CHAIR

Anne has a background in special education and social work; she is the Executive Director of the McMains Children’s Developmental Center with whom she has worked, wearing a variety of hats, for more than 30 years.

VICE CHAIR

Steve is the father of three, including a young man with autism. An attorney by trade, Steve founded Gateway Transition Center to help build out opportunities for his son and other young adults on the spectrum successfully transition into adulthood. These programs were subsequently absorbed by Merakey, where he is currently employed. He serves as co-leader of the Transition and Workforce Development Opportunities Task Force.

TREASURER

Al is a former Vice-President of the Louisiana Chapter of the Autism Society of America and currently serves as Vice-President of the ARC Baton Rouge Board of Directors. He is a member of the Louisiana Department of Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), Capital Area Regional Advisory Committee as well as a member of the OCDD State Advisory Committee. He helped found the Lafourche Federation for Special Children to help identify available regional resources to assist parents of special needs individuals in the Lafourche parish region.

SECRETARY

Al is the 2004 recipient of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation’s Angel Award thanks in part to his volunteer work with the McMains Children’s Developmental Center. Each year he and his wife Anne Hindrichs, also a board member, organize a canoe trip to Tickfaw State Park for children with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.

Cat is the owner and clinical director of Mercy Autism Center and a distinguished professor at both Pepperdine University and Franciscan University, where she teaches courses on applied behavior analysis, autism spectrum disorders, and related subjects. Her work at the center has focused on empowering individuals with autism and other exceptionalities to achieve their full potential, while also providing support to families and caregivers.

Jan is the Executive Vice President of Philanthropy for the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation. Jan was instrumental in the creation of the original 2016 study, which the work of CAAN is based upon.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Drew is the Executive Director of CAAN. He previously worked in marketing at McMains Children’s Developmental Center and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Developmental Medicine & Therapy. He also previously served on the DE&I Council at Our Lady of the Lake and as President of Bike Baton Rouge.