BATON ROUGE, La. — Better Louisiana, an organization dedicated to transforming Louisiana into a dynamic economy, today announced its 2026 Chair and Officers. The organization mobilizes the time, talent and treasure of its members to build for future generations – not just for election cycles.
The 2026 officers are:
· Dr. Phillip Rozeman, Chair (2026-2027)
· Scott Ballard, Incoming Chair
· Spencer Martin, Treasurer
· Robert Schneckenburger, Secretary
· Dr. Heather Spillers Poole, Immediate Past Chair
“Better Louisiana is a group of influential business, education, civic and public sector leaders who work to create a positive climate for business growth, job creation and quality of life in Louisiana,” said Dr. Rozeman. “The organization works to turn policy analysis into actionable change.”
Dr. Phillip Rozeman, Chair for 2026-2027, is the founding physician of Willis Knighton Cardiology and brings to Better Louisiana nearly four decades of leadership in healthcare, business, and education reform. He is a previous chief of staff at Willis Knighton and has been awarded the annual community service awards from several statewide organizations across Louisiana.
He has been honored as Business Leader of the Year by the Greater Shreveport and Minden Chambers of Commerce and has been inducted in the NWLA Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. He has recently been awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards by the NW Louisiana Medical Society, CABL and the Louisiana BESE board. He has served in statewide boards of the Louisiana Committee of 100, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), CABL, Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) and the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children as well as many local organizations in Shreveport-Bossier.
Scott Ballard, Incoming Chair, is owner of Ballard Brands, LLC, a fast-casual and fine-dining hospitality company headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, and founder of Ballard Logistics, LLC. A seasoned entrepreneur, Ballard previously served as chair of the LSU Board of Supervisors and currently holds leadership roles with LABI and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO Louisiana). His companies have received numerous honors, including recognition as a Louisiana Growth Leader and multiple statewide business awards. Ballard is a graduate of Tulane University.
Spencer Martin, Treasurer, serves as vice president of information systems for his family’s fourth-generation business, Roy O. Martin, where he has spent more than 30 years driving operational and technology improvements. A graduate of Baylor University and LSU, Martin currently serves on the board of the LSUA Foundation. He and his wife reside in Alexandria, Louisiana, with their six children.
Robert Schneckenburger, Secretary, is Senior Regional President at Hancock Whitney Bank, overseeing operations across Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Texas. A longtime leader in Louisiana’s financial and civic communities, Schneckenburger has served on numerous nonprofit and economic development boards, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from LSU.
Dr. Heather Spillers Poole, Immediate Past Chair, is a Louisiana native with more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education and workforce development. She currently serves as Chancellor at Central Louisiana Technical Community College. Dr. Poole has led major statewide initiatives focused on college access, enrollment growth, and economic development, and holds degrees from LSU and a doctorate from Louisiana Tech.
For more information about Better Louisiana and its leadership, visit www.betterla.org.