Seventeen Central Louisiana professionals graduated Nov. 2 from Cenla Boardbuilders, a Community Development Works program that trains emerging leaders to become active in their communities as members of nonprofit boards. Community Development Works is funded by The Rapides Foundation.

The professionals went through a series of sessions this fall to learn the roles and responsibilities of being an effective board member. This was Cenla Boardbuilders’ ninth graduating class. 
 
The following graduates were matched with a nonprofit organization at the completion of Cenla Boardbuilders:
• Tamara Battles, staff attorney, Legal Services of Central Louisiana, Arts Council of Central Louisiana.
• Matthew Bruyninckx, commercial banker, Whitney Bank, Hope House of Central Louisiana.
• Kayla Foster, Credit Department manager, Red River Bank, Friendship House Adult Day Services.
• Christopher Hall Jr., SNO Department safety leader, Procter & Gamble, YMCA of Central Louisiana.
• Stephanie Holloway, finance director, Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center, JDT Health Corporation.
• LaDonna Hunley, retired, Re-Entry Solutions for Louisiana.
• Temika Jones, manager, Good Hope Funeral Home, The Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
• Andrea Martin, owner, Alarone Consultants, LLC, Central Louisiana Arts & Healthcare.
• Darlene St. Romain, owner/executive director, Sylvia's Caring Companions Health Care Services, Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition.
• Sherhonda Smith, loan officer, Whitney Bank, YMCA of Central Louisiana.
• Derick Vance, branch manager/business relationship manager, Regions Bank, United Way of Central Louisiana.
• Lynne Williams, financial services specialist, Regions Financial Corporation, Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf.
 
These graduates were newly seated on nonprofit boards when they first entered the Cenla Boardbuilders program. They are:
• Suraya Khan, community volunteer, Central Louisiana Arts & Healthcare.
• Debra McKinney, branch manager-assistant vice president, Red River Bank, Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and YMCA of Central Louisiana.
• Leisa Lawson, associate attorney at Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, YMCA of Central Louisiana.
• Shane Williams, attorney, Legal Services of Central Louisiana, Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition.
• Linda Mathis, staff member, Procter & Gamble.

Cenla Boardbuilders is a service offered free of charge to people, employers and nonprofit organizations located in Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Natchitoches, Vernon and Winn parishes. For more information, call Community Development Works at 1-800-803-8075, or visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org. Print