Wonder Woman in Business, Verni Howard

Verni Howard is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. C. F. Williams. She is a 1987 graduate of Caddo Magnet High School and furthered her studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. After earning a BS in Microbiology (1993) and a MPA (1997), Verni began the Commercial Banking Training program with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, GA. After more than 18-years of corporate and non-profit banking experience including Regions Bank, Whitney Bank and JPMorgan Chase, Verni became the new Executive Director of Providence House in December of 2015. In addition to a stellar banking career, she has served on 15 major boards of directors across the country including East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority Advisory Council, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge (In-coming President), Volunteers of America (Baton Rouge), Volunteers in Public Schools (Treasurer and President), Boys and Girls Club, Catholic Charities (Baton Rouge) and Downtown Development District. In 2011 she was nominated for the Outstanding Women in Business Award by Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge and in 2012 received the Volunteer Activist Award from the Emerge Center, an honor bestowed upon twelve outstanding volunteers across the city of Baton Rouge.  In 2015 she was recognized for her outstanding achievements and was honored with an African American Achievement Award. Verni is a 2018 Virginia Shehee Influential Woman Award finalist and a 2018 Athena Award finalist. In 2017 Verni received the Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. She is a Paul Harris Fellow (Shreveport Rotary Club) and 2018 board member of the club. Verni is also a new member of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation’s board of director, Christus Highland Quality Committee, Choice Neighborhood Implementation Advisory Group, Bancorp South CRA Advisory Group and is an ex-officio member of the board of Providence House. Above all, she is committed to God, family and service to the community. Verni and her husband Don, have been married for 21-years.  Together, they have the joy of parenting two fantastic children, Hannah Elizabeth (age 12) and Matthew Reed (age 9). She lives by the belief that we are our brother’s keeper.