Museum, contractors and law firms announce promotions | Business News

South Louisiana businesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the following promotions and new hires.

New Orleans

Joey Roberts has been hired as executive director of the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany. Roberts, a member of the Covington City Council, previously served as the executive director of the Covington YMCA.

Walter “Fritz” Metzinger, III, has been promoted to member of Stone Pigman. Metzinger, an associate at the firm since 2017, focuses on business and insurance disputes and also works in matters of gambling regulation and sports law. 

Jones Walker announced a dozen new partners, including six in its New Orleans office: T. Gregory Schafer; Giles Detwiler “Det” Beal, IV; Shawn Daray; Sara Kuebel; Zachary Montgomery; and Samantha Oppenheim. Their new positions took effect Jan. 1.

Anthony Jacob has been promoted to vice president of Boh Bros. Construction. Jacob, a manager of the piling and marine department, is an 18-year veteran of the general contractor. 

Michael Schmidt has acquired a “significant equity interest” in Chaffe & Associates and its broker-dealer subsidiary, Chaffe Securities. Schmidt, who previously co-headed the energy practice as the independent New York-based investment bank Seaport Global Securities, immediately assumed the positions of head of investment banking at Chaffe & Associates and president of Chaffe Securities. As part of the transition, G.F. Gay LeBreton, a managing director, will step back from the day-to-day operations of corporate finance.

Tony Adams, the New Orleans market president for Memphis, Tennessee-based financial services company First Horizon, has been named Gulf States regional president. Meanwhile, private client group leader Jimmy Dunn was promoted to New Orleans market president.

Ryan Gootee General Contractors announced several promotions and recent hires. Peyton Hancock and Darrell Young Jr., were both promoted to superintendent. Cole Ross was promoted to project manager, and Kian Badie was promoted to assistant project manager. New hires include Grant Hubbard, Avery Noah and Jonathan Pottharst as assistant project managers. Geoff Kinnard was hired as an assistant project superintendent; Brent Madison was hired as a laborer.

Adair Kingsmill was elected as partner of Hinshaw & Culbertson at its New Orleans office. Kingsmill advises financial services companies on compliance with consumer finance and protection laws and helps clients assess regulatory risk.

Danielle Riera was elected partner at the New Orleans office of Boston-based MG+M The Law Firm. Riera serves as local counsel in Louisiana for a global aerospace company in toxic tort litigation and is part of the national coordinating counsel team for several long-standing clients. 

Nicholas Grest was promoted to partner of Maron Marvel at the New Orleans office of the Delaware-based litigation defense firm. Grest defends insurance companies in cases involving car accidents, injuries and defects. He also has experience defending oil companies and industrial manufacturers in asbestos claims.

Brandi Bush Roberts was hired as the new chief financial officer of the LSU system. Roberts, who has experience in accounting and leading financial operations, previously worked as LSU’s associate vice president and chief of staff for finance and administration. 

The Baton Rouge General Foundation announced the election of three new members to its board of governors. Dr. Henry Banham, a rhinologist with BRG Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana; Amanda Martin, the founder and CEO of Studyville; and Hendrick Wood, the longtime general manager of Audi Baton Rouge, will all serve three-year terms on the board.

Alexa Candelora was named a partner of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson in the casualty litigation section. Candelora handles cases involving medical malpractice, behavioral health, insurance defense, personal injury and general liability.

Tiffany Dupree, Katherine Herbert and Lauren Tarver-Tatman were elected partners at Jones Walker. All three work out of the Baton Rouge office. 

The consulting firm Emergent Method announced more than a dozen promotions to start the year. Luisa Cantillo, Brittany Francis and Keesler Morrison all become senior managers. Nikki Carr, Makenzie Morgan, Alyssa Panepinto and Melanie Turner were promoted to manager. Brooks Belanger, Shellie Milliron and James Trammell are now senior consultants. Ashlee Summers, a certified public accountant, was promoted to controller and Hannah Walters was promoted to talent manager, while Chiquita Southern and Brittni Wheeler were named senior associates.

The commercial real estate brokerage Elifin announced a series of promotions. Alex Ruch and Fabian Edwards, who are both based at the Baton Rouge office, were both promoted to senior vice president. Mark Johns, of the Lafayette office, Caden LeBlanc, of the Houma office, Peter Laville and Noah Loveland, of the Baton Rouge office, were named vice presidents. Adrien Foley and Brady Becker, of the New Orleans office, Burton Richard, of the Lafayette office, Cade McNabb and Jacob Loveland, of the Baton Rouge office and Lindsay Redhead, of the Ascension Parish office, were all named senior associates. 

Robert Mahtook III, was elected a partner at Jones Walker. Mahtook co-leads the clean energy and energy transition team and works in the firm’s Lafayette office.

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