About
Beverly Brooks Thompson, PhD
As a small business owner and stalwart supporter of LSU, I have seen firsthand how the failure of our legislators to have hard conversations and make the tough decisions has hampered Louisiana’s potential. As a Louisiana resident for over 30 years, I have worked tirelessly on the front lines of our state’s largest institutions to make a difference in workforce and economic development and to provide access and resources to our most vulnerable citizens. I have watched frustrated and angry on the sidelines as our leaders have done very little to enact real systemic change. We need thoughtful, courageous leadership in our leaders. With collaboration comes progress, which is why I am running for the Louisiana State Senate - District 16.
This means prioritizing education from cradle to university to educate and train our citizens. This means offering Louisiana citizens a stable tax code and economic incentives that grow our economy and support Louisiana’s businesses and workers. Our education systems must provide workforce training to ensure our citizens have the skills to secure and perform high-paying jobs. This means a fair and reasonable budget that promotes economic growth and uplifts Louisiana and its people.
We must have a return to civil discourse in our communication regarding the future of our state. This means taking politics out of the discussion and talking about common sense/common ground solutions that work – regardless of the politics. There are some who fight against the tide – speak truth about real solutions – offer to work with anyone to fix our problems but there are too many – still – who play politics with our future. It is time for this to change.
We must expect our legislators to lead with courage and to work tirelessly to balance a fair and reasonable budget that promotes economic growth and uplifts its people. I stand ready for that challenge.
Education
- Early childhood education is critical and we must expand pre-k programs across the state
- We must support our teachers with the tools and resources they need to do their jobs and establish accountability systems that promote excellence and supporting parents by providing them with choices in their education options
- The cuts to LSU and Higher Education must end and we must invest in our universities, community colleges and trade schools
- We must promote and fund our higher education institutions in an effort to promote economic and workforce development for our future generations
- TOPS must be reasonable, predictable, and effective
- We must work to fix our truancy problem –which leads to high levels of crime in our city
Workforce and Economic Development
It is impossible to be pro-jobs but anti-business. We can and must have an economy that supports both businesses and workers – it doesn’t have to be one way or the other. A strong and vibrant economy is good for everyone in our state.
- Louisiana’s businesses must be able to rely upon reasonable and predictable taxes and fees
- Louisiana’s employees must be provided soft skills training to secure and perform in high paying jobs currently available in small businesses, manufacturing, petro-chemical and other industries surrounding our area
- While we must seek out and attract new employers to locate to our area, we must work just as hard to create an environment where existing small businesses thrive and expand
- Employers must be incentivized to promote and provide internships, externships, and cooperative education opportunities for high school and college students
- We must promote and fund our higher education research institutions to promote economic and workforce development for Louisiana’s future generations
Healthcare
- We must have reasonable and affordable healthcare that is not just available to large employers and institutions and we must demand a control in costs and coverage
- We must provide secure and reasonable solutions and protections for our most vulnerable citizens
- Medicaid expansion has saved lives in Louisiana and saved money and created jobs. I’ll continue to support it as long as we provide resources to root out and eliminate any fraud or waste
More about Beverly
- 25 years of leadership and service in the public sector promoting economic and workforce development, quality education attainment and healthcare. Including executive leadership roles in two of our community’s flagship institutions: LSU and Woman’s Hospital
- Managing Director, Carter Global - international fundraising firm
- President and Executive Counsel, Brooks Thompson Consulting – national fundraising consulting and philanthropic advising firm with current clients across the United States
- Adjunct Faculty – Valdry Center for Philanthropy, Southern University
- Former Director of the Forever LSU Campaign - $798 Million in private philanthropic support
- Former President of Foundation for Woman’s – established and seated the supporting foundation and Board of Trustees
- Four time LSU alumna with a PHD in Human Resource and Leadership Development
- Small business owner and entrepreneur
- Mother of three Catholic High School alums, Brennan, junior at LSU; Dalton, freshman at LSU; William, freshman at LATech
- Husband, Corky Thompson, LSU MBA and Account Manager at Halliburton servicing Shell Oil Co.
Volunteer Service:
- LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences advisory board
- LSU Communication across Curriculum advisory board
- American Heart Association legislative advocate
- Junior League of Baton Rouge advisory board
- Urban Congress
- The Walls Project
- Baton Rouge Ballet
- Boy Scouts of America, Istrouma Area Council, board member
Member:
- Rotary of Baton Rouge
- Association of Fundraising Professionals
- LABI
- BRAC
- Krewe of Artemis
- Mystick Krewe of Louisianans
- Council for a Better Louisiana, Leadership Louisiana, class of 2016
Awards:
- Alumnus of the Year, LSU College of Human Science and Education, 2017
- Influential Women in Business, 2018
- Marketer of the Year, Society of Marketing Executives
- Top 40 Under 40, 2009
