Leadership Baton Rouge Announces Class of 2021

Diverse group continues tradition of preparing region’s next cohort of leaders

Baton Rouge, La. (January 13, 2021) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today announced the members of its Leadership Baton Rouge class of 2021. The selected participants represent a cross section of the Capital Region’s business, civic and non-profit communities.

Members of the 2021 class include:

Karen R. Austin, LCSW-BACS, CSM, CSPO – Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

NeShana S. Bilbrew – Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System

Aneatra P. Boykin – BREC

Kimberly C. Brown – Ochsner Health

Tristi B. Charpentier – Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation

Helen T. Frink – Office of Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome

Marlin S. Glenn – Hollingsworth Richards Ford

Lauren N. Hebert Henderson – The Mayors Healthy City Initiative

Johnathan S. Hill – Franklin Associates

Rebecca M. Hinton – Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips L.L.P.

Carlton B. Jones – Southern University Alumni Federation

Matthew S. Jones – Milton J. Womack, Inc.

Emily C. LeBeau – New Schools for Baton Rouge

Benjamin J. Leger – 225 Magazine

Tara McLin SHRM-SCP, PHR – Unitas Consulting

Cydney W. Morris – St. Joseph’s Academy

Jayson W. Newell – Baton Rouge Area Chamber 

Haley N. Norton – Louisiana State University

Nathan J. Rust – Prestigious Painting

Seth M. Schilling – Entergy 

Amey S. Shortess Crousillac – Capital Area United Way

Chelsea P. Smith, CSPO – Turner Industries Group

Sophia D. Solomon, MSN, RN – Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

Jamee B. Steele – The Tatman Group

Edgardo J. Tenreiro – Baton Rouge General Medical Center

Michael B. Victorian – Phelps Dunbar

Therese M. Walker – Emergent Method

Brandy D. Williams – East Baton Rouge Parish School System

Dishili D. Young – Neel-Schaffer, Inc.

Leadership Baton Rouge was founded in 1985 to prepare 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 problems;
  • 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 region and the potential for a positive community experience through volunteerism.

The program commences ten months of training in January. From February to October, the class devotes an entire day each month for lectures, discussions, and practical exercises pertinent to community issues. The program concludes in November with a graduation ceremony. The program is led by Anita Byrne.

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 1,000 graduates of the program, many of whom serve in leadership positions on boards and 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 www.brac.org.     

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