More About Chardonnay

Chardonnay Thomas is a communications leader, storyteller, and mentor whose career reflects both professional excellence and a deep commitment to service. With a strong foundation in journalism and years of experience spanning public relations, nonprofit communications, and healthcare communications, she has built a reputation for using her voice and expertise to empower others, strengthen organizations, and uplift communities.

Chardonnay currently serves as Community Development Coordinator at David Raines Community Health Centers (2022–Present), where she has built strong media and partner relationships to promote the organizational mission and led events and campaigns that boost public engagement. She also served as Interim Communication Director at United Way of Central Louisiana (2024), overseeing internal and external communications, crisis response, and expanding brand awareness across social platforms. Earlier, she honed her storytelling skills as Senior News Reporter/Producer at ABC 31 News – KLAX (2017–2021), producing daily news stories and supervising newsroom production under tight deadlines.

Beyond her professional roles, Chardonnay is passionate about giving back. She mentors youth through after-school and community programs, helping young people discover their strengths and grow in confidence. She is an advocate for literacy, dedicating time to reading in local schools and encouraging students to embrace education as a pathway to opportunity. Her volunteer service extends to organizations that empower women, support children in crisis, and provide aid to underserved communities.

Her leadership also extends into philanthropy and community boards, where she has served as an advisory board member for Girls Empowered for More Society, Inc., Grants Committee Chair for the Women’s Philanthropy Network, and a board member for ALTERED: Mentoring for Young Women, helping drive funding decisions, mentorship initiatives, and impactful programming.

Chardonnay is a graduate of Wiley University with a BA degree in Mass Communications and continues to sharpen her expertise through certifications in digital marketing, e-commerce, AI-assisted communication, and project management. She combines these skills with her natural ability to connect with people, ensuring her work is innovative, authentic, and impactful.

At the heart of everything she does is a belief that communication is more than sharing information. For Chardonnay, it is an act of service, a bridge that fosters understanding, and a tool for creating hope, opportunity, and lasting change in the communities she serves.