BANKING AND FINANCE
Chris Braud has been hired as senior vice president and relationship banker for Omni Bank. Braud, a CPA, previously served as a senior business banker for Capital One Bank. He will build Omni’s business banking portfolio by demonstrating the value of its diverse business products and services to new customers and ensuring current customers take full advantage of their relationships with the bank in order to expand their operations.
Bob Tusa has been hired as executive vice president and manager of the business banking arena for Omni Bank. Tusa previously served as the head of business banking in Louisiana for Capital One Bank. He will manage current customer relationships while attracting new ones by providing specialties such as treasury management, operating lines of credit and commercial real estate loans, in addition to other loan and deposit service options.
Dee G. Donaldson has been hired as senior vice president and mortgage division manager of Britton & Koontz Bank’s Bluebonnet Parc location. Donaldson, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the mortgage business in Baton Rouge, previously headed American Gateway Bank’s mortgage division.
LaDonna Montgomery has been hired as the retail branch manager for Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank’s Ponchatoula location. Montgomery previously served as a branch manager for JPMorgan Chase Bank. In her new role, she will be responsible for consumer, commercial and mortgage-lending activities at the branch, as well as deposit and new business activities.
Tiffany Riddle has been promoted to vice president-administrative officer for Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank. Riddle has been with the bank since 1997. In her new role, she will oversee administration of the financial institution and serve as the administrator of correspondent banking services and secondary marketing.
COMMUNICATIONS
Mandy Fletcher Fraher has been hired as vice president of Cornerstone Solutions. Fraher has nearly a decade of experience with strategic project management with a focus on grassroots and advocacy. She previously served as campaign manager for U.S. Senate candidate John Kennedy as well as campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Her new duties include consulting, managing political and public affairs campaigns and providing strategic advice and counsel to clients as well as managing the newly opened Louisiana office in Baton Rouge.
GOVERNMENT
Kristy McKearn has been hired as undersecretary for Louisiana Economic Development. McKearn previously served as senior vice president for governmental affairs for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In her new role, she will be responsible for business incentive services, including management of staff functions for the Board of Commerce & Industry and the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, accounting and budget control, procurement and contract management, human resources, program analysis, business recovery services and legislative relations.
HEALTH CARE
Greg Cross has been promoted to state sales director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Cross, who joined BCBSLA in 1999, previously served as the regional director of group sales for the Baton Rouge area. In his new role, he will oversee the operations of the company’s sales divisions including group, individual, ancillary, self-funded and national accounts.
Ann Fann has been named director of retail operations for the Baton Rouge General and General Health System. Fann previously owned and operated a children’s retail store, The Sweet Pea, in Greenwood, Miss., and also served as executive director of Main Street Greenwood, an organization that promotes preservation and revitalization of the city’s downtown historic district.
Dr. Joseph M. Griffin has joined Vascular Specialty Associates as a practicing physician. Griffin is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Karla Pope has joined Mid City Urgent Care and Occupational Health Clinic as a practicing physician. Pope is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
REAL ESTATE
Debbie Usrey Harvill has been promoted to CEO of Latter & Blum Property Management. Harvill previously served as the firm’s executive vice president. In her new role, she will oversee the operations of all aspects of the company.
TECHNOLOGY
Lucas Banquer has been hired as the manager of Bascom-Hunter’s business systems consulting division. Banquer previously served as the Louisiana territory manager for Texas Engineering System’s Design Automation Solutions. In his new role, he will oversee the division that is focused on helping small- and medium-sized companies manage the implementation of new software solutions.
