Please get to know our current Board of Directors that are serving Camp Challenge, Inc. for the 2020-2021 term.
Peter Yeadon, President
Peter first joined the Camp Challenge family in 2008 as part of his Jesuit High School service requirement. After his first camp session, he fell in love with the culture of being a “Bright Light in the Summer” and has never left since. One of his favorite aspects about Camp is watching his young campers develop into outstanding men and women year after year. He has served the Board of Directors since 2014 as a Board Member, Secretary, and now President. In his professional life, he works for the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency as the Quality Compliance Auditor; and in his personal life, he loves spending time with his wife and dogs and learning as much as possible.
Anonymous, Vice President
Shivani Gilotra, Secretary
Shivani has been a part of the Camp Challenge family since 1998, first as a camper, and then a staff member. Growing up, camp gave her a home away from home with wonderful memories and lifelong friendships. Since 2017, she has been honored to serve on the Board of Camp Challenge to help raise funds for this extraordinary place. Outside of camp, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, kickboxing, and yoga. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.
Anne Kulakowski, Treasurer
Anne began her involvement with Camp Challenge in 1997, after her oldest daughter, who was a leukemia patient, attended Camp. Camp Challenge was a life-changing experience for her daughter, even at a very young age, and it remains that way today. Camp Challenge was one of the few places where she was comfortable and joyful, and Anne sees that in so many of our campers. She is fortunate to be involved in such an impactful organization. She has worked in many aspects of camp, including dining hall, program and activities, and general “whatever we need” gofer. She has been a member of the Board of Directors for many years and currently serves as treasurer. Outside of camp, She works on the Investor Relations team at Entergy Corporation. Anne enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, and she loves quilting, reading, and biking.
Laura Avilés, Board Member
Laura Avilés works as a Senior Account Executive at The Ehrhardt Group where she manages media relations and public outreach initiatives to help clients achieve their goals. Laura works with a diverse range of clients in the entertainment, corporate and public industries. She has been with The Ehrhardt Group since 2016.
Prior to joining The Ehrhardt Group, Laura gained valuable experience in various sectors including the arts, nonprofit, fashion and higher education. She served as the communications assistant for the LSU College of Art + Design, worked as a social media assistant for regional fashion boutique Blu Spero and interned at the Arts Council of New Orleans.
A New Orleans native, Laura graduated Cum Laude from Louisiana State University where she majored in mass communication with a concentration in public relations and minors in art history and business administration. During her time at LSU, Laura participated in the LSU in London and Edinburgh study abroad program where she spent the summer in the U.K. learning about British minority culture as well as British music history.
Laura, a proud Puerto Rican and Spaniard, writes and speaks fluent Spanish. Growing up, she spent her summers visiting family in Puerto Rico and Spain, exposing her to her Hispanic culture and creating her love and curiosity for travel. Whenever she isn’t writing press releases and working closely with her clients, you can find Laura roaming an art museum, traveling the world or enjoying time with her family.
Veronica Blakesley, Board Member
Veronica has been involved with Camp Challenge since 2002 as both a parent of a patient/camper and a member of the board. During that time, she has been involved with check-in at Children's Hospital and drop off after camp. Veronica has also helped with the Christmas party to ensure that the families have a fun time. She enjoys helping to make sure that the kids have a fun filled week at camp and donating her time to such a worthy cause.
Jeff Briscoe, Board Member
Jeff began working with Camp Challenge back in 2003 as part of his high school service requirement. Inspired by the campers and staff he met that first summer, he was grateful to get the opportunity to continue volunteering over the years as a counselor. More recently Jeff has turned his focus to raising money for Camp with the Board. He continues to admire the campers and staff that make Camp such a special place. Outside of Camp, Jeff enjoy spending time with his wife and daughter, running, and sailing. In his professional life, Jeff is an attorney at the Brewster Law Firm, representing clients across the country.
Taylor Diaz, Board Member
Taylor (a.k.a. Smurf) is from New Orleans, LA. She attended Louisiana State University, where she graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Biological Sciences and Spanish. She currently works at a Peak Performance Physical Therapy, where she is a Physical Therapist Technician. However, her dream is to one day attend medical school and provide the best possible healthcare to children.
Taylor has been a part of Camp Challenge for many years. She began in 2006 as a camper in G2 and worked her way up from CIT to counselor and now Girls Unit Leader. Camp quickly became her home away from home. Camp gave her so much joy and love in a very confusing time in her life and every year she looks forward to providing the same to every camper she encounters. She has gained lifelong friends and family at camp, and every day she is thankful for such an amazing place filled with amazing people.
She is driven to see camp go to new heights. With being a camper in the past, Taylor knows what joy camp brings to the kids, and she want to be a part of the bigger picture that provides a safe place for many kids. She is excited to continue to contribute in a different way and help camp thrive because of everything it has given to her.
Terese Sahuque, Board Member
Terese is a pediatric nurse and has been involved with Camp Challenge since 2006. She has been on the Board of Directors since 2008. She has attended camp since 2006, missing 1 year. She loves camp!
Kade Turner, Board Member
Kade has been a part of the Camp Challenge family since July 2014. Outside of camp, Kade continues to advocate for children as he is a supervisor for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of South Louisiana. Kade brings to the table his communication skills and comical presence. Throughout the year Kade is always advocating for what is best for campers and children across the world.
"If I can help somebody, as I travel along.
If I can help somebody, with a word or song
If I can help somebody, from doing wrong
My living shall not be in vain"
-Alma Bazel Androzzo
Anonymous, Board Member
Peter Yeadon, President
Peter first joined the Camp Challenge family in 2008 as part of his Jesuit High School service requirement. After his first camp session, he fell in love with the culture of being a “Bright Light in the Summer” and has never left since. One of his favorite aspects about Camp is watching his young campers develop into outstanding men and women year after year. He has served the Board of Directors since 2014 as a Board Member, Secretary, and now President. In his professional life, he works for the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency as the Quality Compliance Auditor; and in his personal life, he loves spending time with his wife and dogs and learning as much as possible.
Anonymous, Vice President
Shivani Gilotra, Secretary
Shivani has been a part of the Camp Challenge family since 1998, first as a camper, and then a staff member. Growing up, camp gave her a home away from home with wonderful memories and lifelong friendships. Since 2017, she has been honored to serve on the Board of Camp Challenge to help raise funds for this extraordinary place. Outside of camp, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, kickboxing, and yoga. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.
Anne Kulakowski, Treasurer
Anne began her involvement with Camp Challenge in 1997, after her oldest daughter, who was a leukemia patient, attended Camp. Camp Challenge was a life-changing experience for her daughter, even at a very young age, and it remains that way today. Camp Challenge was one of the few places where she was comfortable and joyful, and Anne sees that in so many of our campers. She is fortunate to be involved in such an impactful organization. She has worked in many aspects of camp, including dining hall, program and activities, and general “whatever we need” gofer. She has been a member of the Board of Directors for many years and currently serves as treasurer. Outside of camp, She works on the Investor Relations team at Entergy Corporation. Anne enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, and she loves quilting, reading, and biking.
Laura Avilés, Board Member
Laura Avilés works as a Senior Account Executive at The Ehrhardt Group where she manages media relations and public outreach initiatives to help clients achieve their goals. Laura works with a diverse range of clients in the entertainment, corporate and public industries. She has been with The Ehrhardt Group since 2016.
Prior to joining The Ehrhardt Group, Laura gained valuable experience in various sectors including the arts, nonprofit, fashion and higher education. She served as the communications assistant for the LSU College of Art + Design, worked as a social media assistant for regional fashion boutique Blu Spero and interned at the Arts Council of New Orleans.
A New Orleans native, Laura graduated Cum Laude from Louisiana State University where she majored in mass communication with a concentration in public relations and minors in art history and business administration. During her time at LSU, Laura participated in the LSU in London and Edinburgh study abroad program where she spent the summer in the U.K. learning about British minority culture as well as British music history.
Laura, a proud Puerto Rican and Spaniard, writes and speaks fluent Spanish. Growing up, she spent her summers visiting family in Puerto Rico and Spain, exposing her to her Hispanic culture and creating her love and curiosity for travel. Whenever she isn’t writing press releases and working closely with her clients, you can find Laura roaming an art museum, traveling the world or enjoying time with her family.
Veronica Blakesley, Board Member
Veronica has been involved with Camp Challenge since 2002 as both a parent of a patient/camper and a member of the board. During that time, she has been involved with check-in at Children's Hospital and drop off after camp. Veronica has also helped with the Christmas party to ensure that the families have a fun time. She enjoys helping to make sure that the kids have a fun filled week at camp and donating her time to such a worthy cause.
Jeff Briscoe, Board Member
Jeff began working with Camp Challenge back in 2003 as part of his high school service requirement. Inspired by the campers and staff he met that first summer, he was grateful to get the opportunity to continue volunteering over the years as a counselor. More recently Jeff has turned his focus to raising money for Camp with the Board. He continues to admire the campers and staff that make Camp such a special place. Outside of Camp, Jeff enjoy spending time with his wife and daughter, running, and sailing. In his professional life, Jeff is an attorney at the Brewster Law Firm, representing clients across the country.
Taylor Diaz, Board Member
Taylor (a.k.a. Smurf) is from New Orleans, LA. She attended Louisiana State University, where she graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Biological Sciences and Spanish. She currently works at a Peak Performance Physical Therapy, where she is a Physical Therapist Technician. However, her dream is to one day attend medical school and provide the best possible healthcare to children.
Taylor has been a part of Camp Challenge for many years. She began in 2006 as a camper in G2 and worked her way up from CIT to counselor and now Girls Unit Leader. Camp quickly became her home away from home. Camp gave her so much joy and love in a very confusing time in her life and every year she looks forward to providing the same to every camper she encounters. She has gained lifelong friends and family at camp, and every day she is thankful for such an amazing place filled with amazing people.
She is driven to see camp go to new heights. With being a camper in the past, Taylor knows what joy camp brings to the kids, and she want to be a part of the bigger picture that provides a safe place for many kids. She is excited to continue to contribute in a different way and help camp thrive because of everything it has given to her.
Terese Sahuque, Board Member
Terese is a pediatric nurse and has been involved with Camp Challenge since 2006. She has been on the Board of Directors since 2008. She has attended camp since 2006, missing 1 year. She loves camp!
Kade Turner, Board Member
Kade has been a part of the Camp Challenge family since July 2014. Outside of camp, Kade continues to advocate for children as he is a supervisor for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of South Louisiana. Kade brings to the table his communication skills and comical presence. Throughout the year Kade is always advocating for what is best for campers and children across the world.
"If I can help somebody, as I travel along.
If I can help somebody, with a word or song
If I can help somebody, from doing wrong
My living shall not be in vain"
-Alma Bazel Androzzo
Anonymous, Board Member
