Cumulus Media-Baton Rouge Proudly Presents the Community Excellence Award; during which we honor the impact and influence of today’s trailblazers within our own community. The most coveted award recognizes the contributions, sacrifice, and efforts to empower the citizens of the Capitol Region. This award is designed to celebrate distinguished service and the unique and enduring difference one’s life has made in improving the city of Baton Rouge.
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Brett Meredith grew up in Warren, Ohio where he graduated from high school in 1985. In high
school, he was a scholastic All-State athlete and in the National Honor Society. In August 1985, he married his high school sweetheart Mary Frances Branson. He received a full academic scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh and graduated ‘cum laude’ in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with minors in History, Music, and Anthropology.
Analese, their daughter, was born in 1986 in Pittsburgh, Pa, and Johnathan, their son was born in 1992 in Columbia, SC.
During the next ten years Brett would sing with his family, The Merediths, and they would become a premier Christian Music Ministry while recording for The Eddie Crook Co. and Daywind Records. Amidst enjoying numerous national Top 40 Hits, which included songs like More Than Just Getting By, God’s Not Out Of Grace, When I See The Lamb, Keep Lookin’ Up, Keep Kneelin’ Down, and the national Top 20 Hit Roses Blooming, Brett was introduced to The Salvation Army.
In 1995, Brett’s father, Dik was diagnosed with cancer, and with his passing in June of 1996, he
became the leader of The Merediths and Dik Meredith Ministries, Inc., and following three exciting and successful years for Brett and The Merediths, Brett realized that God had other purposes for him beyond singing. He knew that God’s call was to serve as an officer in The Salvation Army.
Upon completing their time as Cadets in Atlanta, Brett & Mary were appointed to Dallas, Texas then Kerrville, Texas, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and now Baton Rouge, La. In Kerrville and Hampton Roads, Brett had the privilege of leading two large campaigns and projects to build Kroc Centers from the Ray & Joan Kroc gift (McDonald’s). He is fortunate and in rare company to have led two of these campaigns for The Salvation Army.
Analese, their oldest, has now been commissioned as an officer in The Salvation Army, and she, her husband Paul, son, Joshua, and newborn sister, Eleonor Grace are serving with The Salvation Army in Bryan/College Station, Texas, and Johnathan, their son, who is a fine musician and developing leader, is preparing to be commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in June 2018 with his wife, Kelsey in Atlanta, Ga.
Life verses: Hebrews 11:1 & Jeremiah 29:11
Personal Philosophy: I believe that God does not make mistakes, and that we have the
opportunity to choose from many life paths, and it is important to choose ‘wisely’!
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“Legionnaires” The Department of Louisiana is a Team in the American Legion. We are playing the biggest part of the mission of the organization. In the Constitution we have learned: “To inculcate a Sense of individual obligation to the community, State and nation: To promote peace and good- will on earth”. But no one has told us how to put this to work to help the legion, our veterans, and the community. That is why the Legion is set up in positions so we can learn as we go upward to Post, District, Department, and National levels, that is why I am training at all levels. At National level I am the Veterans Employment & Education Council Member for 2017 — 2018. At Department Level I am the Membership Chairman, the Department Executive Committeeman 2017-2018, Past Department Sergeant-At-Arms. At District Level Past 6th District Commander, Past district Sergeant-At-Arms, District finance Committee, District Veterans Affair/ Rehab & Health Administration committee and at the post level Past 505 Commander, Past Service Officer.
When I graduated from The American Legion College, the Past National Commander Charlie Schmidt words to me were” Congratulation now take what you have learned with your position and ideas to the department to train others making something good happen”; the National Commander Denise Rohan said “I will be keeping my eyes on you.”
Using the four pillars: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation; National Security; Americanism; and Children & Youth to answer the question everyone Asks: Why should I belong or join The American Legion? Now all 8 Districts, the Department Officers and Legionnaires know how to answer that Question. Now I am asking for your Support in selecting _ your next Department
Vice Commander.
Retired Disable United States Army Master Sergeant E-8. Enlisted 25 March 1980 and retired 31 March 2000.
Byron K. Comeauxe has served in the Gulf WAR; War on Terrorism and in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
He received the Meritorious Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), The Army Achievement Medal (4th Award), The Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), The US Army Gold Recruiter Badge with 3 Gold Achievement Stars, The South West Asia Service Medal, The National Defense service Medal, The Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon with number 3, The army Service Ribbon, The Overseas Service Ribbon 2nd Award.
He was the Distinguished Honor Grandaunt of the First Sergeant Administration Course and did his duty right here in Baton Rouge as the First Sergeant for the Recruiting Battalion now Located in Perkin’s Row.
After 20 years of service to the military, Byron Comeaux is still serving our Veterans and the Community. He is Louisiana State Association of Elks Capital City Lodge # 993 Director of Veterans Affairs. The Commander of Ricard- Stewart American Legion Post 505 and the Department Exective Committeeman, The CEO and president of Magnolia Care Center Veterans Home. A Non – Profit that service and houses up to 10 disable and homeless veteran in Baton Rouge on Florida Blvd.
Byron is married to Ethel M. Zenno Comeaux, 3 kids Luchiana, Tawanna, Bryon.
Any Veteran needing any types of Help visit us at www.VeteransHomeBR.com. Are on Facebook at Magnolia Veterans Home are Veteran’s Home Baton Rouge – Magnolia Care Center. No Veteran will be left behind.
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George Bell is a retired health care executive with 30 years of progressive management experience. Most recently, Bell served as Administrator of Baton Rouge General – Mid City. He has also been an active Baton Rouge community member and has served on numerous nonprofit boards including The Salvation Army, Mid City Redevelopment Alliance and the Center for Planning Excellence. Additionally, Bell has been named the Camelot College Community Award of Excellence recipient, and the Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority recently presented him the 2016 Medical Professional of the Year Award.Bell is a native of Thibodaux, Louisiana and is a 1981 Hall of Fame graduate of Nicholls State University with a B.A. degree in Political Science. He also attended The Ohio State University, where he studied graduate level courses in Public Policy and Management, and completed the Wharton School of Business’ Health Care CEO Talent Development Course. Bell recently became a Certified Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma in December 2015. Before moving to Baton Rouge, Bell worked for OhioHealth, a multi-hospital, not for profit health system based in Columbus, Ohio. He also worked for Ohio State University Hospitals in the Greater Columbus Metropolitan area.
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The Baton Rouge area is one of the fastest growing regions, not only in Louisiana, but in the entire country. A dynamic city, Baton Rouge has a thriving economy, excels in job and technology growth, and offers unique entertainment year-round. This type of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s
because of the people in our community who take charge and are passionate about making this a better place to live for Baton Rouge families, people like Michael Manning,
President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge proudly recognizes Mr.Manning’s contributions to our community and we are honored to present him with the Cumulus Community Excellence Award
For over thirteen years Mr. Manning has worked tirelessly to ensure that no resident of our area goes hungry. His dedication to his fellow citizens and commitment to improving our community, are the traits of a leader who makes Baton Rouge a great place to call home. Michael Manning, a trailblazer, a leader in the community and a Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge Community Excellence Award Winner.
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Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge proudly recognizes our local leaders who are making significant contributions to our community. We are honored to present the Cumulus Community Excellence Award to WBRZ Chief forecaster, Pat Shingleton.
For years, residents of Baton Rouge and the surrounding area have relied on Pat Shingleton to keep them ahead of the storm. In 2006, Pat received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. In conjunction with his position as a weathercaster for WBRZ, Pat is involved in many community activities. He is Chairman of the Board for WBRZ’s “Pat’s Coats for Kids.” He developed the concept for the St. Vincent De Paul Society’s Community Pharmacy, creating the “Fill a Prescription for
the Needy” project. He originated Baton Rouge’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, “The Wearin’ of the Green,” in 1986, and he continues to be the parade’s coordinator. In 2003, Pat received the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation’s Volunteer Activist Award. In 2005, the Society of Fundraising Professionals honored him as their “Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser.” A dedicated husband and father, Pat is married to Mabyn Kean Shingleton and has two children, Michael and Katie. Pat Shingleton, a trailblazer, a leader in the community and a Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge Community Excellence Award Winner.
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Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge proudly recognizes our local leaders who are making significant contributions to our community. We are honored to present the Cumulus Community Excellence Award to Clay Young, owner of Clay Young Enterprises a marketing, graphic design and public relations firm serving clients across the state of Louisiana. Clay has been in the broadcasting and advertising industries for two decades. While he at Southern University, Clay discovered a passion for communications and public relations. He has worked for six broadcasting companies including seven radio stations and two television stations. Clay has interviewed national figures like former Pres. Bill Clinton, Col. Oliver North, John O’Neil, and Dick Morris, just to name a few. He was also the first local host in the state of Louisiana to speak weekly with soldiers on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan Young’s honors include awards from the Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network, the US Marines, US Central Command in Qatar, and the White House. In addition to being successful in his professional pursuits, Clay has also been featured in various newspaper, television and radio spotlights for his community work and youth advocacy. Young was a certified facilitator for The National Center for Fathering and helped found a fatherhood program in Baton Rouge.. Clay also helped found the Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation and serves on the board for the Paula Manship YMCA and FuturePAC. Clay Young, a trailblazer, a leader in the community and a Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge Community Excellence Award Winner.
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At an early age, Greg was driven to succeed. When he was in the first grade in his Chicago suburban Catholic school, he won a sales competition for selling the most doughnuts; he still has the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary trophy. In 1982, Greg worked for the Yellow Pages for five years prior to getting into the insurance business. During that time he studied at home, passed the test, and received his insurance license and opened his first agency in Lafayette and then moved to Baton Rouge and opened more agencies. Greg is the man who started US Agencies and sold it for $200 million. Two years after selling US Agencies and honoring a non-compete contract, he started Go Auto. In fact, Greg Tramontin is the GoAuto man. He is the voice and the face behind the radio and TV ads. He’s the creator of the auto insurance company so familiar to Louisianans that anyone who has heard or seen a commercial can’t help singing the simple and memorable jingle. GoAuto has opened 48 stores in Louisiana and 6 stores in Las Vegas Nevada with many more stores planned in various states. GoAuto has over 200 employees and still growing. A dedicated family man, Greg places a high value on spending time with his blended family consisting of three biological sons and one stepson and twin stepdaughters. Greg Tramotin, a trailblazer, a leader in the community and a Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge Community Excellence Award Winner.
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Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge proudly recognizes our local leaders who are making significant contributions to our community. We are honored to present the Cumulus Community Excellence Award to Michael Victorian. Michael is the Immediate Past-President and Chairman of the Board of the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, LTD., and a Senior Client Executive at CMA Technology Solutions. Prior to joining CMA Technology Solutions, he worked at IBM for 30+ years in sales and marketing wherehe was a consistent top performer and award winner. Since being elected to membership of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge in July 1994, Michael has demonstrated his personal commitment to the community by mentoring and working to enhance the lives of African-American youth.. He is particularly committed to 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge’s Project Excel Mentoring Program, the organization’s “flagship project” that focuses on mentoring African-American males. The Mentoring Program targets middle school males. In addition, his commitment is to the ACT Prep Academy. Michael also serves on the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Civic Leadership Initiatives Committee and is a member of the Gloryland Baptist Church where he previously served as a board member on the Gloryland Education Resource Center Foundation. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, Michael has served on the transition teams of both Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana and Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome of City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge.A proud native of Eunice, LA, Michael received a bachelor’s degree from Southern University and A&M College and is married to Kathy Victorian. He has three adult children and four grandchildren. Michael Victoria, a trailblazer, a leader in the community and a Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge Community Excellence Award Winner.
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Donna Britt. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Donna began her career with WAFB in 1981and since then; she has been a welcome face in thousands of homes in our area weekday evenings at 6 and 10. Through the years, Donna has covered almost every major story that has impacted our city. From election coverage, to hurricanes Andrew, Katrina and Gustav, to the historic flooding and tragic events involving law enforcement officials last summer, Donna Britt has been a voice we could rely on to deliver the news in a way that helped us all process
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Agnes Smith Andrews was raised in a large family in rural South Louisiana. The third child of six, she experienced many life lessons early. Andrews entered college at Southern University A&M as an optimistic seventeen-year-old and graduated with a degree in home economics and education. Through a series of events she was introduced to the idea of Insurance.
Agnes found her niche selling insurance at an Allstate Kiosk. After being with Allstate for 12 months she was offered the opportunity to open her own agency. Filled with drive and ambition to serve her customers, Andrews founded an agency that is now 32 years old. Andrews Allstate Agency has been recognized as a premier service agency as well as one of the top agencies in the state of Louisiana. Agnes is licensed to sell personal lines and financial products. She serves her customers by providing Home, Auto, Life, Flood, Renters and Commercial Insurance. Agnes is also an estate and retirement planner.
She is a certified member of the National Association of Life Underwriters (LUTCF), the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunity, the Southern University College of Business Advisory Council, and the Board of Southern University Laboratory School. Andrews volunteer teaches with the MidCity Redevelopment Alliance, Urban Restoration, and a “Principles of Insurance” course for Southern University College of Business. Agnes also completed the Entrepreneurship Development Program at Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She is an avid supporter and advocate for higher education and has been a major supporter of Southern University and the Southern University College of Business annual fundraising event, “Gala on the Bluff”. Agnes Andrew Allstate Insurance Agency has been recognized by the Chamber of Commerce as “Service Firm of the Year”.
Andrews believes that balance in life is the key. She is a life member of Beta Gamma Sigma Business Organization, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, NAACP, and the Southern University Alumni Federation. Agnes is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, NAAREB, a charter member of Professional Business Network (PBN), and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.
Agnes, is the wife of Dr. Donald Andrews, Dean of the Southern University College of business; the mother of three children (Omari, Kinda, and Nayo); and she has (4) four grandchildren. Through her experiences as a wife, mother, and business owner her advice is, “Do your very best everyday! Realize that attitude is everything and neither success, nor failure is permanent.”
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Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Price attended Louisiana State University, where he began his broadcasting career in college radio, which continued with a stint in the U.S. Air Force, with Price working for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
He worked in television in Bakersfield, California (KERO-TV) and Toledo, Ohio (WTVG), before moving to Boston’s WBZ-TV in 1983 where he anchored for 12 years.
Price joined WHDH-TV in 1996 as a freelance reporter, and in 1997 was made a full-time anchor. He moved into the morning anchor chair and then was promoted to anchor the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. On February 6, 2009, Price was let go from WHDH-TV. His last newscast was on Wednesday, February 4, 2009. On February 7, 2009 The Boston Globe quoted Price that station owner, Edmund Ansin, had told him “we need to move in different directions.”
On June 2, 2009, Price was named morning anchor at WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston.
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For the second consecutive year, Roman Banks serves as the interim athletic director of the Southern University athletic department and is set to begin his fifth year at the helm of the SU men’s basketball program. The Shreveport, Louisiana native became the 12th head coach in Jaguar men’s basketball history on May 1, 2011 and has restored the pride in a once-storied program.
As Director of Athletics, Banks leadership and charisma has been essential in guiding the Jaguars through NCAA penalties and sanctions regarding Academic Progress Rates. Banks has managed to acquire additional resources to academic support to provide assistance to the SU student-athletes.
Banks accepted his appointment to head the SU athletics department with the vision of restoring the academic profile and establishing a new standard of excellence on the field while maintaining the lofty standards he and his coaching staff have created since his arrival in 2011.
While juggling the rigors of a dual role in his first season, Banks still managed to lead the Jaguars basketball program to their second SWAC tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance under his watch in 2016.
In his first season Banks was faced with a lot of challenges. He inherited a program that, in its previous three years, had a 17-74 record and the three worst seasons in program history. On top of that he lost three seniors and 50% of the scoring power and was faced with no post-season play due to poor APR scores reported before he got there, reduced workout and practice times, and a reduction in total scholarship allotment.
After taking over the program Banks got straight to work trying to implement and develop a winning culture from the court to the weight room, to the classroom and in changing their approach to study hall. Coach Banks with the help of his right hand Coach Kirschner they developed the programs slogan “We Are More Than A Basketball Program… We Are Family!” Coach Banks said “When you come here to play for Southern University you become part of my family and I want to do everything I can to help them be successful in basketball, but also in their careers and to be successful brothers, husbands, fathers and in life.” As a Jaguar, we hold you to higher standards, set by the young men who came before you and gave there all for the blue and gold. You will live together, travel together, eat together and be around other players and members of the basketball family on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. We will have some good times, tough times and great times. We will challenge you to improve yourself each day, in every aspect, not just on the basketball court, but in the classroom and help develop life skills that will remain long after the ball stops bouncing. This is why I say “We Are More Than A Basketball Program… We Are Family.”
Despite all the nay sayers he was able to fight through the adversity and overcome it and guided the team to a 17-14 second place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference “SWAC.” Earning coaching honors by being named the 2012 “LSWA” Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year. Not only did you see a different team on the court but you could feel a different vive inside the F.G. Clark Activity Center, while the Jaguars were 9-2 at home during the 2011-12 season.
During his second season the Jags got off to a 1-5 start, but then went on a 15-2 run in their next 17 games, including a 53-51 emotional victory over Texas A&M in College Station against dear friend, former head coach and mentor Billy Kennedy on Dec. 22, 2012. Banks led the Jags to a 23-10 overall record and finished second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season and claimed the 2013 Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament where Southern came close to pulling off the biggest upset in tournament history over Gonzaga, the No. 1 overall seed and No.1 seed in the West Region narrowly defeated the 16th-seeded Jaguars, 64-58, in the first round. Under Banks’ guidance, Southern finished the season with a perfect 12-0 record at home during the 2012-13 season, its most wins (23) since the 1989-90 season and second among Division I schools in field goal defense (36.7 percent) and 12th in scoring defense (57.3 points per game). Banks was then named the 2013 SWAC Co-Coach of the Year, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Outstanding College Coach of the Year for the State of Louisiana, the “LSWA” Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year for the second straight season and the “LABC” Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches Major-College Coach of the Year.
But Banks’ accomplishments – noteworthy as they are because of what his team did in action – are magnified considering what he and his staff got his squad to do in the classroom posting back to back APR scores of 969 and 977.
Banks is no stranger to Southern University his father (Cleophus Banks), brother (Carlos Sample) and godfather (Bob Love) all played at Southern University.
Before coming to Southern Banks had served as Southeastern Louisiana University’s top men’s assistant basketball coach the past five seasons and has been with the Lions for 8 seasons. During his tenure in Hammond, Banks was part of a program that produced seven winning seasons (the most of any Division 1 school in the state of Louisiana) and 140 total wins (second to LSU’s 144 wins from 2003-11). He played a vital role in the Lions’ defensive effort in 2004-05 (under then Head Coach Billy Kennedy who is the current Texas A&M University Head Coach) as Southeastern finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense (55.8) and produced the school’s first-ever Southland Conference Tournament Championship and berth to 2005 NCAA Tournament. Since his arrival in Hammond Banks played a key role in the recruitment of several of the Lions’ standout players, highlighted by 2005-06 SLC Player of the Year Ricky Woods, along with All-Conference selections Daryl Cohen, Kevyn Green, Terry Bryant and Patrick Sullivan.
Regarded as one of the top recruiters in the state of Louisiana, Banks spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Southern University where he served as the Jaguars’ chief recruiter. While at Southern, he was responsible for the recruitment of two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Adarrial Smylie and Dionte Harvey, the 1997-98 SWAC Newcomer of the Year.
Banks, who played at Northwestern State and is remembered for sinking a decisive free throw with 12 seconds left in the Demons’ Dec. 7, 1988 85-82 upset over the University of Kentucky at Rupp Arena, Banks is all over the NSU record books as one of the top players in school history after his career as a guard from 1987-92. He ranks seventh all-time in scoring (1,454 points, 118 games, 12.3 average), second in assists (515, 4.4 average, set a career-high 157 assists in a season), third in steals (190, 1.5 spg). Banks was an All-Southland Conference selection (second team) in 1990, when he was also on the six-man All-Southland Tournament team. A severe hamstring injury halted his initial senior season in 1990-91, but he came back to lead the Demons in four categories as a senior in 1991-92, including the Demons in scoring (16.2 ppg) and helped lead NSU to their first winning season in five years where the team establish 23 school records while NSU topped NCAA Division 1 in points per game (95.0 ppg) Banks was named honorable mention All-Southland Conference and was a third-team All-Louisiana selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. He was inducted into the Northwestern State “N” Club Hall of Fame in October of 2011.
Banks started his coaching career at Shreveport’s Green Oaks High School before spending two years at Southern University-Shreveport, where he was the Athletic Director and head men’s basketball coach. A native of Shreveport, Banks was a three-time All-District 2-4A selection at Captain Shreve High School where he averaged 22.7 points and 7.6 assists as a senior in helping lead the Gators to a 28-7 record.
Banks, a member of the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Black Coaches Association, is married to the former Tiffaney McCoy, a school teacher at Baton Rouge Magnet High School. They are the parents of two children, son Tre’lun and daughter Kennedi.
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A graduate of Redemptorist High School and Northwestern State University Todd has spent decades working to better Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. From helping clients grow their businesses to helping politicians and referendums get elected or passed, Todd Sterling is proven advertising, marketing and public relations and broadcasting veteran. As the owner of Alpha Media and Public Relations and a 16 year radio veteran, Todd has seen it all. For 21 years, his firm has produced the Southern University Head Football Coach’s TV show and also contributed to the Baton Rouge Sanitary Sewer Overflow Program, the East Baton Rouge Parish Department of Public Works Reorganization project , and the Tramlink BR light rail project. In addition to his professional achievements, Todd is committed to his community. Having served as Commissioner of the East Baton Rouge Planning and Zoning Commission, Board Member for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and The River Road African American Museum, Past Chair for the Boy Scouts of America Whitney Young Award Committee, and various other notable organizations, Todd works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for so many right here at home.
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Gordon McKernan graduated with his law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1992. Shortly thereafter, he joined McKernan Law Firm and has been practicing law ever since. He is the owner of the firm, and his primary area of practice is representing ‘ordinary people’ who have been injured because of another’s disregard. Gordon practices in all Louisiana Courts, Mississippi Courts and Texas State Courts. Gordon has been involved in a wide variety of personal injury claims including 18 wheeler accidents, car wrecks, drunk driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, vehicle rollovers, offshore and maritime cases, wrongful death cases, and personal injury cases that have involved injuries such as brain injuries, amputations, fractures, burns and various disk injuries. He has represented thousands of clients throughout the state of Louisiana in cities such as Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Shreveport, Monroe, New Orleans and Gonzales. Gordon has personally handled over 40 cases with a verdict value in excess of $1,000,000.
Gordon is married to his high school sweetheart, Shannon, and they have four children. Gordon is actively involved with his family and church. He enjoys reading, traveling, hunting, fishing, exercising and coaching his children’s sports teams.
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Teri Fontenot, FACHE, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Woman’s Hospital, a 350 bed Level III regional referral hospital specializing in obstetrics, newborn, and women’s cancer care. Woman’s Hospital is the largest birthing and neonatal intensive care health system in Louisiana, and provides the highest level of critical care for women and infants. Woman’s is one of four Magnet hospitals in Louisiana, a distinction awarded by the American Nurses Association in recognition of the highly skilled and dedicated care provided by our team. It is the only health care organization named as a Top 100 Best Place to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine all ten years that the award has been given. Its $340 million replacement campus opened in August 2012 with increased capacity for current services and expansion.
Teri’s leadership service includes twelve years on the board of directors of the Sixth District Federal Reserve Bank (Audit Committee chair) and the New Orleans branch board. Headquartered in Atlanta, the Atlanta board oversees the Federal Reserve operations for six southeastern states. She is currently on the boards of Amerisafe (AMSF) and Landauer (LDR), both publicly traded companies; American Hospital Association Health Forum (past chair), Louisiana Healthcare Quality Forum, the Louisiana Hospital Association Professional and General Liability Trust Funds (chair), the Baton Rouge Water Company, and the Baton Rouge advisory board for IBERIABANK. Teri was an independent director on the Capital One Mutual Funds board and chaired the Audit Committee. She chaired the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce in 2001.
Teri was the 2012 chair of the American Hospital Association board of trustees. She chaired the Chief Executive Officers Committee of the American College of Healthcare Executives and served on its Officer Nominating Committee. Other healthcare service includes a six-year term on the Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health for the National Institutes of Health and chair of the board of the Louisiana Hospital Association in 2002.
Teri was named Businessperson of the Year in 2013 by the Baton Rouge Business Report, received the inaugural Becker’s Hospital Review Healthcare Leadership award in 2013, and was the only Louisianian named to Modern Healthcare magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare in 2011 and 2012. She has also been named as one of the 40 Most Powerful People in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review several times and honored with a leadership award twice, was a 2011 inductee of the Louisiana State University E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction, received the Louisiana Hospital Association’s Golden Pelican President’s award in 2010 and 2016, received the ACHE Service award in 2009, and named to Modern Healthcare magazine’s inaugural list of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare in 2005.
She graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi with a BBA in Accounting and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Northeast Louisiana University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. -
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Henry Baptiste Bio
We are honored to present the Cumulus Community Excellence Award to Henry Baptiste; President of Joe & Henry’s Fried Chicken, Inc. and Vice-President of Chicken Shack Systems, Inc which marks it’s 82nd anniversary. Baptiste was an accomplished football and baseball player at Southern University Lab School, who went on to pursue a career in journalism and became the first African American reporter on WBRZ-TV. Today Baptiste is the executive producer of the Southern University Football Network, Treasure of Southern System Foundation Board of Directors and was appointed to the Louisiana Stadium and ExpositionDistrict Board by Governor John Bell Edwards. Henry Baptiste, a trailblazer, a leader in the community and a Cumulus Media of Baton Rouge Community Excellence Award Winner. -
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Coach Dale Brown
LSU Coaching Career
Coach Brown is the only SEC coach to have appeared in 15 straight national tournaments and is the winningest coach in LSU basketball history. 111 of 160 of Brown’s players received their college degrees.
Brown and Rupp are the only SEC coaches that had 17 consecutive non-losing seasons and Brown was the only coach in the nation to have ever increased his number of victories six years in a row from 1976-81. From 1977-1986, LSU is the only school that finished in the first division of the conference. The 1981 LSU team is the first team in SEC history to win 17 consecutive league games in one season. Only four coaches in SEC history, Adolph Rupp, Joe Hall, Billy Donovan and Tubby Smith won more conference championships than LSU’s Brown. Brown and Rupp are the only two SEC coaches that won the conference championship in three different decades. Only seven SEC coaches have led their teams to two Final Fours or more. They are Dale Brown, John Calipari, Billy Donovan, Joe Hall, Rick Pitino, Nolan Richardson and Adolph Rupp. As well as mentoring Shaquille O’Neal, Brown coached a bevy of NBA first-round selections, and has the distinction of beating Kentucky more than any coach in history.
On nine occasions, Brown was selected as the SEC Coach of the Year or runner-up and seven times he was voted as the Louisiana College Basketball Coach of the Year. On two occasions he was chosen as the National Basketball Coach of the Year. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, National Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and was inducted as an SEC Living Legend.
Coaching Prior to LSU
He began his coaching career as a high school coach, teacher and principal in North Dakota. Brown is a member of the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame and the North Dakota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. Brown coached one year at Fort Riley, Kansas and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army with the rank of Sergeant.
He spent five years as an assistant coach at Utah State University and one year at Washington State University.
Athletic & Academic Background
In high school in North Dakota he was the state’s leading scorer in basketball and set the school record in the 440 yard dash.
Brown earned 12 letters in basketball, football and track at Minot State University, making him the schools only athlete to achieve that goal. He received a B.S. degree from MSU and his M.S. degree from the University of Oregon.
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