ENROLLED Page 1 of 3 Regular Session, 2014 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 182 BY REPRESENTATIVES ST. GERMAIN, BARROW, CHAMPAGNE, HILL, HODGES, KATRINA JACKSON, NANCY LANDRY, MORENO, NORTON, SMITH, STOKES, THIERRY, WHITNEY, AND WOODRUFF AND SENATORS BROOME, BUFFINGTON, DORSEY-COLOMB, AND PETERSON A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON To commend Clarissa A. Preston, a Baton Rouge businesswoman upon her receipt of a 2014 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation for her achievements in the field of Business. WHEREAS, Clarissa A. Preston is a New Orleans native and a 1994 graduate of Louisiana State University where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, and in 2012 she earned a master of business administration degree from the University of Phoenix, Baton Rouge Campus; and WHEREAS, Ms. Preston joined the Adams and Reese law firm in 2013 in the firm's Baton Rouge office as a lobbyist and member of the Governmental Relations team, working with state legislators, the executive branch, and state agencies, as well as other public policy makers to protect and promote clients' interests; and WHEREAS, Ms. Preston served as the head of the office of consumer advocacy for the Louisiana Department of Insurance, where she was the first deputy commissioner appointed to the position after its creation by the Louisiana Legislature in 2007; and WHEREAS, in her seventeen years of experience in the field of insurance, Ms. Preston worked as a regulator, an insurance company producer, and a consumer advocate; she has both regulatory and industry-recognized insurance designations and is a licensed multiline insurance producer, all of which more than qualify her as a regular presenter to agents and companies on insurance issues and related topics and to organizations as part of community outreach, and as a teacher of continuing education courses; and WHEREAS, Ms. Preston is an American Bar Association-approved certified paralegal and commissioned civil law notary public and holds both property and casualty and life and health insurance licenses; she also earned an Associate Professional in Insurance ENROLLEDHCR NO. 182 Page 2 of 3 Regulation (APIR) designation through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and holds a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) Designation from the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research; and WHEREAS, among her other accomplishments, Ms. Preston serves as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Surplus Line Association and in 2013 was elected to the Board of the National African American Insurance Association; and WHEREAS, another achievement for which Ms. Preston can be proud is that while working full time, she harnessed her personal passions and ventured into her own business, Montage Enterprises, LLC, a company that provides professional services in consulting, planning, marketing, training, and staging; her company's mission is encouraging and nurturing entrepreneurs, bringing undeveloped visions to reality, and cultivating continuing training; and WHEREAS, Ms. Preston's involvement in the community includes holding membership in several community service and professional organizations; she is a past Lieutenant Governor of Division 8B of the Kiwanis International Louisiana-Mississippi- West Tennessee District and serves as the Division 8B Coordinator for the Kiwanis Worldwide ELIMINATE project; she is a member of the Kiwanis Club of South Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board hearing committee; and is a Reading Friend for Volunteers in Public Schools; and WHEREAS, among the people Ms. Preston most admires are her mother and late maternal grandmother who both were teachers, her sister who is a teacher, and her sister who is a registered nurse; all of whom instilled in her that education and knowledge are the keys to success and survival, and by doing so they have helped Ms. Preston become the successful and extraordinary person she is today; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation created the Women of Excellence Awards to recognize and honor extraordinary women of excellence across the state for their outstanding achievements and contributions; and WHEREAS, recipients of the Women of Excellence Awards exhibit characteristics of integrity and professionalism, personify excellence in their area of specialty, and are committed to community service to better society as a whole; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 182 Page 3 of 3 WHEREAS, for 2014, there are six categories for the Women of Excellence Awards: Business, College Woman of Excellence, Education and Research, High School Woman of Excellence, Louisiana Hero of Excellence, and Military; and WHEREAS, the recipients of the 2014 Women of Excellence Awards are being recognized at the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation's Women of Excellence Awards Gala on Tuesday, May 27, 2014; and WHEREAS, Clarissa Preston has been named a recipient of a 2014 Women of Excellence Award in the field of Business for her accomplishments which demonstrate that she has truly excelled in business; and WHEREAS, Clarissa Preston merits a sincere and heartfelt measure of commendation for her dedication to excellence and her outstanding accomplishments, and it is entirely appropriate for the Legislature of Louisiana to commend Clarissa Preston upon her receipt of a 2014 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation and to recognize her vital contributions to the citizens of Louisiana. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Clarissa A. Preston, a Baton Rouge businesswoman, upon her receipt of a 2014 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation for her achievements in the field of Business; does hereby recognize and record for posterity her singular contributions to the citizens of Louisiana as an active and dedicated businesswoman and as a community activist, and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the tremendous honor and pride that she brings to her community and the state of Louisiana. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Ms. Clarissa A. Preston. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE