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.
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
Kick-off Retreat
Quality of Life
Healthcare
Economic Development
Education
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Governance
Community Involvement
Closing Retreat
Graduation
Leadership Jefferson Socials
Holiday Social 2019
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 Announces Class of 2022
This year’s class is a diverse group of business leaders from the community:
- Aimee Gilberti, Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
- Ajit Pethe, Jefferson Parish Schools
- Alejandro Mendez, Bourgeois Bennett, CPAs & Consultants
- Amy Kirk Duvoisin, Jefferson Performing Arts Society
- Ashley McLellan, New Orleans Magazine/Renaissance Publishing
- Claire Barry-Thomas, Discovery Schools
- Dan Mills, Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans
- Jacqueline Dardano, Fidelity Bank
- Janet Galati, JEDCO
- Jeff Schmidtke, BioSciences of Louisiana, LLC
- Jillian Dryden, The New Orleans Advocate/Times-Picayune
- Jonathan Schultis, Ricci Partners, LLC
- Joni Bathel, Entergy Louisiana LLC
- Katie Reed, IBERIABANK
- Kendal Thomas, Ochsner Health
- Lisa Bonano, Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
- Patricia Thibodeau, LaPorte, APAC
- Philip Giorlando, Breazeale, Sachse, and Wilson LLP
- Sandy Crespo-Mossi, Oracle Lighting
- Molly Threeton, New Orleans Saints and Pelicans
- Joshua Chenier, OUTFRONT
- Ryan LeJeune, Peoples Health
- Candace Washington, OnPath Federal Credit Union
- Benjamin Hughes, Tulane Health System
- Jessica Rouquette, Jefferson Ready Start Network
- Barcley Steib, Barcley J Steib Insurance Agency Inc – State Farm
- Shelby Wynne, West Jefferson Medical Center
- Drake Glatter, Cox Media
- Aaron Ryan, Pond
- Taylor Marino, Digital Engineering & Imaging
- Ryan Estaris, Canon Healthcare
- April LeBouef, Cornerstone
- Michael Willem, Benefit Analyst, LLC
- Brandy Smith, Postlethwaite & Netterville
- Lynne Dabezies, Richard CPAs
- Amanda Muller, Magnolia Physical Therapy
- Scott Hosen, Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union
- Deionca Howard, Inclusivcare