BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH - Key Persons
Allison earned a BA and an MA in Political Science from LSU, where she is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of History. She has spent most of her professional career teaching history, political science, and public policy at the high school, community college, and university levels. She joined BGR as a Research Assistant in January 2024 as part of BGR's internship program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
- Executive Director of the Booth - Bricker Fund
Anne's other community involvement includes serving on the Louisiana State Board of Ethics. Past community service has included the boards of Posse New Orleans, City Park Botanical Garden, Le Petit Theatre and WYES Television.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of First Horizon Community Investment Group
Ben also serves on the boards of the Louisiana Museum Foundation, the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, and Louisiana Appleseed.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman & CEO of International - Matex Tank Terminals ( IMTT )
Carlin is active in various community initiatives, including being Chairman of the IMTT Community Impact Initiative, director for the Business Council of New Orleans & River Region, and director for the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of Square Button Consulting
Charles also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of FirstLine Schools, as a member of the Advisory Board of Breakthrough New Orleans, and as the Vice-Chair of the New Orleans Criminal Justice Council. He was a Fellow of the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member and Business Section Head, Stone Pigman
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Partner of Stokes Family Office, LLC
Douglas brings significant financial expertise to the BGR board, developed through his family's nationally recognized investment advisory firm. His other community involvement includes serving on the board of the Louisiana Children's Museum.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Greater New Orleans Regional President for Hancock Whitney
Emily received a BA in English from Wake Forest University and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University. After working in the Texas legislature and for the University of Texas, Emily moved to New Orleans in 2008 to work at the Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives at Tulane University, where she created and managed an Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program, AdvanceNOLA. In 2014, Emily joined CASA Jefferson, Inc. as Executive Director. In 2015, she became the first Executive Director of the French Quarter Management District. Prior to joining BGR, Emily was Executive Director of 504HealthNet, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- New Orleans Market President and Commercial Banking Executive for Regions Bank
Graham is a member of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region and currently serves on the boards of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Regional Loan Corporation, University of Holy Cross and the Academy of the Sacred Heart. He is also a past Board President of the Preservation Resource Center and the CFA Society of Louisiana.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Economic Development Representative, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Ileana has worked extensively on policy initiatives to support economic and workforce development in the New Orleans region. She also served as Vice-Chair of the Jefferson Ready Start Network advancing early childhood education.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Jai is a senior at Loyola University New Orleans double majoring in Sociology and Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. She also serves as the Vice President of the Eta Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Chief Justice of Loyola's Student Government Association. She joined BGR as a communications assistant in January 2024 as part of BGR's internship program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Executive Officer, Agenda for Children
Chief Executive Officer, Agenda for Children Joined the BGR board in 2019. Jen also serves on the Board of Advisors for The Cowen Institute for Public Education at Tulane University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Director of the Helis Foundation
Jessie also serves as the Nominating and Governance Chair of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art's Board of Trustees, on the Executive Committee of the Preservation Resource Center's Board of Directors, and on the Executive Committee of the Arts Council New Orleans' Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President for Product Innovation and Marketing at Intralox LLC
John has previously served as co-founder and President of Young Leadership Council, Board Chair of Lighthouse Louisiana, Board Treasurer of New Orleans Museum of Art, and Board Chair of KIPP New Orleans Schools. John is creator and host of Triple Win Workplace podcast series.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President of Mortgage at Liberty Bank and Trust Company
Believing leadership and service are the cornerstone of community, Jonathan also works with other notable organizations, including Black Education for NOLA (BENOLA) (Board Chair), Collegiate Academies (Vice Chair), 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, Inc. (Past President), and New Orleans Chamber of Commerce (Board Member).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Development and Fundraising Consultant
Kenneth also serves on the boards of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation and the Ascension DePaul Foundation. He previously served on the boards of Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Augustine High School, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, having retired with 30 years of active service.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member of Friends of KIPP New Orleans
- Partner and Portfolio Manager at Villere & Company
Lamar also serves as a board member of Friends of KIPP New Orleans, and as board chairman of The Human Fund NOLA, which provides support to survivors of suicide loss. He previously served as board treasurer of Lighthouse Louisiana, and as president of the Isidore Newman School Dads Club.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
- Entrepreneur / Angel Investor and Advisor
Louis also serves on the board of the RosaMary Foundation and on the community advisory committee of Bastion, Community of Resilience.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Founder and Former Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
- President / CEO of Bronfin Policy Strategies
Melanie is the founder and former executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, an independent source of data, research and policy proposals related to young children in Louisiana. She played a key role in reforming Louisiana's system of early care and education and expanding access for low-income families.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canal Barge Company, Inc
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canal Barge Company, Inc. Joined the BGR board in 2015. Past service as Board Chairman of Isidore Newman School; and current service as a member on the Board of the Idea Village, Baptist Community Ministries Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, The Water Institute of the Gulf, the National World War II Museum, Bricolage Academy, Pro Bono Publico Foundation, and as an Executive Committee member of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College Joined the BGR board in 2023. Mollye also holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management of Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Her previous community work included serving on the board of the Junior League of New Orleans.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Secretary
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO & Director of Public Policy
- Special Counsel
Nathalie also serves on the boards of Baptist Community Ministries, the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Retired Vice Chancellor for Economic Development from the University of New Orleans
Norma's other civic activities include Women United, Past Chair; Board member, United Way of Southeast Louisiana; Alliance Française of New Orleans, immediate past President; World War II Theater Board, Treasurer; Parkway Partners, Chair; Crimestoppers GNO, board member.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President of Social Responsibility for Entergy Corporation
Patty also serves on the Cowen Institute Advisory Board, The School Leadership Center Board, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Board, the Nancy Marsiglia Institute of Justice Advisory Board and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana Public Policy Committee.
Paul received a BA in Math and Philosophy from St. Olaf College and an MA in American Studies from Purdue University. He joined BGR in 2012 and, for the 17 years before, worked as a newspaper reporter covering government.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO / Co - Chair of Auto - Chlor Services, LLC
Perry also serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, and Isidore Newman School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Operating Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners
Foster also serves on the boards of the Greater New Orleans Foundation (Treasurer and Chairman of the Investment Committee), the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Foundation (Secretary and Treasurer), The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, Parks for All, and the National Advisory Board of the University of Virginia Jefferson Scholars Program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- President & CEO / Samuel Zemurray Chair in Research Leadership
Becky became President & CEO of BGR in January 2022. From its start, her career has focused on governmental reform, accountability and transparency. She worked for 18 years as a journalist at several major newspapers, including The Times-Picayune, then for nearly eight years in the New Orleans Office of Inspector General as an Assistant Inspector General and Program Evaluator. Before joining BGR, Becky served for 18 months as Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs in the Louisiana Department of Insurance. She received a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Director of the Institute of Mental Hygiene of the City of New Orleans ( IMH )
Ron is a Fellow in the Tulane University School of Medicine Early Childhood Policy Leadership Institute and the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute. He serves as Chairman of the board of the Times-Picayune Doll and Toy Fund, President of the board of the Pelican Center for Children and Families, and Vice-President for Budget and Finance of the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. He also serves on the boards of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, WWOZ public radio station, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and the Tulane University School of Social Work Dean's Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Financial Advisor and Vice President of Captrust in New Orleans
Ryan has been a leading philanthropic voice for the National World War II Museum, local preservation initiatives, after-school programs, and animal welfare efforts.
Ryan will be graduating from Tulane University in December 2024 with a triple degree: a BS in Mathematics, a BA in Political Economy (concentration in Economics and Public Policy), and a BSPH in Public Health. He serves as the Vice President of his college improv troupe and helps get people moving with a free community bike repair organization. He joined BGR as a Research Assistant in January 2024 as part of BGR's internship program.
Selva earned a BA from California College of the Arts. She joined BGR in 2014, after having worked as a Program Coordinator for the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Operations Coordinator for the Arts Council of New Orleans, and Coordinator of International Business and Trade Development for GNO, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Research Director
- Senior Vice President
- Vice President
Stephen graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from Loyola University New Orleans. Prior to joining BGR, he worked as a local reporter covering business, economic development and local government issues. He has been part of the BGR research team since 2002.
Job Titles:
- Member of the HONORARY BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
- Founding Member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, LLC
Founding member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, LLC
Joined the BGR board in 2017.
Steve also serves on the board of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Previous board service included KIPP New Orleans.
Susie received a MS and Ph.D in International Development from Tulane University and a BA in Economics from Pomona College. Before joining BGR in 2017, she worked for education organizations in New Orleans and India and as a research assistant on a U.S. Department of Labor grant in West Africa.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Founder and President / CEO of Operation Restoration
Syrita was the co-chair for the healthy families committee for New Orleans Mayor Cantrell's transition team. She was appointed by the Governor to the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment oversight council and is the vice-chair for the Louisiana Task Force on Women's Incarceration. She is a 2020 Rubinger Fellow, a member of the second cohort of Unlock Futures (a collaboration between John Legend, Bank of America and New Profit), and 2020 Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Angel Awardee.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Treasurer
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President and CEO of Chaffe & Associates, Inc
Vanessa also serves on the executive committee of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region, and the Board of Isidore Newman School. She is the immediate past chair of the American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Founder & CEO of Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning
During her career in public education, Vera has worked in many roles to develop high-quality, supportive learning environments for children. She has traveled around the world speaking about child advocacy, trauma responses, and infant and children's mental health.