Sandra Thompson Herman, Founder, President and CEO

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Sandra Thompson Herman has blazed countless trails, paving the way for dreamers to become doers in Louisiana. In 1975, in her 20s, Sandra designed the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and served as its first cabinet-level Secretary, leading the department from 1976 to 1978. In 1979, she made history by becoming the first woman to run for Louisiana’s Secretary of State, narrowly losing the election.

Capitalizing on the state’s oil boom in 1980, Sandra launched a trucking company to serve the burgeoning industry. Over the next 15 years, she expanded the business from a modest fleet of three trucks to twelve, providing services to parishes throughout south Louisiana.

Sandra returned to public service in 1996 as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Atchafalaya Basin Program. During her three terms—two under Governor Mike Foster and a third under Governor Kathleen Blanco—she secured and managed $83 million in state funds to complement the Corps of Engineers’ $250 million. She led the task force in developing and implementing an eight-parish master plan for the 800,000-acre basin.

More recently, Sandra served as Strategic Advisor and Political Liaison for the Four Seasons and World Trade Center Enterprise on New Orleans’ Riverfront. In this role, she collaborated with city and state leaders, crafted political strategies to garner public support, drafted legislation, and assisted with public relations efforts for the project.

Sandra’s leadership in the public sector includes serving as president of the Louisiana Center for Women in Government and Business Corporate Board and as vice president of the French Market Corporation. She has also been a board member of the Louisiana First Foundation and Louisiana State Museum, and served on the New Orleans Tricentennial Commission and Gallier Hall Restoration Committee.

In the private sector, Sandra has dedicated her time and talents as president of the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Association and as a founding member and president of both the Club of New Orleans and the New Orleans Entertainment Coalition. Additionally, she has served on the board of directors for the Louisiana Museum Foundation and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Louisiana Red Cross’ 2016 Power of Women Award, the 2015 Women in Government Legacy Award from the Louisiana Center for Women in Government and Business, the 2015 Volunteer Activist of the Year from St. Elizabeth’s Guild, and both the 1978 and 1999 Professional Conservationist of the Year awards from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. She was also honored as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 1993 Louisiana Women in Business Advocate of the Year and recognized by the Baton Rouge YWCA with the 1988 Entrepreneur of the Year and Women Achievement Awards.

In March 2020, Sandra donated her Legacy Papers to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Edith Garland Dupré Library in cooperation with the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center. These documents will be accessible to students, professors, and community leaders, providing valuable insights into Louisiana’s political landscape, particularly regarding women’s contributions.

Sandra earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Southeastern Louisiana University, graduating with honors in government, and later obtained her Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. She is married to Russ Herman, and together they are proud parents to five children and seven grandchildren.