Christwood is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors made up of leaders in our local community, many of whom you may know.

Allen Catalanotto

A member of the Christwood Finance Committee, Allen Catalanotto has 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently serves as Investments and Branch Manager for Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. Allen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Orleans, and an MBA from the University of Central Florida.

Chandler Craig

A banker for more than 30 years, Chandler Craig has served the last 15 years as President of Resource Bank. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA from Loyola University.

Richard W. Cryar

Richard W. Cryar, a member of the Christwood Finance Committee, has more than 37 years of experience in financial management, financing, investing, and acquisition and divestiture. He serves as a Managing Member of F.M. Reed Company, a management consulting firm focused on assisting companies, senior and mezzanine lenders and private equity investors in improving performance and achieving short- and long-term goals. Richard is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University.

Michael Cushman

Brigadier General Michael A. Cushman’s last assignment prior to retirement was with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), one of our Country’s intelligence agencies.  He was the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of the Air Force/Director of the NRO on all Reserve Forces matters.

Serving on the NRO senior command, General Cushman supported the development and execution of National Security Space programs and projects. These include dual-use technology projects that provide Department of Defense and Intelligence Community space-based applications to the warfighter and Homeland Security agencies.  He developed requirements for National Security Space systems support for operations such as ALLIED FORCE, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and STRONG RESOLVE.  He also developed US Space Command and Air Force Space Command  mission integration assignments for Reserve Forces.

After 37 years of military service, General Cushman retired on 21 March 2004.  He is married to the former Denise L. Davidson and resides in Mandeville, Louisiana.

The general currently serves as the Military Advisor to the 22^nd Judicial District Court LA–Veterans Court in addition to several allied programs and organizations in support of Veterans in need

Paul Dennis

Paul Dennis, President of Christwood and President of the Executive Committee, has 28 years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry. He served as President of Gaylord Chemical in 2003. He led a management buyout of the company in 2007, and is now the majority owner of the business. Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee.

David Duplantier, Esq.

David Duplantier, Esq., retired as the Senior Council for Chevron USA in 2011 after 26 years of service. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Louisiana State University and his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University.

Patti Ellish, FACHE

Patti Elish, Vice President and member of the Executive Committee. Retired St. Tammany Parish Hospital President and CEO she, transformed a small community hospital into a thriving regional medical center. Under her leadership, the facility tripled in size to serve one of the fastest growing parishes in Louisiana. Patti is a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives, past chair of Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans, Board member of Louisiana Hospital Association and Northshore Healthcare Alliance, and member of the Northshore Business Council and Women’s Leadership Council of Greater New Orleans. She has earned regional and national recognition, including YLC Role Model, Top 10 Female Achievers and New Orleans CityBusiness Woman of the Year. In 2017, she was named as one of the top 130 female healthcare leaders to know by Becker’s.

Michelle O. Gallagher, Esq.

Secretary of the Executive Committee, Michelle O. Gallagher, Esq. is a partner in the Braud & Gallagher law firm. She previously served as a Board member of the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana, and is a member of the American Association for Justice, Louisiana Association for Justice and the Louisiana Bar Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Louisiana State University.

Beverly Baker Gariepy

Vice President of the Christwood Executive and Finance Committee, Beverly Baker Gariepy has served in leadership roles of the Louisiana municipal and parish governments. She specialized in financial management and planning in areas such as human resources, disaster recovery, IT, grant administration, facilities management, risk management, health and human services, retirement and animal control. Beverly earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Newcomb College, Tulane University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. In addition, she has attended numerous Government Financial Officers (GFOA), Louisiana Economic Development (LIDEA) and FEMA training courses.

Charles “Charlie” Goodyear

Graduated from Yale University with a degree in Economics.  After two years in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant (First Armored Division) he joined Esso Standard Oil Company (now ExxonMobil). His career spanned more than 40 years, mostly spent in Retail Marketing (service stations and commercial) that encompassed logistics, design, advertising and operations.

Charlie served as a Board member of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies (IFMSS)-London from 1985-2000 and on the Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 1995-2005. After retiring in 1998, he served on a number of local town bodies in Darien, Connecticut. Charlie moved to Christwood with his wife, Linda, in September 2020.

Judge John W. “Jack” Greene

Between 1976 and 1997, John W. Greene served as judge for the Division D, 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. He was appointed as judge ad hoc on the 1st and 5th Circuit Courts of Appeal, and is serving as ad hoc judge by appointment from the Louisiana Supreme Court. Judge Greene founded the Youth Service Bureau serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes youth and families in need of services, and served as its Board Chairman and in various other offices. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center.

Patrick “Bryan” Huval

Christwood Treasurer and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees, Patrick “Bryan” Huval, CPA, CGFM, has more than 30 years of audit experience in a variety of industries. Patrick’s areas of practice include auditing, business consulting and tax services. He has served as an engagement director and independent reviewer for audits and consulting engagements for financial institutions, public sector entities, non-profits, charter and non-profit schools, construction companies and wholesale distributors. Bryan is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southwestern Louisiana University.

Kerry K. Milton, RN, MSHA

Kerry K. Milton, BSN, R.N., MSHA, serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for St. Tammany Parish Hospital. She built her executive career on delivering exceptional patient care and sound management principles. Kerry’s roots at the bedside bring an important perspective on the value of personal attention. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, VHA Gulf States Nurse Executive Group, Women’s Healthcare Executive Network and Louisiana Organization of Nurse Executives.

Edwin J. Miltenberger, CLU, CEBS

President of Carrier and Affinity Group Strategies, LLC, is a strong corporate leader with significant senior management experience working in life and health and property/casualty markets primarily in affinity and large group programs with more than 40 years of domestic and international experience.  He has a Bachelors in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), conferred by the American College, Bryn Mawr, PA; and a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), conferred by a joint program of Wharton School and International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans.  A fun fact: he is fluent in German

James H. “Jimmy” Rogers

Prior to his retirement in 2017, Jimmy served as a Senior Vice President and commercial loan officer with FNBC NBC Bank based in Mandeville. He has enjoyed a 34 year history of success in Commercial, Retail banking and Management in South Louisiana and especially in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes. Active in the community throughout his career, Jimmy was awarded the West St. Tammany Chamber’s highest award in 2007, The Community Leadership Award.

James “Jim” Valliant

James “Jim” Valliant, member of the Finance Committee, has worked for more than 55 years as a professional engineer. Although he retired in 2000 from his family engineering firm, he continues as a part-time consultant. Jim served on the Christwood Board of Directors between 2013 and 2016, and as Vice President and a member of the Executive and Finance Committee from 2014 to 2015.