Meet the Team

Dawn handles the day-to-day operations of Mighty Moms.

Dawn is graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and Southern Medical School of Ultrasound. She is married to Ben, and they have four children and 3 grand babies .

Dawn is passionate about family bonding over meals together. She believes in the importance of fueling our brains and body with the nutrition necessary for healthy growth and development. In her opinion, it is the absolute way to demonstrate LOVE.

Dawn received Livingston Parish’s Women’s Leadership Award in 2018.

Patrick Bedwell is a lifelong resident of Livingston Parish. He currently resides in Walker and has three children.

Bedwell has worked for the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Department for over 20 years. He is a graduate of LSU Basic Police Academy. A former DARE instructor, Bedwell started the LPSO Explorer Program in 2007 and graduated from the Texas DPS Polygraph Examiner School in 2018.

He is community-minded and enjoys his leadership responsibilities.

Jan Benton is a retired educator of LPPSS where she was a teacher, principal, and central office administrator for 36 years.

Benton is a lifelong resident of Denham Springs and a member of the 1973 graduating class at Denham Springs High School. She is married to James ‘Jim’ Benton and has two children, Hillary and Brian. They have four grandchildren.

Benton serves as a member of the Livingston
Parish School Board representing District 3. She is also a conference coordinator for the Louisiana Association of School Executives, a
member of the Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority and an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Jeanette Clark is a graduate of Denham Springs High School. She worked for the City of Denham Springs for 13 years. She was involved with long-term recovery efforts after the 2016 flooding event inundated 80% of the structures in Denham Springs. She currently works for Coactint, LLC as their business development manager.

Clark has 2 children, Gaige and Raelee. She attends Live Oak Church where she is involved in Women’s Ministry coordination and serves on the Board of Trustees. She loves to give back to the community and help others get involved.

Amber Lindsay Morain is a realtor &  builder with a passion for creating beautiful spaces and strong communities. As a founding supporter and active board member of Mighty Moms, Amber has combined her entrepreneurial drive with her heart for service to help ensure no child in Livingston Parish and surrounding areas goes hungry.

With years of experience in real estate and construction, Amber has built her career on vision, perseverance, and a deep understanding of what families need most—both in their homes and in their lives. She brings that same commitment to Mighty Moms, helping to expand programs, strengthen fundraising efforts, and inspire others to give back.

Amber believes that true success is measured not just in houses built or deals closed, but in the impact we leave on people’s lives. For her, Mighty Moms isn’t just a nonprofit—it’s a calling to feed children, strengthen families, and build a legacy of compassion and hope in the Central community she calls home.

Sommer Purvis is the Director of Child Nutrition for Livingston Parish Public Schools and a proud graduate of the very school system she now serves. She holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Since stepping into her leadership role, Sommer has spearheaded numerous innovative initiatives to expand access to nutritious meals for students. Under her guidance, the district has introduced non-traditional breakfast models, after-school meals through the CACFP program, Quick Cafe Vending Machines, and the district’s very own food truck, Curbside Café—all designed to provide reimbursable meals beyond the walls of the cafeteria. She is a passionate advocate for the role of school meals in academic success, firmly believing that child nutrition is an essential resource for student success.

In addition to her work within the district, Sommer serves as the School Food Service Representative for the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana Board of Trustees,  she serves as Treasurer for the School Nutrition Association of Louisiana, and she is a Mighty Moms board member.

Travis is a native of Wakulla County, Florida, but has resided in Denham Springs since 2022 when he became the senior pastor at Hebron Baptist Church. Travis and his wife, Meagan, have three children. Travis has a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry from Spurgeon College. He is passionate about serving in this community and sharing the Gospel with others.

Mindy Bartholomew Smith has served as the Chief Financial Officer at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank for the past two and a half years, bringing with her more than 12 years of experience working with other nonprofit organizations. Her strong background in nonprofit finance reflects her heart for service and her dedication to helping mission-driven organizations succeed.

Mindy has a true passion for serving others and takes pride in helping the community grow and thrive. She believes that behind every number is a story of hope and impact.

Outside of work, Mindy is happiest spending time with her family. She is married and the proud mom of two amazing boys.