Leadership On All Levels: 2021 Terrebonne Young Achievers

Ashlee Barahona, Layne Bordelon, and Noah Lirette all resonate with community members, and for good reasons. All three were recipients of the 2021 Terrebonne Young Achievers Award presented by b1Bank at the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon. The award celebrates young professionals in the community who showcase not only outstanding careers but also impact the community in ways that pave the way for future generations.

Ashlee Barahona earned her undergraduate degree in government and criminal justice from Nicholls State University. She went on to earn her master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Orleans and began her non-profit career as a loaned executive with United Way in 2007. She was promoted to Campaign Associate the following year and helped better communities in the position for eight years. She then began working at Compass Behavioral Hospital, and in her mental healthcare career, she served as a community liaison and was later promoted to the Director of the Outpatient Hospital. After six years with the hospital, she returned to the United Way. In February of 2021, she was hired as the Director of the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) where she has flourished.

Fast forward to August 29, 2021, and Hurricane Ida makes landfall leaving destruction across the region. Ashlee helped alongside United Way as a point of contact to help those who needed it the most. She acted as the Disaster Relief Coordinator where she worked directly with OEP to secure and deploy volunteers and supplies across Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes. She has also helped secure over a million dollars in hurricane relief funds for emergency assistance and teacher grants in Terrebonne Parish.

Ashlee’s nominator described her as being a dedicated wonderful steward of hope and has emerged as a leader in helping to rebuild our community. “As a lifelong resident of Terrebonne Parish and her work in the nonprofit industry. Ashlee brings a unique understanding of the needs of our community…She serves as an ambassador of hope for our community and encourages others to implement change in the community through her volunteer efforts and initiatives.”

Layne Bordelon graduated from Catholic High in Pointe Coupee and is a 2005 graduate of Louisiana State University with a marketing degree. She began her career in Baton Rouge working in advertising and sales. She left Baton Rouge to settle in Houma with her husband, Jeff Bordelon, and Terrebonne Parish has become her home, giving her the opportunity to further her career alongside giving back to the community in meaningful ways. Since joining Terrebonne General Health System in 2016, Layne has been working in marketing and is currently the Development Coordinator for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. 

Through her collective efforts with Terrebonne General Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and community leaders, they have been able to improve upon the quality of care for Houma residents who may not have the resources for early detection and treatment for various types of cancer. She also volunteers with other causes such as McDonnell United Methodist Children’s Services, Houma Junior Auxiliary, Girls on the Run, and Team Terrebonne. 

The pandemic brought many challenges when it came to fundraising but that didn’t stop Layne. She adapted in-person events to virtual formats including the cancer center’s signature fundraising event, the Gala. In March 2021, she planned the ‘Gala Goes to You’, which uniquely broadcasted live from the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center and streamed to several remote watch party locations throughout the community. The event exceeded expectations and raised over $80,000 for cancer patients. These are just a few examples of how she has improved medical care in the community, advanced charitable organizations, and advanced personal growth in young women in the community. 

Terrebonne Parish native Noah Lirette graduated from Terrebonne High School and later earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and entrepreneurship from Louisiana State University. He worked in the oilfield after graduation, eventually returning home to work on his passion, Bayou Terrebonne Distillers. The distillery was founded by Noah along with two cousins to preserve a family tradition. The distillery building was once a shrimp-drying facility and is now a center for events and functions in downtown Houma. Their whiskey is the only certified Louisiana-made whiskey. 

 Noah has shown a passion for preserving the beauty of the bayou region, Houma, and specifically the downtown area over the years, and eventually became a co-founder of the Hache Grant Association. The association is a non-profit organization that has the goal of bettering the quality of life and revitalization of Terrebonne Parish. The first main revitalization project was creating fundraising events to help fund a downtown bandstand to be constructed near the courthouse. This project was recently passed by the council and is moving forward. He also serves on the Keep Terrebonne Beautiful and Downtown Development boards along with serving as president of the Hache Grant Association.

Hurricane Ida left a mark in Terrebonne Parish and the Hache Grant Association stepped up in big ways to help those in need. Although Hurricane relief wasn’t in the original plan, the group pulled up their bootstraps and extended a hand to the community. He opened his distillery as a home-based distribution center for relief efforts and converted the facility into a grocery store allowing residents to “shop” free of charge. He stood shoulder to shoulder with those around him to deliver supplies to the hardest-hit areas in lower Terrebonne and he continues to come together with those in the community and constantly finds ways to help better those around him. His recommendation letter for the nomination described him as an old soul who gets the job done and his love for Terrebonne shines.