Meet the ConnectLA Team

ConnectLA is working to bring high-speed internet access to communities across Louisiana. Our dedicated team is committed to bridging the digital divide and empowering local residents through connectivity.

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As Executive Director of ConnectLA, Veneeth Iyengar is the first executive director for the state of Louisiana's broadband efforts. Under the leadership of Governor Jeff Landry, he is responsible for coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local leaders in allocating nearly $1.6 billion in federal funds to eliminate the digital divide in Louisiana by 2028, if not sooner.

He and his team are considered thought leaders in the broadband community for their rapid scale up and execution of federal dollars to impact the 1.7 million residents in Louisiana who lack high speed internet. Louisiana's efforts have been recognized nationally, and Veneeth is often asked to speak at events hosted and or organized by leading organizations like the Pew Charitable Trusts, National Governors Association, Consumer Electronics Show, Fiber Broadband Association, National Conference of State Legislators, U.S. Department of Commerce's SelectUSA Summit, Federalist Society, American Enterprise Institute, and Brookings Institute.

From 2018-2021, Veneeth was the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for the Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, primarily responsible for economic development. He was involved in the lifecycle of economic development deals and he led the administration's response in helping small business owners during the pandemic.

In 2020, Veneeth was asked by the Governor to co-chair his Resilient Louisiana Healthcare Task Force, which included the CEOs of leading healthcare systems, payors, and rural healthcare organizations in the state. The task force recommended approaches to create an innovative healthcare economy given the challenges posed by the pandemic. Prior to his time as a public servant, Veneeth helped build the Venture Capital/Private Equity healthcare practice for Sage Growth Partners and worked in the office of the former CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation under President George W. Bush.

Veneeth received the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Impact Award in 2023 and the Woodrow Wilson Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service from Johns Hopkins University in 2022. He was named a Leadership Louisiana Recipient by the Council for a Better Louisiana in 2020 and a Forty under 40 recipient by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report in 2018.

He is on Ochsner's Health State Advisory Board, with the focus of significantly improving healthcare rankings in the state, and the Board of Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation. He also serves as Chairman for Innovation Catalyst, a non-profit evergreen investment based in Baton Rouge that has made more than a dozen investments startups.

He received his Master of Science in Finance from Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Purdue University. Veneeth grew up in Baton Rouge and attended Baton Rouge High School.

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Thomas Tyler has experience in technology strategy, cybersecurity affairs, economic development, and public policy disciplines. As the Deputy Director for ConnectLA, he has served an instrumental role in standing up key initiatives and leading numerous functions, ranging from policy and government relations to strategic planning and grant program administration. He has received national recognition from a variety of stakeholders—a direct result of the thought-leadership of the office and stewardship of some of the most impactful investments the state has made in its diverse communities over the past several years.

Previously, Thomas served both in the public and private sectors, leading Louisiana Economic Development’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Development Incentive Program, administering and growing one of the nation’s strongest and most comprehensive incentive programs for this industry. He assisted companies and startups of all sizes to facilitate statewide investments into workforce development opportunities, leveraging key incentives and public policy instruments to facilitate significant private and public sector investments in Louisiana communities.

Additionally, he has served as a consultant and advisor for one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity and technology advisory practices. He provided information security and technology strategy, consulting, and training services to a variety of clients crossing numerous sectors, sizes, and complexities.

Thomas is recognized for his invaluable contributions to stakeholders, speaking and providing advisory services to organizations like the U.S. Department of Commerce, Pew Charitable Trusts, National Governors Association, Fiber Broadband Association, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Telecommunications Industry Association, Tech Policy Institute, Smart Cities Council, Mountain Connect, Collision Conference, Business Resource Network, Society of Louisiana CPAs, and the Louisiana Bankers Association.

Thomas is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a graduate of Louisiana State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is an active member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and in 2022, was named to the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report’s Forty Under 40 list. He resides in Baton Rouge with his wife and three children.

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Arielle Collins is an accomplished and dedicated professional who serves as a Program Manager for Louisiana’s Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (also known as ConnectLA). She is also a highly skilled Certified Public Accountant with over a decade of auditing experience in various state agencies within Louisiana. In her role as Program Manager, Arielle will use her financial expertise and acute attention to detail to ensure ConnectLA complies with all requirements related to the federal grants it administers.

Arielle's educational background includes earning her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2012 and Master of Business Administration in 2013 from Southeastern Louisiana University. She went on to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 2016, a testament to her hard work and dedication.

Arielle began her accounting career with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office in 2013. During her time with LLA, Arielle performed and assisted in the external audits of numerous state agencies within Louisiana, including the following: Department of Children and Family Services, Southern University System, Southern University Law Center, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, Office of Group Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Administration.

Additionally, Arielle served as Auditor-In-Charge of the following audits: Louisiana School Employees Retirement System, Office of Financial Institutions, Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation, Louisiana Public Service Commission, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Department of Revenue, Louisiana Economic Development, and Louisiana Board of Regents.

Following her time with LLA, Arielle joined the Department of Administration’s Internal Audit Section. In addition to typical Internal Audit duties, Arielle assisted with the administration and review of local and state applications related to the Louisiana Cares Act. During the funding review, Arielle ensured LA Cares applications met the requirements for funding and approved or denied LA Cares applications based on review. When necessary, Arielle communicated with LA Cares applicants to obtain any missing documentation or explain why requests were denied. Finally, Arielle composed and submitted the required federal quarterly reports on LA Cares Act funds.

Following her tenure with DOA, Arielle accepted a job as the Internal Auditor for the Louisiana Department of Treasury. In addition to her duties as the Internal Auditor, Arielle assisted with the administration of the Main Street Recovery Program, federally funded by the CARES Act, and also served as the bookkeeper for the Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation.

Arielle is a native of Lutcher, Louisiana, and currently resides in Ascension Parish with her husband and two daughters. When not buried in a spreadsheet, you can typically find Arielle relaxing with a good book, watching LSU sports, spending quality time with her family and friends, or listening to Taylor Swift.

Arielle's passion for her work and her commitment to achieving exceptional results make her a valuable asset to her organization and a role model for aspiring professionals in her field. Arielle’s extensive experience with the administration of federal programs gives her a unique skill set required to be the Program Manager for ConnectLA’s federal grants. Arielle looks forward to approaching the administration of all ConnectLA’s grants with integrity and poise, ensuring that the people of Louisiana receive the Broadband internet they deserve.

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Emmy Hicks is a dedicated public servant with an extensive background in leading the design, strategy, implementation, and evaluation of a broad range of programs in highly complex environments. Previously as a successful academic scholar and principal investigator on federal grants, she has led research projects spanning across several fields – including improving public outcomes within the fields of agronomy and coastal sciences, the overlap of FDA regulatory power and consumer perceptions, and the impact of COVID-19 and telework on employee stress and domestic norms. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the American Society for Public Administration Founders Fellowship and opportunities to present at multiple academic conferences across the nation. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Master's in Applied Research, Measurement & Evaluation from Louisiana State University and is nearing her defense for a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Research. Emmy grew up in Thibodaux, LA while spending her summers with her family in Glasgow, MT. She understands firsthand small town, rural life and is passionate about improving digital literacy and access to broadband internet for these communities. When she does not have her nose in a book or deep in complex statistical models, she enjoys an active lifestyle in the outdoors. She divides her free time between homes in Baton Rouge and Washington D.C. and visiting family in Montana and New Jersey with her fiancé, Matt and dog, Bunny.

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Meet the ConnectLA Team

Our Team

Veneeth Iyengar

Thomas Tyler

Arielle Collins

Emmy Hicks