Jefferson Chamber of Commerce

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Leadership Jefferson

leadership-jefferson-webpage-logo-header

Leadership Jefferson is a nine-month program designed to develop a diverse network of dedicated business and community leaders. Facilitated by a professional leadership team, the interactive workshops expose participants to local leaders and activists working to resolve critical issues facing Jefferson Parish. Specific session topics include education, healthcare, quality of life concerns, criminal justice, diversity, community involvement and economic development.

Click Here for Class of 2023 Details

The application process takes place each Summer and is a benefit for members of the Jefferson Chamber. A company MUST be a member of the Jefferson Chamber in order to submit an application. For further questions, please contact Melissa Chesterman at melissa@jeffersonchamber.org.


Program Overview

Opening Retreat


To facilitate the intense discussion and interaction we expect from program participants, we must allow them to develop a mutual respect and connection with each other. The opening retreat focuses on recognizing individual leadership abilities and their application in a team environment. During the overnight opening retreat, program participants engage in a full day and a half of sessions and enjoy a class dinner to end the first full day. This retreat is the start of learning new leadership skills, challenging their comfort zones, and forming new friendships.

The class learns about the Emergenetics of their brains and how we all work together as structural, analytical, social, or conceptual leaders and colleagues. Through activities and discussion, each class member learns more about how and why we act and react in various situations.

       

Quality of Life


This session bridges the Opening Retreat with the framework for the rest of the year. A trip to Westwego kicks off the first official session of the year with a focus on improving the quality of life and place in our parish. We invite Jefferson Parish government leaders to speak about ongoing and upcoming projects for various parts of the community, and we tour surrounding historical and arts museum galleries.

   
   

Healthcare

Healthcare is crucial to the quality of life in Jefferson Parish. The session seeks to identify the key concerns our region is facing in healthcare. We invite leaders from major healthcare systems, including LCMC, Ochsner Health, and Tulane, to speak about the positive outlook and growing concerns in the healthcare industry.

   

Special thanks to session sponsor:

Economic Development

A bright and healthy future for Jefferson Parish rests on the area’s economic development. By introducing program participants to the major players in the Parish’s development (like JEDCO and GNO, Inc), the program successfully makes a large concept an understandable subject. Historically, this session includes a behind the scenes tour of the Port of New Orleans.

    

Education

A panel is invited to field questions by participants on the growing concern of our national educational system and how new bills/laws will affect us locally. A visit to a Jefferson Parish school rounds out the day. This day proves to increase the perspective and understanding of education and its connection to the economic and workforce development of Jefferson Parish and our region.

    

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Participants spend the day building a shared understanding of what diversity, equity and inclusion should mean within the context of workplace objectives. Program participants create awareness of their personal knowledge, understanding, acceptance, and behavior with reference to diversity, and they expand their knowledge of perceptions that create misconceptions.

   

Governance

A major challenge facing communities across the country is educating and informing citizens about our government and criminal justice systems. This session gives program participants an insight into our parish’s courts, law enforcement, and emergency operations. Historically, this session includes a behind the scenes tour of the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center and the JPSO Crime Lab.

   
   

Community Involvement

The Community Involvement session encourages program participants to get involved in Jefferson Parish and to advocate for an improved social wellbeing. We invite nonprofit organizations to educate program participants on their organization and ways to get involved.

Closing Retreat

The Closing Session is the final session to conclude the Leadership Jefferson program. During this session, program participants reflect on the year and apply their new leadership skills. This day ends with a final class dinner to celebrate the completion of the program with fellow program participants and facilitators.

   
   

Graduation

Program participants gather for their final event, a graduation ceremony commemorating the learning experiences and friendships they have made. Each program participant is awarded a completion plaque.


What Leadership Jefferson Graduates are saying…

As someone who recently moved to Louisiana, the Leadership Jefferson program gave me the opportunity to see how as leaders, we can make a difference in our local community.’

– Matt Dixon, New Orleans Saints & Pelicans
Leadership Jefferson Class of 2019

I would grade my overall Leadership Jefferson experience as an A+. The sessions were diverse and included top notch presenters and  the Sloane group, along with the Jefferson Chamber staff,  did an outstanding job of facilitating. With that said the biggest takeaway for me were the relationships built. I was able to spend 10 months with the leaders and future leaders of Jefferson Parish across all spectrums of industry. The bonds built will last for years to come and I look forward to the future of the parish with the Leadership class of 2017.”

– Troy Roussel, Cox Business
Leadership Jefferson Class of 2017

After moving to New Orleans after graduate studies to pursue the first stages of my career, I was focused on acclimating professionally and personally in a town where I was know as a “transplant” so, I volunteered through various organizations, but, finally, after 10 years of being a transplanted New Orleanian I had the opportunity to be in the 2019 class of Leadership Jefferson, and less than half way through the 9 month program, I had what I humorously annotate as a DNA mutation and the gene for civic responsibility decided to emerge–and now I look forward to spending the next 10 years and beyond being involved in our wonderful community of Jefferson Parish in a new, more engaged way, more than my volunteerism previously did…and the best part, I have a whole krewe of Leaders/Classmates to lovingly stand beside and serve this community.

– Mona Chawla, Tulane Health System
Leadership Jefferson Class of 2019


Leadership Jefferson Class of 2023

The 2023 class comprises a diverse group of business leaders from the community:

Aaron Baker, Cintas
Madison Boudoin, Cornerstone
Melissa Carollo, Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
Richelle Chategnier, Crescent Payroll Solutions
Zac Cooper, New Orleans Saints and Pelicans
Kassie Cusachs, Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
Natalie Cusimano, Bourgeois Bennett, LLC
Daina Dalesandro, ORACLE Lighting
Annette Dowdle, HUB International
Joe Eagan, Service Corporation International
Melanie Garofalo, LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors
Scott Gerhardt, Postlethwaite & Netterville
Christopher Guidry, New Orleans Pelicans and Saints
Beth Himes, Ochsner Health
Bryan House, Metairie Bank and Trust
Lauren Kenney, Automated Control Systems, Inc.
Stephen Kirkland, New Orleans Harley-Davidson
Andrew Koehler, Intralox
Brett Labasse, Cox Media
Chris LaFitte, First Horizon
Joey LaRocca, Fidelity Bank
Scott Lovitt, Audubon Care Homes
Dr. Trent Mackey, Jefferson RISE Charter School
Andrew Martin, Arete Scholars
Shona McKinney-Williams, Peoples Health
Charlie Mentz, Red River Bank
Adam Miller, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Jeannette Neves, Outfront Media
Julie Paley, Jefferson Ready Start Network
Ramesh Prabhu, Inclusivcare
Emily Rebert, Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union
Tiffany Riddle, TCK Property Marketplace of McEnery Residential
Brandon Scardigli, Entergy Louisiana
Philip Sherman, Adams and Reese, LLP
Anthea Smith, JEDCO
Chanel Stewart, Mouring Tulane Medical Center
Teri Tucker, Citizens National Bank
Gretchen Williams, Jefferson Parish Schools
Sherrill Woods, OnPath FCU


Update Your Information

Has your contact information changed since you graduated from the Leadership Jefferson program? Update your information to receive the latest news on the program and alumni social events!

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Leadership Jefferson Alumni

Class of 2022

Claire Barry-Thomas
Discovery Schools
Joni Bathel
Entergy Louisiana
Lisa Bonano
Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
Josh Chenier
OUTFRONT
Sandy Crespo-Mossi
Oracle Lighting
Lynne Dabezies
Richard CPAs
Jackie Dardano
Fidelity Bank
Jill Dryden
The Times-Picayune/The Advocate
Ryan Estaris
Canon Healthcare
Janet Galati
JEDCO
Aimee Gilberti
Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
Philip Giorlando
Breazeals, Sachse, and Wilson, LLP
Drake Glatter
Cox Media
Scott Hosen
Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union
Deionca Howard
Inclusivcare
Ben Hughes
Tulane Health System
Amy Kirk Duvosin
Jefferson Performing Arts Society
April LeBouef
Cornerstone
Ryan LeJeune
Peoples Health
Taylor Marino
Digital Engineering & Imaging
Ashley McLellan
Renaissance Publishing
Alex Mendez
Bourgeois Bennett, CPAs & Consultants
Dan Mills
Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans
A.J. Pethe
Jefferson Parish Schools
Katie Reed
IBERIABANK/First Horizon
Jessica Rouquette
Jefferson Ready Start Network
Aaron Ryan
Pond
Jeff Schmidtke
BioSciences of Louisiana, LLC
Jonathan Schultis
Ricci Partners, LLC
Brandy Smith
Postlethwaite & Netterville
Caroline Starlight
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Barcley Steib
StateFarm Insurance
Trish Thibodeau
LaPorte, APAC
Kendal Thomas
Ochsner Health
Molly Threeton
New Orleans Saints and Pelicans
Candace Washington
OnPath Federal Credit Union
Michael Willem
Benefit Analyst, LLC
Shelby Wynne
West Jefferson Medical Center

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3421 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 203
Metairie, LA 70002... Directions
Phone: (504) 835-3880... Call Us
Fax: (504) 835-3828

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