Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Louisiana for 2022. This state is home to beautiful nature, historical landmarks, and a rich cultural history that permeates every aspect of their workforce. Spanning a wide variety of professions and backgrounds, this year’s awardees excel in their fields, making waves in nearly all industries including healthcare, social services, education, finance, information technology, and more. We honor this group of women for their hard work and dedication to continuing the momentum of success for their organizations year after year.
Among this year’s awardees is Sue Kozik, SVP and Chief Information Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, who is a change agent for the organization, enabling them to lead in their industry; Emily Arata, Vice President of Public and Community Affairs for Ochsner Health System, who represents the system in complex legislative efforts at the local, state, and federal level; and Marla Helveston, Senior Vice President of Operations for TekSynap, is responsible for managing business growth and strategies with a commitment to helping their clients achieve success.
This year’s awardees work tirelessly in their roles and are forging a path for future women leaders in their fields. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Louisiana for 2022.
1. Katy Dugal Simpson
Chief Marketing Officer, Northwestern Mutual – Louisiana & Mississippi
Katy Simpson began her professional career over 10 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Marketing Officer for Northwestern Mutual of Louisiana and Mississippil. Northwestern Mutual has helped families and businesses achieve financial security for over 160 years. Simpson partners with advisors and leaders to develop and execute marketing strategies focused on social media, content marketing, brand development, and community outreach. Most recently, Simpson created, piloted, and launched an internal marketing program in which she oversees brand management, social media, and digital marketing efforts for twenty advisors and three district offices. In addition, she leads the marketing, communication and community outreach efforts for the overall Louisiana and Mississippi territory.
Her passion for marketing and creative collaborations led Simpson to open her own business in 2022 called RADMarketing. Through RADMarketing, she specializes in helping business professionals and owners launch their business, re-brand strategy and development, content creation, website design, and social media strategy and management. Simpson graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with an undergraduate degree in marketing.
2. Erin Hodges
VP of Continuous Improvement, Entergy
Erin Hodges began her professional career over 22 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Continuous Improvement of Entergy. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. The thousands of men and women of Entergy deliver electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, generating annual revenues of $10 billion. Headquartered in New Orleans, they continue to play a driving role in the economic growth of the Gulf South.
Hodges first got her start in 2000 as a business process improvement director at
Anheuser Busch Adventure Parks. From there, she went on to Ceridian, before eventually rising to become an SVP at Citi, her most recent position prior to joining Entergy. Hodges graduated from Fontbonne University with an MBA and from the University of Missouri-Columbia with an undergraduate degree in manufacturing.
3. Cheryl McAdam
President of the Residential Division, Latter & Blum
Cheryl McAdam is the President of the Residential Division of Latter & Blum. Latter & Blum is the leading real estate company in the Gulf South operating in markets across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Founded in 1916, Latter & Blum is a family-owned company with a mission to build lives, careers, and communities.
In addition to her role as president, she is also the general sales manager for the company’s 25 branches across Louisiana and Mississippi. Overseeing all market managers and over 1,200 agents across the region, McAdam regularly provides guidance, training, and support to help build fulfilling careers in real estate. An established realtor for over 36 years, McAdam is regarded as a real estate authority and is dedicated to building future careers and lives of those under her mentorship. She is passionate about her career, company, and the long-lasting success of her agents. McAdam’s business philosophy is to help agents build their real estate careers and become as successful as possible. She does this by continually providing valuable knowledge and the necessary resources for an agent to flourish and succeed.
4. Sue Kozik
SVP & Chief Information Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Sue Kozik joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana in August 2018 as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. In her role, Kozik leads the IT organization and also has enterprise-wide accountability for the Project Management Office and Cybersecurity Services. With each of these areas, she enables Blue Cross to maintain its leadership position in a constantly changing and intensely competitive health care marketplace. Kozik is an innovative business leader and CIO with a proven track record of delivering results in highly regulated and competitive industries.
Kozik came to Blue Cross from Seattle-based Group Health, a $4 billion nonprofit integrated health care delivery system which was sold to Kaiser Permanente. Prior to Group Health, she held executive positions at Independence Blue Cross, TIAA CREF, Lucent Technologies, and CIGNA. For a number of her CIO roles, Kozik was the first leader in the company to hold that executive position, bringing technology to the conversation and to the board level. She has been honored by the IT industry with many prestigious awards. Kozik graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and served as a member of the college’s board of trustees for 15 years. Since 2012, Kozik has been a member of the board of directors at Tech Impact, a national nonprofit focused on workforce development and technology services. She also works with a number of technology startups and advisory boards.
5. Emily Arata
Vice President of Public & Community Affairs, Ochsner Health System
Emily Arata began her professional career over 17 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President, Public and Community Affairs of Ochsner Health System. Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf South with a mission to serve, heal, lead, educate, and innovate. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit committed to giving back to the communities it serves through preventive screenings, health and wellness resources, and partnerships with innovative organizations that share its vision.
In 2005, Arata served as deputy chief of staff at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State of Louisiana. From there, she went on to work for the City of New Orleans, before eventually rising to her most recent position. Arata graduated from Rhodes College.
6. Kendra Kimmons
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Amedisys
Kendra Kimmons is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications of Amedisys. Amedisys is one of the largest and most trusted in-home care providers in the U.S. They have been serving patients and families since 1982, providing expert care to over 418,000 people each year. From home health to hospice to personal care, every team member contributes to their mission of providing exceptional, clinically distinct care in the home of their patients every year. Kimmons has over 20 years of experience. She began her career in 2002.
Before joining Amedisys, Kimmons was a marketing and public relations director at Louisiana Art & Science Museum and Irene W. Pennington Planetarium. Kimmons graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with an undergraduate degree in marketing and advertising.
7. Nga Vu
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Ochsner Health System
Nga Vu is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ochsner Health System. She first joined the company in 2001. Ochsner Health healed more than 900,000 people from across the globe in 2020, providing the latest in medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named the top hospital in Louisiana and a top children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report.
Vu earned a doctorate in executive leadership and organizational studies from George Washington University and an MHA from Tulane University.
8. Annette Dowdle
Senior Vice President, HUB International Gulf South
With a desire to help people, Annette Dowdle’s career in the insurance industry began over 20 years ago. Today, Dowdle is the Senior Vice President of HUB International Gulf South. In the ever-evolving employee benefits environment, Dowdle flourishes while collaborating on solutions to help clients and their employees. When working with Dowdle, clients gain her years of experience and wealth of knowledge. “I like to tell my clients that my team and I are here to serve as an extension of their HR team. It’s so very rewarding to take the mystery out of employee benefits,” she says. “Truly, we take the whole experience and make it surprisingly better.”
Dowdle recently completed Loyola Women’s Leadership Academy and was Co-Chair for the 2022 American Heart Association Northshore Heart Walk. She is a member of National Women in Construction and serves on HUB’s National Best Practices Task Force. She is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany and Leadership Louisiana. “Networking gives me an avenue to connect with people inside and outside of my network,” Dowdle says. “It allows us all to draw from each other’s experiences to not only help our businesses, but our communities.”
9. Marla Helveston
Senior Vice President of Operations, TekSynap
Marla Helveston takes a mission objective and achieves it through sound strategy development. She intuitively sees the big picture, brings the necessary pieces together into a coherent plan, helps others extend their thinking, and drives operational performance. Helveston, Senior Vice President of Operations, is responsible for managing business growth, formulating and executing growth strategies, and interacting with clients, employees, partners, and other stakeholders. She exemplifies TekSynap’s commitment to helping clients achieve high performance and operational success. Helveston has demonstrated performance in maximizing growth within established and new programs. She was directly responsible for leading capture efforts that resulted in a multi-year string of new opportunity wins, injecting new business into her organization. Her adaptability and agility in achieving mission objectives while managing evolving business priorities is clearly demonstrated by her exemplary capture rate across her career.
In her 30-year career in government contracting, Helveston has held a wide variety of leadership positions across key parts of the business. Prior to joining TekSynap in November 2018, she was VP of General Dynamics IT’s Commerce and Interior operating group, which provided technical services to the Department of Commerce, Department of Interior and Department of Defense clients. She was responsible for all P&L activities, business growth and development, client engagement and staff management and growth for the 275+ people in her organization. Helveston began her career working for the USAF at Keesler Air Force Base where she earned Master Instructor status, teaching classes in basic computer concepts, problem solving, logic design, and programming. Helveston is a certified PMP and graduated with a BS in engineering from Mississippi State University.
10. Jamie Luminais
Vice President of Enterprise Applications, H&E Equipment Services
Jamie Luminais is the Vice President of Enterprise Applications of H&E Equipment Services. Founded in 1961, H&E Equipment Services is one of the largest integrated equipment companies in the nation, providing the highest standard in equipment rentals, sales, parts, and service. With locations nationwide, they are leveraging their national fleet of equipment with a local approach, working closely with customers to understand their needs and provide them reliability, fair prices, and the support of a first-class service team. They are an equipment company, run by equipment people. Luminais has over 15 years of experience. She began her career in 2007.
Luminais graduated from Louisiana State University with an undergraduate degree in marketing.
11. Liz Blum
Vice President, Iberia Bank
Liz Blum is the Vice President of Iberia Bank. She first joined the company in 2006. Iberia Bank philosophy is to exceed client satisfaction by delivering unparalleled customer service at every point of contact. They are committed to offering products and services customized to meet their clients’ financial needs. The bank provides a comprehensive financial product line including retail, commercial, private banking, mortgage, treasury management, online banking, and investment services. Their relationship-based approach to banking focuses on making decisions locally, close to their clients. They recognize that local decision making gives their customers more time for the things in life that matter most.
Previously, Blum was a mortgage lender at Hibernia Bank. She earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Loyola University New Orleans.
12. Shelly Williams
Employee Benefits President, HUB International
Shelly Williams serves as the Employee Benefits President for HUB's South Region. On the local level she is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and developing and promoting best practices for consulting, account management, service, and administration. Williams works closely with the producers on all Gulf South teams ensuring that standards are met, proper work/staff capacity is appropriate for each team, and proper resources are available. Additionally, she is responsible for corporate direction, integration of future EB acquisitions, budgeting, compensation, staffing, retention, and recruitment. On the national and regional level, Williams is responsible for driving organic growth, ensuring appropriate resources are provided, acting as liaison for HUB with national carriers and vendors as needed.
With over 8 years of carrier experience, she is a trusted advisor for carrier/vendor relations. In this capacity she works on specialty programs, preferred agreements, and dedicated service arrangements. Additionally, she manages any escalated issues ensuring that any client/carrier issues are amenably resolved. With over 24 years in the insurance industry, Williams uses her knowledge to lead and manage several committees responsible for driving best practices and professional development. She is also a member of the EB National Team responsible for determining national HUB goals and initiatives. She has also been instrumental in cultivating the foundation for HUB Gulf South’s culture and values making GUS a flagship model for other HUBs within the South Region.
13. Vicky Romero
Chief Information Officer, SCP Health
Vicky Romero is the Chief Information Officer of SCP Health. SCP is a health care solutions company. At their core, they work to bring hospitals and healers together in the pursuit of clinical effectiveness, always focusing on delivering exceptional patient care. With a portfolio of over 8 million patients, 7500 providers, 30 states, and 400 healthcare facilities, SCP is a leader in clinical practice management spanning the entire continuum of care, including emergency and hospital medicine, critical care, wellness, telemedicine, and ambulatory care. Romero has over 20 years of experience. She began her career in 2002.
Before joining SCP Health, Romero was a developer at Acadian Ambulance and before that, a systems analyst at Stuller, Inc. Romero graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with an undergraduate degree in management information systems.
14. Katherine LeBlanc
President of Human Resources, Acadian Ambulance
Katherine LeBlanc is the President of Human Resources for Acadian Ambulance. She first joined the company in 2013. Since its founding in 1971, Acadian Ambulance has grown to provide emergency and non-emergency transportation to more than 70 counties in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Acadian Ambulance is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, and their medics surpass requirements set forth by the National Registry of EMTs.
Previously, LeBlanc was a director of communications at Acadiana Society for Human Resource Management (ASHRM) and before that, a HR generalist and recruiter at Dauterive Hospital. LeBlanc earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
15. Angela Verdin
President, Complete Logistical Services
Angela Verdin proudly serves as President of Complete Logistical Services (CLS). She joined CLS in 2015 and has also served in the capacities of CFO and controller. CLS has supplied offshore marine and land-based industrial companies with quality, expertly trained staff and personnel for jobs ranging from DPOs and chief engineers to electricians and commercial divers. Their clients, including vessels, drilling rigs, production platforms and port facilities, have used their staffing solutions for large and small-scale projects, for both temporary and temporary-to-permanent positions.
Previously, Verdin was the controller for Jindal Tubular, USA (formerly PSL North America, LLC), an international spiral pipe manufacturer of oil and gas transmission assets and has held various accounting and management positions with energy companies such as Entergy Corporation. Verdin is a member of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, where she serves on the Board of Directors and Tax Committee, is a member and past president of the Greater New Orleans Executives Association, is a member of the New Orleans Financial Executives Group and has been an active participant in Vistage International for over five years. Cumulatively, Verdin has over twenty-five years of experience in accounting and business management. She earned an undergraduate degree in accounting at Southeastern Louisiana University and has an MBA with a concentration in accounting.
16. Amanda Fennell
Chief Security Officer, Relativity
Amanda Fennell began her professional career over 14 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Security Officer of Relativity. Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth, and act on it. Its SaaS platform RelativityOne manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. The AI-powered communication surveillance platform, Relativity Trace proactively detects regulatory misconduct like insider trading, collusion, and other non-compliant behavior. Relativity has more than 300,000 annual users in 48+ countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 199 of the Am Law 200.
Fennell first got her start in 2008 as a digital forensics specialist at Booz Allen Hamilton. From there, she went on to Symantec before eventually moving on to become an adjunct professor at Capitol Technology University, her most recent position prior to joining Relativity. Fennell graduated from The George Washington University with a master’s degree in forensic science and high-tech crime in computer forensics and from Radford University with an undergraduate degree in anthropology, archaeology, osteology, and ceramics.
17. Stephanie Manson
Chief Operating Officer, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Stephanie Manson is the Chief Operating Officer of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Our Lady of the Lake is a not-for-profit 850-bed medical center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with more than 7,300 employees committed to building a healthy community through excellence in patient care and education. With a Regional Medical Center, dedicated Children’s Hospital, and 300-provider Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake provides comprehensive healthcare services for common to complex conditions. Manson has over 13 years of experience. She began her career in 2009.
Manson graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with an MS in health services administration and an MBA, and from Louisiana State University with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
18. Padma Vatsavai
Founder & CEO, Vinformatix
Padma Vatsavai is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vinformatix. She founded the company in 2008. In her roles, Vatsavai leads day-to-day operations and business strategy for the award-winning company, a Baton Rouge-based software development firm providing innovative technologies to improve medical administration and research, business processes and public sector initiatives. With 25 years’ experience and driven by an uncompromising insistence on smart, elegant solutions, Vatsavai serves as principal Software Architect on all major projects, assisting her team to design and develop custom software and integrated hardware that consistently exceed clients’ expectations.
Previously, Vatsavai was a technical lead at APPRO Systems and before that, a software developer at ABB Automation Inc. Vatsavai earned a master’s degree in computer science from Cleveland State University and an undergraduate degree in computer science from Andhra University.
19. Judy Schott
Chief Operating Officer, Gilsbar
Judy Schott is the Chief Operating Officer of Gilsbar. For more than half a century, Gilsbar has offered insurance service solutions and support for businesses and their employees. They are a family-owned and operated business with humble beginnings and a bright future. Gilsbar is a malpractice administrator in the industry. Their clients' interests are their primary concern. They commit to investing in integrity, a long-term view, efforts, creativity, a constant desire to develop their people, products, and markets. They offer professional liability insurance, cyber liability insurance, commercial general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, fiduciary insurance, and commercial auto insurance. Schott has over 37 years of experience. She began her career in 1985.
Before her current role, Schott was a director of professional liability at Gilsbar and before that an attorney at Cleveland Barrios Law Firm. Schott graduated from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law with a JD and from the University of New Orleans with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
20. Rhonda Hotard
President and CEO, Louisiana Federal Credit Union
Rhonda Hotard is the President and CEO of Louisiana Federal Credit Union. At Louisiana FCU, two of their core values are “show compassion” and “have fun”. They are a member-owned, full service financial institution offering banking services across the state. Hotard has over 34 years of experience. She began her career in 1988.
Before joining Louisiana Federal Credit Union, Hotard served as a petty officer in the U.S. Navy. Hotard graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and management.
21. Ashley West
SVP & Private Banking Relationship Manager, Progressive Bank
Ashley West began her professional career over 18 years ago. Today, she is a Senior Vice President and Private Banking Relationship Manager with Progressive Bank. At Progressive Bank, their purpose is to help people achieve their dream' and they accomplish this purpose through their nine financial center locations across North Louisiana with centers in Monroe, West Monroe, Winnsboro, Bossier City, and Shreveport.
West first got her start in 2004 as a marketing officer at Progressive Bank. From there, she went on to The National Food Service Management Institute. West graduated from the University of Mississippi with an undergraduate degree in economics and political science.
22. Sallie Woods
Vice President of Human Resources, High Noon Restaurant Group
Sallie Woods is the Vice President of Human Resources of High Noon Restaurant Group. She first joined the company in 2020. High Noon Restaurant Group is a proud Popeyes franchisee that operates 78 restaurants in Southern Louisiana. They are founded on the belief that putting their team first will result in a best-in-class experience for their guests, which will drive the financial and operational results of the restaurants. They choose to focus on people development, promoting from within, and creating opportunities for career enhancement, enabling them to continue the growth of the company.
Previously, Woods was a director of HR and training at Parikh Network. While at Parikh Network, she implemented a new MIT program, Pros Team for developing team members, Fab 5 systems for shift running, and paperless staff onboarding procedures. In the midst of all this, she was able to have 11 restaurants certified for training, bringing the Parikh Network total up to 14 certified training restaurants. Woods earned an undergraduate degree in hospitality administration and management from Johnson & Wales University.
23. Lauren Gibbs
Chief Executive Officer, Gibbs Construction
Lauren Gibbs is the Chief Executive Officer of Gibbs Construction. She first joined the company in 2011 as an estimator. Gibbs Construction is a leader in the construction industry in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast and has operated since 1976. They are a commercial general contractor and design builder with average annual revenues over $100 million building projects for the military, federal, state, and local government, healthcare, education, multi-family, historic restoration, and hospitality markets. They are proudly 100% woman-owned and hold Women's Business Enterprise certification through the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.
Previously, Gibbs was a project coordinator at American Constructors. Gibbs earned an MBA from the University of New Orleans, an MEng in construction management, and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University.
24. Maria Bhacca
CEO, Aerowest International
Maria Bhacca is the Chief Executive Officer of Aerowest International. AeroWest services all industries, including hospitals, universities, gyms, assisted living facilities, hotels, casinos, stadiums, conference centers, government buildings, airports, and many more. They develop, manufacture, and service their own line of proprietary odor neutralizers and air freshening products, including the industry’s first double toilet bowl chips and air freshening fans. Bhacca has over 38 years of experience. She began her career in 1984.
Before joining Aerowest International, Bhacca was a president at Accent Travel Services, Inc. Bhacca graduated from Università degli Studi 'Gabriele d'Annunzio' di Chieti with a Doctor of linguistics in foreign languages and literatures.
25. Theresa Stewart
Chief Commercial Officer, Tollos
Theresa Stewart began her professional career over 37 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Commercial Officer of Tollos. For years, Tollos has helped create a safer, healthier future by providing a broad portfolio of mobility equipment to clinicians and patients throughout North America. In keeping with their history of innovation, they’re introducing new strategies designed to assist with implementing and maintaining clinician and patient safety programs. With Tollos as a long-term partner, organizations can rest assured that they are consistently working to improve outcomes. From repositioning aids to built-in ceiling lifts, all aspects of patient mobility are covered.
Stewart first got her start in 1985 as a national channel manager at Hewlett Packard/Philips Healthcare. From there, she went on to Spacelabs Healthcare before eventually rising to become a COO at Platinum Equity/DMS Health, her most recent position prior to joining Tollos. Stewart graduated from Tulane University with a master's degree in advanced management strategy and marketing, and from Loyola University, New Orleans with a master’s degree in healthcare systems management.
26. Meredith McDermott
Managing Attorney, Bayou Title
Meredith McDermott is the Managing Attorney for Bayou Title in Uptown, New Orleans. Bayou Title has become the largest closing and settlement services provider in Louisiana. With 19 full-service locations and growing, banks, lenders, realtors, and their clients are served on a personal level. Their qualified, courteous, and efficient staff work to coordinate the many moving parts of a residential or commercial loan transaction. Licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Mississippi, McDermott represents clients in handling property and business matters across the Gulf Coast. She enjoys a transactional law practice focusing on property law, secured transactions, general business matters, and successions and estates.
McDermott began her career in real estate in 2002 as secretary of the Real Estate Department at Page, Mannino, Peresich & McDermott. McDermott received an undergraduate degree in public accounting from Spring Hill College before graduating from Loyola University College of Law. At Loyola, she received several honors, including the Law Excellence Award in Civil Procedure II and Family Law. She is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the New Orleans Chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) and the Harrison County Young Lawyers Association.
27. Valerie Wheatley
Chief Operating Officer, Kingsley House
Valerie Wheatley began her professional career over 28 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Operating Officer of Kingsley House. At Kingsley House, they envision a city and region where all young children are ready to succeed, and all citizens are healthy and economically stable. Recognizing that vulnerable families are at risk of being caught in an intractable cycle of poverty, they are committed to ensuring that individuals and families have the support necessary to be successful at all stages of life. To accomplish their goals, they join forces with dedicated community partners.
Wheatley first got her start in 1994 as a director of management and financial analysis at
Center for Governmental Research. From there, she went on to the City of Rochester, before eventually rising to become the president and CEO at YWCA Restaurant Franchise Inc., her most recent position prior to joining Kingsley House. Wheatley graduated from Syracuse University - Maxwell School with an MPA in state and local finance and from Tougaloo College with an undergraduate degree in economics, political science, and computer science.
28. Sherice Janaye Nelson
Assistant Professor, Southern University and A&M College
Dr. Sherice Janaye Nelson is a speaker, author, researcher, and an Assistant Professor at Southern University and A&M College. At Southern, she is the Director of the Jewel Limar Prestage Public Policy, Polling and Research Center (JLPC), which performs mixed methods research that tell the stories of Blacks with data.
Nelson is a proud alumnus of Howard University where she received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science, specializing in International Relations, Black Politics, and American Government. These specializations have defined her as a Black Diaspora scholar who focuses on the political, social, and economic effects of chattel slavery in American democracy and on democracies around the globe. She is the originator of the term Insulated Blackness, which was explored in her co-authored piece “Insulated Blackness: A Cause for Fracture in Black Political Identity.” Dr. Nelson’s book The Congressional Black Caucus: Fifty Years of Fighting for Equality was released in December of 2021. She is an executive board member for the Center for Racial Justice at Dillard University. Dr. Nelson earned her Master of Public Administration focusing in Public Management at the University of the District of Columbia, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a dual degree in History and English from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
29. Mary Gates
Vice President of Security, GMR
Mary Gates began her professional career over 28 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Security of GMR. GMR is a risk-mitigation security consulting firm. Their consultants help clients understand and respond to employee, operational and facility safety, security, and risk challenges. Their experts help clients make confident risk management decisions to improve their security operations and better prepare for emergency situations and evolving threats. As Trusted Advisors, they offer an extensive array of tailored solutions to ensure safe operations while maximizing efficiency and value. Their priority is always to provide clients with exceptional risk mitigation strategies without compromise.
In 1994, Gates served as a vice president at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
30. Sandra Cashe
Chief Customer Officer, Veriforce
Sandra Cashe is the Chief Customer Officer of Veriforce. Veriforce is an ISO-certified, recognized leader in delivering comprehensive, integrated supply chain risk management solutions that help bring workers home safely and optimize business performance. The company’s SaaS safety and compliance platform, data integrity and verification practices, and standardized safety training programs empower leading organizations to drive safety and compliance into their supply chains and down to the worker-level. Cashe has over 28 years of experience. She began her career in 1994.
Before joining Veriforce, Cashe was a president at Neill Technologies. Earlier in her career she worked with Cardinal Health as a director of sales. Cashe graduated from Sam Houston State University.
31. Laura Tarantino
EVP, General Counsel, and Compliance & Privacy Officer, Oceans Healthcare
Laura Tarantino is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Compliance & Privacy Officer of Oceans Healthcare. She first joined the company in 2014. The company is passionate about helping older adults and seniors manage the challenges that come with aging and attain the best possible quality of life. They are committed to caring for this special population with dignity for patients and their families, with keen awareness of the importance of treating the whole person, with focus on progressive behavioral therapies, and with respect for their employees, physicians, healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
Previously, Tarantino was an SVP, general counsel, and secretary at F. A. Richard & Associates and before that, an EVP and general counsel at APS Healthcare. Earlier in her career she worked with ASC Network Corporation as a general counsel. Tarantino earned a JD from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and an undergraduate degree in accounting from Louisiana State University.
32. Kate Krejci
Vice President of Growth Operations, Kindbody
Kate Krejci is the Vice President of Growth Operations of Kindbody. Kindbody is a leading fertility and family-building benefits provider for employers offering comprehensive virtual and in-person care. Kindbody delivers a seamless, integrated experience with superior health outcomes at lower cost, making fertility care more affordable and accessible for all. Kindbody is the trusted employee benefits solution for more than 80 employers. Krejci has over 13 years of experience. She began her career in 2009.
Before joining Kindbody, Krejci was a director of operations at Audubon Fertility and before that, a manager at Thomas Mann Design Inc. Earlier in her career she worked with AmeriCorps as a service project coordinator. Krejci graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with an MD and MS in health administration, and from the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in arts.
33. Marjorie Briley
VP of Business Development, Ascend Math
Marjorie Briley is the VP of Business Development of Ascend Math. Ascend Math is written to Common Core and rigorous state standards. Instruction is delivered in a logical math sequence and students move ahead at their own pace and track their own progress. Ascend Math is currently used by hundreds of schools and districts serving tens of thousands of students throughout the U.S. and Canada. Briley has twenty years’ experience in educational technology and consulting with school districts ranging from 1000 to 120,000 students.
Briley has focused predominantly on working with administrators on strategies to accelerate learning so that students at risk of passing high stakes tests will succeed. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she is very fond of working with schools in improving student success. Briley has presented at NCTM, NCSM, ASCD and TCEA and is currently authoring a Blog series on Equity in Education with a focus on coaching teachers to help students discover a math identity.
34. Lisa Bishop
Vice President of Training and Clinical Development, Premier Health
Lisa Bishop is the Vice President of Training and Clinical Development of Premier Health. She first joined the company in 2016. In 1999, Premier Health became one of the first healthcare companies in the nation to own and operate urgent care centers utilizing a health system, joint-venture model. Today the company is recognized industry-wide as one of most experienced and successful joint-venture, urgent care companies. Bishop has over 20 years of clinical experience, including ten years in urgent care. She works with company leaders to ensure education competencies meet or exceed industry best practices and provides assistance to ensure new partnerships, acquisitions, and/or mergers are implemented in a manner to achieve the desired results.
Bishop is a member of the Urgent Care Association (UCA). She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Samford University in Birmingham, AL and her Master of Science in Nursing from Mississippi University for Women and her master’s in healthcare administration from Walden University where she has been on the graduate faculty since 2013. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and a family nurse practitioner.
35. Judy Hendrix
Vice President of Property Services, Hammerman & Gainer
Judy Hendrix began her professional career over 15 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Property Services at Hammerman & Gainer. Hammerman & Gainer (HGI) is a Louisiana-based program management and third-party administration company. For over 90 years, HGI has worked with insurance companies, corporations, and governmental entities distinguishing themselves from competitors by designing and implementing systems, processes, and policies that meet the complex legal, regulatory, and administrative requirements of their clients. Today, HGI’s continued success is the direct result of matching their resources with its client’s needs in order to mitigate their exposure to risk and preserve their assets. HGI’s corporate office is located in the greater New Orleans area and has a national footprint of regional offices in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington DC.
Prior to her present career, Hendrix spent 20 years providing executive leadership in the healthcare arena.
36. Kristy Bonner
Vice President of Digital Services, Foster Marketing
Kristy Bonner began her professional career over 26 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Digital Services for Foster Marketing. For nearly four decades, Foster Marketing has been a strategic marketing communications partner to many in the oil and gas, energy, industrial, and business-to-business sectors. Upstream, midstream, and downstream, their innovative team of experts in Houston, Louisiana and the United Kingdom help enhance marketing communications efforts, gaining market position via digital tactics, building awareness through public relations and connecting with more customers via trade show and event opportunities.
Bonner first got her start in 1996 as an editor at The Daily Advertiser. Bonner graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with an undergraduate degree in journalism.
37. Lécia Vicente
Assistant Professor Law of Louisiana State University
Professor Lécia Vicente is a Business Law Professor and advisor with a deep understanding of risk management in different corporate cultures. She has significant experience in due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. She has designed legal frameworks that are tailor-made for growing companies. She has envisioned more efficacious programs conducive to cultivating businesses’ passion, perseverance, and confidence to help them succeed after a systemic shock or crisis. She is working on a book that provides a new body of legal knowledge to generate stronger economic results in legal contracts and enact positive changes for businesses.
Professor Vicente has a past record of operating in complex and intense environments (Fortune 500), thinks and acts globally, lived permanently in four countries (United States, Portugal, Italy, and Finland), and speaks fluent Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, French, and has a basic understanding of German and Finnish. She is results and people-oriented, which is reflected in her record of corporate law practice and counseling. She has incorporated multiple Fortune 500 subsidiaries in Lusophone countries by paying careful attention to the equal treatment of national and international employees during the process of incorporation. She has served in multiple roles at the United Nations. She was a delegate at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019. She provided advice to the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations in 2015 and 2016. Professor Vicente earned her Ph.D. and Master of Laws in Comparative, European, and International Laws from the European University Institute and her LL.B. from the Catholic University of Portugal. She carried on her postdoctoral training as a postdoctoral research associate and lecturer at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her driven approach made her the first Portuguese-Angolan woman with a professorship in law in the United States. She has held multiple visiting research positions and participated in numerous conferences and academic events in Europe, the United States, and Brazil. She has written consistently on how law can ignite development. In 2022, Professor Vicente became a Fellow of the Herndon Directors Institute, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting boardroom diversity.
38. Christine Alexis
Director of Marketing and Communications, DB Schenker
Christine Alexis is an award-winning marketing and communications executive known for creating innovative programs that highlight multicultural and international markets, build brand awareness, and drive thought leadership. She is currently the Head of Marketing and Communications for DB Schenker’s Americas division which encompasses North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Alexis is a connector who builds world-class international marketing and communications teams that drive awareness through digital marketing, social media, content marketing, strategic public relations, internal communications, executive communications, and partner marketing programs. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Loyola University New Orleans. Passionate about international and multicultural marketing, Alexis has written numerous articles for Inc. and international publications surrounding this emerging topic.
39. Emily Burke
VP of Account Services, BBR Creative
Emily Burke is the Vice President of Account Service of BBR Creative. She first joined the company in 2013 as account service director. At BBR, they act as an extension of their partner’s marketing teams, bringing experts to the table so they have the resources to market more effectively.
Previously, Burke was an owner at bBOLD and before that, an account executive at
redpepper. Earlier in her career she worked with Moran Printing as an account service representative. Burke earned an undergraduate degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University.
40. Kiwana McClung
Chief Diversity Officer, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Kiwana McClung is the Chief Diversity Officer of University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She first joined the university in 2013 as assistant professor. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public research university. It has the largest enrollment within the nine-campus University of Louisiana System and the second largest enrollment in Louisiana, behind only Louisiana State University.
McClung earned a master’s degree in architecture from Louisiana State University and an undergraduate degree in visual arts from Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge.
41. Melissa Quackenbush
Senior Director of Data Integration, Cox Communications
Melissa Quackenbush began her professional career over 33 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Director of Data Integration of Cox Communications. Cox Communications is the largest private telecom company in America, serving nearly seven million homes and businesses across 18 states. In her role, Quackenbush ensures customer satisfaction for data applications solutions.
Quackenbush has served in various roles with Cox Communications since 1994. She has previously held positions of manager of IT, senior manager of quality assurance, director of IT, national IT director for field solution delivery and more. She graduated from Amberton University with a master’s degree in managerial and social science and from Southeastern Louisiana University with an undergraduate degree in computer science.
42. Ashleigh Gardere
Executive Vice President, PolicyLink
Ashleigh Gardere is the Executive Vice President of PolicyLink. PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity. Their core focuses are on an equitable economy, healthy communities of opportunity, and a just society. Gardere has over 19 years of experience. She began her career in 2003.
Before joining PolicyLink, Gardere was an EVP and COO at New Orleans Business Alliance and before that, a senior advisor to Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu. Earlier in her career she worked with Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy as an editor in chief and reviewer. Gardere graduated from Harvard Kennedy School with an MD in public policy in housing and urban development, and from New York University with an undergraduate degree in metropolitan studies.
43. Maddie Brown
Director of Development, Louisiana State University
Maddie Brown serves as a Director of Development for the College of Engineering and The College of Coast and Environment at Louisiana State University. With a robust background in nonprofit fundraising, Brown has served in various development capacities supporting the social mobility of others from adults with disabilities to victims of violent crime and, presently, higher education. Over the last 3 years, Brown has worked in concert with a team of development professionals, LSU leadership, donors, and friends of the university to execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy benefiting LSU students and faculty. Her daily efforts focus on securing gifts through private philanthropy to support LSU’s top priorities.
Brown is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is active in the Baton Rouge chapter. Additionally, she serves in board leadership roles as a commissioner with the Downtown Development District and Vice Chair of the Historic Spanish Town Civic Association. Previously, Brown was a community inclusion director at OPTIONS, Inc. She earned an undergraduate degree in political science and government from Southeastern Louisiana University.
44. Shalini Persaud
Communications Director, NOLA Ready
Shalini Persaud is the NOLA Ready Communications Director at the City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. She oversees the NOLA Ready disaster preparedness campaign, including emergency alerting and crisis communications, community engagement and outreach related to disasters, and the NOLA Ready Volunteer Corps.
Previously, she created and managed the 4,000+ member NOLA Ready Volunteer Corps for disaster response, and deployed volunteers in response to Hurricane Ida, COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and throughout the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season in New Orleans. Persaud approaches emergency preparedness with an equity and justice lens, which means that in her work she is intentional in centering groups who are particularly vulnerable to disaster impacts. Persaud is an emergency preparedness and social services professional with a Master of Science in Disaster Resilience, a Master of Social Work, and she holds an LMSW social work license.
45. Maddy Devine
VP of Strategic Finance, Calibrate
Maddy Devine is the Vice President of Strategic Finance for Calibrate. Calibrate is a modern, medical metabolic health business changing the way the world treats weight. Calibrate is a digital metabolic health business that provides a virtual program for weight loss. It is creating a new category by improving metabolic health to drive long-term, sustainable weight loss with a program designed by world leaders in obesity and nutrition science. Calibrate combines FDA-approved metabolic medication with a holistic curriculum and one-on-one virtual coaching sessions that drive lasting behavior change. The company was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in New York. Devine has over 11 years of experience. She began her career in 2011.
Before joining Calibrate, Devine was an associate director for financial planning and analysis at Lucid and before that, a senior strategy consultant at Accenture. Earlier in her career she worked with KIPP New Orleans as a data manager. Devine graduated from Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business with an MBA in finance and social entrepreneurship and from Boston College with an undergraduate degree in economics and English.
46. Syrita Steib
Founder & Executive Director, Operation Restoration
A native of Vacherie, Louisiana, Syrita Steib graduated from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center as a licensed and certified clinical laboratory scientist. In 2016, Steib founded Operation Restoration, a New Orleans-based nonprofit that works to support women and girls impacted by incarceration to recognize their full potential, restore their lives, and discover new possibilities. Steib is recognized nationally for her work on dismantling the legal system and removing barriers for women and girls impacted by incarceration while transitioning back into the community.
Steib serves on numerous local and national boards and appears regularly as a keynote speaker and panelist on topics of incarceration and injustice. She was one of 73 people granted a full and unconditional presidential pardon in January 2021. With her science background, Steib was named by 500 Women Scientists as one of five Fellowship for the Future fellows. Her fellowship project is to train incarcerated women as lab assistants for healthcare facilities. In 2021, she was recognized as one of the New Orleans 500, New Orleans Women of the Year and a Young Leadership Council Role Model. Steib was also a 2020 recipient of the Rubinger Fellowship; 2020 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Angel Award Honoree; and recipient of the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund. Steib was additionally named a Culture of Health leader by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
47. Tammy Arrigo
Chief Licensing Manager, McGlinchey Stafford
Tammy Arrigo began her professional career over 40 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Licensing Manager of McGlinchey Stafford. McGlinchey Stafford provides innovative legal counsel to clients nationwide. McGlinchey's 140 attorneys are based in 16 offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio and DC.
Arrigo graduated from Louisiana State University with an undergraduate degree in business and management.
48. Cheri Johnson
SVP of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer, Woman's Hospital
Cheri Johnson began her professional career over 15 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer for Woman's Hospital. Woman's Hospital was one of the first women's specialty hospitals in the nation and is currently one of the largest in the United States. Opened in November 1968, Woman's is a private, nonprofit organization that is consistently recognized for its innovative programs for women and infants. Woman's is the 17th largest delivery service in the U.S. and the largest in Louisiana with more than 8,500 births annually.
Johnson graduated from Western Governors University with an MSN in leadership and management and from West Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in nursing.
49. Ashley Letsinger
Senior Director of Operations, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport
Ashley Letsinger is the Senior Director of Operations for Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. She has spent the majority of her career in the healthcare industry, gaining experience in such areas as operations, accreditation, regulations, clinical, implementation, leadership, corporate health, project management, process improvement, and quality control.
Since joining Ochsner LSU, Letsinger has leveraged community partnerships leading to the first mass COVID Vaccination in Region 8, lead team mobile community strike vaccination team of over 35 events, partnered with Louisiana Delta Community College to form additional educational pathways for physical therapy assistants, and re-strategized underutilized rehabilitation services into Rehabilitation Service Line with multiple added services increasing productivity in the service line 34% in 3 months. She has worked with such companies such as American Airlines, Google, Hewlett Packard, Capital One, and Premise Health. She is a registered nurse and a certified professional in healthcare quality.
50. Joanne Wetch
Vice President of Consulting Services, Schumacher Clinical
Joanne Wetch is the Vice President of Consulting Services for Schumacher Clinical. She first joined the company in 2011 as VP of care management. SCP Health is a health care solutions company. At their core, they work to bring hospitals and healers together in the pursuit of clinical effectiveness, always focusing on delivering exceptional patient care. With a portfolio of over 8 million patients, 7500 providers, 30 states, and 400 healthcare facilities, SCP Health is a leader in clinical practice management spanning the entire continuum of care, including emergency and hospital medicine, critical care, wellness, telemedicine, and ambulatory care.
Previously, Wetch was a director of care management and inpatient rehab at Valley Baptist Health System and before that, a case manager at Rehabilitation Institute of McAllen at the McAllen Medical Center. Earlier in her career she worked with St. Luke's Hospital as an RN charge nurse. Wetch earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Brownsville and an undergraduate degree in nursing from Moorhead State University.