Chad Cornett

Chad Cornett serves as Executive Director of BRADIC, as well as Director of Business Development for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC). His dual roles allow him to bring expertise in driving economic development initiatives and new business attraction to both organizations. His most recent digital media recruitment accomplishments include a 300-job quality assurance center for EA Sports, the company’s first-ever in North America.

Prior to assuming leadership of BRADIC in early 2009, Chad’s resume consisted of serving as BRAC’s Director of Business Development for regional business development, Assistant Vice President of Economic Development for a regional economic development partnership in Hattiesburg, MS, as well as Research Associate with the Center for Community and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Chad holds an M.S. in Economic Development from USM. Additionally, he received his Economic Development Finance Professional designation in 2007 and is currently attending Louisiana State University for an MBA.

Melvin "Kip" Holden

Melvin “Kip” Holden has the distinction of being the first African-American Mayor-President in East Baton Rouge Parish. A New Orleans native, Holden attended high school in Baton Rouge, graduating from Scotlandville High School. He went on to graduate from LSU with a BA in Journalism and to receive both a Masters degree in Journalism and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University.

Holden’s 20 year political career prior to his election as Mayor-President was one of solid advancement. He began as an EBR Parish Metro-Councilman (1984-88). In 1988 he ran for the Louisiana legislature and was elected to the House of Representatives where he served through 2001. Following his term as Representative, Holden successfully ran for the Louisiana Senate, a position he held until 2004 when he ran for Mayor-President and beat the incumbent, Bobby Simpson. He was inaugurated in January, 2005.

Brooks Keel, Ph.D.

John Davies

John Davies has served as president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation since June 1988. During that time, the Foundation has worked with donors to provide more than $160 million in grants and reach nearly $500 million in assets. In the past decade, the Foundation has spearheaded pivotal projects, including downtown and inner-city revitalization, and hurricane recovery efforts.

John Spain

He joined the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in June 2003. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Spain served as Managing Director of the Powell Group for eight years and as the station manager for WBRZ for 23 years. He has led civic organizations, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. For the Foundation, John leads civic projects, which recently have included health care reform and land use planning.