DANCE TYPE: Swing PROFESSIONAL PARTNER: Lisa White STUDIO: Powell-Moїse School of Dance WINNER: Audience Choice Male and On-Line Vote Award Lonnie Stockwells focus in both life and career is giving back to the communities that have allowed him to be successful. He currently serves as the Vice President of Board & Staff Development for Lighthouse Louisiana, a 98-year old organization that provides jobs, work training, and skills for independence to people who are visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing, or who have other disabilities. He and his wife, Maureen, own Coaches @ Work, LLC, a small company that specializes in individual and executive coaching, strategic planning, and board and leadership development. Lonnie retired from his post as Executive Director at J.P. Morgans Private Bank in 2012. After 34 years in the field, he retired from public accounting in 2007, after having served as Managing Director at Postlethwaite & Netterville in New Orleans. Lonnie is a Certified Professional Life Coach and is also certified as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Technician. He recently attained the status of Emergenetics Associate. Community service has been a longtime focus for Lonnie, and he has been recognized numerous times on the local, state and national levels for many accomplishments in the civic and community arenas. One of his most meaningful accomplishments was being selected as a Community Hero in Baton Rouge to carry the torch during the torch relay for the 1996 Olympics. Lonnie was born and raised in Baton Rouge and graduated from LSU with a degree in accounting. He served in the United States Marine Corps and is a proud decorated Vietnam Veteran. He and Maureen have been married for 41 years and have two children (Angie & Lee) and six grandchildren. WHY BIG BUDDY? Lonnie has been a longtime friend of Big Buddy, having attended past Big Buddy events and knows of the organizations work to provide mentors and opportunities to children in Baton Rouge. But when first asked to be a Star Dancer, he needed some convincing. Ralph Stephens, a long-time friend and former partner of mine at Postlethwaite & Netterville, approached me about undertaking this endeavor, and I immediately said what most normal people would have said -- NO. However, due to Ralphs commitment to Big Buddy and his enthusiasm for this event, I finally acquiesced and accepted. I know Ralph has been a part of Big Buddy since it began, and that alone was enough to convince me that maybe I could do something to help this worthwhile cause. Lonnie believes that the opportunity to work with so many committed individuals who also want to help Big Buddy accomplish its mission is the best reason to participate in DFBB. He says, While my wife Maureen and I enjoy a couple of dances at weddings and Mardi Gras balls, I have never thought of these as public performances...DFBB has definitely put me out of my comfort zone! But knowing that my dance partner Lisa White is willing to work with me to be the best I can be has given me extra motivation to raise money and have fun at the same time. To purchase a DVD of the 8th Annual Dancing for Big Buddy or for more information on Dancing for Big Buddy and the Big Buddy Program, visit our website at bigbuddyprogram.org or call 225-388-9737.
Posted on: Sat, 21 Jun 2014 17:00:01 +0000
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