Meet Our Leaders
Beyond Rewards
We derive strength and inspiration from our volunteer leaders, the members committed to making an impact by driving our association forward. Meet the CPAs elected to represent your needs and interests at the society and chapter levels, and learn about who they are and the companies they proudly represent.
OUR 2025-26 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Anthony Rutledge, CPA, MBA
Chair
Anthony Rutledge, CPA, MBA, was named LCPA's 2025-26 Chair, one of the youngest to hold the top volunteer position in the association’s 114-year history. In the year ahead, he will visit members throughout the state, promoting his theme of "Beyond Rewards" — where the true value of the CPA profession isn’t just in recognition, but in impact. He is Director, Audit and Assurance Services, with LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors in Covington. Anthony is a Past President and current Member at-Large of LCPA's Northshore Chapter and a previous representative of the Society's Emerging CPA Council. Anthony graduated from Leadership St. Tammany in May 2024, and was also named a Northshore Forty Under 40 in December 2024. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Management Minor, and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University, where he currently serves on the Department of Accounting’s Accreditation Board.
Kenneth Champagne, CPA
Chair-Elect
Kenneth Champagne is serving as Chair-Elect and will accede to the position of Chair in August 2026. He is the Senior Vice President, Business Services, for Confie in Baton Rouge. In addition to serving as a Treasurer, Kenneth is very active in the Society's financial literacy efforts and is a Past President of LCPA's Baton Rouge Chapter. He has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from LSU.
Jim Schneider, CPA, CIA
Treasurer
Jim Schneider is serving as Treasurer. He is the President & Managing Partner of The Personnel Consulting Group and a Past President of the LCPA's New Orleans Chapter. Jim received a Master of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a concentration in Internal Audit from LSU. He is also a Certified Internal Auditor.
Jacques Bourque, CPA
Member at-Large
Jacque Bourque is serving a two-year term (2025-2027) as Member at-Large. He is the Secretary of the Acadiana Chapter and Immediate-Past Chair of the Emerging CPA Council. Jacques is CFO of Catalyst Bank, an Acadiana-based community bank. Jacques also serves on the Emerging Leaders Council of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from LSU in 2015, graduating summa cum laude, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, summa cum laude. In 2023, Jacques was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni award from the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business.
Jessica Cormier, CPA
Member at-Large
Jessica Cormier is serving a one-year term as Member at-Large. A Past President of LCPA's Baton Rouge Chapter, she is the Transformation Manager at BPM, LLP. Jessica has served on several LCPA committees, including Women's Initiatives, Nominating, and Career Awareness. She has a Bachelor's degree in Finance from LSU.
Samantha Falgout, PhD, CPA
Member at-Large
Samantha Falgout is serving a new two-year term (2025-2027) as Member at-Large. She is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Nicholls State University and is Immediate-Past Chapter President for the South Central Chapter. She has a Doctor of Philosophy – PhD – in Accounting from the University of Scranton and a Master's of Business Administration and Bachelor's in Accounting from Nicholls State University.
Nene Glenn Gianfala, CPA/ABV, ASA/BV/IA
Member at-Large
Nene Glenn Gianfala is serving the second year of a two-year term (2024-26) as a Member at-Large. She is a Vice President of the Valuation Advisory group at Chaffe & Associates in New Orleans. She has also served on several LCPA committees, including Accounting & Auditing, Accounting Education Issues, and Women's Initiatives. Nene has a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Accounting & Finance from the A.B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans.
Nicolette Releford, CPA
Member at-Large
Nicolette Releford, CPA, is serving the second year of a two-year term (2024-26) as a Member at-Large. A Past President of LCPA’s Northeast Chapter, she also serves on several LCPA committees, including Tax Conference, Financial Literacy, and Medical & Healthcare Services. Nicolette is a Tax Expert Lead for Intuit, Inc. and owner of Nicolette S. Releford, CPA, in Bastrop. She earned her BBA in Accounting from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a Master of Science Engineering Technology Management from Louisiana Tech University, and is also a Notary Public.
Hampton Roane, CPA
Member at-Large
Hampton Roane is serving a two-year term (2025-2027) as Member at-Large. He is a current Member at-Large and Past President of LCPA's North Louisiana Chapter. Hampton is a Senior Manager with Silas Simmons, LLP, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors in Monroe. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana Tech. Within his community, he serves as Treasurer of the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group. Hampton was recently named to the Northeast Louisiana Top 20 under 40, honoring career excellence and community impact.
Brett Summerville, CPA
Member at-Large
Brett Summerville is serving a two-year term (2024-26) as a Member at-Large. He is a Tax Senior Manager with Hannis T. Bourgeois CPAs & Business Advisors in New Orleans. A Past President of LCPA's New Orleans Chapter, Brett also serves on the Society's Federal Taxation and State and Local Taxation committees. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of New Orleans.
Jeremy Thibodaux, CPA, CFE
Member at-Large
Jeremy Thibodaux is serving a two-year term (2025-27) as a Member at-Large. Jeremy is the Assurance & Advisory Practice Leader at Ericksen Krentel, LLP in New Orleans. Jeremy also serves as chair of the LCPA Louisiana A&A Conference Committee and is a member of the Not-for-Profit Issues, Peer Review, and Strategic Planning Committees. He is a previous board member at-large for the New Orleans Chapter. He has a Bachelor of Accountancy in Accounting from Loyola University New Orleans, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi, and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Connecticut.
Laura Wiley, PhD, CPA
Member at-Large
Laura Wiley is serving a two-year term (2024-26) as a Member at-Large. She is the Assistant Department Chair and Undergraduate Advisor, Distinguished Instructor for LSU, Department of Accounting, E.J. Ourso College of Business, Baton Rouge. She also serves as the Director of International Experience for the E.J. Ourso College of Business. Laura is an author on two college textbooks with John Wiley & Sons Publishing. Laura received a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Alabama, a Master's in Accounting from LSU, and a PhD in Human Resource Education and Workforce Development from LSU.
Bridget Kaigler, CPA, CGMA,
Immediate-Past Chair
Bridget Kaigler, CPA, CGMA, is Immediate Past Chair. A Past President of the Baton Rouge Chapter, Bridget is Senior Director of Tax & Regulatory Reporting at United Healthcare Group, Inc. She also serves on the American Institute of CPAs Nominating Committee. As a sought-after inspirational speaker, Bridget is also the Founder and CEO of Bringing Leadership Back, LLC—an organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs with business education and innovative solutions, while elevating aspiring leaders toward professional growth.
Ron Gitz, CPA, CGMA
Executive Director/CEO
As the ED and CEO of the premier association of Louisiana CPAs, Ron Gitz goes to work each day and represents the best interests of the CPA profession. When he's not at the main office, he's in Baton Rouge at the Capitol talking to legislators or on the road meeting with his peers and discussing how to tackle the biggest issues facing the profession. He also enjoys working with our Louisiana Society leaders to create and execute a meaningful strategic vision for our association, so we stay progressive and viable in this constantly changing world.
Our 2025-26 Chapter Presidents
Robin LeBlanc, CPA | Michelle Wade, CPA |
Mary Coco, CPA | Elizabeth Hampton, CPA |
Shelby King CPA | Emily Colvin, CPA |
Caitlyn Guillory, CPA | Mark Breaux, CPA |
Catherine Roe, CPA |
|