Moving Up

WHITNEY BOYD Bank of St. Francisville JENNIFER KNAPPS Landmark Bank

JEROME “JERRY” VASCOCU JR. Business First Bancshares Inc./b1Bank

ERNIE BALLARD Pennington Biomedical Research Center BRANDY BONES Franklin Associates

MARYBETH WILKERSON Adams and Reese ANDREE MILLER LABI

BANKING & FINANCE

Whitney Boyd has been promoted to vice president, Baton Rouge market, with the Bank of St. Francisville, serving in a lead role opening the bank’s first branch. She has 17 years of banking experience, most recently serving five years as assistant vice president and branch manager at The First, ANBA in Spanish Fort, Alabama.

Jennifer Knapps has joined Landmark Bank as assistant vice president, business development officer. With almost 30 years of Issue Date: Jan 2023 Ad proof banking experience, including stints at Regions Bank and Bank #1 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours One (Chase Bank), Knapps will from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

focus on business development, primarily lending opportunities in Livingston and St. Helena parishes and the city of Central. Jerome “Jerry” Vascocu Jr. has been named chief administrative officer for Business First Bancshares Inc. and b1Bank. Vascocu will be the first chief administrative officer for the bank. He has more than 27 years of banking experience, most recently serving as director of commercial banking strategy for First Horizon Bank. COMMUNICATIONS

Ernie Ballard has been named senior director of communications and marketing at Pennington Biomedical Research Center following an 18-year career at LSU. Most recently, he served as LSU’s interim vice president for communications and university relations. Previously, he served as media relations director and before that as media relations editor.

Brandy Bones is joining Franklin Associates as vice president of disaster and grant management. Bones, a national expert in disaster management and mitigation, brings 17 years of experience working on Issue Date: Jan 2023 Ad proof #4 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours the ground to help state and local governments navigate the disaster recovery and resilience landscape. from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

LAW

MaryBeth Wilkerson has joined the Adams and Reese Baton Rouge office as government relations coordinator. Wilkerson, formerly the public policy manager for the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, will represent businesses navigating regulatory challenges across local, state and federal governments while also connecting clients’ interests and policy goals to further investment and growth. NONPROFITS

Andree Miller is now political director for the Louisiana Association

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MOVING UP

Moving Up highlights executive-level promotions and new hires in the Capital Region. Announcements should include the name and title of the professional being hired or promoted, and brief summaries of his or her responsibilities and experience. Accompanying photos should be high resolution: 300 dpi or higher.

COMPANY NEWS

Company News features announcements about developments at Capital Region companies: new locations, acquisitions, name or branding changes and so forth. We also spotlight professionals who receive business-related awards or honors, accreditations, certifications, appointments and memberships, as well as corporate grants and philanthropy. Accompanying photos should be high resolution: 300 dpi or higher.

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of Business and Industry, while Brian Davis will serve as director of education and small business. Previously, Miller was vice president at Bold Strategies in Baton Rouge, and she also has experience working on Capitol Hill. Davis has served as director for both the House and Senate Republican legislative delegations, and previously worked for Americans for Prosperity, Rep. Rick Edmonds and 3 Strategies. Other staffing changes at LABI include: Lauren Hadden, LABI’s director of civil justice, energy and environmental quality councils and judicial program, will assume the new title of general counsel while also adding director of health care to her current duties; Mary Beth Hughes is now director of technology in addition to her current role as communications manager.

REAL ESTATE

Justin Landry has been promoted to senior VP of development and finance at Stirling Properties and will become a company shareholder. Landry will grow his role within Stirling’s development, finance and acquisition functions and help the company expand its business plan, growth, profitability and strong business connections.

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