Leadership Lafayette Class XXXVIII Opening Retreat 2025

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of joining 35 other leaders in our community for Leadership Lafayette’s Class XXXVIII Opening Retreat. The retreat took place at Solomon Episcopal Conference Center in Loranger, Louisiana—a serene and peaceful setting surrounded by woods, a lake, and a welcoming chapel.

Since the retreat was two hours away, many of us opted to carpool. I had the pleasure of carpooling with Eboney Breaux of the Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana. On the drive there and back, we bonded over life, leadership, and our hopes for the future.

A Transformative Experience

Despite the rain making for a very wet Sunday, we all arrived safely at the conference center, eager to begin our journey. Over the next two days, we engaged in meaningful discussions, thought-provoking exercises, and personal reflections about leadership and community impact—both locally and statewide.

We had the opportunity to connect deeply with one another, as well as with our Co-Chairs, Billy Hobbs, CEO of BWPR, and Torilyn Williams, BSA Manager of Home Bank,  and Executive Director, Katrena King. While I’d love to share every detail of this incredible experience, we all took an oath of confidentiality—so what happens at retreat stays at retreat!

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

Participating in Leadership Lafayette is an honor, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who encouraged and supported me along the way. A special thank you to my gracious sponsors for making this opportunity possible:

🔹 Broussard David & Moreaux
🔹 Amos Law Firm
🔹 Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards, LLC (Attorney Andrew J. Quackenbos)

I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to Leadership Lafayette for selecting me and awarding me a scholarship to participate in this prestigious program.

To my college classmate, Ruben Henderson of UL-Lafayette, my co-teacher, Kevin Guillory of LEED, my long lost cousin, Shantell (Gallien) Dugas, and Diamond Williams, Class Co-Chair of Class XXXVII—those who wrote me cards of support and encouragement—your kind words inspired me and set the tone for an unforgettable retreat.

A Fun Challenge and a New Family

If you know me personally, you know that I am horrible with names (but I never forget a face once I make a personal connection!). Determined to change that, I made it my mission to learn all 35 of my classmates’ names during the retreat.

At the end of the retreat, I was selected for a challenge: name every single classmate for a chance to win a gift card to Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant (thank you Spoonbill for the donation!). At first, I struggled without being able to see everyone—but once they let me look around the room, I was able to name them all!

Looking Ahead

Our Leadership Lafayette Class XXXVIII is a dynamic group of passionate, dedicated, and inspiring leaders committed to making a real difference in our community. I am beyond excited to continue this journey with them throughout the year.

So, let me take a moment to re-introduce you all to Class XXXVIII of Leadership Lafayette 2025—the “Great 38,” a.k.a. “Thirty-Ate”!

Our lovely Co-horts:

• Andrea Amos – Parc De Oaks
• Jeremy Anderson – CGI Federal
• Faryal Atif – University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Amber D. Bessard – Strictly Fitness | Train With Amber Fitness
• Tyrone Bufkin – LBA Hospitality
• Eboney Breaux – Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana
• Dr. Breannie Charles – Avita Pharmacy
• Nina Charles – Nina Creole
• Michael Eble – UL Lafayette College of the Arts
• Grace Farnell – CGI
• Corrie Gallien – Gallien Law
• Alan Haney – 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
• Anjenette Holmes, Ph.D. – United Way of Acadiana
• Mary-Katherine Hooper – Unitech Training Academy
• Ashley Hutchins – Thrive Mental Health LLC
• Lindsey Jenneman – Lemme Paint Dat LLC
• Blake Johnson II – Blake Johnson II State Farm
• Frank Kolwe – T. Baker Smith
• Dr. Melissa Lewis – University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Lore Linton – Children’s Museum of Acadiana
• My’Run Londo – Goldie Locks Realty
• Alicia Manning, RN, BSN – Grace Home Health
• Mary Allie McGoffin – Moncus Park
• Lauren Neumeyer-LaFleur, LMSW – Safe Havynn Education Center
• Betsy Richard – Betsy Richard Consulting
• Jaelyn S. Richard, MPA – Our Lady of Lourdes Health
• Tim Rinaldi – Miles Perret Cancer Services
• Tammie Robertson – Lafayette Consolidated Government
• Captain Sallie Spears – Lafayette City Marshal’s Office
• Kayla Stansbury – Catholic Charities of Acadiana
• Grayson Stepanek, MBA – Goodwill Acadiana
• Danielle Tassin – Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission
• Seth Thomas – Ryan Gootee General Contractors
• Dianne Trim – Tides Medical
• Brooke G. Voorhies – Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center
• Charese Williams, MBA – Second Harvest Food Bank Feeding South Louisiana

The Best Class EVER!

Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and leadership!