Tara Gallope is an HR Consultant Supervisor for Louisiana State Civil Service where she serves as the Instructor-led Training Team Supervisor. In addition to managing and developing an amazing team of facilitators, her role also includes facilitation, instructional design, and program management.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master's degree from Louisiana State University in Leadership and Human Resource Development. Tara is in her fourth year of serving on the ATD Baton Rouge Board of Directors. Her people-oriented personality drives her passion for training and talent development, and she looks forward to connecting and engaging with more TD professionals through her service on ATDBR's Board of Directors.

She has held different roles within the credit union, but the constant in each has been her desire to help and serve others. She is excited to bring her passion for service as VP of Membership for ATDBR and looks forward to building new relationships.

Marcus Sylvas is the Leadership Development Program Manager at the Louisiana Transportation and Research Center.  In his role, he conducts a variety of customized leadership development courses for Department of Transportation and Development employees across Louisiana.  Prior to this role, he worked as a Talent Acquisition Specialist at Louisiana State University where he specialized in faculty, staff, and executive recruitment. 

Marcus earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business from LSU and an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Southern University.  He is currently in pursuit of his PhD at LSU after earning a Master’s degree in Leadership and Human Resources Development in 2021.  In addition to earning his second Master’s degree, he also passed his SHRM-CP in 2021.  Outside of his work and academic life, Marcus is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and the Society of Human Resource Management.  In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and trying different foods.

Keioca Lea brings over 15 years of experience in the credit union industry, with more than eight years specializing in leadership, training and development. She currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Training and Development at EFCU Financial Federal Credit Union, where she designs innovative learning strategies that empower individuals, strengthen leaders, and support organizational growth. Passionate about professional excellence and community, Keioca is excited to serve as Secretary for ATDBR, supporting a vibrant network of talent development professionals and advancing a culture of continuous learning. When she’s not creating learning strategies, Keioca enjoys volunteering in the community and sharing her passion for financial literacy education.

Burgundy Cummings is responsible for the Training and Development program at the Secretary of State’s office. She creates and delivers eLearning and facilitator-led training on various soft skills and leadership development topics. She manages the LMS for the Department and is responsible for the Department's philanthropic projects.

Burgundy has over 10 years of Human Resources experience and has transitioned into a training role within the last 7 years. She has previously served as the VP of Marketing and Communications at ATDBR. She is excited about serving in her new role as the Secretary of ATDBR and looks forward to meeting more members!

Meridith Bergeron is the Director of Educational Services for Woman's Hospital. Bergeron focuses on organizational talent and workforce development, hospital-wide training, continuing education, and leadership development. Her work ensures employees have the skills and resources needed to grow professionally and contribute to the success of the organization.

Bergeron is a dedicated leader with a proven track record of strategically designing high-quality learning experiences. Recognized for creating and delivering innovative and engaging content, she excels in developing scalable educational solutions for healthcare and higher education providers. She is known for her collaborative approach and commitment to excellence in learning design. In recognition of her contributions, Bergeron was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Louisiana for 2025 by Women We Admire.

Previously, Bergeron served in leadership roles at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University and Our Lady of the Lake, a not-for-profit 850-bed medical center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Technology. She earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida.

Ashley Thomas is a graduate of Louisiana State University and a native of Baton Rouge, LA. As an Instructional Designer, she is responsible for developing and creating engaging e-learning courses for Southeastern/LCWTA and its partners. Before joining Southeastern/LCWTA, Ashley spent nearly a decade teaching English Language Arts in high school. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctorate in Education.

Laci Talley is currently the Assistant Division Administrator for the Learning, Performance, and Culture division of Louisiana State Civil Service. In this position, Laci has helped to shape the state's training programs, eLearning philosophy, and development approach through her innovative course design, rigorous assessment standards, and continuous quality improvement. She works with her team to create multimedia learning experiences and performance support products. Prior to joining this department in 2013, Laci was as an Associate Professor of English at a local college. During her decade in higher education, in addition to teaching, she helped to create a wide variety of courses and to establish multiple administrative policies and procedures.

Laci holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from Southeastern Louisiana University. Outside of work, she is a writer, photographer, and pet parent to Carver and Gizmo.