Louisiana LTAP Center

09/24/2026

Breaking Ground—and Barriers: Meet the Women Taking on Chainsaw Safety

When most people think about careers in STEM, they may picture laboratories, computers or engineering offices. But for three young women professionals at the Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission (BREC), their work also takes them into the field—with a chainsaw in hand.

Mathilde Babb, Delana Touchet and Maggie Keller, members of BREC’s Natural Resource Management team, participated in Louisiana LTAP’s Chainsaw Safety, Precision Felling & Maintenance training on September 24 at Chappapeela Sports Park in Hammond, adding to the technical skills they use to manage BREC’s parks and natural areas.

For these young professionals, the training represents more than learning how to operate equipment. It is about developing the technical knowledge, confidence and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in a hands-on STEM career.

Each shared a different takeaway from the training:

🪚 Maggie Keller said, “One thing that I found the most interesting and helpful was the use of the B-cut.”

🌳 Delana Touchet said, “The spring-pole demonstration offered a new perspective on assessing a situation and solving problems safely.”

🔧 Mathilde Babb said, “I found learning how to use a bore cut and the instructor’s demonstration of stacking wedges especially helpful.”

Breaking ground. Building skills. Shaping the future. 💪

09/21/2026

09/21/2026

🌲🪚 It’s Chainsaw Safety Week at Louisiana LTAP!

We have a full week of training ahead as our LTAP Team and Chainsaw Safety expert Rip Tompkins travels across Louisiana, helping local public agencies learn how to safely and properly handle one of the most useful tools in the field.

Throughout the week, participants will learn about proper chainsaw operation, safety and risk management, techniques for cutting trees and limbs, and routine equipment maintenance. The training will also include a live demonstration of proper tree felling, giving participants the opportunity to see these safety practices put into action.

This week, we will be in Winnfield, Opelousas, Hammond and Luling!

From knowing how to safely operate a chainsaw to understanding the right techniques for cutting and felling trees, Louisiana LTAP is helping crews build the knowledge and skills they need to work safely.

09/04/2026

Time well spent!

We had a great class in Slidell for LTAP’s Essential Skills Series: Time Management. Participants explored practical strategies for prioritizing, organizing, and managing their time more effectively on the job.

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this training a success! We’re proud to support Louisiana’s local public agencies with training that brings practical skills back to the workplace.

09/02/2026

Trees, especially storm damaged trees, can present serious hazards. LTAP’s Chainsaw Safety: Precision Felling & Maintenance course gives public works personnel and supervisors practical skills for safer chainsaw operations.

From reactive forces and starting techniques to precision felling, hinge wood, spring poles, tension and compression wood, and chainsaw maintenance, this course covers the knowledge operators need before making the cut.

Coming to 4 Louisiana locations:
📍 Sept. 22 — Winnfield
📍 Sept. 23 — Opelousas
📍 Sept. 24 — Hammond
📍 Sept. 25 — Luling

Whether you're an experienced operator, occasional user or just getting started, this course is a great opportunity to sharpen your skills.

Register today!

WCP Solutions

08/20/2026

Join The APWA Baton Rouge Branch, in partnership with Louisiana LTAP Center and Tensar, A Division of CMC for a training opportunity on Pavement Preservation. This is an opportunity for 4 or more PDHs!

Register Here: https://www.registration.ltrc.la.gov/courses/view?id=407

08/03/2026

Congratulations to our Program Manager Courtney Dupre for being awarded the prestigious NLTAPA Achievement Award!

07/28/2026

Congratulations to the City of Abbeville for winning the FHWA-led innovation program Build a Better Mousetrap- Putting Families First category. Their submission, “Downtown Revival Abbeville Street Improvement Project” produced significant long-term benefits for the community by improving public safety, accessibility, mobility, infrastructure reliability, beautification, and overall quality of life in the heart of downtown Abbeville. What began as a roadway improvement initiative evolved into a transformational community investment that now serves residents, businesses, and visitors in new and meaningful ways.

On their behalf, the Louisiana LTAP team (director Dynah Capone, program manager Courtney Dupre and teaching associate Genevieve Amick) received their award at the recently held National LTAP conference in Louisville, Kentucky!

07/22/2026

👏 Way to go, South Central Region—Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas! 💙

Day 3 of the National LTAP Association NLTAPA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, showcased the strength of collaboration, innovation, and leadership across our region. Together, we’re sharing ideas, building partnerships, and advancing transportation excellence for our local agencies.

Proud to represent the South Central Region and the impact we’re making—together! 🚧🤝

07/21/2026

The Louisiana LTAP team is rocking it at the National LTAP Conference! 🎉

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate our very own Program Manager Courtney Dupre for receiving the NLTAPA Achievement Award—a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding dedication and impact.

Our Director, Rudynah Capone, also took the stage to showcase Louisiana LTAP’s successful partnerships, impactful initiatives, and inspiring success stories with passion, enthusiasm, and energy.

Congratulations, Courtney, and thank you to the entire Louisiana LTAP team for representing Louisiana with excellence and making a difference in transportation every day! 💙🛣️