Cenla 4Ward program recognizes emerging young leaders under 40

Melinda Martinez, Alexandria Town Talk
·3 min read

Local business groups recognized their top community leaders under 40 during a ceremony Thursday in Alexandria.

Cenla 4Ward 4-Under-40 Awards were presented during a celebration at the the Lagniappe Events Center. The program is sponsored by the Young Professionals Group of Cenla and the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Of 23 nominees, judges selected four who meet the following criteria: community involvement, industry impact, leadership and professional distinction and passion and perseverance.

The four honored are:

  • Brandon Wilkinson, founder and director of Enrich Louisiana, a workforce development program.

  • Crystal Mitchell, vice president of growth and development and chief clinical officer at Southern Evals.

  • Mandi Guillory, director of marketing and business development at Alexandria Emergency Hospital.

  • Emily McGruder, director of membership development with the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance.

Dustin Campbell, 2023 Young Professionals Group president, said each of the winners "has shown great passion and dedication to improving their organizations, serving our community and moving Central Louisiana forward."

Wilkinson, 34, said it's gratifying to see the work being done in the community isn't going unnoticed.

Brandon Wilkinson (from left), Crystal Mitchell, Mandi Guillory and Emily McGruder are the winners of the Young Professionals Group of Cenla and the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce Cenla 4Ward 4-Under-40 Awards.
Brandon Wilkinson (from left), Crystal Mitchell, Mandi Guillory and Emily McGruder are the winners of the Young Professionals Group of Cenla and the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce Cenla 4Ward 4-Under-40 Awards.

"That's really why I came back," he said. "I graduated from Louisiana Tech University and I wanted to come back to the Central Louisiana area and just be a servant, just to help out however I can to help move Alexandria forward."

McGruder, 32, said she feels honored to have her work recognized.

In 2022, she has volunteered over 1,000 hours in Vernon Parish. She is president of the Fort Polk Spouses' & Community Club and treasurer of the Fort Polk Thrift Shop, her bio says. McGruder is also a Giving Tuesday Military ambassador and coaches several youth sports teams.

Mitchell's, the judges noted, had "overcome illness, loss of children and incredible heartache, but she used her struggles to impact women both across Louisiana and nationally by sharing her story. Her renewed purpose in life was to help others become better and to ensure that our community had education, care and the necessities desperately needed at the time."

Guillory's biography states that judges were impressed with her involvement "in numerous organizations throughout our community, and she has been doing this work for multiple years, with tangible impacts on our local community."

Also honored were Javonti Thomas as the Young Professionals Group Member of the Year, Caroline Beard as the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader of the Year, and Christi Thomas as the 2022 Cenla Champion.

Here are the other finalists for the Cenla 4Ward:

  • Abbey Bain, vice chancellor for enrollment and student engagement at LSU of Alexandria.

  • Andre Guillory, vice president and chief customer officer at Cleco Power.

  • Annie Johnson Salazar, clinical mental health therapist with the Children’s Advocacy Network.

  • Brad Fontenot, president of Beta Engineering and Avant Organics at Crest Industries.

  • Brooke Taylor, director of talent and communications at RoyOMartin.

  • Caitlin Murphy, personal banker at Red River Bank.

  • Caroline Beard, human resources coordinator at Rapides Regional Medical Center.

  • Celise Reech Harper, director of the Rapides Parish Library.

  • Derrick Johnson, mayor of the Town of Cheneyville.

  • Erica Phillips, general manager and CEO of Timmons Truck Center.

  • Jeremy Brister, owner and pastor of Summerfield Baptist Church and 1 Percent Lists Cenla Realtor.

  • John Shaughnessy, chief financial officer at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.

  • Justin Lemmons, CEO of Advanced Environmental Compliance.

  • Katelyn Baronne, marketing department manager at Kinetix.

  • Lindsey Launius, Beta Engineering director of market strategy at Crest Industries.

  • Luke Briley, dry end manager at RoyOMartin.

  • Meredith Rennier, executive director of the Center for Calling and Career at Louisiana Christian University.

  • Michael Silver, business manager at Turner Teleco.

  • Natalie David, associate private banker at Red River Bank.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Cenla 4Ward program recognizes emerging young leaders under 40