Diverse group continues tradition of preparing region’s next cohort of leaders
Baton Rouge, LA (January 20, 2022) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today announced the members of its Leadership Baton Rouge class of 2022. The selected participants represent a cross-section of the Capital Region’s business, civic and non-profit communities.
Members of the 2022 class include:
Kelsey Amato – Performance Contractors, Inc
Bukky Awoyemi – BASF Corporation
Steven Ceulemans, Sc.D. – Baton Rouge Health District
Christopher Csonka – Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
Patrick Derbes – CMA Technology Solutions
Jannean Dixon, M.Ed. – Cornerstone Educational Consulting
Dianne Nodier Eysink – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Erin Fulbright, APR – Sickle Cell Association of South Louisiana
Tyler Gamble – Community Coffee Company
George Gillam – The Steadfast Foundation
Erin Harnsongkram – Baton Rouge General Foundation
Kendra G. Hendricks – Capital Region Planning Commission
Landon Hester – Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX)
RaHarold D. Lawson, Ph.D. – BREC
Connor LeBlanc – General Informatics
Tyler Litt – New Schools for Baton Rouge
Meagan Molter Loupe – Office of Congressman Garrett Graves
Michelle Mahaffey LeJeune – Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Justin Marocco – Jones Walker, LLP
Molly Mayeux – Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School
Weslee Meador – Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation
Chelsea Morgan – American Heart Association
Tré Nelson – Ochsner Health
Bryan O’Conner – LEMOINE
Melissa O’Banion – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Jessica O’Connor – LSU Foundation
Jonathan Percle – Emergent Method
Ryan Sinitiere – Feigley Communications
Brandon Smith – Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance
Erin K. Smith – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Tinicia C. Turner, MPA – Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU)
Shea Vela-Vick, Ph.D. – Louisiana State University
Grace Weber – Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
Laura Wilkinson – Woman’s Hospital
Sergeant First Class Larry Williams, Ret., USA – Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
Dwana Williams – Capital Area Transit System
Lieutenant Kimberly Williams – East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office
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 10 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, MBA.
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 1,200 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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