Board of Directors

The following St. Tammany citizens serve as the Board of Directors of Tammany Together, Inc. Click a name for a brief biography.

Paulette Barras

St. Tammany resident since 2000
New Orleans native
High school and Soule' College graduate
Business owner
- Paulette's Fine Jewelry Creations, 25 years
- Les Danseurs Acadian Event Planners, 13 years
Founding member of Citizens for Environmental Quality
Ran unsuccessfully for office of Council, Slidell
Advocate for legislation in favor of addiction treatment availability in Louisiana

Carolyn Condon

St. Tammany resident since 2002
Secretary of the Goodbee Civic Association
President of the Deep South Chapter of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters
Past President
- Exchange Club of Metairie
- New Orleans Insurance Institute
- Connections of Lafayette

Sue deRada, Secretary

St. Tammany resident since 1984
University of New Orleans, Touro Infirmary School of Nursing, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
Founder, BI-PAC 2007 - Bicycling & Pedestrian Action Committee
Past Board Member
- Mental Health Association of St Tammany, Community Service Chair
- National Association Nurse Massage Therapists, President & Staff Writer
- Children’s Wish Endowment
- NorthShore Hospice
- Head Start, Slidell
- American Cancer Society

Donna Faucheux

Kevin Galatas

Bill Gerken

Slidell resident since 1986
Married to a New Orleans native
Vietnam Vet
30 years of experience in the trucking industry
Founding member and current Board member of Bayou Liberty Homeowners Association

Gary Leonard, President

Resident of St. Tammany for over 20 years
1980 graduate of Xavier University
Pharmaceutical Business: Oncology Specialty Sales Executive
Reserve Police Officer 10 years, currently Sgt./Supervisor
Member
- Metropolitan Crime Commission
- Northshore Republican Men's Club
- League of Women Voters
- Home Rule Charter Review Committee

Elizabeth Manshel, Vice President

Native Louisianan
Mount Carmel Academy, New Orleans, Louisiana
B.A. Political Science, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Former Executive Director of Crawfish Festival (Crawfishfest.com)
Contributing writer for the Northshore Conifer - "Stirring it up"
Community Activist and Advocate for Good Government
Current Board
- Penn's Chapel Road Association, Vice President
Past Boards
- Loyola University Greater New York City area chapter, President
- Ruff, Ruff Life - Dog Adoption Agency, New Jersey, Vice President
Volunteer work
- Louisiana Master Gardener, LSU AgCenter
Married to Laurence Manshel, one daughter

John J. Martin DVM

Moved to St Tammany in 2001, as needed more land for collection of animals
Jesuit High School
LSU undergraduate
Auburn Veterinary School
Captain in Air Force 1967 to 1969
Joined Metairie Small Animal Hospital in 1969
President, Metairie Small Animal Hospital (chosen “Best Veterinary Hospital Built in Nation” in 2003)
Past President New Orleans Veterinary Association
President, Goodbee Civic Association
Married to Nanette Mollere, 3 sons, 6 grandkids

Bill McHugh

St. Tammany resident since 1979
New Orleans native
Graduate of St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie and Duke University
Career computer professional, including ten years with IBM, and an independent computer software developer since 1979
Has served as an active member, volunteer, board member, or officer in
- Old Military Road Homeowners Association
- Jeremiah Group
- Hospice of St. Tammany
- St. Martin’s Episcopal School
- Christ Episcopal Church, Covington
- Parenting Center of West St. Tammany
- Volunteers of America Children’s Nursery
- AARP Tax-Aide
Recipient of U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Service Leadership Award
Parent of a student in the St. Tammany Parish public school system

Jeannine Meeds

Long-time Big Branch resident
Montana native
Foreign exchange student in Germany and Mexico
B.A. Liberal Arts, University of Montana, 1981
B.A. Spanish & Communications, Southeastern Louisiana University, 1997
Fifteen years experience in public relations and publishing
Million-selling author
Currently a tree farmer and owner of industrial and residential properties in St. Tammany Parish

Will Rachal

St. Tammany Resident since 1994
Native of Alexandria, LA
U.S Navy Veteran – Specialized in Multi-Cultural Diversities outside the United States and retired after 20 years of service
Vice Chairman for Ad Hoc Home Rule Charter Review committee
Board member, Veterans Celebrate Freedom
Manager for the Juvenile Drug Court Program, Slidell City Court
Member and Facilitator for Discipleship Development Class at Living the Word International Ministry
Leadership Northshore class of 2008
Past officer of Veterans of Foreign Wars post 5735, member since 2000
Married to Charese, two children

Sandra Slifer

St. Tammany resident since 1990
Mass Communications/Public Relations, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Non-Profit Management Certificate Program Graduate, University of New Orleans, 1999
Western School of Feng Shui Graduate, San Diego, CA, 2001
Worked in the computer industry for over 20 years, now retired
Board Member, League of Women Voters of St. Tammany since 1993, and current President
President and Board Member, Flower Estates Civic Association, Inc.
Past Board Member, North Shore Unitarian Universalists, Lacombe, LA
Past Board Member, Boys and Girls Club, Slidell, LA

Rick Wilke, Treasurer

St. Tammany resident since 1994 after spending 9 years in California
New Orleans native
Graduate of Tulane University
M.B.A. degree from the University of New Orleans
Former president of local chapters of two professional associations in New Orleans and San Francisco and chaired a committee at the national level for one
Retired from Chevron Corporation in 1992 to become consultant
Retired completely in 2000 to have time for community and civic interests
Vice President of the Northlake Nature Center
Chaired the Critical & Sensitive Areas Focus Group of New Directions 2025
Former President of Flower Estates Civic Association
President of the Association of Associations