2025 Southeast Louisiana Council ~ Boy Scouts of America

Pillars of Scouting Luncheon Honoring

Leon Cannizzaro, Francis Exposito, Bobby Sovoie, Marian Wallis

June 26  - Reception 11:00
Luncheon Noon at the Audubon Tea Room

Leon Cannizzaro was born in New Orleans and grew up in Broadmoor.  Leon has an impressive history of public service as an Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney, a staff attorney with the Orleans Parish Indigent Defenders Program, a Judge in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, a Judge on the Louisiana 4^th Circuit Court of Appeal and the District Attorney for Orleans Parish. In 2021, after retiring as the District Attorney for Orleans Parish, Leon was given the opportunity to work for the Louisiana Attorney General, Jeff Landry, as the Director of the Criminal Division. However, the accomplishment of which he is most proud is his family and wife of 46 years, Norma Gonzalez Cannizzaro.  It has also been said that Leon is happiest when he is spending time with his ten grandchildren. He believes that in order for them and their children to have any chance at all, he must make the place in which they grow up a safe and secure one.

Francis Exposito - Francis has served as Scoutmaster for Troop 490 in the Pelican District at St.Mary Magdalen church for forty years. Under his leadership, the troop has produced thirty-five Eagle Scouts which include his son, Jonathan and grandson Jonathan II. Francis is a retired X-ray technician from the VA Hospital and a talented carpenter who has used his skills to build and remodel both Camp Salmen and the Scout Shop. He serves as a Eucharistic minister at SMM and actively works with the Men’s Club’s annual fish fry. He is a Silver Beaver Award recipient and a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. He has hiked the well-respected Philmont trail twice, earned the Scouter’s Training Award, the District Award of Merit, served on the Wood Badge staff and the Roundtable Commission and been awarded the Commissioner’s Key.

Bobby Savoie - Dr. Robert A. “Bobby” Savoie currently serves as the Dean of Loyola’s College of Business. Prior to this appointment he was Chief Science and Engineering Officer of Sev1Tech.  He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Geocent, an information technology and engineering services company headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana. Dr. Savoie currently serves on the boards of the National World War II Museum; the University of New Orleans (UNO) Foundation; the LSU National Board; and the LSU Health Foundation, Idea Village; the Aerospace Alliance; and the Council for a Better Louisiana. He previously served as a director, trustee, and senior advisor for the Atlantic Council of the United States; Loyola University New Orleans; the Louisiana Technology Council; the U.S. Small Business Technology Foundation; the Boy Scouts of America; and Greater New Orleans, Inc., amongst others.

Marian Wallis – Marian’s professional background is Executive level leadership with over 20 years of leading companies in the public and private sectors focused on delivering high technology products and financial services, specializing in analyzing problems and using innovative processes and technologies to determine best-of-breed solutions. She is a long-term developer of products for Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Army, and U.S. Marine Corps with Top Secret Security Clearance and has over 10,000 units in the field, R&D, manufacturing oversight, and financial investments.  She has made significant accomplishments within the technology sector providing executive leadership, international finance, mergers and acquisitions, business turnarounds, operations with P&L. She provides essential vision and strategic direction, planning, and execution for the successful accomplishment of numerous DoD projects for U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force.  Marian is instrumental in the growth of several small businesses providing services to federal and state governments and generated substantial new growth for companies in high technology and energy industries as well as the development and design of high-tech products for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. 

2025 Luncheon Team -  Growing Each Day  Co-Chairs Jim Letten and Pat Denechaud rest of the team - Jeff Crouere,  Torrey Hayden, Wil Jacobs, Ken Klemm, Andrew Todd,  Wayne Tracy

Organization Facts - The Southeast Louisiana Council, Boy Scouts of America will provide youth development and leadership programs to approximately 4,000 young people in 9 parishes through Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring programs during 2025. 

Funds raised from this event will provide:

Direct service to Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venture Crews, and Explorer Posts – Unit Organization, Youth Recruitment, Volunteer Training, Service to Volunteers, Staff Assistance

• Program Services – Camping, Activities, Training, Insurance
• Support Services – Office Support, Equipment, Salmen Scout Reservation and Camp V-Bar
• Funds to help youth in need experience the wonderful opportunity Scouting provides

Pillars of Scouting Investment Levels:

• $25,000 Investor -  (Eagle Scout) Two full tables (20 Guests), signage, listing in program and at 2 tables, 5 minutes at podium during lunch if desired.
• $15,000 Reception Sponsor – One and a half tables (15 Guests), signage during the reception and recognition at the podium during the program 
• $10,000 Investor - (Life Scout) – One and a half tables (15 Guests), signage, listing in program and table
• $5,000 Investor - (Star Scout) – One full table (10 Guests), signage, listing in program and table
• $2,500 Investor - (First Class Scout) – Partial table of 6 guests, a listing in program and table
• $1,000 Investor - (Tenderfoot Scout)  – 4 guests, and a listing in program
• $500 Investor -  (Scout) – 2 guests and a listing in program
• Cub investor  –Attend event, must RSVP, invest in Scouting – request consideration of $100+
  • 10 seats at each table

Sponsors are encouraged to bring guests to enjoy the program who might consider making an investment in Scouting’s youth development programs.  Register below or go to www.bsa-selacouncil.org/pillars to register online.