Today, Leaders for a Better Louisiana announced its officers and board members for 2025, including its first co-chairs, Heather Poole of Alexandria and Phillip Rozeman of Shreveport. This follows the news released on Wednesday, January 15th that two historic statewide advocacy organizations have merged, Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL) and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development (C100).
Heather Poole served previously as the chair of CABL, and Phillip Rozeman was the Vice Chair and chair-elect for C100. Their unified leadership in 2025 will steer the impact of the newly-merged organization and the leadership of its Board of Directors in its momentous first year.
“We are fortunate to have two distinguished and wise co-chairs to help lead the first year of our newly merged organization,” said Adam Knapp, CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana. “By serving together, one from each group, they will help ensure a smooth transition and push toward greater impact. We are also fortunate that our full board continues to be regionally representative and diverse, covering the whole state.”
Better Louisiana also announced the election of Scott Ballard as Chair-Elect, Robert Schneckenburger as Secretary, and Spencer Martin as Treasurer for the founding year of Better Louisiana. Mr. Ballard is CEO of Ballard Brands and formerly Secretary/ Treasurer of C100. Mr. Schneckenburger is Senior Regional President of Hancock Whiney Bank and previously Chair-Elect of CABL. Mr. Martin is Vice President of RoyOMartin and previously Treasurer of CABL.
Better Louisiana’s co-chairs bring a wealth of experience to their roles.
Dr. Heather Spillers Poole – previously the Chair of the Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL) and Leadership Louisiana alum – serves as Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Services and is the Director of Foundation Relations at Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) in Alexandria. Since joining in 2015, she has been responsible for providing leadership and initiative in the planning, implementation and administration of the campus’s recruitment, outreach and enrollment efforts, resulting in steady enrollment growth. Heather began her career in higher education over 25 years ago at the Louisiana Board of Regents where she worked as the Assistant Commissioner of Assessment and Economic Development, and later the Executive Director and Dean of the Learning Center for Rapides Parish. Prior to CLTCC, she worked at LSU Alexandria as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Services and helped launch the dual enrollment high school, University Academy. Heather earned both her undergraduate degree and her MBA from LSU, and completed her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana Tech. Heather is married to Scott Poole and they have four children.
Dr. Phillip Rozeman – previously the Vice Chair and chair-elect of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development (C100) and former board member of CABL – is the founding physician of Willis-Knighton Cardiology, with nearly four decades of practice in interventional cardiology. He earned his medical degree at LSU School of Medicine. Honored with the Robert B. Hamm Award for Distinguished Public Service by CABL and as the second recipient of the John Miciotto Lifetime Healthcare Achievement Award by the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, he has been active in leadership roles in healthcare, business and education. He has served as Chief of Staff and member of the board of trustees at Willis-Knighton Health System and is the past chairman of the Northwest Louisiana Medical Society. He has also been named Business Leader of the Year by both Greater Shreveport and Minden Chambers of Commerce and been inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. Phillip has received the service awards from the Louisiana Department of Education, Louisiana Association of Educators, and United Way, among many others. He is cofounder of the Alliance for Education, Education’s Next Horizon, three charter school boards including the Magnolia School of Excellence and board member of Louisiana Policy Institute of Children. Dr. Rozeman is happily married to Alma Pineda Rozeman for more than 40 years and has three children and four grandchildren.
“Our 2025 officers and full slate of board members show an impressive cross section of both organizations, CABL and C100, and provide us the thought leadership and acumen to deliver on our vision for Louisiana,” said Barry Erwin, its Chief Policy Officer.
LEADERS FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Scott Ballard, Chair-Elect
Owner/Co-President/CEO, Ballard Brands
Mr. Wayne Brown
Founder and Senior VP, Brown Builders
Mr. Tom Clark
Partner, Breazeale, Sachse, Wilson LLP
Mr. William “Bill” Fontenot
President & CEO, Cleco Corporate Holdings
Ms. Gwendolyn Hamilton
President, GPH Consulting, LLC
Mr. Trott Hunt
President, Hunt, Guillot & Associates (HGA) and Hunt Forest Products
Mr. Jay Johnson
Chief Financial Officer, Lamar Advertising
Mr. Jerry Jones
Partner, Bradley, Murchison, Kelly & Shea
Mr. Spencer Martin, Treasurer
Vice President, RoyOMartin
Mr. Kellen Mathews
Partner, Adams & Reese
Mr. Phillip May
President & CEO, Entergy LA
Mr. Kyle McDonald
President and CEO, Argent Financial
Group
Mr. Jude Melville
CEO, b1 Bank
Mr. Malcolm S. Murchison
Partner, Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea LLC
Dr. Heather Poole, Co-Chair
Executive Vice Chancellor, Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Dr. Phillip Rozeman, Co-Chair
Co-Founder, Willis-Knighton Health
Mr. Robert Schneckenburger, Secretary
Senior Regional President Hancock Whitney Bank
Ms. Julie Stokes
CEO, Stokes Consulting; CFO, Stokes and Associates; and Founder, Ellevate Louisiana
Mr. Gray Stream
President & CEO, Stream Company
Ms. Monique Thierry
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director SW/South Central Region
Mr. Michael Tipton
President, Blue Cross Foundation
Ms. Mary Leach Werner
Vice President & Director
Sweet Land Lake & Oil Company