BRAC Announces Leadership Baton Rouge Class of 2020

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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