Top 20 Under 40

JOSEPH BEARD
Client Support Manager | JPMorgan Chase

Joseph Beard grew up in Vicksburg, MS and moved to Monroe, LA to attend ULM in the fall of 2005. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in the spring of 2009. After college, Beard went to work in the mortgage industry and has been there for the last 12 years. He currently works for JPMorgan Chase as a Client Support Manager in the Correspondent Division and has been with Chase for 4 Years. He enjoys giving back to his community whether it is through sharing his love for Jesus or helping make our Monroe Community a better place. He is currently involved in the ULM Alumni Association as the VP of Membership, ULM Warhawk Club, Pi Kappa Alpha Chapter Advisor and his family attends North Monroe Baptist Church. He is married to Betsy Beard and together they have four children (Bailey – 8, Josie – 7, Lottie -5 and Jack -4). 

BL:  What do you hope to accomplish by 50?

Joseph.:  I always say that if you don’t dream big, then you are not going to accomplish much in life. We have to dream in order to make those dreams come true. A lot of things can change in the next 16 years, but I pray that I will still have my health and my determination to continue to make the world a better place. I would love to be in a very high management job in the Correspondent Industry leading a very successful team. I also hope that I can accomplish more things that make the community better and be remembered for the things that helped the next generation. As Steve Job’s says” The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do!” 

BL:  What is your advice to recent graduates?

Joseph: Do not get discouraged. Once you start your career, even if it is not where you saw yourself at first, work hard and learn from the people that have gone before you. Always remember: you may not know everything in the crowded meeting table, but make sure you are the one that works the hardest. Someone will notice you and appreciate that work.

BL:   What is your motivation?

Joseph: My motivations comes from my family. Every time that I look at my wife and kids… I want to make sure that I am at least trying to give my best self. I want my kids to know the meaning of hard work. I also want them to know that when they are at work they need to show their best selves and need to model Jesus. 

BRYAN CREEKMORE

Bankruptcy Lawyer | Campbell, House & Company

Bryan Creekmore was born and raised in West Monroe, Louisiana. Bryan attended Cedar Creek High School in Ruston and attended ULM majoring in Psychology.  He was also a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, Psi Chi Honors Psychology Fraternity, and 31 Ambassadors. He began working on his alternative teaching certification while getting his Masters of Arts in Teaching from ULM and taught for 4 years. In 2013, Bryan made a career change and went to law school at Southern University. He became a certified NFL agent and helped his father-in-law, Jeff Guerriero, with his sports agency, ProSource Sports, negotiating NFL contracts and marketing opportunities. Bryan graduated from Southern University Law Center with honors in 2016 and moved back to Monroe to begin working as an attorney specializing in Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice law. He recently began working to serve the needs of our citizens by practicing bankruptcy law at Campbell, House & Company. He is married to Lauren Creekmore and they have two beautiful children, a 4-year-old daughter, Emorie and 2-year-old son, Camden. 

BL: How do you balance being a successful young professional and having a family?

Bryan: It can be difficult. To be relatively new in my career and in a place in the community that I have the opportunity to help it grow means burning the candle at both ends sometimes. However,  I always remember that I am doing everything for my family. My wife and children need me but not half as much as I need them. I love what I do and I love serving people but Lauren, Emorie, and Camden are my “why.” They are my joy in life so it isn’t hard to FIND balance so much as it would be hard to operate without it. 

BL: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Bryan: I have been blessed to work with so many amazing professionals and work with so many amazing people. But I would say passing the Louisiana State Bar Exam is one of my proudest moments. For me, it was more than passing a test. It was confirmation that I had made the right decision when I switched careers. It was a big leap of faith for many people. My wife placed a lot of faith in me and uprooted her career for us to move to Baton Rouge for 3 years. So to pass the exam and be admitted to the practice of law was a confirmation that I had repaid her trust and faith in me. 

MAGGIE SIMS GENEROSO

Educator for Monroe City Schools

Maggie Sims Generoso is kicking off her 13th year as an educator for Monroe City Schools. She graduated from ULM in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education and in 2013 with a Master’s in Educational Leadership. She currently serves as a Math Content Leader for Monroe City Schools, as well as a Teacher Mentor for the state of Louisiana. Maggie and her family attend First Methodist Monroe, and she is currently serving a 2nd term as the President of the Louisiana Purchase Zoological Society. Maggie is participating in  Leadership Ouachita 2021 and will graduate in November.  She has been married to her husband, Ken, for 11 years and they have 2 boys- Max (8) and Reed (4).  They also have a Boston Terrier named Lola Bunny!

BL: How do you balance being a successful young professional and having a family?

Maggie: Balance can be very difficult. I have an amazing support system in my husband, family, and friends that has allowed me to be successful in every role that I play a part in.  Having the right people on the LPZS Board has helped with this balance as well, allowing all to be involved in the growth and reducing my personal weight load. 

BL: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Maggie: I am most proud of being named Teacher of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year at Cypress Point Elementary.  Being nominated and chosen for Top 20 Under 40 runs a close tie to Teacher of the Year!

BL: What do you do to ensure your growth and development as a leader?

Maggie: I am constantly looking for opportunities to be better than I was yesterday! Both in my professional and personal life, I’m always finding ways to be the best version of myself. I love to read books, attend trainings, and speak with like-minded individuals with similar goals.  I never want to stop learning!

BL: What can Northeast Louisiana do to retain young talent?

Maggie: NELA has so much to offer!  Monroe has that “big city” feel but is small enough that commuting isn’t a serious issue.  Monroe is on the cusp of something HUGE with our new local government, as well as plans for growth and expansion!  There is a place for everyone to plug-in and job opportunities are available all over NELA.

K’SHANA HALL-DAVIS

Social Service Counselor for the Louisiana Delta Human Services Authority

K’Shana Hall-Davis is a social service counselor for the Louisiana Delta Human Services Authority, a professional artist and photographer and vice president of the non-profit Black Creatives Circle of North Louisiana. BCCNL was this year’s recipient of the artist of the year award for their public art work. Prior to her arrival at LDHSA, she spent several years at a social service counselor for the Office of Juvenile Justice. K’Shana is an ULM alumni and originally from Chicago.

BL: What do you hope to accomplish by age 50?

K’Shana: My hope is to make a positive impact by continuing to provide effective services for my community. I hope to combine my passions for the arts and mental health to make a significant progress in breaking down the stigma of mental health care. My overall goal is just to be happy and healthy.

BL: What do you do to give back to your community?

K’Shana: The sole purpose of every title I hold is to give back to the community in some way. As service counselor for the Louisiana Delta Human Services Authority, I am the manager of three coalitions within Ouachita and Franklin Parish. The mission of these coalitions is to fight to prevent underage drinking by changing social norms, providing positive alternative activities in form of hosting/creating community events and in school programs, educate community members and implement evidence based programs within the community. This position has blessed me to be able to directly work with youth through our student ambassador program and Students Against Destructive Decisions program.  As VP of BCCNL, I work alongside our board members to carve out a space for black creatives (painters, writers, dancers, photographer musicians, scultpters ect.) in north Louisiana. We work together to help create opportunities for their work to be seen, recognized and valued. We also host free virtual workshops and provide free art kits to our local youth. I am also on the board of the Twin City Arts Foundation which works to keep art in our community by working with the Masur Museum to host art shows, workshops and other art related community events.

DESMUND LIGHTEN

Co-owner of Fit4Life Nutrition

Desmund Lighten is the co-owner of Fit4Life Nutrition. He graduated from Ouachita High School earning both football and academic scholarships to attend McNeese State University. There he went on to graduate while breaking multiple school records and was voted an AP All American along the way. This is also where he met his wife and business partnerm, Tea Tvrtkovic. 

After a brief stint playing professional football in the CFL, Desmund and Tea went into business together as Herbalife Nutrition Distributors. What started as a part time business grew to become Fit4Life Nutrition. Desmund has served as a mentor for many families in his organization providing a template allowing them to go into business for themselves serving a healthy alternative to fast food and energy drinks in their communities spread across multiple states. 

Desmund’s passions include helping people lead a healthier lifestyle, doing the Ouachita football radio broadcast and working on his private pilots license.

BL: Tell me something about you most people don’t know?

Desmund: I’m naturally introverted, I actually joined a fraternity to get me out of my dorm room as I am happy just being at home to myself, but once I’m forced into a social environment I can relate and learn from any and everyone iI come into contact with. It’s an oxymoron I don’t like going to social gatherings but i have a blast and make friends at social gatherings. 

BL: What do I hope to accomplish by age 50? 

Desmund: Well I honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead. Normally when I think that far into the future I’m thinking and envisioning what activities will I still be able to do, so I’d say securing my health and the health of my family. I consider being healthy and active a major accomplishment and of course it’s a lot easier to be healthy if you are not worried about keeping the lights on so securing financial freedom by providing value to the community is wrapped into that goal. 

BL:  What is your motivation?

Desmund: My motivation comes from a desire to be of service and value to others, to do this I must evolve into the best human I can be while being able to enjoy my time on this earth with the people I love most. 

JON MCCARTNEY

General Manager at 318 Construction

Jon McCartney has lived his entire life 1 mile south of I-20 off Cheniere Exit.  He went to Drew School, West Monroe Junior High, graduated from West Monroe High School in 2000, ULM in 2005, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2015.

For 16 years, Jon’s vocation was full-time ministry. In 2016, he became a contractor and began Vertical Builders. In 2019, Jon closed that chapter, and helped start 318 Construction, an insurance reconstruction company. 

Jon has been married for close to 20 years to Erica and they have three amazing teenagers Hunter, Abby, and Maggie. They love their family at North Hills Church in West Monroe where Jon serves as one of the pastors.  

BL: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Jon: It has been most exciting to grow and develop a highly competent team who has propelled 318 Construction to become the premiere insurance reconstruction company in our community. Since our inception in 2019 we have grown in employees, volume and service in leaps and bounds. 318 Construction exists to serve others in their time of need. I am proud to be a part of that.

BL: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your college self?

Jon: After I convinced myself to find a way to invest in Bitcoin, I would tell myself not to look for and take the easy way out of things. Do the hard work, slow down and enjoy the journey.

BL: What do you do to ensure your growth and development as a leader?

Jon: There are numerous ways in which I strive to grow and develop as a leader. There have been a handful of books that have helped me grow in business and leadership. Early on it was Jim Collins’ “Good to Great.” Most recently I am learning a lot from “Traction” by Gino Wickman. This year I joined a business coaching cohort of like minded key business men. I work for a successful and growing company which is full of leaders worth emulating. I have also failed miserably in business. Failure taught me more than I could have imagined. However, I owe who I am as a leader to being a student of the Bible. Jesus, the greatest leader to ever walk the Earth, says that He did not come to be served but to serve. This is the fundamental job of any leader…to serve others.

BRITTANY MCNAMARA

Digital Marketing Strategist for KTVE/KARD

rittany McNamara is the Digital Marketing Strategist for KTVE/KARD, in West Monroe, LA. After working in various roles in the advertising industry, Brittany decided to return to the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2018, taking online classes to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing, and is expecting to graduate in spring, 2022. 

Brittany serves on the Board of Directors for SOS Pets of Ouachita as the Marketing Director and is a committed United Way of NELA volunteer, serving as a mentor to children through Read. Learn. Succeed. She is a proud member of the Louisiana LunaChicks, an all-women’s dance team that is dedicated to giving back to the community through dance and volunteer efforts. In the past, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Advertising Club of Northeast Louisiana and the Downtown Monroe Alliance. Her passions are local community, volunteering and promoting the good things that happen here!

BL: What do you do to ensure your growth and development as a leader?

Brittany: I stay actively involved and try new things when opportunities arise. I love to network and meet new people, as well as embrace the opportunity to learn from them. 

BL: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Brittany: In addition to my career, I’m also enrolled in ULM Online to get my degree in Marketing and this year I was named the 2021 Women’s Symposium Empowering Student Leader scholarship recipient. This meant so much because it is a challenge to juggle both a professional career and college courses!

BL: What do you do to give back to your community?

Brittany:  I have a passion for volunteering and feel that in addition to donations, volunteer activism helps make a real difference in the lives of our community members. 

BL: What is your motivation?

Brittany:  My daughter—every choice I make is with her in mind and to set an example for her to know that women can do anything they put their minds to. 

LAURA PETTY, MD

Physician at The Woman’s Clinic

Laura Petty has been a physician at The Woman’s Clinic for almost 7 years. She is a board certified OB/GYN who grew up in Oakdale, LA. She received her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from LSU. After college, Laura attended medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Upon finishing medical school, she moved to Jackson, MS and completed her OB/GYN residency at UMMC. She then moved to Monroe and started private practice. Laura is married to Dr. Paul Michael Petty.  They have two daughters Caroline and Christine and an angel baby, Chapman. In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family as well as reading, gardening, snow skiing and traveling.  

BL:  Tell us something about you most people don’t know.

Laura: My husband and I lost our son at birth in 2018. It was a heartbreaking experience and I didn’t know if I would be able to go back to work again. My patients have played a big role in helping me through this difficult time. After his death, I wanted to do something to keep his memory alive. I decided to give a book to each baby I deliver. The book changes each year and is a wonderful way to remember him. Through my experience, I hope I am able to help other women who experience a similar unexpected loss. 

BL: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Laura: I get to be a part of bringing new life into the world almost daily. A safe, healthy delivery is an important accomplishment. Seeing a baby take his/her first breath is amazing and something I will never take for granted. 

BL: What was your first job?

Laura: I was a substitute teacher at the elementary school in my hometown. I have so much respect for teachers because those kids ruled me. 

BL: What is your advice to recent graduates?

Laura: The medical profession is a difficult place to work right now. It is demanding and the challenges we face today with COVID are like none that we have seen. I would tell recent graduates that even though your job may be tough, it will be rewarding. You are important, and we need your help to get through this time.

RICHARD ROYAL

Senior Portfolio Review Specialist at
Business Alliance Financial Services

Richard Royal is a lifelong resident of Union Parish, Louisiana. He grew up in Farmerville and went to Farmerville High School. Richard attended Louisiana Tech University and studied economics and finance and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Economics and a Master’s in Business Administration. Richard started banking as a part-time teller to work his way through college. He is currently a Senior Portfolio Review Specialist at Business Alliance Financial Services in Monroe.

BL:  Tell us something about you most people don’t know

Richard: One of my favorite pastimes is studying history. The reason for this is that history reminds us of how far we have come. Future generations are built on the foundations of the past. Sometimes the foundations are good and sometimes the foundations are bad. However, it is our responsibility to learn from the past so that we can make the future a better place.

BL:  What do you hope to accomplish by age 50?

Richard: I want to have influenced the lives of other young professionals the way that I was influenced and mentored. I am here today because others invested their time and energy into me. Without them, I would not be here. I want to have an influence on others, even if I never see the end result.

BL: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Richard: I am proud of becoming a Notary Public. While it may not appear to be a large accomplishment to some, it took a lot of time and effort to prepare for and pass the State Notary Exam. I am proud of this accomplishment because I learned much about Louisiana law. While it may appear to be a burden to have a document notarized, it is done to protect people and their property. 

BL:  What is your motivation?

Richard: My motivation is improvement. There are many obstacles and tough situations in life that cannot be made perfect. However, you can always make them better. My motivation is to make situations better for those that I work with and those that come behind me.

TIFFANY TERRA

Owner of Geaux Family Health and Spa Terra

Tiffany Terra was born and raised in Monroe, LA.  She is married to Bryan Terra and they have 2 children, Brayden (18) and Briley (11). Tffany attended St. Frederick High School and graduated in 2000. She attended  the University of Louisiana at Monroe and majored in nursing. She completed her BSN in Nursing in 2009 and Masters in Nursing from Northwestern State Louisiana in 2013.  Upon graduation, Tiffany opened Geaux Family Health in July of 2013. The most recent addition to her career is the opening of a new medispa, Spa Terra. Tiffany says she loves her job and patients and truly can’t imagine doing anything else with her life.

BL:  What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Tiffany:  As a young nurse practitioner just out of school, I have an immense ambition to run my own clinic.  I knew it would entail risks and would involve many hurdles, however, I stuck to those goals and went on to open my own clinic.

BL:  What do you hope to accomplish by age 50?

Tiffany:  I hope to accomplish full achievement in owning my own private facility.  I would like to build my own facility from the ground up, allowing for the best possible care for my patients.

BL:  What is your motivation?

Tiffany:  My main motivation is my family.  Their love and support makes me want to work even harder to ensure a successful future.  My second motivation  is our community and patients.  I came to work eager to help our patients feel comfortable by assisting with their health needs.

BL:  What was your first job?

Tiffany:  My first job was in a family owned small business, similar to Geaux Family Health .  When I was younger, I loved the feel of a privately owned mom and pop shop.  The owner truly loved what he did and inspired me to achieve my goal of owning my own business like he did.  He gave me the advice, “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”  My employees and patients feel like family.  I truly love what I do.