Leadership Baton Rouge Announces Class of 2023 

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

Baton Rouge, LA (January 12, 2023) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today announced the members of its Leadership Baton Rouge class of 2023. The selected participants represent a cross-section of the Capital Region’s business, civic and non-profit communities. 

Members of the 2023 class include: 

Adam Beary – Bear Process Safety 

Allie Diefendorf – The Baton Rouge Youth Coalition 

Amanda Stout – McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC 

Anna Johnson – West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce 

Anthony B. O’Connor – Cadence Insurance 

Beau Bourgeois – Kean Miller LLP 

Brandi Simmons – LSU Communication across the Curriculum 

Brian Cordasco – OLOL Children’s Hospital 

Casey Meyer – Kuvare 

Chrisdelin Lyles – East Baton Rouge Parish School System 

Chynsia Robertson – b1BANK 

Dr. Allison Smith – Louisiana Board of Regents 

Ed Halphen – Woman’s Hospital 

Elizabeth Beckham – Turner Industries 

Elizabeth Liner – Baker Donelson 

Erica A. Johnson – Community Volunteer 

Gibbons Addison – Jones Walker 

Jaleesa Thompson, M.Ed. – Coach on the Geaux Consulting 

James Mack – Baton Rouge City-Parish Employees’ Retirement System 

Jesse Watson Ph.D. – Discovery Schools 

Jessica Guinn Johnson – E Pluribus Unum Institute 

Jonathan Grimes – Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge 

Jordan Gleason – Cornerstone Government Affairs 

Kimberly Littlefield – Keyfinders Team Realty 

Lizzie Cossé – Watershed Advisors 

Luz Randolph, Ed.D. – City Year Baton Rouge 

Marie Mullen – Teach for America 

Mathilde Silverberg – The Louisiana Public Health Institute 

Morgan Almeida – Baton Rouge Area Chamber 

Niles Haymer – Criminal Justice Coordinating Council 

Paula-Marie Mensah – BASF Corporation 

Paxson Guest – Phelps Dunbar LLP 

Perryn Keys – The Advocate 

Rachel Carroccio – Emergent Method 

Shawn Zeringue – LWCC 

Sinella Aghasi, DMA – Kids’ Orchestra 

Taylor LeDuff – Adams and Reese LLP 

Terri Ricks – Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services 

Trisha Guidry – Baton Rouge General Medical Center 

Viveca Johnson – Forward Moving Counseling and Consulting Services 

Wendy Daniels – Beechwood Residential 

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 1,400 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) is an aggressively ambitious regional economic development organization with a bias for action. BRAC seeks to push Baton Rouge beyond the status quo, unleash its potential, and support a vibrant business community that believes the finish line does not exist. BRAC seeks to accelerate economic opportunity in the Baton Rouge Area, for everyone, through BRING IT! Baton Rouge, its five-year, regional strategic plan. Learn more about BRAC at brac.org.  

###   

Scroll to Top