2025 ATHENA Leadership Award

Kathryn Townsend

2025 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award

Lauren Navarre

Arena Collective is sponsoring this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award.

Nominees are presented in alphabetical order. The summaries presented represent a small highlight of each nominee’s many achievements and contributions.

C. Beth Melton

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MEGAN HAGGERTY

Megan Haggerty embodies dedication and compassion in her dual roles as Director of Advancement for Pope John Paul II High School and as a member of the Slidell City Council. With a strong commitment to supporting nonprofits and fostering economic development, Megan has become a driving force for positive change in her community.

At Pope John Paul II High School, Megan works tirelessly to secure the funds needed to construct a much-needed third building to accommodate the school’s growing enrollment. She is passionate about increasing the school’s visibility, and leading impactful fundraising initiatives that directly benefit students and families.

As a member of the Slidell City Council, Megan channels her passion for public service into action-championing initiatives that enhance children’s safety, improve quality of life for residents, and support economic growth throughout the region.

Megan has lent her time and talents to numerous of organizations, including the United Way, East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity, Bring It Home Northshore, Steel Mimosas, the Slidell Pickleball Association, and Shop with a Cop.

Most importantly, Megan treasures her role as a wife and mother of four. Balancing family, faith, career, and service, she draws strength and inspiration from her loved ones, who remain at the heart of everything she does.

WENDY KELLER

With a lifelong passion for public service and community empowerment, Wendy Keller serves as the Community Outreach Specialist for the Department of Justice in Louisiana. She leads initiatives that strengthen trust between law enforcement and the public, partnering with schools, civic groups, and policing agencies statewide.

Her signature achievement at the FBI is the Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy, which offers high school students immersive, hands-on training with federal agents, forensic experts, and local officers. Within this academy, she also created the Women in Law Enforcement Career Panel, bringing together accomplished female professionals to mentor and inspire young women to pursue careers in law enforcement. Wendy also supports women to pursue higher education and professional development through the PEO Sisterhood.

Prior to federal service, Wendy held executive roles in healthcare, including Director of Clinic Operations for LSU Physicians, overseeing multi-site operations across Louisiana, and Administrator of an ambulatory surgery center, where she advanced patient-centered care and operational excellence.

In 2018, she founded Our Friends Closet, a nonprofit providing free hygiene and personal care items to homeless and low-income students. Serving nearly 60 schools across six parishes, the organization has become a vital resource ensuring dignity and support for underserved youth. Wendy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

CARRA “BETH” MELTON

A passionate educator, mentor and community leader, Carra “Beth” Melton has more than 20 years of experience inspiring students and empowering colleagues. She teaches 3rd grade at Bayou Woods Elementary School, where she is known for blending academic rigor with creativity and character development to help every child succeed. Melton was chosen as a Fellow in the Louisiana Fellowship Math Initiative. Through this Fellowship, she collaborates with educators locally and statewide to create and strengthen instructional practices. She will also have the opportunity to share her fellowship initiatives on a podcast with the 2025 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year.

Locally, Melton currently leads an after-school math club, mentors student teachers and is developing family engagement initiatives that extend learning beyond the classroom. Looking beyond their elementary education, Melton created the opportunity for students to meet women leaders through a career club she started and in school career day activities. Currently, Melton and two colleagues are collaborating on a presentation to be made at the Teacher Leader Summit in June 2026. Deeply committed to service, Melton actively volunteers as the baseball coach for special needs children, pushes or assists special needs persons on road races and guides campers with adaptive kayaks and fishing for the very first time.

KRISTEN STANLEY-WALLACE

Kristen currently serves as the lead St. Tammany attorney for Seale & Ross, before which she owned and operated Stanley-Wallace, LLC in Slidell for eleven years. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners and in 2024 served as president of the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association, after serving in other board positions for both organizations.

Kristen brought the “Wills for Heroes” program developed by the Louisiana State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division to Slidell. This initiative provided free estate planning to employees of the Slidell Police Department and St. Tammany Fire District No. 1. Last year, under her leadership, the 22nd JDC Bar Association started “Bring Your Kids to Court Day” for local attorneys and their children. The day included a scavenger hunt and other activities at the courthouse in Covington.

Kristen has been actively involved with Junior Auxiliary of Slidell, Slidell Women’s Civic Club, and East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity. She has been honored as a maid in the Krewe of Slidellians, an honoree at the East St. Tammany Builder’s Ball and as an Athenian Young Professional Leader. Kristen lives in Slidell with her husband, Brian, their daughter, a goldendoodle and French bulldog.

KATHERYN TOWNSEND

Katheryn is retired from the Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Space Center. A single mother, Townsend earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in chemistry, then expanded her arsenal of skills by taking graduate level college courses in hydrographic science and systems. At NAVO, Townsend was a key participant in international explorations. During those missions, she served as both an international liaison to local dignitaries and a hand of support to the poor in these countries. At home, Townsend was asked by NAVO to spearhead an initiative that encouraged poor black youth to pursue careers in ocean science and technology. She also wrote a grant for children’s nutrition that earned a $25,000 award.

A fierce advocate of Alph Kappa Alpha Sorority principles and charter member of the local chapter, Townsend led her sisters in numerous programs including a voters registration drive, SOUL NOLA, Keep Slidell Beautiful, Slidell Adult Daycare, the Divine 9 and programs benefiting the children of Abney Elementary.

Family is everything to Kathryn. She enjoys family celebration, including riding on the family Mardi Gras float. She is the proud mother of a son, who is a teacher at a New Orleans Charter School.

Mike Rich and Steve Kernahan are sponsoring the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

LAUREN KAUFMANN NAVARRE

Lauren Kaufmann Navarre is the COO and Co-Founder of Arena Collective, a law firm and title company. Lauren serves on multiple boards and is an active member of several organizations in the community. When Lauren isn’t negotiating deals or mentoring the next generation of leaders, you can find her cheering on her two daughters at the pool, doting on her dog Pierre, in a boat on Lake Pontchartrain, or relaxing in the woods.

ATHENA recipients will be announced at the ATHENA luncheon.