Emerge Center's CEO to Retire

Baton Rouge, La. – The Emerge Center has announced that Melissa Juneau will retire as chief executive officer in the summer of 2019.

Details were shared in a press release.

Juneau was elected Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation (BRSHF) in 2007. Her visionary leadership was instrumental in the rebranding of the organization from BRSHF to The Emerge Center in 2014.

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Juneau has also overseen the launch of the Emerge Enterprise, which is comprised of The Emerge Center, The Emerge Foundation and The Emerge School for Autism, the first charter school in Louisiana for children with Autism, which opened in August 2018. With this expansion, Melissa was named chief executive officer in 2018.

“This has been a job of a lifetime. It has been my greatest privilege to have had the opportunity to serve the community and touch the lives of children with autism and individuals with communication challenges by building broad access to innovative therapies and educational services at both The Emerge Center and The Emerge School for Autism,” she said.

“It has been my honor to work with strong and committed boards and an extremely dedicated staff,” Juneau added.  “I am grateful for the community’s support and the donors who believed in our mission at BRSHF and who invested in the possibilities The Emerge Center would bring. Seeing the impact on lives of our children and their families on a day-to-day basis has truly been the very best part of this job.”

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Succeeding Juneau’s retirement is a legacy of innovation and growth. Under Melissa’s nearly twelve years of leadership, Emerge has grown exponentially and stands as the leader in early intervention services for children with autism and communication challenges in the region.

“My decision to step down comes at a time when Emerge is in a very strong position to continue our mission of meeting the community’s evolving needs,” Juneau said. 

Melissa Gregg Blake, board chair of The Emerge Center, said: "We are forever grateful for Melissa Juneau's many years at the helm, which have transformed Emerge into the state-of-the-art enterprise that it is today, serving as a major resource for families across the Gulf South. She has left an indelible mark on this community, its children and families. The executive committee of The Emerge Center’s Board of Directors will utilize a talent recruitment firm to assist in the search for a new CEO, and the Board will ensure a seamless transition of leadership."

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