Board of Directors

Todd was raised in Marksville.  He graduated from Marksville High School in 1982 and enlisted in the United States Navy.  Todd served for six years.  He worked for the US Government as a communications officer, managing communications centers in Embassies as well as overseeing various communications sites throughout Africa.  Todd was also a communications instructor in the Washington D.C. area, training hundreds of new officers for deployment just after 9/11. 

After retirement, Todd was employed by Raytheon Corporation as a government contractor supporting communications officers in the Washington DC region and around the world. Todd purchased KAPB radio in February 2017.  A passion to serve the community has transformed “The Cajun” into a vital cog in the area, providing community information as well as a modern radio station that the parish can be proud of.

Todd is married to Julie Chatelain Laborde of Mansura and has two children, Stephen who has recently relocated to Marksville and Rebecca “Rebel Rebz” Laborde who is the afternoon air personality at the Cajun, based in Tampa.

Past President of the Avoyelles Parish School Board. Serves on the Board of Directors for the Avoyelles Society of the Developmentally Disabled, financial secretary for the Marksville Knights of Columbus, Treasury for the Avoyelles Community and Youth Coalition, CASA Advocate Volunteer, Teen Court Intake Officer, Marksville Lions Club Member, and Woodman of the World Lodge #612 Member.

Morgan Vandegevel became the Executive Director of the Marksville Chamber of Commerce in 2023. Before stepping into this role, she served as the Venue Manager for a wedding venue in Creola, LA, where she oversaw rehearsals, executed seamless event timelines, and managed a staff of five.

Morgan is a graduate of Northwestern State University, earning her degree in Hospitality, Tourism & Management—a field she immediately knew was the perfect fit. Her career in hospitality has led to unique experiences, including working for a professional hockey team in North Louisiana.

After graduating in 2020, Morgan moved to Marksville and quickly became invested in the community she now serves.

When she isn’t working, Morgan enjoys spending time with her daughters, Emersyn and Averi, and her boyfriend, Josh.

Born and raised in Marksville, Van Roy is the co-owner of Bailey's on the Square, a special event venue located in the historic Bailey Theater. He is also a realtor with Roch Michael Real Estate.  He is currently President of the Rotary Club of Avoyelles and President of the Marksville Chamber of Commerce.  He serves on the boards of the Avoyelles Arts Council and the Avoyelles Society for the Developmentally Disabled. He is a firm believer of community service and feels that it adds to the quality of life for those who live in the city of Marksville and Avoyelles Parish and those who visit here. 

A native of Marksville,  is the wife of Johnathan Augustine and mother of their ten year old daughter Aleyce.  Allison is a graduate of University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is the director of marketing for Riviere de Soleil in Mansura. She has been an active member of Marksville's Holy Ghost Catholic Church all of her life.

At the young age of 22, when most young adults and couples are planning their futures together, tragedy struck when Augustine lost her first husband to cancer.  Though she had always been an ambitious student and active academically and socially, her loss became a catalyst for a life committed to promoting cancer awareness and serving her community through organizations that speak to her personally.

Allison Ravare-Augustine has a passion for community service!  She has been actively involved with the American Cancer Society for over 20 years, is currently serving as Chairperson for Avoyelles Relay for Life and is the founder and director of the Louisiana Queen of Hope Pageant.  Board member and Past President of the Marksville Chamber of Commerce, past president and board member of the Rotary Club of Avoyelles, President and board member of the Avoyelles Council on Aging, it's clear to see that Augustine truly lives Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self."  She is also the president of the Avoyelles Arts Council, for which she serves as director of the Avoyelles Arts & Music Festival, an annual event she helped found and organize 10 years ago that has become one of Central Louisiana's biggest summer attractions.

Augustine was recognized as the 2018 Avoyellean of the year for her outstanding service to Avoyelles Parish and also recognized as a Louisiana Ambassador by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser for dedication and service to promoting Louisiana Tourism in Avoyelles Parish.

"Central Louisiana is my home and where I have chosen to live and raise my family.  The quality of life here is important to me and I find great joy in working with others to enrich and nurture the lives of others through the work I do in the community."

I moved to Avoyelles Parish in 1978 and married James Desoto.  We have one son Blake Desoto, a beautiful daughter-in-law Kelly and two beautiful grandchildren with red hair, Reid and ViVi.  In 2015 I retired from the State of Louisiana with 37 years with the last 23 years as a juvenile probation/parole officer and supervisor.  This was my passion, working with our youth and to make a difference in their life,  I am the Director of Avoyelles Teen Court for 24 years.  This is a program which also allows youth to correct some poor choices and give back to the community.  I have served as president of the Spring Bayou Water District  since 1989 and ensuring that the community has clean drinking water.  I currently serve as board member and secretary of the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Authority.  I have been a Rotary Club member for two years and I enjoy giving back to our community.  In the past, I was a CASA Coordinator for Avoyelles Parish and took pride in being the voice for the children in the foster care system.  I am a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and a member of the choir and the ACTS Retreats.  Currently, I serve as the Coordinator of the Avoyelles Community & Youth Coalition where our platform is to Reduce Underage Drinking in Avoyelles Parish ages 9-20.  I currently serve as a board member for the Marksville Chamber of Commerce. 

Chris J. Barbry, Sr., a lifelong resident of Marksville, Louisiana, is a seasoned executive with over 45
years of management experience, including 32 years in casino resort operations. ​ Currently serving
as the Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager at Paragon Casino Resort, Chris is
responsible for overseeing the successful direction, administration, and coordination of the gaming
and resort departments. ​ His leadership aligns with the policies and objectives set by the General
Manager, TBGA Board of Directors, and the Tunica Biloxi Tribal Council, with the ultimate goal of
maximizing profit and return on investment. ​
Chris played a pivotal role in the opening of Paragon Casino Resort, formerly known as Grand Casino
Avoyelles, in 1994. ​ Throughout his tenure, he has held various leadership positions, including
Director of Environmental Services, Director of Engineering, Vice President of Facilities, Senior Vice
President of Facilities, Executive Vice President/Assistant General Manager, and Executive Vice
President/General Manager. ​ He also served as Vice President and Board Member of the Tunica
Biloxi Economic Development Committee. ​ Notably, Chris chaired the committee responsible for
Paragon’s $150 million, 500,000-square-foot expansion project. ​
Chris attended the University of Nevada, where he completed the Reno-Gaming Executive
Development Program. ​ He has also participated in numerous training programs, including Paragon’s
Management Certification Program and Guest Service Training through the Freeman Group. ​
A graduate of Marksville Senior High School, Chris is an E-4 Specialist with an honorable discharge
from the Louisiana Army National Guard. ​ He is married to Emelie and is a proud father to his
daughter Jessica and son Chris Jr., as well as a loving grandfather to two granddaughters. ​

Jenny Donaghey-Beckham is an attorney practicing in Marksville, as both a general practitioner focused on Estate Planning & Successions, and as an Assistant DA for the 12th Judicial District. She has been married to Jeremy Beckham for over 20 years, and they have two small children. Jenny is a member of the Bayou des Glaises Baptist Church, and an active member of various local organizations.  In 2013, she returned to her home Parish of Avoyelles after 11 years away, and has a strong desire to see the parish, and the people in it, grow and succeed. Jenny believes the best leaders are those that lead by example, and will never ask others to undertake a task that she herself is not willing to undertake

I’m Kristen Bordelon, and I live in Effie with my husband, Bobby, and our six kids. I’m currently working in dental consulting and as an insurance agent. I love cooking, spending time on the river, and riding the boat. Being part of Avoyelles Parish means so much to me, especially with all the rich cultures and events we have here. I’m excited to help make a difference in our community, particularly for our children and local businesses.

Bonjour! My name is Dodie Landry Lachney, daughter of Jimmy and Shirley Landry of Hessmer.   My husband, Sonny, and I have lived and owned our business, Central La. Tire, in Marksville for the past 31 years.  We have three awesome sons and two beautiful daughters-in-law: Jonathan (Kayla), Payton, and Joshua (Brianna). We have been blessed with three grandsons, Alex and Jeremiah, and Maverick   

I am a casa case coordinator in Avoyelles Parish. I have been with the Children's Advocacy Network / Casa for 5 years. I consider it an honor and a privilege to supervise an amazing team of volunteer advocates as we work together, and with collaborating agencies, for the best interest of the children of our parish. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of making a huge difference in their lives. 

In our spare time, my husband and I enjoy traveling, we consider ourselves traveling foodies and are huge history buffs! Spending time with our adult children and grandchildren is our favorite pastime. We are parishioners at  St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

I am proud to be a Marksville Chamber of Commerce board member. I desire to serve and promote our local businesses and bring opportunity to our great city!

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, I am a proud Mexican-American who relocated to Avoyelles Parish at the age of five. After graduating from Avoyelles Public Charter School, I went on to earn my college degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I returned home to pursue my passion for education, teaching the youth of Avoyelles Parish for eight years, and also dedicated seven years to coaching a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, and soccer at both the high school and elementary levels. In 2022, I shifted my focus to the entertainment industry, becoming the entertainment manager at Paragon Casino Resort, where I spent over three years connecting with talented artists and musicians and forging lasting friendships. Today, I am an entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio, including my own coffee shop, C’est La Vie, in downtown Marksville, as well as various local bars, event venues, and rental properties, such as Maisonette de Armand and a property adjacent to our Airbnb. Alongside my wife, Kaytlyn Ramirez, we own several properties and are passionate about fostering growth in our community. We are proud parents to our five-year-old son, Luis Ramirez Junior, aka LJ, and are dedicated to continuing to build a vibrant life in Avoyelles Parish, sharing our success and helping others enjoy the same opportunities we've been fortunate to find here.