2023-24 Board Nominees

Jordan Basham

Jordan Basham is an Account Executive at a local digital marketing agency called Gatorworks, where she is responsible for overall account management for various client services. Those services include website design and development, ongoing SEO, ongoing PPC management, targeted display, streaming TV, social media content and ads, and email campaign management.

When she’s not working as an Account Executive, Jordan Basham is a local influencer that’s been nominated two years in a row for Best Local Instagrammer by 225 Magazine. She’s been featured multiple times on Talk 107.1, the Jay Ducote show, and in magazines like 225 Magazine, inRegister, Baton Rouge Business Report, and many more, discussing how influencers can support local businesses in Baton Rouge. She is a Junior Executive Board Member for the American Cancer Society, Marketing Committee Member for Knock Knock Children’s Museum, and recently graduated from the Barton Leadership Program from Forum 225.

Jordan is a dog mom to four rescue dogs and married to her high school sweetheart, Michael Basham. She is passionate about traveling the world and learning more about other cultures. When she’s not traveling, she’s home working in the Baton Rouge community to bring more business to our city.

Angel Chang / Lamar Graphics

Hi everyone reading this! I’m Angel Chang. I graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Sociology and Chinese as well as Graphic Design (This is the important one to remember.) While I was there, I was able to intern at LSU as well as a local agency. I also got to be a part of the Graphic Design Student Association, which allowed me to go to a few of the AAF luncheons as well as the Addy award shows! Attending these events helped me realize that I’m in the field that makes me happiest.

Since then, I’ve been with Lamar Graphics for almost 4 years! This is the first year I got to be a part of AAF through Lamar, and it has been so wonderful to see how the club is still helping to shape our community and field. I’m so excited for the potential opportunity to be a part of that as well!

Emily LeBlanc / Lamar Advertising

Emily LeBlanc has a passion for helping clients achieve their goals through strategic advertising placements. She graduated with a Mass Communication degree with a focus on Advertising from Louisiana State University’s Manship School of Mass Communication in 2012.

She is currently a National Account Manager with Lamar Advertising, where she has been employed since 2014. In 2022, she served on the fundraising committee for AAF to help coordinate the annual Media & Creative Services Auction. 

Emily has a 3 year old son, Evan, who loves to point at billboards and say “that’s Mom’s work!” When she’s kid-free, she enjoys drag brunches with her sisters and comedy shows with her friends.

Emma Little

I would be honored to be a member of the AAF-BR Board of Directors for the 2023-24 season and I’d like to help the organization grow.

As the current president of the Graphic Design Student Association, I’ve already made connections with a large majority of the department at LSU. Additionally, as a 2023 graduate and will-be recent student, I’m familiar with top networking practices in order to get in touch with students. Having these contacts in place will allow me to communicate opportunities of growth in AAF-BR.

I would also enjoy making in-person visits to colleges in this area to encourage students how to maximize the AAF-BR resources available to them. In the communication field, I have always been a fan of clear and concise information delivery.

In group settings, I frequently take on the role of communicator, both with client relations and coordinating division of tasks within the group. I enjoy staying active in groups and organizations and I believe in industry collaboration contributing to professional growth and success.

 

Maia Meadors / DAA Media and Marketing

Maia Meadors was an integral part of the overall theme concept and graphics for the 2023 American Advertising Awards of Baton Rouge, “Let’s Get Physical”.

Maia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2019. She has been working in and around Baton Rouge since and currently works for advertising powerhouse DAA Media and Marketing.

Maia has a strong sense of creative thinking partnered with an authentic, genuine nature. She is incredibly dependable and meticulous with every task she is given. Maia has strong follow-through and is service-oriented due to her background in customer service. She has all of the qualities we need for leadership in the Baton Rouge advertising community.

Nam Nguyen / MESH

Nam Nguyen is a very talented graphic designer originally from Vietnam.

While working hard at his degree, Nam worked multiple jobs on and off campus to diversify his portfolio. He interned at Mesh in Baton Rouge while working for the Olinde Career Center creating branded images and content for websites, social media, email, and print communications.

Nam earned his Bachelor of Arts graphic design degree from LSU in December 2022. Nam is extremely reliable, dedicated and detail oriented. You can rely on Nam to get the job done. He volunteered to help with many AAF-BR activities and events this past year and attended almost every luncheon.

Nam Nguyen will be an incredible asset to the AAF-BR board for the 2023-24 year, by bringing a diverse and fresh perspective to events and programs.

Luisa Restrepo / LSU GDSO

Born and raised between Bogota and Medellin, Colombia, Luisa completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Colombia, moved to the US, and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree. She is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Louisiana State University and is the Creative Director for the Graphic Design Student Office. Interested in new technologies as a resource to push the boundaries of traditional graphic design, Luisa encourages her students to think beyond paper and client-based work. Some of her research interests lay in packaging, surface design, and environmental graphics.

Luisa has received numerous awards and honors for her work with the Graphic Design Student Office and hopes to continue motivating students to do great and fun work together.

She is a member of AIGA, American Advertising Federation, and has been a board member at the Baton Rouge Gallery, center for contemporary art.

Corey Salomone / Lamar Advertising

Corey Salomone is a National Account Director at Lamar Advertising with 13 years of experience in planning, selling, and managing billboard, transit, and airport campaigns across the country. He enjoys building relationships with his clients across the country as an expert and advocate of the Out of Home Advertising Industry. 

A native of the Northshore of New Orleans, Corey landed in Baton Rouge as a graduate in Advertising at Louisiana State University. Corey served on the 2022 AAF Fundraising committee to help coordinate the annual Media & Creative Services Auction. In his free time, Corey enjoys playing competitive tennis, following professional tennis, and traveling.

2022-2023 Executive Committee

Julia Yarbrough  – President
Jay Watson – Vice President / Programs
Rachel Harvey –  Vice President / American Advertising Awards Co-Chair
Lisa Thibodaux – Executive Director / Membership
Claire Estopinal – Treasurer
Jennifer Berthelot – Immediate Past President / Fundraising