Charlotte Banks
Executive Director, Hammond Chamber of Commerce
Her mission in life is to position the chamber as the premier advocacy agency for business and the community in growing Tangipahoa Parish. To that end, she works closely with city officials, the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation and the Hammond Industrial Board to build a strong business environment.
Madhu Beriwal
Founder & President/CEO, IEM
This Baton Rouge entrepreneur is nationally recognized and respected for her leadership in disaster and emergency management, homeland security, information technology, and national defense. She’s a member of the prestigious Army Science Board and a lecturer in the Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
Greg Davis
Executive Director, Cajundome
He may very well be Lafayette’s biggest advocate for education. He fought cuts to higher education. He championed legislation to reform school boards. And this spring, he issued a scathing performance analysis of the Lafayette Parish school system that made clear the need for reform. He is the regional vice president for Council for a Better Louisiana and serves on numerous boards, including the Commission on Colleges and Committee of 100 Black Men.
Donna Fraiche
Attorney, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
As a lawyer, she represents healthcare organizations, companies and individuals in major regulatory, public policy and litigation efforts. She currently serves as chair of the Louisiana Health Care Commission, and is the former chairwoman of the Long-Term Community Planning Task Force and Health Care Committee of the Louisiana Recovery Authority.
Lucien Gunter
Director, Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission
He’s been involved with JEDCO from the beginning, serving on the committee that fleshed out the concept more than two decades ago. Now in charge, he manages its $1.5 million budget and 16-member staff devoted to business retention, expansion and recruitment.
Ann Knapp
Assistant vice president, Merrill Lynch
She has been an ardent education advocate, both at the K-12 level and the higher education level. She is a past chair of the Board of the Louisiana Community & Technical College System and currently serves on the Board of Education’s Next Horizon, the Sowela Technical Community College Foundation, and the Chamber/Southwest Louisiana Workforce and Education Committee.
