Leaders for a Better Louisiana, now in its 38th year, announced the 52 members of its class of 2026: Thad Angelloz, director of grants and communications, Greater Lafourche Port Commission; Lance Armentor, president and CEO, Opelousas General Health System; Abbey Bain, vice chancellor for student engagement, LSU Alexandria; Elizabeth Bentley-Smith, deputy commissioner for finance and administration, Louisiana Board of Regents; Pilar Blanco-Eble, vice chancellor for advancement and executive director of the BRCC Foundation, Baton Rouge Community College; Dani Borel, partner, Breazeale Sachse Wilson; Brett Brown, senior financial analyst, BRF; Eddie Buttross, vice president and commercial relationship manager, First Horizon Bank; David Carter, principal, Emergent Method; Justin Centanni, assessor, Lafayette Parish Assessor’s Office; Steven Ceulemans, president and CEO, Baton Rouge Health District; Kalli Christ, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana; Hardeman Cordell, president, Central Oil & Supply; Lyla Corkern, owner and CEO, Finding Solace; Martha Crenshaw, general counsel, RoyOMartin; Shannan Cvitanovic, executive director, Friends of New Orleans Public Library; Anna deTiege, director of innovation capital, Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO); Megan Duhon, director of economic development, One Acadiana; Karla Edwards, HR business partner, Sasol; Bobby Fruge, owner and founder, Radix; Jill Galmarini, director of civic initiatives, Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana; Kate Griener, senior community affairs adviser, Woodside Energy; Judd Jeansonne, executive director, Volunteer Louisiana; Viveca Johnson, owner and clinical administrator, Forward Moving Counseling Services; Chris Joseph Jr., associate, Adams and Reese; Heather Kleinpeter, director of strategic projects, Corporate Mobile Housing; Deanna Lafont, parish administrator, Lafourche Parish Government; Ryan LaGrange, director of workforce development, Lafayette Economic Development Authority; Matthew Lee, member, Bradley Murchison; Christina Lord, regional medical director for the office of public health, Louisiana Department of Health; Justin Marocco, partner, Jones Walker; Pamela Matassa, deputy chief administrative officer and communications director, Ascension Parish Government; Samantha McKee, assistant treasurer, Cleco; Ethan Melancon, government affairs director, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana; Jennifer Messina, vice president of development, Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West; Kim Montie, executive director, Port of Cameron; Bailey Morse, chief legal officer, Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency; Ana Nanney, vice chancellor for enrollment and student development, Fletcher Technical Community College; James O’Quinn, II, executive director, Louisiana Troopers Association; Ryan Page, CMO, Coastal Conservation Association of LA; Emily Fenet Parker, director of marketing, L’Auberge; Nga Quinlan, partner and chief experience officer, Hippo Technologies; Paula Shepherd, executive vice president for health plan operations and technology, Louisiana Blue; Ronald Simpson, director of community engagement and public affairs, Ochsner Health; Blake Stanfill, executive vice president and COO, Finance New Orleans; Shannon Warren, campus president, Unitech Training Academy West Monroe Campus; Jesse Watson, director of community engagement and partnerships, Discovery Schools; Liz Webb Hebert, senior director of business development, Surgery Partners, and Lafayette City Council member; Tifferney White, CEO, Louisiana Children’s Museum; Matthew Woodard, chief financial officer, Hunt, Guillot and Associates; Tony Zanders, president and CEO, Nexus Louisiana, founder and CEO, SkillType; and Kristin Zatta, customer service manager, Entergy.
