Courtesy of the Ruston Chamber of Commerce
The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Board of Directors for its fiscal year beginning in July 2024. The Chamber’s Board of Directors provides valuable insight and leadership for the organization’s strategic direction, programming, development, and more.
Thomas Graham, insurance producer and branch manager of Forth Insurance, will serve as chairman of the board, succeeding Elizabeth Turnley, executive director of Russ Place. Lindsay Tomlinson, director of deposit operations and senior vice president with Origin Bank, will serve as chair-elect and vice chair of the Finance Committee. Oliver Neal, senior project manager at Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, Inc., will continue serving as vice chair of the Membership Development Committee. George Lee IV, lead pastor at The Springs and minister of community engagement at Temple Baptist Church, joins the executive board as vice chair of the newly created Workforce Development Committee.
“I am honored to lead our board this upcoming year as we seek to build upon our success and deepen our impact across the Ruston-Lincoln business community,” said Thomas Graham, Chair of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber Board. “Our community benefits from an engaged and service minded chamber. Our plans for the 2024-2025 year include expanded business programming and elevated local partnerships with that sense of strategic engagement and service in mind.”
In June, the Chamber’s Board of Directors attended a luncheon at Squire Creek Country Club sponsored by Origin Bank to celebrate their achievements and recognize outgoing board members. The board members concluding their service are Eric McCulloch, Danny Walpole, Ty Storms and Patricia Willis.
“We are fortunate to have such a dedicated board of directors that work tirelessly to guide the Chamber in fulfilling its mission to advocate for a strong business community,” said William Dearmon, President and CEO of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber has proven we are at our best when connecting businesses to services and opportunities. I’m thrilled to work alongside this dedicated board of directors as we seek to elevate our community impact and support economic opportunities that allow our local businesses to prosper.”
Below are the members of the 2024-2025 Ruston-Lincoln Chamber Board. Those serving on the executive board are indicated with an asterisk.
- Briley Cotton, Brasher Group
- Caleb Etheridge, Etheridge Pipeline & Conduit
- Thomas Graham*, Forth Insurance
- Mark Graham, Holland Real Estate Group
- Chelsea Klepzig, Argent Financial Group
- George Lee IV*, The Springs & Temple Baptist Church
- Oliver Neal*, Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, Inc.
- Amy Schwartzenburg, Hunt Guillot & Associates
- Lindsay Tomlinson*, Origin Bank
- Elizabeth Turnley*, Russ Place
- Matthew Waldroup, Centric Federal Credit Union
Ex-officio board members include:
- Kevin Klepzig, Lincoln Parish Policy Jury
- Sarah McKinnie, Origin Bank
- Ryan Richard, Louisiana Tech University
- Amy Stegall, City of Ruston, Main Street
- Patience Talley, Louisiana Delta Community College
- Adarian Williams, Grambling State University
- Stephen Williams, Lincoln Parish Sheriff
