February 23, 2021
BGR Welcomes Five New Members to Its Board of Directors
BGR benefits from having a highly engaged board of directors dedicated to building on the organization’s important legacy. BGR today announces it has appointed five new board members who bring expertise and perspective to improve our work and strengthen the effectiveness of our team.
 
The new board members, who began their three-year terms in January, are:
Thomas A. LaVeist, Dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He has written more than 150 scientific articles, authored six books, and is executive producer of “The Skin You’re In” documentary series about racial inequalities in health. An award-winning research scientist, he has received the Innovation Award from the National Institutes of Health and the Knowledge Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. 
Juley Thuy Le, Engagement Manager for Enterprise at Resilia, a SaaS platform that helps nonprofit organizations increase capacity and enables enterprises that deploy billions of dollars to scale impact. She previously owned a dessert shop, Drip Affogato Bar, and continues to run the women’s website, Femme Next Door. 
Patty Riddlebarger, Vice President of Social Responsibility for Entergy Corporation. She also serves on the Cowen Institute Advisory Board, The School Leadership Center Board, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Board, the Nancy Marsiglia Institute of Justice Advisory Board and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana Public Policy Committee. 
Syrita Steib, Executive Director and Founder of Operation Restoration. She co-chaired the healthy families committee for Mayor Cantrell’s transition team. She was appointed by the Governor to the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment oversight council and is vice chair for the Louisiana Task Force on Women’s Incarceration. She is a 2020 Rubinger Fellow, a member of the second cohort of Unlock Futures (a collaboration between John Legend, Bank of America and New Profit) and 2020 Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Angel Awardee.
Lamar Villere, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Villere & Co. He also serves as a board member of Friends of KIPP New Orleans, and as board chairman of The Human Fund NOLA, which provides support to survivors of suicide loss. He previously served as board treasurer of Lighthouse Louisiana, and as president of the Isidore Newman School Dads Club. 
To learn more about BGR's board members and the breadth of experience they bring to our work, please click the button below:
About BGR
The Bureau of Governmental Research is a private, nonprofit, independent research organization dedicated to informed public policy making and the effective use of public resources for the improvement of government in the New Orleans metropolitan area.

To maintain our independence, BGR relies on the private support of individuals, businesses and foundations, and does not seek public funding or contracts. Please consider supporting our work by becoming a member of BGR, or giving a BGR membership to someone else. BGR's reports, events and other resources help citizens stay informed and engage effectively in local public policy.

Media Contact:

Steven Thorpe
Communications Specialist
(504) 405-4431
STAY IN TOUCH WITH US