April 17, 2025 – Baton Rouge, LA — Leaders for a Better Louisiana has announced its newest members added during the first quarter of 2025, signaling the organization’s continued momentum in uniting business, policy, and civic leaders to drive transformational growth across the state.
The following individuals have joined Better Louisiana’s Committee of 100:
- Denise Bottcher, State Director, AARP
- Paul Brummett, President & CEO, JD Bank
- Brian Haymon, CEO, Loadstar Product Handling Services, LLC
- Karl Hoefer, Regional President, First Horizon
- Jay Lapeyre, President, Laitram, LLC
- Todd Little, Managing Member, Little & Associates, LLC
- Malcolm Murchison, Special Counsel, Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea LLC
- Matt Saurage, Innovation Manager, Community Coffee
- Kevin Simpson, Manager Southeast Policy, Shell
- Guy Williams, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust
“These new members from across the state highlight Better Louisiana’s commitment to building a Louisiana where opportunity and economic prosperity go hand-in-hand,” said Dr. Heather Poole, Co-Chair of Better Louisiana. Co-Chair Dr. Phillip Rozeman of Shreveport added, “It seems like every month we are hearing positive education and economic announcements. Our new members join Better Louisiana as we work together to support a thriving Louisiana.”
A New Force for Change
Formed in January 2025 through the merger of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development (C100) and the Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL), Better Louisiana is a nonprofit organization focused on economic development and policy advocacy. The merger brought together two of Louisiana’s most respected voices in education and economic reform, combining decades of experience to push for bold, future-focused solutions.
Better Louisiana’s work is rooted in data and driven by results. In just the first quarter of 2025, the organization has already released two key reports addressing critical challenges: one on Louisiana’s auto insurance market, which revealed systemic misalignments, and another identifying the state’s lagging performance in apprenticeship and internship participation.
A Vision for a Stronger Louisiana
As Louisiana works to position itself as a regional economic leader, Better Louisiana is focused on unlocking the state’s potential through high-impact policy recommendations, statewide leadership development, and a renewed focus on education and workforce solutions.
For more information about Better Louisiana and to explore opportunities to get involved, visit www.betterla.org.