Alumni Spotlight: Brandon Beach

From LSU to the U.S. Treasury

In his role as U.S. Treasurer, Brandon Beach (1983 BACH H&SS) really enjoys meeting and greeting as he traverses the country for the nation’s 250^th birthday, touting his department’s commemorative coins.

Recently, at Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson’s home-turned-museum in Virginia, Beach unveiled the Jefferson Quarter, one of three commemorative quarters. The other two quarters feature presidents George Washington and James Madison.

These commemorative coins, authorized by Congress, join another that became legal tender on July 4, a dollar coin featuring President Donald J. Trump. It is Beach’s significant role in Trump’s second campaign that garnered him the President’s attention. The seven-time senator from Georgia was with him on the campaign trail in Iowa when Trump told him: “If I’m elected, you’re coming with me to Washington.”

The first Louisianan to become U.S. Treasurer, Beach serves as the nation’s 46^th. He explains how Alexander Hamilton created the Treasury to help fund the Revolutionary War, before the United States even became a nation.

Making an Impact in Washington 

In less than two years in office, Beach is proud of his team’s progress. He mentions the elimination of the penny (which was costing 4.5 cents to produce) and Trumpaccounts.com, a program to gift each U.S.-born child $1,000 into an account where continued additional personal payments (of the maximum amount of $5,000 per year) could mean more than $300,000 for that child when he turns 18.

“Investing in kids and education will be one of President Trump’s biggest legacies,” said Beach. “We are passionate about financial literacy.”

He adds that philanthropists, including Michael Dell, Kevin O’Leary, and Nikki Minaj are backing the program. And, that companies like Chick-Fil-A, Home Depot, and Delta are matching contributions made to these children’s accounts by their employees.

Another role of the Office of the U.S. Treasurer is to advise Native American tribes on IRS issues and tax policies. Beach says he quickly discovered the tribes’ polarities, either wealthy from oil or casino money, or very poor. As he traveled among them, Beach realized their commonality was a deep love of family and tradition, somewhat akin to the Louisiana Cajuns, and something Beach experiences through his wife’s Prairieville-based family with Cajun roots.

Rooted in LSU

Married 42 years, the Beaches make their home in Alpharetta, Ga, where Shuntel Paille Beach (1983 BACH H&SS) is CAO of King’s Ridge Christian School. Their two children and five grandchildren live nearby. Although deeply ingrained there, the Beaches are still partially rooted in Louisiana, and particularly LSU, where they met. Brandon has been an LSU season ticket holder since 1983. A member of Sigma Nu fraternity, Beach cherishes his college days, particularly the lasting friendships he made.

“I got a great education at LSU,” he says. “But, more importantly, I built relationships. LSU taught me people skills and learning to connect the dots.”

He was on campus recently and joined his long-time friend, Lenny Lemoine, to meet with LSU Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron, LSU Football special assistant to recruiting and defense.

“I told them I have never felt this much excitement about LSU football since you’ve been on campus,” Beach says. “I walked through the campus – it’s so beautiful. I love LSU.”

Lessons for the Next Generation 

His advice to current students is to study hard in a curriculum that generates their passion; build relationships, starting with a strong handshake and eye contact; and set themselves apart by crafting hand-written notes. After graduation, Beach urges young adults to become involved in their communities.

Part of Beach’s legacy as U.S. Treasurer will find its way to the Smithsonian. Those commemorative coins have already been photographed as a space mission assignment, with the Earth positioned in the background, for their eventual display in the museum.