About Us
YPG of Cenla
Who We Are
About Us
The Young Professionals Group of Central Louisiana is a motivated, educated and community-conscious group of individuals. By connecting diverse young professionals across the area, we create a force that will both strengthen and grow Central Louisiana.
YPG of Cenla
What’s in your future? Find out how to navigate the various opportunities and transitions you’ll face as a young professional and how to reach your professional goals. Make sure you get the most from your YPG Membership.
Board Members
President
Dustin is a 2017 graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering. He also studied Leadership and Development and Business Economics. Dustin is the Site Digital Innovation Leader at the Procter & Gamble plant in Pineville. He is a Louisiana native and lives in Pineville with his wife, Mikella, and son, Lincoln.
Vice President (President Elect)
Chris is a Wealth Management Advisor at Oestriecher Financial Management Services. He joined OFMS in January of 2023 after spending five years as a Financial Consultant for an independent firm, and two years as a Pharmaceutical Sales representative. Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Louisiana College in 2016. He is active in the Rotary Club of Alexandria, and he, his wife Kira, and daughter Adeline are active members of Kingsville Baptist Church.
Treasurer
Annie Johnson Salazar, MHS, PLPC, NCC is a children’s trauma therapist at the Children’s Advocacy Network. She is an Alexandria native and is excited to be back working in her hometown. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Family and Child Studies. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA. Annie is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and a certified foster parent. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family, cat, and her foster fail of a puppy.
Secretary
Sarah is the Digital Marketing & Engagement Specialist at Crest Industries in Pineville, Louisiana. Born and raised in Alexandria, Sarah graduated from the Manship School of Mass Communication at LSU in 2020. She now lives in Alexandria and dotes on her nephew, Levy.
Marketing Chair
Bianca is a Louisiana native with a passion for connecting people with solutions and developing creative strategies for improving customer relationships. After graduating from Bolton High School in Alexandria, she studied business at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and earned her degree in 2009.
MEMBERSHIP/MARKETING CHAIR
Heather Daigrepont works at LHRDI as a Rapid Response Coordinator for The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Rapid Response Department. She is an Alexandria native and is very active within the community. She volunteers as a Red Coat Ambassador for the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, serves on the advisory council for Volunteers of America, as well as numerous committees with multiple organizations. Heather and her two children live in Alexandria.
Professional Development Chair
Karen is proud to call Louisiana home and give back to her community through her professional career and her personal passions. She is Program Director and Co-Founder of Cenla Voices. Her responsibilities there include coordinating the resources necessary to provide creative writing workshops which increase resiliency and confidence. Karen is currently pursuing a degree in social services at LSUA and is an active member of The Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, Pineville Rotary, and Professional Women’s Network of Central Louisiana.
Annual Events Chair
Ethan is Director of the Office of First Year Experience at LSUA. Originally from Concordia Parish, Ethan has made CenLa home after graduating from LSUA (B.S. 2014) and LSU (M.A. 2017). He loves his community and working with the people that make CenLa great through multiple organizations.
Volunteerism Chair & Social Committee
Britni is the Communications Coordinator for Louisiana Central, the economic development organization for the 10-parish region of Central Louisiana. Her role involves creating and coordinating marketing and PR plans, developing written content, organizing integrated marketing campaigns, and collaborating with various programs within Louisiana Central. She is a proud Central Louisiana native, wife, and mother of three who is actively involved in her community and working towards growth as a PR professional, with a focus on earning an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
