About Julie Stokes

Julie Stokes is the CEO of Flame Consulting, CFO of Stokes & Associates, Founder of Ellevate Louisiana, and Founder of Survivor’s Cancer Action Network (SCAN). She is a CPA, a non-partisan policy advocate, a civic leader, and a speaker. 

Over her seven years of service in the Louisiana Legislature, Julie Stokes gained a reputation as a passionate advocate for cancer patients and for comprehensive, non-partisan fiscal policy. Julie was able to share her knowledge as a CPA, as well as gain significant legislative experience, with the Louisiana budget, comparative state tax policy, oversight of legislative audit, Louisiana’s economic development incentives, and Louisiana’s Department of Health policies. Having received numerous accolades for her work in the Legislature and leaving public life behind in 2020, she opened Flame Consulting to continue supporting projects that she is passionate about, like nonpartisan public policy, cancer advocacy, and growing civic engagement in Louisiana. 

As part of her work through Flame Consulting, Julie founded Ellevate Louisiana. Ellevate Louisiana’s purpose is to empower women leaders throughout Louisiana by connecting and educating them on the challenges impacting Louisiana with data-driven, non-partisan solutions to make a better future for the state. In its first three years of operation, Ellevate Louisiana has grown to over 200 members statewide.  Ellevate Louisiana hosts discussions with policy makers in key areas of state policymaking to study the issues and to create a policy agenda for its advocacy work before the Louisiana Legislature. 

During her time in, and since leaving the legislature, Julie has been responsible for at least 13 major pieces of legislation to improve access to early detection and treatment options for Louisianans fighting cancer. As a result of her passionate advocacy over the years, she has founded the Survivor’s Cancer Action Network (SCAN) whose mission is to unite cancer survivors, doctors, scientists, and philanthropists to improve the patient experience and ultimately drive superior outcomes for cancer care in the State of Louisiana. Julie also advocates to the Louisiana Legislature on behalf of the Louisiana Oncology Society to collaborate on and pass legislation to bring the most current science for cancer care to the people of Louisiana.

Julie serves as the CFO of Stokes & Associates, where she provides the financial leadership that has grown the company from two employees in 1998 to over forty employees today. Stokes & Associates was recognized in 2020 as one of UNO’s “Top 25” Alumni-Owned businesses and in 2023 as one of the Times Picayune and New Orleans Advocate’s “Top Employers.”  It is one of the most respected vocational rehabilitation firms in the Southeastern Region of the USA.

Julie currently serves on the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and was the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus of the University of New Orleans.  She is currently the Policy Chairman for GNO, Inc., serves as an Executive Committee member of the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development.  She also serves on the Board of the Louisiana RESET policy initiative. She is active with the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana Society of CPA's, the International Women’s Forum, Women United, and other groups. She is a frequent speaker to groups on bipartisanship, fiscal policy, women’s leadership, civic engagement, cancer advocacy, and on inspirational topics such as finding your voice, making a difference in this world, and overcoming adversity. She is a graduate of the Committee for a Better Louisiana’s Leadership Louisiana, the Jefferson Chamber’s Leadership Jefferson, and Loyola University’s Institute of Politics.

During her time in the Louisiana Legislature, she chaired the Legislative Audit Advisory Council and the Sales Tax Streamlining and Modernization Committee. She was a very active member of the Ways & Means and Health & Welfare Committees.  She also served on House Labor, Capital Outlay, and was an interim member of House Appropriations Committee. She travelled Louisiana with the Committee of 100, the Public Affairs Research Council, and the Committee for Better Louisiana as one of the lead speakers on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform in 2015 and 2016. Nationally, she was very involved with the National Council of State Legislatures, having served on the Executive Committee, as Co-Chair of their Budget and Revenue Standing Committee, and being co-chairmanship of its Executive Task Force on State and Local Taxes. 

She attended the University of New Orleans on full scholarship where she received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Magna Cum Laude. Julie resides in River Ridge with her husband, Larry, and their two children, Brandon and Taylor. 

Honors and Awards include:

2023 "Hall of Fame Inductee," Louisiana Center for Women in Government & Business

2023 "Legislative Champion," United Way of Southeast Louisiana

2022 "Spirit of Scouting Community Service Award," Boy Scouts of America Southeast Louisiana Council

2022 "Legislative Champion," United Way of Southeast Louisiana

2021 "New Orleans 500"