2026-27 Board of Directors Nominees

Ashley Alexander / Cox Media

Ashley Alexander is a marketing and sales professional currently serving as Local Sales Manager for Baton Rouge and Lafayette with Cox Media. In her role, she partners with local businesses to align marketing goals with effective advertising strategies, supporting brand visibility and revenue growth while leading and developing sales teams through a collaborative and client focused approach.

Ashley built her marketing foundation in the cosmetics and retail industries as an Account Executive, where she executed localized social media campaigns, promotional events, and targeted brand messaging across platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Her hands-on experience running small social marketing blitzes continues to inform her approach to advertising today, blending creative execution, audience insight, and data driven strategy. She holds an MBA in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Emily Gaffney / Gordon McKernan

Emily Gaffney is the Marketing Manager for Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, where she has spent the past four years helping strengthen the firm’s brand across Louisiana. She began her career at the firm as a Public Relations Specialist, overseeing reputation management, sponsorships, events, and written content, including press releases, blogs, and emails.

In her current role, Emily oversees brand management and the day-to-day operations of the marketing department. Her team leads key areas including social media, media buying, production (videography and photography), out-of-home advertising, community outreach and sponsorships, and more. She ensures projects stay on strategy, on schedule, and aligned with the firm’s brand, while continuing to lead reputation management and written content.

Emily is a proud alumna of LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. Outside of work, she is an avid reader and enjoys traveling. Her most recent trip was to the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.

Sean Gasser / Sean Gasser Photography

Sean is a commercial, editorial, and portrait photographer who grew up in the Baton Rouge area. He studied Mass Communications at SLU and holds an MFA from the University of Miami.

He has a passion for street photography and has served as cinematographer on several short films that have been shown in film festivals around the country. He seeks out local organizations to work with capturing their people and events in the best possible light. Outside of work he enjoys traveling, watching movies, distance running, LSU sports, and spending time with his wife and 4 year old daughter.

Garick Giroir / Campus Federal Credit Union

Garick Giroir is the Assistant Vice President of Marketing at Campus Federal Credit Union. With a background spanning agency account service and in-house financial marketing, he brings a well-rounded perspective on how strong messaging and creative execution drive impact. He was named Ad Person of the Year in Agency Account Service by AAF New Orleans in 2017 and was recently recognized as a 2025 Luminaries Rising Star by Credit Union Times. His career includes leadership roles at OnPath Credit Union and Louisiana FCU, along with early production experience at NFL Films. He’s a Certified Credit Union Marketing Executive with a strong interest in how people connect with brands.

Emily Tardo / Lamar Advertising

Emily Tardo has a passion for helping clients achieve their goals through strategic Out of Home advertising placements. She is a National Account Manager at Lamar Advertising with 10 years of experience planning, selling, and managing billboard, transit, and airport campaigns across the country. She enjoys building relationships with her clients and working with brands like Miller Lite and Blue Moon.

Emily is a Baton Rouge native with a Mass Communication degree from LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. From 2022 to 2024 she served on the fundraising committee for AAF to help coordinate the annual Media & Creative Services Auction. Then in 2024 she was elected to the board and served as fundraising chair. In 2026 as the programs chair, she recruited speakers for AAF-BR’s monthly luncheons.

Emily has two sons, Evan (6) and Brady (8 months). When she’s kid-free, she enjoys drag brunches with her four sisters and comedy shows with her friends.

Cast Your Vote

2026-2027 Executive Committee

Kris Bordelon – President
Emma Little – President-Elect / American Advertising Awards Chair
Bridget DeSilva – Vice President / American Advertising Awards Co-Chair
Lisa Thibodaux – Executive Director / Membership
Jennifer Berthelot – Treasurer
Rachel Harvey – Immediate Past President