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.
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