THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University is set to host its third Tauzin-Bollinger Leadership Forum on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in Powell Hall’s Gros Auditorium. The forum, led by the MBA Department, will feature a discussion on why politics matter to business decisions. The event is open to students, business leaders and community partners.

This year’s forum brings together distinguished voices from political analysis, corporate leadership and design strategy to examine how public policy, political dynamics and regulatory environments increasingly shape business decision-making at the local, national and global levels.

The forum will feature Dr. Ron Faucheux, who leads a full-service research and polling firm advising corporations, public officials, trade associations and media organizations. A nationally respected pollster, author and political analyst, Dr. Faucheux is widely recognized for translating complex political and public-opinion data into actionable insights for decision-makers.

Dr. Faucheux brings a combination of academic training, practical political experience and communications expertise to his work. He graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of New Orleans and a Juris Doctor from the LSU Law Center.

Joining Dr. Faucheux is Christian Bergeron, chief operating officer of COLAB, the region’s economic development organization. Bergeron brings a forward-looking perspective to the discussion, highlighting how political decisions shape workforce development, entrepreneurship and regional growth. He will offer insight into how emerging leaders can navigate the intersection of business, policy and economic development early in their careers.

Bergeron earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and later earned a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center. Before joining COLAB, he served as district representative and grants director for former Congressman Garret Graves in Louisiana’s 6th District. He is currently pursuing an MBA at Nicholls.

The forum discussion will be moderated by Matthew Newchurch, president, CEO and partner at DDG and current president of the South Central Industrial Association. Newchurch will guide the conversation, drawing on his extensive experience with business leaders across industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from LSU and an MBA from Nicholls State University.

“In today’s environment, business leaders cannot afford to separate strategy from public policy,” said Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey, dean of the Al Danos College of Business at Nicholls. “The Tauzin-Bollinger Leadership Forum offers our students and community partners a rare opportunity to hear directly from experts who understand how political forces shape markets, organizations and executive decision-making. This forum reflects our commitment to preparing informed, agile leaders ready to navigate complexity.” 

For additional information, please contact the Nicholls MBA Department at 985.448.4241 or at mba@nicholls.edu.