• Senior Vice President
  Marketing & Strategic Communications
• rowdyg@labi.org

Rowdy Gaudet serves as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Communications. Gaudet, a Lake Charles native, brings an abundance of policy and communication experience from more than a decade of public and private service, most recently at V. Graham, a financial services firm.

Gaudet earned his master’s degree in business administration from Louisiana State University and his bachelor’s degree in communications from McNeese State University. He also obtained an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Through leadership positions at Baton Rouge City Hall, including as the District 3 councilman on the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, he has fine-tuned skills ranging from government relations to strategic planning and crisis communications. He resides in Baton Rouge with his wife and their four children.

• Senior Vice President
  Government Relations
• jimp@labi.org | (225) 215-6657
• @LABIPatterson

As the Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Jim Patterson is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the day-to-day activities of LABI’s lobbying team at the Capitol. He directs the Taxation and Finance and Small Business Councils and also serves as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Right-to-Work Committee.

Jim has served with LABI for over 30 years.

• Events Manager
• taylora@labi.org | 337-849-3872

Taylor Andrus serves as LABI’s Event Manager.

A Lafayette native, Taylor moved to Baton Rouge in 2017 and has been planning events in the city ever since. Before joining LABI, Taylor spent five years working as a Marketing & Events Coordinator for Melara Enterprises. She graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree. Geaux Cajuns!

• Graphic Design Manager
• jessicaa@labi.org

• Director of Government Relations
• shelbyd@labi.org

Shelby Dunbar serves as LABI as Director of Government Relations, where she leads the Civil Justice and Technology councils. A native of Marksville, Shelby obtained her Juris Doctor from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2018 and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University.

Before joining LABI, Shelby was part of a Baton Rouge-based practice primarily focused on insurance defense litigation.

• Director of IT
• andref@labi.org | (225) 928-5388

Dr. Andre Forbes directs and administrates the IT department at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Andre worked most recently with Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Senior Network Engineer. He has been in the IT and computer business for 20 years. In addition, Andre holds a Ph.D. in computer science and a master’s degree in information technology with a specialization in network management.

• Director of Financial Operations
• tabithah@labi.org | (225) 215-6632

As LABI’s Director of Financial Operations, Tabitha Holliday is responsible for overseeing all accounting functions for LABI, LABI’s PACs, LABI Service Corporation, and the LABI Foundation.

Tabitha provides financial and administrative services to ensure efficient, timely, and accurate payment of accounts under her control and works to balance LABI and Political Action Committee (PAC) membership accounts. She also manages publication sales for the LABI Workers’ Compensation Desk Book and the preparation and filing of the sales tax returns from the sales of the books.

• Director of Policy Communications
• mariahh@labi.org | (225) 215-6651

Mariah Hernandez serves as LABI’s Director of Policy Communications, focusing on the development and implementation of integrated communications strategies for LABI. She works with the policy, political and communications teams to develop coordinated messaging and high-impact content to advance the organization’s policy and advocacy agenda. During the legislative session, she monitors key legislation across all issue areas, communicating progress to members, the Legislature and stakeholders through daily and weekly communications. Additionally, she conducts policy-related research to produce digestible, reliable outreach materials to advance LABI’s policy goals.

Originally from Lake Charles, Mariah received her bachelor’s degree from LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication with a concentration in political communication. She received her master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy from LSU in 2020. Before joining LABI, Mariah was active in state government, serving as a page for the Louisiana House of Representatives and as a Legislative Aide for former Senator Blade Morrish of Jennings, assisting the Senate Committee on Education.

• Director of Government Relations
  
• marybethh@labi.org

Mary Beth Derrickson serves as a Director of Government Relations, directing the Education and Workforce Development Council and the Trade, Transportation and Tourism Council.

A native of Denham Springs, Mary Beth joins LABI from the Fox News Channel’s D.C. Bureau. As an assignment editor for FNC, she covered the 2020 presidential election, January 6th, two impeachment trials and the 2020 summer protests. Hughes holds a master’s degree from American University and is an undergraduate alumna of Mississippi College. While pursuing her graduate degree, Hughes worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Garret Graves (LA-06) as a Press Fellow.

• Vice President
  Member Relations
• elenal@labi.org | (225) 215-6647
• @LABILacour

As LABI’s Vice President of Member Relations, Elena Lacour oversees the leadership, direction and management of the membership team. Elena works closely with LABI’s policy team to establish and maintain partnerships with Louisiana business leaders and engaging them in advocating for the state’s economic prosperity.

Before joining LABI, Elena served as State Director of Programs and Training for the Alzheimer’s Association Louisiana Chapter where she was responsible for advocacy, dementia care training and development. Prior to that, Elena was employed at LABI as a Regional Marketing Manager.

• Membership Manager
• madisonl@labi.org | 225-215-6654, ext. 254

• Vice President
  Government Relations
• patrickr@labi.org | 225-485-8701

Patrick Fox Robinson is a Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the Director of LABI’s issues councils for employee relations and healthcare policy. A graduate of Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, he practiced workers’ compensation and general insurance defense for many years before being appointed as a workers’ compensation judge and then Director of the Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation.

Patrick previously served as a regional director for the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute and as a vice-president of government affairs for MCG Health. Patrick received his MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2021, with a concentration in healthcare administration. He is a former infantry officer and proud veteran of the United States Army.

• Front Desk Manager

• Communications Manager
• johnstonv@labi.org

Johnston von Springer serves as LABI’s Communications Manager.

Johnston is a graduate of LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication where he received a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. Additionally, he minored in political science. Before joining LABI, he served as communications content specialist for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.  Prior to that, von Springer spent nearly six years as a multimedia journalist at WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, where he was named Louisiana Reporter of the Year in 2022. von Springer was born in Dallas.

• Government Relations Coordinator, Executive Assistant
• carlyw@labi.org | (225) 215-6655

Carly Watts serves as the Government Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Before joining LABI, Carly worked seasonally in the Felony Division of the 24th Judicial District Court and completed a summer internship in U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s Baton Rouge office. She earned her Master’s degree in American Politics from Louisiana State University in 2024 and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Nicholls State University in 2021.