Rob Wise | Moderator
Rob Wise is the CEO and Owner of ITinspired, a technology services company headquartered in Baton Rouge. Under Rob’s leadership, ITinspired has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge for multiple years and recognized as an LSU Top 100 Tiger-Led business.
An LSU graduate and former Mike the Tiger mascot and cheerleader, Rob brings energy and authenticity to every endeavor. He co-founded ITinspired with a mission to build a business centered on people, purpose, and service. He leads the company using the “platinum rule”—treating others how they want to be treated—and has built a team culture that emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and high performance.
Rob is an active community leader and mentor. He supports youth entrepreneurship through programs like the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge and the American Academy of Entrepreneurs.
Rob lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Michelle and their two children. As moderator of the Louisiana Youth Seminar’s Dream State panel, Rob brings his experience as a business leader, motivator, and mentor to help inspire the next generation of Louisiana changemakers.
Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord | Panelist
Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Youth Seminar and currently serves as the Interim Vice Provost at San Diego State University, where she leads initiatives in academic innovation and faculty excellence. A nationally recognized expert in speech, language, and hearing sciences, Sonja is also a tenured professor and former Program Director of the M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology. Her research focuses on child language acquisition and disorders in culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and she has been awarded numerous federal and local grants—including several from the National Institutes of Health—to support her groundbreaking work.
Sonja is a proud product of Louisiana and a lifelong believer in the power of youth leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, and her passion for education and mentorship has defined her career in both academic and community settings. She is a dedicated teacher and mentor, recognized with multiple Outstanding Faculty Awards and a strong publication record that spans peer-reviewed journals, national presentations, and collaborative school partnerships.
Her leadership journey began at the Louisiana Youth Seminar, where she attended as a delegate in 1995 from Riverdale High School and was named Most Outstanding Delegate. She returned to serve as a Junior Counselor, Counselor, Head Table member, and Program Director from 2000–2003. Sonja is a proud member of the LYS 5-Year Club, was inducted into the LYS Hall of Fame, and currently serves on the Board of Directors in addition to her role as Executive Director.
Whether mentoring future speech-language pathologists in San Diego or empowering high school students in Baton Rouge, Dr. Pruitt-Lord is committed to helping others find their voice, embrace their potential, and lead with empathy and purpose. Through every chapter of her life, her message remains the same: leadership starts with listening, learning, and lifting others up.
Sonja has spent the last 25-plus summers (and her Birthday!) in Baton Rouge but resides in San Diego with her husband and daughter.
Will Warner | Panelist
Will Warner serves as the Deputy and Business Excellence Leader for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) Quality and Lean, based in New Orleans, Louisiana. In this role, Will is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive consistent quality approaches and operational excellence across all of Boeing's global defense, space and security programs. With nearly two decades at Boeing, Will has held progressive leadership roles across Engineering, Program Management, and Quality—including extensive work on the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Launch System (SLS) programs.
A proud Louisiana native, Will earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University, where he was active in Student Government and served as President of the Engineering College Council. Will also holds a master's of Business Administration from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. He began his Boeing career in Houston as a software engineer supporting the ISS, eventually becoming a project manager responsible for integrating visiting vehicles and delivering flight hardware. Later, he returned home to Louisiana to support NASA’s SLS program at Michoud Assembly Facility, eventually becoming the Quality Program Manager for the SLS program during the historic Artemis I launch in 2022. Most recently, he oversaw a quality organization of more than 200 engineers, inspectors, and specialists across multiple NASA sites, ensuring design-to-launch quality integration for all of Boeing's human spaceflight programs.
Will’s leadership journey began at the Louisiana Youth Seminar, where he attended as a delegate from 1999 to 2002. During his final year, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer and recognized as “Most Spirited Delegate”—a title he still wears proudly. He now serves on the LYS board and remains a passionate supporter of the program’s mission.
Will lives in New Orleans with his wife, Denelle, and their two dogs. When he’s not building rockets, fighter jets and helicopters, he enjoys traveling, cheering on LSU and the Saints, and spending time with friends—many of whom he met at LYS.
Dustin Cravins | Panelist
Born and raised in Southwest Louisiana, Dustin Cravins has devoted his life to improving the conditions of the communities he serves. This 1999 graduate of Teurlings Catholic High went on to LSU where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. Currently, Dustin serves as Vice- President and Chief Operating Officer of La Louisianne Consulting which specializes in governmental affairs, business development, and political consulting. He is also owner/ operator of Cravin’ Boudin, a critically acclaimed, Louisiana-inspired food truck and catering company. Additionally, he is the organizer of the world’s largest one day indoor zydeco festival, Zydeco Extravaganza entering its 35th year. Away from work, Dustin devotes his energy to helping others and promoting Louisiana and Creole Culture. Dustin co-hosts a weekly radio show with his father Don and Uncle Charles on Z105.9 every Sunday morning from 9am-noon where he provides cultural and social information in and around the community.
He also serves as the President of the Holy Rosary Redevelopment Board where he has help to secure over $5 million dollars in state and federal funding to assist in the redevelopment of Holy Rosary Institute, an endangered historic African American landmark. Dustin‘s other civic involvement includes being a board member of the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce, The Opelousas Lighthouse Mission, the African American Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, and the St. Landry Sexual Assault Center Board of Directors. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Youth Seminar where he is also an inductee in the LYS Hall of Fame.He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc and a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church.
Dustin has co-produced and written on albums for Zydeco legends Keith Frank, Terrance Simien and others. He has been cited in numerous publications including the Rolling Stone, as an expert on Louisiana cultural matters. He was recently featured on Disney Plus and Nat Geo’s new series World of Flavor with Moe Cason. Dustin and his wife and best friend of fifteen years have a daughter Rhyan Danielle and son Justice Emmanuel. In his free time Dustin enjoys cooking, traveling the world, and visiting with his family and friends.