Baton Rouge Business Report Influential Women in Business Award Winners: 1997-2022

    Use Ctrl+F on a PC or Command+F on a Mac to search for a specific name on this list, or use the links below to search for honorees in a particular year.

    2023 |
    2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
    2017 | 2016201520142013 |
    2012 | 2011 | 201020092008 |
    2007 | 20062005 | 2004 | 2003 |
    2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1994 |

    1994
    Diane Allen, Diane Allen and Associates

    Madlyn B. Bagner, State Department of Social Services

    Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, lieutenant governor

    Mary Kay Brown, Public service for schools

    Carolyn Woodfin Carnahan, Woodfin-Pontiac Isuzu

    Pat Cheramie, WBRZ-TV

    Beth Courtney, LPB

    Jackie Ducote, Public Affairs Research Council

    Mary Frey Eaton, Metro Council member

    Teri Fontenot, Woman’s Hospital

    Alice Foster, First Lady of Louisiana

    Jan Day Gravel, Consultan

    Robin Houston, State Department of Labor

    Mary Joseph, Attorney

    Nanette Noland Kelley, The Powell Group

    Catherine “Kitty” Kimball, Supreme Court Justice

    Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senate

    Linda Lightfoot, The Advocate

    Lucy Priddy, Albemarle

    Lynn Robertson, Port Allen mayor

    Vicki Romero, Woman’s Hospital

    Christel Slaughter, SSA Consultants

    Nona Thelen, United Way

    Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas, Mid City Redevelopment Alliance

    Sharon Weston, State Representative

    1999
    Dr. Laura L. Cassidy, doctor

    Holly B. Clegg, cookbook author

    Gladys Solomon Brown, restaurateur

    Gloria Solomon Carter, restaurateur

    Diane L. Dixon, financial consultant

    Betsy Hooper, La Capitol Federal Credit Union

    Chris Russo Love, InRegister

    Donna M. Mayeux, public administration consultant

    Phyllis Coleman Mouton, Baton Rouge Community College

    Janice Harvey Pellar, EMCO

    Betty H. Phelps, Gully Phelps McKey

    Janice Shiflett, DSK Realtors

    Genevieve Stewart, radio talk show host

    2000
    Jackie Bartkiewicz, Lunar Media

    Andrea Clesi, WBRZ-TV

    Sally Fowler, Imelda’s Fine Shoes

    Kathryn Grigsby, Hospice Foundation

    Lynn Jelinski, LSU

    Connie M. Kyle, C.J. Brown Realtors

    Phyllis McLaurin, Bank One

    Peggy Robinson, Metropolitan Mutual Mortgage

    Kathryn Sullivan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield

    2001
    Brenda Birkett, Southern University

    Sally Clausen, Southeastern Louisiana University

    Jan Kasofsky, Capital Area Human Services District

    Debra Lazare, Methods Technology

    Nancy Roberts, La. Resource Center for Educators

    Jacqui Vines, Cox Communications

    Linda Ward and Carla Jumonville, San Carlin Couture

    2002
    Robelyn Abadie, Abadie Financial Services

    Madhu Beriwal, IEM Inc.

    Patti Fox, Chocollage

    Pam Freeman, Bank One Louisiana

    Sister Mary Michaeline Green, Catholic schools superintendent

    Sibal Holt, Louisiana AFL-CIO

    Marge Mackey, Coldwell Banker Mackey

    Donna Ryan, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

    2003
    Renae Conley, Entergy Louisiana

    Renee Furr, Lamar Advertising

    Bonnie Jackson, Greater Baton Rouge Black Pages

    Carol Juban, Juban’s Restaurant

    Miriam Juban, Juban’s Restaurant

    Patricia McMurray, Adams and Reese LLP

    Kathryn Smith, Advanced Imaging Solutions

    Dionne Viator, General Health System

    Candace Wright, Postlethwaite & Netterville

    2004
    Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, Baton Rouge Community College

    Susan Ducote, NeuroTherapy Specialists, Inc.

    Regina Hamilton, Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre

    Cheri McDaniel, Fireside Antiques

    Susan Roland, Fireside Antiques

    Ginger Sawyer, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry

    Charlene Smith, Mayor of Zachary

    Vicki Zimmerman, WAFB Channel 9

    2005
    Nancy Dougherty, Taylor, Porter, Brooks and Phillips

    Roberta Atkinson Guillory, The Red Shoes

    Faith Hansbrough, Pediatric Surgery of Louisiana

    Toni Forte Hayes, Courtyard Marriott and Chocollage

    Katherine King, Kean Miller

    Charlotte Placide, East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System

    Kristin Welch Wall, Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp.

    Lynn Weill, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

    Lela Mae Wilkes, Brown Eagle Group

    2006
    Laurie Aronson, Lipsey’s and Haspel

    Vicki Crochet, Taylor Porter

    Angele Davis, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism

    Gayle Jackson, Precision Title of Louisiana

    Shelley Ogden Landry, Dimensions in Design

    Carolyn Martin, Commercial Properties Development Corporation

    Trula Remson, Remson Haley Herpin Architects

    Leah Simon, Tsunami

    Ann Forte Trappey, Forte and Tablada

    2007
    Cynthia Bridges, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Revenue

    Prem Burns, Assistant district attorney

    Melissa Flournoy, CEO, Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations

    Donna Fraiche, Attorney, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowicz

    Leslie Herpin Marx, Owner, Leslie Herpin Interior Design

    Rose Hudson, CEO, Louisiana Lottery

    Amy Strother Gatz, CEO, United Home Care

    2008
    Coletta Barrett, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

    Terri Fairburn Borde, Alvin Fairburn & Associates

    Linda Perez Clark, Kean Miller/The Grape

    Sue Anne Kleinpeter Cox, Kleinpeter Farms Dairy

    Mary Garner DeVoe, Keller Williams Realty

    Rannah Gray, Rannah Gray Marketing & Communications, Marmillion/Gray Media

    Susan Perry Leake, La Capitol Federal Credit Union

    Beth Veazey, Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area

    Ann Silverberg Williamson, Department of Social Services

    2009
    Jacqueline Beauchamp, Co-founder/Chairwoman, Nerjyzed Entertainment

    Lynn Bradley, Principal/Co-partner, Bradley-Blewster & Associates

    Sandy Breland, Vice president/General manager, WAFB

    Sharon Cole, Site director; Dow Chemical Company, Louisiana Operations

    Patricia Felder, Owner, Felder’s Collision Parts

    Crissie Head, Director, LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand

    Donna Nunnally, Owner/Dermatologist, Dermatology & Aesthetic Institute

    Terrie Sterling, Chief operating officer, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

    Cindy Wale, Member, Livingston Parish Council; Vice president/Branch manager, Capital One Bank

    2010
    Dana Nunez Brown, President, Brown+Danos landdesign

    Jerry del Rio, Broker/Owner, Jerry del Rio Real Estate

    Joanie Netterville Dubroc, Senior vice president/South Louisiana community banking executive, Regions Bank

    Tia Edwards, Deputy executive director, Louisiana Workforce Commission

    Maureen Harbourt, Partner, Kean Miller

    Suna Adam Knaus, President/Owner, Gulf South Research Corporation

    Katherine Martin, Executive director, O’Brien House

    Peggy B. Scott, Executive vice president/COO/CFO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

    Elizabeth Treppendahl, Vice president, Wright & Percy Insurance

    2011
    Stephanie Anderson, Senior vice president of finance and administration/Chief financial officer, Woman’s Hospital

    Sherrie Despino, President/CEO, Ascension Chamber of Commerce

    Renea Duffin, Vice president, cancer programs; Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

    Gina Dugas, Chief financial officer, LSU Foundation

    Ashley Fox-Smith, Owner/Associate publisher, Country Roads Magazine

    Kathi Gill, President/CEO, Neighbors Federal Credit Union

    Alice Miller, Chief financial officer, Kean Miller

    Karen Profita, President/CEO, Capital Area United Way

    Deborah Sternberg, Executive vice president, Starmount Life Insurance/AlwaysCare Benefits

    Patricia Brignac Talbot, Owner/President, Baton Rouge Duplicating Products

    2012
    Barbara Auten, Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area

    Shelly Dick, attorney

    Kay Goodwyn, president & CEO, Roco Rescue

    Jamie Haeuser, senior vice president of operations, Woman’s Hospital

    JoEllen Kearny, CPA/Financial adviser, Daigrepont & Brian

    Dee LeJeune, CEO, St. Elizabeth Hospital

    Janet Olson, Relationship manager, Capital One Bank

    Christy Reeves, director of community relations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

    Erin Monroe Wesley, senior vice president of governmental affairs, Baton Rouge Area Chamber

    Monica Zumo, managing partner, Hannis T. Bourgeois

    2013
    Lori Bertman, president and CEO of the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation

    Nancy Crawford, senior vice president, Medical Staff Services department at Woman’s Hospital

    LaRonda Daigle, executive senior sales director for Mary Kay

    Karen Deville, senior director, Office of Advancement at the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business

    Evelyn Hayes, interim president and CEO of Baton Rouge General Medical Center

    Carolyn McKnight, superintendent of BREC

    Phyllis Perron, founder and president of Phyllis Perron and Associates

    Jane Shank, president and CEO of Volunteers of America for Greater Baton Rouge

    Allison Young, senior vice president, benefits administration division, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

    2014
    Kris Cangelosi, founder of the Cangelosi Dance Project

    Tobie Craig, vice president of marketing and workforce development strategies at Turner Industries Group

    Kim Ginn, vice president of marketing at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel

    Melissa Juneau, executive director at The Emerge Center for Communication, Behavior, and Development

    Kristy Nichols, commissioner of administration for the State of Louisiana

    Jenni Peters, owner of Varsity Sports

    Kimberly Robinson, partner at Jones Walker

    Mary Stein, assistant director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library

    Lisa Traina, owner and president of Traina & Associates

    2015
    D-D Breaux, Head Coach, LSU Gymnastics

    Melissa Campesi, CEO and Chairman, LCTA Workers’ Comp.

    Renee Chatelain, Executive Director, Manship Theatre

    Missy Epperson, Senior Vice President, Regions Bank

    Debra Lockwood, President and Chief Financial Officer, Provident Resources Group

    Andrea Lewis Miller, Chancellor, Baton Rouge Community College

    Nanette McCann, Principal, Baton Rouge Magnet High School & Lee High School

    Dr. Meredith Warner, Orthopedic Surgeon and Founder, Warner Orthopedics & Wellness

    Angela Zeringue, Plant manager, ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Polyolefins

    2016
    Teri Casso, executive director of the St. Elizabeth Foundation and Ascension Parish councilwoman

    Stacey Chiasson, North American Public Relations leader, Dow Chemical

    Ann Connelly, founder and owner of of Ann Connelly Fine Art

    Barbara Freiberg, president of the East Baton Rouge School Board

    Tina Holland, president of Our Lady of the Lake College

    Devin Lemoine, owner and president of Success Labs

    Jennifer Maggio, founder and CEO of The Life of a Single Mother

    Sylvia Weatherspoon, news anchor WBRZ-TV

    2017
    Sarah Broome, executive director, THRIVE Academy

    Camille Conaway, senior vice president, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry

    Helena Cunningham, founder and CEO, National Housing Consulting Services

    Karen Holden, CEO, Providence

    Kelly Hurtado, executive director, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation

    Julie Laperouse, director of training, Emergent Method

    Sonia Perez, president, AT&T Louisiana

    Gaye Sandoz, director, LSU AgCenter Food Incubator

    Monique Scott-Spaulding, franchise owner, Jani-King of Baton Rouge

    2018
    Beverly Brooks Thompson, president and executive counsel, Brooks Thompson Consulting

    Marie Constantin, owner, Marie Constantin Photography

    Fran Gladden, vice president Government & Public Affairs, Cox Communications Southeast Region

    Sherri Lebas, president, G.E.C. Inc.

    Gaylynne Mack, executive director, Big Buddy

    Laura S. O’Brien, clinical exercise physiologist, Fitness Design for Women/Councilwoman, City of Zachary

    Cynthia Peterson, dean, LSU College of Science

    Laura Simpson, president, Dugas Pest Control

    Sarah B. Taylor, CEO/Administrator, Gulf Coast Occupational Medicine Inc.

    Kathy Victorian, Medicaid Territory Marketing Manager, Healthy Blue

    2019
    Stephanie Cargile, public and government affairs manager, ExxonMobil Baton Rouge

    Jennifer Eplett Reilly, trustee and co-founder, City Year Inc./founding chair, New Schools for Baton Rouge

    Dima Ghawi, leadership keynote speaker & executive coach, Dima Ghawi LLC

    Camille Manning-Broome, president and CEO, Center for Planning Excellence

    Robyn Merrick, vice president for external affairs, Southern University and A&M College

    Caroline Roemer, executive director, Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools

    Donna Saurage, sole manager, CCC Holding LLC

    Kathy Trahan, president and CEO, Alliance Safety Council

    Raedtha Vasquez, partner, Jones Walker LLP

    Colleen Waguespack, owner and founder, Colleen Waguespack Interiors/Fig & Dove

    2020
    Cheri Ausberry, Louisiana customer service manager, Entergy

    Kim Bowman, founder, The Bella Bowman Foundation

    Stacia Haynie, executive vice president and provost, LSU

    Racheal Hebert, president and CEO, Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response Center

    Norisha Kirts Glover, owner, NRK Construction

    Gloria Moncada, refinery manager, ExxonMobil

    Tiffany Stewart, director of Behavior Technology Laboratory and Pennington Diabetes Clinic, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

    Padma Vatsavai, founder and CEO, Vinformatix

    2021
    State Rep. Paula Davis, who represents District 69

    Yolanda Dixon, secretary of the Louisiana Senate

    Vanessa Graham, owner of VGraham LLC

    Susanne Hall, vice president for the west region of Coca-Cola Bottling UNITED

    Stephanie Manson, chief operating officer for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

    Yvette Marsh, executive director of talent management and facilities for the LSU Foundation

    Kenya Messer, president and CEO of Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities;

    Dianna Payton, CEO of YWCA Greater Baton Rouge

    Sasha Thackaberry, vice president of LSU Online & Continuing Education

    2022
    Karen Breaux, human resources director, Postlethwaite & Netterville

    Lauren McCall Fitch, chief operating officer, Hannis T. Bourgeois

    Beverly Haydel, president/CEO, Sequitur Consulting

    Ginger Laurent, CEO, Louisiana Bankers Association

    Kim Mulkey, head women’s basketball coach, LSU

    Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer/associate professor of clinical medicine-infectious disease, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

    Kim Hunter Reed, commissioner of higher education, Board of Regents

    Renita Williams Thomas, principal and CEO, In Loving Arms HealthCare for Kids

    Jane Verret, president and CEO, Campus Federal Credit Union

    2023

    Anita Byrne, Partner, SSA Consultants

    Connie Fabre, President & CEO, Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance

    Zelma Frederick, Managing Member, McGlinchey Stafford Baton Rouge Office

    Jill Garner, Founder/Chief Visionary Officer, Manners of the Heart

    Mimi Singer Lee, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, b1Bank

    Kate MacArthur, President & CEO, Ascension Economic Development Corp.

    Liz Mangham, Managing Partner, Southern Strategy Group

    Darylene Pugh, General Manager, Shell Catalysts & Technologies

    Krista Raney, Senior Vice President of Development, LSU Foundation