Young Leadership Council Announces 2025 Role Model Class

NEW ORLEANS (APRIL 21, 2025) – Young Leadership Council (YLC) has announced its 2025 Role Model class. Composed of 10 business, community, and civic leaders, the 2025 class will be honored at the 39th Annual YLC Role Model Awards on Friday, October 10, at 6 p.m., at The Sazerac House at 101 Magazine Street. Annually since 1986, YLC has selected a class of outstanding New Orleanians who serve as Role Models by actively contributing to the betterment of the Greater New Orleans region. These individuals are an inspiration to YLC’s young professional members and the community at large. The 2025 YLC Role Model class is composed of the following individuals: 

Christopher Kane

Adams and Reese LLP

Partner and Global Trade, Transportation, and Logistics Team Leaders

Clara Baron-Hyppolite

College Beyond

Executive Director

Dr. Treva T. Brown

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Physical Scientist

Jim Cook

Sheraton Hotel/ Marriott International

General Manager

Leon Rittenberg III

Liskow Law Firm

Partner

Lisa D. Alexis

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund/City of New Orleans

NOTCF-President/CEO, Office of Cultural Economy-Director of OCE

Lowrey Crews

The 18th Ward

CEO

Margaret Orr

N/A - Retired

Chief Meteorologist WDSU

Ruth Lawson

Jefferson Chamber of Commerce

President

Wayne Baquet

Imperial Trading Little Desi

CEO

Each year’s class of honorees is selected by a committee that includes members of YLC’s Board of Directors and past YLC Role Model Award recipients. The committee reviews all nominations before selecting a final list of individuals. Honorees are selected based on significant contributions to their field of work and New Orleans as a whole. Notably, a person can only receive the honor of YLC Role Model once in his or her lifetime.

“YLC is so proud to announce the 2025 Role Model class. These leaders are doing amazing things in so many industries and areas across the greater New Orleans region, and they are making room for others to learn from them,”  said 2025 YLC Board President Josie Delaune. “We are excited to introduce our members to this group of community leaders throughout the year so they can share their passion and leadership and fulfill YLC's mission to create the next generation of New Orleans leaders.” 

The annual YLC Role Model Awards Evening will spotlight the accomplishments of the members of the 2025 Role Model class. This year’s event is chaired by YLC Board Members Brooke Laizer and Katie Neeb.

For information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities, contact Allison Hotard, Executive Director, at allison@ylcnola.org or call 504-585-1500. For more information about YLC and to view a list of past Role Model Award recipients, visit www.ylcnola.org. YLC can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @ylcnola. 

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About Young Leadership Council 

Young Leadership Council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic organization created to develop young professional leadership through community projects. Through volunteer-led community projects, YLC recruits and retains young professionals to New Orleans, creating a positive impact on the quality of life in the region. The oldest, independent young professionals' organization in the country, YLC has raised more than $25 million to support community projects in and around the Greater New Orleans area since 1986.