Our Team Test | Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC)

At the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), we're a team of dedicated professionals with a diverse set of backgrounds and skills. We're here to help the business community as it invests in Baton Rouge's economic future.

Executive & Administration
Business Development
Policy
Business Intelligence
Investor Development & Relations
Marketing

EXECUTIVE & ADMINISTRATION

Adam Knapp

Adam was named president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber in April 2008. A native of Lake Charles, LA, he previously served as the deputy director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA). Knapp was a key figure in the creation of the entity, which is designed to facilitate the state’s recovery efforts in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Prior to his LRA tenure, he served as economic development advisor to two governors and the policy director for Louisiana Economic Development (LED). At LED, he managed the department’s economic policy initiatives, such as workforce development reform, entrepreneurial development, and risk capital accessibility. He directed the development and advancement of state legislative priorities, including the creation and refinement of important economic incentives, such as the Angel Investor Incentive, the Research and Development Tax Credit, the Film Investor Tax Credits, and the Quality Jobs Program. Under Governors Foster and Blanco, Knapp worked on economic policy and was also a vital part of the team that successfully recruited or retained such companies as Union Tank Car, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, and Albemarle Corporation, among others. Prior to state government, he worked for Accenture, one of the world’s premier technology and management consultancy firms, as an emerging technology consultant. Knapp graduated from Davidson College in 1996 and also studied at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Julius-Maximilians Universität in Würzburg, Germany.

ADAM KNAPP PRESIDENT & CEO

KAREN BROWN

p. (225) 381-7148 e. karenb@brac.org

As the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and Database Manager, Karen provides executive support for all activities of the CEO, as well as the Board of Directors of BRAC. Additionally, Karen coordinates meeting logistics for the Board and its Executive Committee. Internally, Karen serves as BRAC’s database manager for its primary CRM system, managing new investor billing and tracking committee activities across the organization.

A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Karen moved to Georgia in 1991 where she worked primarily in real estate development as a Development Coordinator and in health care as a Project Specialist and Assistant to the COO and Executive Team. Karen moved back to Baton Rouge in 2016 and, prior to joining BRAC, she served as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director at McMains Children’s Developmental Center.

KAREN BROWN SENIOR EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

ANITA BYRNE

e. leadershipBR@brac.org

ANITA BYRNE LEADERSHIP BATON ROUGE DIRECTOR

MICHAEL DIRESTO

p. (225) 381-7137 e. michael@brac.org

As Executive Vice President, Michael oversees the execution of BRAC’s strategic plan as well as management of the organization’s operations and administration. Prior to assuming this role, Michael served as BRAC’s senior vice president of economic competitiveness, leading the organization’s public policy advocacy, strategy, research, and reform activities aimed at advancing the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the Baton Rouge Region.

Prior to joining BRAC in 2013, Michael worked for five years at the Louisiana state government’s Division of Administration, where he served as assistant commissioner for policy and communications. At the Division of Administration, he helped lead the department’s policy, research, legislative relations, and implementation of strategic initiatives, with a focus on fiscal issues and government operations. Prior to that, he served as a senior advisor to then Governor-elect Bobby Jindal’s transition team in the areas of ethics reform, fiscal reform, and government accountability. He also previously worked as senior advisor and strategist for the Louisiana Republican Party. From 1998 through 2007, Michael served as press secretary for the Baton Rouge Area congressional district represented by then-Congressman Richard Baker. Born in New York, he has lived in Baton Rouge since 1996. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Dallas, and is a graduate of BRAC’s Leadership class of 2005.

MICHAEL DIRESTO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

DARRELL L. JOHNSON, JR.

p. (225) 339-1176 e. darrell@brac.org

A native of New Orleans, Darrell L. Johnson, Jr. serves as Manager of Diversity & Inclusion Programs at BRAC. In this role, Darrell leads BRAC’s diversity and inclusion initiatives including providing business services, advancing corporate and workplace diversity initiatives, and pushing for reinvestment and redevelopment of underserved areas through the efforts of BRAC’s business development and quality of place teams.

Darrell joins BRAC from Louisiana Economic Development, where he served on the Small Business Services team and was responsible for repositioning Louisiana as one of the best places to start, grow, and sustain a business. He also supported and grew the LED Growth Network – an alumni network of over 500 Louisiana-based small businesses that employ over 15,500 full time employees and represent over $3.3 billion in annual sales.

Darrell has also worked within the live event entertainment industry managing new and existing relationships with major stakeholders for the ESSENCE Festival®, such as AT&T, National Urban League, Walmart, Verizon and others. He later worked within the city of New Orleans tourism industry, with the most notable project being the 2017 NBA All-Star Supplier Diversity Program, which focused on creating opportunities for local minority and women-owned businesses to participate in NBA All Star 2017 as suppliers of required goods and services.

Darrell received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern University and A&M College and earned a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University.

DARRELL L. JOHNSON, JR. MANAGER OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAMS

BELINDA MONTEVERDE

p. (225) 381-7153 e. belinda@brac.org

Belinda, a native of Sorrento, is the Senior Staff Accountant for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. She attended Louisiana State University where she earned a B.S in Accounting in 2003. She also has a Masters in Accounting and Financial Management. Belinda’s background consists of working in the following industries: disaster recovery, certification test development and administration, printing, and manufacturing. In her spare time, she likes traveling, walking, reading, bowling and spending time with family and friends.

BELINDA MONTEVERDE SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT

JENNIFER WATSON

p. (225) 381-7125 e. jennifer@brac.org

Jennifer holds the position of Operations Manager and Receptionist for BRAC. As operations manager she handles the office’s day-to-day functions and needs, and as receptionist she handles all incoming calls and visitors by directing them to the proper contact. Jennifer, originally from Vivian La., previously worked for Shaw Group Inc./CB&I for 7 years where she held positions such as Medical Services Admin, HR Services Representative and Sr. Administrative Assistant for the Environmental Coastal Group.

JENNIFER WATSON OPERATIONS MANAGER & RECEPTIONIST

ACHILLES WILLIAMS

p. (225) 381-7150 e. achilles@brac.org

Achilles, a native of New Orleans, is the Chief Financial Officer for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. He is responsible for the financial planning and financial record keeping of the organization. He attended Southern University where he earned a B.S. in Accounting. Achilles is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Achilles’ background includes serving as an Executive Accountant at the Huntsman subsidiary, Rubicon, LLC. He also served as a Senior Accountant with Hannis T Bourgeois, LLP.

ACHILLES WILLIAMS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris ac nisi non velit gravida pharetra. Maecenas convallis imperdiet elementum. Proin et risus nulla. Mauris ut congue massa. Phasellus hendrerit odio sed lectus feugiat, sed maximus nulla consectetur. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.

Etiam ut sem quis urna congue dictum nec et arcu. Duis dignissim augue id leo convallis, at eleifend nunc pharetra. Curabitur egestas, nisl eget placerat lacinia, sapien velit facilisis lorem, eu sodales ipsum lacus porta lacus. Pellentesque hendrerit vehicula libero vel malesuada. Maecenas nec purus in diam vehicula consectetur. Sed interdum venenatis quam.

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

POLICY

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

INVESTOR DEVELOPMENT & RELATIONS

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

MARKETING

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org

FirstName LastName Title/Position @ BRAC

FirstName LastName

p. (225) 000-0000 e. email@brac.org