Board of Directors

 

Mike Madison became Cleco Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer on May 5, 2005. Previously, Madison was president and chief operating officer for Cleco Power LLC. Prior to joining Cleco, Madison was the State President, Louisiana & Arkansas, for American Electric Power (formerly Central and Southwest Corp.).

 

Madison began his career with Public Service Company of Oklahoma in 1971 as an engineer in the generation end of the business. He held a number of positions at Central and South West system subsidiaries, including system planning, transmission, distribution, human resources and customer service.

 

While president of Cleco Power, Madison initiated planning for Cleco's $1 billion solid-fuel unit currently scheduled for completion in late 2009. Construction of the unit at the utility's existing Rodemacher Power Station has provided a significant boost to the central Louisiana economy. The unit will help stabilize power prices and help continue Cleco's successful record of economic development. Use of barges to bring fuel to the unit will also help fulfill the economic promise of the Red River Waterway project.

 

Also under Madison's leadership, Cleco Power played a primary role in helping attract Union Tank Car Co.'s $100 million manufacturing facility to central Louisiana. He was also head of the utility at a time when Procter & Gamble spent $125 million expanding its Pineville production facility and stimulated millions of dollars of additional investment by suppliers.

Madison is currently a member of the Committee of 100, an organization of leadingbusiness executives helping develop Louisiana’s economy. He also is a director of the Cenla Advantage Partnership, a privately funded economic development organization taking a new approach to developing central Louisiana’s economy.

 

In addition to those posts, he serves as a board member of the Edison Electric Institute, Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, Better Business Bureau, Capital One Bank, Committee for a Better Louisiana, LSU-A Foundation, and is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation.

A native of Oklahoma, Madison earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma and completed Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development.

 

 

 

 

 

Blake Chatelain is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Red River Bank in Alexandria, Louisiana. Chatelain was one of the original organizers of this community bank chartered in 1999. The bank has grown to assets in excess of $740 million with over 220 employees and 14 locations throughout Central and Northwest Louisiana. Red River Bank holds the largest market share and is the largest bank ever based in Rapides Parish.

 

Chatelain has twenty-five years of banking experience previously serving as Senior Vice President, Commercial Loan Manager and Commercial Loan Officer for regionally and nationally affiliated banks in Alexandria and Monroe including the most recent ten years with Red River Bank.

 

An active participant in both professional and community organizations, Chatelain currently serves as Cenla Advantage Partnership, Vice Chair; and, Chair-Elect of the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors representing the 5th Congressional District.

Prior involvement in community affairs includes serving on The Rapides Foundation Board of Trustees; Governor Elect Bobby Jindal, Transition Team; Central Louisiana Chapter of American Red Cross; The Rotary Club of Alexandria; Caring People’s Free Clinic; Working People’s Free Clinic; and, Calvary Baptist Church.

 

A native of Bunkie, Louisiana, Chatelain received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria and is married to the former Belle Caffey. They have four sons.

 

 

 

Kelly Rush Williams

Secretary

 

Kelly Rush Williams is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Rush Funeral Homes.

The Rush family has owned and operated Rush Funeral Homes since 1966 when Kelly's father, Howard J. Rush, started the businesses.   Kelly is the youngest of four children and the daughter of Howard and Doris Rush.

 

She was born and reared in Oakdale where she graduated from Oakdale High School in 1986 as an honor student. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a minor in Economics from Louisiana College where she graduated cum laude in December 1989.

 

Kelly is very active in the civic life of Central Louisiana. She is a member of the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce where she served as President for 3 years. She is a member of the Oakdale Rotary Club where she currently serves as President and a member of the Oakdale Lion's Club. She also serves on the Community Relations Board for the Federal Complex where she served as Chairwoman for 2 years.

 

She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association and the North Louisiana Funeral Directors Association where she serves as Chairwoman of the Scholarship Committee and on Education Committee. Kelly currently serves as Moderator for the Board of Oakdale Community Hospital and is a charter member of the Board of the Cenla Advantage Partnership (CAP), a subsidiary of the Rapides Foundation.

 

In April 2008, Kelly was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve on the Louisiana State Board of Embalmer and Funeral Directors.

 

She was honored by being selected by the Alexandria Town Talk as one of the "Top Ten Outstanding Women in Central Louisiana" and by Focus Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Women Under 50" in Louisiana. Honored by her community, she was the recipient of the President's Award given by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce and the Outstanding Leadership Award given by the Federal Complex. Kelly was also the Allen Parish Parent of the Year!

 

She is a lifelong member of First Baptist Church where she is very involved the children’s' activities.

 

Kelly has two sons, Rush Alan Williams, age 15, and John Ross Williams, age 9, both of which are very involved in sports. For recreation, she enjoys traveling, swimming, playing golf, and cheering for her boys as they play baseball!

 

 

 

Other Board Members:

(Note: Bio Information Forthcoming on Remaining Board Members)

 

Horace Austin

Charlie Baker

Joe Cunningham, Jr.

J. Lance Harris

Roy O. Martin, III

Rod Noles

Dorothy Oliver

Teddy Price

Robert Ratcliff

Kelly Jane Rush

Brent Scallan

James Shirvinski

Glenda Stock

Caroline Theus

Buddy Tudor

David Williams

Stephen Wright