KENNER
PROFESSIONAL
BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION

Officers:

Melissa Mitchel, President

Arita Bohannan, 1st Vice President

Arita M. L. Bohannan graduate cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans, School of Law. Additionally, she received a Certificate of Common Law and a Certificate of International Law. Ms. Bohannan was published in the Loyola Law Review and was a guest speaker at the Symposium Against Domestic Violence. She was one of four chosen to represent Loyola at the National Trial Competition.

She was the winner of the 2001 Association of Trial Attorney’s Board of Advocates In-House Trial Competition.

Ms. Bohannan worked as a law clerk for the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office and as a Clinical Attorney for Loyola Law School working with the Orleans Parish Indigent Defenders Board.

Ms. Bohannan is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the Association of Trial Attorneys, the American Bar Association, the Kenner Professional Women’s Association and the Better Business Bureau.

With a wide scope of previous work experience, and a successful legal career and family, she brings many assets to the table which she will use to aggressively pursue your legal endeavors.

Terri Kelley, Recording Secretary

Jane Ann Frosch, Corresponding Secretary

Matthew Person, Treasurer

Matthew Person, CPA: is the owner of Matthew Person, CPA & Associates. Matthew and his firm provide accounting and tax services, financial advising, business consulting to individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations. He specializes in small business accounting software including Peachtree, QuickBooks and PC Law. He has taught Peachtree and QuickBooks classes for clients and the general public for eight years. Matthew has been a CPA for 17 years.

Matthew is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he received a Bachelor of Accountancy degree. He has worked both in industry as well as public accounting for seventeen years where he gained a vast variety of work experience and knowledge of small business accounting issues.

His professional memberships include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, the New Orleans Chapter of Certified Public Accountants, a Certified Peachtree Software Consultant, a QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor, and Matthew holds a Series 6 Securities License and a Life, Health, & Disability insurance license.

Fred Horton, Treasurer-Elect

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Directors:

Bob Rispoli, Business Card Exchange

Kathy Melchers, Civic & Community Awareness

Kathy has been an integral part of Melchers Law Firm since 1987. Kathy started her career as a teacher, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of New Orleans. She also owned her own business for several years before coming to Melchers.

As Vice President of Operations, Kathy oversees client services, client communications, and business development. She has been instrumental in improving business processes as well as client satisfaction, and she developed and now manages the Legal Briefs newsletter.
Melchers Law Firm has a strong commitment to the community it serves. Kathy has been associated with Kenner Professional Women’s association (now KPBA) for 17 years. In December 2004, she was honored as Member of the Year. Her commitment to excellence in leadership and teamwork earned her this outstanding award.

Teresa Garner, Hospitality
Teresa Garner is a native of Mississippi. She has gained an extensive sales and business consulting background during her employment in Indianapolis, Indiana at major corporations such as IBM, Verizon and Sprint. After leaving corporate she moved to Metairie, LA where she and her husband/partner Edward R. Urrutia started Think Business, Inc. in June 2004. She is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the state of Louisiana and Licensed Real Estate Agent in the state of Indiana. She has a strong background in residential Real Estate and Business sales. She is a Business Broker affiliate of the National Business Brokers Network, performing business transactions resulting from the buy/sell of existing businesses and business valuations. She holds the professional credentials/designations of Business Transfer Specialist (BTS) and Financial Recasting Consultant (FRC) with the Business Brokers Network and RWS Business Valuation Services both of Dallas, Texas and Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraiser (CMEA) with National Equipment and Business Brokers Institute of Wichita, Kansas. Teresa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with emphasis in e-commerce and Marketing and an MBA in Business. Teresa is a member of the East Jefferson Business Association, Executive Achievers Association and the Kenner Professional Business Association. Her love to stay fit and healthy has also made her partners in a Lady’s only fitness facility named Figurez located in River Ridge and Thibodaux, LA.

She feels success is driven by a passion for what you do and a sense to help others by utilizing your skills not only for profit but to better the community around you.

Brenda Christiansen, Reservations

Marsha Bode, Special Projects/Ways & Means

Marsha Bode was born in Atlantic City, NJ and came to New Orleans in 1969. She joined KPBA in 2001 and has served as Reservation Director for 2002 and 2003. In 2003 Marsha was recognized as Member of the Year. Marsha served as 2nd VP for 2006 and is currently the Ways and Means/Special Projects Director for 2007. Marsha is a free-lance bookkeeper and is a member of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. In her free time she enjoys attending various festivals and volunteering in her community.