Contact Us

If you would like more information about The ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter and the services we provide, please use the contact information below.

E-mail:

Info@alsalams.org

Phone:

(225) 343-9880     local
(800) 891-3746     toll-free
(225) 381-0087     fax

By Mail:

P.O. Box 66825
Baton Rouge, LA  70896-6825

Office Hours:

Monday--Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Staff:

Executive Director
Kelly Hutson Viator, M.P.A.
kelly.viator@alsalams.org

Kelly Hutson Viator graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University in 1994.  After her mother passed to ALS in 2001, Viator began on the adventure of establishing an ALS Association in the state of Louisiana.  Part of her preparation was earning a graduate degree as a Master of Public Administration from LSU in the year 2004. 

Viator began fundraising for the ALS Association in 2002, and she served as the volunteer chief executive for two years as the organization developed. She was officially hired in 2005.  Viator spent her first year as Executive Director of the ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter working out of her home.  She then moved the organization into office space in downtown Baton Rouge and hired a Patient Services Specialist. 

Viator currently runs an eight-person operation, including an office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a satellite office in Jackson, Mississippi. She truly lives for the organization's mission to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.

Operations Manager
Nicole LeGlue
nicole.leglue@alsalams.org

Care Services Director (Louisiana)
Dora Couret, L.P.N.
dora.couret@alsalams.org 

Lafayette native Dora Couret finally found her true calling in 2006 when she accepted the position as the Patient Services Specialist for the ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter.  After twelve years of owning and managing a retail shop in Lafayette, Couret attended and graduated from the Lafayette General Medical Center’s Department of Health and Science LPN program. 

During her nine-year period as an LPN at the Lafayette Specialty Hospital, Couret’s daughter, Niki McWilliams, was diagnosed with ALS in the year 2000. At this time there was no ALS Association in Louisiana. The family felt very isolated and helpless while dealing with McWilliams' disease.  In 2004, Couret and McWilliams met Kelly Viator, the current Executive Director of the state's chapter, and their situation completely turned around.  Couret and her daughter realized there were people out there who are willing to support those diagnosed with ALS, and now Couret is one of them. 

Care Services Director (Mississippi)
Renee Lowery, M.S.
renee.lowery@alsalams.org

Renee Lowery is originally from Mize, Misssissippi. She graduated from Ole Miss with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and from Jackson State University with a Master’s degree in Counseling.  She spent 16 years in healthcare, predominantly in psychiatric hospitals. After moving to Dallas to teach psychology at a small private college, Lowery moved on to work for The ALS Association's North Texas Chapter. 

Lowery is delighted to be home in Mississippi and doing what she loves.  She says, “It is truly a blessing to be able to do what I do each day. Please let me know how I can help!”

 Care Services Coordinator
Sherry Oliveto
sherry.oliveto@alsalams.org

Walk to Defeat ALS Coordinator (Louisiana)
Jamie Craig
jamie.craig@alsalams.org

Jamie Craig comes to us with experience in communications, event planning, fundraising and journalism. Originally from Houston, she moved to Baton Rouge in 1991 to pursue a degree in Liberal Arts from Louisiana State University. For 14 years, Craig worked as a writer and editor for magazines, newspapers and specialty publications. Her journalism experience has covered topics from the energy industry to healthcare to lifestyles. 

As an active volunteer with several organizations in Baton Rouge, Craig has gained more skills with which to help non-profit groups grow, improve and gain awareness. She has given her time to the ALS Association's Louisiana-Mississippi chapter since its inception, and she was a founding board member. Craig joined the chapter's staff in 2011, and she is looking forward to meeting this year's goals for the Walk to Defeat ALS, the chapter's biggest fundraiser.  

Walk to Defeat ALS Coordinator (Mississippi) - Susan Marquez
susan.marquez@alsalams.org 

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1980, Susan Marquez began to build a career in communications.  Over the past 30 years, Marquez has garnered experience in copy writing, television and radio production, advertising, marketing, event planning, public relations and journalism. 
 
Her  experience was developed through a number of Mississippi businesses including WDAM-TV, Hattiesburg’s NBC affiliate, and its sister station WLBT-TV in Jackson.  She also spent time as an internal advertising director for Waldoff’s Department Store in Hattiesburg and internal marketing director for Northpark Mall in Ridgeland.   

Marquez is dedicated to the growth of her career through continuing education and her involvement in professional organizations, such as Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Jackson Advertising Federation, American Advertising Federation and the Madison Country Chamber of Commerce.  She also served on a number of boards and committees for various organizations. 

In March 2011, Marquez joined The ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter staff as the Mississippi Walk Coordinator.  Her experience and dedication will help the organization meet the goals set for the Flowood Walk to Defeat ALS, and help the Walk grow in other areas of the state.