Leadership Greater Baton Rouge Alumni is bringing its “Reverse Canvas” event back for a second year next month, and organizers hope to attract twice as many attendees of the day-long summit on a wide range of issues concerning the Capital Region.
“We had about 50 in attendance last year and we’re looking to double that this year,” says Erin Monroe Wesley, event chair.
While formerly called Prospect Baton Rouge, the event has become known as “Reverse Canvas” because it is modeled on the biannual Canvas trips the Baton Rouge Area Chamber organizes, for which local officials and professionals travel to peer regions in the U.S. to learn about best practices and bring home ideas for addressing local issues.
“So, this is a reverse of the Canvas trips because rather than looking at how other regions are addressing issues, we’re taking a more introspective look into our own issues right here at home,” Wesley says.
A lengthy list of guest speakers at the one-day event will spark discussions on topics ranging from crime and transportation to economic development and emergency preparedness.
Among the featured speakers are Baton Rouge Area Foundation Executive Vice President John Spain, who will discuss Baton Rouge’s planned Health District. Also, John Noland will be a part of a panel discussion on diversity in the Capital Region, which will also feature Linda Clark Perez, Maxine Crump and Rev. Robin McCullough-Blade.
IMB Manager of Talent Development Dima Ghawi will join LSU College of Engineering Dean Richard Koubek and BRAC CEO Adam Knapp for a discussion on how IBM’s entrance into the Baton Rouge market is leading more technology firms to come to the Baton Rouge area.
Other speakers at the event will include Capital Area United Way President and CEO Darrin Goss Sr., city-parish Chief Administration Officer William Daniel, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie and District Attorney Hillar Moore III.
The event is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at the Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard. Cost to attend is $100 for Leadership Alumni members; $160 for new Leadership Alumni members and $200 for guests. Registration is open through the day of the event. Get tickets and see the full agenda.
—Steve Sanoski
