FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Lauren Coudrain, NRP Chair lauren@thecoudrain.

com 985-377-9767 Leaders of Tomorrow Program a Success for Local Students and the St. Tammany West Chambers Northshore Rising Professionals Committee August 8, 2011, Covington, Louisiana Northshore Rising Professionals (NRP), the newest committee of the St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce, developed a new initiative this year designed to teach high school students leadership and career skills while encouraging them to return to St. Tammany Parish upon college graduation. The Leaders of Tomorrow program exposed participants to many available career paths by inviting young professionals in the community to speak to the students about their own career paths, including a typical day in each of their workplaces. Participants also learned valuable career skills, ranging from information about interviewing and resumes to interactive exercises that taught communication and leadership skills.

Leaders of Tomorrow participants pictured from left to right: (Top Row) Emily Guillet, Carolyn Dwyer, Catherine Marsolan, Amelie Prather, Drew Crawford, Sarah Smith (Bottom Row) Erica Young, Jillian Carlos, Alexis Gennusa, and Rachel Rickerson. Ten outstanding students were chosen to participate in the Leaders of Tomorrow program: Alexis Gennusa (MHS), Amelie Prather (SSA), Carolyn Dwyer (LSMSA), Catherine Marsolan (DCC), Drew Crawford (CHS), Emily Guillet (CHS), Erica Young (FHS), Jillian Carlos (CHS), Rachel Rickerson (CHS), and Sarah Smith (CHS). On Friday, August 5, program participants were honored at a luncheon celebrating their successful completion of the program, which required a minimum attendance at five of the six sessions. Topics and presenters at the NRP Leaders of Tomorrow program included: Leadership & Career Skills; Brad Schroeder (Gulf Coast Bank), Terri Hughes (Express Employment Professionals), Craig Marinello (Catholic Charities), and Lauren Coudrain (The Coudrain Group) Business & Finance; Sarah Franatovich (LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand), Paul Myers (Metairie Bank), Sally Hoffstadt (First Castle Credit Union), Lauren Mayer (Sunshine Pages), Kristen Prestenbach (American Bank & Trust), and Kyle Beerbohm (New York Life)

Nonprofits; Jesse Hartley (Childrens Advocacy Center/Hope House), Mary Brent Brown (Lemonade Brigade), Jen Moskowitz (Habitat for Humanity), Charlotte Champagne (United Way), and Craig Marinello (Catholic Charities) Healthcare; Kory Krista (Fairway Medical Surgical Hospital), Crystal Cook (Rehab Dynamics), Candice Mahoney (St. Tammany Parish Government Dept. of Health & Human Services), Angel Aucoin (Memorial Medical Center), and Ashley Chitwood (St. Tammany Healthcare Alliance) Government; Catherine Sumpter (St. Tammany Parish Government), Lauren Coudrain (The Coudrain Group), Clay Madden (American Federation for Children), Representative John Schroder (State of Louisiana House of Representatives), and Scott Delacroix (Adams and Reese LLP) Entrepreneurship & Small Business; Wes Levesque (Couture & Levesque LLC), Ben Zapata (Omega Concierge & Omega Card), Allyson McMahon (Three Rivers Services), Eugenia Lubrano ( Coldwell Banker TEC Realtors), Bo Jakins (Bridgenet), and Tommy Buckel (Duplantis Design Group)

Program Facilitators were Lauren Coudrain, 2011 NRP committee chair, and Allyson McMahon, NRP committee member. Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West generously hosted the program by providing a conference room in their facility, and the closing luncheon was held at Boscos Italian Caf in Mandeville. The St. Tammany West Chambers Board of Directors and staff, along with NRP committee members helped make the Leaders of Tomorrow program a success. Participants reported what they learned at each session on a Daily Evaluation Sheet. Their answers included: What it takes to be a leader There are many different ways to lead One small gesture can change the world Volunteer experience is very important You dont have to be an adult to help out Always put others above yourself Prioritizing and integrity are important Networking really is key I can take steps now to further my career NRP committee chair Lauren Coudrain comments that it was truly a pleasure to watch these ten students interact with each other as well as young professionals and community leaders. Their growth and enthusiasm during the two week program was remarkable, and I am confident that each of these talented students will find success in any career path they choose. The Northshore Rising Professionals who participated in the program also learned from the students and each other, and our committee is looking forward to offering the Leaders of Tomorrow program for years to come. For more information about the Northshore Rising Professionals, please visit the St. Tammany West Chambers website at http://www.sttammanychamber.org and the NRP Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NorthshoreRP. ###