Keith Chappell has spent more than 20 years helping lead The Celtic Group’s diverse business portfolio while advancing Louisiana’s economic development, preserving its military heritage and supporting children in need as a foster parent. Here is a snippet of responses from his Capital Region 500 questionnaire:
Someone whose leadership I try to emulate
One of my first bosses, David. He led with integrity, humility and a sense of humor that made even tough days easier. He treated people with respect, listened before he spoke and never made anyone feel small. Watching him showed me that great leadership isn’t about authority, it’s about character and connection.
Toughest professional challenge
Early in my career, I found myself in a tough spot—our company lost its CFO, controller, senior accountant and cost accountant all within 90 days, right in the middle of a system implementation and company integration. I was suddenly elevated into a senior role with a lot of responsibility and very little experience. It forced me to slow down, stay patient and take one challenge at a time. I focused on keeping things moving, supporting my team and staying committed to doing what was best for the company. Looking back, it taught me how much you can grow when you stay steady under pressure and lead with perseverance.
Baton Rouge 10 years from now
I hope to see a Baton Rouge with a vibrant downtown full of life and opportunity, schools that are thriving and an economy strong enough to bring people back to our state instead of driving them away.
