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Pictured left to right: Thomas Graham (Board Chair), Elizabeth Turnley (Immediate Past Chair), William Dearmon (Chamber President/CEO), Lindsay Tomlinson (Incoming Chair/Finance Committee Vice Chair), George Lee IV (Workforce Development Committee Vice Chair). 
Not pictured: Oliver Neal (Membership Development Committee Vice Chair).

Ruston, LA – The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Board of Directors for its fiscal year beginning in July 2024. The Chamber’s Board of Directors provides valuable insight and leadership for the organization’s strategic direction, programming, development, and more.

Thomas Graham, insurance provider and branch manager of Forth Insurance, will serve as chairman of the board, succeeding Elizabeth Turnley, executive director of Russ Place. Lindsay Tomlinson, director of deposit operations and senior vice president with Origin Bank, will serve as chair-elect and vice chair of the Finance Committee. Oliver Neal, senior project manager at Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, Inc. will continue serving as vice chair of Membership Development Committee. George Lee IV, minister at Temple Baptist Church, joins the executive board as vice chair of the newly created Workforce Development Committee.

“I am honored to lead our bored this upcoming year as we seek to build upon our success and deepen our impact across the Ruston-Lincoln business community,” said Thomas Graham, Chair of the Ruston-Lincoln Board. “Our community benefits from an engaged and service minded chamber. Our plans for the 2024-2025 year include expanded business programming and elevated local partnerships with that sense of strategic engagement and service in mind.”

In June, the Chamber’s Board of Directors attended a luncheon at Squire Creek Country Club sponsored by Origin Bank to celebrate their achievements and recognize outgoing board members. The board members concluding their service include Eric McCulloch, Danny Walpole, Ty Storms, and Patricia Willis.

“We are fortunate to have such a dedicated board of directors that work tirelessly to guide the Chamber in fulfilling its mission to advocate for a strong business community,” said William Dearmon, President and CEO of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber has proven we are at our best when connecting businesses to services and opportunities. I’m thrilled to work alongside this dedicated board of directors as week seek to elevate our community impact and support economic opportunities that allow our local businesses to prosper.”

Below are the members of the 2024-2025 Ruston Lincoln Chamber Board. Those serving on the executive board are indicated with an asterisk.

  • Briley Cotton, Brasher Group
  • Caleb Etheridge, Etheridge Pipeline & Conduit
  • Thomas Graham*, Forth Insurance
  • Mark Graham, Holland Real Estate Group
  • Chelsea Klepzig, Argent Financial Group
  • George Lee IV*, Temple Baptist Church
  • Oliver Neal*, Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix and Hixson, Inc.
  • Amy Schwartzenburg, Hunt Guillot & Associates
  • Lindsay Tomlinson*, Origin Bank
  • Elizabeth Turnley*, Russ Place
  • Matthew Waldroup, Centric Federal Credit Union

Ex-officio board members include:

  • Kevin Klepzig, Lincoln Parish Police Jury
  • Sarah McKinnie, Origin Bank
  • Ryan Richard, Louisiana Tech University
  • Amy Stegall, City of Ruston, Main Street
  • Patience Tally, Louisiana Delta Community College
  • Adarian Williams, Grambling State University
  • Stephen Williams, Lincoln Parish Sheriff

To learn more about the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, visit rustonlincoln.org.

Media Contact:

Bevin Hicks

(318) 255-2031

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