Celebrating Chad Berg’s Tenure as Board Chair

As Chad Berg concludes his tenure as Chair of the Board of Governors for Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans, we reflect with deep gratitude on two years defined by transformative growth, bold leadership, and unwavering commitment to empowering young people across our region.

Under Chad’s leadership, Junior Achievement has expanded its reach in both scale and scope. JA programming now spans 13 parishes in Louisiana and 29 counties in South Mississippi, impacting nearly 40,000 students annually with immersive learning experiences in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. This remarkable expansion marks the largest service footprint in our organization’s 70-year history and has set a new bar for impact and inclusion.

These milestones are matched by record-breaking success in our signature events. During Chad’s term, the JA Business Hall of Fame reached new heights—drawing unprecedented community support to honor business and civic leaders while generating vital resources for student programming. Similarly, our City Stars Soirée and Annual Golf Tournament both surpassed fundraising goals, enabling JA to deepen its reach and pilot new initiatives like JA StartUP and our custom high school financial literacy curriculum designed to meet Louisiana’s new graduation requirement.

Chad’s commitment to Junior Achievement and to the young people we serve has been more than ceremonial. As President of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, he has modeled the very entrepreneurial spirit JA seeks to cultivate in its students. As Board Chair, he has led with purpose, energy, and an infectious belief in what’s possible when young people are given the tools to succeed.

As we welcome new board leadership, we do so with a strong foundation thanks to Chad’s vision and service. His legacy is reflected in every student who now sees a clearer path forward, in every school we’ve newly reached, and in every volunteer, donor, and partner inspired to join our mission.

Thank you, Chad Berg, for your outstanding leadership and for believing in the promise of every young person. The future is brighter because of your service.