BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) has announced several staff additions and changes.
“Louisiana is entering into a new era of opportunity, growth and change,” said Will Green, LABI president and CEO. “LABI’s LADriven strategic plan is written, but it’s critical that we have the right foundation in place to implement our member company’s vision. I’m confident that the team we’ve assembled will do just that, and I’m excited to work with each of these individuals as we enter the next chapter of LABI and our state.
New to LABI
Patrick Robinson has joined the LABI team as vice president of government relations, overseeing LABI’s Employee Relations and Health Care councils. He is a veteran workers’ compensation professional, having worked as an attorney, judge, and as the former director of the Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation. He has an MBA in healthcare management, and most recently served as a health care advocate, working with regulators and stakeholders across the country to improve workers’ comp outcomes with evidence-based medical solutions.
Shalini Gogawale will serve as LABI’s events manager. Before starting her role at LABI, she was the operations and events manager at Baton Rouge Alliance for Students. She also served as co-producer of events for Assembly Required, a nonprofit founded by ThreeSixtyEight Creative and Technology Agency focused on equipping others with perspectives, relationships and practical steps necessary to catalyze change through civic and business innovation. Shalini has spent more than a decade as director of operations for athletic departments at major universities all over the country.
Johnston Von Springer will serve as LABI’s communications manager. Before joining LABI, Johnston was a communications content specialist at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. He also has an extensive journalism background, serving as a morning show reporter and multimedia reporter at WBRZ in Baton Rouge.
Current staff changes
Ashley Gordon will serve as LABI’s senior vice president of marketing and strategic communications.
Lauren Hadden will serve as LABI’s general counsel and vice president of government relations, overseeing LABI’s Civil Justice and Energy and Environmental Quality councils.
Jim Patterson will serve as LABI’s senior vice president of government relations, overseeing LABI’s Taxation and Finance Council.
Mariah Hernandez will serve as LABI’s director of policy communications.
Mary Beth Hughes will serve as Director of Government Relations, overseeing LABI’s Education and Workforce Development Council, and LABI’s Trade, Transportation and Tourism Council.
Elena Lacour will serve as LABI’s Vice President of Member Relations.
