BATON ROUGE, LA, October 22, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kristi L. Hawkins has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Hawkins has established a distinguished career spanning 27 years, marked by progressive leadership roles and a steadfast commitment to improving systems and supporting others. Since 2024, she has served as the Medicaid enterprise systems section chief at the Louisiana Department of Health. In this capacity, Ms. Hawkins manages the claims and encounters department, oversees fee-for-service claims, and directs budget and procurement for shared services. Her responsibilities include coordinating technology contracts and budgeting across various sections, participating in meetings regarding budget and contract procurements, and collaborating with peers while working closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She serves as a resource for providers, addressing high-level issues, recovering funds for providers facing claims processing challenges, implementing legislative changes, updating policies, managing staff, and resolving their concerns to ensure smooth Medicaid operations.

Before her current role, Ms. Hawkins served as the director of total quality management at Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System from 2021 to 2024. She led initiatives to enhance quality standards and compliance within the organization. From 2016 to 2021, she held the position of Administrative Program Director: Environment of Care at Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System, where she was responsible for maintaining safe environments and ensuring regulatory compliance across facilities. Between 2014 and 2016, Ms. Hawkins served as safety agency risk director at Eastern Louisiana Mental Health Systems, focusing on risk mitigation strategies and safety protocols.

Her earlier career was rooted in retail asset protection. From 2012 to 2014, Ms. Hawkins served as market asset protection manager at Walmart, where she developed loss prevention strategies across multiple locations. She previously worked as a territory loss prevention manager at Sears Holdings from 2009 to 2011, overseeing investigations and risk management for a broad region. As district loss prevention manager at Gottschalks from 2006 to 2009, she managed security operations and staff development initiatives. From 2005 to 2006, she was an area loss prevention manager at Mervyns, followed by a role as a loss prevention manager at Old Navy from 2004 to 2005. Her foundational experience in this field began as a loss prevention manager at Meier & Frank from 1998 to 2003.

Ms. Hawkins' professional journey began even earlier in the food service industry during her teenage years. She quickly advanced from shift leader, just two weeks after starting, to store manager at Pizza Hut by age nineteen, becoming the youngest person in that role at the time. By the age of twenty, she managed multiple stores and coordinated large-scale events, such as providing concessions for a Triple-A division baseball team's home games.

Throughout her career, Ms. Hawkins has been recognized for her ability to mentor and inspire others. One of her most significant achievements is witnessing those she has supervised advance in their own careers. Notably, over twenty years ago, she hired a young candidate with carpentry skills but no retail experience for a loss prevention position; he is now a general manager of a retail company, a testament to her talent for identifying potential and fostering growth.

In addition to her professional roles, Ms. Hawkins has contributed her expertise as a Women in Leadership advisory panel member for the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and served as a board member for the West Feliciana Gas Utility District from 2015 to 2024.

Ms. Hawkins completed her secondary education with a high school diploma after testing out early. Although she began college coursework with an interest in psychology, her burgeoning career took precedence before degree completion. She values education highly and continues to seek opportunities to further her academic credentials when possible; however, her extensive experience has often outweighed formal educational requirements, particularly in Louisiana, where experience is now frequently prioritized over degrees in hiring decisions.

Her success is rooted in an intrinsic desire to help others and is bolstered by the support of colleagues and mentors throughout her life. Taking calculated risks has also played a pivotal role in her advancement; moving into healthcare from retail asset protection was initially perceived as a step back, but ultimately aligned with her passion for service.

Born in Idaho Falls, Ms. Hawkins enjoys reading, building Lego creations, spending time with her dogs, and focusing on family life with her spouse, Shawnie, and daughter, Jordain. She takes great pride in Jordain's accomplishments, most recently earning a bachelor's degree in social sciences from the University of California, San Marcos, and working in behavioral health to support troubled youth.

Looking ahead, Ms. Hawkins remains committed to dedicating herself fully to state service amid ongoing changes within Medicaid operations. She is eager to navigate future challenges with determination and curiosity about what lies ahead.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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