Diverse group continues tradition of preparing region’s next cohort of leaders
Baton Rouge, LA (August 1, 2019) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today announced the members of its Leadership Baton Rouge Class of 2020. The selected participants represent a cross section of the Capital Region’s business, civic and non-profit communities.
Members of the 2020 class include:
Jason R. Andreasen
Executive Director
Baton Rouge Gallery – center for
contemporary art
Tasha N. Bergeron Parms
Director, Population Health
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
Erin H. Blake
Director of Enrollment Services/Registrar
Baton Rouge Community College
Crystal H. Blanchard
Account Executive
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
Anita M. Byrne
Partner
SSA Consultants
Joseph J. Cefalu
Partner
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P.
Ryan M. Cross
Director of Communications
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Summer L. Dann
Executive Director
EBR Career and Technical Education Center
Rory A. Denicola
Communications Coordinator
ExxonMobil
Tonnisha N. Ellis
Program Coordinator
Louisiana Board of Regents
Andrew V. Fitzgerald
Senior Director of Business Intelligence
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Sarah C. Gardner
Project Manager
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Nenette L. Gray
Founder & CEO
Lemonade Creative Marketing, LLC
Letrece R. Griffin
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Knock Knock Children’s Museum
Deon A. Guillory
Evening News Anchor
WVLA Local 33
Angela B. Hammett
Community Education Manager
Woman’s Hospital
Laura B. Hawkes
Director of Operations and Recruitment
Baton Rouge Youth Coalition
Teddi H. Hessburg
Senior Director of Events
Our Lady of the Lake Foundation
Jason C. Hughes
Owner
Capital City Collision
Raushanah S. Hunter
Development Director
City Year Baton Rouge
James J. Jefferson III
Sergeant
Louisiana State Police
Johnathan A. Landor
Director of Environmental Services
Woman’s Hospital
Melvin R. Landry
Louisiana Restoration Area Lead
Department of Commerce – National Oceanic
& Atmospheric Administration
Michael K. Leachman
Partner
Jones Walker, LLP
Regina B. Leingang
Leadership Development Consultant
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Chrislyn M. Maher
Director of Marketing and Communications
Tiger Athletic Foundation
Steven J. Malik
Enterprise Solutions Manager
Turner Industries Group
Na’Tisha Natt
Public Affairs Director
Louisiana Housing Corporation
Christina P. Persaud
Principal and Director of Brand Management
MESH
Robert W. Powell III
Partner
Cardinal Capital/University of Arkansas
Oscar Reed Richard
Assistant Superintendent
BREC
Dana P. Salisbury
Director of Learning Systems
Productive Dentist Academy
Laura A. Siu-Nguyen
Development and Marketing Coordinator
Gardere Community Christian School
Todd W. Smith
Managing Partner/Marketing Consultant
Dubb Hubb Marketing Group LLC
Dianne P. Teal
Chief Nursing Officer
Ochsner Health System
Linda M. Thompson
Director of Operations
St. Joseph’s Academy
Stephanie W. Tomlinson
Executive Assistant to the Commissioner
Board of Regents
Tiffani B. Traupman
Director, Quality & Compliance
Choices of Louisiana, Inc.
Jessica M. Trepagnier
Manager, Marketing and Community Outreach
Aetna Better Health of Louisiana
Monica M. Vela-Vick
Associate
Phelps Dunbar, LLP
Rachel C. Veron
Director of Analytics
LSU Foundation
Matthew L. Wallace
Vice President- Strategic Initiatives and
Partnerships
Easterseals Louisiana
Tracy N. White
Senior Public Affairs Specialist
Cox Communications
Chloe Wiley
Initiatives Program Manager
Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation
Marcus J. Williams
Program Director
CSRS, Inc
Jared C. Williams
Director, Marketing and Communications
Teach For America
Leadership Baton Rouge transforms actively engaged civic leaders into community champions through in-depth experiences with a close network of new personal and professional relationships. Founded in 1985, the program prepares a diverse group of professionals for leadership positions in the community.
The program’s goals are:
- to seek out, train, and promote high achievers for positions of voluntary responsibility in the community;
- to provide these developing leaders with practical information concerning community issues and challenges;
- to establish a communication network among the existing and emerging leaders of the community; and
- to challenge these leaders to increase their involvement in community affairs.
The program focuses on topic areas such as education, diversity and inclusivity, city and state government, health care and social issues, economic development, the arts and culture, and the criminal justice system. Graduates leave the program with first-hand knowledge of the issues facing the Capital Region and the potential for a positive community experience through volunteerism.
The program commences nine months of training with a two-day retreat in August. From September to April, the class devotes an entire day each month for lectures, discussions, field trips and practical exercises pertinent to community issues. To conclude the program, a two-day retreat is held in May, followed by a graduation dinner in June. A class photo is attached.
About Leadership Baton Rouge
Leadership Baton Rouge was founded as a program of BRAC to prepare a diverse group of professionals for leadership positions in the community. There are now more than 1,100 graduates of the program, many of whom serve in leadership positions on boards, commissions, and hold local, state, or federal elected offices. More information is available at brac.org/leadership.
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, mid-sized firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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Morgan is the Marketing Manager for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In her role, she manages writing organizational publications and materials, oversees BRAC’s social media and blog, and coordinates timelines for all internal marketing projects.