Paxson Guest Selected to 2023 Leadership Baton Rouge Class

Baton Rouge, La. — Jan. 25, 2023 — Phelps associate Paxson Guest was recently selected to the 2023 class of Leadership Baton Rouge, a program of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC). He is among several Phelps Baton Rouge lawyers who have participated in the program, including Monica Vela-Vick, Dennis Blunt, Kelsey Funes, Drew Patty and Michael Victorian.

Leadership Baton Rouge prepares a diverse group of professionals each year for leadership positions in the community. The program’s goals are: 

• • To seek out, train and promote high achievers for positions of voluntary responsibility in the community
  • To provide these developing leaders with practical information concerning community issues and problems
  • To establish a communication network among the existing and emerging leaders of the community
  • To challenge these leaders to increase their involvement in community affairs

The program focuses on topics including education, diversity and inclusivity, city and state government, health care and social issues, economic development, arts and culture, and the criminal justice system. Graduates gain first-hand knowledge of the issues facing the region and the potential for a positive community experience through community involvement. 

Paxson is an associate in Phelps’ Baton Rouge business group. He focuses his practice on real estate, finance and commercial transactions. Prior to joining Phelps, Paxson served as a judicial law clerk to Hon. S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University Law Center and Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern State University, where he played collegiate basketball.     

Outside of his practice, Paxson is deeply involved in his local community. He volunteers at Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, offering general college mentorship and ACT prep tutoring to underserved high school students in East Baton Rouge Parish. Paxson has also served as a Constitution Day speaker and participated in fundraisers for the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation’s youth education programs.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the 2023 Leadership Baton Rouge cohort,” Paxson said. “I look forward to the opportunity to grow as a leader and professional alongside a wonderful group of people representing Baton Rouge’s business, civic and nonprofit communities. I welcome the chance to learn more about the challenges facing the community that I call home and the avenues for addressing those challenges.”  

The Leadership Baton Rouge program launches in January with 10 months of educational training and will conclude in November with a graduation ceremony.