Karla joined the Southeastern Wind Coalition in August 2024. A Louisiana native, she has long been familiar with the state's energy culture. Drawn to the intersection of innovation, policy, and communications, Karla earned a BS in Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University and built her policy and communications expertise through her work. At LSU, she worked with Louisiana Economic Development, where she learned about various tax credit programs. Karla later interned at a policy think tank and soon supported communications for a congressional campaign.

Prior to joining SEWC, Karla worked in marketing, logistics, data analysis, and communications for local and national businesses, events, and nonprofits. She later joined a start-up, where she helped develop a patent-pending real estate valuation method.

After that venture ended, Karla looked for opportunities to combine her skills in engineering, data analysis, policy, and communications, with one goal: to keep living and working in Louisiana while helping the state build a brighter future. Growing up in a small town like Oakdale, Louisiana, made her aware of the pressures facing the state’s rural areas. After learning about SEWC’s mission and approach, she knew she had found the opportunity she was looking for.

As Louisiana Program Manager, Karla builds and leads outreach and education efforts, focusing primarily on strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and supply chain advancement.

In her spare time, Karla enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, gardening, listening to live music, and volunteering with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. She also serves on the Dancing Grounds Board and sits on two of Ellavate Louisiana’s policy committees: Taxation & Economic Development and Environment & Infrastructure.