2011 LSED Board Members

Ron Forman, Chairman
Ron Forman, President & CEO of Audubon Nature Institute, is a New Orleans native and a graduate of LSU. Over 30 years ago, beginning with an “urban ghetto” of a zoo and an under-funded city park, Forman envisioned a collection of family oriented, educational venues across the city of New Orleans. The Audubon Nature Institute’s ten award-winning living science museums and parks dedicated to the wonders of nature are the result of that vision. Forman is also the Immediate Past Chairman of the New Orleans Conventions & Visitors Bureau and Past President of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. In addition, he serves on the board of the American Association of Museums.

J.E. Brignac, Board of Commissioners
J. E. Brignac, Jr. of Prairieville, Louisiana is currently Chairman of the Board of Imperial Management Corporation and its subsidiaries’ Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and A B C Agency Network, Inc. Mr. Brignac is one of the Founders of Imperial Management Corporation which was started in 1990. He is a past owner and director of Dupre Carrier Godchaux Agency, Inc., Century 21-DCG Realty, Inc. and National Security Underwriters, Inc.

 Robert Bruno, Board of Commissioners
Robert Bruno has been a partner with the law firm Bruno and Bruno since 1983. He earned his BA from LSU in 1980 and a law degree from Tulane in 1983. In 2000, Bruno founded Bruno Brothers Management and Development Company with his brothers. The company owns a variety of real estate including shopping centers, office buildings, business parks and hundreds of acres of commercial land in the gulf south region of the United States.

Julio Melara, Board of Commissioners
Julio Melara is an entrepreneur, publisher and author. He is president and co-owner of Louisiana Business Inc., a multi-media publishing company which publishes Baton Rouge Business Report, 225 Magazine, InRegister magazine, Daily Report and many other niche publications, websites and e-newsletters. He serves on numerous charitable and community boards including: Iberia Bank, Arts Council of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Community Fund for the Arts, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation and Career Compass of Louisiana. Julio was recently awarded the 2012 E.A. "Pete" Goldsby Lifetime Achievement Award. The annual award goes to the person who has made the greatest overall contribution to the advertising profession and is the highest personal award presented by the American Advertising Federation-Baton Rouge.

Bill Windham, Board of Commissioners
William C. Windham of Bossier City is a life long resident of Louisiana. Born and raised in the Louisiana Delta, Windham moved to Shreveport after completing his education at Louisiana Tech. In Shreveport, Windham went into business for himself and created a real estate development and construction company. Over the last three decades he has been involved in many different businesses including real estate, construction, healthcare and energy. Windham created The Brentwood Companies and served as Chairman until the companies were sold in 2004. Currently, he manages his remaining business investments and is exploring new opportunities. He also serves as the Finance Chairman for the Board of St. Marks Cathedral School and also sits on the Executive committee of SciPort Discovery Center.

 

Gregg Patterson, Board of Commissioners

Gregg Patterson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been President/Co-Owner of G.A.S. Investments for the past 15 years.  His businesses, all in Ascension Parish, consist of convenience stores, quick serve restaurants and a storage facility. He is also very active in the Ascention Parish community. Gregg is a graduate of LSU where he played baseball from 1985-1987.  From 1987-1989, he played in the Chicago Cub's farm system until injuries cut his career short.  He later worked in the Cubs organization as a scout for two years.  In 1993, he became Northeast La. University's Assistant Baseball Coach in Monroe, La. where he was pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.