Governed by the Community, For the Community

Linda Larkin is a 1997 graduate of Louisiana Tech University, and she is the Marketing Director for Patriot Title in Slidell.

Linda serves as a Board member for the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and STARC of Louisiana. She has a long history of servitude with the Rotary Club of Slidell, serving on several committees including the scholarship, publicity, and fundraising committee(s), and is a past President. Linda is also a Paul Harris Fellow and is the incoming Assistant District Governor for District 6840.

Linda has also served extensively with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, the Junior Auxiliary of Slidell (Life and Associate member), Slidell Ladies for Liberty, and STARC for many years.  Additionally, she has served as a Board member for the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation, Women’s Council of Realtors, and the Professional Women of St. Tammany.

Miranda Lindsay is the CEO at the Hospice Foundation of the South and the Hospice House. She has been with the foundation since starting as the Administrative Assistant in July of 2013. Miranda is a 2017 graduate of Pearl River Community College; receiving her Associates of Art with a focus on business and marketing, graduating on the Dean’s List. She graduated from Mississippi State University in December 2020 with a Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies; majoring in Business, Social Work, and Psychology.

Through her job and in her personal time, she enjoys supporting several organizations. She was awarded the "Pearl Award" for community stewardship from the Leadership Slidell Northshore Alumni Association in June 2022. Miranda was also recognized in December 2020 as Edge of the Lake Magazine's "40 Under 40" and was honored to be selected as the East St. Tammany Young Athena Leadership Award Recipient in November 2019. She currently serves as Vice President of the East St. Tammany Business Alliance and Rotary Club Slidell Northshore. Alliance. Miranda is a current cohort member of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program.

Miranda previously was the President of the Camellia City Kiwanis Club and Leadership Northshore Alumni Association. Miranda is a volunteer for multiple Non Profits in our area, and a Leadership Northshore class of 2018 graduate and a Leadership St. Tammany class of 2023 graduate. She was also the co-founder of LOSS Love, a project that supplied care packages for child survivors of suicide in St. Tammany Parish.

Donna O’Daniels has spent her 30+ year career in tourism marketing and has served the residents of St. Tammany for 27 years helping the STPTCC achieve its mission to increase the economic impact of tourism. First hired in 1996 as the Director of Communications and Marketing, she was named CEO in 2005.  She has since led the organization through the recoveries from Hurricane Katrina, the national economic downturn, the BP oil disaster and the COVID 19 pandemic.

She currently serves as Past President of the Louisiana Travel Association, the state’s largest trade association for the travel industry. O’Daniels has been recognized by New Orleans City Business among its Women of the Year and the “Power 25” Most Influential Professionals in the region’s tourism and hospitality industry. She has also received the Woman of the Year award from the Professional Women of St. Tammany.

Don Thanars is from Houston, Texas and is a graduate of Texas Southern University where he attained a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. He subsequently served faithfully for 21 years in the United States Marine Corps retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2006. During his military service, he deployed and served during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom; held command at every level from platoon to Battalion; and served in Joint and Division staff assignments.

Throughout his career, Don has received multiple military awards for his leadership and exemplary service, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award); Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal to name a few. He has also received the Man of Valor Community Service Award in 2018; and has been featured in the local Slidell Independent Newspaper.  Additionally, he received the NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Community Service Award in June 2000 and was subsequently featured in JET Magazine.

Since his retirement, Don has been a very active member of the St Tammany community, working with several organizations, mentoring programs, and his church. He is 2015 graduate of Leadership Northshore and a founding member of Notes for Education Northshore (N4ENS) which supports the academic and social development of kids on the Northshore by providing musical instruments, grants, and scholarships. He is also a founding member of the Slidell Jazz and Blues Festival which the primary funding vehicle for N4ENS. Additionally, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post Commander); the Marine Corps League; and the American Legion.

Don Thanars has a Master of Arts (MA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Webster University and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy (FBINA). He has also completed other senior leadership training at Ohio State University and the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University.

Don Thanars is married to Dinah Cousin of Houston, Texas (39 years) and they have three daughters. Don is also an accomplished saxophonist performing with his own band and in the music ministry at Living the Word International in Slidell, LA.

Jonna Turner is a lifelong resident of Slidell, having called the community home since 1982. With nearly three decades of experience in financial services, she brings extensive expertise and a strong commitment to economic development to her public service.

Jonna has worked in banking for 29 years, including 25 years in commercial banking. She serves as Vice President and Commercial Relationship Officer with Renasant Bank, where she specializes in commercial real estate and business lending. Throughout her career, she has partnered with local entrepreneurs and business owners to structure financing solutions that promote responsible growth and long-term stability across St. Tammany Parish and the surrounding area.

She is a graduate of Leadership Northshore, Class of 2014, and has served on the Board of Directors for East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity since 2024. She has also been a dedicated “Rosie” volunteer since the program’s inception. Jonna is an active member of the St. Tammany Parish Chamber of Commerce and the East St. Tammany Business Alliance.

Jonna is the proud mother of two sons, Jack (21) and Barrett (14).

Mrs. Kathleen Wilkin is the former owner of Safeguard Business Systems/New Orleans, and a long time resident of Slidell  She is a graduate of the University of Florida and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Initiative.  Through her consultation practice, and as a Small Business Advocate, Kathleen assists small business owners to meet their objectives.