Meghan Pooleis a native of Baton Rouge where she has actively engaged in the volunteer community at church, her children’s schools and the Junior League. She joined the ARC Board in 2021, and is excited to now serve as Vice Chair.

Meghan has a bachelor’s degree from Drury University and a MBA from Louisiana Tech. She works as a District Sales Leader for UCB Pharma. She is married to Lamar, and they are busy with two teenaged boys at home.

Chase Brown is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Slate Ridge Consulting Group, a boutique advisory firm specializing in tax strategy and compliance, financial operations, business consulting, and organizational governance. He is deeply committed to serving his clients and community and believes that clear strategy and sound financial stewardship are essential to lasting, meaningful impact. Chase represents the Fusion Five young professionals’ group on the board.

Lawrence Carter Jr. is a Principal Supply Chain Procurement Specialist at Northrop Grumman. A New Orleans native who now proudly calls Southwest Louisiana home, he resides with his wife, Bayleigh, and their three children. As a Hurricane Katrina evacuee, he understands the importance of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Lawrence is honored to serve on the American Red Cross Capital Area–West Chapter Board as a representative of Fusion Five, Southwest Louisiana’s young professionals organization.

"I am proud to have served the Red Cross since 2018. I have been in healthcare administration since 2008, currently Vice President of Operations at The Pierite Group." Brady and his wife enjoy their time jogging, traveling, and spending time with family on their off time. 

Ryan K. Haynie is a partner with the Baton Rouge-based Haynie and Associates, a government relations and lobbying firm founded 42 years ago by his father and namesake.  Born in Lafayette, Ryan graduated from LSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.

Ryan is an active member of several organization and Boards and also writes, publishes, and markets the “Grass Roots Guide to the Louisiana Legislature.” He and his wife Alana Robert reside in Baton Rouge with their two children.

Lt. Gen. Russel Honore’ is retired from the US Army after 37 years and is a highly decorated soldier and strong advocate for the Red Cross. Honore' is a business consultant, public speaker, and disaster preparedness expert. He attended Southern University during undergrad and received his M.A. from Troy State. Honore' is a native of Lakeland, Louisiana. He and his wife Beverly live in Baton Rouge, and they have four grown children.

Glen LaBorde is an assurance partner and leads HTB’s Auto Dealership practice. Glen prides himself on serving as a trusted advisor to dealerships and owners. He uses his in-depth knowledge of the dealership industry to provide assurance services and advice on operational issues. Glen started his career with a Big Four accounting firm before joining HTB in 2000. He returned to HTB in 2008 after three years in private industry as a Chief Financial Officer. Glen is an active member of AutoTeam America, a national group of accounting and consulting firms serving auto dealerships.

Santana LeDay is a Process Technology student at SOWELA Technical Community College, where she serves as Student Government Association President and is committed to advocating for student success and leadership. She is also a Process Operator Co-op at Indorama Ventures Olefins and is passionate about advancing the industrial workforce while giving back to her community through service and leadership.

Chris LeDee is a Governmental Relations Liaison for Acadian Ambulance and is a member of Acadian’s Emergency Response Operations Team. Chris is a graduate of LSU and has over 25 years’ experience in public safety, specializing in crisis response and management. Chris and his wife reside in the Lafayette area.

Vincent Pierre is a dedicated board member with a strong background in public service and community engagement. He currently serves as the Municipal and Constituent Services Advisor for the Lafayette Consolidated Government, a position he has held since January 2024.Prior to this role, Vincent represented District 44 in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2012 to 2024, where he was known for his commitment to his constituents and active participation in legislative processes.

Michael Rachal is the Executive Director and CEO of the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council (CACRC), where he leads Louisiana's only nonprofit R2v3 certified electronics recycler and refurbisher. Passionate about serving others, he is dedicated to expanding access to affordable technology, strengthening communities through strategic partnerships, and advancing environmental sustainability across Louisiana.

Coming soon

Sharon is the Administrative Assistant at The TJC group, a local consulting firm that facilitates solutions that build knowledge, trust and understanding to all their clients. Sharon has over 8 years of experience as a paramedic and has always had an intense desire to help and serve others. Sharon resides in Baton Rouge with her husband, Robert, and their 3 children. Sharon and her Husband also faithfully serve as Ministers at their church.

Sharon has elected to become a member of our Disaster Services & Response Committee which comes as no surprise considering her experience and service as a paramedic.

Cierra Vallare serves as an Assistant Vice President at Unum, where she oversees the organization's Charitable Giving initiatives in Baton Rouge. With over a decade of experience in strategic planning and change management, she brings a strong track record of embedding inclusion into business practices and championing innovative solutions that drive meaningful progress. Passionate about community impact, Ciera is thrilled to join the Board and contribute to the community she proudly calls home. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Ciera earned her bachelor’s degree from Fisk University in 2015, where she was recognized as an HBCU All-Star by the White House Initiative. She went on to receive her MBA from Southern University in 2021.

Jack Whitehead began as a volunteer in 1986 when he graduated from LSU Law School.  As a Louisiana Bar Association leader, he has focused on the American Red Cross for the last 12 years where he serves as a catalyst blending the Red Cross mission so more groups, families and organization help “quell the storm” when the need arises. His Law Firm is across the country on high stakes litigation and federal labor law matters. Jack is also a registered lobbyist for a select group of clients who need to reach into State and Federal Government.