Robert Schneckenburger
Senior Regional President – Western Region, Hancock Whitney Bank
Robert, a New Orleans native, has been a resident of Baton Rouge since 1993, when he started at JPMorgan Chase Bank as a Vice President of Commercial Banking with a focus on healthcare and senior living. In December 2010, he assumed the role of President of the Baton Rouge Market for JPMorgan Chase Bank. In March 2016 Robert began at Hancock Whitney Bank, overseeing all of Hancock Whitney’s operations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Texas.
Robert graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1980 and a Master of Science in Economics in 1982. He has served on the United Way Campaign, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, the Mary Bird Perkins Fundraising Campaign, the Womans’ Hospital Foundation Campaign, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Board of Directors, and the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge Foundation.
Robert is married to Whitney Vann Schneckenburger and they have two children.
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE CPEX BOARD?
From a business development standpoint, it quickly became evident to me, that some of the main factors in getting a new business and new talent to relocate to your community was to have a community that was well planned, walkable and vibrant. Smart planning just made good business sense.
WHY IS THE WORK THAT CPEX DOES SO IMPORTANT?
CPEX began over a decade ago here in Baton Rouge as several folks saw smart planning as central to quality of life and growing our community. In the intervening time period CPEX has garnered a national reputation for not only smart planning but for also helping communities to grow in a sustainable way and making sure our coastal communities are prepared for a period of sea level rise. It is one of the best kept secrets in Baton Rouge.
WHAT CPEX PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
From a state wide and national perspective it would have to be CPEX’s efforts in planning for sea level rise. From a local perspective it would be CPEX’s efforts in the revitalization of Government Street.
WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
I would like to see the success of the re-imagination of Government Street replicated on Florida Street from Baton Rouge General Mid-City to the Amazon facility.
Nina Balan, Ph.D.
CLIMATE POLICY MANAGER
In her role as Climate Policy Manager, Nina is working with the CPEX team to develop and implement climate-first initiatives and ensure that measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change are fully integrated into CPEX’s policy and planning work at all scales.
Nina is a recent Ph.D. graduate in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans. Her research focuses on climate change and urban development, preservation strategies, and destination management policies in coastal cities. Through policy making, she specializes in delivering solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen peoples' ability to prosper and thrive even as the unavoidable effects of climate change impact their communities. Nina also holds a Masters in Science in Tourism Management and Hospitality from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelors of Science in Languages and Literature from the University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy.
Nina's travels and studies abroad have enabled her to develop strong relationships with diverse cultures and people and build solid networking and leadership skills. In her spare time, she's committed to supporting philanthropic work and grassroots organizations in New Orleans. She is an active board member of women empowerment organizations such as Dress for Success and Heart & Hands, contributing to young women and girls' health and mental well-being. During weekends, Nina loves riding bikes around New Orleans, working out, and cooking Italian meals for her loved ones.
How long have you worked for CPEX?
Since mid-July, 2022
How does your job fit into the CPEX mission?
Since its founding, CPEX has remained on the cutting edge of climate planning work in Louisiana. Our team is working to plan for a safe and sustainable environment for our coastal communities and future generations in Louisiana to thrive despite climate unpredictability.
What does your job entail?
Working with the CPEX team to develop and implement climate-first initiatives and ensure that measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change are fully integrated into CPEX’s policy and planning work at all scales.
What do you like most about your job?
Brainstorming with staff members, meeting with visionary planners, and learning from climate experts and pioneers.
What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
Listen carefully and absorb information before planning.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
Exercising and spending time outdoors.
What is your vision for what planning can accomplish in Louisiana?
Diversify Louisiana’s economy, and become the pioneer of renewable energy in the Gulf of Mexico – creating employment opportunities in areas that are unfamiliar to Louisiana.
If there was a news story about you, what would be the headline?
“The first female Secretary-General of the United Nations is from Moldova.”
Three words to best describe you:
Active, curious, and determined.
20-Minute Neighborhood Bingo
PROJECT Description:
In partnership with America Walks, CPEX is promoting neighborhood connectivity and healthy lifestyles. This self-guided activity will help you explore your neighborhood in a new way by getting you to think critically about what you can reach within a 20-minute walk from your home.
What destinations can you reach in a 20-minute walk from your home? Play 20-Minute Neighborhood Bingo and find out!
PROJECT goal:
The goal of the 20-Minute Neighborhood Bingo activity is to get residents to participate in this activity that has the ability to inform key decision makers in their community on infrastructural improvements that can be made in order to increase quality of life for residents.
WHY IS THIS PROJECT SO IMPORTANT?
This project is important because it promotes healthy living from the individual scale to the community scale. The 20-Minute Neighborhood Bingo's participants engage in active modes of transportation while experiencing their community in a way that can be communicated tangibly and, ultimately, can be used to inform their community's infrastructure improvements.
WHAT IS CPEX’s FAVORITE PART OF PROJECT SO FAR?
Creating iterations of the bingo sheet that are community-specific and reflect the spaces we are gaining insight on.
WHAT HAs CPEX LEARNED WHILE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT?
This project centers people and their experiences in the data that is generated. Healthy, thriving communities are the result of perpetual people-centric decision making - this project highlights this with every step.