Audubon Nature Institute Board
The Audubon Nature Institute Board oversees Audubon Nature Institute, the 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation currently managing day to day operations for all of the Commission’s facilities through a management contract between the Board and the Audubon Commission. All employees work for the Audubon Nature Institute, Inc. Elected by the 30,000 membership households of Audubon Nature Institute, at least 75% of the Institute’s 32 Board members live in Orleans Parish and at least 25% of them are minorities. Members are elected for no more than two consecutive four-year terms. Funds generated by the Institute’s operations and fundraising efforts are administered by the Institute. Certified audited statements of the Audubon Nature Institute are provided to the Audubon Commission on an annual basis.
Willard Dumas
Willard Dumas
Willard L. Dumas, Jr., D.D.S. received his B.S. from Xavier University of Louisiana and his D.D.S. from Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Dennis Lauscha
Dennis Lauscha
Dennis Lauscha was named president of the Saints and has also served as president of the New Orleans Pelicans since 2012.
Leslie Gottsegen, DDS
Leslie Gottsegen, DDS
Leslie Parro Gottsegen, D.D.S., a native of Thibodaux, LA, attended LSU and graduated from LSU School of Dentistry in 1994.
Anne Long
Anne Long
Vincent J. Palumbo
Vincent J. Palumbo
Vincent Palumbo was born in Buffalo, New York and attended the University of Southern Alabama in Mobile.
Ludovico Feoli
Ludovico Feoli
Ludovico Feoli and his family have been Audubon supporters for generations. He is the executive director of the Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) and a Research Associate Professor in the Stone Center for Latin American Studies and the Department of Political Science at Tulane University.
Wilmer Jacobs
Wilmer Jacobs
Lynes R. Sloss
Lynes R. Sloss
Lynes R. “Poco” Sloss is President and CEO of Bellwether Technology Corporation, a company he co-founded in 1980.
Christopher Bardell
Christopher Bardell
Chris Bardell is the Owner/Operator of 12 McDonald’s restaurants in the Greater New Orleans area. What started as a part-time summer job at a McDonald’s restaurant in Laplace led to what has become a lifelong career.
Linda Baum
Linda Baum
Linda Baum is a lifetime New Orleanian and proud mother of three and grandmother of four. She and her family have been longtime supporters of Audubon Nature Institute.
Beau Box
Beau Box
Beau Box is the president and Beau Box Commercial Real Estate and Beau Box Property Management.
Leah Brown
Leah Brown
Leah Brown is the Interim Manager of Policy Government and Public Affairs for Chevron's Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. In this role, Leah manages Chevron's social investment, communications, and stakeholder outreach across the Gulf Coast.
Rick Buchsbaum
Rick Buchsbaum
Caroline Calhoun
Caroline Calhoun
Caroline Calhoun is a community activist in New Orleans. She holds a degree from Tulane University and serves on boards for the Bureau of Governmental Research, the Isidore Newman School, New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Louise s. McGehee Alumni Board.
J. Hunter Cazes
J. Hunter Cazes
J. Hunter Cazes is proud to be affiliated with Audubon Nature Institute and recently joined the board in September, 2016. He is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and works at Bollinger Enterprises, LLC.
Edgar Chase IV
Edgar Chase IV
Edgar Chase is owner of Chase Hospitality Group in New Orleans. In addition to Audubon Nature Institute, he serves on boards for the New Orleans Museum of Art, the New Orleans African American Museum, the Finance Authority of New Orleans, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, and Ujamma Economic Development Corporation.
Henry L. Coaxum, Jr.
Henry L. Coaxum, Jr.
Henry L. Coaxum, Jr. began his career with McDonald’s as a manager trainee in 1984, and now owns seven restaurants in the New Orleans area.
Angus Cooper
Angus Cooper
Angus R. Cooper, II, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper/T. Smith Corporation headquartered in Mobile, Alabama.
John Davies
John Davies
Mr. John Davies is the Executive Chairman of the Commercial Properties Management Company. Davies grew up in Latin America as the son of an American diplomat stationed in Lima, Peru, and attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Megan Eustis
Megan Eustis
Megan Eustis is the Director of Marketing & Communications for MC Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.
James Ewers
James Ewers
Dr. James Ewers is a retired higher education administrator and teacher. He holds a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts.
K. Barton Farris, MD
K. Barton Farris, MD
K. Barton Farris, MD is a partner with Delta Pathology Group, LLC. He is the Medical Director of the clinical laboratory at West Jefferson Medical Center, a position he has held since 1995.
Joseph A. Jaeger, Jr.
Joseph A. Jaeger, Jr.
Joseph A. Jaeger Jr., President and CEO of The MCC Group, is committed to developing innovative projects that spur economic and community development.
Beth Lambert
Beth Lambert
Beth Lambert is a visual artist and a lifelong New Orleanian. She is an art activist, civic activist, and volunteer, with a strong commitment to achieving philanthropic awareness and success.
Peter Moss
Peter Moss
Peter E. Moss, II was born and raised in New Orleans. He graduated from Isidore Newman High School and received his bachelors from Tulane University.
John R. Nickens IV
John R. Nickens IV
John R. Nickens IV is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital New Orleans and LCMC Health Maternal and Child Health Services.
John Payne
John Payne
John Payne is the president and CEO of VICI Properties, an experiential real estate investment trust that owns one of the largest portfolios of market-leading gaming, hospitality, and entertainment destinations, including the world-renowned Caesars Palace.
Julie Quinn
Julie Quinn
An attorney since 1992, Julie Quinn was elected in 2005 to serve in the Louisiana State Senate, representing New Orleans and a surrounding 4-parish area, chairing the Judiciary Committee and receiving numerous “Legislator of the Year” awards.
Caryn Rodgers-Battiste
Caryn Rodgers-Battiste
Caryn Rodgers-Battiste is Vice President of Operations for Bright Moments LLC, a public relations, marketing and advertising firm. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from University of Louisiana.
Mark C. Romig
Mark C. Romig
Mark Romig is President/CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. The city agency promotes New Orleans as a leisure tourism destination throughout the year.
Susu Stall
Susu Stall
Susu Stall is owner of SOSUSU, a Magazine Street women’s boutique in New Orleans. She holds a degree from Tulane University, and, in addition to Audubon Nature Institute, she serves on boards for WYES, the New Orleans Museum of Art, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Eugenie and Joseph Jones Foundation.
Bernard Van der Linden
Bernard Van der Linden
Sandy Villere III
Sandy Villere III
St. Denis “Sandy” Villere III is a partner and investment manager for St. Denis J. Villere & Co. He holds a B.S. in finance from Southern Methodist University and is a member of the CFA Institute. In addition to the Audubon Nature Institute Board, he also currently serves on the boards of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation and Carrollton Boosters, Inc.
Thomas D. Westfeldt II
Thomas D. Westfeldt II
Audubon Nature Institute Board 2023 Meeting Dates:
Tuesday, March 21
8:30 AM
Tuesday, May 16
8:30 AM
Tuesday, September 26
8:30 AM
Tuesday, November 14
8:30 AM
*All meeting times will be 8:30 am. Location details are to be determined and will be shared as we near each meeting.
- Board Nominating Committee Meeting Minutes 1-31-23
- Board Executive Meeting Minutes 1-31-23
- Board Meeting Minutes 1-31-23
- Board Meeting Minutes 11-15-2022
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 10-20-22
- Board Meeting Minutes 9-27-22
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 6-22-22
- Board Meeting Minutes 5-17-22
- Board Meeting Minutes 3-22-22
- Board Meeting Minutes 1-25-22
- Board Meeting Minutes 11-16-21
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 11-11-21
- Board Meeting Minutes 9-28-21
- Board Meeting Minutes 7-20-21
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 6-3-21
- Annual Board Meeting Minutes 5-18-21
- Board Meeting Minutes 3-23-21
- Board Meeting Minutes 1-26-21
- Board Meeting Minutes 11-17-20
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 11-10-20
- Board Meeting Minutes 9-22-20
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 6-24-20
Zoom Video Meeting 6-24-20 - Board Meeting Minutes 5-19-20
- Board Meeting Minutes 1-21-20
- Board Meeting Minutes 11-12-19
- Joint Commission/Board Meeting Minutes 11-5-19
- Audubon Nature Institute Annual Meeting Minutes 6-12-19
- Board Meeting Minutes 3-12-19
- Board Meeting Minutes 1-22-19
- Board Meeting Minutes 11-13-18
- Board Meeting Minutes 9-18-18
- Board Meeting Minutes 7-24-18
- Audubon Nature Institute Annual Meeting Minutes 5-8-18
- Board Meeting Minutes 3-20-18
- Board Meeting Minutes 1-23-18