Shelton Jones has been actively involved in non-profit development and fundraising activities in the Baton Rouge community for the past several years and joined The Emerge Center in August 2017. Having served as a Capital Campaign Coordinator for Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation from 2011 through 2014, Shelton is excited to return to Emerge. From 2014 through 2017, Shelton worked at Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, first as a Capital Campaign Coordinator and subsequently as a Major Gifts Officer. She is a 2015 graduate of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s Annual Madison Institute and received a B.A. in Political Science from Duke University. A native of San Francisco, Shelton and her husband, Ted, have two teenage children.  Shelton takes pride in advancing mission-driven organizations like The Emerge Center that make a life-changing difference for individuals and families.

Ashley McDermott’s passion for serving our community is evident in both her professional and volunteer endeavors. Over the past 15 years, she has volunteered in numerous nonprofit leadership positions designing fundraising opportunities and events focused on education, health, and animal welfare. Ashley has also collaborated in the writing and advocacy of laws at both the state and federal level for those effected by Alzheimer’s Disease. Her personal story and work supporting Alzheimer’s has even been featured in “HBO’s Inspiration Room” exhibit in Manhattan.  After earning her Master of Public Administration degree from LSU, Ashley served as the Director of Workplace Campaigns at Capital Area United Way for several years. In her free time, Ashley enjoys traveling with her husband Jeremy and as an avid reader, you will almost never find her without her Kindle. Being familiar with the challenges of autism, Ashley is committed to helping advance Emerge’s work in our community.

Caitlynn Coco has had a passion for fundraising and volunteering in her community for many years before joining The Emerge Foundation in January of 2023 as the Manager of Communications and Events. She has 14 years of experience working in event planning, design, floral design, marketing, and communications, but she has always felt most at home in a non-profit setting. 

Caitlynn worked for the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens as the Assistant Event and Marketing Coordinator from 2019 to 2021. During the pandemic, she navigated a new approach to fundraising and providing educational services through virtual events, including organizing and executing the successful first virtual Louisiana Master Gardener class.

In 2022, Caitlynn became the Convention Services Manager at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center where she organized large conventions, galas, and other business meetings, planning all catering and event needs. She also worked closely with the marketing department, helping to design fun and fresh campaigns to promote events and bookings.

She is currently studying for her Bachelor of Communications degree with a focus in Public Relations at LSU with an expected graduation date of May 2025. Caitlynn enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Alphonse, and their 3 dogs and 3 cats. Having many neurodivergent loved ones, Caitlynn is very passionate and committed to Emerge’s mission. She is eager to use her skills to further Emerge’s work in the community and loves working with the children we serve every day.

Katie has always had a passion for providing excellent care in the service of others. After raising her family, Katie re-entered the workforce as a preschool teacher at First United Methodist Church in Gonzales, LA. After 6 years in this role, she was promoted to the director of the preschool program and faculty of The Little Lambs Mother’s Day Out Preschool. Katie transitioned into the position of school secretary for Bluff Ridge Primary from 2020-2022 in Ascension Parish. While there, she worked as office support staff by serving as the forward-facing part of the organization interacting with children, parents, teachers, and staff.

Katie came to the Emerge Center in October of 2022. Since joining the Emerge family, she has gained experience from the business office via her role as administrative assistant, engaging with parents, children, staff and clients daily. In her new role as Development Associate, Katie will be assisting the Foundation team with fundraising, communications, and events. She is very excited for the opportunity to serve Emerge in a new way by supporting The Emerge Foundation’s mission.  

Katie is a Louisiana native and has lived and worked in Ascension Parish for over 20 years.   She is an accomplished mother of 3 wonderful children, and In her free time, enjoys traveling and seeing new places, spending time outdoors, and loves celebrating what life has to offer time with those closest to her.

Kathryn Rountree received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, as well as an Master of Arts in History from Louisiana State University. She has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors in the fields of grant writing, public policy research, marketing and project management. Prior to joining the Emerge team in November of 2017, Kathryn was a Grants Coordinator for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, where she specialized in writing pediatric healthcare grants for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. Kathryn is committed to the idea that all children have access to the services they need to lead full, healthy lives.

Officers 
Beau Wolfe, Chair
Will Owens, Treasurer  

Martha-Carol Stewart, Vice Chair, The Emerge Foundation                          

Valerie Schexnayder, Immediate Past Chair

Directors

Steve Cangelosi, Chair, The Emerge Center

Sarah Olcott Allen                                                                                                               
Johnnie Bond                                                                                                                                  Marvin Borgmeyer                                                                                                                            Rose Marie Fife

Jody Montelaro
Anthony O’Connor
Arthur Scanlan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Phil Stuart                                                                                
Drew Tessier
Colleen Waguespack

Deanna Whittle – CEO, The Emerge Center, ex-officio 
Shelton Jones – Executive Director, The Emerge Foundation, ex-officio
Linda Brown – Principal, The Emerge School, ex-officio