Speakers, Sponsors, and Conference Advisory Group

Speakers and Moderators

Magdalen Blessey Bickford

McGlinchey Stafford mcglinchey.com
Mag Bickford is the Managing Attorney of McGlinchey’s New Orleans Office and Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. Mag represents businesses and management in labor and employment litigation and provides general legal counsel on a variety of workforce matters. As a provider of management counsel, training, and education, she advises employers on workplace best practices and drafting and implementing effective policies and procedures. Mag helps clients navigate the constantly evolving framework of regulatory statutes and other laws. Additionally, she has successfully advocated on behalf of management in courts and administrative agencies in several states and before the EEOC and NLRB. With extensive litigation experience, Mag has also represented several non-profit and educational institutions.
Arielle Brown

Bea's Bayou Skincare beasbayouskincare.com/
Louisiana native and Licensed Master Social Worker, Arielle Brown, is the founder of Bea's Bayou Skincare, a probiotic scalp-care brand aimed at improving eczema-prone skin. After getting her Masters degree in Social Work from Southern University New Orleans, Arielle provided direct mental health services conducting trauma-focused therapies with children and families for seven years. After leaving the education system, Arielle chose entrepreneurship, working as a Realtor, but during the 2020 pandemic, she created scalp drops to soothe her itchy scalp and to her surprise, Bea’s Bayou Skincare was born! “Our vision is to inspire healing & build confidence. Our values are empathy, integrity, audacity, and joy!” Bea’s Bayou’s product line has grown to include both scalp and face care products to address itchy, imbalanced skin. In 2022, Bea’s Bayou Skincare won the Essence and Aveeno Skin Health Pitch for mentoring and a grant! Arielle has participated in various accelerator programs including VillageX (New Orleans), Founder Gym, Black Girl Ventures, Fearless Fund, IDEA Institute, Jrue & Lauren Holiday Fund, Stitchcrew, Amazon, and most recently by WocStar, Macy’s, New Voices Foundation, and Digital Undivided - Breakthrough/JP Morgan (New Orleans)! She is a member of Cosmetic Executive Women, International Society of Female Professionals, We Global Studios, VestHER, and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Ilsi Duncan

JPMorgan Chase jpmorgan.com
Business Relationship Manager for Chase in Kenner, Louisiana. I have over 22 years of experience at Chase. I am a member of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Kenner Business Association. I am also fluent in English and Spanish. My goal is to understand your business in a way that allows Chase to bring unique insights and value to every interaction with your business. I can provide you access to the broader team of experts in areas such as cash management, credit solutions, and other business services. Additionally, our advanced online capabilities and mobile tools give you access to your Chase business accounts from most digital devices. And you’ll have access to telephone banking options that can make your banking more convenient.
Norisha Kirts Glover

NRK Construction nrkconstruction.com
Founder and Owner
Norisha grew up in Tioga, Louisiana and holds two degrees from LSU: a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in public administration. With a 12-year career as a fundraiser, she worked to support education reform and higher education institutions in Washington, DC, California, and Virginia before returning home to work for the LSU Foundation supporting the E. J. Ourso College of Business. In 2015, Norisha put her fundraising, business development, and project management skills to use in founding NRK Construction.
With her knowledge of the K-12, higher education, and construction industries, Norisha was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana Workforce Investment Commission and the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, and by the Louisiana Dept. of Education to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) Accountability Commission. She has been recognized for her leadership success by being invited to participate in Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL)’s Leadership Louisiana (2016), Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Baton Rouge (2014), and Goldman’s Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (2019). She’s also been honored among Baton Rouge Business Report’s Influential Women in Business (2020) and Forty Under 40 (2014).
In 2020, Norisha served as President of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, a volunteer and leadership development organization of more than 1,600 women. She is also a board member of Currency Bank, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge Foundation, LSU Public Administration Institute, and the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation. Previously, she served as founding chair and board member of THRIVE Academy and on the boards of Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.
Katie LeGardeur

JPMorgan Chase jpmorgan.com
Katie is the Managing Director for J.P. Morgan’s Private Banking business in Louisiana. Prior to beginning her current role in 2008, she served as a Banker on the team for eight years. She began her banking career with a predecessor to J.P. Morgan in 1996. Katie is active in the community and makes volunteer work a priority. She serves on the boards of Louise S. McGehee School, the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the Louisiana Young President’s Organization. She has served on the boards of Boys Town Louisiana, the Louisiana Children's Museum, and the GNO, Inc. Public Policy committee. After completing her Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, she went on to earn an MBA from Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business. Katie holds NASD Licenses: Series 7, 66, 9, 10, and 24. Katie resides in New Orleans with her husband, Wendell, and their three children, Estelle, Ace, and Gigi.
Marina Manzanares

JPMorgan Chase jpmorgan.com
Senior Business Consultant
Marina was born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Miami, and has over 20 years of experience in Financial Services with a very diverse background. Her passion for helping her clients make sound financial decisions has led her to her current role at JP Morgan as VP. Sr. Business Consultant. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Mortgage Loan Originator at Gulf Coast Bank where in addition to her primary role she fostered and managed key relationships with an extensive network of external referral partners. Throughout her career she has held various roles including Financial Services Specialist at Regions Bank; Banking Officer, Branch Manager and Community Development Officer at Metairie Bank and Business Development Officer at the nation’s largest micro-lender Liftfund. Marina is very active in her community and has built a strong network of business and community leaders driving progress in the region. She’s currently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors at El Centro, a local nonprofit which was created to empower Hispanic individuals and entrepreneurs through financial literacy and entrepreneurial training. She is also active with the regional economic development organization, GNO Inc. where she’s currently serving as NextGen Council Chair. Through her board service at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana she founded the Hispanic Young Professionals of Louisiana (HYPLA) with the goal to give Hispanic young professionals the opportunity to share insight and get involved in their community while expanding their expertise and networking alongside some of the premier business leaders in the region. Marina has been recognized for the positive impact she’s made on both her local community and career field. In 2019 she was the Financial Services winner of The Spears Group annual Millennials Awards, and in 2017 she was selected as an Honoree at the March of Dimes Annual Spotlight on Success Gala. She lives in New Orleans with her husband and their children. Her passions include cooking, entertaining, traveling and getting involved in her children’s schools.
Courtney D. McWilliams

MaryMac’s Doggie Retreat marymacsdoggieretreat.com
Owner/Founder
Courtney D. McWilliams is the owner and founder of MaryMac’s Doggie Retreat where she specializes in caring for dogs that suffer with anxiety. Courtney’s career started in Social Services in 2010 after the completion of her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Kennesaw State University. From there she worked diligently in Child Protection for the State of Georgia while working on a Master’s in Business Non-Profit from Argosy University. In 2015, Courtney completed several courses at Duke University in Animal Behavior to jump start her career in pet care. In addition, Courtney obtained her Master’s in Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans in Spring of 2018. In the Fall of 2015, Courtney created MaryMac’s Doggie Retreat due to needing a pet sitter who understood separation anxiety as she found it hard to travel for work; she knew she was not the only pet parent with these issues. As a Social Worker, Courtney understood how separation anxiety could play a major role in the lives of children, and she found this to be true with dogs, too. Therefore, she combined her passion for dogs with her training and experience as a social worker to specialize in providing care to dogs who have anxiety while their pet parents are away. Courtney prides herself on being the first Black Owned Doggie Daycare in Louisiana. MaryMac’s Doggie Retreat is located in the heart of New Orleans offering services such as doggy daycare, boarding, and grooming. As the owner of MaryMac’s, Courtney prides herself on being a change agent for her community. Courtney has ultimately transitioned from being a Social Worker to a Dog Whisperer. She has been featured in People Magazine, the Drew Berrymore Show, Business Insider, Yahoo, and several other platforms.
Tina Meilleur

Design Your Success designyoursuccess.com
Tina Meilleur, CPA, MBA, is an Executive Coach and Business Consultant - founder of Design Your Success and her online learning center. Her clients started referring to her as “The Employee Whisperer” after she helped them show up more powerfully as the leaders they can be through her practical strategies. Reflecting one of her other passions, she published the best-selling book, Your Next Chapter: Five Steps to Creating Your Ideal Life documenting her own story of reinvention. She runs the New Orleans Chapter of the Women Presidents Organization as well as appearing as a featured public speaker, moderator, and panelist on several topics.
Cynthia Pazos

Founder and Co-host
In 1997, Cynthia founded a company focused on providing products and education for those patients effected by diabetes. After becoming one of the country’s leading distributors, she successfully exited the market after 24 years and is now committed to helping other women lead their companies. She is a member of the NO/LA Angel Network, Cabrini High School’s Alumnae Board, and recently founded a scholarship program for students who live with Type 1 Diabetes who wish to attend a New Orleans Catholic High School.
Kristi W. Richard

McGlinchey Stafford mcglinchey.com
Kristi Richard provides counsel to businesses of all sizes in the area of general business and corporate law, including entity formation, corporate governance, business contracts, vendor management contracts, and commercial finance as well as asset and stock acquisitions and sales. She advises small businesses regarding SBA certifications and construction businesses on contract negotiation and contractor licensing and compliance. Kristi also advises individual clients in the preparation of wills and trusts, succession planning, and other estate matters.

Lunch Sponsor and Speakers

Chad Perrier

Universal Data Inc. udi.com
Chad Perrier is the President of Universal Data Inc. (UDI), a technology and cybersecurity service provider servicing organizations in Southeast Louisiana for 40 years and counting.
Throughout his tenure at Universal Data, he has held various roles within the organization. Regardless of the position, his goals of helping people accomplish their personal and career objectives while also helping organizations leverage IT to protect and improve their operations have remained consistent.
Chad is focused on building business strategy across all offerings and services, mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships. He has also worked to define the company’s business architecture, leading strategy and business negotiations with high-profile partnerships as well.
These efforts have enabled the company to combine IT and business with its core values model to meet changing market needs. Universal Data has helped their staff and clients navigate natural disasters, pandemics, and cyber threats by leveraging technology as a piece of their daily operations.
Stephanie Kavanaugh

Universal Data Inc. udi.com
Stephanie Kavanaugh is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Universal Data Inc. (UDI), a full IT services and cybersecurity provider that services organizations across Southeast Louisiana.
She joined the growing UDI team in early 2012 and leads the sales and marketing strategy. Her passion in life is providing clients with accessible, cutting-edge technology and showing them how IT can be an exciting and effective tool to help their businesses.
Stephanie is driven by a passion for mutual success with clients and takes great pride in a solution-oriented approach in providing clients with the best customer experience possible.