2026 Workforce Development Awards Banquet

Thursday, August 27, 2026

5:30 PM - 9:00 PM (CDT)

Marriott Hotel Baton Rouge

5500 Hilton Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-2522
United States

* Registration open until 8/25/26 at 12:00 PM (CDT)

GBRIA's Annual Workforce Development Awards Banquet is the highlight of our long-standing benchmarking and award program. Leaders from industrial manufacturing facilities, industrial contracting companies, post-secondary institutions, and local school systems come together to celebrate the accomplishments across the craft workforce development ecosystem.

Annual Partner Registration (Max Ticket Quantity: 1)

	Credits	Price
(Plants) Platinum Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
(Plants) Gold Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
(Plants) Silver Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
(Plants) Bronze Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
Platinum Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
Gold Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
Silver Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE
Bronze Annual Partner You must be logged in to register for this prepaid item. • All Annual Partners must confirm their attendance no later than one week before the event to guarantee their seats. Space is limited, and the event may sell out. Unconfirmed seats, even if paid for, cannot be guaranteed. • When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		FREE

Single Event Sponsorship (Max Ticket Quantity: 1)

	Credits	Price
WFD Platinum Single Event Sponsorship (10 Seats) The Platinum Sponsorship includes a table for 10 with premium seating and platinum sponsor recognition for this event only. When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		$3,000.00
WFD Gold Single Event Sponsorship (10 Seats) The Gold Sponsorship includes a table for 10 and gold sponsor recognition for this event only. When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		$2,250.00
WFD Silver Single Event Sponsorship (5 Seats) The Silver Sponsorship includes 6 seats and silver sponsor recognition for this event only. When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		$1,125.00
WFD Bronze Single Event Sponsorship (5 Seats) The Bronze Sponsorship includes 5 seats and bronze sponsor recognition for this event only. When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		$875.00

General Registration

Companies that are not Annual Partners and not sponsoring the event

	Credits	Price
WFD Table of 10 (Max Ticket Quantity: 1) Table of 10 seats with no sponsorship. When registering, set the quantity to 1 as each registration is preset internally to reflect the number of seats for each respective purchase.		$1,250.00
WFD Single Attendee Single seat(s) with no sponsorship.		$125.00
WFD Educator Attendee Single seat(s) with no sponsorship. For High School Educators Only.		FREE

Product Add-ons

Add-ons	Price
WFD Educator Ticket Sponsor View Product	$500.00
Donation to LCEF Construction Connect Scholarship View Product	FREE Donation

Agenda

August 27
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM	Registration, Buffet Dinner, Networking Join us from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for event check-in, a buffet-style dinner, cocktails, and networking.
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM	Awards Program The awards program starts at 6:30 p.m. with comments from GBRIA's Board of Directors and Awards Ceremony.

Attendees (147)

Seth Arceneaux Safety & Security Team Leader Rubicon

Matt Bailey VP/GM of Delek Krotz Springs Refinery Delek US

Carson Balthazar Safety Coordinator Trade Construction Co, LLC

Michael Basham Zone Operations Manager Air Liquide - MRPL

Michael Bell Air Liquide - Geismar

Christy Blanchard Complex Operations Manager Rubicon

John Bruner Director of Operations, MRPL Air Liquide - MRPL

Monty Bueche Construction Director ISC Constructors, LLC

Katie Burk HR Director EXCEL Group

John Conrad Maintenance Manager OxyChem - Convent

Brittany Cooper Office Manager & Member Liaison GBRIA

Katherine Daigle Human Resources Manager Eastman Chemical Company

Layne David Eastman Chemical Company

Christian Deslatte Financial & Operations Associate GBRIA

Dustin Ducote Workforce Development ISC Constructors, LLC

Matt Duhe Eastman Chemical Company

Brian Even Director, IT ISO Cornerstone Chemical Company, LLC

Connie Fabre President & CEO GBRIA

Lexi Falcon Health and Safety Council Louisiana

Stephen Fertitta VP of Strategic Growth PALA Group, Inc

Shane Firmin Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC

Elaine Fitzgerald Administrator SCPPS Satellite Center

Colette Gourney Lab Manager Eastman Chemical Company

Aaron Gregg Eastman Chemical Company

Chris Hernandez Plant Manager Eastman Chemical Company

Hutson Hilburn Craft Training Coordinator Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC

Londyn Hill Corporate Training Coordinator Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC

Jessica Himel Event Manager GBRIA

Glenn Ingrassia Vice President Operations Trade Construction Co, LLC

Savannah Jones Recruiter/HR Coordinator Trade Construction Co, LLC

Andi Kirkpatrick CFO Trade Construction Co, LLC

Adam Landry President & Chief Operating Officer PALA Group, Inc

Stacey Lawson Claims Manager Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC

Drake Leblanc Account Manager Health and Safety Council Louisiana

Nina LeBlanc Regional VP Operations Louisiana Health and Safety Council Louisiana

Brandon Maxwell Workforce Development Manager PALA Group, Inc

Wade Patrick Employee Safety/Training Coordinator Rubicon

Tommy Payne Plant Controller Eastman Chemical Company

Bennett Pourciau Equipment Manager Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC

Boo Ragan EXCEL Group

Traci Sanderson HR Manager - Total Rewards and Compliance Cornerstone Chemical Company, LLC

Brandon Smith Vice President GBRIA

Cody St. Arnaud Training and Workforce Development Manager EXCEL Group

Tyler Traweek Director of Regional Operations SE Louisiana Health and Safety Council Louisiana

Jake Valenti Safety & Security Manager OxyChem - Convent

Ben VanVeckhoven Director of Manufacturing Cornerstone Chemical Company, LLC

Jesse West Safety Manager Trade Construction Co, LLC

Ivan Williams Eastman Chemical Company

Alan Smith Director of Health Safety & Environment PALA Group, Inc

98 Other Registered Attendees

For More Information:

Brittany Cooper

Office Manager & Member Liaison (225)769-0596 x14

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