

PRINCIPAL

TY LARKINS INTERIORS

Ty Larkins took an unconventional path to design, leaving behind a law career to follow his passion for interiors—and it paid off. Since launching Ty Larkins Interiors in 2006, he has become known for refined, high-end residential and commercial spaces that blend classic and contemporary elements. His work has been featured in House Beautiful, Southern Living, HGTV Magazine, and more. One of his most high-profile projects aired on HGTV’s Dream House, showcasing a home he designed for a family outside of Chicago. Larkins is recognized for creating spaces that feel curated, lived-in and timeless.

FUN FACT: Larkins earned a law degree from LSU. INSPIRATION: Larkins’ favorite design influence is Belgian minimalism.

BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coffee to start the day and red wine to end it

ANNE MCCANLESS

OWNER

ANNE MCCANLESS DESIGNS

Anne McCanless turned a love of home renovation into a thriving design business in the late 1980s. After flipping houses and working with a mentor in Shreveport, she launched Anne McCanless Designs, specializing in residential interiors and collaborating closely with builders and architects. From paint palettes to furnishings and accessories, her work is known for its warmth and personal touch. McCanless champions shopping local and supporting small makers—a value she brings to life through Texture, the design and gift store she co-founded in 2018 at The Village at Willow Grove.

SIDE GIG: She co-owns Texture with designer Amy Marionneaux.

TRAILBLAZER: McCanless was one of the original home stagers in the Baton Rouge market.

J. DYKE NELSON FOUNDER AND MANAGING MEMBER DNA WORKSHOP

J. Dyke Nelson, founder of DNA Workshop, has become a leading voice in sustainable design and historic preservation in Baton Rouge and beyond. Since relocating from San Francisco, he has led the firm in transforming key spaces like Red Stick Social, Jubans Restaurant and 440 on Third. Nelson is licensed in more than 30 states and has practiced architecture since 1996. His commitment to adaptive reuse and environmental design has fueled the firm’s expansion, including a new Dallas office in 2023 to complement its locations in Baton Rouge and Richmond, Virginia.

BOARD SERVICE: Nelson formerly served on the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners.

EDUCATION: Nelson is a graduate of the Tulane School of Architecture.

MARVIN “BUDDY” RAGLAND

ARCHITECT AND PRINCIPAL

COLEMAN PARTNERS ARCHITECTS

Buddy Ragland has shaped Baton Rouge both physically and culturally. As principal at Coleman Partners Architects, he has led standout projects like the Water Campus, the downtown Hilton, and the renovation of Bon Carre Business Center. But Ragland’s influence extends beyond design. A tireless advocate for the community, he has served on boards including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, Louisiana Lighthouse, and the Baton Rouge Gallery. An active member of the American Institute of Architects, he has held regional and national leadership roles and served as president of its Baton Rouge chapter. He also mentors future architects as an architect in residence at LSU.

ANOTHER NOTED PROJECT: Ragland helped design the expansion of Baton Rouge Community College.

QUIRKY TALENT OR INTEREST: Beekeeping

SCOTT A. RITTER

PRINCIPAL

RITTER MAHER ARCHITECTS

Scott Ritter brings more than 20 years of architectural insight to his role as principal at Ritter Maher Architects, the Baton Rouge firm he co-founded in 2002. Ritter began his career in New Orleans, contributing to major health care, civic and educational projects before returning to his hometown. Known for his hands-on leadership style, he brings deep knowledge of local permitting and construction processes to every phase of a project. Ritter is also a devoted community advocate, having served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Baton Rouge, Greater Baton Rouge Arts Council and the Louisiana Art and Science Muserum. A Leadership Louisiana and Leadership Baton Rouge alum, he remains committed to civic improvement through both professional and volunteer efforts.

FUN FACT: Ritter was named to Business Report’s Forty Under 40 class in 2011.

FAMILY LIFE: He and his wife, Melissa, are raising four children in Baton Rouge’s Mid City.

KENNETH TIPTON JR.

ARCHITECT AND MANAGING PRINCIPAL TIPTON ASSOCIATES

Ken Tipton has spent more than four decades turning architecture into a tool for community enrichment. Since 1983, he has led Tipton Associates, overseeing projects like LSU’s Stephenson Pet Clinic, the restoration of St. James Episcopal’s sanctuary, and education facilities across the state. His firm has also worked in over 30 states on everything from university housing to historic preservation. Admired for his vision and compassion, Tipton mentored countless students during his nearly 30-year tenure as an adjunct professor at LSU’s School of Architecture. His legacy is etched across Baton Rouge’s most meaningful spaces.

ACHIEVEMENT: Tipton is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

WIDE INFLUENCE: He has led projects in higher ed, health care and public architecture.

TRULA REMSON

PRINCIPAL

RHH ARCHITECTS

From the LSU Football Operations Center to the Knock Knock Children’s Museum, Trula Remson has had a hand in some of Baton Rouge’s most recognized spaces. As principal at RHH Architects, the firm she co-founded in 1990, Remson plays a vital role early in projects, ensuring that client goals are clearly translated into design. Her work spans education, commercial, and civic buildings— including Baton Rouge Magnet High and the Nicholson gateway development. A native of Bogalusa, Remson is also known for her civic leadership, having served on the boards of Mid City Redevelopment Alliance and the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition, as well as on the advisory board for LSU’s architecture school. She currently sits on the board of directors for Resource Bank.

RECOGNITION: Remson received the Rose Award from AIA Baton Rouge in 2022.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM: Knock Knock Children’s Museum has received national design acclaim.

COLLEEN WAGUESPACK

OWNER AND INTERIOR DESIGNER

COLLEEN WAGUESPACK INTERIORS

Colleen Waguespack brings warmth and meaning to every space she designs. After years with the acclaimed firm Holden & Dupuy in New Orleans, she launched her own Baton Rouge-based design firm in 2016. Waguespack is also the founder of Fig & Dove, a couture holiday décor brand beloved for its heirloom-quality pieces. Inspired by her son Christopher’s autism diagnosis, she championed a capital campaign for The Emerge School—the first public charter school in Baton Rouge for children on the spectrum. In 2019, she was named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report.

QUOTE THAT HAS STUCK: “You can do it all in life, but not at the same time.”

POWER COUPLE: Waguespack met her future husband, Stephen, when the two were students at LSU.

TIM BARFIELD

PRINCIPAL AND PRESIDENT

CSRS

If a major infrastructure project is underway in south Louisiana, there’s a strong chance CSRS is involved—and Tim Barfield is helping steer the ship. Since joining the Baton Rouge-based firm in 2016, Barfield has drawn on his deep experience in business, government, law and finance to guide CSRS and mentor its next generation of leaders. His resume includes leadership roles such as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue, executive counsel to the governor, and executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. He also spent more than a decade in executive leadership at Fortune 500 company The Shaw Group, known for its engineering and disaster recovery expertise.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Barfield is a founding board member of New Schools for Baton Rouge.

EARLIER DAYS: He once served as COO of The Shaw Group’s Environmental & Infrastructure Division.

JULIE GERDES BECNEL

FOUNDER

LITTLE ROUGE HEN

Julie Gerdes Becnel helps leaders and organizations find their voice—and use it wisely. As founder of Little Rouge Hen, she works with clients to craft impactful marketing and communications strategies, while also helping them build stronger, more collaborative teams by developing internal talent. Her influence stretches beyond her business. Becnel is active in the community, co-founding a support group for solopreneur women and serving as communications chair for the Westdale Heights Academic Magnet PTO. She is also a member of the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students’ Changemakers program. Before starting her own firm, Becnel led marketing at the National Geographic Society.

RECOGNITION: Becnel was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report in 2023.

FUN FACT: Her company’s name, Little Rouge Hen, is a nod to both storytelling and local roots.

ANITA BYRNE

PARTNER

SSA CONSULTANTS

Anita Byrne brings both strategic insight and heart to her work at SSA Consultants. Since becoming a partner in 2016, she has helped guide businesses of all sizes—from local family-owned firms to Fortune 500s— through major organizational challenges. Byrne’s expertise also extends to public sector work, including initiatives like Blueprint Louisiana. Recognized as both an Influential Woman in Business and a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report, Byrne is deeply engaged in the Baton Rouge community. She sits on multiple boards and is involved with the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, BRAF’s Civic Initiatives Committee, and the Mary Bird Perkins Echo Alliance.

MOTTO: Do the next right thing.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: To see the Northern Lights

MOST UNUSUAL JOB: I worked in a frame shop in New Orleans.

RACHEL DIRESTO

MANAGING DIRECTOR

EMERGENT METHOD

Rachel DiResto is known for turning big ideas into action. With more than 20 years of experience in planning, outreach and public engagement, DiResto is a key player in shaping infrastructure and recovery efforts across Louisiana. At Emergent Method, she leads statewide communications for the $3 billion Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, helping families recover from Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Ida. She specializes in building coalitions and guiding public policy around transportation and disaster recovery. In Baton Rouge, she is a fixture in the community—mentoring women, serving on boards, and always advocating for long-term, meaningful change.

EARLIER DAYS: DiResto previously served as vice president at the Center for Planning Excellence

MASTER PLANNER: She was part of the team behind Plan Baton Rouge II.

MARK FALLON

CHAIR AND CEO

APTIM CORP.

Mark Fallon is leading Aptim through a transformative era as the Baton Rouge-based firm continues to earn national recognition for its environmental and infrastructure work. Since becoming CEO in 2020 and chair in 2021, Fallon has overseen Aptim’s relocation to The Water Campus, a hub for coastal and environmental innovation. Under his leadership, Aptim ranks among the nation’s top 10 in environmental and nuclear waste management. Before Aptim, Fallon held top posts at Envirocon and Modern Machinery. He has served on federal advisory boards, including the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management board.

FUN FACT: Fallon served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

GLOBAL REACH: Aptim operates in more than 30 countries.

EDUCATION: He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.

PERRY FRANKLIN

PRESIDENT

FRANKLIN ASSOCIATES

Perry Franklin’s path shifted dramatically in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Then serving as executive director of the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, he worked with the state to launch a housing trust fund for storm victims. The experience inspired him to start Franklin Associates in 2005. Since then, the firm has guided communities through longterm disaster recovery, grant management, and urban revitalization. Franklin’s team also plays a key role in public engagement for planning projects. In 2020–2021, it helped reduce the spread of COVID-19 by managing seven hotels repurposed into non-congregate shelters for vulnerable populations.

CAUSE HE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: Creating equitable community development

HELPING HAND: Franklin has worked on recovery efforts in the wake of several hurricanes, including Gustav and Laura.

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STUART GILLY

MANAGING PARTNER, TRILITY PARTNERS | CEO & CO-FOUNDER, THE ALLIANCE

Stuart Gilly is a Baton Rouge-based entrepreneur and business strategist who thrives at the intersection of growth and community impact. As managing partner of Trility Partners, he guides business owners through critical growth and exit strategies. In 2023, Gilly co-founded The Alliance, a nonprofit designed to connect small businesses with resources, relationships, and coaching, with the goal of elevating entrepreneurs and fostering community development. The Alliance offers a membership-based community that provides access to a network of investors, advisers, and peer support. Gilly’s commitment to community service is further demonstrated through initiatives like First Tuesday, a platform promoting corporate volunteerism.

MOTTO: Do the right thing all the time, even when no one is looking.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: The ability to listen at a level where one hears what is not said.

RHAOUL A. GUILLAUME

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER GOTECH INC.

Rhaoul Guillaume launched Gotech Inc. in 1981, building it into one of the region’s most respected engineering and consulting firms. With a client list that spans private industry and public agencies at every level, Gotech has played a vital role in infrastructure projects throughout Louisiana and beyond. Before founding the company, Guillaume worked as a consultant on the construction of the Louisiana Superdome, overseeing civil and structural components from concrete to steel. His technical insight and leadership have helped shape the state’s built environment. More recently, the Guillaume family developed Pointe-Marie, a 120-acre traditional village off River Road, blending walkable living with scenic surroundings.

FUN FACT: Pointe-Marie’s design was inspired by classic Louisiana river cities.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “Engineering isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about building foundations for the future.”

BEVERLY

HAYDEL PRESIDENT AND CEO

SEQUITUR CONSULTING

Beverly Haydel’s career spans high-stakes arenas—from playing basketball at Harvard to advising presidential campaigns. After starting on Wall Street, Haydel earned a law degree and later served as associate general counsel to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and as a policy adviser to former Gov. Bobby Jindal. In 2017, she founded Sequitur Consulting to guide projects for private companies, nonprofits, and government clients, including Ochsner Health and LABI. Known for her competitive drive and strategic thinking, Haydel was named an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report in 2022.

FUN FACT: Haydel was team captain on Harvard’s women’s basketball team.

BEHIND THE NAME: Sequitur means “it follows” in Latin—reflecting Haydel’s logical and solutionoriented approach.

GARY HEITMAN

SENIOR PRINCIPAL STANTEC

Gary Heitman has spent his career improving how Louisiana moves. Now senior principal and Baton Rouge Roadway Division lead at global design firm Stantec, Heitman got his start with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, where he built a strong foundation in transportation planning and design. Today, he oversees a wide array of road and highway projects— from roundabouts and realignments to major interchange and design-build efforts. He currently serves as assistant project manager and roadway design lead for the I-49 Lafayette Connector, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in state history.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “My goal is to design highways that not only have functional geometry and solve transportation problems, but that truly enhance circulation, are aesthetically pleasing, and meet the needs of the growing community.”

MIKE HACKLEY CEO

HACKLEY

ENTERPRISES

After turning BBQGuys into the largest online retailer of high-end grills and selling it in 2020, Mike Hackley pivoted from outdoor kitchens to disaster recovery. He founded Hackley Enterprises in Lake Charles, aiming to provide critical cleanup and demolition services after storms. Seeing a growing need, Hackley personally invested in equipment— trailers, excavators, and more—to meet the rising demand fueled by climate change. The company targets both public and private sectors, helping communities rebuild more quickly and efficiently.

THE DO IT YOURSELF APPROACH: Hackley is known for betting on himself—funding his latest venture without outside investors.

THE GRILL MASTER: Hackley grew BBQGuys from a local store to a national e-commerce powerhouse.

ADRIAN OWEN JONES

PARTNER

SUCCESS LABS

Driving growth and innovation in Baton Rouge’s business community, Adrian Owen Jones brings nearly 20 years of experience in strategy, growth and operations to her role as a partner at Success Labs, a management consulting firm specializing in leadership development and organizational strategy. Before joining Success Labs in September 2024, she served as chief growth officer and EOS integrator at ThreeSixtyEight, a nationally recognized creative agency, where she led agency positioning and marketing efforts. Prior to that, Jones was associate vice president for advancement services at the LSU Foundation.

HOBBY OR PASSION: She is co-curator and president of Assembly Required, an initiative focused on transforming Baton Rouge into the creative capital of the South.

IN HER OWN WORDS: “I’m passionate about building high-performing, values-driven organizations that make a lasting impact,”

LAKEISHA ROBICHAUX CEO CHIEF OF MINDS

Lakeisha Robichaux is a powerhouse in business strategy and human resources innovation. She founded Chief of Minds in 2014 to provide strategic HR and organizational development to government agencies, businesses and nonprofits. In 2020, she expanded the brand with Biz Chiefs, an online membership and mentorship platform for entrepreneurs. Robichaux is a graduate of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program and serves on the National Small Business Association’s Leadership Council. Recently, she was named president of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.

AUTHOR: Robichaux’s book, It’s Time to Lead, offers leadership guidance for entrepreneurs.

CHRISTEL SLAUGHTER

CEO

SSA CONSULTANTS

Christel Slaughter is widely respected for her leadership in business, academia and civic engagement. Before joining SSA Consultants, she spent seven years teaching at LSU, where she brought her Ph.D. in systems management and organizational design into the classroom. At SSA, Slaughter has helped organizations across industries transform operations through strategic planning, change management and leadership development. Her recent work includes launching a nationally recognized customer service program for a major health care system and crafting integration strategies for Louisiana’s multibillion-dollar coastal restoration efforts.

RECOGNITION: Slaughter was named a Woman of Excellence by the LA Legislative Women’s Caucus and an Influential Woman in Business by Business Report

JOHN SNOW

PARTNER

EMERGENT METHOD

John Snow brings a strategic edge to public and private sector consulting. A partner at Emergent Method, he focuses on improving clients’ organizational performance and communications across industries like higher education, government, health care and infrastructure. Since joining in 2012, Snow has helped scale the Baton Rouge-based firm into a 200-person team with a national footprint. A passionate community advocate, Snow was honored by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication with the T.C. Shields Award for alumni service and named a Baton Rouge Original by Forum 35 (now known as Forum 225) for his contributions to the city’s young professionals.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: Humility. It makes leaders more approachable and authentic to their team.

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: The Rock MOTIVATIONAL SONG: F.L.Y. - “Swag Surfin’,” by F.L.Y.

MICHAEL SONGY

PRINCIPAL AND CEO

CSRS

Michael Songy has helped shape the future of infrastructure and planning in Louisiana through his nearly four decades in civil engineering. As CEO of CSRS, Songy led the firm’s evolution into a client-centered, marketdriven organization. His work includes major transportation and land-use planning efforts like East Baton Rouge’s Green Light Plan and stormwater management studies for regional governments. Beyond engineering, Songy spearheaded the CSRS diversity mentoring program and champions the development of technical talent within the company. He served as company president for nine years before transitioning to CEO.

DISASTER RECOVERY: Songy helped guide recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

STEM PROPONENT: He actively promotes mentorship in STEM fields.

NICK SPEYRER

PRESIDENT

EMERGENT METHOD

Since founding Emergent Method in 2012, Nick Speyrer has steered the firm through rapid growth and evolving client needs. Known for his high energy and aversion to doing anything halfway, Speyrer has expanded the firm’s offerings beyond core management consulting into customer engagement, qualitative research and data analysis. Today, Emergent Method serves clients in more than 20 states. A native of Opelousas, Speyrer stays rooted in community service, serving on boards for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Capital Area United Way and Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

RECOGNITION: Speyrer is a former Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree.

FUN FACT: Emergent Method has been named one of the best places to work in Louisiana

DAVID TATMAN

PRESIDENT THE TATMAN GROUP

New Orleans native David Tatman made a name for himself in Baton Rouge after launching the Tatman Group—a fullservice government relations and association management firm—in 1997. The firm represents a broad and diverse group of clients from some of the top industries and trade and professional associations in the country. Tatman also served as an elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School Board for 12 years, including six years as president, and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Louisiana Educational Television Authority, which oversees the Louisiana Public Broadcasting system. In 2001, he was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by Business Report.

MOST UNUSUAL OR MEMORABLE JOB:: I was a butcher in my father’s grocery store in New Orleans.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT MEAL: Filet at Stab’s

MELISSA

THOMPSON

PARTNER

SUCCESS LABS

Melissa Thompson helps organizations unlock their leadership potential through coaching and people strategy. A transplant from Arkansas, she’s called Baton Rouge home since 2012. At Success Labs, Thompson focuses on team building and leadership development. Previously, she directed talent development at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and worked with LSU’s Communication across the Curriculum program. She also brings her speaking expertise to TEDx events, serving as both an organizer and coach. Thompson is active in the arts and health communities, serving on boards for the Louisiana Art and Science Museum and the Mary Bird Perkins Echo Alliance.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Trust the journey. Every experience, whether successful or challenging, will equip you with valuable lessons.

BARRY BLUMBERG CEO

BLUMBERG AND ASSOCIATES

With over 30 years in the commercial insurance industry, Barry Blumberg has built one of the Capital Region’s top-performing firms. As founder and CEO of Blumberg and Associates, he leads a team that specializes in mid- to large-size commercial accounts across a wide range of industries. While many of the firm’s clients are based in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, its reach extends across Louisiana and five other Southern states. Outside the office, Blumberg is an active community supporter and has contributed to such organizations as the Foundation for Woman’s and Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Golf, LSU athletics and collecting LSU sports memorabilia

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Blumberg is a member of Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and YMCA of the Capital Area.

DAVID BONDY

FOUNDER AND CEO LUBA WORKERS’ COMP

David Bondy built LUBA Workers’ Comp on the belief that relationships matter—and that philosophy continues to drive the company’s success, with nine out of 10 policyholders renewing annually. But LUBA’s growth is also rooted in Bondy’s strategic edge, from disciplined underwriting to proactive claims management and safety initiatives. Bondy played a pivotal role in shaping Louisiana’s workers’ comp landscape by lobbying for legislation in 1979 that made group selfinsurance funds possible. That groundwork led to LUBA’s founding in 1991. Today, the company is one of Louisiana’s largest workers’ comp insurers, with operations in seven states across the South. Bondy was inducted into LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction in 2011.

IN THE COMMUNITY: He has served on more than 15 nonprofit boards.

LEGACY: Bondy helped change state law to enable group self-insurance.

DAVID CALDWELL EXECUTIVE COUNSEL LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE

As executive counsel for the Louisiana Department of Insurance, David Caldwell brings a sharp legal mind and a steady hand to some of the state’s most complex insurance challenges. He advises on insurance fraud investigations, helps craft legislation and frequently testifies before lawmakers on regulatory issues. A former prosecutor with deep experience in white-collar crime, Caldwell’s career has spanned everything from health care fraud to complex financial cases. Known for his unwavering ethics and calm under pressure, he plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of Louisiana’s insurance industry.

LEADERSHIP ROLE: Caldwell at one time led Louisiana’s Insurance Fraud Support Unit under the state attorney general.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: He has been interviewed by news media outlets as an expert on fraud enforcement.

MICHAEL DILEO PRESIDENT AND CEO

STONETRUST WORKERS’

COMPENSATION

Baton Rouge native Michael Dileo has been at the helm of Stonetrust Workers’ Compensation since 2017, steering the company through significant growth and transformation. With over 30 years in the commercial insurance industry, his leadership has been pivotal in evolving Stonetrust from a Louisiana-based self-insurance fund into a stock insurance company licensed in 28 states. Before joining Stonetrust in 2010 as vice president of underwriting, Dileo held senior positions at Texas Mutual and Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation. He earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, or CPCU, designation in 2004. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Dileo serves as director of the Magnolia Lakes Estates Homeowners Association.

RECOGNITION: Under his leadership, Stonetrust has been recognized among the Capital Region’s Top 100 Private Companies by Business Report.

BRAD FIFE AREA PRESIDENT GALLAGHER

Baton Rouge native Brad Fife currently serves as executive vice president of the Southeast region for Gallagher and area president for Baton Rouge, leading the firm’s property and casualty operations. Offices he oversees include Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Plattenville and Shreveport. In his role, Fife is responsible for ensuring that the offices have sustainable growth as well as successful marketing, account management and operational performance. With more than 20 years of experience and expertise in the health care industry, Fife also oversees the region’s health care niche. Before joining Gallagher, he served as senior vice president of McNeary Inc., which was acquired by Gallagher in 2016.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Fife serves on the board of CCA Louisiana.

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SETH IRBY CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER LOUISIANA

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CORP.

Seth Irby, a Baton Rouge native and LSU Manship School of Mass Communication graduate, has become a driving force behind Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation’s mission to uplift the state. After launching his career in Richmond, Virginia, where he led a national fraternity’s operations, Irby returned home in 2016. He joined Emergent Method as a consultant before stepping into the role of chief marketing and customer experience officer at LWCC in 2019. Now serving as chief strategy officer, he oversees corporate strategy, marketing, branding, philanthropy and customer engagement. Recognized as one of Business Report’s 2019 Forty Under 40, Irby continues to champion efforts that make Louisiana thrive .

HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: He’s a self-described “lousy yet determined golfer” and is passionate about LSU athletics.

BRIAN PANGBURN

PRINCIPAL AND CEO

THE PANGBURN GROUP

Brian Pangburn turned a college summer job into a thriving business that now serves clients across the country. A computer scientist by training, he founded what is now The Pangburn Group in 1996, stepping into the president’s role in 2002 and becoming CEO in 2012. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a national provider of record-keeping and reporting services for nonqualified benefit plans and employer-owned life insurance and services to over 2,000 corporate clients nationwide. Known for its strong workplace culture, The Pangburn Group regularly lands on Business Report’s Best Places to Work list.

STRATEGY FOR STAYING AHEAD OF INDUSTRY

DISRUPTIONS: Stay informed on political and regulatory issues. Diversify your services.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Don’t start a Christmas Tree farm as a hobby. It won’t be a hobby.

JENNIFER ANDERSON

ATTORNEY

BAKER DONELSON

With a career spanning decades, Jennifer Anderson is a leading employment litigator specializing in wage and hour compliance, employment discrimination and workplace policy. A shareholder at Baker Donelson, she has represented employers in more than 200 Fair Labor Standards Act cases, including over 60 class and collective actions. Her client base spans major industries like banking, financial services, health care and energy, where she advises and defends companies in complex labor disputes. Beyond litigation, she counsels businesses on compliance strategies, noncompete agreements and best practices to mitigate employment risks.

RECOGNITION: In 2024, Anderson was named the Labor Law Management Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge by Best Lawyers IN THE COMMUNITY: Anderson serves on the boards of Cat Haven, LSU’s Louisiana Sea Grant Law and Policy Program and Magnolia Community Services.

JAMES R. AUSTIN

ATTORNEY

BUTLER SNOW

James Austin is a seasoned legal professional specializing in banking, bankruptcy, commercial finance, real estate development and corporate governance. As an attorney with Butler Snow, he provides strategic legal counsel to financial institutions, businesses and investors navigating complex regulatory and financial landscapes. With a deep understanding of commercial transactions and corporate compliance, he helps clients structure deals, manage risk and ensure regulatory adherence in an ever-evolving financial landscape.

EARLIER IN HIS CAREER: Austin previously served as chair of the Louisiana Bankers Association’s Bank Counsel Committee.

EDUCATION: Austin received his law degree from LSU, but he also holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Tech.

KRISTIN WALL

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LOUISIANA WORKERS” COMPENSATION CORP.

Kristin Wall has been a driving force at LWCC since the company’s earliest days. She joined the organization in 1992 as managing claims attorney, just one year after its founding, and quickly moved through the ranks. By 1996, she was general counsel, helping shape critical state and federal legislation. Her leadership trajectory continued with promotions to executive vice president and COO in 1998, and then president and COO in 2004. Just two years later, she was named president and CEO. Wall’s commitment to workplace safety, innovation, and Louisiana’s workforce has defined her leadership. This year she was named Business Report’s Executive of the Year.

FUN FACT: Wall is a native of Jena, Louisiana.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Learning about everything— from how to play pickleball to the benefits of eating healthy food to the future of AI. I am a serial learner.

BOB BARTON

MANAGING PARTNER

TAYLOR, PORTER, BROOKS & PHILLIPS

Bob Barton serves as managing partner of Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips and as a member of the firm’s executive committee. With a diverse career spanning commercial litigation, regulatory compliance and business transactions, he represents local and national businesses across multiple industries. He is a trained mediator with Baton Rouge’s Patterson Resolution Group, having completed the Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation. Over the years, he has represented Fortune 100 companies, financial institutions, health care organizations and major industrial contractors in high-stakes litigation.

ACHIEVEMENT: Barton was elected to the inaugural class of Business Report’s Leadership Academy.

INFLUENCE: Barton serves on the board of directors for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and is currently on the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s executive committee.

BRANDON BLACK PARTNER

JONES WALKER

With more than two decades of legal experience, Brandon Black is a partner in Jones Walker’s Litigation Practice Group, where he represents clients in litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitrations involving complex business and commercial transactions. A CPA before becoming an attorney, he brings deep financial knowledge to his practice, advising clients in industries ranging from banking and construction to insurance and tax law. Before joining Jones Walker in 2005, he served as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana and practiced at Taylor Porter.

CAUSE HE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: Special needs education

ADVICE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: Lead by example. Your dreams will come true if you are patient, treat others with respect, do not take shortcuts and are determined.

JOHN STONE CAMPBELL III

PARTNER

TAYLOR PORTER

A partner at Taylor Porter, John Stone Campbell III co-chairs the firm’s professional liability, insurance, casualty, product liability and personal injury litigation practice. His extensive litigation experience encompasses commercial disputes, construction litigation, contract issues, breach of fiduciary duty cases, real estate litigation, class actions, admiralty and maritime cases, premises liability, general tort litigation and insurance coverage matters. He serves as general counsel for several clients, including Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Higdon Outdoors and Anvil Attachments, and he is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts.

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A LEADER: Character—honesty, loyalty, accountability— because you have to have and earn the true respect of those you want to lead.

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION: Outlive, by Peter Attia. Health is one of my passions.

S. DENNIS BLUNT

VICE MANAGING PARTNER, BATON ROUGE OFFICE

PHELPS DUNBAR

Shelton Dennis Blunt is a seasoned trial litigator and partner at Phelps Dunbar specializing in complex commercial litigation. With a focus on guiding executives and company leaders through high-stakes legal disputes, he leads trial teams in matters intersecting business and government. His expertise encompasses antitrust actions, business torts, class-action defense, lender liability issues and more. He also assists companies expanding into Louisiana by coordinating public-private partnerships, business incentives and government relations strategies. He is also active in the community, having worked with a number of young people in the programs of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge.

MOTTO: “Work and pray, not necessarily in that order.”

LOOKING AHEAD: I plan to take advantage of the wave of national and international investments that are coming to Louisiana in tech and energy.

PRESTON CASTILLE

ATTORNEY

PRESTON CASTILLE LAW FIRM

With nearly three decades of experience in complex business litigation, Preston Castille is the founder of the Preston Castille Law Firm. Before launching his own practice, he was a partner at Taylor Porter for nearly 30 years, where he served on the firm’s executive committee. A seasoned trial lawyer, he has represented clients at every level of the legal system, from municipal courts to the U.S. Supreme Court. His appellate experience includes numerous cases argued before Louisiana’s circuit courts and the state Supreme Court.

EARLIER IN HIS CAREER: Prior to attending law school, Castille worked as an economist for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.

BEYOND THE COURTROOM: Castille also serves as the president of Helix Community Schools, a network of elementary and secondary schools in south Louisiana.

FRANZ BORGHARDT

OWNER AND CRIMINAL

DEFENSE ATTORNEY

BORGHARDT LAW FIRM

With over a decade of legal experience, Franz Borghardt specializes in criminal defense and civil rights law. His career began in public service clerking for Judge Anthony Marabella in the 19th Judicial District Court. He then worked as a felony assistant defender at the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender and as a felony assistant prosecutor at the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office. In 2012, he joined the law office of Steven J. Moore, and four years later, he established his own practice. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law School teaching criminal litigation.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Borghardt collects artwork featuring octopuses, animals that he says are smart, alienlike and “the most unique creatures on the planet.”

LEADERSHIP: Borghardt is the current president of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

JAMES “SONNY” CHASTAIN

PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

James “Sonny” Chastain is a partner at Kean Miller specializing in business litigation and intellectual property law. Since joining the firm in 2000, he has represented clients in various commercial matters, including contract negotiation and litigation, banking disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair trade practices and consumer finance issues. His expertise extends to truth in lending, fair debt collection practices, antitrust, RICO, employment/ noncompete agreements, software licenses, arbitration agreements, investment suitability and broker relations. He also advises clients on copyright and trademark registration, brand management and IP infringement litigation.

RECOGNITION: Chastain has been consistently listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers (2016, 2022-2024) and Best Lawyers in America (2015-2025).

IN THE COMMUNITY: Chastain serves on the boards of St. Vincent de Paul, the Baton Rouge Community College Foundation and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation, among others.

SCOTT CHENEVERT ATTORNEY

FISHMAN HAYGOOD

With more than 25 years of professional experience, Scott Chenevert is a partner in the business section of Fishman Haygood. His practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, energy-asa-service, corporate governance and finance, and securities. He has represented both private and public companies across various industries, including real estate development, energy and oil field services, technology, and professional services. He also serves as outside general counsel for privately held and family companies.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: “It can wait until tomorrow.”

LOOKING AHEAD: I plan to be more strategic, focusing on clients and matters that can be transformational.

G. BLANE CLARK JR.

PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

A partner at Kean Miller with more than 35 years of experience, G. Blane Clark Jr. specializes in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and complex commercial transactions. He has guided numerous businesses through acquisitions, joint ventures and industrial agreements, with a focus on the energy, health care and manufacturing sectors. His expertise includes negotiating large-scale pipeline projects, structuring corporate entities and advising on employment and noncompete agreements. Recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 2007, Clark was listed as Lawyer of the Year in mergers and acquisitions law in 2021 and in corporate law in 2022.

RECOGNITION: Clark was listed among the top corporate/mergers and acquisitions lawyers in Louisiana by Chambers USA in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

EARLIER IN HIS CAREER: Clark was a member of Business Report’s 1999 Forty Under 40 class.

TOM CLARK

ATTORNEY

BREAZELLE, SACHSE & WILSON

With more than 30 years of experience, Tom Clark is a leading attorney in insurance regulatory law, state procurement and government relations. A partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, he advises Fortune 500 companies, local businesses and government agencies on navigating complex administrative and regulatory issues. He has also played a key role in shaping insurance legislation in Louisiana and frequently represents clients in high-stakes procurement and contractual matters. He has gained a local reputation for his strategic approach and deep understanding of state regulations.

LEADERSHIP: Clark is a past president and chair of the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development.

POLITICAL APPOINTEE: Between 2016 and 2017, Clark served as the sole gubernatorial appointee to the 13-member legislatively created Task Force on Structural Changes in Budget and Tax Policy.

JILL CRAFT

CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY

JILL L CRAFT, ATTORNEY AT LAW

For most of her career, Jill Craft has practiced law on her own terms, dedicating herself to representing those whose voices often go unheard. A fierce advocate for victims of discrimination, civil rights violations and sexual trauma, she has successfully litigated numerous high-profile cases, including one of the nation’s first ADA HIV harassment cases. She is also a respected speaker, frequently presenting on employment litigation, trial advocacy, ethics and professionalism. Her commitment to justice has earned her multiple honors, including the Joseph Keogh Award from the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Racial Justice Award.

CAUSE SHE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT: Eliminating discrimination wherever it’s found. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

BOOK THAT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION: War, by Bob Woodward. This book underscores the importance of never forgetting history, as to do so, we are condemned to repeat it.

LINDA PEREZ

CLARK

MANAGING PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

As managing partner of Kean Miller, Linda Perez Clark guides both small and large businesses through complex commercial transactions and operational challenges. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and negotiating contracts for onshore and offshore energy projects. Her leadership extends beyond her legal practice; she founded the Kean Miller Connection, an annual law school preparatory program supporting underrepresented groups in the legal field.

RECOGNITION: Clark took home the Weiss Award from the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice in 2019.

IN HER OWN WORDS: “I am dedicated to ensuring that Kean Miller’s unique culture of collaboration, diversity of thought, and longevity of outstanding client outcomes permeate everything we do today and into the future.”

ANNE CROCHET

OF COUNSEL

TAYLOR PORTER

With extensive experience in environmental law, Anne Crochet advises businesses on regulatory compliance, permitting and litigation. She has counseled generators, manufacturers, recyclers, transporters and facility operators on air, water and waste management issues. She is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, all federal district courts within Louisiana, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is also a contributor to Louisiana Environmental Compliance, a publication that annually covers environmental compliance issues across the state.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Crochet serves on the board of governors of the City Club of Baton Rouge. LEADERSHIP: Crochet previously chaired the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section.

It was a great opportunity for me to learn about myself and the instructors were interactive, impactful, relevant and thorough with their explanations.”

NYOKI MOKEBA

Manager

Performance Contractors, Inc.

The Leadership Academy was impactful! The speakers, exercises and networking opportunities surpassed my expectation and provide me the tools and strategies needed to bring back to my organization.”

BLASIA RIVET CEO

Decision Critical

Great way to challenge yourself and become a more effective leader.”

STEVEN

CHUSTZ Senior Project Manager

Group Contractors, LLC

LEARN | CONNECT | GROW

All rising professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and small business owners are invited to join us in taking their leadership up a notch. Business Report’s Executive Leadership Academy is a transformative program that will take your career and your organization to new levels of success.

This has been one of the best professional investments in have ever made in myself.”

BRITTANY RELLE

Co-Owner

Custom Security Systems, Inc.

The academy attracts a great group of area leaders with a lot of energy & real world situations & speakers that setup a great training experience.”

TIM KIMMEL Principal Providence Engineering and Environmental Group LLC

It is an invaluable experience where you get to hear, share with other leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds, personalities, and industries. We all learned from each other.”

JENNA FREDERIC Partner Hannis T. Bourgeois

LANA CRUMP GENERAL COUNSEL

KEAN

MILLER

Lana Crump serves as the legal compass of one of Louisiana’s largest law firms. As general counsel for Kean Miller, she advises firm leadership on risk management, contracts, governance and ethics. A former trial lawyer with nearly 30 years at the firm, Crump’s expertise spans complex litigation—from class actions involving chemical exposures to insurance and business disputes. Today, her focus is guiding the firm’s operations with foresight and integrity. Crump has helped Kean Miller navigate such pivotal issues as AI policy, balancing innovation with client confidentiality, and legal ethics. Deeply involved in the community, she volunteers her time with organizations like Capital Area United Way.

CAREER PIVOT: She originally studied broadcast journalism at LSU before embracing the courtroom over the newsroom.

MILESTONE: She marks three decades with Kean Miller this year.

BRETT

FURR PARTNER

TAYLOR PORTER

With a distinguished career in real estate and commercial litigation, Brett Furr serves as a partner at Taylor Porter and is a member of the firm’s executive committee. His practice encompasses commercial bank workouts, foreclosures, bankruptcies, defense of lender liability suits and oil and gas cases. He has been recognized in Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America, earning the title of Real Estate Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge in both 2016 and 2020. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Business & Technology Center and a past president of the University Laboratory School Foundation.

RECOGNITION: Furr was once selected as the recipient of the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education Distinguished Service on Behalf of the College Award.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Furr recently served two terms on the board of governors of the City Club of Baton Rouge.

MICHAEL D. FERACHI

MANAGING MEMBER

MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD

Michael D. Ferachi is an experienced trial attorney specializing in consumer finance litigation, class actions, business disputes and insurance defense. With a comprehensive understanding of federal statutes and regulations, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Truth in Lending Act, he has represented a diverse clientele ranging from consumer finance institutions to airlines and construction companies. Throughout his career, he has tried numerous cases to verdict and handled dozens of appellate matters, having litigated cases in all three federal districts in Louisiana.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Orlando and Pensacola Beach

PLAY ME IN A MOVIE: Harrison Ford

WALT GREEN PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

A partner at Phelps Dunbar, Walt Green’s practice is focused on cybersecurity, whitecollar criminal defense, governmental investigations and litigation. He served as the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana from 2013 to 2017, overseeing prosecutions related to terrorism, public corruption, cyber crimes and health care fraud. Concurrently, he was the executive director for the National Center for Disaster Fraud, coordinating responses to fraudulent activities following events like Superstorm Sandy and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He also routinely provides real-time counseling for companies responding to data breaches and cyber intrusions.

RECOGNITION: In 2017, Green was named a Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer by the National Law Journal.

MILITARY SERVICE: Green served in the Marines for over 30 years, retiring with the rank of colonel.

KELSEY KORNICK FUNES

PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

With nearly 30 years of experience in construction law, Kelsey Kornick Funes represents contractors, subcontractors and owners in large-scale commercial, civil and industrial projects, offering end-to-end counsel from contract drafting through dispute resolution. An accomplished trial attorney, she has arbitrated and litigated complex construction cases across the Southeast. She also serves as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s Construction Panel and is a trained mediator. In the community, she has helped to raise nearly $100,000 to renovate Webb Park in Baton Rouge and is currently a board member of the Center for Planning Excellence.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: I want to learn more about AI and how I can harness it in my litigation practice.

FIRST SET OF WHEELS: Funes’ first car was a stick shift Toyota Corolla—a challenge at 17, but a skill she’s now glad to have.

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.

MEREDITH HATHORN

MANAGING PARTNER

FOLEY & JUDELL

Meredith Hathorn has helped shape the financial infrastructure of Louisiana. As managing partner of Foley & Judell, she is one of the state’s most respected bond attorneys, guiding public and nonprofit entities through complex financing for hospitals, highways, schools, ports and utilities. Her expertise has supported projects from the expansion of Interstate 10 to the redevelopment of the University Medical Center in New Orleans. A cum laude graduate of Tulane Law School, Hathorn began her legal career in New York before returning to Louisiana to specialize in public finance law. Passionate about financial literacy and mentoring, she actively supports women in finance and law and is recognized as one of the field’s true trailblazers.

FUN FACT: She began college-level coursework in high school to fast-track her education.

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: “Be on time, be present, be courteous.”

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 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.”

LEE C. KANTROW

ATTORNEY

BUTLER SNOW

With over five decades of legal experience, Lee C. Kantrow is a partner in Butler Snow’s Business Services Group focusing on corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his career, he has advised clients on complex transactions, earning recognition in Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in corporate mergers and acquisitions in Louisiana from 2003 through 2024. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was named Lawyer of the Year in Mergers and Acquisitions Law for Baton Rouge in 2025 by Best Lawyers in America.

WELL ESTABLISHED: Kantrow is a member of the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the Louisiana Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

IVY LEAGUER: Kantrow earned his JD degree from Harvard University in 1971. He graduated cum laude.

PAMELA R. MASCARI PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

Pamela R. Mascari is a partner at Kean Miller specializing in complex litigation within the oil and gas, pipeline, energy and environmental sectors. Since joining the firm in 1997, she has advised clients on litigation strategies in Louisiana courts and has managed multidistrict litigation in federal courts nationwide. She also represents clients before the Louisiana Office of Conservation on intrastate pipeline and oil and gas matters and advises industrial clients on environmental compliance, including water issues, solid waste, wetlands and incident response.

LEADERSHIP: Mascari has served on the Mineral Law Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute since 2018 and this year was was elected to Kean Miller’s seven-member management committee, serving a two-year term.

GORDON MCKERNAN

OWNER AND ATTORNEY

GORDON MCKERNAN

INJURY ATTORNEYS

If you’ve spent any amount of time in Baton Rouge, you’ve likely seen Gordon McKernan’s face. His guerilla marketing tactics have made him one of the Capital City’s most recognizable residents. He started his firm in 1992, and the firm now boasts hundreds of $1 million-and-above settlements and verdicts and more than $3 billion in recoveries for its clients. He now has offices throughout the Capital Region as well as in Hammond, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport. He has also become a major player in the local name, image and likeness arena, signing a number of high-profile college athletes in recent years.

BUSINESS MOTTO: “Get Gordon! Get it done!”

PIVOTAL CAREER MOMENT: Getting into advertising. By leveraging the power of effective messaging, I was able to not only grow my business but also shape its identity and reach in ways I never thought possible.

DARREL PAPILLION

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

A Eunice native, Darrel Papillion has built a distinguished legal career characterized by advocacy and leadership. He began his career clerking for Associate Justice Catherine Kimball of the Louisiana Supreme Court before practicing at a number of law firms across Baton Rouge and New Orleans. As a lawyer, he focused on product liability, personal injury and wrongful death cases. In 2023, then-President Joe Biden nominated him to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Following Senate confirmation, he received his commission on June 1, 2023.

LEADERSHIP: Papillion has held leadership roles in legal organizations like the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association.

KEY SUPPORT: When he was nominated for his current post, Papillion attracted the support of U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy.

Foley & Judell is a boutique law firm focused exclusively on public and project finance. With offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, we collaborate on transformative projects across the State of Louisiana with clients from all over the world. For over a century, our attorneys have built a storied legacy of excellence and solution-oriented service.

The selection of our partner and friend Meredith L. Hathorn as part of The Capital Region 500 is a proud milestone in that legacy.

Meredith, your leadership, vision, and integrity continue to inspire us. We are honored to celebrate this moment with you.

JOHN PERRY

PARTNER AND OWNER

PERRY, BALHOFF, MENGIS & BURNS

With more than four decades of legal experience, John Perry is a partner at Perry, Balhoff, Mengis & Burns. His practice encompasses civil defense and plaintiff representation and has earned him the unique distinction of serving on both the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel board of directors and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors. He has also been appointed as a special master and courtappointed mediator in both state and federal courts, notably in high-profile cases such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the General Motors ignition switch litigation.

THE MEDIATOR: Although Perry continues to try select cases, his principal focus today is as a mediator.

ON THE SIDE: Perry is also a founding member of and partner in Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions, a leading alternative dispute resolution firm.

CLAUDE REYNAUD JR.

PARTNER

BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON

Claude Reynaud Jr. has been a cornerstone of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson since he became a partner in 1981. His legal practice is focused on business litigation, intellectual property and representing automotive dealers in complex disputes. As chief general counsel to the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association and general counsel to the Baton Rouge New Car Dealers Association, he has advised clients through major industry shifts, including the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies. A longtime leader in the Baton Rouge legal and civic communities, he served more than 30 years on his firm’s management committee and has chaired organizations like Visit Baton Rouge and the Plan Baton Rouge Steering Committee.

A TRUSTED ADVISER: Reynaud also serves as general counsel to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce.

RECOGNITION: Reynaud has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2001.

RAGAN RICHARD

MANAGING PARTNER

PHELPS DUNBAR

A managing partner at Phelps Dunbar, Ragan Richard advises clients primarily on corporate transactions, real estate and finance matters. With a background in biomedical engineering, he brings a methodical and solutions-driven approach to complex deals. His clients range from agricultural cooperatives and real estate investors to franchisees and business owners navigating mergers, acquisitions and corporate governance. He also serves as the regional practice coordinator for Phelps Dunbar’s business group.

MOTTO: “God’s first, family’s second and I’m third.”

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Smile more, spend time getting to know your colleagues, be friendly to everyone you meet, keep life in perspective, don’t take yourself too seriously and enjoy every day. Life moves fast.

LEWIS UNGLESBY ATTORNEY

UNGLESBY LAW FIRM

A New Orleans native, Lewis Unglesby is a distinguished trial lawyer with a career spanning five decades. Throughout his career, he has successfully won acquittals in over 50 felony jury trials in state and federal courts. He has also achieved over 25 multimillion-dollar jury awards and over 45 jury awards exceeding $1 million. Unglesby has argued before the Louisiana Supreme Court over 20 times and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America since 1986.

MAKING AN IMPACT: Unglesby’s litigation efforts have led to significant safety improvements, such as mandatory restraint systems for certain forklifts.

TRAILBLAZER: Unglesby was the first attorney in Louisiana to successfully use battered woman syndrome as a defense in a murder case.

RAEDTHA VASQUEZ

PARTNER

JONES WALKER

Raedtha Vasquez is a partner in the tax practice group at Jones Walker and a member of the firm’s tax credit finance team. She currently specializes in affordable housing transactions, representing lenders and investors in complex financings involving federal and state tax credits, tax-exempt bonds and various loan programs. Her experience includes drafting and negotiating sophisticated agreements for both taxable and tax-exempt financings. Vasquez has also advised national retailers on real estate matters and assisted 501(c)(3) organizations with infrastructure projects. Notably, she served as underwriters’ counsel for the $294 million bond sale for the Louisiana Superdome restoration, recognized as the Southeast Region’s Deal of the Year by The Bond Buyer.

A SONG THAT INSPIRES ME: “Pink Pony Club,” by Chappel Roan

HOBBY OR PASSION: I love to play Mahjong!

RANDY YOUNG

PARTNER

KEAN MILLER

Randy Young is a partner at Kean Miller with over 30 years of experience in energy and utility regulation. Since joining the firm in 1992, he has been focused on representing industrial clients before the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. His practice areas include river pilotage regulation, environmental litigation and telecommunications disputes. He has also managed complex toxic tort litigations and class-action settlements.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “My focus on solutions and meticulous preparation brings value-based results to the clients I am privileged to serve.”

OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE: Young is also a member of the LSU Law Center’s Dean’s Council.

JORDAN BASHAM OWNER

WHERETOGEAUX AND 225 SOCIAL MEDIA

If there’s a new restaurant, a splashy event or an opportunity to support all things local, trust that Jordan Basham will be there. Armed with an iPhone, Basham has spent years hyping up Capital Region spots with her Instagram page, @wheretogeaux225. Her hunger-inducing posts have helped her grow a loyal following of over 40,000 and thrust her into local foodie stardom. Basham recently translated that success into a full-time gig by launching WhereToGeaux225 Social Media, helping businesses manage their digital presence.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Mid City Merchants, American Ad Federation, Cap City Beer Fest, American Cancer Society, Forum 225’s Barton Leadership Program ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP: “Owning a business is hard. Staying motivated, growing, and keeping things moving? Even harder. If you’re feeling the pressure too, just know you’re not alone. Keep pushing. Keep showing up. We got this.”

TAYLOR BENNETT

FOUNDER AND CEO

MESH

Taylor Bennett has transformed Mesh from a small two-person design shop into one of Baton Rouge’s most renowned full-service marketing firms. Over the past two decades, he has built a legacy of creative excellence, leading the firm to win over 300 local, regional and national Addy Awards. In 2021, Bennett’s contributions to the industry were recognized with the EA Pete Goldsby Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Advertising Federation of Baton Rouge. Mesh’s influence extends beyond business, with the firm frequently partnering with nonprofits to develop impactful marketing campaigns on limited budgets. Bennett’s passion for giving back is evident through his support of various causes, including The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge, Friends of the Animals and the Manship Theatre.

ON TRUST: “Trust is the key ingredient in advertising. The client has to trust the agency, and the agency has to earn trust with the client. It’s a relationship.”

CRAIG CHUMNEY

PRESIDENT FRANKLIN

Founded in 1922, Franklin Printing Co. has transformed from a small Baton Rouge print shop into a major player in the commercial printing industry. In 1996, Craig Chumney became vice president following the merger of Franklin Press and DigiTrans, a data marketing firm he founded in 1985. This pivotal merger combined Franklin’s century-old printing expertise with DigiTrans’ innovative data marketing solutions, setting the stage for future growth. Chumney, now president of the company, has led Franklin into new areas such as data, mailing and integrated print solutions. Despite the company’s evolution, Chumney has maintained the family values and entrepreneurial spirit that have defined Franklin for generations.

ON SUCCESS: “We’ve been able to get bigger and run on a national basis with the big boys, yet still keep the family values and entrepreneurial drive of a small company.”

MATT DARDENNE

CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT RED SIX MEDIA

At just 22, Baton Rouge native Matt Dardenne launched Red Six Media, a decision that would reshape the region’s creative landscape. Now celebrating 15 years in business, his agency has grown into an industry leader with 26 employees and a client roster that includes Turner Industries, ExxonMobil and the Tiger Athletic Foundation. Under Dardenne’s leadership, Red Six has earned 20 nationally recognized commercial awards and driven significant change in Louisiana, most notably through the creation of the state’s “Let Louisiana Shine” litter prevention campaign. A passionate community leader, Dardenne volunteers with such organizations as the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and the Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge. His work has earned him 36 national Telly Awards, among many other honors.

FUN FACT: Dardenne and several LSU Manship School of Mass Communication classmates started Red Six Media one month after graduating.

ANN EDELMAN

VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA ZEHNDER COMMUNICATIONS

With more than four decades of experience, Ann Edelman has built a reputation as a go-to expert in strategic public relations and crisis communication. Her work spans a wide range of industries, including health care, economic development, finance, insurance, tourism and philanthropy, where she’s helped build and safeguard local, regional and national brands. As vice president of public relations and media at Zehnder Communications for the past 18 years, Edelman has become a trusted adviser in crisis prevention and communication mitigation, guiding organizations through such challenges as cybersecurity breaches and natural disaster recovery. Edelman’s influence extends beyond her client work as she’s frequently called upon to speak on crisis management, offering insights that help businesses and communities respond effectively in times of uncertainty.

FUN FACT: Her crisis communications experience includes working with an NFL franchise and NBC’s canceled coverage of the 2015 Miss USA pageant.

STUART FEIGLEY PRESIDENT FEIGLEY COMMUNICATIONS

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber. LSU Online & Continuing Education. The Louisiana Department of Health. Baton Rouge Community College. Those are just a few of the clients who turn to Feigley Communications for their marketing campaigns. The company holds the distinction of being an LSU 100: Fastest Growing Tiger Business thanks to the agency’s award-winning work, which spans multiple A-list sectors in Louisiana, including petrochemical, health care, financial and nonprofits. Stuart Feigley has more than three decades of experience working with local, regional and national brands on marketing strategy and campaign development. He worked for a variety of advertising firms in Dallas; Columbus, Ohio; and Louisiana before setting up his own shop.  NATIONAL HONORS: The company has earned

JAY JOHNSON

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO

LAMAR

ADVERTISING

Jay Johnson’s strategic financial leadership has shaped the trajectory of some of the most influential companies in the nation. As executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Lamar Advertising Company since 2019, Johnson brings decades of experience across hospitality, real estate and finance. His previous roles include executive vice president and CFO at DiamondRock Hospitality, as well as senior leadership positions at Host Hotels & Resorts, KeyBank Real Estate Capital and Bank of America. Johnson’s extensive background also includes management consulting at Deloitte, investment banking at Prudential Securities and a tenure at Enron Corporation. Beyond his corporate leadership, he serves on the boards of Newell Brands and SBA Communications.

STRATEGY FOR A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE: “Two cellphones—one for personal use and one for business. It is something I began over a decade ago and it allows me to unplug from work from time to time, particularly on weekends.”

BRIAN RODRIGUEZ

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT GATORWORKS

Brian Rodriguez turned his passion for technology into a thriving business at an early age, founding Gatorworks while still an LSU student. Over the years, he built the company into a leading force in web development, design and digital marketing, working with clients across such areas as government, health care and retail. In 2017, Gatorworks was acquired by Guaranty Corporation, but Rodriguez remains at the helm as president. His leadership extends beyond business—he’s an alumnus of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Class and has contributed to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s Emerging Leaders Council. His ability to bridge technology with business needs has solidified his place in Baton Rouge’s evolving digital landscape.

ON SUPPORTING CREATIVE WORK: “A lot of it comes down to culture and the work environment itself. Our office is a very creative space—it’s energized and inviting.”

STAN LEVY

FOUNDER

AND CEO

SASSO

Stan Levy, founder and CEO of Sasso, has transformed his Baton Rouge-based branding and marketing agency into a nationally recognized industry leader since its founding in 2011. With a portfolio that includes high-profile clients such as JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, Ford and Nike, Sasso has earned hundreds of industry awards under Levy’s leadership. A Louisiana native and LSU graduate, Levy began his career at Ticketmaster in Los Angeles before returning to Baton Rouge to build his agency. His innovative approach to marketing has earned him many honors, including being named one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 and Marketer of the Year by Sales and Marketing Executives of Greater Baton Rouge. Beyond business, Levy is an active community supporter, contributing to organizations like Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

PASSION: Watching his children compete in sports, academics and other activities.

STEPHEN ST. CYR

PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER

VIVID INK GRAPHICS

Stephen St. Cyr turned a passion for customer service and design into a successful business with Vivid Ink Graphics, a printing and design company specializing in custom interior and exterior projects. Founded after his service in Operation Desert Storm, St. Cyr’s commitment to making complex projects accessible set his business apart. Vivid Ink has worked with such clients as Loyola University, Ochsner, LSU athletics and Community Coffee. With degrees in QBA/business and finance from LSU, St. Cyr applies his expertise to drive the company’s continued growth. Beyond business, he’s actively involved in the community, serving as a member of the American Advertising Federation, Baton Rouge Ancient Athletes Society and the Bocage Racquet Club.

FUN FACT: He grew up in Slidell as one of 12 children.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Aviation. He earned his pilot’s license in 2008.

SEAN REILLY

PRESIDENT AND CEO

LAMAR ADVERTISING

Sean Reilly’s leadership has shaped Lamar Advertising into a juggernaut in the outdoor advertising industry. Joining the company in 1987, Reilly quickly rose through the ranks, serving in roles from director to COO and president, before being named CEO in 2011. Under his guidance, Lamar has grown significantly, solidifying its place as one of the largest companies of its kind. Reilly’s influence extends beyond business—he is an active community leader, serving on various boards of organizations, including Volunteers of America and the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. Additionally, he co-chairs the Louisiana Flagship Coalition and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization. Through his strategic vision and civic engagement, Reilly continues to drive both industry success and regional progress.

PASSIONS: Reilly is a news junkie and also loves classic rock.

HUNTER TERRITO

PRESIDENT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

XDESIGN

Hunter Territo’s journey from intern to president and majority owner of Xdesign reflects his deep commitment to shaping Baton Rouge’s marketing landscape. Since joining the company in 2007, Territo has led Xdesign—a full-service marketing and branding firm founded in 1990—through every phase of client projects. With a strong background in branding and strategy, he also contributes to the next generation of advertising professionals as an adjunct instructor at LSU, where he’s influenced the digital media curriculum at the Manship School of Mass Communication. Territo’s mentorship extends beyond the classroom, earning him the Ralph Sims Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advertising Education and being named a Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: To become an artist MOST CHERISHED VALUES: Honesty and support

BO WHITE

FOUNDER AND CEO

CLICK HERE DIGITAL

Bo White has shaped the digital marketing landscape for more than 30 years, starting with his first venture, Click Here Publishing, in the 1990s. Now known as Click Here Digital, the award-winning agency provides full-service digital marketing to a diverse portfolio of clients, including Hendrick Automotive Group and Southeast Toyota. White’s career spans leadership and consulting roles with such major brands as Zappos, Groupon and Beyond Commerce. He also coowned and led NewOrleans.com Media LLC from 2010 to 2013. Under White’s guidance, Click Here Digital has built a reputation for driving growth in industries ranging from automotive and e-commerce to health care and law.

ON KEEPING PACE IN THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE: “Change is constant. You’ve got to sift through the emerging change and find out what’s useful and get experienced and immersed in it to bring value to your clients.”

OTEY

L. WHITE III

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, AND OWNER

OTEY WHITE & ASSOCIATES

Otey L. White III has built Otey White & Associates into one of Louisiana’s largest and most influential advertising agencies. Since founding the firm, he has guided its growth, specializing in retail and image advertising, sports marketing, web design and digital media. With a client base spanning more than 30 states, the agency’s work for high-profile clients, including NAPA Auto Parts, LSU athletics and local government entities, has made a lasting impact on industries across the region. White is a graduate of LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication and serves on its Board of Visitors. Beyond business, he actively supports such organizations as the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

RECOGNITION: Over his career, he’s been awarded Addy, Telly, Lantern, and Pinnacle awards, as well as the prestigious Pete Goldsby Silver Medal Award and the Ralph Sims Lifetime Achievement Award.

ROB WISE

CEO AND CO-OWNER ITINSPIRED

Rob Wise has shaped ITinspired into a trusted IT solutions provider since its inception in Baton Rouge in 2012. Along with co-owners Anthony Sauro and Brett Vaughn, Wise set out to offer businesses a more personalized approach to IT services, empowering them to leverage technology for better results. Specializing in IT consulting, network and server administration, and web design, the company has experienced impressive growth, earning it a spot on the 2024 LSU 100 list of the fastest-growing companies led by an LSU alum. Wise’s leadership was instrumental in earning him the 2020 Excellence in Sales and Marketing Award from the Sales and Marketing Executives of Greater Baton Rouge.

HOBBY OR PASSION: “A huge part of hunting that you don’t really talk about is the camaraderie that comes with it. It has let me spend time with old friends and develop deeper friendships, and I’ve also met a lot of people who have helped pull me out of a ditch or put up a tree stand.”

TREY BEALL PRESIDENT

GULF COAST OFFICE PRODUCTS

As the leader of Gulf Coast Office Products, Trey Beall has spent decades ensuring that Louisiana businesses have the printers, copiers and multifunction machines they need to run efficiently. As businesses have navigated hybrid work post-pandemic, Gulf Coast Office Products has embraced new technology, such as interactive whiteboards, to meet the demands of the new high-tech landscape. Beall’s deep industry knowledge, passion for service, and relationships have allowed him to lead a growing team of more than 100 employees at offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mandeville and Lafayette.

FAVORITE BUSINESS LUNCH SPOT: J. Alexander’s. We’ll get the spinach dip for sure.

PRODUCTIVITY HACKS: Master the morning and get a good start.

JANET BRITTON

GENERAL COUNSEL AND EVP OF HUMAN RESOURCES REV

Janet Britton is the general counsel and executive vice president of human resources for REV, formally known as EATEL. When Britton joined REV in the late ‘90s as its first-ever attorney, she helped launch its first wireless product in less than four months of starting the job. Whether she’s shaping telecom policy or mentoring young professionals, Britton’s passion for problem-solving and people-first leadership is heartfelt. When she’s not shaping the future of telecommunications, she’s advocating for young women to dream big, spreading the word that they can do anything by focusing on education.

WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW: Britton can speak Cajun French.

FIRST JOB: Her first job was at Eckerd’s Drug Store as a pharmacy cashier.

JOSH DESCANT

CEO

REV

AS CEO of REV, Josh Descant is keeping Louisiana connected and building the future of broadband. REV is the state’s largest locally owned broadband provider, and Descant is leading the charge to bring high-speed internet and secure data services to communities across the Gulf Coast. With influence far beyond Louisiana, Descant serves on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council to the president, advising the White House on protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure. Additionally, Descant has worked alongside the Committee of 100 for Economic Development and USTelecom to ensure Louisiana stays at the forefront of the digital age. Born and raised in New Orleans, Descant’s leadership is rooted in service with a disciplined team-first mindset.

MILITARY SERVICE: Descant served in the Marines. EDUCATION: He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi

CHRIS DYKES

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

CLEAR BLUE DESIGN

Chris Dykes has helped everyone from Major League Baseball to health care giants solve complex problems through simple, elegant software. Dykes’ personal project, the habittracking app Ever Better, is the byproduct of nearly two decades of trial, error and daily resolve. For 18 years, he tracked his personal habits in a spreadsheet, tweaking and refining his system. Clear Blue Design has become a go-to partner for solving complex business problems with clarity and precision. Dykes identifies inefficiencies, then makes them better, cleaner and smarter. For Baton Rouge’s business leaders, Dykes represents the best kind of influence: innovative, methodical and deeply invested in long-term impact.

MOTTO: There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

FAVORITE PODCASTS: “Making Sense,” “Revisionist History,” and “Techmeme Ride Home”

CALVIN FABRE

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT ENVOC/LA WALLET

Calvin Fabre helped develop another option for how Louisiana drivers can present their identification. He is the co-founder of LA Wallet, Louisiana’s first mobile driver’s license platform allowing users to carry a legal digital version of their driver’s license or state ID. He is also the founder and president of Envoc, a technology innovation and consulting firm in Baton Rouge and Hammond that has been named a Business Report Best Place to Work eight times and recognized on the Inc. 5000 list three times. Outside of the office, Fabre enjoys discussing technology, digital identity, company culture and theology with Louisiana schools, universities and youth groups.

BUSINESS MOTTO: Work is organizing chaos for human flourishing.

A MUST-READ: Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, by David Bahnsen. It dispels the idea that there should be a work/life balance. Work and life are not meant to be at odds with each other. Work is part of our purpose and gives meaning to our lives.

CHARLES MASTERS

SENIOR PARTNER/CLIENT SERVICE LEADER

IBM

As senior partner and client service leader at IBM, Charles Masters oversees more than 2,500 IBM employees across seven North American innovation centers. Masters believes in the power of technology and empowers his teams to use it to solve problems and uplift communities. From high school P-TECH programs to cutting-edge client solutions, he is helping to shape a tech ecosystem that’s inclusive, forward thinking and deeply rooted in Louisiana pride. Under his leadership, IBM has hired fresh talent, expanded career pipelines and championed initiatives like the Come Home program to bring qualified professionals back to the Capital Region.

BUSINESS MOTTO: “Right time. Right place. Change the world!”

EDUCATION: He earned a bachelor’s in computer engineering from the University of Florida.

ERIN MONROE

MARKET VICE PRESIDENT, GREATER LOUISIANA COX COMMUNICATIONS

CHAD LEMAIRE

CHAIRMAN AND CEO

CMA TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

When a hurricane is closing in and breaks satellite phones or a burst pipe releases high-pressure water into a data center, Chad LeMaire sends gear, staff and technological solutions. As chair and CEO of CMA Technology Solutions, LeMaire leads a company that treats client crises like their own—because to them, they are. That’s how CMA has turned customers into decadeslong partners. Whether it’s hand-delivering satellite phones during a natural disaster or turning demo equipment into lifelines over the weekend, his team shows up for local customers. Under LeMaire’s leadership, CMA is anchoring businesses through the tech evolution and offering trust, excellence and a relentless commitment to doing the right thing.

EDUCATION: He earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from McNeese State University. MOTTO: Always do the right thing.

Erin Monroe has built a reputation as a leader who redefines challenges with grit and grace. As Cox Communications’ market vice president for Greater Louisiana, Monroe leads market operations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, ensuring that businesses, families and communities stay connected. She is hands-on in the community, enhancing student experiences at Thrive Academy and leading volunteer efforts across Baton Rouge, championing health care access through her work with Woman’s Hospital. A former special counsel to Gov. John Bel Edwards, helping to push for criminal justice reform in Louisiana, Monroe has built a career on seeing the big picture and making unflinching moves to create change for the better.

FIRST OR MOST UNUSUAL JOB: I worked at my local movie theater in high school.

MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Leadership is about people, not titles.

NATALIE NOEL

FOUNDER AND CEO TECH ADVOCATE GROUP

Natalie Noel is the CEO and founder of digital marketing agency Tech Advocate Group. A former college basketball player, Noel has built multiple thriving companies, including TAG, Healing Sole, Noel Family Distillery and The Well Theory. As a HubSpot, Salesforce.com and Google partner, Tech Advocate Group specializes in marketing, sales, CRM, video production, and web design, while evolving with the everchanging digital world. Noel always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Right out of college, she worked in the marketing industry, focusing on CRM technology, sales enablement and software development, until she launched Tech Advocate Group in Baton Rouge in 2012.

WOMEN LEADERS WHO INSPIRE ME: Meredith Warner and Kelly Hurtado

DREAM DINNER COMPANIONS: Michael Jordan (from 20 years ago) and Jeff Bezos

PAUL POKORNEY

OWNER

ADVANCED OFFICE SYSTEMS

Paul Pokorney started Advanced Office Systems as a copier dealership in 1981. Since then, it has evolved into a family-operated service provider offering IT and network solutions, document imaging, electronic medical record software, medical billing solutions, multifunction devices and large format printers. After more than 40 years in business, Advanced Office Systems has expanded with offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Alexandria. The company continues to grow with the AI boom, adding offerings like AI security cameras with facial and image recognition and AI integration tools for document imaging services.

BEGINNINGS: The Pokorney family took a risk and moved from Orlando to Baton Rouge to start Advanced Office Systems in 1981.

FUN FACT: He founded the recreational fishing and vacation rental business Yellow Cotton Bayside Cabins in 2002.

ERIC ROMERO

DIRECTOR, INFORMATION SERVICES

CITY OF BATON ROUGE/ PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

Eric Romero, director of information services for the city of Baton Rouge is setting new standards of excellence for how the government can work in this digital age. Leveraging partnerships and data to align city resources with community efforts for more than three decades, Romero has transformed City Hall’s IT department from a basement-bound operation into a powerhouse for innovation, using data and technology to make local government work better by directly and positively impacting the lives of residents and local businesses. Romero has led the charge in rolling out an AI-powered chatbot, making it easier for city-parish residents and visitors to ask questions, find resources and report issues.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: Invest and contribute to your community early and often.

BUCKET LIST ITEM: I would like to visit every U.S. National Park—because I spend so much time in front of screens, getting out in nature is the best reset.

SHAWN USHER

CEO

SPARKHOUND

Shawn Usher, founder and CEO of Sparkhound, solves business problems with a mix of tech-savvy strategy and data-driven leadership. Founded in 1998, Sparkhound was designed to help business leaders accomplish their goals faster, better and easier using technology. The company has evolved drastically since its founding—many of its customers were still using dial-up internet—and now offers services like process automation, cybersecurity, IT modernization, custom software development and contact center operations. Recognizing the importance of team culture, Usher seeks intelligent and authentic professionals who are deeply fulfilled in their work and focuses on building their skill set within the company.

PADMA VATSAVAI

FOUNDER & CEO

VINFORMATIX

Padma Vatsavai has built one of the Capital Region’s most impactful tech firms in Vinformatix, delivering custom software solutions that power smarter health care systems, modernize public sector services and streamline complex business operations. Vatsavai is a problem-solver at heart. She has spent nearly three decades turning complex public and private sector challenges into elegant, intuitive systems that exceed clients’ expectations. Under her leadership, Vinformatix was named one of the fastestgrowing companies in the U.S. with its inclusion on the 2019 Inc. 5000 list. The company has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Business Report multiple times.

SEAN SULLIVAN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, MARKETING AND STRATEGY

LOCKSTEP TECHNOLOGY GROUP

As a senior vice president at Lockstep Technology Group—formally known as Transformyx—Sean Sullivan has made a career out of turning complex ideas into technological solutions. With a deeprooted passion for media, education and entertainment, he mixes big-picture thinking with hands-on execution. Sullivan has led SaaS acquisitions from both sides of the table, launched everything from B2B data platforms to mobile apps, and built sales teams from scratch. He enjoys the chance to innovate and gets fired up when it comes to finding the best ways and best tools to solve problems.

MOTTO: Innovation by ideation, collaboration and grit

EARLY CAREER: In 1995, he worked as a marketing associate at Penguin Random House in New York.

Iberia Bank and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum.

ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF: I learned that while the heart gives you purpose, the head helps you make smart, lasting decisions.

A MUST-READ: The AI-Driven Leader, by Geoff Woods. This book really helps in understanding how to treat AI as a thought partner and not an assistant.

CEO

@HIGHLAND

Mo Vij is a man of many titles in the local tech space. He’s CEO of the Baton Rougebased tech park @Highland; president, CEO and chief software architect of software company 365Labs; and the founder of General Informatics, a regional technology powerhouse. His growing startups have soared to the top of local and national recognition lists. In 2023, 365Labs was named the third-fastest-growing public safety company on the Inc. 5000 list and earned the No. 2 spot on the LSU100 list of fastestgrowing businesses owned by LSU alumni. 365Labs was also named a Business Report Best Place to Work, backing Vij’s belief that what matters most is that his clients and employees love what they do and how they do it.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE RECEIVED: Vision without execution is hallucination. It reminds me every day that leadership is all about working hard with your team.

MOHIT “MO” VIJ

DIANNA PAYTON ALL IN ON OUTREACH

Dianna Payton doesn’t just serve the community, she embraces it. Whether she’s expanding housing access, advancing early childhood education, or advocating for those without a voice, her arms, and her heart, are always open. Honored among Baton Rouge Business Report’s Capital Region 500, Dianna remains relentlessly focused on what matters most: building a better, more compassionate Baton Rouge.

Living Legends

BENNY ALFORD OWNER

BENNY’S CAR

WASH

This hall of famer got his start in the car washing industry in 1964, working for his father. He took over the operation in 1970 and hasn’t looked back. With his family, he owns and operates Benny’s Car Wash & Oil Change. Under his ownership, the company has been on a march of expansion. Of its current nine locations, three include Mobil gas stations and B-Quik convenience stores. Six offer oil change services, and more expansion is planned for the future. This past president of the International Car Wash Association is in the Car Washing Hall of Fame. In 2023, Business Report named Benny’s its Company of the Year; it also placed No. 1 among the Capital Region’s Best Places to Work.

FUN FACT: Benny’s Car Wash on Perkins Road 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.

DIANE ALLEN FOUNDER

DIANE ALLEN AND ASSOCIATES (NOW DAA MEDIA + MARKETING)

Diane Allen’s career has shaped the advertising landscape for over five decades. She began in 1970 as an advertising manager for Anvil Industries, overseeing campaigns for 32 subsidiary companies across the U.S. In 1976, she took a bold step, founding Diane Allen and Associates Advertising/Public Relations. Under her leadership, the agency grew into a powerhouse, creating impactful campaigns across broadcast, print and digital platforms. The year 2023 marked a new chapter as Allen and co-founder Al McDugg successfully transitioned ownership to longtime colleagues Nancy Steiner and Donny Charbonnet, ensuring that the firm’s legacy will continue.

RECOGNITION: Allen received the E.A. Pete Goldsby Award from the American Advertising Federation in 1991. She is also widely praised for her pro-bono work for several nonprofits, with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge being the most special to her.

WILLIAM “BILL” BALHOFF

FORMER CEO AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

POSTLETHWAITE AND NETTERVILLE

Bill Balhoff has left a lasting mark on the accounting industry, dedicating nearly 50 years to P&N. As managing director and CEO, he played a key role in growing it into Louisiana’s largest accounting firm before its acquisition by EisnerAmper in 2023. His influence extends beyond the firm—he serves on the board of the International Federation of Accountants and previously chaired the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Recognized by Accounting Today and CPA Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People” in the profession, Balhoff continues to shape the industry globally as a sought-after speaker on professional standards and practice management.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP: P&N grew from a firm of 22 employees in 1976 focusing mostly on traditional accounting services to more than 500 employees statewide providing more than 50 services.

LEE MICHAEL BERG

FOUNDER

LEE MICHAELS

From the bright red box tied with a black satin bow to the finest names in jewelry, the Lee Michaels brand is among the most recognizable in the city. It all began in 1978, when Lee Michael Berg and his wife, Brenda, both Dallas natives, moved to Baton Rouge to open a jewelry store in Cortana Mall. Four decades later, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry is an established multimillion-dollar empire in Baton Rouge, with 10 locations across four states. Just four years after opening, Berg became a Rolex distributor. He has since handed the reins to his three sons, calling it one of the hardest things he has ever done.

ON COMPANY CULTURE: “The more people you bring into the process, the better input you get. When people feel like they’re part of something, they buy into it.”

THE BENEFITS OF FAILURE: Berg flunked out of college in his first year, but returned and graduated. “In order to appreciate success,” he says, “you need to understand failure.”

JIM BERNHARD

FOUNDER AND PARTNER

BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Jim Bernhard has built and led powerhouse companies that shape the energy and infrastructure sectors. As founder and partner of Bernhard Capital Partners, he oversees investment activities, chairs the investment committee, and serves on the portfolio committee. Before launching the private equity firm, he founded The Shaw Group in 1987 with a modest personal investment, transforming it into a global energy services leader with more than $6 billion in revenue and 25,000 employees. Recognized as an industry expert, Bernhard has testified before the U.S. Senate on critical energy issues. His leadership also extends to serving as board chair for both Bernhard LLC and Epic Piping.

SKIP BERTMAN

FORMER HEAD BASEBALL

COACH/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

LSU

Skip Bertman didn’t just coach baseball—he built a dynasty. As LSU’s head coach from 1984 to 2001, he turned the program into a powerhouse, leading the Tigers to five national championships and earning six National Coach of the Year honors. His leadership produced nine 50-win seasons and sent more than 100 players to professional baseball. After retiring from coaching, he continued shaping LSU athletics as athletic director until 2008, spearheading major facility upgrades in partnership with the Tiger Athletic Foundation. A Hall of Fame inductee at both the state and national levels, Bertman’s legacy extends far beyond the field, cementing LSU’s place among the nation’s elite athletic programs.

FUN FACT: He served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic baseball team during the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, where the team earned the Bronze Medal.

HOBBY OR PASSION: He and his wife, Dana, have owned thoroughbred horses since 2021.

DAN BORNÉ

SPORTS ANNOUNCER/ FORMER PRESIDENT

LSU/LOUISIANA CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION

Few voices are as deeply woven into Louisiana’s culture as that of Dan Borné. Since 1985, his unmistakable calls echoed through Tiger Stadium as the voice of LSU football. The job came unexpectedly—after writing a letter expressing interest, months passed before the LSU athletic department finally discovered it and offered him the role. But his influence extends far beyond Saturdays in Death Valley. For 28 years, he led the Louisiana Chemical Association and Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance, advocating for one of the state’s most vital industries. His career also includes time as an aide to Gov. Edwin W. Edwards in the 1970s. In 2024, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame. Borné has left an indelible mark on Louisiana.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Borné is a deacon at St. Jean Vianney Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.

D-D BREAUX

FORMER COACH

LSU WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

D-D Breaux didn’t just build a gymnastics program—she built a legacy. Often regarded as a pioneer in collegiate gymnastics, she took LSU’s program from humble beginnings in 1978 to national prominence. Under her leadership, LSU won its first SEC championship in 1981 and dominated again in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2016, she realized a long-held dream with the opening of a worldclass training facility, now considered one of the best in the sport. Beyond gymnastics, Breaux and her teams championed numerous health care causes, supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association. After retiring from coaching in 2020, Breaux left behind more than trophies—she left a lasting impact on LSU and the Baton Rouge community.

EARLY ACCOLADE: At Southeastern Louisiana University, Breaux was ranked as one of the nation’s top 15 gymnasts.

J.H. “JAY” CAMPBELL

FORMER CEO

ASSOCIATED GROCERS

Jay Campbell has spent decades shaping Baton Rouge’s business landscape through visionary leadership and tireless advocacy. After serving 45 years with Associated Grocers, including 20 as president and CEO, he retired in 2017 but continues to make an impact. Now the manager of Client Consulting Services, he advises on business growth and strategy. Campbell also plays a key role in regional infrastructure development. As chair of the Capital Area Road and Bridge District, he is a driving force behind efforts to build a long-awaited new Mississippi River bridge to ease congestion and boost economic growth. In addition to his infrastructure advocacy, he serves on the boards of Hi Nabor Supermarket Inc. and Community Coffee, lending his business expertise to two of the region’s most recognizable brands.

EARLY DAYS: Campbell’s deep-rooted connection to AG began during his college years. While studying accounting at LSU, Campbell took a part-time bookkeeping position with the company in 1972.

DON DAIGLE

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT

EXXONMOBIL

Few understand the energy industry as deeply as Don Daigle. Over his 43-year career with ExxonMobil, he held numerous executive and managerial roles, retiring in 2006 as vice president of refining for ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company. His leadership extended beyond the company—he served on the executive committee for the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association and chaired the American Petroleum Institute’s general committee on refining. He also led two studies commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy. Committed to shaping the next generation of engineers, Daigle was chair of the advisory council to the dean of LSU’s engineering school. Though his career took him around the world, he chose to retire in Baton Rouge.

EARLY INSPIRATION: It was on trips bringing his oldest brother back to LSU after weekends at home that Daigle would pass by the Exxon refinery. He decided then that he wanted to become an engineer.

JOHN DAVIES

FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

John Davies didn’t just lead the Baton Rouge Area Foundation—he transformed it. Over his 33-year tenure, he grew BRAF’s assets from $5 million to $722 million and helped grant more than $550 million to nonprofit organizations and projects. Under his leadership, BRAF became a driving force behind major initiatives, from the Water Campus and New Schools for Baton Rouge to the IBM office project and the restoration of the LSU lakes. His influence extends across business, education and the arts, having served on boards for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Shaw Center for the Arts. Though he retired in 2021, Davies’ impact continues to shape the region’s growth and progress.

EARLY DAYS: Davies spent much of his childhood in Lima, Peru, as the son of an American diplomat.

JOHN ENGQUIST

BOARD CHAIR H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES

John Engquist has helped shape the Baton Rouge landscape—both literally and economically. As one of the region’s most prolific residential real estate developers, he led the creation of signature communities like Americana in Zachary and Adelia at Old Goodwood. Beyond real estate, he serves as executive board chair of H&E Equipment Services, the heavy equipment dealership founded by his father in 1961. Under his leadership, the company has grown to nearly 90 locations nationwide, generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Engquist’s influence extends into philanthropy and business leadership, having served on the board of Business First Bank and the Leadership Council of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

COUNTRY LIFE: He and his wife, Marty, own a ranch in Clinton, where they care for horses, dogs and various rescue animals.

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 dedication to preserving and promoting the state’s rich culinary heritage has made him a prominent figure in the gastronomical world both inside and outside of Louisiana. Born in St. James Parish, he opened Lafitte’s Landing Restaurant in 1978, showcasing authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine. Throughout the 1980s, Folse traveled globally, introducing Louisiana’s culinary traditions to diverse audiences, earning him the title “Louisiana’s Culinary Ambassador to the World” from the Louisiana Legislature. His ventures expanded to include publishing, catering and the acclaimed TV series A Taste of Louisiana. In 1994, he founded the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University. Folse has received numerous accolades, including the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award in 2020.

EARLY INSPIRATION: Spending time at his family’s camp learning the value of a cast iron pot and how to clean a green onion.

LANE GRIGSBY

FOUNDER

CAJUN INDUSTRIES

Lane Grigsby’s journey from humble beginnings in Alexandria to founding Cajun Industries showcases his resilience and vision. Growing up without his father and with limited resources, he transformed a small contracting firm into a nationally recognized construction leader. Since 1990, the 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 the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2024, he received the ABC Legacy Medallion for Advocacy, honoring his over 50 years of contributions to the merit shop construction industry.

FUN FACT: His first office was a storage room in his garage.

RHOMAN HARDY

FOUNDER

HARDLINE CONSULTING

Rhoman Hardy retired as senior vice president of chemicals and production for the U.S. Gulf Coast for Shell USA in May 2022. There, he was accountable for optimizing Shell’s refining exposure on the Gulf Coast and leading the development of its planned future growth in low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and its first planned U.S. carbon capture and storage project. These days, he leads his strategy and leadership firm, HardLine Consulting, which he founded after leaving Shell USA. He remains a highly sought-after leader, serving on the board of directors for Comfort System, HF Sinclair Corp., the LSU Foundation, Baton Rouge General and the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges. He also serves on the LSU College of Engineering’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

FUN FACT: He played a key role in establishing the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation with a $25 million gift from Shell.

TERI FONTENOT

CEO EMERITUS

WOMAN’S HOSPITAL

Under Teri Fontenot’s leadership, Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge became a beacon of excellence in women’s health care. Starting as chief financial officer in 1992 and ascending to CEO in 1996, she transformed the hospital into Louisiana’s largest birthing center. In 2012, she oversaw the opening of a $340 million replacement campus. Fontenot also fostered a partnership with Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, leading to the establishment of a specialized breast and gynecologic cancer facility. Beyond her tenure at Woman’s, which concluded with her retirement in 2019, Fontenot served on the American College of Healthcare Executives’ board of governors and chaired the American Hospital Association. Her honors include being recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare in 2011 and 2012.

FUN FACT: She was co-captain of both her middle school and high school cheerleading teams.

CORDELL HAYMON

RETIRED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SGS PETROLEUM SERVICE CORP.

Cordell Haymon’s influence permeates Baton Rouge through his dual commitment to business excellence and community enrichment. As senior vice president of SGS Petroleum Service Corporation, he expanded his father’s modest venture into a leading provider of tankermen, employing more than 3,500 nationwide. Haymon’s dedication to education and the arts is evident in his leadership roles with Teach for America –South Louisiana and the Baton Rouge High School Foundation. His 54-year tenure at SGS, coupled with a 25-year law practice, underscores a legacy of service and impact. In 2017, his contributions earned him the Golden Deeds Award, reflecting a lifetime devoted to enhancing the Baton Rouge community. He currently serves as board chair for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

BEST ADVICE: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This golden rule has served me well in my business career.

CONGRATULATIONS

TO CAPITAL REGION 500 HONOREE

JAY CAMPBELL, JR.

JAY CAMPBELL, JR.

Your leadership has significantly enriched our community by fostering the growth and development of local businesses. We applaud your visionary commitment and ongoing dedication to positive change for our local independent grocers.

Associated Grocers Board of Directors, Retail Members, Employees and Staff

“Dedicated to the Support and Success of the Independent Retail Grocer”

J. GERARD

“JERRY” JOLLY

RETIRED PARTNER

KPMG

Jerry Jolly’s influence in Baton Rouge is evident through his leadership in both the corporate sector and community service. As a certified public accountant and chartered adviser in philanthropy, he advanced through KPMG’s ranks, culminating in roles such as managing partner of the Baton Rouge office and national managing partner of the midmarket business. Since retiring in 2012, Jolly has focused on consulting in strategic and succession planning, estate planning and philanthropy. In 2019, he was honored with the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Baton Rouge Chapter. Additionally, in 2021, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center recognized him for his significant contributions to cancer care in the region.

MOST UNUSUAL JOB: Making personal appearances as Ronald McDonald while working at McDonald’s in college.

CHARLES LAMAR

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

CHARLES LAMAR FAMILY FOUNDATION

Charles Lamar’s enduring impact on Baton Rouge is evident through his multifaceted contributions to business and philanthropy. In 2000, he established the Charles Lamar Family Foundation, focusing especially on pre-K–12 education, companion animal welfare, and water resources. His leadership roles include chairing Woodlawn Investments Inc. and serving as general counsel and a board member with Lamar Advertising Company, a firm founded by his grandfather in 1902. His financial support has been instrumental in expanding facilities and programs at institutions like LSU and the Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Lamar’s philanthropic endeavors include board memberships with organizations such as the Lamar-Dixon Expo Foundation, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the LSU Rural Life Museum board of trustees.

C.C. LOCKWOOD

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

For more than five decades, C.C. Lockwood has captured the beauty and fragility of Louisiana’s wetlands through his lens, inspiring conservation efforts and earning national recognition. His photography has appeared in Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic, and he has published more than 10 books. Lockwood’s impact extends beyond his art—he co-founded The Clean Team and the Baton Rouge Audubon Society, advocating for environmental preservation. His work has earned him prestigious accolades, including the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Communicator of the Year, and the Louisiana Legend Award from Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

FUN FACT: Lockwood averaged 100 days per year living in a tent in the wild during his first decade of photographing the Atchafalaya Basin.

FRANK MCARTHUR

RETIRED

THE BENEFITS SOLUTIONS GROUP

For decades, Frank McArthur has shaped Baton Rouge’s business and philanthropic landscape with his sharp financial expertise and unwavering community dedication. After successfully selling The Benefits Solutions Group to National Financial Partners in 2008, he continued to make an impact as 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.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING: “I believe that is what we are called to do—to give back.”

RICHARD LIPSEY

CHAIR

LIPSEY’S

Richard Lipsey’s sharp business instincts transformed a small, family-owned sporting goods store into one of the largest independently owned gun distributors in the U.S. His knack for dealmaking and deep civic commitment has made him a cornerstone of Baton Rouge’s business and philanthropic landscape. A tireless advocate for education and youth development, Lipsey has played pivotal roles with the Capital Area United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Baton Rouge Rotary and Istrouma Area Council. He also chaired the Louisiana Board of Regents and was instrumental in reshaping the Tiger Athletic Foundation. His dedication to the community has earned him prestigious honors, including the Anti-Defamation League’s Humanitarian Award, the Golden Deeds Award, and induction into Business Report’s Business Hall of Fame in 2012.

HOBBY OR PASSION: Wildlife conservation and collecting duck decoys and antique guns

ROLFE MCCOLLISTER JR.

CO-FOUNDER

BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT

Rolfe McCollister Jr. has left an indelible mark on Baton Rouge’s business, political and educational landscape. As founder of the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, he helped shape the region’s media voice, later expanding with 225 Magazine, 10/12 Industry Report, and the acquisition of InRegister. His influence extends to politics, where he played key advisory roles for Govs. Buddy Roemer and Bobby Jindal and twice served on the LSU Board of Supervisors. A passionate advocate for school choice, McCollister helped introduce charter school legislation in Louisiana and served on the board of one of the state’s first charter schools. Beyond media and education, he co-founded two community banks—The Business Bank, which sold to BancorpSouth, and b1Bank.

LESSON LEARNED: “No one ever succeeds on their own. Teamwork does make the dream work.”

MATT MCKAY

CHAIR,

PRESIDENT AND CEO

ALL STAR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Matt McKay has steered All Star Automotive Group into one of the largest dealership networks in the region, transforming a single lot he co-founded with John Noland in 1987 into a multi-location powerhouse spanning Greater Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Becoming sole owner in 2008, McKay expanded All Star to include dealerships for brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Jeep and Volvo, along with five collision repair centers and a parts warehouse. Beyond business, he is a dedicated philanthropist, supporting causes like The Ascension Fund, Scholastic Read and Rise program, McKay Academic Center for Excellence and The Emerge Center.

PASSION: Education has been a constant priority for McKay and his wife, Sherri, and is inspired by both McKay’s father, who enjoyed a 30-year career as a principal, teacher and coach, and his mother, who worked for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

JAKE

NETTERVILLE

FORMER CHAIRMAN

EMERITUS

POSTLETHWAITE &

NETTERVILLE

Jake Netterville’s visionary leadership helped shape Postlethwaite & Netterville into one of the region’s premier accounting firms. Appointed managing partner in 1977, he guided P&N through major milestones, including being selected for the high-profile task of auditing claims from BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Beyond his firm, Netterville has made a lasting impact on the Baton Rouge community, serving on the LSU Dean’s Advisory Council, Tiger Athletic Foundation, East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority and the Society of Louisiana CPAs. His contributions earned him a place as Business Report’s 2019 Hall of Fame laureate.

CAREER PATH: As a high school student, Netterville took a career assessment test that indicated he would make a good CPA. He took the advice, went to LSU and enrolled in accounting courses. The rest is history.

NANETTE NOLAND

CEO

THE POWELL GROUP

Nanette Noland has spent more than three decades guiding The Powell Group, showcasing bold leadership and vision throughout. Taking the helm as CEO in 1991—a rare feat for a woman at the time—she has driven the diversified holding company’s expansion across agribusiness, radio broadcasting and real estate. Under her leadership, The Powell Group now operates the largest rice farm in Louisiana, with its rice processing plant exporting 100-pound bags to the Caribbean Basin, West Africa and Europe. The company also owns and manages timberland, farmland and commercial properties across multiple states, contributing to its steady growth. In addition to its agricultural ventures, The Powell Group’s broadcasting division owns and operates several radio stations.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Noland has served on more than 25 nonprofit and 10 for-profit boards and associations over the years, many times in leadership roles.

KEVIN REILLY JR.

EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIR

LAMAR ADVERTISING CO.

Kevin Reilly Jr. has played a key role in transforming Lamar Advertising into a national powerhouse. Since joining the family-owned company in 1978, his leadership roles have included CEO, president and outdoor division president. Under his guidance, Lamar went public, completed major acquisitions and embraced new technologies like digital signage, expanding its reach and influence. Beyond business, Reilly is deeply committed to community service. He is a past chair of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and serves on the boards of the Water Institute, The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana and The Wilbur Marvin Foundation. His leadership has left a lasting mark on both the industry and the Baton Rouge community.

EDUCATION: Reilly earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University.

JOHN NOLAND

RETIRED FOUNDER

ALL STAR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

John Noland has quietly shaped Baton Rouge’s growth through transformative business ventures and philanthropic leadership. As the first president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, he played a pivotal role in establishing the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority, spurring community revitalization. Trained as an attorney, Noland turned to business, co-founding All Star Automotive Group with Matt McKay in 1987. After expanding the dealership network, he exited the group in 2008. Alongside McKay and Lindsey Landreneau, he developed nearly 700 homes in Jefferson Crossing and Manchac Place. Noland is a dedicated member of St. James Episcopal Church. His enduring impact earned him a spot as a 2014 Business Report Hall of Fame laureate.

FUN FACT: Noland was one of a handful of St. James Episcopal Church members who created the St. James Place retirement community.

EDDIE RISPONE FOUNDER ISC CONSTRUCTORS

With his brother Jerry, Baton Rouge native Eddie Rispone founded ISC Constructors, an award-winning, prominent industrial engineering and construction company specializing in comprehensive electrical, instrumentation and controls solutions for global manufacturing leaders. Over three decades, ISC has grown to a workforce of 4,000 strong. In 2012, Rispone was elected to the LSU College of Engineering Hall of Distinction. He also served as national chair for Associated Builders and Contractors in 2003. His community involvement includes serving as chair of the school-choice advocacy organization Louisiana Federation for Children; former Gov. Bobby Jindal also appointed him to head up the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council. In 2019, the Republican lost in his bid to unseat incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards.

FUN FACT: He played football at Redemptorist High and was named to the all-state team as a senior..

JAMES “JIM” ROLAND

CEO AND FOUNDER

WINDOW WORLD OF BATON ROUGE

Jim Roland has built Window World of Baton Rouge into a national powerhouse, making it the No. 1 franchisee in the Window World system since 2006. Founded in 2002, the company has grown into the fifth-largest exterior remodeling contractor in the U.S. and leads the nation in unit sales of windows. Roland’s prior experience running Magnetite Corp. and Roland and DiGiulio Construction gave him the business expertise to rapidly expand his latest venture across Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Houston. His leadership and industry impact earned him a spot as a Business Report Hall of Fame laureate in 2023.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY: “We never lose sight of the core values that make us different from the average company. We know that nothing is more important than family, which is why we take so much pride in enhancing homes for other families in every community we serve.”

DONNA M. SAURAGE OWNER

COMMUNITY COFFEE

Donna Saurage’s enduring leadership and philanthropic vision have made a lasting impact on Baton Rouge and beyond. A shareholder of Community Coffee for six decades, she serves on the board of the No. 1 family-owned retail coffee brand in America as chair of the citizenship committee. She also manages CCC Holding, which owns Community Coffee Company. Beyond business, Saurage is deeply committed to community service, having held leadership roles with more than 50 nonprofit organizations. She has served on the boards of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, New Schools for Baton Rouge, First Presbyterian Church Foundation and the Public Affairs Research Council.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Saurage credits the Junior League of Baton Rouge with teaching her how to get involved and make a difference in the community.

PATRICK SHINGLETON

COMMUNICATOR AND FACILITATOR

PAT SHINGLETON PRODUCTIONS

For 40 years, Patrick Shingleton was a trusted fixture in Baton Rouge living rooms as WBRZ-TV’s chief forecaster, bringing his signature style to the 4, 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts until his retirement in 2021. Beyond the weather desk, he is the president of Pat Shingleton Productions, where he has produced, distributed and syndicated several shows, including the locally popular game show We Play Baton Rouge, The Fifth Quarter, and the late-night talk show Hotline After Dark. Originally from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Shingleton has been an active member of such professional organizations as the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Association and the National Association of Television Program Executives.

FUN FACT: He originated Baton Rouge’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, The Wearin’ of the Green, in 1986.

JOHN SPAIN

SENIOR ADVISER

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION

John Spain’s impact on Baton Rouge’s growth and development spans more than two decades of strategic leadership involvement. As senior adviser to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a community foundation managing more than $700 million in assets, Spain has played a pivotal role in the creation of multiyear, multimillion-dollar projects that shape the city’s future. Notable initiatives under his guidance include the push for a passenger rail link between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the establishment of the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority, and the founding of The Water Institute of the Gulf. With a focus on collaboration and long-term vision, Spain’s work continues to drive positive change and position Baton Rouge as a leader in regional innovation and development.

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

PEGGY SCOTT

BOARD CHAIR CLECO

Peggy Scott’s financial expertise and leadership have made her a powerful force in Louisiana’s business landscape. She has served on the board of Central Louisiana Electric Co-Op, or Cleco, since 2016 and currently chairs the board. In 2017, she stepped in as chair and interim CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings, guiding the company through a period of transition. Previously, Scott was executive vice president, COO and CFO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Before that, she was an office managing partner with Deloitte and held senior executive roles. Her accomplishments have earned her numerous accolades, including being named The Wall Street Journal’s National Financial Executive of the Year. In 2020, she was named a Business Report Hall of Fame laureate.

IN HER OWN WORDS: “I never realized when I shattered the glass ceiling that they would piece it together and give it back to me as an award.”

RUSSEL HONORE

LIEUTENANT GENERAL RETIRED

Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, affectionately dubbed the “Ragin’ Cajun,” is renowned for his decisive leadership during Hurricane Katrina. Born in Lakeland, Louisiana, in 1947, he was the ninth of twelve children in a Creole family. After earning a degree in vocational agriculture from Southern University, he embarked on a 37-year Army career, culminating in his command of Joint Task Force Katrina, where he coordinated military relief efforts across the Gulf Coast. Post-retirement, Honoré founded the GreenARMY, advocating for environmental justice in Louisiana. He also led a task force tasked with reviewing and improving security at the U.S. Capitol following the Jan. 6 attack.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: His iconic phrase “Don’t get stuck on stupid!” became a national catchphrase after he used it during a press briefing in the Katrina aftermath.

FUN FACT: He was born during a hurricane in 1947.

NEWTON THOMAS

FOUNDER AND OWNER

THE NEWTRON GROUP

Newton Thomas has built The Newtron Group into one of the nation’s largest privately owned specialty electrical construction companies. Founded in 1973 as a union industrial instrumentation contractor, the company has grown to include offices across the Southeast and West Coast. Its diverse portfolio of subsidiary companies includes Triad Electric & Controls, Newtron Mechanical, Newtron Heat Trace, Com-Net Services and Newtron Electrical Services. Thomas has also made his mark through board service with Premier Bank, the Baton Rouge Water Co., and Baton Rouge Marine Institute. Under his leadership, The Newtron Group was named the 1989 Free Enterprise Company of the Year by the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants as well as Business Report’s 1990 Company of the Year.

ROLAND TOUPS

EXECUTIVE CHAIR

TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP

Roland Toups’ visionary leadership helped propel Turner Industries into a global powerhouse. Until stepping away in 2022, he guided the company’s growth into one of the world’s top contractors, with major clients such as ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge operations. Toups also spearheaded the construction of a workforce training facility, addressing the industry’s growing labor needs. A longtime advocate for education, he served on the Louisiana Board of Regents from 1997 to 2011. His philanthropic efforts include supporting Catholic organizations and making significant contributions to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Toups was named a Business Report Business Hall of Fame laureate in 2007 and received the Ed Steimel Achievement Award in 2017 from LABI.

FUN FACT: In 2018, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital commemorated Toups’ 50 years of service by naming a pediatric on-call room in his honor.

CHARLES VALLUZZO

FOUNDER

MCBR MANAGEMENT CO.

Charles “Charlie” Valluzzo helped shape Baton Rouge’s dining landscape by introducing McDonald’s to the Capital City in the 1960s. Starting with a single location on Plank Road, he grew his business into a 75-location empire spanning two states. After a remarkable 60-year career, Valluzzo retired in 2018, selling his company, McBR Management, to an ownership group in Lafayette. Beyond business, he was a dedicated community leader, serving 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 and BRAF. His philanthropy earned him inductions into the Special Olympics Louisiana Hall of Fame and the Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

ADDITIONAL HONORS: He was named Business Report’s 1995 Businessperson of the Year and inducted into its Business Hall of Fame in 2008.

MIKE WAMPOLD

CHAIR AND CEO

WAMPOLD COMPANIES

Mike Wampold has reshaped Baton Rouge’s skyline through more than 40 years of visionary real estate development. As chair and CEO of Wampold Companies, he leads strategic corporate planning, financing and new project development. His portfolio includes some of the city’s most recognizable properties, such as 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 expansive 1,800-acre mixed-use development Harveston. Wampold serves on the boards of Baton Rouge Business Bank, the Tiger Athletic Foundation and the BREC Foundation, among others.

“Unless

in and you start buying buildings or flipping houses or whatever, real estate development on a large scale is a very slow process and takes a lot of patience.”

“Rules without relationships lead to rebellion.”

WILLIAM F. TATE IV, PRESIDENT, LSU

BOBBY YARBOROUGH

CEO

MANDA FINE MEATS

Bobby Yarborough helped Manda Fine Meats become a household name across Louisiana and beyond. As a third-generation owner, he took over as CEO of the 77-year-old company in 1997, expanding its reach while preserving its rich Cajun heritage. Manda’s signature products—smoked sausages, andouille, boudin, hog head cheese and deli meats—have made it a regional favorite. The company’s continued growth earned it the No. 81 spot on Business Report’s most recent list of the Top 100 Private Companies in the Capital Region. Recognized for his business leadership, Yarborough was named Business Report’s 2009 Businessperson of the Year and inducted into its Business Hall of Fame in 2017. Beyond business, he is an active philanthropist, supporting organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

BEST ADVICE: To whom much is given, much is required.

FUN FACT: At LSU, he joined a fraternity, the cheer squad and was a catcher on the baseball team.

GENUINE DEPENDABILITY

At the heart of every successful company are its people. At LUBA, our business is grounded in hard work and Genuine Dependability—values that also define the Capital Region 500 and the individuals driving progress throughout our region.