Volunteers of America North Louisiana (VOANLA) is pleased to announce the 2022-23 board of directors, and welcomes five newly-elected community leaders who will each serve a three-year membership term.
The new members are Liz Bulher, marketing coordinator at Heard, McElroy, and Vestal, LLC; John B. Frierson, Jr., partner in Chicot Bend Plantation; Jay Hanna, president of Woodus K. Humphrey Insurance; Dr. Ruby Scroggins, supervisor of compliance for the Department of Exceptional Children for Caddo Parish Schools; and Melanie Skrivanos.
With a passion for volunteerism and community engagement, these new members bring a unique set of leadership skills to assist the organization’s work in closing a $2.5 million annual financial gap, which is the difference between what it takes for VOANLA to provide quality, intensive services to nearly 7,000 of the most vulnerable in our community versus what VOANLA receives in government funding.
Along with sharing the newly appointed board members, VOANLA is also pleased to announce their new board chair, Keith Evens. Evans replaces past board chair, Robert Dean. Along with Carolyn Hammond, VOANLA president and CEO, Evans will lead the governance board of 30 dedicated community leaders.
Linda Biernacki named chair of NICET
Linda Biernacki, CET, was inducted to the NSPE (National Society of Professional of Engineers) Board of Directors at their annual NSPECon22 Conference in Philadelphia, Pa., and named Chair of the NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies) Board of Governors for a one-year term.
NICET is a global leader in providing recognition of qualified technology professions who reliably apply engineering principles and practices for the benefit and safety of the public. The certification programs measure the competency of and layout career paths for engineering technicians and technologists and supply industries and employers with a more highly skilled workforce.
Linda is the owner of Fire Tech Systems with over 32 years of experience in all facets of the Life Safety Industry. She currently also serves a the 1st Vice Chair of the AFSA and involved in numerous committees. She represents AFSA on the NFPA 232 Committee and is Past President of Louisiana AFSA Chapter.
Minden native kay west completes Community Development Institute
Kamesha “Kay” West, FUSE executive fellow and a native of Minden, Louisiana, recently completed the Year 1 Class of the 36th Annual Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas on August 5, 2022.
Kay is excited to use the knowledge gained to help strengthen ecosystem support and decrease barriers to business in the City of Fort Worth, Texas.
LED’s Don Pierson named to IAC by U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson is among 34 international business and economic leaders appointed to the U.S. Investment Advisory Council by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The group will serve a two-year term, advising Raimondo on how government policies and programs affect the United States’ ability to attract and facilitate foreign business investment.
The council serves as the principal advisory body to the secretary of commerce on the promotion and retention of foreign direct investment to the United States. Since its inception in 2016, the council has promoted initiatives to attract and retain FDI. Past recommendations include programs and policies related to infrastructure investment priorities, improving U.S. workforce development initiatives and improving digital tools to support economic development.
Pierson is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. He has more than three decades of economic development experience, including 17 years as executive director of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed him secretary of Louisiana Economic Development in 2016. Under Secretary Pierson’s leadership, LED became the only state agency in the U.S. recognized as an Accredited Economic Development Organization by the International Economic Development Council. He received the 2018 Eugene J. Schreiber Award from the World Trade Center of New Orleans, recognizing lifetime achievement in international trade.