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Leadership Livingston Class of 2026 Announced

Leadership LivingstonChamber News

Leadership Livingston Class of 2026 Announced



The 14th cohort of the Leadership Livingston program was announced on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.   The 2026 class was presented at the Annual State of Livingston Parish Address.  The room was filled with nearly 250 business and community leaders, many of whom are alumni of the program. 
 
The new class has 24 members and is brimming with excitement as they prepare for the next steps of their leadership class experience. 
 
“Each new class brings its own personality and perspective.  The class is getting to know each other and has already established a collective bond made possible through the team building exercises and other programming at the opening retreat.  At the end of the program, we will have another class of achievers who want to be a part of advancing Livingston Parish in a positive way.  This class prepares them for that”, states April Wehrs, Program Facilitator and Chamber President.
 
The Livingston Parish Chamber made the initial investment in the program, with its first class selected in 2012 to graduate in 2013.  The results have had a huge payoff as class members have advanced their careers, start organizations, run for public office, and become intensely involved in community initiatives. 
 
The program is designed to take class members through a 10-month program where they are introduced to various topics. The program is hands-on where class members travel to various locations throughout the parish. 
 
Class members also agree to participate in a project component.  Class members are tasked with identifying, researching, and creating a plan to address an issue deserving support. 
 
Projects have ranged from very large ones like the Albany Playground, French Settlement Playground, First Responders Monument and Challengers Ballfield.  The latest addition is the Walker Disc Golf Course in Walker.   Smaller projects are just as important to the recipient, such as the renovations to the new location of “Dog People of Livingston Parish” facility upgrades.  All projects help to bring awareness to the entity or area they serve.
Twenty-four class members were announced and include:

Buffy Anderson, City of Denham Springs; Rick Banker, North Oaks Health System; Tiffany Battistella, Livingston Parish Public Schools; Chase Bernard, Client Technology Services; Calvin Bowden, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office; Jennifer Brooks, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana; Aaron Brown, Quality Engineering & Surveying, LLC, Thomas ‘Bruiser’ Bryson, Livingston Parish Government; John Cavalier, Cavalier House Books; Landon Collins, Olivier Group; Olivier Doin, Rouge Painters; Michelle Dupuy, Ochsner Health.

Also, Emily Glascock, Baton Rouge Area Foundation; Melita Hatch, Regions Bank; Heather Hill, Our Lady of the Lake Livingston; Maurice ‘Scooter’ Keen, Livingston Parish Government; Raymond Lee, Denham Springs Marshal’s Office; John Mangus, Livingston Parish Council; Kelsey Murray, City of Walker; Kelly Pittman, Premier Geotech and Testing, LLC; John Ponder, Site Pro Construction; Erin Sandefur, Livingston Parish Council; Alexis Stewart, BRECO Federal Credit Union; Luke Yoes, Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP.

In addition to sponsoring an applicant of the program, the entire class is sponsored by North Oaks Health System – 13th year; First Guaranty Bank – 12th year, City of Walker – 4th year, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.
 
About Leadership Livingston: Leadership Livingston is a community leadership program.  The program is designed to engage participants in community dynamics and inspire action to make Livingston Parish better.  Leadership Livingston is a program of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce. 

Leadership Livingston Class of 2026 Announced