After graduating high school, I attended Xavier University of Louisiana where I received a B.A. in Fine Arts with a concentration in mass communications and marketing.
From there, I worked for local television stations, two advertising agencies and Al Copeland Investments as the Corporate Operations Manager until hired by Peter Mayer Advertising where I worked for nine years. When Hurricane Katrina displaced me in the middle of my career, I found myself settled in Central, La., the place I now affectionately call home.
I’ve been operating in the advertising industry for over 20 years, working part of that time as the LSU Marketing and Communications Director. The majority of my career involved managing multi-million dollar budgets for Fortune 500 companies. Therefore, I understand the importance of smart spending and careful budgeting, terms not often associated with government finance.
In 2012, I decided to start my own small business, a Baton Rouge advertising agency called Octagon Media of which I am currently the CEO/ Principal. Being a local business owner, economic development in our parish’s communities is an issue that is very close to my heart. These types of businesses, large and small, are so important to the success and progress of our parish and state.
In 2016, Mayor-President Sharon Weston -Broome appointed me to her transition team committee to assist as a lead for information services, technology, marketing and communication strategies which spanned twenty-one different administrative review committees as well as community focus groups.
I have devoted a great amount of time working in the community, being active in local politics and serving on the board of multiple organizations. The past two years I have been awarded for my “Stance Against Hatred” on the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, AL and recognized for the outstanding support given to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in 2019.
I am currently a member of the Friends of the Capitol Park State Museums, Special Olympics of Louisiana, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Metropolitan Baton Rouge Chapter, Junior League of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Advertising Federation of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Economic Development's CEO Round Table and a 2020 nominee for the Ada Lovelace Award.
I believe in being active within the Baton Rouge community. I am currently a member of Shiloh MIssionary Baptist Church where I am blessed to serve on the Women of Hope Leadership Committee and Voices of Praise as the Vice President. I am also part of the media ministry as well as an advisor to the Youth and Young Adult Choir. I have worked hard to remain involved, attending meetings and events for several local organizations. Whether making donations to Broadmoor High School and Central High School or participating in fundraisers for LSU and Southern University. I take pride in our parish and truly believe in Building A Better Baton Rouge.
As a caring citizen of East Baton Rouge parish and a hard-working small business owner, I am passionate about building East Baton Rouge Parish to its fullest potential and creating the best opportunities for its citizens.
My brother and I were raised in the small town of Slidell, La., by two parents who believed heavily in the importance of education. My father is a tri-lingual graduate of Southern University and my mother dedicated herself to achieving a Masters +30 in Administration and Supervision from the University of Mississippi. They imparted to me the value of education and I believe that in education lies the power to affect real change.