Women's Leadership Award Winners - 2025 - 2026

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Livingston Parish Women's Leadership Award Winners 

Presented by the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce 

Michelle Southern
Operations Manager – Guaranty Media

Michelle serves as Operations Manager for Guaranty Media, overseeing four radio stations across music, news, sports, and talk. She is also the Program Director and afternoon drive host on Eagle 98.1, a role she has held since 2017 on one of Louisiana’s most successful heritage rock stations. Her career spans more than 25 years in radio.
Michelle is a three-time Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Radio Personality of the Year, the highest on-air honor in the state. She has also received the National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Award for creating and leading the Future DJ Radio Day program,  
and is a 2025 Gracie Award recipient — a national honor recognizing exemplary programming created by, for, and about women.
She is deeply engaged in community-focused programming and charitable partnerships throughout Baton Rouge and Livingston Parish, using her platform to support local nonprofits, fundraising efforts, and educational outreach that introduces young people to broadcasting.
Please join us in recognizing Michelle Southern, a recipient of the Women’s Leadership Award.

Shelley Simmons
Owner / Elevate Real Estate Denham Springs, LA 


She began her professional journey in New Orleans as a paralegal working in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and real estate -  later moving to Baton Rouge where she advanced into management and reached the role of Vice President by age 30.   Shelley transitioned into real estate. 
Shelley has been a top-performing Realtor and a dedicated mentor, helping other agents build successful careers. Today, she is the Founder and Broker of Elevate Real Estate in Denham Springs, a brokerage built around service, professionalism, and client experience.
She is deeply invested in both her industry and her community. Shelley has served in leadership roles at the local and state level, is a 2023 graduate of the Leadership Livingston program, and has served on the Women’s Leadership Committee since 2023. She also serves on the Planning and Zoning Committee for the Town of Livingston.
With a passion for historic preservation, Shelley is actively involved with organizations including the Historic Carter House Society, the West Feliciana Historic Society, and the Preservation Resource Group in New Orleans.
Please join us in recognizing Shelley Simmons, a recipient of the Women’s Leadership Award.
 

Barbara Walker
Director / Co-Founder – Livingston Parish Children’s Choir
Denham Springs, LA

 
Barbara S. Walker is recognized for a lifetime of leadership in music education and for creating one of the most enduring and unique youth arts programs in Livingston Parish.
In 1991, Barbara co-founded the Livingston Parish Children’s Choirs alongside her mother, Regina Walker. More than three decades later, the program continues. 
Barbara’s career in music education spans more than 37 years in Texas and Louisiana, with excellence recognized repeatedly at the local, regional, and state levels.
Under her leadership, the Livingston Parish Children’s Choirs have secured more than $450,000 in grant funding, expanding access to music education for generations of students. The LPCC Chorale has performed across the country and around the world — including appearances at Carnegie Hall, performances at the Vatican, and, most recently, the singing of the National Anthem at a Houston Astros game.
Although Barbara retired from public school teaching in 2018, she continues to serve as Artistic Director and Choral Director of the Livingston Parish Children’s Choirs, ensuring this long-standing program remains strong and relevant in Livingston Parish.
Barbara maintains active professional involvement through her membership in the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce and continues her community service through engagement with the Denham Springs Kiwanis Club.

 

Women's Leadership Award Winners - 20...