It takes a village
Casey O’Banion
President
casey@yeabr.org
Casey O’Banion leads the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge as its President, guiding high school students through the journey of launching their own businesses. With a background in community development and education, Casey empowers tomorrow’s innovators to turn their ideas into their futures.
Casey and YEA BR are supported by key partners and a team of business and community leaders working together toward a common purpose: to unlock the potential of our young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
Dana Schlotterer
Executive Director
dana@yeabr.org
Dana Schlotterer serves YEA BR as the Executive Director. A longtime educator and leader, Dana has a strong reputation within Baton Rouge’s education community.
Steering Committee
Danny Fields
Chair, YEA Steering Committee, President and CEO, Daniel J. Fields Consulting
Chief Development Officer, Cremmjoy
Chair, YEA Steering Committee, President and CEO, Daniel J. Fields Consulting
Chief Development Officer, Cremmjoy
Sonja D. Wiley
YEA BR Instructor
Associate Professor and Diversity Advisor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Advisor, Office of Business Student Success
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
YEA BR Instructor
Associate Professor and Diversity Advisor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Advisor, Office of Business Student Success
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
James B. Davis, PhD
Senior Instructor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Senior Instructor, Flores MBA Program
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
Senior Instructor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Senior Instructor, Flores MBA Program
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
Gwen Hamilton
Community Affairs, New Schools for Baton Rouge
Community Affairs, New Schools for Baton Rouge
Lois Smyth
Vice President of Major Gifts & Donor Relations, Capital Area United Way
Vice President of Major Gifts & Donor Relations, Capital Area United Way
John W. Matthews, Jr.
Senior Director of Small Business Services, Louisiana Economic Development (Retired)
Senior Director of Small Business Services, Louisiana Economic Development (Retired)
Kelly Bienn
Director of Marketing and Communications, LWCC
Director of Marketing and Communications, LWCC
Gary Hamer
CEO, Champion Technology Services
CEO, Champion Technology Services
Kevin Lyle
YEA BR Instructor
Chief Technology Officer, Naveon
President, PolitiCraft
Board Member, Atlantic Theater Co.
YEA BR Instructor
Chief Technology Officer, Naveon
President, PolitiCraft
Board Member, Atlantic Theater Co.
Seth Irby
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer, LWCC
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer, LWCC
Tanya Lawrence
Chief Operations Officer, Neighbors Federal Credit Union
Chief Operations Officer, Neighbors Federal Credit Union
Drew Tessier
Senior Director, Public Affairs, Union Pacific
Senior Director, Public Affairs, Union Pacific
Olivia Wolf
Associate, Jones Walker LLP
Associate, Jones Walker LLP
Ed Watson
Department Chair, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Professor and Department Chair, Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
Department Chair, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Professor and Department Chair, Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
Christopher Toombs
Dean of Culture, Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy
Dean of Culture, Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy
Founders
Deborah Sternberg
Michael Roth