The Baton Rouge Community College Foundation (BRCCF) is proud to announce the election of new officers, along with members who will serve during the 2024 term.
“The diverse expertise and commitment of our new Foundation Board officers and members will significantly enhance our efforts to support the college's mission,” said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith. “We are excited to engage them and incorporate their leadership skills and insights to further support our students and increase our overall donations to the college.”
The BRCC Foundation is dedicated to supporting Baton Rouge Community College in its mission to be the preferred provider of talent for a global marketplace. The Foundation assists in making dreams come true by providing direct financial support for students and programs at BRCC. Each year, the Foundation proudly awards scholarships to deserving students, supports faculty development, and leads initiatives to enhance technology at BRCC sites.
“We are excited to welcome these wonderful professionals to the Foundation Board to
help increase our partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations that
will have a lasting impact on our students and the college,” said BRCC Vice Chancellor
of Advancement and Executive Director of the BRCC Foundation Dr. Pilar Eble. “Their
collective experience will be invaluable in guiding our strategic initiatives and
expanding our outreach.”
The 2024 Officers for the BRCC Foundation Board
Chas Roemerwill serve as board President. He is CEO of Chas Roemer Innovations. Roemer which provides finance and management
to developing companies particularly in the energy and security industries. He is
a Harvard University honors graduate and noted for his extensive community work, particularly
in education having helped start the first charter school in Louisiana and served
as President of Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Jennifer Burgesswill serve as board Vice President. Burgess is a Project Manager at IBM as well as a 2017 graduate of Baton Rouge Community
College. Burgess served as the Student Government Association President while at BRCC
as well as a Student Board Member on the Louisiana Community and Technical College
System Board of Supervisors.
Ralph Bender will serve as board Treasurer/Secretary. Bender is the CFO of Manship Media, and has dedicated decades of his life offering financial advice to local nonprofits and volunteering. He is the former chair of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) as well as the 2022 recipient of the Inter-Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Golden Deeds award. Bender graduated from LSU.
Other members serving for the 2024 term
- Michael Bledsoe is a Human Resources Specialist for Formosa Plastics. He has extensive experience
working in the chemical manufacturing sector and has implemented effective talent
acquisition strategies to attract and retain top-tier employees for a diverse-level
workforce. Bledsoe also serves on BRCC’s Process Technology Advisory Board.
- Marvin Borgmeyer is an ExxonMobil retiree. He is a 2016 recipient of the Inter-Civic Council of Greater
Baton Rouge’s Golden Deeds award, as well as a 1991 member of BRAC’s Leadership Class.
Other awards include receiving the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2012
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Award and the Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Community
Leadership Award.
- Brace “Trey” Godfrey, III. serves as the Senior Vice President of Policy at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. He
is a two-time Tulane University graduate and has a strong background in consulting,
development, organization management, government relations, and entrepreneurship.
He previously served as the executive director of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge.
- Brian LaFleuris the Owner of The LaFleur Group. He previously served as the board president of the BRCC Foundation. LaFleur is an experienced Real Estate Developer and Program Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate and design/construction industries. He is a graduate of Southern University.
- Robert Schneckenburgeris Senior Regional President of Hancock Whitney Bank, overseeing all of Hancock Whitney’s
operations in the Baton Rouge area. Schneckenburger graduated from LSU with a Bachelor
of Science in economics in 1980 and a Master of Science in economics in 1982.
- Kabrina Smith is the Chief Operating Officer of CareSouth Medical & Dental. She received her Bachelor
of Science in mathematics from Dillard University. She also has a Master of Science
in applied statistics from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Health
from Emory University.
- Joy Smith-Durant is the Chief Lending Officer at Eagle Federal Union. She has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She earned
her Doctor of Business Administration, with a Leadership concentration, from Walden
University and MBA and bachelor’s from the University of New Orleans.
- Keila Stovall is the Chief Philanthropy Officer and President of the Foundation at Woman’s Hospital.
Stovall has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. Stovall earned
her BA in communications from Baylor University.
- Renita Williams Thomas is Principal and CEO of In Loving Arms Healthcare for Kids. Thomas is a seasoned
healthcare leader with an excellent record of success in customer service, business
operations, and leadership. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration/Education
from Southern University.
- Alesia Wilkins-Braxton, JD is President of Government Compliance Partners, LLC. She has more than 25 years of experience serving in various leadership and executive roles in governmental agencies and in the private sector. She earned her Doctor of Law from the Southern University Law Center and Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University.
For more information about the Baton Rouge Community College Foundation and its initiatives,
call 225-216-8040.