Pat Clark

Pat Clark is a native of Monroe, LA and has enjoyed living and working in Monroe.  The last thirteen years, she has enjoyed being a housewife.  Her husband, John Clark, is a stock broker/financial consultant.  John has three children and they enjoy time they both spend with the three grandchildren. 

She is a graduate of ULM in Psychology and licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor and also certified in Reality Therapy.   

Her work background includes, working as a Job Placement Counselor and then Job Developer for the Ouachita Parish Police Jury for three years, and later, as a Program Manager and Residential Director at ARCO for twelve years. 

Pat is a charter member of the Pilot Club of the Twin Cities, serve on the Family Promise of Ouachita Board, and enjoy various church activities at First United Methodist Church in Monroe.  Her hope is to share the love, grace, and compassion that God has given to her with those she has the opportunity to work with.

Her interest in Families Helping Families came through a friend's recommendation to assist with a book club.  Pat had never made reading a priority for herself, but have found a real joy in sharing my time reading with the group.  The club has lead to other opportunities to serve through First Friday Get Together, the Ladies Lunch Bunch, and to now serve on the board.

Karl Kaufman

Karl, with his family, resides in West Monroe, LA.  Karl and wife, Lori Ann, have two delightful children, Gary and BritniAnn.  Karl is a Physical Therapist at Melanie Massey Physical Therapy in West Monroe.  He is actively involved as a member of First Baptist Church of West Monroe through LIFE Group Ministry and Men's group ministry.  And anything else his wife might volunteer him for!  In the Spring of 2008, Karl joined forces with Families Helping Families.  He enjoys running and his family has been instrumental in supporting the St. Jude Hospital through Team Jake at the Memphis Marathon in memory of Jake Raborn.

Henry Bateman

Henry currently works for LATAN.  He completed a bachelor’s degree in Finance/Economics at Northeast Louisiana University.  Henry has 10 years experience in the non-profit field (disability resources/Assistive technology) and has given many presentations on topics such as Assistive Technology in the Classroom and Reduced Interest Loan Programs. He has also written newspaper articles about the Americans with Disabilities Act and Universal Design/Universal Access and developed multi-million dollar programs.  Henry has presented college classroom lectures at the University of Louisiana Monroe on the general subjects of Assistive Technology and the Emotional Impact of Disabilities, and also conducted radio and television interviews on subjects related to Assistive technology.  He has worked untiringly to disseminate important information about services and supports available to people with disabilities in Louisiana.  He currently serves on The Statewide Independent Living Council, Twin Cities Mayor’s Committee for the Disabled, Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana Board, and participates in several other disability related councils, committees and boards.

Cody Rials

Cody is a native of Monroe, LA, and is married to Elizabeth Jaubert, also a native of Monroe, LA.  He is a graduate of the then Northeast Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, and he is a graduate of LSU's Paul Hebert School of Law with a Juris doctorate and Bachelor of Civil Law.  Cody is an attorney with the local law firm of Dimos, Brown, Erskine, Burkett, and Garner, LLP.  His areas of practice include personal injury, real estate, corporate law, and disability law.

Cody  and his wife are members of Lea Joyner Memorial United Methodist Church in Monroe.  In his spare time, he enjoys anything outdoors, and he is an avid hunter and fisherman.

Suzanne Riggs

Suzanne Barrios Riggs, a native of Delhi and a graduate of Baylor University, is a long-time resident of West Monroe where she and her late husband, Donny, made their home and became parents of two sons, Donald, Jr., (Chip) and Jordan Riggs.  Chip, his wife, Emily, and their three children, Jackson, TJ and Lilly, currently reside in Atlanta, GA.  Jackons was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (a developmental disorder caused by a deletion of the short arm of the 4th chromosome) which has inspired Suzanne's special interest in children with disabilities and Families Helping Families.  She has seen personally how families have to fight for the rights of their children with special needs especially in the areas of specialized medical care and educational opportunities.  Suzanne's younger son, Jordy, lives in Ruston, LA, with his three children, Jordan, Josh, and Julianne.  He recently married, Julie, who brings three more delightful grandchildren into the Riggs family.

Suzanne currently serves as vice president of Trenton Society, and is a former member of the Cancer Foundation League.  A member of First Baptist Church of West Monroe and the Vota Vita L.I.F.E Group.  Suzanne also volunteers in several ministries of the church.  Reading, traveling and enjoying her grandchildren are her favorite activities.

Dr. Anita Sharma

I was born in New Delhi, India.  I grew up with a balanced mix of eastern and western values and education. I obtained a baccalaureate degree in English Literature and, later, decided to follow into my mother’s footsteps to become a social worker. I obtained my first Master’s degree in Social Work in 1986 with a specialization in Medical and Psychiatric social work. While doing a year-long internship during my first year in the Master’s program, I received my first opportunity to work with children diagnosed with developmental disabilities. I was placed in a special school for children with developmental disabilities. It was an eye-opening experience for me. Not only did I gain knowledge in the field, I also learned appropriate values and skills to be able to work with the children and their parents. That experience changed my outlook towards life and also made me determined to get further education and training in the field of developmental disabilities. 

For a few years, I worked as a social worker in the slums of Bombay City in India and then decided to pursue further education in the field of developmental disabilities. I joined my family in the United States and came to Tallahassee, Florida. I obtained my second Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Social Work from Florida State University. My doctoral dissertation addressed the issue of burnout among respite care workers who provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

I came to Monroe in 1992 as a faculty in the Social Work Department at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. I have been here since then. As a professor of Social Work, I developed a course called “social and emotional aspects of disabilities” that allows me to raise awareness and disseminate information about various types of disabilities. The other areas of my specialization include family violence, gerontology, and clinical social work. 

I am highly involved in my local community as a social worker. As part of my service to my community, I produce and host a radio show called “Spectrum” on KEDM, the local affiliate of NPR. The show focuses on various human services available in the KEDM listening area. I am continuing to grow as a social worker and as an educator.

 Angela Jackson Wilson

Angela Jackson Wilson is the Chief Executive Officer of AJW Event Planning.  The company provides assistance with all aspects of an event from site selection to post-event follow-up.  Angie is a member of Monroe - West Monroe Business and Professional Women, Louisiana Federation of Business & Professional Women USA and the International Federation of Business & Professional Women.

She has served as a Past State President of the Louisiana Federation of Business & Professional Women and currently serves as the Chair of the National Membership Committee for 2007-2008 of Business and Professional Women USA.

She and her husband have a son who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.