Board of Directors - Bureau of Governmental Research

2025 Board of Directors

Steven W. Usdin

Chair

Anne P. Banos

Vice Chair

Nathalie Simon

Secretary

Louis M. Freeman, Jr.

Treasurer

Ronald P. McClain

Assistant Secretary

Vanessa B. Claiborne

Assistant Treasurer

Merritt Lane

Past Chair

Chair

Steven W. Usdin

Founding member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, LLC

Joined the BGR board in 2017.

Steve also serves on the board of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Previous board service included KIPP New Orleans.

Vice Chair

Anne P. Banos

Executive Director of the Booth-Bricker Fund

Joined the BGR board in 2017.

Anne’s other community involvement includes serving on the Louisiana State Board of Ethics. Past community service has included the boards of Posse New Orleans, City Park Botanical Garden, Le Petit Theatre and WYES Television.

Secretary

Nathalie Simon

Special Counsel to CEO & Director of Public Policy and Governmental Affairs, Laitram

Joined the BGR board in 2024.

Nathalie also serves on the boards of Baptist Community Ministries, the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Treasurer

Louis M. Freeman, Jr.

Entrepreneur/angel investor and advisor

Joined the BGR board in 2016.

Louis also serves on the board of the RosaMary Foundation and on the community advisory committee of Bastion, Community of Resilience.

Assistant Secretary

Ronald P. McClain

Executive Director of the Institute of Mental Hygiene of the City of New Orleans (IMH)

Joined the BGR board in 2022.

Ron is a Fellow in the Tulane University School of Medicine Early Childhood Policy Leadership Institute and the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute. He serves as Chairman of the board of the Times-Picayune Doll and Toy Fund, President of the board of the Pelican Center for Children and Families, and Vice-President for Budget and Finance of the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. He also serves on the boards of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, WWOZ public radio station, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and the Tulane University School of Social Work Dean’s Advisory Council.

Assistant Treasurer

Vanessa B. Claiborne

President and CEO of Chaffe & Associates, Inc.

Joined the BGR board in 2020.

Vanessa also serves on the executive committee of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region, and the Board of Isidore Newman School. She is the immediate past chair of the American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana.

Past Chair

Merritt Lane

President and Chief Executive Officer of Canal Barge Company

Joined the BGR board in 2015.

Past service as Board Chairman of Isidore Newman School; and current service as a member on the Board of the Idea Village, Baptist Community Ministries Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, The Water Institute of the Gulf, the National World War II Museum, Bricolage Academy, Pro Bono Publico Foundation, and as an Executive Committee member of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region.

Ryan Adkerson

Financial Advisor and Vice President of CAPTRUST in New Orleans

Joined the BGR board in 2022.

Ryan has been a leading philanthropic voice for the National World War II Museum, local preservation initiatives, after-school programs, and animal welfare efforts.

Kheri Billy

Chief Executive Officer of Reconcile New Orleans, Inc./Café Reconcile

Joined the BGR Board in 2025.

Kheri is an accomplished executive with over 17 years of experience managing fiscal and human resources in New Orleans’ non-profit sector.

A passionate leader and New Orleans native, she is deeply committed to driving meaningful progress in her hometown by fostering opportunities, breaking down barriers, and creating sustainable, positive change.

Elizabeth Boh

Civic activist

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

Elizabeth currently serves as Board Chair for the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation. She also serves on the boards of the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, and the Youth Empowerment Project. She is also an advisory board member of the Tulane University School of Social Work.

Melanie Bronfin

President/CEO of Bronfin Policy Strategies

Joined the BGR board in 2022.

Melanie is the founder and former executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, an independent source of data, research and policy proposals related to young children in Louisiana. She played a key role in reforming Louisiana’s system of early care and education and expanding access for low-income families.

Carlin Conner

Chairman & CEO of International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT)

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

Carlin is active in various community initiatives, including being Chairman of the IMTT Community Impact Initiative, director for the Business Council of New Orleans & River Region, and director for the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

Mollye Demosthenidy

Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

Mollye also holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management of Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Her previous community work included serving on the board of the Junior League of New Orleans.

R. Foster Duncan

Operating Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners

Joined the BGR board in 2024.

Foster also serves on the boards of the Greater New Orleans Foundation (Treasurer and Chairman of the Investment Committee), the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Foundation (Secretary and Treasurer), The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, Parks for All, and the National Advisory Board of the University of Virginia Jefferson Scholars Program.

Ben A. Dupuy

President of First Horizon Community Investment Group

Joined the BGR board in 2022.

Ben also serves on the boards of the Louisiana Museum Foundation, the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, and Louisiana Appleseed.

Perry Eastman IV

CEO/Co-Chair of Auto-Chlor Services, LLC

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

Perry also serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, and Isidore Newman School.

Jessie Haynes

Managing Director of The Helis Foundation

Joined the BGR board in 2020.

Jessie also serves as the Nominating and Governance Chair of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s Board of Trustees, on the Executive Committee of the Preservation Resource Center’s Board of Directors, and on the Executive Committee of the Arts Council New Orleans’ Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Hefler

Greater New Orleans Regional President for Hancock Whitney

Joined the BGR board in 2024.

Liz also serves on the boards of Stuart Hall School for Boys, Louisiana Children’s Museum, Ascension DePaul Services, New Orleans Museum of Art, and Greater New Orleans, Inc.

Patrick Hernandez

Managing Partner of 1834 Ventures

Joined BGR Board in 2025.

Patrick currently serves on the Boards of Directors of OnPath Federal Credit Union and Advocates for Arts-Based Education, the governing board for The Willow School. He was also the 2023 President and long-standing Board member for Young Leadership Council. Patrick has been recognized on the CityBusiness “Money Maker: Investment” and “Power 50” lists as well as on the Gambit “40 Under 40” list.

Mike Katz

Senior Managing Director, Benson Capital Partners

Joined the BGR Board in 2025.

Mike also serves on the boards of the Preservation Resource Center and the Water Institute.

John Landrum

Vice President for Product Innovation, Marketing and Organizational Culture at Intralox LLC

Joined the BGR board in 2022.

John has previously served as co-founder and President of Young Leadership Council, Board Chair of Lighthouse Louisiana, Board Treasurer of New Orleans Museum of Art, and Board Chair of KIPP New Orleans Schools. John is creator and host of Triple Win Workplace podcast series.

Lauren Mastio

Partner and Board Member, Jones Walker LLP

Joined the BGR Board in 2025.

Lauren is actively involved in organizations dedicated to regional economic development and community advancement. She serves on the NextGen Council for Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation and is participating in Council for a Better Louisiana’s 2025 Leadership Louisiana.

She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Market and Louisiana State Market of the March of Dimes and participated in various leadership programs such as the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum and NORLI Regional Leadership Program.

Graham Ralston

New Orleans Market President and Commercial Banking Executive for Regions Bank

Joined the BGR board in 2020.

Graham is a member of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region and currently serves on the boards of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Regional Loan Corporation, University of Holy Cross and the Academy of the Sacred Heart. He is also a past Board President of the Preservation Resource Center and the CFA Society of Louisiana.

Patty Riddlebarger

Vice President of Social Responsibility for Entergy Corporation

Joined the BGR board in 2021.

Patty also serves on the Cowen Institute Advisory Board, The School Leadership Center Board, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Board, the Nancy Marsiglia Institute of Justice Advisory Board and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana Public Policy Committee.

David C. Rieveschl

Member and Business Section Head, Stone Pigman

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

David is also an active member of Louisiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and he works with several organizations that support emerging companies and startups, including the Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane University and the Louisiana Technology Park.

Kenneth St. Charles

Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross

Joined BGR board in 2024.

Kenneth also serves on the boards of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, the Ascension DePaul Foundation, and The Times-Picayune Advisory Board. He previously served on the boards of Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Augustine High School, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, having retired with 30 years of active service.

Syrita Steib

Founder and President/CEO of Operation Restoration

Joined the BGR Board in 2024.

Syrita was the co-chair for the healthy families committee for New Orleans Mayor Cantrell’s transition team. She was appointed by the Governor to the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment oversight council and is the vice-chair for the Louisiana Task Force on Women’s Incarceration. She is a 2020 Rubinger Fellow, a member of the second cohort of Unlock Futures (a collaboration between John Legend, Bank of America and New Profit), and 2020 Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Angel Awardee.

Douglas M. Stokes

Managing Partner of Stokes Family Office, LLC

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

Douglas brings significant financial expertise to the BGR board, developed through his family’s nationally recognized investment advisory firm. His other community involvement includes serving on the board of the Louisiana Children’s Museum.

Vera Triplett

Founder & CEO of Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning

Joined the BGR board in 2023.

During her career in public education, Vera has worked in many roles to develop high-quality, supportive learning environments for children. She has traveled around the world speaking about child advocacy, trauma responses, and infant and children’s mental health.

Lamar Villere

Partner and portfolio manager at Villere & Company

Joined the BGR board in 2021.

Lamar also serves as a board member of Friends of KIPP New Orleans, and as board chairman of The Human Fund NOLA, which provides support to survivors of suicide loss. He previously served as board treasurer of Lighthouse Louisiana, and as president of the Isidore Newman School Dads Club.

Charles West

President of Square Button Consulting

Joined the BGR board in 2020.

Charles also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of FirstLine Schools, as a member of the Advisory Board of Breakthrough New Orleans, and as the Vice-Chair of the New Orleans Criminal Justice Council. He was a Fellow of the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute.

HONORARY BOARD

Harry J. Blumenthal, Jr.
J. Kelly Duncan
Ludovico Feoli
Hardy B. Fowler
Louis M. Freeman
Richard W. Freeman, Jr.
Ronald J. French
Norma Grace

David Guidry
Hans B. Jonassen
Diana M. Lewis
Mark A. Mayer
Anne M. Milling
R. King Milling
Lynes R. Sloss
Sterling Scott Willis