NEW ORLEANS — Young Leadership Council (YLC) has announced its 2018 Role Model class. Composed of 15 business, community, and civic leaders, the 2018 class will be honored at the 32nd Annual YLC Role Model Awards Gala on Saturday, September 8, at 6 p.m., at The Orpheum Theater, located at 129 Roosevelt Way.
Annually since 1986, YLC has selected a class of outstanding New Orleanians who serve as Role Models by actively contributing to the betterment of the Greater New Orleans region. These individuals are an inspiration to YLC’s young professional members and to the community at large. The 2018 YLC Role Model class is composed of the following individuals:
Patrick L. Anderson – 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans
Dottie Belletto – New Orleans Convention Company, Inc. (NOCCI)
Simone Crouere – Demo Diva
Matt Schwartz – The Domain Companies
Steve Gleason – Team Gleason
Scott Hutcheson – City of New Orleans (formerly)
Yvette M. Jones – The Jones Group of New Orleans
Leroy Prout – HRI Properties
Christopher Reade – LookFar
Shelby Russ – AOS Interior Environments
Stephen Stumpf – Durr Heavy Construction, L.L.C.
Suzanne C. Thomas – Hancock Whitney Bank
Erica J. Washington, MPH – Louisiana Department of Health
Edward Womac Jr. – Womac Law Firm
Paris Woods, EdM – College Beyond
Each year’s class of honorees is selected by a committee including members of YLC’s Board of Directors and past YLC Role Model Award recipients. The committee reviews all nominations before selecting a final list of individuals. Honorees are selected based on significant contributions to their field of work and to New Orleans as a whole. Notably, a person can only receive the honor of YLC Role Model once in his or her lifetime.
“YLC is excited to showcase the members of the 2018 Role Model class and how they have impacted our community. The individuals who make up our 2018 class demonstrate a wide variety of professions with even broader areas of civic involvement. Each of them has had a hand in making our city a better place,” said 2018 YLC Board President Jack Wiles. “The YLC believes it is crucial to show the next generation of leaders that, regardless of your career path or civic interests, you can make our community a better place. The members of our 2018 Role Model class, with their never-ending passion and leadership, are perfect examples.”
The annual YLC Role Model Awards Gala is a black-tie event and will spotlight the accomplishments of the members of the 2018 Role Model class followed by dinner, dancing, and live entertainment. This year’s event is chaired by YLC Board Members Caroline Hayes and Kevin Ferguson.
For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Liz Waller at liz@ylcnola.org or call 504-585-1198. For more information about YLC and to view a list of past Role Model Award recipients, visit www.ylcnola.org. YLC can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @ylcnola.
