Leadership Baton Rouge Announces Class of 2022

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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