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

Margaret “Midge” Collett

Margaret “Midge” Collett has been Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of St. Tammany Health System in Covington since 2005.  Prior to that she was Chief Compliance Officer (January 2001 – 2005) and Compliance Officer/Risk Manager (January 1998 – December 2000) at St. Tammany Health System.  She earned her Juris Doctor at Paul M. Hebert Law Center; Louisiana State University in May 1994 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Summa Cum Laude from Southeastern Louisiana University in May 1982.

Richard W. Cryar

Richard W. Cryar, member of the Finance Committee, is 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/long-term goals.  He has over 37 years of experience in the fields of financial management, financing, investing, and acquisition and divestiture.  Mr. Cryar is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive), Chartered Global Management Accountant and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana Tech University.

Michael Cushman

Brigadier General Michael A. Cushman, USAF, Retired – Michael 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.

Timothy J. Cutt

Mr. Cutt joined Gulfport Energy Corporation as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in May 2021; he has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since January 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Cutt served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of QEP Resources from January 2019 to March 2021. Prior to joining QEP, Mr. Cutt was the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Cobalt International Energy from 2016 to 2018. Previously, Mr. Cutt held several executive positions with BHP Billiton before serving as President of the Petroleum Division from 2013 to 2016. During this time, he was also a member of BHP Billiton’s Corporate Executive Committee. Mr. Cutt began his career with Mobil and worked for ExxonMobil for 24 years and served in various management roles including President of ExxonMobil de Venezuela, President ExxonMobil Canada Energy and President Hibernia Management & Development Company. Mr. Cutt served as a board member of the American Petroleum Institute (API) from 2013 to 2018.

Paul Dennis

Paul Dennis, Past President of Christwood and a member of the Executive Committee, has 28 years of experience in specialty chemicals industry in markets such as pharma, textiles, coatings, personal care, and agriculture.  Paul became President of Gaylord Chemical in 2003.  He was the leader of 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.

Rev’d. Seth Donald

The Rev’d. Seth Donald began his tenure as rector of Christ Church in August of 2022. Prior to Christ Church, Fr. Seth served as the 5th Rector of St. Michael and All Angels in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is a native of Jennings, Louisiana and holds degrees from Rhodes College, BA; Centenary College, MBA; and The University of the South, M.Div. He is currently undergoing doctoral work at Fordham University with a special interest in Ignatian Spirituality.  Before being called to ordained life, Fr. Seth had a business career with a Fortune 30 company. He is an avid reader, enjoys travel, good food, and any excuse to be outside – gardening, hiking, hunting, and fishing. He is married to Amy Parratt Donald; they have three daughters: Mary Brooks, Eliza, and Mae and a goldendoodle named Olive.

Keith P. Duet

Keith P. Duet has worked since 2013 at Duet Law Firm, LLC and Duet Wealth Management in Covington providing legal and wealth management services to select high net worth families and their businesses and investment interests.  From 1994 to 2013 he served as General Counsel and Vice-President at Asset Planning Services, Inc. in Covington engaged in all aspects of this comprehensive, fee only advisory firm, specializing in financial and estate planning.  Prior to that he was a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division in Washington, DC where he prosecuted and defended federal tax cases in the United States District Courts on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service.  Education: 1999 and 2000 Graduate Studies in Finance, University of New Orleans; 1994 L.L.M. (Taxation), Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC; 1990 J.D., Washington & Lee Law School in Lexington, Virginia and in 1987 he earned his B.A., Economics, at the University of Georgia.

David Duplantier, Esq.

David Duplantier, Esq., retired as the Senior Council, Chevron U.S.A in 2011 after 26 years of service.  In 2001 he was nominated by Loyola University to serve on the Louisiana State Civil Service Commission.  From 1982-1985, he was the Legal and Policy Adviser to the Commissioner Oliver G. Richard III at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Mr. Duplantier also handled the defense of personal injury litigation on behalf of the city of New Orleans prior to practicing private law.  He received his B.S. in Finance from LSU and his Juris Doctor Degree from Loyola University.

Patti Ellish

Patti Elish, President of Christwood and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees, retired St. Tammany Parish Hospital President and CEO, Patti Ellish has 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.  Ellish 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 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, New Orleans CityBusiness Woman of the Year, including its Hall of Fame and in 2017 she was named as one of the top 130 female healthcare leaders to know by Becker’s.  Patti Ellish is married and lives in Covington, LA; she has two children and one grandchild.

Beverly Baker Gariepy

Beverly Baker Gariepy, Vice President of Christwood and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees, has been working in Louisiana Municipal and Parish Governments in leadership roles with duties primarily focused on financial management and planning that has included the areas of Human Resources, Disaster Recovery, IT, Grant Administration, Facilities Management, Risk Management, Health and Human Services, Retirement and Animal Control.  She has a BA in French from Newcomb College, Tulane University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans.  In addition, she has taken numerous Government Financial Officers (GFOA), Louisiana Economic Development (LIDEA) and FEMA training classes.

Charles “Charlie” Goodyear

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. Greene

Judge John W. Greene, Vice President of Christwood and a member of the Executive Committee, was Elected Judge, Division D, 22^nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes and served from 1976 to 1997.  He was appointed as Judge ad hoc on the 1^st and 5^th Circuit Courts of Appeal and is serving as ad hoc Judge by appointments from the Louisiana Supreme Court. Judge Greene founded the Youth Service Bureau serving St. Tammany and Washington Parish youth and families in need of services and served as its Board Chairman and various other offices.  He has a BS in Finance from Louisiana State University and J.D. LSU Law Center.

Patrick “Bryan” Huval

Patrick “Bryan” Huval, CPA, CGFM, Treasurer of Christwood and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees, has more than 30 years of audit experience in a variety of industries.  His areas of practice include audit, business consulting, and tax services.  He has functioned as an engagement director and independent reviewer for audits and consulting engagements for financial institutions, public sector entities, nonprofits, charter and nonprofit schools, construction companies, and wholesale distributors. Bryan has a BS in Accounting from Southwestern Louisiana University, is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager.

Kerry K. Milton, RN, MSHA

Kerry K. Milton, R.N., MSHA, Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, St. Tammany Health Systems.   After launching her career as a medicine and oncology nurse at East Jefferson General Hospital,  Kerry Milton joined St. Tammany Health System as a telemetry registered nurse.  Through bachelor’s and master’s degrees and successive promotions in nursing management, Kerry built her executive career on patient care and sound management principles. Her roots at the bedside bring an important perspective on the value of personal attention and quality initiatives.

Kerry 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.

M. Todd Richard

M. Todd Richard is a retired Insurance Executive.  A Louisiana native, he graduated from LSU with a B.S. in Business Administration/Risk & Insurance in 1985. He continued his training in London, England where he worked as a broker at Lloyd’s of London. Upon returning to Louisiana, he joined FARA Insurance Services holding several technical and managerial positions.  In 1998, Todd was named CEO of FARA and grew the Mandeville, Louisiana-based insurance services organization to 23 locations across the country employing 500+ team members.  He sold FARA in 2011 and successfully transitioned the business prior to his retirement in 2012.

Todd is active in the community; past/present Board service includes: The Northshore Community Foundation (Chairman), St. Paul’s School Board of Trustees (Chairman), Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (Public Board Member), St. Tammany Parish Planning and Zoning Commissioner (Vice Chair), Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, St. Tammany Recreation District 1 (Commissioner), St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce (Vice Chair Public Policy), and the Safe Haven Foundation.

James H. “Jimmy” Rogers

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, Secretary of Christwood and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees, had a professional engineering career beginning with U.S. Gypsum in Greenville, MS.  He joined California engineering firm in 1964 as Design and Instrumentation leader in various petrochemical processing facilities as well as several major mining projects.  Jim spent one year in the Philippines assisting in the final construction and early start-up phase of a major petroleum refining facility.  Jim returned to the New Orleans area in 1966 to enter into the family business which developed into a major contributor to the automotive and marine service and parts distribution industry.  He began semi-retirement in 2000 as his son Sean, third generation in the business, entered the arena.  Jim continues as Advisor to Valliant Industries on a part-time basis.  Jim has served on the Christwood Board of Directors since 2013.