By Erik Evenson, Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Director of Communications
The Independence Bowl Foundation is announcing transitional changes to its current organizational structure, as announced on Monday, June 15.
Current Director of Communications, Erik Evenson, will be elevated to the Executive Director position, and Missy Setters, the longtime executive director, will transition into a newly created role as Chief Operating Officer (COO). The transition will officially take place on August 15. Setters and Evenson will each retain many of their existing job responsibilities but will begin transitioning in areas of conference and key partnership relations.
This transition, initiated by Setters, comes as she addresses a health matter and reflects a commitment to the long-term strength of the organization. It also creates an opportunity for Setters and Evenson to work closely together, ensuring a seamless leadership transition while continuing to safeguard the future of both the Independence Bowl Foundation and the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary and looks beyond this milestone year.
“The Board’s approval of this organizational change marks an important step forward for the Independence Bowl Foundation,” said Keith Burton, 2026 Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman. “Erik Evenson has proven himself to be a strong and capable leader with a clear vision for the organization’s future, while Missy Setters brings more than 30 years of exceptional experience, trusted leadership, and deep knowledge of this community. This new structure positions the Foundation to benefit from both of their strengths while providing continuity and stability for the future.”
“We are implementing this transitional structure to ensure Missy can focus on her health while staying involved in the leadership of the organization as COO. It also creates an ideal platform for us to plan for the future leadership of the Independence Bowl by elevating Erik to Executive Director,” said Rob Rubel, Chair of the Independence Bowl Foundation Personnel Committee. “Missy and our Personnel Committee developed this structure with current and future leadership in mind, and it was met with organizational support every step of the way.”
Evenson (even-son) joined the Independence Bowl Staff as the Director of Media and Community Relations in July 2018 and was elevated to Director of Communications in March 2022. As Director of Communications, Evenson has led all the organization’s communications and messaging efforts – including communications, marketing and advertising, media and community relations, and digital and social media.
“It is a true honor to be named the Executive Director of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl,” said Evenson. “I moved to Shreveport eight years ago, and it has become home to me. The Independence Bowl is an institution in the community I have come to love, and it means the world to me to be able to work alongside Missy [Setters] to lead our organization and capitalize on the momentum we continue to build.
“I am excited to continue working alongside our outstanding staff, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, sponsors, volunteers, media partners and the many individuals with whom I’ve built strong relationships. Together we will continue making a profound impact on the Shreveport-Bossier area through the bowl game, our year-round events and the work we do throughout the community.”
Evenson is currently serving his third year on the Executive Board of the Young Professionals Initiative of NWLA, spending 2026 as the Chair-Elect and set to become the Chair in 2027.
In the two years before the Independence Bowl, Evenson served as Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the Macon Mayhem of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) and as a sports radio talk show host, as Co-Host of the Midday Sports Zone on Middle Georgia ESPN Radio. He grew up in the Atlanta, Ga., area and is a graduate of the University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor’s degree in sports broadcasting and communications in May 2016. He married his wife, Chase Pou Evenson, in January 2024, and they are expecting their first child in July.
Setters joined the Independence Bowl staff in 1996, serving as Media Relations Director before being promoted to Assistant Executive Director for Media Relations in 2003. She went on to become the bowl’s Executive Director in 2006.
“I have been blessed to spend the past 30 years with the Independence Bowl Foundation, as the media relations director for the first nine years, and as the executive director for the past 20-plus years,” said Setters. “As a native of Lake Charles, my family has been in Shreveport since 1973, and I have attended all but one Independence Bowl.
“Our organization hosts numerous annual events that improve quality of life and account for an annual average of nearly $24 million in economic impact, as well as giving back through scholarships and education funding. I strongly believe in the local and regional impact this organization has on our community and am thankful for the many member-volunteers who help make our events happen and give their valuable time. This transition is the right move at the right time, allowing for continuity in the execution of our mission, responsibilities and efforts for the future of our organization. I am appreciative of our Independence Bowl Foundation leadership for their vision and dedication toward our future.”
While working for the Independence Bowl, Setters spent a few years as the only female bowl executive director in the country at the time. She was elected to the executive committee of Bowl Season – the national organization serving all college football bowl games – serving in the capacities of secretary, treasurer and vice-chair and eventually chairing the committee in 2020. She recently rolled off the committee after serving for seven years and was the only female serving on the committee during that time.
Setters is a graduate of the Manship School of Mass Communications at LSU, where she was a 4-year letter-winner on the LSU women’s golf team and served as team captain her senior season. She also won the Louisiana State Junior Championship in 1982 and the State High School Championship in 1983.
Upon graduation, Setters served six-plus years in the LSU Sports Information Department in Baton Rouge. She started as a student worker in 1987. Following graduation in 1988, she completed a one-year internship, then went on to work full-time, covering swimming & diving, gymnastics, and golf, and also working all football and men’s basketball games, and a majority of the baseball games.
Setters eventually became the department’s first full-time graphics coordinator, designing media guides and other graphics for all of LSU’s varsity sports teams. During that time, she was part of a team that won numerous CoSIDA publication awards for various sports publications.
She also spent two years with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League, serving as Media Relations Director in 1994 and 1995.
Setters has also served at various times on the boards of Community Renewal, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Military Affairs Council and was a 2024 Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Athena Award Honoree. She has also served as a youth small group teacher at her church (Summer Grove) for most of the past 26 years.
Setters is married to Ross Setters, who played football at LSU and works for their family-owned industrial supply business in Shreveport. They have one daughter, Codi (27), who is a graduate of LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law School and works for Ayres, Shelton, Williams, Benson and Payne in Shreveport.