Board of Directors

Officers

Shannon B. Joseph, MBA
President

Shannon Brown Joseph is a nationally recognized workforce development leader with deep experience in federally and state-funded programs, strategic partnerships, diversity initiatives, and programmatic design. She currently serves as a senior consultant with Health Management Associates, advising government and private institutions on workforce strategy.

Previously, she served as national director of nursing workforce pipeline for Ascension Health, where she supported talent development across 2,600 care sites and 142 hospitals. At Ochsner Health, she led efforts that expanded workforce initiatives by over 500%, connecting over 2,000 individuals to education, training, and employment.

Ms. Brown Joseph’s public service includes her appointment as assistant secretary of labor in Louisiana, where she directed all statewide workforce development programs, including apprenticeships, veterans’ services, and business training initiatives. She has successfully launched cross-sector partnerships with education and healthcare systems that continue to create training and job opportunities for underserved communities.

A certified workforce development professional and DEI specialist, Ms. Brown Joseph holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a bachelor’s from Loyola University, and is completing a Doctorate in Leadership at Liberty University.

She is active in several nonprofits and serves on multiple boards, including the Arc of Greater New Orleans and the Louisiana Nurses Foundation.

Ariann Arana
Secretary

Ariann Arana is currently a school Special Education Coordinator and has been a teacher in Jefferson Parish for 9 years. Ariann also serves on the Superintendent’s Special Education Council with parents and other community stakeholders to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are met in the school system. As a parent of a child with special needs, Ariann has always been an advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Board Members

Jill Egle

As a person with an IDD, Jill brings a unique understanding, passion and leadership quality to the ArcGNO Board. She began her IDD advocacy work with The Arc of Northern Virginia and The Arc of the USA in Washington, D.C. She testified before Virginia and Louisiana Legislative Committees as well as the U.S. Congress to initiate changes that impacted people with IDD.

Jawanda Givens

Jawanda J. Givens is the Director of the Workforce Investment Council, WIC. Since 2007, Mrs. Givens has worked at the Louisiana Workforce Commission in several occupations. During her tenure, Mrs. Givens has worked in the Recruitment and Placement department, as a Case Manager, Executive Assistant to the Director of Office of Workforce Development, and as a Functional Supervisor. Mrs. Givens has also been the assistant to the former Director of the Workforce Investment Council for the past four years. She has also worked on successful cohorts in the River Parishes.

Whitney Hardy

Dr. Whitney Hardy received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Following this, she completed her internship and residency at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in Family medicine. Currently, she serves as the Associate Medical Director for Primary Care for Ochsner Westbank.

She is a passionate physician leader with experience in clinical operations management, project implementation, and community outreach. She is committed to ending health disparities and empowering members of her community. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching indoor cycling, writing her science fiction novel, and meditation.

Katy Jambon is currently an Investment Portfolio Manager for Hancock Whitney. A member for 5 years, she brings financial and marketing expertise to the ArcGNO Board. Her commitment to the disability community is evident in her long-time role as a soccer coach for the Miracle League of New Orleans. She was born in New Orleans and is now married with children.

Christian Moises APR is communications manager for the Southern Forest Products Association in New Orleans.

A New Orleans native, he spent the first 10 years of his career in journalism, serving as an editor with New Orleans CityBusiness. His 20-plus years of experience includes marketing, communications, growth strategies, and business development for local, regional, and national companies in the death care, health care, legal, and accounting industries.

Christian earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Louisiana Tech University and his Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America in 2015. He is a past member of the national board of directors for the Association for Accounting Marketing, past president of the Press Club of New Orleans, and a former board member for the Legal Marketing Association-New Orleans Chapter and WYES-TV, the PBS affiliate in New Orleans.