Board of Directors

  • George Bausewine 
  • Peter B. Strawitz, III 
  • Judy Day 
  • Alfred Liggans, Jr.  
  • Vickey Silas 
  • Garth Roberts  
  • Ed D. Shanklin 
  • Brandon Kelly   
  • Dr. Harold Christensen* 
  • Dr. Janet Daniel* 
  • Dr. Jay Johnson*
  • Josh Sparacino
  • Bernard Robertson, III
  • Joan Gunter
  • Dr. Jeanette Tucker
  • Laura Smith*
  • David Faerber
  • Dr. Tracy Scott-Mclemore*
  • Dr. Jose Bautista*
  • Dr. Cynthia Elliott
    *EX-OFFICIO Members

In Memory Of: Buddy Cancienne and David Conner

George W. Bausewine

Mr. Bausewine has served as the non-employee chair of LCEE’s board of directors since 2010.  He was President and Chief Operating Officer of Cleco Power until his retirement in March 2012.  Cleco Power and its parent company Cleco Corporation are located in Pineville, LA.  During his twenty-five year career at Cleco, Mr. Bausewine held various positions including Vice President, Regulatory & Rates and Senior Vice President, Corporate Services.  Mr. Bausewine graduated from Rollins College (BA 1978) in Winter Park, FL and from Southern Methodist University (MBA 1979) in Dallas, TX.

Alfred Liggans, Jr.

Alfred joined Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company in 2002.  He is responsible for overseeing all department functions and business development.  Alfred has over 30 years of experience in Institutional Trust.  He specializes in retirement plan design and implementation, administration and investment options.  He received a B. A. Degree from Alcorn State University and holds two professional licenses; Series 6 and Life, Health and Variable Annuity.  Alfred served as Manager of Employee Benefits, Plan Administrator and Retirement Plan Trustee for a local transportation company for seven years.  Alfred is extremely active in the civic and professional community.  He is President of the New Orleans Association of Employee Benefit Planners, Executive Board Member of the Louisiana Council for Economic Education, and 2009 graduate of the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum.

Garth Roberts

Garth began with Lamar Advertising in 1991 as an account executive, and by 1995 was the Sales Manager of the Baton Rouge operation. By 1998, he was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of the Lafayette operation and in 1999, Garth moved to Tyler, Texas to manage that location. Since 2003, Garth has been happy to be home in Baton Rouge as the Vice President and General Manager where he continues to raise the bar in outdoor advertising. In 2003, when Garth returned to Baton Rouge, he created employee incentives that resulted in more than $1 million in profits for the Baton Rouge plant from the previous year. Today, Garth continues to pursue profitable ventures taking the Baton Rouge operation to new levels. Professionally, Garth is not only known for his dedication to his work, but his selfless support of this community through many local and national nonprofit organizations.

In 2011, Garth facilitated more than $527,319 in nonprofit campaign coverage donations for more than 68 nonprofit agencies.

Garth is an avid supporter of the Louisiana Council for Economic Education, United Way, Academic Distinction Fund, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Eye Bank, Baton Rouge Food Bank, Gulf Coast Teaching Family Services, March of Dimes, and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Garth not only supports this community at a corporate level, but also works diligently with local nonprofit agencies that strive to educate, support, and create a sense of pride for the people of this community. Among the many charitable organizations  Garth works with, he serves on the Executive Board for the Louisiana Council for Economic Education, Board of Directors for the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation, Board of Directors for Dream Teachers, Board of Directors for Crime Stoppers, and Member at Large with Junior Achievement of Baton Rouge.

Joan Gunter

Joan GunterJoan Gunter is currently a High School Business Teacher with Louisiana Connections Academy teaching Business, Entrepreneurship, Management, Marketing and Microsoft Office. Prior to her new career calling, Joan served as Southeastern Louisiana University's Director of the Literacy and Technology Center from 2006-2015. From 1999-2006, she served as the Director of Operations and Student Services for University of Phoenix-Louisiana and taught adjunct courses in Public Relations and General Studies. From 1996-1999, she was as a Loan Originator with Resource One Mortgage Group in Baton Rouge.  Joan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Providence College ('89) and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Phoenix ('02).

Bernard Robertson, III

Bernard is President & CEO of Robertson Wealth Advisors, LLC, an independent firm which offers securities through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Bernard and his team provide financial advisory, financial planning, insurance and full service brokerage for families and small business clients. His team also creates management strategies and portfolios for the cash and endowment needs of Philanthropic and Nonprofit clients. As head of Robertson Wealth Advisors, LLC, Bernard leads a team that is responsible for the end-to-end process of client on-boarding, analysis, goal planning and service through products with Raymond James Financial Services and partnerships with local banking institutions. Additionally, he has earned the Certified Retirement Planning Counselor and Accredited Asset Management Specialist designations that have assisted in portfolio development, research, risk management and the development and achievement of client goals.

Previously, Robertson served as Managing Director of the Private Client Group at a boutique investment firm in New Orleans following his successes as a financial advisor with Smith Barney and prior to assuming the role of Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch in 2008. Also in 2008 Robertson lead the formation of the Bird, Brauninger, and Robertson advisory group as the partnership formed and the group transitioned their business to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Bernard began his financial services and advisory career in 2005 at Legg Mason Wood Walker a Super Regional Advisory firm that was acquired by Citi Smith Barney in 2006, through the advisory associate program.

 An offensive tackle at Tulane University, Bernard blocked for fellow future NFL players Shaun King, Mewelde Moore, Patrick Ramsey, and J.P. Losman to name a few. Bernard, a four-year starter who started all but one game in his college career, was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team, twice named Conference USA First-Team All-Conference and was an All-American selection his senior season. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 5th round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played 3 years for the Bears before joining the Buffalo Bills for one season, and the Oakland Raiders for another. He has been inducted into the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame as an individual in 2007 and again with his teammates on the historic 1998 Undefeated Team in 2008. In 2013, he was named to the All-Dome team honoring the best players in Tulane history in the Superdome.

Robertson holds a degree in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology, and a degree in Sociology from Tulane University. In 2008, New Orleans City Business honored him as one of its Innovators of the Year along with his fellow Urban League Young Professionals.

Robertson serves in a variety of civic leadership roles locally and nationally. In his personal life, Bernard credits education, family, and faith for his success. The Robertson family stays busy with school, sports, and community activities.