2025 State Conference

See you at the 2025 State Conference on September 22-24 at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge!

Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s State Conference is an annual educational training and networking forum welcoming all individuals, Keep America Beautiful Affiliates, universities, state and local governmental agencies, community and business partners, and non-profit organizations. Attendees can look forward to learning about proven practices and innovative programs designed to achieve a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Louisiana.

Early bird pricing ends July 25.

Book Hotel

Use code KLB to receive the hotel group rate.

2025 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

*Agenda is subject to change

Monday, September 22

1:00-4:00 P.M. | Meetings & Trainings by invitation

Optional Field Trips Offsite:

1:00-3:00 P.M. | Republic MRF – Ever wonder what happens to your recycling after it leaves the curb? Take a guided tour of Republic Services’ Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to see and learn about the recycling process. This field trip requires closed-toe shoes and involves climbing stairs. Address: 7923 Tom Dr., 70806

2:00-4:00 P.M. | LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens – Visit the beautiful Burden Museum and Gardens then take a hayride to the litter corral in the wetlands at Ward Creek. On this tour, you’ll enjoy being immersed in Louisiana’s natural beauty and agricultural heritage, while learning about the effects of urbanization on wetlands and channelization. This tour requires closed-toe shoes and involves climbing on and off of a flatbed truck. Address: 4560 Essen Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

2:00-3:30 P.M. | LSU Center for River Studies – Located in the Baton Rouge Water Campus near the banks of the Mississippi River, the LSU Center for River Studies houses one of the world’s largest movable bed physical models – the Lower Mississippi River Physical Model. We’ll take a guided tour of the 10,000 square foot model based on the topography & bathymetry of the Mississippi River Delta covering southeast Louisiana. Address: 100 Terrace Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Tuesday, September 23

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M. | Conference check-in and exhibitor networking

9:00 A.M. | Welcome

Keynote Speaker: Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser
State of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Susan Russell, Executive Director, KLB

10:15 A.M.- 11:15 A.M. | Opening Session: Love Our Waterways

Kathleen Gibi, Executive Director, Keep Tennessee River Beautiful
Jay Kleberg, Executive Director, Gulf Trust

11:30 A.M. – 12:15 P.M. | Block One Break Out Sessions

A | Increasing Litter Enforcement with Surveillance Cameras and State Parks Rangers

Travis Huval, Enforcement Specialist, Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Capt. Davis Madere, LA Dept. Of Wildlife and Fisheries
Lt. Mason Spillman, LA Dept. Of Wildlife and Fisheries

B | Think Outside the Bin: Unique Paths to More Recycling

Mardi Bar Wars: Franziska Trautmann, Co-Founder, Glass Half Full
Mobile Recycling Trailer: Courtney Hornsby, Chief of Staff, City of West Monroe and KLB Foundation Chair

C | Urban Forestry: The Role of Trees in a Thriving City

Christopher Cooper, Louisiana Community Forests by Baton Rouge Green
Lauren Jones, Executive Director, Shreveport Green

D | Media Training 101: Pitching and Securing Media

Barry Landry, Director of Communications, Office of the Lt. Governor
Lesley Melancon, Press Secretary, Office of the Lt. Governor

12:30 P.M. – 1:45 P.M. | Circle of Excellence Awards Luncheon and New Affiliate Presentation

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Neil Aspinwall, Chancellor, SOWELA Technical Community College

1:45 P.M.– 2:20 P.M. | Exhibitor Hall & Coffee

2:30 P.M.– 3:15 P.M. | Block Two Breakout Sessions

A | Establishing a Customized Litter Program for Local Governments

Susan Russell, Executive Director, Keep Louisiana Beautiful

B | Teaching Tomorrow’s Stewards

Bringing Love the Boot to the Classroom: Vinny Braud, Economic Development Coordinator, St. John the Baptist Parish
Environmental Education through Poster Art: Bess Foret, Environmental Quality Manager, Lafayette Consolidated Government

C | KLB Grant Resources to Fund Projects

Jan Windhorst, Grants Director, Keep Louisiana Beautiful

D | How to Communicate your Message Through Social Media and Website

Scot Pilie, Social Media Specialist, Pontchartrain Conservancy
Melissa Kenyon, Marketing and Communications Director, Keep Louisiana Beautiful

3:30 P.M.– 4:15 P.M. | Block Three Breakout Sessions

A | Roundtable Discussions: Join us in the ballroom to share ideas and make connections around central conference topics.

B | Greener Grounds Spotlight: Rethinking Festival Waste in Tangipahoa Parish

Ginger Tastet, Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful

C | Shreveport Cleans Up “Block By Block”

Lauren Jones, Executive Director, Shreveport Green
Tom Arceneaux, Mayor, City of Shreveport

4:30 P.M.-6 P.M. | Poolside Networking Happy Hour (appetizers and cash bar)

Dinner on your own.

Wednesday, September 24

7:30 A.M.-8:30 A.M. | Exhibitor Hall & light breakfast buffet

8:30 A.M.-9:15 A.M. | Update from La Dept. Of Environmental Quality on Waste Tires

Amanda Vincent, Assistant Secretary, Office of Environmental Services

9:15 A.M.-10:15 A.M. | New Paths Forward: Opportunities for Repurposing Waste Tires

Stratton Kirton, Vice President of Government Relations, Liberty Tire Recycling
Stephen Cobb, Chief of Land Division, Alabama Dept. Of Environmental Management

10:15 A.M.-10:45 A.M. | Update from LA Dept. Of Transportation and Development

11:00 A.M.-11:45 A.M. | Block Four Breakout Sessions

A | Working Together: Engaging Local Businesses for Community Impact

Chris Breaux, Founder, Westbank Quality of Life, Keep Westbank Beautiful
Getting Creative with Waste Tires to Raise Funds: Stuart Hodnett, Director of the NE Region of Rural Development for the Governor’s Office and Keep West Monroe Beautiful Director

B | How to Launch a Mural Project and Beautify Your Community

Caroline Cassagne, Executive Director, Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Louisiana Office of Cultural Development
Francesca Vega, Director, Civic Design & Cultural Districts, Louisiana Division of the Arts

C | Keeping Waste Out of the Landfill during Campus Move-Out Days

Jordan Stewart, Tulane University
Helena Robinson, Xavier University
Aimée K. Thomas, Ph.D., Loyola University

D | Volunteer Recruitment, Management and Retention

Judd Jeansonne, Executive Director, Volunteer Louisiana

12:00 P.M.-2:00 P.M. | Everyday Hero Awards Luncheon

Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO Keep America Beautiful

2:00 P.M. | Conference concludes

SPONSOR THE KLB STATE CONFERENCE

Please consider serving as a sponsor and supporting stakeholder education, training, and engagement – all crucial to move the needle toward a cleaner, greener Sportsman’s Paradise. Why sponsor?

Community Visibility: Advance your company’s public perception and foster positive brand reputation.
Make Connections: Seize new opportunities with ideal target audience and generate referrals and leads.
Impact: Be a part of making Louisiana a clean and beautiful place to live, work and play.
Employee Engagement: Engage your employees in meaningful professional development and networking
Customer Feedback: All sponsorships include space in the conference expo to foster 1:1 customer interaction.

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES