YPI, Forum honor top young professionals

Forty young professionals under the age of 40 have been selected by a special committee of the Young Professionals Initiative in conjunction with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and Bossier Chamber of Commerce to be honored with the 40 Under 40 Awards at the eighth annual Northwest Louisiana Young Professionals Gala. This year’s gala, presented by The Forum, will take place Dec. 5 at Horseshoe Casino’s Riverdome.

From the list of these nominees, one person will be named the Young Professional of the Year at the gala.

“These 40 young professionals have made an impact in the Shreveport-Bossier City community through leadership in their careers, dedication to professional development, and passion for community involvement,” Emerie Gentry, chairwoman of the Young Professional Initiative, said. “They represent a vast range of businesses and organizations from the private and public sectors. We have recognized 280 young professionals to date, and these 40 will join them as the emerging leaders of this great community. It is a privilege to showcase the achievements of these successful individuals who exemplify the core values of this organization.”

Here is a closer look at this year’s recipients:

Kevin Alexander

Kevin Alexander has been a professional videographer for more than 10 years and began his career working in local television news as a news videographer. He is now the owner of Creative Control Films, which produces corporate films and other special projects for various causes. He is the producer of PKULife.tv, a Web video series about the rare genetic disease phenylketonuria. Alexander was diagnosed with PKU when he was 9 days old. The consequences for undiagnosed PKU are severe developmental delays and lifelong institutionalization. Thanks to newborn screening, which detects the disease, and the lifelong adherence to a strict lowprotein diet, Alexander has been able to live a normal, healthy life. He is an advocate for both PKU and newborn screening and has traveled the world sharing his story and producing short films to raise awareness. He is a member of the National PKU Alliance and the International Society for Neonatal Screening. He has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a master of arts in theological studies. In 2013, he received the LSUS Alumni Association Circle of Excellence Award. Alexander lives in Shreveport with his wife, Mara, and cocker spaniel, Max.

Lindsey Beckham

Monroe native Lindsey Beckham began her career in advertising, where she garnered numerous Louisiana Press and American Advertising (ADDY) Awards. In 2007, she made the move to Shreveport and soon after she began her own company, offering publishing and design services. In 2010, she received an amazing opportunity with the Louisiana Association for the Blind to expand their e -commerce initiatives and assist with product development.

“Working with a company with so much potential is an opportunity of a lifetime, and to know the outcome of success is enriching the lives of others gives me an incredible sense of fulfillment,” she said. Four years later, Beckham has grown the e-commerce department’s revenue by 400 percent and was promoted to marketing director. She has rebranded the company and participated in the creation of several new products and divisions including Ability Printing and GeauxOffice.com. Along with her professional and personal community service, Beckham serves on the board of directors for the Shreveport- Bossier City division of the AAF, where she is president-elect for 2015 and event chair of the ADDY Awards this February. Beckham received her undergraduate degree in graphic design from Louisiana Tech University and is pursuing her master of business administration degree from Centenary College.

Lanya Bernard

Lanya Bernard is the daughter of retired army Col. Laney and Connie Pankey. Bernard’s attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and graduated with honors. Her degree is in economics and international trade/finance. Since graduating, she has worked for a major banking institution in the New Orleans and Monroe markets until 2001, when she transitioned to Shreveport and is a senior vice president serving as a commercial relationship manager at Community Trust Bank. Shortly after moving to Shreveport, Bernard met her husband, Roy. Her Shreveport family includes her husband, his son Eric, and three beautiful grandchildren, Skylar, Shane and Brooks. Bernard loves to travel and is keenly interested in physical fitness. She began running at an early age with her dad and his brigade while stationed with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg. She continued running throughout her college years and has run competitively in numerous races and marathons. Her list of marathon accomplishments include the New York, Chicago and prestigious Boston Marathons (twice). Bernard is also active in our local community and participates as a second-grade teacher in the local Junior Achievement program. She also serves on the executive board of the Susan G. Komen Northwest Louisiana affiliate.

Katie Bickham 

Katie Bickham is an instructor of English and creative writing at Bossier Parish Community College, where she also serves as a faculty adviser to BPCC’s literary magazine, Savoir Faire. Bickham has been the recipient of a commendation from the Louisiana House of Representatives, has won the Lena- Miles Wever Todd Prize for Poetry and The Missouri Review Editor’s Prize for Poetry, and her writing can be found in multiple national Dr. Melva literary journals including The Missouri Review, Prairie Schooner, and Pleiades. Katie’s first book of poetry, “The Belle Mar,” is forthcoming from Pleiades and LSU Press in 2015. At a local level, Bickham recently won the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s Critical Mass Award for literature in which her poetry was selected and reviewed by LA Times book critic David Ulin. In addition to teaching at the college level, Bickham also runs community-wide creative writing workshops in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and founded a poetry reading group open to the community at large. Bickham earned her bachelor of arts in English literature and master of arts in liberal arts from LSU in Shreveport and her master of fine arts from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. She lives Shreveport with her husband, Keith Hanson, and their son.

Aubre Bauer Clark

Aubre Bauer Clark’s journey into the beauty industry began in 2008, when she started working as a front desk coordinator at Chemistry Hair Salon. Within a year, she truly fell in love with the culture of the industry and decided to embark on a twoyear apprenticeship. She is now a level 4A stylist and master barber with an apprentice of her own. Clark said she feels the business is so unique in the way that she is able to touch people, physically and emotionally. She enjoys using her craft outside of the salon by volunteering for The American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program, Dress for Success and Girls on the Run. She looks at her career as a journey and not a destination. Clark’s next goal is to become a Redken Certified Colorist and eventually become a Redken artist, traveling and training at salons around the United States. When she is not in the salon, she enjoys experimenting with interesting and different ingredients in the kitchen with her husband, Andy.

Shondale Coleman

Shondale Coleman is the director of marketing at Magnolia Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Coleman earned her bachelor’s degree in science as well as an associate’s degree from Northwestern State University. Upon graduation, she returned to Shreveport to work in the field of mental health case management for more than seven years. After taking a brief break to enjoy motherhood, she returned to the workforce in a new role as admission coordinator/ marketer for a local nursing healthcare provider. She was quickly promoted and has been in the role of director for over the past four years. Shondale loves to volunteer, whether it be for her church, The Lone Star Baptist Church of Shreveport, her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Inc., or as vice president on the executive council for the Alzheimer’s Association. In 2013, she was awarded for her professional work in the community by being honored as a Top Business Professional of Year Nominee by the Minority Business Opportunity Awards, and she sits on the executive board of the YPI for the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. She is also affiliated with Community Healthcare Education Network and the Case Management Society of America. Coleman is daughter of the late Vernon and Denise Smith, the wife of Nathaniel and is Madison’s mom to everyone who has met her daughter.

Nick Courville

Nick Courville is an accountant in the audit department at Heard, McElroy and Vestal. As an audit senior, he serves privately held businesses, nonprofit organizations and financial institutions in Shreveport-Bossier City and surrounding areas. Courville received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches in 2010. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Society of Louisiana CPAs. As the Northwest Louisiana Chair for the state’s Emerging CPAs Council, Courville coordinates networking opportunities for young accounting professionals and accounting students. He volunteers as treasurer for the Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors. He is currently participating in the 2014 Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program and has completed the 2013 Louisiana Association of Non-Profit Organization’s Community Leaders Program. Originally from Basile, Courville moved to Shreveport after college, and lives in Benton with his wife, Carolyn, and their dog, Nelson.

Ashlie Daigle

Thibodaux native Ashlie Daigle is a graduate of E.D. White Catholic High School. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English with emphasis on communication and a minor in gender studies from Centenary College of Louisiana and a master’s degree in intercultural communication from Michigan State University. Daigle’s work experience in student affairs began in residence life, having worked as a live-in residential hall director at both Michigan State University and Middle Tennessee State University. She serves as director of student involvement at Centenary. Her primary areas of responsibility include advising student organizations, creating orientation programming for new students and overseeing Greek life. She also assists the Student Government Association in the execution of homecoming and provides opportunities for leadership to the student body. In addition to her employment at Centenary, Daigle serves as the business manager for local company Zombee Candles, which offers hand-poured, 100 percent soy candles made in Shreveport. Daigle has volunteered her time and passion for food to efforts related to Shreveport Green and the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. She is a contributor to the Shreveport Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau Blog, 20x49 and a new member of Slow Food North Louisiana.

Jamie Davis

Jamie Davis is the manager of employment and training at Horseshoe Casino and Hotel and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, where she has been employed for more than 19 years. Davis joined the Horseshoe team back in 1994 at age 18, and throughout Davis’s tenure, she has worked with in multiple departments which led to her current position in human resources. She has served on numerous committees, projects and panels; one of her most memorable achievements is having been recognized as a member of the Binion’s Best recognition team. Davis, a Shreveport native, is the wife of Reimann and the mother of two daughters, Ambria and Regan. Davis attends Word of God Ministries under the leadership of Pastor James A. McMenis. She is also a 2014-15 provisional member of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, where she will help foster a continued environment of unity and volunteerism. Davis will receive her bachelor of arts degree in organizational management from Wiley College in May 2015, and she plans to utilize her education and work experience to excel further within the Caesars organization, with a goal to become a highly motivated leader within the company and community. She is excited about her career path but is most excited about where she can make an impact in the lives of others.

Tiffany A. DeBlieux

Tiffany A. DeBlieux is vice president of mortgage lending at Community Trust Bank and has been in the mortgage banking profession for more than 16 years where she has been consistently one of the top producers. In 2009, DeBlieux’s fundraising abilities were essential for the success of the first House for Hope Giveaway. She served a key position working with Mack McCarter promoting the combined work of Community Renewal and Northwest Louisiana Home Builders Association and continues to do so to date and received her certified graduate associate in 2009 through NWLAHBA. DeBlieux also assisted in the “The Right to Play” project, resulting in the construction of a new playground on Youree Drive for physically challenged children. She has also volunteered in the annual Parade of Homes and the Home Products Show for the past 16 years. In 2009, she was nominated for the ATHENA Award and was elected to the Top 10 and was honored at the ATHENA Award banquet hosted by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. She mentors students from Centenary College each year, in order to help educate and prepare young emerging professionals, and volunteers as a personal shopper for Dress for Success Shreveport- Bossier. DeBlieux is wife to Blake, and mother to two daughters, Meghan and Macy.

Ragan Dickens

Ragan Dickens serves as the communications director and the Louisiana shale director for the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association. In this capacity, Dickens oversees all communications and brand messaging for LOGA. He is the television and print spokesperson for the oil and gas industry to local, state and national media. Dickens is responsible for press releases and official statements on behalf of LOGA. He frequently conducts speeches on behalf of the oil and gas industry to national associations, clubs, schools and civic groups to educate the public about topics including industry regulations, current shale plays and potential new developments. He negotiates and mediates between state/parish governments and the oil and gas industry companies regarding industry regulatory issues that directly affect exploration and production within Louisiana. Originally from Monroe, Dickens attended LSUS for his undergraduate work, where he received his bachelor of arts degree in mass communications with an emphasis in public relations. Dickens served in the White House under former President George W. Bush and on his 2004 re-election campaign, and also served in several roles under Gov. Bobby Jindal. After leaving politics, he worked as chief of staff to a professional athlete overseeing his business development, public relations, branding and social media. Dickens resides in Bossier City with his wife and their two daughters.

Melissa Flores

Melissa Flores is a director of Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts, PLC and a director and officer of Sunbelt Title Company. She practices in the areas of commercial real estate and finance, title insurance and title examination and other general corporate matters. Flores is a Shreveport native and a 1997 graduate of Northwood High School. She received her bachelor of science in elementary education from LSU in 2001 and received her juris doctor, magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2005, where she was a William Crowe Scholar and a member of the Loyola Law Review. While at Loyola, she participated in the law school’s federal court externship program, working for the Honorable Carl J. Barbier, U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and she also practiced family law with the Loyola Law Clinic. She is also a licensed title insurance producer and is an agent for First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana. She is a member of the American, Louisiana State and Shreveport Bar associations, the Louisiana Land Title Association, the Louisiana Association of Independent Land Title Agents, and the Ark-La-Tex Association of Professional Landmen. Flores is also on the board of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier Inc. and on the Caddo Parish Children and Youth Planning Board. She is married to Bud, and they have two children, Roy and Jud.

Jason Geslois

Jason Geslois has worked on a variety of projects in his career in the areas of volunteer management, marketing, social media, fundraising and health education/ literacy to help those with the most need. Geslois is the associate director of development for Breckenridge Village Power, and in his previous work for the Martin Luther King Health Center, he coordinated their involvement with the Give For Good Day this past May, which resulted in $22,000 in funds raised. He hopes to make a lasting positive impact on the world through education and inspiring others through volunteerism and philanthropy. He draws inspiration from true leaders that improve the struggles and challenges of life and actively seek to make the world a better place. He is a member of the Riverbend Rotary Club and enjoys doing social activities to promote good in the community. In his free time, he enjoys being with family and friends and playing with his dog.

Anna Gleason

A CPA with a passion for making art and music, Anna Gleason works hard to find the perfect balance of career, creativity and community. A Louisiana Tech University graduate and former manager at KPMG, Gleason is now the operations accounting manager at Hardware Resources in Bossier City. Gleason occupies much of her free time as an artist and musician – she can occasionally be spotted singing and playing guitar in various local venues. Her passion for music inspired Chords, an entrepreneurial project where she designs and creates everything from guitar string jewelry to lighting made from repurposed musical instruments.

Gleason’s designs are sold on Etsy and have been featured in the Shreveport Times, at Agora Borealis, the Texas Avenue Makers Fair, Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, and Ruston’s Peach Festival. Gleason volunteers her time with the Norla Preservation Project and serves as the treasurer on its board of directors. She has been instrumental in the development, planning and execution of the annual Run For Sarah 5K since 2012, benefiting the University Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She also volunteers for local organizations and events such as ART-ini and Junior Achievement. Gleason is excited about the future of Shreveport- Bossier City, and she looks forward to playing a vital role in its success in the years to come.

Dr. Marlon D. Henderson

Shreveport native Dr. Marlon D. Henderson is a graduate of Northwood High School and graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge with a bachelor of science degree. He received his doctorate of dental surgery from LSU Health School of Dentistry in New Orleans. Henderson owns and operates Henderson Dentistry, LLC., and is president of the Pelican State Dental Association. Since returning to Shreveport, Henderson has delivered numerous keynote speeches and participates in many community organizations. He is a lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. He is the immediate past Basileus of the Rho Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi (2009-13) and is Ninth District Omega Undergraduate Advisor Overseer-Louisiana. Henderson is also second vice president of the Martin Luther King Community Development Corporation, and is a faithful member and assistant clerk of the Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church. This year, Henderson received the Caddo-Bossier-DeSoto Parish “Make a Difference” Achievement Award. He was also featured in “Incisal Edge” Dental Magazine’s “40 Under 40” edition. He is a dedicated husband to his wife, Nikki, and father to Maxwell. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and attending music festivals/ concerts and is an avid LSU, New Orleans Saints and Pelicans sports fan.

Lecie Israel Lecie Israel serves as a grant writer at Volunteers of America of North Louisiana working under the president and chief executive officer, Chuck Meehan, to coordinate special projects. A graduate of Fordham University and the University of Texas School of Law, she resides in Shreveport with her husband, Benjamin, and their young daughter, Frances. Israel is a member of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier and under that organization, served as the 2013 chairwoman of the League’s Super Safety Saturday community event and serves as the league’s arrangements chairwoman. An enthusiastic supporter of the arts, Israel is a member of the board of directors of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and has served on the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s “Christmas in the Sky” volunteer team and as the volunteer chairwoman for the Shreveport Opera Guild’s Les Boutique de Noel. In addition to her volunteer work, her hobbies include theater, tennis, travel and most recently playing the guitar. Her goal is to embody the principles of servantleadership in her work and personal life, and she is thankful to God everyday for the many blessings of her life.

Jazmin J. Jernigan MBA

Jazmin J. Jernigan MBA is a commercial artist, small business advocate and the owner of Aesthetic Innovations, LLC. In the summer of 2008, she founded the creative design and consulting firm A.I. Studios. Her business successfully delivers smart solutions in the areas of graphic and website design, photography, commercial printing and marketing development to a diverse target market. The firm’s mission is to help clients find their visual voice, while educating and empowering consumers to make quality decisions which better the whole community. Jernigan often uses her entrepreneurial talent and practiced creative skill as a means to give back to her community and promote the interests of other local small businesses in her hometown of Shreveport. She received a bachelor’s degree in fine art with a concentration in graphic design, and went on to complete a master’s degree in business administration with a strong focus in marketing, completing both degrees at LSUS. Jernigan is passionate about being an advocate for small businesses, encouraging entrepreneurial spirit in under-serviced youth and promoting gender equality in business male dominated industries. She has headed outreach efforts through her service on various advisory boards, by volunteering services where needed and through the continued support of numerous nonprofit agencies.

Patrina Johnson

Patrina Johnson serves as the director of advancement services for Centenary College, where she is responsible for the integrity and management oversight of donor records and the production of research regarding the capacity of donors to make gifts to Centenary College. Johnson has worked at Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations as a trainer and training coordinator, technical assistance provider and capacity builder to area nonprofits.

Johnson holds the Certified Nonprofit Professional and Grantsmanship Center certifications. She served on the boards of the Commission for Women of Bossier City and Ivy Crown Community Services and the Advisory Board of Caddo Council on Aging. She also maintains professional memberships with Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement, WealthEngine Institute, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Johnson holds a bachelor of science degree in finance, analysis, and an master of science in human services administration, enrolled in the LSUS doctoral leadership nonprofit management, from LSUS. She is studies program (nonprofit focus). A proud native of the Bahamas, she is married to Joseph and is the mother of Priscilla “Lael.”

Casey Jones

Shreveport native Casey Jones has set his roots in the artistic local community. Upon earning his degree in design from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, he worked for many years on Shreveport publications producing layouts and minor photography. However, it was no surprise to his friends when Jones left the publications and began producing photographic work because he said he always had a camera on him growing up. In 2006, Jones opened his own Shreveport studio, Casey Jones Photography, and created a space where he could experiment with different studio lighting techniques. These techniques can be seen in his current artistic pieces involving models in a variety of settings and featuring set designs, costumes and conceptual makeup and hair. In 2010, he began working for the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, where he was promoted to marketing director. He has been a part of three Christmas in the Sky events, five ArtBreaks, multiple exhibition openings, the re-opening of the Central ARTSTATION, the branding of Shreveport Common and more. Chris S. Lee Chris S. Lee, a Marshall, Texas, native, earned his bachelor of business administration degree from Southern Arkansas University. He began his career in the financial services industry with a wirehouse brokerage firm in 2000 at 23. In 2002, Lee was in search of powerful partner for entrepreneurial financial advisers seeking to create their own successful businesses. It was at that time he joined the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer, LPL Financial. In 2009, he decided to further his education and commitment to his clients by starting the coursework to become a certified financial planner, professional, and in 2011, he satisfied the education, examination, experience and ethics requirements for the CFP certification. In 2008, Lee was a featured guest on “Your Money Your Life” call-in show that aired on KTBS following the financial crisis where he was able to address financial concerns with our fellow Ark-La-Tex residents. He enjoys volunteering at The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana and is also a youth sports coach with Cabosa. On Saturday mornings in the fall, Lee is at Betty Virginia Park (USAfit) coaching area residents who have the desire to get fit (or to stay fit) by helping them finish their first marathon. Lee and his wife, Polly, are Shreveport-Bossier City residents and are the parents of two daughters.

Kasie Mainiero

Kasie Mainiero is the principal of University Elementary in Shreveport. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with additional certifications in early childhood education and church careers, as well as a master’s degree in counseling and +30 in supervision and administration with principal certification. She also has a reading specialist degree and is working on a doctorate in educational leadership. Her love and passion is teaching reading to young children; however, she also loves to teach teachers and feels she can make a difference by sharing her passion with them. She has written and received more than $150,000 in grants for Caddo Parish Schools, and in October 2014, she initiated a fundraiser that made nearly $4,000 for Susan G. Komen. She hopes her nomination as 40 Under 40 inspires other educators to keep a positive attitude and also hopes to motivate more young people to seek a career in the teaching profession. Mainiero is married with three children: a son in middle school, one in elementary school and a 3-year-old. Her children are very active in local soccer and theater. Her husband is a nuclear pharmacist at a local independent pharmacy in town, and the Mainieros regularly attend and are active members at Grace Community Church.

Meredith McGovern

As the Louisiana Council for Social Studies Bossier Parish Teacher of the Year and Parkway High School’s Teacher of the Year for 2014-15, Meredith McGovern not only encourages her students to strive for academic excellence in the classroom but also to leave her class with the knowledge that they can change their communities through volunteerism and civic participation. As the head volunteer for the Safe Sitter program of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, she gets to see firsthand how lives can be changed through volunteer efforts. The Junior League of Shreveport Bossier’s Safe Sitter program is a class offered to community organizations such as Community Renewal Friendship House, Volunteers of America Lighthouse and Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club. The Safe Sitter program is designed to provide medically accurate information and safety tips for young teens who may be left home alone or who are babysitting younger children. In addition to community volunteerism, McGovern stresses the importance of civic participation to her students. As coordinator of Parkway High School’s presidential mock election in 2012, students role-played presidential candidates, celebrities and state and local politicians to conduct a national convention/Electoral College re-enactment for elementary and middle schools in the South Bossier community. McGovern believes teaching goes beyond the classroom walls and wants her students to be a positive change for the community.

Julie McEachern 

Julie McEachern is an Ole Miss Rebel with many causes and a servant’s heart. Her love of volunteering began in high school selling T-shirts at the Minden St. Jude Auction in memory of her childhood friend Denise Whaley. Many years later, McEachern now serves on the auction’s planning committee as the phone bank chairman, and the event has grown to a million-dollar-a-year fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She’s training for the Memphis Half Marathon, benefitting St. Jude. After graduating cum laude from the University of Mississippi, Julie began a career in telecommunications beginning with KASO Radio, TCA Cable Television and Cox Communications. She is the retail sales and marketing manager for Suddenlink Communications in the MidSouth Region covering Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi. McEachern is also a member of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier working on the Between the Lines community project promoting literacy and strengthening familial bonds between incarcerated parents and their children. In addition, McEachern volunteers with the children’s ministry at the First United Methodist Church in Bossier and is a member of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, Women in Telecommunications and the Society of Telecommunications Engineers.

Shane Morgan

Shane Morgan is a master confectionery cake artist with more than 14 years’ experience. He graduated with a degree in culinary arts from BPCC. In the beginning stages of his culinary career, he worked privately as a personal chef. At 21, he decided to follow his dream and open a bakery with no prior business experience. Almost 14 years later, his business, Silver Palate Cakery, is still thriving, and he completes on average 160 weddings a year. Morgan’s cakes have been featured in numerous publications including Wedding Flowers & Accessories (a United Kingdom publication), Style Me Pretty and Green Wedding Shoes. He has also been fortunate enough to design cakes for many celebrities, movie sets and political and presidential candidates. In 2012, Morgan was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and has beaten the odds. He has worked with the American Brain Tumor Association, The Easter Seals and The American Cancer Society.

Dr. Christina Notarianni

Dr. Christina Notarianni is an assistant professor and the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at LSUHSC-Shreveport School of Medicine. She grew up in New Orleans and attended LSU in Baton Rouge, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry. She subsequently attended LSUHSC in Shreveport, earning her medical degree in 2003. Notarianni completed her neurosurgical residency in Shreveport under the direction of Dr. Anil Nanda and was the first female neurosurgery resident to graduate from the program. She then completed a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2010. She joined the faculty at the LSUHSC-Shreveport School of Medicine in September 2010. She is the director of the third-year neurosurgery clerkship and is also the assistant program director for the neurosurgical residency at LSUHSC-Shreveport. Notarianni is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Women in Neurosurgery, AANS/CNS Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons, Louisiana State Medical Society and the Shreveport Medical Society. Notarianni is married to Dr. Andrew Werner, who practices colorectal surgery in Shreveport, and they have two children, Henry and Caroline.

Ellie O’Brien Hudnall

Ellie O’Brien Hudnall was born and raised in Shreveport and comes from a dynamic, Greek-Irish family of five. She enjoyed ballet in her early years, and it was this hobby that provided her an opportunity to travel and to compete in several major U.S. cities. Ultimately, dancing earned her a scholarship to the University of Alabama. It was also her love for dance that initially led her to seek more understanding of the human body. After graduating with a business degree in healthcare management, she was accepted into medical school at LSUHSC- Shreveport. Soon after, she moved to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild one of her favorite cities and to become a primary care physician. A year later, she returned home to marry the love of her life, Matt. Shortly thereafter, she achieved her goal of joining The Family Doctors, working alongside Dr. Ricky Jones, who was her primary care physician previously. Now, she and her husband enjoy training for triathlons, practicing yoga, traveling and spending time with their fur babies. Although primary care is challenging, she greatly enjoys the relationship with her patients and the continuity of care. She hopes to always encourage wellness in our community and to forever touch lives around the world.

Alex M. Person

Alex M. Person graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in family and child studies. She is also a certified family life educator and a trained forensic interviewer. Person is employed at the Gingerbread House Bossier/Caddo Children’s Advocacy Center located in Shreveport as a forensic interviewer and the educational coordinator. Her main job is to interview the children who have been abused or have witnessed a crime for law enforcement to find out the details of the abuse. She also goes into the community and conducts presentations for adults on topics such as general information on child abuse and general information about the Gingerbread House. Person is also able to present the Knowledge is Power program to children in Caddo and Bossier parish schools along with preschools and after-school programs that discuss body safety and empower children to say no and tell a trusted adult if something has happened to them. She has been married for two years to her husband, John, and they have two dogs, Izzy and Sophie. She is very involved with the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier and Broadmoor Baptist Church. She feels blessed to have so many people supporting her.

Georgette Price

Georgette Price is the military student transition consultant for Bossier Parish Schools. As an employee for the nonprofit Military Child Education Coalition, she works with military families throughout the transition process and military connected children through support groups and individual counseling. Price received her education specialist degree in community agency counseling from Hampton University, a master of arts in school counseling and guidance from Louisiana Tech University and her bachelor’s degree in communications from Mississippi University for Women. In addition to her work as a MSTC, Price also has a small private practice as a licensed professional counselor. She is a member of the American Counseling Association in which she serves as a professional member of the ethics review panel. She is also a member of the ACA Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, Military and Veteran Counseling Association and Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. She has been nationally recognized for her work with Bossier Parish Schools in conjunction with Barksdale AFB and the Bossier Community by receiving the 2014 Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award for Exemplary Partnerships. Price resides in Bossier City with her husband, Adam, an active duty United States Air Force officer, and their three children, Aidan, Georgia and Kara.

Marc Price

Marc Price received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 2004 and his master’s degree of accountancy in 2005. Following graduation, Price went to Birmingham, where he joined Ernst and Young.

In September of 2011, he accepted a position with Porter’s of Louisiana and continues to work as their sales and operations manager. Most recognizable as a Fine Dry Cleaners, Price was brought to Porter’s to oversee the industrial division. Approximately 1,500 customers throughout the Ark-La-Tex area present a professional and branded image to their customers through Porter’s Industrial’s apparel and facility services programs. Under Price’s leadership, Porter’s Industrial has seen more than 20 percent growth since 2011. Price has been fortunate enough to serve on The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana’s board for the past two years. He is also involved with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership program as both a past participant and a coordinator. “I have been extremely lucky and have been awarded some incredible opportunities. I was just smart enough to accept them,” he said. Price has been married to his wife, Heather, for eight years, and they have Julia, a kindergartner at South Highlands, and a 2-year-old son, Rand.

Carlos D. Prudhomme

Carlos D. Prudhomme received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mississippi Valley State University in 1997 and his juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center in 2000. Prudhomme’s many legal pursuits over the years, which have included serving as the assistant district attorney for Caddo Parish and working as a criminal defense attorney to name a few, have led him most recently to branch off into a successful solo practice, The Prudhomme Law Firm, where he practices criminal defense, personal injury, employment discrimination and family law. Prudhomme has also served as an assistant public defender with the Indigent Defender’s Office in Caddo and Bossier parishes. In addition to his work as an attorney, Prudhomme serves as a mentor to African-American youth in the Shreveport Community. Organizations to which he has devoted his time include the Head Start program, Volunteer’s For Youth Justice, Teen Court Program and as a mentor for at-risk males through the G.E.N.T.S. Program. Prudhomme is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, the Shreveport Black Lawyers Association, the Northwest Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and is president of the Cedar Grove Community Development Corporation and is an active member of Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church.

Kassi Robinson

Kassi Robinson graduated Northwestern State University in 2003, and after working at the Muscular Dystrophy Association several years, she began her career in pharmaceutical sales. She founded and runs Pay It Forward Networking as a volunteer. The idea was born after Robinson helped a boy with MD get tickets to an LSU game, sideline passes and tickets to a Saints game through networking. PIFN grants wishes through networking to children with special needs, disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. A wish is made by a child with special needs, then people work together to grant the wish. For example, Lexi Gordon, a child with Tay-Sachs, loved the song “Blue Skies” by singer Jaymay. Lexi’s wishes were granted when Jaymay came from NYC to Shreveport to sing to her, and the mayors of Shreveport and Bossier City proclaimed March 30 “Lexi Gordon Day.” PIFN grew to a network of more than 11,000 members and granted wishes for 57 children in less than one year. In 2013, Robinson was honored with the Dr. Donald Mack Award for Philanthropic Work. She gives all credit to God, her family/friends, board members and the giving community for the success of PIFN. She and her husband, Heath, have two beautiful girls, Preslee and Emery.

Bryan Roppolo

In 1998, Bryan Roppolo acquired Roppolo’s Insulation from his father, Phillip Roppolo, and has continued to grow the business steadily over the years. They service the Ark-La-Tex and many surrounding areas including South Louisiana, East Texas and South Central Texas. Roppolo’s Insulation employs between eight to 12 employees and runs as a family-owned and operated business with father Phillip and mother Brenda working in the daily operations of the business. Roppolo’s Insulation also operates a fleet of six box trucks and three foam insulation trailers. They specialize in polyurethane spray foam insulation, blownin fiberglass and traditional fiberglass, and have experience in insulating new construction and/or existing homes and many commercial applications including apartment complexes, hotels, offices, metal buildings and warehouses. Other areas of service include removal of insulation damaged from water, mold, fire or mildew as well as under houses and hard to insulate areas. Roppolo and his wife, Shawna, have one daughter, Emma Jo. Roppolo enjoys being involved in the community and is a member of Shreveport Downtown Lions Club, River Bend Rotary Club, Dream Hunt Foundation, Tuesday Lunch Crowd and the Independence Bowl Hospitality Committee. With each organization, he is happy to be able to give back to our community by helping with various projects.

Adam Walsh

Adam Walsh is the head coach for the Centenary Men’s Basketball Team and is a transformational leader in the community. He mentors and leads not only his team, but many young men and women that he comes in contact with on campus and in the local community. He leads by example by living out his core values, which include integrity, servant-leadership and perseverance. He encourages his team to engage with and impact the community around them. He does this through bringing the team to visit and serve schools and organizations in the community, such as Community Renewal International and Common Ground, and invites community groups to be special guests at basketball games. He has hosted free clinics for the CRI Friendship Houses. In his fourth year as head coach, he led the team to an 18-10 record, which is the program’s first winning record since 2003- 04 and the program best since 1989-90. He captured his first conference Coach of the Year honor during the 2013-14 season as well. He received the Huddle Coach of the Year Award from the Northwest Louisiana Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was also recognized with one of only four Alumni Awards- Young Alumni Achievement Award, from his alma mater, High Point University, this fall.

Christina Barrow Washington

Christina Barrow Washington has a master of science degree in medical physics, a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and professional development education in project management, technology management and radiation treatment planning. Washington has worked for the past eight years as a medical physicist in radiation oncology and diagnostic radiology, where she was responsible for technical aspects and quality assurance. She is employed by CHRISTUS Schumpert Cancer Treatment Center. Throughout her career, Washington held various other technical positions including electrical engineer for Dell Computer Corporation where she contributed to more than 10 product launches and was promoted twice within a three-year tenure. Washington previously completed engineering research projects and internships for the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Army and Siemens Energy and Automation. In 2012, Washington was interviewed and profiled on the American Physical Society’s website for her work in the field of science and technology. Additional accolades include coauthor of two electrical engineering lab manuals, INROADS Mentor Appreciation Award, U.S. Army Material Command Award, Dell Appreciation Award, NASA Scholar, Clark Atlanta University Outstanding Service Award, and Electrical Engineering Student of the Year. Christina also enjoys being active in the community including volunteering as a judge for the Louisiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair and participates in several breast cancer awareness initiatives. Washington resides in Shreveport with her husband and two children.

Kendra M. Wheeler

Kendra M. Wheeler is vice president and banking center manager with Red River Bank in Shreveport. She successfully leads an innovative team of professionals to ensure the very best level of customer service and response. Wheeler’s philanthropy efforts parallel her professional career, which allows her to make a difference in the lives of many. Her accomplishments include serving in numerous leadership positions for 10 years with the Junior League of Shreveport- Bossier, a lifetime member of Cambridge Who’s Who, Chairman of Emerging Leaders, served four years as a loaned executive for Northwest Louisiana United Way, 2012 ATHENA Leadership Nominee, 2012 graduate and 2013 Junior Coordinator of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program among others. Wheeler serves as a senior coordinator with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, where she is an intricate part of guiding appointed professionals through an annual process to promote high achievers for future positions of responsibility within our community. She joined the 2014 team of diplomats, which drives synergy around new businesses and local communities. Wheeler is the proud wife of 17 years to Christopher and mother of beautiful twin daughters, Abigail and Zoe Grace.

Dr. Melva Williams

Dr. Melva Williams is the executive associate to the chancellor at Southern University at Shreveport. Williams has also served as the associate dean of the college at Centenary College of Louisiana. In her previous tenure, she has held the position of assistant vice chancellor for student affairs also at SUSLA. She also worked for the Southern University System as chief of staff to the system president and assistant vice president for academic and student affairs. Williams earned the bachelor of arts in mass communication and the master of science in public administration from Grambling State University. Additionally, she earned the doctorate of philosophy in higher education from Jackson State University. In December of 2008, she was invited to attend the Oxford Round Table, at Oxford University in Oxford, England. In 2010, Williams received “The Difference Award” for making a positive impact through education in her community. Currently, she serves as member of the board for the Robinson Film Center and board president for Extensions of Excellence Arts Organization. Williams is a founding board member of the Shreveport Charter Foundation, where she, along with seven of her colleagues built the first new school in Caddo Parish in more than 30 years.

Felice A. Williams Ph.D.

Felice A. Williams Ph.D. obtained her doctorate from Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va., and is an associate professor of management at Louisiana State University Shreveport. In 2011 and 2012, she accompanied LSUS business students on a study abroad program to Luneburg, Germany. Under the direction of Williams, the LSUS Student Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management was awarded a National Superior Merit Awards for four consecutive years. In 2012, the LSUS student SHRM chapter also earned one of only 10 Outstanding Student Chapter awards granted nationwide across 475 student chapters. For the past two years, Williams has led the SHRM students in a fundraising effort, The Red Hanger Luncheon, which to date has raised more than $60,000 to benefit Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier. She is also a member of the Northwest Louisiana Society for Human Resource Management locally. She serves on the boards of the Robinson Film Center and the Philadelphia Center and is a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Network. She is married to Wendell Riley, a production manager at Moonbot Studios, and has an adorable baby girl, Luka.

Jake Wood

West Monroe native Jake Wood didn’t travel far from home to start his life in Shreveport. His first stop in the area was earning a degree in business management and administration from LSU-Shreveport. Wood began his career with SMG and CenturyLink Center in 2010. Through his tenure with CenturyLink Center, Wood has served in six different capacities at the venue, from intern, to marketing assistant, marketing coordinator, marketing manager, interim general manager and his current position, director of sales and marketing. A strong proponent of volunteerism, Wood sits on the board of directors for Dittle’s Fairfield Community Garden and also serves as a district representative on the State Central Committee for the Republican Party of Louisiana. He has also been the co-logistics chairman for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Northwest Louisiana. In his spare time, Wood enjoys traveling to the world’s best scuba diving destinations with his wife, Christy.

Dr. Kimberly Woods DC

Dr. Kimberly Woods DC grew up in Ruston and attended Louisiana Tech University, where she received her bachelor of science degree in chemistry. She completed her doctor of chiropractic, bachelor of science in health and wellness and bachelor of science in anatomy at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas. She loves being by water whether it be the ocean, river or lake, that is where she finds peace. Woods is the secretary/treasurer and president-elect of The Shreveport/Bossier Networkers BNI group. She is a member of Red River Rotary and is a member of the Krewe de Les Femmes Mystique, in which she is the Lady of Grace. Her goal is to increase community health awareness, and as such she holds bi-monthly Dinners with the Doc and monthly workshops. She also loves doing health talks around the community. She enjoys cycling, reading and spending time on the water.

Dr. Draper S. Wright

Dr. Draper S. Wright volunteers with several community organizations in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. As a mentor with the Volunteers of America’s LightHouse program, he and his wife were recently honored with the KTAL 6 “Gold Medal Givers” Award, which was broadcast during the 2014 Summer Olympics. In addition, every month Wright volunteers with the Caddo Parish Sheriff ’s Office to speak with juveniles about education, integrity and purposeful living. Periodically, Wright can also be found serving the homeless at the Shreveport- Bossier Rescue Mission or the Highland Center’s Blessing Dinner. He is also a licensed minister who works primarily with Christian youth and college students. Wright is also the author of three Christian books, each of which has sold successfully in the United States and internationally. Currently working as a financial analyst for University Health/LSUHSC, Wright’s professional background extends to more than 12 years of experience in accounting, audit, tax and business consulting. Wright has worked in both private and public business sectors including key audit roles with international accounting firms KPMG and Deloitte & Touché. In addition to owning a small accounting practice, Wright LLP, Wright also teaches accounting courses at LSU-Shreveport and the University of Phoenix.