
It takes a village
Dana Schlotterer
Executive Director
dana@yeabr.org
YEA BR is led by Executive Director Dana Schlotterer, a longtime educator and leader with a strong reputation within Baton Rouge’s education community.
Dana is supported by a team of business and community leaders working together toward a common purpose: to unlock the potential of our young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
Steering Committee

Deborah Sternberg
Chair, Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge
Chair, Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge

Ed Watson
Department Chair, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Professor and Department Chair, Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
Department Chair, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Professor and Department Chair, Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business

Sonja D. Wiley
YEA BR Instructor
Associate Professor and Diversity Advisor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Advisor, Office of Business Student Success
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
YEA BR Instructor
Associate Professor and Diversity Advisor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Advisor, Office of Business Student Success
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business

Kelly Sword-Hurtado
Former Executive Director, OLOL Foundation
Former Executive Director, OLOL Foundation

Michael Roth
Vice chair, Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge
Vice chair, Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge

Gwen Hamilton
Community Affairs, New Schools for Baton Rouge
Community Affairs, New Schools for Baton Rouge

Kevin Lyle
YEA BR Instructor
Chief Technology Officer, Naveon
President, PolitiCraft
Board Member, Atlantic Theater Co.
YEA BR Instructor
Chief Technology Officer, Naveon
President, PolitiCraft
Board Member, Atlantic Theater Co.

Norisha Kirts Glover
Owner and President, NRK Construction
Owner and President, NRK Construction

James B. Davis, PhD
Senior Instructor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Senior Instructor, Flores MBA Program
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business
Senior Instructor, Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
Senior Instructor, Flores MBA Program
LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business

Christopher Toombs
Dean of Culture, Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy
Dean of Culture, Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy

Danny Fields
President and CEO, Daniel J. Fields Consulting
Chief Development Officer, Cremmjoy
President and CEO, Daniel J. Fields Consulting
Chief Development Officer, Cremmjoy

Tanya Lawrence
Chief Operations Officer, Neighbors Federal Credit Union
Chief Operations Officer, Neighbors Federal Credit Union

Olivia Wolf
Associate, Jones Walker LLP
Associate, Jones Walker LLP

Jada Lewis
Founder and CEO, Adapt ED Consulting
Founder and CEO, Adapt ED Consulting

Seth Irby
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer, LWCC
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer, LWCC

Drew Tessier
Senior Director, Public Affairs, Union Pacific
Senior Director, Public Affairs, Union Pacific

Achilles Williams
Founder, Caerus Accounting and Tax
Founder, Caerus Accounting and Tax

Lois Smyth
Vice President of Major Gifts & Donor Relations, Capital Area United Way
Vice President of Major Gifts & Donor Relations, Capital Area United Way

John W. Matthews, Jr.
Senior Director of Small Business Services, Louisiana Economic Development (Retired)
Senior Director of Small Business Services, Louisiana Economic Development (Retired)

Kelly Bienn
Director of Marketing and Communications, LWCC
Director of Marketing and Communications, LWCC