SMHA Staff

Lorna Bourg, President/Executive Director

A MacArthur Fellow · A Fannie Mae Foundation James A. Johnson Fellow · Graduate of Harvard's JFK School of Government Program for Senior Executives · Over four decades in comprehensive rural community and housing development · Leadership consultant in local, regional and national nonprofit initiatives · Master's degree in Psychology · Extensive experience in community organizing. Co-founder of Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. and Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc.

Helen Vinton, Assistant Executive Director/Life Quality Director

Rural specialist · Directs SMHA's Life Quality Program initiatives including sustainable agriculture and economic alternatives with traditional fishers · Over 30 years' experience in rural community development · M.S. in Biology with continued education in environmental studies · Served as president of Rural Advancement Foundation—USA · Co-founded the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group · Member, Sisters of Providence.

Denise Galatas, Special Assistant to the President and Sr. Program Designer and Writer

Ten years experience with SMHA, assisted in raising approximately $5.8 million in non-governmental funds. Experience as Office Systems Technology Instructor in the Louisiana Technical College System · 16 years' business experience includes marketing director for nonprofit performing arts organization and project consultant for Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group · B.S. in Business Administration · M.S. in Marketing.

Theresa LaCour-Hebert, Executive Administrative Assistant.

Theresa is the Executive Administrative Assistant to Lorna Bourg, President/Executive Director of Southern Mutual Help Association. Theresa has over 14 years professional experience assisting busy executives as they work hard to accomplish the goals and missions of their organization. Theresa has 20 years business, management and accounting experience with outstanding organizational and communication skills. Theresa is home grown, born and raised in Iberia Parish and understands the traditions and the culture of the people in the area. Theresa’s previous professional experience has provided her the opportunity to work with others on a State as well as Federal level. Theresa loves to be of service and is proud to have joined the SMHA team in helping to build the rural communities of Louisiana.

Marva Porter, Small Town Mayors' Initiatives, SMHA Housing Coordinator, West End Community Liaison

Over five years experience with SMHA that includes working with mayors in rural communities in developing and implementing programs of benefit to their communities. She also processes applications for first time homebuyers, assists in establishing their Human Development Action Plan and packages and submits their loans to mortgage lenders. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and completion of all course work towards a Masters of Science and Administration. Certification training includes USDA rural Development Section 502 Direct Loan packaging and underwriting, NeighborWorks America Homeownership Counseling and NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute. She is a former executive director of a domestic violence program and over 20 years experience in local government performing community development, human relations and revenue generating related duties.Council.

Anicka Jones Marshall, Senior Manager for Integrated Development

Anicka has over 10 years professional experience in the construction, civil engineering and not-for-profit industries. As the Senior Operations Manager for national production homebuilder, KB Home, she was instrumental in developing and launching six communities (660 lots, 130 acres) and instilling and leading the way in cultivating a "spirit of excellence" within the organization. Anicka has six years of experience as an engineer working on high-profile projects for the LA Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers and various municipalities designing transportation systems, developing sites and preparing extensive studies. Anicka's work extends past her professional career as an active member of her community. She gladly volunteers her time to work with not-for-profit organizations in developing and implementing programs and life-changing events and spends countless hours mentoring youth and aspiring entrepreneurs. Mrs. Marshall has a B.S. in Civil Engineering and is a Licensed Residential and Commercial Contractor in the state of Louisiana.

Special Assistant for Communications and Design Art

Sixteen years' nonprofit experience and over 18 years' experience in the private sector for upper management of firms · High-level competencies in computer, internet and graphic/desktop publishing skills and research. Serves on SMHA's LANO, NeighborWorks, and Business Interruptions and Recovery committees.

Lurcy Marceaux, Construction Director

Over 20 years non-profit experience with SMHA, with over 260 new and redevelopment units, assisting rural communities combat poverty through Debt & Credit Counseling, Financial Literacy, Homeownership Counseling and Skills Transfer Training. Over ten years spent as a Public Housing Manager. Experienced in real estate, management and loan packaging.

Monica Luke, Program Officer, Directorate for Family and Community Development

Over four years non-profit experience with SMHA, received the Louisiana Mortgage Loan Originators License and certification in September 2010, member of SMHA's Stewardship Committee, Business Interruptions and Recovery Committee and Policy Committee. 18 years experience as a foundation manager in rural Appalachia, Member of Louisiana Society of CPAs, specially trained in real estate transactions.

Clementine Matthews, Southern Mutual Financial Services Administrator

Over 16 years' nonprofit experience with SMHA, including housing/human development, Louisiana Mortgage Loan Originators License in September 2010, 10 years with Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc. (SMFS), SMHA's lending affiliate, with over $9 million in mortgage, consumer and business loans · Extensive experience in credit counseling, loan origination, loan packaging, arranging mortgage finance and loan closing · Experience as consultant in local rural communities and school boards · Finalist for the McAuley Institute's 2002 Courage in Community Award.

Monica Broussard, Office Communications and Receptionist

Over four years at SMHA as receptionist and staff support, serving on SMHA's Louisiana Association of NonProfit Organizations (LANO), NeighborWorks and Hospitality committees, over 20 years' experience in office management, secretarial and related responsibilities · Two years' experience in customer service · Secretarial degree, Delta School of Business.

Annette Broussard, Financial Affairs Administrator

Annette brings 14 years of accounting and customer service to SMHA with a high level of professionalism. She prepares all information for the CPA and auditors, and is in charge of all accounting procedures, grants and loans and her work produces clean audits every year for SMHA. She provides staff support to SMHA's Audit Finance Committee and the Investment Committee and serves on SMHA's Excellence Standards (LANO) Committee and the Great Gator Race Committee.

Shirley Comeaux, Senior Donor Relations Manager, Equipment Inventory Manager

Over 10 years nonprofit experience with SMHA, including seven years as Administrative Assistant for Financial Affairs retiring from that position in 2003. Returned to SMHA in 2008. A Notary Public with 40 years experience in all aspects of Accounting. Proficient in Raiser's Edge software and manages SMHA's annual appeal.

Wilma Subra, Adjunct Staff

Provides technical assistance to SMHA on environmental issues · President of Subra Company, Inc., an independent water analysis laboratory · Involved in environmental policy at the national level and has served on several EPA committees · Works with over 100 citizens groups in Louisiana, providing technical training, organizing skills and evaluation criteria · Served on both Democrat and Republican Governors' Transition Teams on Environment · MacArthur Fellow · Recipient, Louisiana Wildlife Federation's Governor's Conservation Achievement Award · M.S. in Microbiology.

Jacklyn "Jackie" Ducote, Adjunct Staff

Directs SMHA's Public Policy Leadership Institute and is co-coordinator of SMHA's Rural Recovery Task Force · President, Jacklyn Ducote & Associates—Empowerment Resources · Past president, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication Alumni Board · Coordinator, Louisiana Coalition for Open Government · Former executive vice president, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry · Former president, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana · Education reform activist · Served on education transition teams of three Louisiana governors · Former board member, New Orleans Branch of Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta · Named one of the "Top 25 Women in 1997" by the Baton Rouge Business Report · B.S. in Journalism · M.S. in Library Science.

Mary Hallock Morris, Adjunct Staff

Assists with policy analysis and research on sustainable agriculture and land use policies · Experience in researching and consulting in rural community economic development as both an intern and former Life Quality Specialist with SMHA · Alumnus of NCCED's Emerging Leaders Program · Assistant professor of Political Science at the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville · Research focuses on the local, state and national policy ramifications of Louisiana's coastal wetland loss and the "Dead Zone" · M.A. in Community & Environmental Education, Antioch University · Ph.D. in Political Science, Indiana University.

Carrie F. Curet, Volunteer/Consultant

Over 33 years' experience in mortgage, consumer and commercial lending · Vice President and Community Development Officer, IBERIABANK · Served on IBERIABANK's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Committee · Since 1990 worked with SMHA affiliate, SMFS, in CRA-related developments · Chair of SMFS's Loan Committee · Served as Vice Chair, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas' Advisory Council.

Fannie C. Godwin, Adjunct Staff

Currently inventorying and archiving Southern Mutual's historical records · 35 year's administrative and paralegal experience · Long-time community activist and organizer, primarily on education reform issues.

James Edmunds, Webmaster

Webmaster, designer and Internet consultant for a diverse range of not-for-profit and for-profit clients · 30 years experience in journalism and content development, including reporting for Newsweek, and as founding editor of The Times of Acadiana · Regular contributor to ColdFusion Developer's Journal.

Kim Landry, Contract Grant Writer

Twenty-five years' experience as an educator; Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator; State of Louisiana Region IV Teacher of the Year; Louisiana Computer Using Educators (LaCue) State Teacher of the Year; B. A. in Education





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