Biz New Orleans May 2024

THE BENEFITS OF WBE CERTIFICATION AND WHY WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS OUT, ESPECIALLY NOW

Phala Mire, President and CEO of Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) South

Second Shift Struggles

It’s a sad but true fact that women nowadays need all the help they can get.

The last four years have especially been a struggle. The pandemic hit women hardest — from domestic violence increases to women taking over the lion’s share of caretaking roles for children learning from home and loved ones facing health issues. According to the American Bar Association, “in February 2021, women’s labor force participation rate hit a low last seen in 1988, losing an entire generation of gains.”

In this post-pandemic society, however, some gains have been seen. In many cases out of necessity, women turned to entrepreneurism at higher rates than ever before. Half of all businesses started in the pandemic era were founded by a woman, compared to just 29% in 2019. This is why we felt it was a great time to talk to Phala Mire with the Women’s Enterprise Business Council South. If you are a female business owner, or know someone who is, I strongly suggest you check out our cover feature.

Another gain we’ve seen post-pandemic is that many businesses forced into remote and hybrid work discovered its benefits, which include the ability to hire and retain more women. Instead of losing productivity, flexible work arrangements have been proven to boost productivity. Unsurprisingly, providing more autonomy has also proven to increase employee morale and health, while lowering stress. We’ve definitely seen that on our staff.

While this is a start, there are still many occupations that cannot operate on a remote or hybrid schedule, including those jobs we know to be “essential.” That is just one reason why our

government, both locally and nationally, needs to be doing more to help families. At the bare minimum, we should be aiming to reach the same level of support as every other developed nation.

In the meantime, I hope the working moms out there can take away an idea or two from this month’s feature where we asked nine highachieving moms what tips and tricks they use to try and stay organized and sane. It was a joy getting to chat with every one of them.

As a working mom myself, I’ll share that organizationally, having shared lists with my husband on our phones for the main stores — grocery, Target, Lowe’s — has been really helpful. Now, whenever one of us is out and about we no longer have to call and ask the other what they need (or for specifics like what size and brand of diapers we get).

When it comes to an easy sanity saver, I’ve had a group Zoom with some close mom friends every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. since the start of the pandemic. It’s a way we’ve found to catchup without having to get out of our sweats — a win-win.

If you have any tips/tricks for finding balance and staying sane, we’d love to hear them! Thanks for reading,

KIMBERLEY SINGLETARY

Recognizing Growth Companies, Business Professionals, and Noteworthy Transactions Throughout Louisiana

Outstanding Corporate Growth

MMR GROUP, INC.

Emerging Growth Company

LOUISIANA PEPPER EXCHANGE

2023 Deal of the Year

FRANZISKA TRAUTMANN & MAX STEITZ Co-Founders, Glass Half Full

2023 Deal Maker of the Year

TIMOTHY BOVARD

Search Fund Accelerator

Lifetime Achievement Award

EMERIL LAGASSE

MARITIME PARTNERS’ ACQUISITION OF USMMI Young Deal Maker Award

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Roosevelt Hotel, Waldorf Astoria Ballroom, New Orleans 6-7:00 PM Networking Cocktail Reception • 7-9:00 PM Dinner & Awards Program

Tickets now available at acg.org/louisiana $225 members, $250 non-members

For sponsorship information call Christie Royster at 504.722.8960

Mother’s Day Wishes

As we enter May and celebrate Mother’s Day, I want to wish not only my wife, mom, and mother-in-law a wonderful Mother’s Day, but now all my daughters.

Last month, Mallary and Ryan had a beautiful baby girl. I am so proud of them as new parents. They are doing excellent, and with Emma have become a beautiful family.

If you have followed my publisher’s note, you will know that this makes three grandchildren for Andrea and I. All three of our daughters are now moms, making us very proud to wish them a wonderful Mother’s Day.

This month, Biz New Orleans focuses on women and the contributions they make in the community. I have always been a girl dad and strong believer in helping our female staff in any way possible if they choose to make a professional career as a working mom. We currently have 13 moms at the office, and I wish all of them a fantastic Mother’s Day.

Not to bury the lead, but what do you think of BizNewOrleans.com? We have redesigned our website and added all new features. We are moving to exclusive content and providing you with more data than ever before. We are also now offering you the option to become an Insider with Biz, which includes exclusive access to lead stories, breaking news, business information, and behind the scenes access to events and learning. Visit us online and click on Become an Insider today.

Also in this issue, you will find more than 25 Women to Watch profiles — great stories of women and their personal journey. This annual section rounds out an excellent May issue for Biz New Orleans. TODD

IN THE BIZ

10 DINING

12 SPORTS

14 ENTREPRENEUR

Three entrepreneurs share why they have no qualms about betting on the city’s future.

A tale of two Chinese restaurants

Two short decades ago, Eli Manning was the NFL’s next big thing.

POPPY TOOKER has spent her life devoted to the cultural essence that food brings to Louisiana, a topic she explores weekly on her NPR-affiliated radio show, Louisiana Eats! From farmers markets to the homes and restaurants where our culinary traditions are revered and renewed, Poppy lends the voice of an insider to interested readers everywhere.

Dynasties, Old and New

A tale of two Chinese restaurants

BY POPPY TOOKER

When it comes to eating ethnic, Chinese food is America’s clear favorite. Today, there are more U.S. Chinese restaurants than all the fastfood chains combined, and since the 1800s, those restaurants have provided a pathway to immigrant success.

That potential holds as true today as it did in 1977, when Shirley and Tang Lee opened their first restaurant, Metairie’s Royal China.

Originally from Hong Kong, the Lees were just newlyweds when they settled in New Orleans. Their buffet was very popular with American customers, but the Chinese clientele came for dim sum, a style of eating largely unknown here in the 1970s.

“We had chicken wings on the buffet, which were also a dim sum item,” the Lees’ daughter, Carling, explained. Those wings were a gateway to a new style of Chinese cuisine. Soon everyone was asking for the dim sum menu, learning to enjoy Royal China’s fried and steamed dumplings along with more unusual items like sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves.

Carling Lee and her sister, Carla, grew up at Royal China.

“We were there every day after school,” Carling remembered. “We’d do our homework

with the customers and when we were tired, we’d stretch out on dining room chairs to sleep. I remember needing two, then three, and eventually four chairs as I grew taller,” she chuckled.

After college, Carla married and moved away while Carling became an attorney.

“I never stopped working at the restaurant,” she said. As an assistant Jefferson Parish district attorney, Carling often helped out during weekday lunches. “Sometimes customers would ask, ‘Aren’t you the D.A. who just made me pay that fine?” she laughed.

The Lees sold Royal China and retired after 44 years, but Shirley missed her customers and Carling missed restaurant life too. Now a successful real estate attorney, Carling learned of an Uptown building for sale and urged her parents to reconsider retirement.

“Daddy and I are old,” Shirley protested.

“I will help,” Carling insisted, and in December 2022, Miss Shirley’s Chinese Restaurant opened to great acclaim. Carling runs the front with Shirley supervising the kitchen, serving the same beloved Cantonese dishes first popularized decades ago.

“It’s not easy,” Carling reflected, “but if it’s your passion, it’s your joy.” Her mother agrees. “I love people. They walk in happy and walk out so happy, I love it!” she exclaimed.

Vivi and Kevin Zhang of Wishing Town Bakery & Café were also new to the U.S. when they were introduced to New Orleans’ restaurant scene. Kevin’s aunt welcomed him and Vivi to New Orleans from their Guangzhou, China, birthplace in 2013. During college, Kevin Zhang had managed a bakery in China but acquired restaurant skills in his aunt’s Kenner restaurant. The budding entrepreneur eventually saved enough to acquire a food truck. Yumi, his hibachi on wheels, gained a loyal following among the Downtown hospital crowd, while Vivi polished her baking skills at home. In February 2018, the couple’s dreams were realized with the opening of Wishing Town Bakery & Café.

Not as sweet as conventional American pastry, from the start Vivi’s cakes were a sensation. The mille crepe cake includes more than a dozen crepes layered with flavored Chantilly cream. Flavors range from the familiar chocolate with hazelnut to the exotic matcha and durian. The brilliantly colored rainbow variation is a customer favorite along with the Wishing Cake, Vivi’s signature light-as-air chiffon cake with freshly whipped Chantilly cream and fresh fruit decoration. Kevin’s savory food, especially the soup dumplings provided another aspect to the café and proved an instant success.

From its original Kenner location, Wishing Town relocated to Severn Avenue across from Lakeside Shopping Center before expanding to a busy Uptown corner in 2022 with help from longtime friend, Aisha Chen. Today, Chen is a partner and restaurant manager there who relishes her customers’ devotion.

Catch Poppy

Tooker on her radio show, “Louisiana Eats!” Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Mondays at 8 p.m. on WWNO 89.9 FM.

“One gentleman drives in from Grand Isle to eat with us,” Chen said. “He brings along an ice chest to fill up and take home!”

It doesn’t take a fortune cookie to know great American dreams still come true in Chinese family restaurants. T

Big Easy

Two short decades ago, Eli Manning was the NFL’s next big thing.

BY CHRIS PRICE

While looking at this year’s prospects, it dawned on me that it was 20 years ago that New Orleans’ own Eli Manning was THE rising star in the NFL.

Manning, the son of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and younger brother of then Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Peyton Manning, was born and raised in the Crescent City. Like Peyton, Eli prepped at Isidore Newman and came out of high school as one of, if not, the best recruits in the country. As a Greenie, he passed for 7,389 yards and 89 touchdowns, records that would eventually be broken by his nephew, Arch Manning.

Eli chose to follow his parents and oldest brother Cooper’s footsteps and attend the University of Mississippi, where Archie remains

CHRIS PRICE is an award-winning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football.

a cult hero to this day and Cooper saw the end of his football dreams due to a spinal condition right before he was to start his freshman year. (Peyton opted to go to Tennessee when Cooper retired from football and Ole Miss was on probation for recruiting violations.)

In Oxford, Eli resurrected the name of Ole Miss football, bringing the team to heights it hadn’t seen since his father was the Rebels’ quarterback and replaced his dad’s name on many Rebel records. He finished his collegiate career with 10,119 passing yards (fifth on the SEC career list), 81 touchdown passes (third on the SEC career list), and a passer rating of 137.7 (tied for sixth on the SEC career list). While with the Rebs, Manning won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best all-around player, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award, the Sporting News Radio Socrates Award, and the SEC Most Valuable Player Award. He also finished third in the voting for the 2003 Heisman Trophy.

With his pedigree, collegiate success and renowned laid-back attitude, pro football scouts and fans marveled at his potential.

The San Diego Chargers had the first overall pick in the 2004 draft and declared their intent to select Manning to replace their then-quarterback Drew Brees. The Manning family had some issues with the management style of the Chargers’ ownership, however, and Eli declared he wouldn’t play in Southern California if San Diego made him their first pick.

Draft night drama ensued when the Chargers selected Manning, the first of 17 QBs taken, with the first pick. Of course, cameras were there to capture the moment when Eli put on a Chargers hat and made half-hearted grins for the camera. With the fourth pick in the draft, the New York Giants selected quarterback Philip Rivers and immediately traded him, a 2004 third-round pick, a 2005 first-round pick, and a 2005 fifth-round pick in order to land Manning, who signed a six-year, $45 million contract with the Giants (for two decades of

cost comparison, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is currently in a 10-year, $450 million contract).

Manning would go on to play 16 seasons with the New York Giants, punctuated by underdog Super Bowl victories against the New England Patriots dynasty. In Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI he was named Super Bowl MVP, making him one of six players to receive the award multiple times. As the Giants’ starting quarterback from 2004 to 2019, he set and still holds franchise records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions. He started 210 consecutive games from 2004 to 2017, the third-longest consecutive starts streak by an NFL quarterback. He ranks 10th all-time in NFL history for passing yards and touchdowns.

After a couple of injuries late in Manning’s career, the Giants drafted quarterback Daniel Jones in 2019. The team offered Manning a spot as a backup or a move to their front office for the 2020 season, but he decided instead to hang up his gear and announced his retirement on Jan. 22, 2020. On Sept. 26, 2021, the Giants retired his No. 10 jersey and inducted him into their stadium’s Ring of Honor.

Since retiring from football, Eli has remained highly visible, staring in several commercials — sometimes with his famous family members — hosts “Eli’s Places” for ESPN+, where he visits some of college football’s historic locales and interviews the game’s biggest personalities, and is co-host of the Monday Night Football alternate broadcast called the “Manningcast,” in which the brothers watch and comment on the game with special guests.

Today, the 43-year-old lives with his wife, Abby, three daughters, and son in Summit, New Jersey. We will likely see him again soon. He will be eligible for induction in the NFL Hall of Fame beginning in 2025. And sooner rather than later, fans will wonder if Eli’s boy will pick up and sling the pigskin like his father, grandfather, uncle and cousin. The time will be here before we know it.T

KEITH TWITCHELL spent 16 years running his own business before becoming president of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. He has observed, supported and participated in entrepreneurial ventures at the street, neighborhood, nonprofit, micro- and macro-business levels.

Why New Orleans? Why Now?

Three entrepreneurs share why they have no qualms about betting on the city’s future.

BY KEITH TWITCHELL

The negativity surrounding our city right now seems relentless, from local media to neighborhood listservs to our new governor, who seems to think New Orleans is on the brink of complete failure.

Opinions are one thing, investments are another. And plenty of new enterprises are launching right now, suggesting a very different view of the local landscape. I spoke with three of these entrepreneurs recently to get their take on why things are better than some would have us believe.

Bernard Stolberg is the principal, CEO “and occasional dishwasher” of OnePack Hospitality Group. Formed in 2017, OnePack operates seven restaurants, including the newly opened Lower Garden District establishment Crack’d. A native New Orleanian, Stolberg’s career has been “in the hospitality space.”

“From the business side, what gives me confidence is New Orleans is not going anywhere,” he observed. “It goes through rough times, it goes through cycles, but it always comes back.”

Stolberg hears the naysayers but feels there is plenty of capacity for turning things around.

“We are our own worst critics, but our culture is very strong and who we are is very strong: one of the most diverse, interesting cities in the world,” he said. “This is a democracy, and if things aren’t working, we have to change them. There are good ideas out there, things that can be done. We can get back on track and we can focus on business. We’re all in this together.”

Rosa and Seth Dunlap are the founders of Merchant House, a collaborative guild of local vendors selling vintage furnishings, décor, clothing, and jewelry. Merchant House occupies two warehouses on the 1100 block of Magazine Street which have been recently renovated from light industrial to retail and commercial space.

The Dunlaps moved to New Orleans 12 years ago, leaving jobs in Chicago’s corporate world and bringing experience in both the antiques business and historic renovations.

“We truly believe in the long-term potential of this city,” stated Seth Dunlap. “New Orleans will always be here and there will always be

people wanting to invest in this city. If someone is looking for a short-term capital gain, that is not so likely here. You have to be able to persevere, to adapt, to be nimble.”

While there is plenty of criticism of the government infrastructure for business, Dunlap found it considerably better than Chicago.

“There is nowhere else where you can find a partner like the state of Louisiana or the city of New Orleans to guide you in historic preservation,” he noted.

For Rosa Dunlap, the cultural environment is also paramount.

“There’s nowhere like New Orleans,” she said. “It’s a singular place on this planet.”

Andrew Bell will be the general manager of a new restaurant being developed at 3125 Esplanade Avenue by renowned Charleston, South Carolina, chef Brooks Reitz. Opening in late spring, it will combine local and regional cuisine with the cozy atmosphere of an English pub — something that Bell, who is English, knows a little about. He also looks past the negativity to see the opportunity.

“You hear stuff, you read stuff, but I see beyond that,” he said. “There are a lot of things that are attractive about New Orleans from a business standpoint. It’s one of the last great American cities.”

Bell first experienced the city in 1994, while a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, and in his words, “It has been a special place for me ever since. I love the history, the food, the music. People all over the world want to come here, and it will always be a vibrant place for a business. I see a lot of investment in the city.”

Seeing the big picture is the common thread among these entrepreneurs who are putting their money on New Orleans.

“We’ve doubled down,” affirmed Stolberg. “We’re going to be strong no matter what. From the long perspective, how can you not be positive about New Orleans?” T

PERSPECTIVES

16

HEALTHCARE

ICYMI, March was a big month for healthcare announcements in the region.

18

BANKING+FINANCE

Women are leading the charge in sustainable finance.

22

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The latest from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, which is celebrating its 40th year

24 GUEST

In 2024, programmatic advertising will make up 91.3% of U.S. digital display advertising. Here’s what you need to know about it.

20 EDUCATION

How two area programs are taking different approaches to address inequities for women

DID YOU KNOW? According to 2021 statistics from Data USA, the healthcare and social assistance industry is the biggest employer in New Orleans, accounting for 14.5% of jobs. Education is 12.8% and hospitality is the third highest at 12.4%.

Spring Additions

ICYMI, March was a big month for healthcare announcements in the region.

BY SITE STAFF

The following is an abridged version of five announcements found on BizNewOrleans.com.

LCMC HEALTH LAUNCHES

“KEEPING YOU WELL” PROGRAM

LCMC Health, the Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system serving the Gulf Coast region, has launched a “Keeping You Well” program to help individuals make healthier choices while grocery shopping.

Locally owned Langenstein’s market is the inaugural partner in the program. At Langen -

stein’s, Keeping You Well prepared foods are marked with stickers, while shelf talkers on the aisles indicate which foods are included under the program.

For more information about the Keeping You Well program, visit www.lcmchealth.org/.

EJGH

OPENS INTERVENTIONAL BRONCHOSCOPY SUITE

East Jefferson General Hospital has announced the opening of an interventional bronchoscopy suite to enhance minimally invasive detection and diagnosis of lung cancer.

East Jefferson General Hospital is proud to be among only a handful of sites across the country using a new combination of technologies.

“This brand-new bronchoscopy suite at EJ has the latest and greatest technology, allowing us to quickly biopsy nodules in even the most remote and delicate areas of the lungs, with minimal risk and discomfort to the patient,” said Dr. Ramsy Abdelghani, a Tulane board-certified interventional pulmonologist who practices at East Jefferson General Hospital.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES NEW OPTIONS FOR TREATING SICKLE CELL DISEASE

CHNO announced in March that it is the only hospital in Louisiana to serve as a designated treatment center for both Lyfgenia (BlueBird Bio) and Casgevy (Vertex), two gene therapies whose products were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat sickle cell disease in patients 12 years and older.

Sickle cell disease affects the red blood cells primarily of people of African, Latin American and Mediterranean heritage. It poses a risk for serious lifelong medical complications and shortened life expectancy.

“This is an important step in the right direction in addressing health inequities that have been the reality for this underserved population,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital. “By being an early treatment center that is not available in neighboring states in the Southeast, our patients with the most severe presentations of sickle cell disease will now have access to the most

advanced treatments right here at home. This is an amazing opportunity afforded to the children of Louisiana and the Gulf South region.”

OCHSNER OPENS NEW CLINIC FOR SENIORS

Ochsner Health has opened a new clinic at 7060 Veterans Memorial Boulevard to provide specialized health and wellness services for patients 65 and older.

Ochsner 65 Plus — Lafreniere offers healthcare, social support and wellness resources.

The clinic offers access to a multidisciplinary team approach, including access to a primary care physician, a licensed clinic social worker, clinical pharmacist, dietitian, health coach and fitness instructor. Social and wellness opportunities are also offered, including group fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, health coaching and card games.

Ochsner 65 Plus — Lafreniere is the fifth clinic of its type to open. It joins locations in Covington, Baton Rouge, Pensacola, Florida, and Ridgeland, South Carolina.

LOUISIANA CANCER CENTERS JOIN NETWORK TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CANCER TRIALS

In an effort to make cancer care and treatment more accessible, the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network announced on March 26 that it had joined a larger nationwide health innovation.

The GSCTN is now a “spoke” in the ARPA-H Customer Experience Hub, one of three regional hubs that comprise a network known as ARPANET-H.

According to an LSU-LCMC Health Cancer Center spokesperson, less than 10% of adult cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials in the United States. Numbers are even lower for underserved patients in impoverished areas.

The primary goal of the Customer Experience Hub is to make vital health innovations accessible to everyone, with a focus on traditionally underrepresented populations. Integrating patient feedback throughout the research and development process with the goal of ensuring that innovations will be widely adopted to effectively meet patients’ needs is a main strategy of the hub. T

Breaking Barriers

Women are leading the charge in sustainable finance.

BY DREW HAWKINS

Women are carving out their space, challenging stereotypes and driving positive change in an industry long dominated by men.

From pioneering innovative financial instruments to fostering inclusive ecosystems, women in finance are not only challenging traditional norms but are also driving transformative change toward a more sustainable and equitable future for the city and beyond.

Diane Allison is president of the Accounting and Financial Women's Alliance New Orleans (AFWA), which enables women in accounting and finance fields to achieve their full personal, professional and economic potential, and to contribute to the future development of their

DREW HAWKINS is a writer and journalist in New Orleans. He’s the health equity reporter in the Gulf States Newsroom, a collaboration among public radio stations in Louisiana (WWNO and WRKF), Alabama (WBHM) and Mississippi (MPB-Mississippi Public Broadcasting) and NPR. He’s also the producer and host of Micro, a LitHub podcast for short but powerful writing.

profession. She said one of the challenges facing women in finance is the gender pay gap, when women are paid less than their male counterparts. Women are also underrepresented in leadership roles in banking and finance, although significant strides have been made in recent years, thanks in part to women who push back against the status quo and help others along the way.

The AFWA helps women overcome challenges by hosting events where members and guests can attend, deepen their professional knowledge, and, importantly, meet other women who work in a variety of fields and are at all different stages of their careers. Allison said lifelong, deep friendships develop.

“We support each other in achieving our career goals,” Allison said. She said when she first joined AFWA back in 1993, she was early in her career and through AFWA, she learned the value of becoming a certified public accountant. Her job didn’t require it, but she decided to go for it anyway — based on the guidance she received from the AFWA. What she remembers most is the support.

“I'll never forget the monthly membership meeting in the spring of 1997 when it was announced who had passed the CPA exam and my name was called, among others,” she said. “We received a standing ovation! That's the kind of support that AFWA offers, because the women in that room knew the extreme hard work and sacrifice it took to successfully pass all four parts of the CPA exam.”

Through networking, Allison said many AFWA members have connected and recruited clients and employees.

“We are also asked to mentor and be mentored, which is a very rewarding experience,” she said. “Women understand women: the stress of growing in our careers, managing family responsibilities and developing personally, in a way that men may not fully appreciate or express.”

Allison pointed out that women in all fields

also face the challenge that child rearing brings, as many may start their careers, then stay home to care for young children for a few years before re-entering the workforce.

“In some workplaces there's a shortage of women role models in high places, women available to serve as mentors, and even networking opportunities,” she said. That’s where organizations like the AFWA can step in and be a helpful resource.

There’s also sector-specific support for women in finance. Chloe Capital is a movement-driven venture capital firm with a mission of inclusive ecosystem building at scale. Elisa Miller-Out, founder and managing partner at Chloe Capital, said the firm focuses on diverse women tech leaders who are solving the world’s biggest problems.

“Our primary industry is climate,” Miller-Out said. “We operate funds and accelerator programs across the U.S. with global reach. Our funds offer capital for underestimated founders while providing impact and financial returns to investors and our accelerator programs allow access to unique deal flow and provide networks and opportunities for our founders across the #InvestInWomen Tour.”

Chloe Capital currently operates 35 ecosystem builders across the U.S. Miller-Out said that women in finance and tech innovation continue to excel — women-led startups are capital efficient, exit earlier and deliver better returns on investment. Even with a strong track record of success, however, access to capital remains a key challenge and many of these innovative women leaders are overlooked, under-resourced and underestimated.

Groups like Chloe Capital help diverse women leaders connect with capital, resources and networks to help them grow and scale their companies while learning about investment.

“Once our founders have successful exits, they become mentors, role models and funders for the next generation,” said Miller-Out.T

DID YOU KNOW? According to a 2021 article in Forbes on the value of mentorship programs for women, 25% of employees who participated in a mentoring program saw a salary-grade change, compared to only 5% of workers who did not participate.

WO-MENTORSHIP OFFERS SUPPORT FOR SUCCESS

How two area programs are taking different approaches to address inequities for women

BY DREW HAWKINS PERSPECTIVES EDUCATION

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022 women in New Orleans earned, on average, 77.3% compared to men, reflecting not only a persistent wage gap that undermines economic security and financial independence for women, but a gap that’s larger than the national average of 83%.

Moreover, Black and Hispanic women earn just half of what white men earn in New Orleans, and only four-fifths of what Black and Hispanic men make. Women also remain underrepresented in leadership positions, with only a fraction holding executive roles in corporations, government and nonprofit organizations.

ONE TOOL IN THE BOX

Mentorship has long been recognized as a powerful strategy for addressing these challenges and empowering women to overcome barriers to success. By pairing experienced mentors with mentees seeking guidance and support, mentorship programs offer invaluable opportunities for learning, growth and networking.

Amy Landry, program facilitator and advisor for Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) at Loyola University New Orleans, said these tools have never been more critical for women than during this time of shifting work environments, workloads and opportunities.

“Women leadership programs provide a safe environment to explore building personal agency and self-clarity, aligning goals with intentions, balancing self-promotion with authenticity, building a strategic network and creating greater work-life balance,” Landry said.

In 2018, Loyola created a much-needed space for women to develop, connect and continue to climb as leaders. Landry has been there since the beginning, serving on the advisory committee that formed the WLA. She said her passion for working with women came after experiencing first-hand the lack of support and resources new mothers encounter when returning from maternity leave.

“I was a human resources professional at the time and I recognized this was a major problem,” she said. “I began working with women and created a coaching program for new mothers, and I also created training to help women advocate for themselves and negotiate salaries, which led me to speak on equal pay at the state Legislature and multiple other city-wide events. From serving on the advisory committee, I was ultimately hired by Loyola and became one of the driving forces behind the creation and the successful execution of the Women’s Leadership Academy, which is now in its sixth cohort.”

Landry said the WLA has empowered and elevated more than 250 women and has numerous success stories of promotions and businesses started attributed to participation in the academy. The success of the Women's Leadership Academy also laid the groundwork to extend its reach and impact to even more women across the region with the creation of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA).

In collaboration with New Orleans Councilmember Lesli Harris, Loyola launched Young Women’s Leadership Academy in 2023 with the mission to train and develop the next generation of women leaders throughout the community by providing the opportunity to grow and network with thought leaders in the region and develop tools and strategies to achieve their fullest potential personally and professionally.

Designed for women ages 18-25, the YWLA is a two-day workshop for young women who want to develop, connect and grow as leaders. It aims to build community amongst young women from diverse backgrounds as they engage in leadership training, peer learning and networking. Throughout the academy, participants work collaboratively to understand their personalities and leadership styles, define their career goals and begin to build their professional networks.

“Each young woman will grow in self-confidence, build strategic relationships, gain clarity on personality strengths and opportunities for improvement and will be challenged by step -

ping outside of the comfort zone in order to grow,” Landry said.

While women have made progress securing leadership positions, Landry said that women, especially women of color, are drastically underrepresented in the C-suite leadership roles, and all women continue to still face microaggressions in the workplace.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Community-based mentorship programs also play a vital role. Project Butterfly New Orleans is an African-centered “rites of passage” program that works with young women and nonbinary people in New Orleans.

“We support them in helping them to rediscover the power of themselves in their identities and prepare them to transform their lives and lead their communities,” said Michele Seymour, executive director of Project Butterfly New Orleans. Seymour explained that while mentoring is a key aspect, a “rites of passage” program also focuses on “culturally rooted” programming.

“It’s really about basing ourselves in the history, culture and positive identity development of understanding the unique experiences of Black people,” Seymour said. “Our program is very much rooted in practices that have a foundation in community, in knowledge, in service and understanding. It doesn’t just focus on adults working with young people, but also supporting them in building relationships between each other as well.”

Project Butterfly mentors were all once volunteers with the program — some going as far back as its inception in 2009. Every week, they meet at a “chrysalis circle” and share knowledge, information, resources and support about challenges relevant to the group of Black and nonbinary people. The group also volunteers in community-based programming that is open to everyone and helps connect the group members to their communities.

Seymour said one key focus of the group is instilling in mentees that their identities are not a liability.

“Young Black girls and nonbinary young people, their identity is a strength, it is the base of who they are,” Seymour said. “And it's something that should be uplifted and celebrated, especially given that we live in a society with so many systemic inequities that will make young people feel as if who they are is an issue.”

Much of Project Butterfly’s research-based programming is rooted in positive identity development — helping young people to understand the history and culture that precedes them — but also in the power they have to create the legacies and traditions they want to see in the world.

“We do that programming through intensive sessions that are following a really culturally relevant programming model,” Seymour said.

Groups like Project Butterfly’s emphasis on community-based approaches highlight the fact that the benefits of women’s mentorship programs extend far beyond the individual participants. By empowering women to reach their full potential, these programs have a ripple effect that positively impacts future generations. As women succeed and thrive in their chosen fields, they serve as role models and inspiration for others, especially young girls who aspire to follow in their footsteps. T

PERSPECTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

40 and Fuerte!

Celebrating its 40th year, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana looks forward to a packed year of offerings, including its ninth annual Women’s Business Symposium on May 10.

BY MAYRA E. PINEDA

This year, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL) invites New Orleanians to celebrate the 40th year of advancing the local community and progressing Hispanic businesses. The theme of the 2024 celebration is “Onward: Driving Hispanic Businesses Forward.”

Centered on serving a wide spectrum of communities across Louisiana, the mission of the HCCL is to foster the continued economic growth, development and promotion of Hispanic businesses and their associations in Louisiana, and to serve as the conduit between the Hispanic business community and the community at large.

As our mission progresses, efforts to foster a more inclusive community continue to drive us forward, evident in announcements of new partnerships, events and opportunities, alongside enhancing our online presence within both our membership interface and community engagement initiatives. Moving forward, the chamber plans to expand programming, focus on workforce training to create a skilled pipeline of applicants for jobs in the area, and increase our footprint in the community on a greater scale. This concerted effort aims to educate and empower the Hispanic community while working to overcome barriers that impede growth and the creation of generational wealth.

Since its inception, HCCL has maintained its mission to advocate and facilitate a favorable business environment for the Hispanic community and uplift Hispanic business owners in every way possible. Over four decades, we have grown in membership size and organizational efforts, but most importantly, in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To mark its 40th anniversary milestone, the chamber proudly unveils its latest venture, “Hispanic Biz Force: Moving Hispanic Businesses Forward.” This dynamic initiative is designed to provide exclusive opportunities and unparalleled access to cutting-edge panel discussions and sessions, aimed at bridging the knowledge gap for business owners through free to low-cost sessions.

Spanning from February to November, these sessions are strategically scheduled across major cities in Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and for the first time, Shreveport. Covering a diverse array of topics essential for businesses, participants can expect insightful discussions on sustainability practices, e-commerce and digital marketing strategies, minority business certifications, human resources management, and efficient construction project oversight.

Those who participate in this initiative will

gain valuable insights and knowledge from industry experts and leaders. Additionally, the top 10 committed small business owners completing the cohort will have an exclusive opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony during the 2024 Excelencia Gala held on Sept. 20 as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of HCCL, we also continue to celebrate the great contributions and impact of women-owned businesses. HCCL invites local business leaders and entrepreneurs to join us for our ninth annual Women’s Business Symposium on May 10th.

This year’s theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” continues its legacy of empowering women entrepreneurs with valuable tools for success. This special event fosters connections among women leaders, showcasing community-building efforts and critical knowledge.

The symposium serves as a platform for discussions on economic development, inclusion and equity, emphasizing the role of female innovators. Keynote speaker Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, embodies advocacy and empowerment.

The main panel, “Pearl of Wisdom,” and breakout sessions will empower women in their careers, addressing challenges such as mental health and supporting Hispanic and young professional women.

Our goal is to inspire and empower attendees, emphasizing women’s inclusion in all aspects of life. Don’t miss engaging sessions, uplifting messages, a curated women’s small business market and networking opportunities.

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana invites all to join us as we celebrate this great achievement throughout 2024. Stay tuned to more announcements and opportunities for our stakeholders and members to participate in. For more information, please visit our website hispanicchamberla.com. T

MAYRA E. PINEDA is the president and CEO of HCCL and can be reached at mpineda@hispanicchamberla.com

How Does Programmatic Digital Advertising Work?

In 2024, programmatic advertising will make up 91.3% of U.S. digital display advertising. Here’s what you need to know about it.

BY KRISTA POUNCY-DYSON

Almost everyone has experienced it in one way or another, but many people lack a clear understanding of how programmatic digital advertising works.

Prominent examples of mega-programmatic digital companies include Google, Facebook/lnstagram (Meta), Snapchat and TikTok. These companies possess vast amounts of data about each of their users, which they leverage to deliver advertisements based on their client's goals and objectives. Programmatic advertising relies on software and algorithms to automate the buying and selling of digital ads through real-time auctions. This approach enables more precise targeting and improved ad optimization, ultimately delivering advertisers a higher return on investment. Is Big Brother watching? After being involved in digital advertising for the last 24 years and witnessing the industry explode due to data, I would say the answer is a resounding yes! The majority of our online activities are being tracked. Our online interactions are meticulously documented through code or cookies (an industry

term) embedded in mobile and desktop devices. The information is then stored by big data companies, which subsequently resell the data to ad agencies and supply-side ad networks.

The movement to protect our data is gaining momentum. Data privacy concerns have taken center stage, prompting advertisers to incorporate more transparency and control for consumers to address these concerns. Artificial intelligence (Al) and machine learning are now being integrated into programmatic advertising to optimize campaigns, enhance targeting and automate processes, as we seemingly transition to a cookie-less online experience.

IT ALL STARTS WITH DATA

Have you ever searched online for shoes, a new computer or a new car? Almost immediately afterward, you start seeing ads following you during your online experience. This phenomenon is known as behavioral targeting, and it occurs based on the first-party data we leave behind (cookies) across the websites we interact with. The entire transaction happens in a matter of nanoseconds, making it one of the most commonly used programmatic digital tactics.

First-party data refers to the data that a business or organization collects directly from its customers or users. It is primarily obtained through interactions such as website visits, app usage, purchases, subscriptions, surveys, or any other direct engagement with the company.

PROGRAMMATIC ADVERTISING IS TRENDING

More and more advertisers are embracing programmatic advertising due to its effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The latest trends include:

• Rise of connected TV (CTV) advertising: With the increasing popularity of streaming services, CTV advertising has become a significant trend in programmatic advertising. It allows advertisers to target specific audiences based on their viewing habits.

• Greater focus on data privacy: As data privacy concerns continue to dominate public discourse, programmatic advertising is adapting by incorporating more transparency and control for consumers.

• Integration of artificial intelligence (Al): Al is utilized in programmatic advertising to optimize campaigns, improve targeting and automate processes.

• Increased use of machine learning: As Al technology evolves, programmatic advertising will become even more sophisticated in analyzing data and optimizing campaigns.

• Expanded use of programmatic advertising beyond Digital Channels: Programmatic advertising has expanded its reach beyond digital channels into traditional media such as TV, radio, digital billboards, taxi cabs, in-car screens, office buildings, and gas station screens. Essentially, programmatic advertising can be served anywhere there is a monitor.

Programmatic advertising isn’t the future, it’s here. The question is, what are you doing to take advantage of its benefits? T

KRISTA POUNCY-DYSON is managing principal at New Orleans based digital marketing and media consulting agency Performance First Digital. She may be reached at info@performancefirstdigital.com.

Phala Mire, President and CEO of Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) South, explains the benefits of WBE certification and why women business owners can’t afford to miss out, especially now.

ADRIENNE BATTISTELLA

REBECCA FRIEDMAN

AS CORPORATIONS place a growing emphasis on supplier diversity, it’s more important than ever for women and minority business owners to position themselves for a shot at contracts that offer serious success.

Fortunately, women have a powerful ally in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and their regional partner organizations like the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) South.

Headquartered in New Orleans, WBEC South helps women business owners across Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle obtain certifications needed to do business with corporations large and small. It also opens doors to networks, training, and other resources designed to help women build and sustain their businesses.

Phala Mire, President and CEO of WBEC South, has spent the last eight-plus years serving as champion for the region’s women business owners. This year, WBEC South has plenty to celebrate, including its 30th birthday (with a celebration planned for September). Their coworking space, WB Collective (401 St. Joseph St.) — New Orleans’ first for women — will mark its five-year anniversary in December. And in June 2025, New Orleans will host WBENC’s national conference, convening an impressive nationwide network of women’s business enterprises (WBEs), affiliated attendees and corporations committed to supporting them.

Mire shared her thoughts on why this is an exciting era for WBEs (including those with Super Bowl supplier aspirations), and how WBEC South can help at every stage in the growth journey.

…

Are the number of WBEs in this region growing?

National statistics indicate not only are we growing, but women-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing business segments, and minority women — Latinas and African American women in particular — are the fastest growing within that subcategory.

At WBEC South, we are taking female founders and entrepreneurs all the way from a startup phase to succession, because as a woman grows her business, there comes a point (and sometimes this is the goal) where we are looking at whether they can sell their business successfully and transition out of it or move into a new generation of ownership that also maintains that women-owned construct. After 30 years, we are working with WBEs who have been certified much or all of that time and now are looking at that next step. For some, it looks like retirement; for others it looks like a merger or acquisition.

What are some of the region’s fastest growing sectors for WBEs?

We’ve always been in that food and beverage space, but in our region in particular, there are a tremendous number of women getting into the spirits and adult beverage categories. We have some of the largest female-owned spirits and bitters brands.

Looking at traditional industries, we are doing very well in healthcare (which is a growing industry and buys literally everything), the gaming industry, the automotive industry, and in the energy sectors, whether oil and gas or utilities.

“There are a tremendous number of women getting into the spirits and adult beverage categories. We have some of the largest femaleowned spirits and bitters brands.”

There are a growing number of women getting into manufacturing, which can be an extremely challenging area to get into, but manufacturing pays off very big for those who find their footing. It kind of follows an arc of women advancing in the workplace first. A lot of male entrepreneurs start their careers in an industry, learn the industry, and then branch off and start a business that is aligned with that industry. Women are doing the same thing.

Why should businesses consider getting WBE certified?

Certification is a validation that you are who you say you are. It gives the buyer — who is also reporting their numbers of diverse suppliers and their spend with diverse suppliers to federal agencies and other reporting agencies — an assurance that they are issuing correct numbers… and that these numbers in the contract they are giving are truly for women-owned enterprises. Ours is the top certification for the private sector in terms of dealing with women-owned enterprises. It is a customer mandate — like anything else, if your customer needs it, you’re going to do it. So, getting certified is just a step to being able to satisfy the customer.

On the other side of that, for the WBE, there are so many benefits to being certified. The application process mandates we have a site visit with you, where we learn about your business and confirm that it’s a womenowned enterprise. But once that happens, the doors just immediately open because you’re now within meeting distance of the decision-makers, influencers and buyers with whom you’re looking to connect.

You’re not going to get business just because you’re a certified WBE. It does, however, give you the tools you need in a negotiation with a corporation. After they have determined that you can provide services and they trust you and want to do business with you, then they’re going to ask: ‘Do you have any business certifications?’ In an apples-to-apples comparison, [the certification] may be the deciding factor. It is a competitive advantage for companies looking to do business in the private sector.

Are there obstacles to getting a WBE certification?

I think the biggest obstacle that we hear from

some applicants is the paperwork. The application is serious and rigorous and looks at all aspects of your business. For a business in good standing that has been operating or poised to operate immediately from startup, these are all documents you would have anyway. Finding the time to pull together said information… you may have to devote maybe a half day. However, maintaining the certification once you get it is quite simple, and [recertification] only happens once a year. The cost [of certification] is very affordable. Most businesses are coming into our community paying a $350 application fee. On the other side of that are 10 times more opportunities that include free or reduced registration fees. But you will immediately get the value back of your application fee just by participating in an event.

How can WBEs benefit from the Super Bowl coming to New Orleans in 2025?

The Super Bowl goes into spaces with the intention of doing business with local business owners so they can help develop our local economy. In order to do that, however, they want to be assured that the suppliers they are working with fit the categories they are looking for. So, your certification becomes important to big global corporations. When you have these huge sporting events, you need your certification to be part of their supplier base. One of those certifications is the WBE certification from WBEC. When the time comes, you don’t want to have to scramble to get certified quickly and under the wire for a contract opportunity. You want to have it when you’re getting ready to be in that prime negotiating position.

Right now, we are getting a surge of WBE applications because of the Super Bowl and the opportunities that have been presented around local contracting. We’re working very hard to get all of these people certified, and we will get them certified within the [timeframe].

Even though the NFL will come in for the Super Bowl and look for local content, they do have a long and impressive list of suppliers that travel with them from destination to destination. That’s always the goal: that you enter the most secure and sustainable contract relationship that you can. So again, having a national certification — which is what the WBE certification is — opens doors for you everywhere, not just in Louisiana or in our region.

What if a business wants to work with the government?

For government agencies, there is an SBA certification — the WomanOwned Small Business (WOSB) certification. WBEC South is one of four organizations nationally that is also able to provide the WOSB certification as part of our WBE application process. So outside of going straight to the SBA (which right now has significant wait times in terms of being able to process your certification), getting certified as a WBE with WBEC South and then getting your WOSB certification at no extra cost and very little extra effort is a two-for-one, a game changer for a lot of women business owners because they are finding two very powerful certifications in one place.

Beyond certification, how does WBEC South help women business owners?

No matter what business stage you’re in, we have programming, advanced management intensives, CEO cohorts… things that make you a better business owner and more competitive in your space. WBEC

South and WBENC are not incubator organizations, we are organizations that can help support the growth, development and scaling of your business but also connect you with the buyers, influencers and decision-makers you need to know. Access is everything, and WBEC South provides you with a level of access you simply won’t get at most other organizations.

We also look at supportive financial communities. Having an array of financial tools and options for entrepreneurs is important for access to capital. We have workshops and trainings, but we also have direct one-on-one technical assistance and coaching that is going to help you become more bankable, that’s going to lead you into your best financial match, because like anything else, that is a relationship. We know that if we have strong relationships with financial institutions, we can leverage those to help some of our WBEs get a better foothold when they are looking to access whatever capital option they need.

“Right now, we are getting a surge of WBE applications because of the Super Bowl and the opportunities that have been presented around local contracting.”

We are the connectors to everything that is going to help your business grow, whether access to capital, prospective customers or business coaching. We look at ourselves as partners to our women business owners. There are absolutely no ceilings economically to your WBE certification. We have startups with zero revenue in the door; we also have billion-dollar companies that are certified as WBEs. People don’t realize, but these companies are not small and there is no expectation that they be small or remain small … we want them to grow as big as they can possibly be. We know they will leverage as they grow. They will hire more women, will put more women in executive and management positions, and they will have a huge economic impact in the local communities where they operate. The ripple effect is real.

That’s the other point I want to bring up that often gets lost: We like focusing on big sexy targets like the Super Bowl and the Shells, Chevrons, Nissans and Toyotas of the world, and certainly they are within our corporate community, but there are over 1,000 certified WBEs in the WBEC South community and another 1,200 WBEs that are not certified but are just starting out, trying to figure out how they want to engage, so they are affiliated with our organization through one of our business development

programs. They have the opportunity to network with each other and over 20,000 WBEs that are certified across the country through all of the regional partner organizations of WBENC.

You have opportunity within this network; it is just a matter of coming in and finding your fit. And we’re going to help you do that. Then we’re going to make sure you’re ready to walk into any meeting anywhere and talk to one or more buyers or decision makers so that they can really look at you, know your value proposition, remember you when the opportunity comes, and then reach back to connect with you. Because business is really all about relationships, and we are all about fostering those relationships.

What led you to this role heading WBEC South?

I started in the nonprofit space immediately out of college [Mire is a Tulane graduate]. The environment was what kept me in the nonprofit space, understanding that you’re working for an organization with a social mission, to help make things better in whatever endeavor that might be. It also led me to working with entrepreneurs and small business owners — I have worked with small and emerging businesses, I have worked specifically in the minority business space, and to come full circle to work in the women-owned business space was a natural progression.

Obviously, I am a woman and a champion of women advancing not only in the workplace but also in spaces like business ownership where sometimes it’s unexpected. I think women have always been entrepreneurs, but most of our efforts have been recognized in the areas of lifestyle businesses — cosmetics, caterers, hairdressers, florists… where we tend to excel. But seeing women in unexpected places, traditionally male-dominated industries like construction, manufacturing and chemicals, it’s amazing to understand there are so many talented experts that just happen to be women operating in these spaces and running businesses. I love being able to help connect these women who are growing their businesses with global corporations who have desire and a mission to find and to contract with diverse suppliers. T

WORKING 9 TO 5

9 Successful moms share their tips and tricks for finding at least a little balance and sanity while juggling work and home.

BY KIM SINGLETARY PORTRAITS BY ADRIENNE BATTISTELLA

AND 5 TO 9

These women look amazing, and they are amazing. Each has worked their way to the top of their field and done so while balancing the demands of parenthood.

These women have all the advantages — involved partners, financial security, most have family in the area, and yet they still struggle to get it all done.

How can that be? The short answer is that our society is not set up to benefit families. According to a study published in the journal Social Forces in 2021, the U.S. ranked last among 20 developed nations when it came to overall policies aimed at helping parents support children. Every parent is familiar with the lack of affordable childcare. Add to that school and summer camp schedules that haven’t changed to fit the reality that most mothers are now employed and it’s a recipe for struggles.

But more than the physical tasks of pickups and household chores, there’s the fact that women are far more likely to take on the mental load — or cognitive labor, as it’s sometimes called. Mothers too often serve as the sole command center of the family — the one charged with remembering and organizing every component of family life, from who has to wear a special shirt to school on Tuesday, to making all appointments, organizing playdates and childcare, and anything and everything else required to run a household. Our minds are always working overtime, and that takes its toll.

It’s ridiculous that in 2024 women are still the only ones ever asked how they balance work and family. However, since much of the work still tends to fall on us, why not try to help each other out? If you’re a woman struggling to do it all, hopefully you’ll find a tip or two here to help balance the load.

ANGIE SCOTT

COO/ Co-Owner Search Influence

Along with her husband, Angie Scott founded Search Influence, an SEO and digital marketing agency, 18 years ago. As the chief operating officer, Scott focuses on keeping the company’s operations lean and efficient, while handling all human resources and accounting activities for the company’s 28 employees, all of whom work remotely. She and her husband share a home office. They also share two sons, a 17-year-old and a 21-year-old who’s away at college.

Staying Organized Scott has found success doing things by the book. “At least 10 years ago, I discovered this incredible book called Getting Things Done by David Allen,” she said. “I’ve actually made my kids listen to it too. There are a lot of good ideas in it, including making sure to get everything out of your brain and onto some sort of list or app. It also teaches tips for taking time to look ahead and avoid getting overbooked or forgetting to follow up with something…I live by my Google calendar — everything for business and personal is on there.” At work, she ensures daily team check-ins include a specific activity. “At Search Influence, we are big on saying our top priority for the day out loud,” she said. “It’s a way to hold yourself accountable.”

Time Savers Scott takes advantage of delivery services like Instacart when possible and splits household tasks with her husband — something made easier by the fact they both work from

home. For her, it’s the digital clutter that can easily suck up time.

“I’m big on unsubscribing from emails,” she said. “You have to make this a routine to do this, ideally each time you get an unwanted email or at least monthly.”

I Let Go Of.. “The idea that being a mother and wife means I have to do everything, including cleaning the house. In my head, cleaning the home meant I was taking care of my family…I know that sounds so silly, but I think many moms can understand that we hold ourselves to these notions that we have to do it all in order to be a ‘good’, ‘tough’, ‘hard working’ mom.

It worked — not only did we have more time as a family on the weekends, but also I wasn’t as distracted and concerned about keeping every little thing clean so that I wouldn’t have to work harder that weekend cleaning it all.”

ARIEL WILSONHARRIS

Principal and Owner Wilson Ave. Co.

In 2017, Ariel Wilson-Harris founded the event, marketing and communications agency Wilson Ave. as a side gig. By 2021, it had become her full-time job. Two of her biggest clients include New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, with which her firm works on public relations and events, and the New Orleans Museum of Art, which she assists with communications. Her team of five also works with national clients, including Max/HBO, the American

Booksellers Association and James Beard Award-nominated food writer and the face of Juneteenth Nicole A. Taylor.

Wilson-Harris is married with three children, a 3-year-old and 11-year-old son, and a 5-year-old daughter.

Staying Organized Wilson-Harris is proud to say she’s old-school when it comes to organization.

“I still write everything down,” she said. “I love shopping for planners and organizers. When I check off action items, I feel so accomplished. It’s therapeutic for me to write things down.”

She has used a variety of blank project planners with calendars and keeps work and home together. While at work, she uses Monday.com for organizing accounts and timelines.

Time Savers At work, WilsonHarris likes to think outside the traditional meeting.

“Everything doesn’t warrant a meeting,” she said. “I’ve sat in hour-long meetings and thought to myself, ‘That could’ve been a five-minute phone call.’ If someone asks for a meeting and I know it can be a quick thing, I like to suggest another alternative, like a Zoom or a coffee. I have saved so much time this way and you’d be surprised how many people thank you for it.”

At home, she said she and her husband’s busy schedules mean she commonly relies on delivery from Doordash for meals, with a favorite restaurant being True Food Kitchen in the Warehouse District.

She said she and her husband split household tasks and that she has incentivized her kids to keep their things tidy.

“They know that they need to make sure everything is picked up before they go to bed or else things may end up in the trash,” she said. “It sounds harsh, maybe, but it works!”

Sanity Saver “After putting the kids to bed, sometimes my husband and I sit on the front porch and smoke cigars with a nice red wine,” she said. “It’s a time for us to connect and talk about our day.”

Wilson-Harris also makes friend time a priority and said she is “unapologetic about traveling without kids.”

“Traveling is a healing process for me,” she said, “and my kids at this age need constant attention. I am grateful for my loving family that

supports me when I need time away.”

I Let Go Of….. “Drama. I am very particular about the energy around me,” she said, “so If I have to remove myself, I am unapologetic. If it doesn’t serve me or my family, there is no reason to have it take up my life.”

ATHENA STANFORD

Chief HR and Diversity Officer

Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM)

As the first person to hold this new role at LCM, Athena Stanford has spent the past year and a half creating a department from scratch. Stanford oversees all strategic planning and processes and procedures for the entire employee life cycle, including orientation, benefits, culture, work environment and engagement. When the museum is closed to the public on Mondays, she typically works from home. She is married with a 4-year-old son.

Staying Organized Stanford is all about digital tools. She has separate digital calendars for work and home and uses Evernote for personal to-do lists.

“I set a lot of reminders and make a lot of lists,” she said. “At home, creating a place for everything has really helped, as well as decluttering regularly.”

Stanford and her husband of almost 18 years divide household labor — she takes laundry and handles most of the mental load, like kid appointments, and he does the cooking and grocery shopping, but she said

they allow for flexibility.

“If someone is tapped out or has other things going on, we talk that through,” she said. “That communication piece is really important.”

Time Saver “I’m big on choosing our child’s and my clothes ahead of time,” she said. “We have a specific morning and bedtime routine.”

Sanity Saver To decompress, Stanford has a monthly membership that she uses to schedule a massage and facial once a month.

She and her husband also have a unique exercise plan.

“We box together, usually at least once a week,” she said. “We’ll do some sparring, but he’s not allowed to hit me, just defense. We joke that it also doubles as couples therapy.”

I Let Go Of…”I definitely used to be a perfectionist, but becoming a mom changed that quickly,” she laughed. “Nothing is going to be perfect, and that’s fine. I’ve learned to lean on friends and my partner for support when I need it.”

CAMMY LIVINGSTON

Owner Camellia Productions NOLA

Cammy Livingston has racked up more than 20 years of experience in the arenas of sales and marketing and events since graduating with a marketing degree from University of New Orleans. In addition to handling the sales and marketing at English Turn for seven years, she was also one of the first women to serve on the board of the Fore!

Kids Foundation for 15 years. Ten years ago, Livingston struck out on her own and created her own LLC, through which she works with organizations including the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana and Tulane Burkenroad on everything from the production details of events to digital marketing consulting.

Livingston is married with four children — ages 10, 7, 4 and 3.

Staying Organized Livingston said her family lives by a shared Google Calendar, and she uses a separate Google Calendar for work.

“I’ve found Calendly to be an indispensable tool for managing my business and personal schedules,” she said. “This app enables me to streamline my appointment booking process, allowing clients to select a time that works best for them while automatically syncing with my calendar. Not only does this save me time, but it also presents a professional image to my clients.”

Time Savers When it comes to household tasks, Livingston relies on several convenient services, including Target pickup and Walmart delivery, but also a creative national service.

“The Hampr laundry service app has been a game-changer, allowing us to outsource laundry when needed for $10 a bag,” she said. “It’s a luxury, but when I need them, I use them, and maybe we just don’t go out to dinner that week.”

She also works to make her children as independent as possible.

“We have snapped pictures of our kids fully dressed and ready to go, making sure to include any essential items they need to bring with them,” she said. “Our older children can then refer to these photos throughout the morning, ensuring they have everything they need before heading out the door.”

She said she also uses a reward system.

“I’ll give out little pop-up surprises or treats to a child who has gone above and beyond in helping out,” she said. “It incentivizes the other kids.”

Decompress Livingston loves a good massage, but they can be expensive and time-consuming.

“I’ve been so excited to discover

these smaller little places around town where you can pop in for a 20-minute chair massage,” she said. “Even that can work wonders for my well-being.”

I Let Go Of… “Being the Pinterest mom, especially when it comes to parties. As an event planner, I always want to impress, but I’ve had to let go of that on the personal side.”

ERICA SALM RENCH

COO Rasa.io

Erica Rench runs Rasa.io — an AI company that personalizes email content mostly for publishers and professional trade organizations. The company has clients nationwide, with a large concentration in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. She employs around 20 people who have all worked remotely since the pandemic. She is also on the board for Melange Dance Company.

Rench is married with three children, ages 9, 6 and 3.

Staying Organized “I really like to lean into the idea of work/ life integration over balance,” said Rench. “Balance to me implies one or the other. It’s not always a balance.”

Rench uses a tool called Followupthen.com.

“You send an email to the website, and it emails you when you want to be reminded of something,” she said. “My inbox and calendar are the tools that rule them all.”

Rench also loves a performance management app called Align. “I use it for personal priorities,

for setting goals for myself and family,” she said. “It allows you to look ahead see where you want to be, then it breaks it down by quarter and year. It’s also good for business strategic planning.”

Time Saver Rench said chores are big in her house.

“The older two are expected to put their laundry away, make their beds and clean their rooms,” she said. “Everyone has to contribute or else the system breaks down. They also have complete ownership over homework and school projects.”

Decompress Rench works to fit in exercise whenever she can.

“I do yoga or stretching for 5 to 10 minutes a day and then I run three to five times a week — two of those days are on the weekend and then I fit another day in, sometimes in a break between meetings.

I Let Go Of… “The idea of perfection,” she said. “And I’ve said no to lunches. My kids pack their own lunches.”

DR. ALISHA LACOUR SEREMET

Regional Medical Director Ochsner Health

As regional medical director, Dr. Alisha Lacour Seremet oversees Ochsner Health’s footprint in Covington, Mandeville, Hammond, Lacombe and Folsom. She is in charge of operations, quality and safety for the region. All Ochsner physicians in the region report to her. Seremet also sits on the board of trustees for Ochsner Health

and on the board of Children’s Museum of St. Tammany.

Two years ago, Seremet and her family — her husband, 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son — moved from Uptown New Orleans to Covington, where both her parents and sister live. She also has an uncle in Mandeville and a brother in Houma.

Staying Organized Seremet uses a hybrid system of digital and paper.

“I live by my to-do list and schedule,” she said. “I keep a to-do list on my computer. It’s actually a Word document separated into two columns, one for work and one for family/personal. I’ve never found an app or system that works better for me.”

At least weekly, Seremet takes her list and schedules the tasks on an electronic calendar. She and her husband share a calendar and she also created a separate calendar just for area family that has all of her children’s activities.

“That way everyone has all the information,” she said, “and if they want to show up, they can.”

Time Saver The Seremets have a nanny who handles drop-offs, pick-ups and homework, and a housekeeper that comes once a week, but she said keeping things tidy is a job the whole family shares every day.

“We hold the kids accountable. Our bedtime routine includes: Everybody cleans their rooms, lays out their clothes for the next day and makes sure backpacks are packed. It’s about a half-hour routine.”

A passion for “picking up” also extends to groceries and shopping.

“I can’t remember the last time I went to a grocery store,” she said. “We Instacart all groceries and do Target pickup and Amazon for anything else.”

Sanity Saver For Seremet, exercise is not optional.

“I had a frank and honest conversation with my boss when I took the job where I explained that working out is an important part of me being able to do a good job at work,” she said. “I’ll look at my calendar three to four weeks out and start filling in Pilates classes where I can. It’s an hour total — and I just use dry shampoo because I don’t have time to shower. I have to make it work.”

I Let Go Of… “‘Shoulding’ myself,” she said. “Thinking I should be doing this or that. I was driving myself insane.”

LAUREN MASTIO

Partner Jones Walker

A partner in the New Orleans office of Jones Walker LLP and member of the firm’s board of directors, trial attorney Lauren Mastio’s expansive practice includes environmental and other regulatory disputes, as well as commercial litigation. Her areas of practice include traditional energy, renewables and construction. She’s also on the GNO, Inc., Next Gen Council, is participating in the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI) and is the immediate past president of the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

On the home front, Mastio is married with three children — two girls ages 12 and 7, and a 18-month-old boy.

Staying Organized A self-described “paper person,” Mastio prefers to write out lists and print out documents and emails that are then organized by stacks.

“When an issue requires additional consideration and can’t be addressed right away, I add it to my list, print the relevant email or documents, and either stick it in the ‘to-do’ stack or in a particular case stack. That way I have everything I am working on at my fingertips, but it is contained.”

She keeps everything for work and home in a planner that goes with her everywhere.

“Every morning, I check my Outlook calendar to make sure that no one snuck in a meeting or call that didn’t

find its way onto my paper calendar.”

Time Saver Mastio said the key for her is to squeeze the most out of every moment.

“Whenever I can use a few spare minutes to respond to emails and make sure everything continues moving forward, I do so,” she said. “For instance, if I’m at one of my kids’ games, I’m on my phone while they are warming up, but I do my best to shut it down when they start playing.”

She also uses her daily commutes to and from work to phone friends and catch up.

Sanity Saver To decompress, Mastio hits the pavement.

“I love walking in the evenings with my husband,” she said. “It’s such a great way to connect at the end of the day. We don’t decide dinner until the night of, so we end up walking a lot to the grocery store nearby. It’s a time where we get to relax and get some sunshine.”

I Let Go Of… “I have come to peace with the fact that I’m not going to make every single game,” she said. “Like at work, you have to pick your battles. Mattie, my eldest, is proud of her mom and fully understands if I can’t make it to a softball game. She knows I’m doing something important. Once you get on that level, you find this peace.”

MINDY NUNEZ AIRHART

President/CEO SSE Steel Fabrication

In 2018, Mindy Nunez Airhart purchased SSE Steel Fabrication,

a company her parents created in 1996 in lower St. Bernard Parish. She has since served as CEO, which, in her words, involves taking care of “anything not production related” for the company, for the 92-employee company. She is also a member of the GNO, Inc., NextGen Council; is on the board of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and the Louisiana Workforce Commission First Planning District Board, and is a past chair of the New Orleans and St. Bernard chambers of commerce.

Airhart is married with two children — a 13-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son.

Staying Organized “I live by my Outlook calendar,” she said. “Everything goes on it, including kids’ appointments and social activities.”

With a new driver in the house, she uses the app Life360 to keep track of her children’s coming and goings.

She also loves the app Todoist.

“I use it as a task manager so I can get the task out of my head and worry about the next thing,” she said. “It also allows you to have multiple lists, set reminders, code things by category and put in due dates.”

Time Savers Airhart’s children are both involved in afterschool activities that keep the family schedule packed.

“My daughter has cheer practice twice a week until late,” she said. “And my son plays football plus has performance football training three times a week. So, we eat a lot of fast-food and takeout. We try to eat as a family on the weekends.”

At home, she relies on outside help.

“My housekeeper saves my sanity,” she said. “She comes once a week and that means I don’t have to clean on weekends. She is worth every penny!”

Decompress With her children having reached the teen years, Airhart said she’s been enjoying the return of a bit more free time.

“I really have not had any time for books since my children were born,” she said. “I just recently bought a Kindle and have been really enjoying reading again. I was reading the Elon Musk biography, which was fun because Tesla is one of our biggest customers.”

In addition to making sure a monthly “mom friends” meeting happens, Airhart has also created a fun friend tradition.

“A friend and I get together a couple of times a year for lunch and we invite people we think are interesting but that we don’t know very well to join us,” she said. “We call it ‘holding court.’ That’s been really fun.”

I Let Go Of… “I’m naturally an overachiever and want to take a leadership role in everything and go all out, but I’ve had to rein that in,” she said. “I try not to have unrealistic expectations for what I do — so I stay off of Pinterest.”

TRACY ROTHARMEL SHANKS

Founding Partner Rotharmel Shanks LLC

Tracy Shanks runs a law firm that specializes in servicing families facing any type of legal issue, from estate planning and succession to premarital legal counseling, predivorce counseling and divorce. Shanks said the firm’s three attorneys try to promote an amicable approach whenever possible.

She is married with three children, ages 6, 4 and 3.

Staying Organized Shanks is all about working ahead.

“Planning and preparation are key for me,” she said. “My husband and I meet on Sundays to review the upcoming week and plan meals. Ideally, we make a date of it and get a meal or a drink somewhere while planning for the

week ahead. Each weeknight, I make sure to pack lunches and snacks, put out the kids’ clothes for the next day, and pack a gym bag to leave by the front door.”

She said she also swears by the practice of time blocking.

“It’s so easy to get pulled under with day-to-day tasks,” she said. “Time blocking can help ensure that you are doing something every day to push your big goals forward.”

Time Savers Shanks has one word of advice for busy moms.

“Delegate!” she said. “I know, moms have such a hard time delegating! But once you put your mom guilt aside and take the time to show someone else how you like things done, delegating can free up so much extra time. As each kid came, my husband and I have shifted toward a very equal division of labor.”

She said in her experience with families the issue of mental load inequality is a reality for most, including her own.

“I find [the mental load] tends to just be put on us as women,” she said. “In my family, I am the detail-oriented one, so I’ve definitely taken that on.”

Sanity Saver “I take a walk outside,” she said. “I do my best thinking while walking through the park.”

She said she also loves the sauna at the Jewish Community Center and has a weekly set reprieve.

“I take one weeknight per week all to myself,” she said, “Thursday nights. “My husband has his own night too. The deal is, you leave the house and don’t come home until the kids are asleep — no making dinner, no homework, no dishes. It’s amazing how much you can recharge without any responsibility for an evening.”

I Let Go Of… “The biggest thing I have let go of is the desire to do everything myself,” she said. “To be a successful working mom — successful in my career and successful as a mom — I have had to know when to step up and when to step back. In turn, when I am with my kids, I can show up 100%.” T

Every year, Biz New Orleans dedicates its May issue to the women who are propelling businesses, industries, communities—and the workforce as a whole—to new heights. The number of womenowned businesses is on the rise, and female professionals are leading initiatives and innovations that bring continued prosperity to our region. As the achievements of these women grow in impact and magnitude, so does our focus on celebrating their wisdom, tenacity and dedication. Our 2024 class is comprised of path-makers who are raising the bar for women professionals everywhere. Join us in celebrating this year’s Women to Watch!

Danielle S. Willis, CPA, MPA

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Administrative Officer

New Orleans East Hospital

After ten years of living away from her hometown of New Orleans, Danielle Willis returned home in 2015 hoping to give back to the city she loved so much. When a college professor inspired her to shift her dream job from hotel management to becoming a CPA, she knew where she could be of service. Having risen in the ranks to become New Orleans East Hospital’s Chief Financial Officer / Chief Administrative Officer in 2019, Willis has worked tirelessly to continue the hospital’s profitability, growth, and efforts to better serve its community.

“Working at New Orleans East Hospital (NOEH), where we are the sole acute care provider in the entire New Orleans East area, lets me know I have a true purpose and impact on improving my community. The work is sometimes taxing, but serving patients from my community is always rewarding,” says Willis. Initially serving as a volunteer in the New Orleans East area, Willis soon joined a group of like-minded individuals who felt a passion for service and a dedication to their New Orleans neighbors.

“Every day is an opportunity to work alongside highly intelligent, mission-driven individuals, and work on projects that challenge me and assist with my growth both personally and professionally,” says Willis. “In this role, I can see the direct impact of my work through the outcomes of our patients.”

Danielle Willis is confident that the hospital will continue to contribute to the economic growth of New Orleans East. She hopes that New Orleans East Hospital will continue expanding its services with its LCMC Health partnership. Willis is excited about the next step in her career following a recent promotion to CFO at Lakeview Hospital, an LCMC Health hospital, in Covington, LA.

New Orleans East Hospital

5620 Read Blvd. / New Orleans 504-592-6600

Kaitlin Tymrak

Deputy General Superintendent Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans

An instrumental member of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans team, Kaitlin Tymrak provides the experience and tenacity needed to tackle large scale projects including the Power Complex Project and innovative programs such as the new Program Management and Business Services Department.

Beginning her tenure in the summer of 2020, Kaitlin was a former engineering consultant. Looking to apply her project management skills, she decided to join SWBNO’s team and become a part of one of the most vital and diligent agencies in the city.

“Our daily life in New Orleans is possible because of the work our women and men do every day and I’m honored to be a part of this team,” says Tymrak.

Kaitlin has also helped develop the new Program Management and Business Services Department, offering a framework for businessrelated support in human resources, budgeting, procurement, and invoicing for the operations and maintenance departments. This department also supports imperative strategic city initiatives such as Smart Metering and Lead Service Line replacements.

“It is a privilege to support our operations teams, who work every day around the clock to provide essential services for the city,” says Tymrak. “Knowing that my work can have a direct positive impact on both our staff and customers is highly rewarding and motivating.”

She’s an integral member of the upcoming Power Complex Project team, which is currently under construction and slated for a 2025 debut. Kaitlin is excited for the future that the entire SWBNO team can provide to the generations who will live in and love New Orleans to come.

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans

504-52-WATER

www.swbno.org

www.swbno.org/Projects/PowerComplex

Ceara Labat

Customer Engagement Specialist Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans

A second-generation member of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans team, Ceara Labat follows in the footsteps of her father, who worked as an integral employee in daily operations. Knowing the commitment and importance of the SWBNO, deciding to join the board was an easy decision, as she hoped to also make an impact on her city.

Holding multiple degrees in Business Administration, Marketing, as well as Tourism Management, Labat spent nine years working as an event coordinator at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where the vitality of the water system is crucial to residents as well as our thriving tourism industry.

“My role at SWBNO combines my love for New Orleans with my passion for people and the dream to positively impact the city,” says Labat. “Being part of a team that is essential to the city and our daily life is my way of positively impacting the community. I am grateful and honored to be part of this team.”

Now on the front lines of customer service excellence and stakeholder engagement as a Customer Engagement Specialist, Labat is the eyes and ears of the community, taking in residential concerns and speaking directly to the people the SWBNO aims to help firsthand.

“I take pride in being a person residents can come to with concerns. Nothing feels better than a resident contacting me after an issue has been resolved to say thank you,” says Labat. A strong advocate for clear communication between community and government, Labat believes that listening and providing solutions directly to residents about the improvements SWBNO is adding to the city is key to a bright and hopeful future.

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans

504-52-WATER

www.swbno.org

www.swbno.org/Projects/SmartMetering outreach@swbno.org

S. Eliza James

Partner and Co-owner

Forrest Cressy & James, LLC

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Eliza James learned firsthand what it meant to care for your neighbors. Her early dreams of becoming a lawyer were ultimately realized, and now, as partner and co-owner of Forrest Cressy & James, LLC – a boutique litigation firm located in New Orleans’ historic Garden District – Eliza utilizes her innate devotion to her clients to guide them through the legal process while also fostering the next generation of young professionals and female lawyers.

Eliza faces each new case with a collaborative spirit, taking in her client’s experience and input from moment one.

“I pride myself not only in my ability to handle complex litigation for our clients, but also in providing them with true guidance and knowledge of what to expect at every step of their case,” says James.

Named to the New Orleans City Business Leadership in Law class in 2022, 2023 National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars of 2023, Eliza prides herself on making an impact beyond the courtroom.

Eliza is ever active in her community, whether acting as a member of the Board of Trustees of her sons’ school, contributing to statewide legal publications, or participating in law school panels for first generation law students. In her personal time, Eliza loves to spend time with her husband, Mark, and sons, Julien and Maddox.

Forrest Cressy & James, LLC

1222 Annunciation Street / New Orleans 504-605-0777

Eliza@fcjlaw.com

Avril Habetz

Managing Partner/CEO

Northwestern Mutual of Louisiana & Mississippi

Avril Habetz, the newly appointed Managing Partner/CEO for Northwestern Mutual of Louisiana & Mississippi, brings over fifteen years of financial industry expertise and a slew of prestigious qualifications, including an MBA, CLF®, CLU®, LUTCF®, and ChFC®. A Lafayette, Louisiana native, Avril, a mother of four, resides in Kenner with her husband, Dr. Vandon Habetz. Her journey with Northwestern Mutual began straight out of college, drawn by the company’s commitment to ongoing education and career development. Starting as an assistant to the Managing Partner, she has now ascended to lead a seasoned team of financial professionals across Louisiana and Mississippi. Avril’s passion for mentorship and empowerment stems from her own experiences, motivating her to guide others towards positive life changes.

Avril’s accolades include being part of the Women’s Leadership Academy’s inaugural cohort at Loyola University of New Orleans, a University of New Orleans Young Distinguished Alumni, participation in the Northwestern Mutual Women’s Leadership Program – Cohort 2, and being honored as a Women of the Year by New Orleans City Business.

Transitioning from Managing Director to Managing Partner/CEO, Avril proudly becomes the first female CEO overseeing the largest territory within the Northwestern Mutual system. Her mission is to cultivate financial professionals who impact clients and communities positively through financial planning and risk management. Committed to this mission, Avril aims to empower others to reach their full potential and pursue excellence in every aspect of their lives.

Avril Habetz MBA, CLF®, CLU®, LUTCF®, ChFC® avril.habetz@nm.com

Julie Babin & Tracie Ashe Partners practis

Led by Tracie Ashe and Julie Babin, the architecture firm practis enhances the built environment through innovative and authentic design. As a women-owned business, the partners are committed to supporting women in architecture by leading a predominantly female team that manages projects in the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors.

The transformation from studioWTA to practis in 2023 marked a period of renewal following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the passing of the firm’s founder, Wayne Troyer. The new name was chosen to encapsulate the firm’s ethos of continuous learning and practice in architecture and design.

Located in their newly-purchased building on Magazine Street, practis collaborates closely with local contractors and artisans, contributing to developments that drive economic growth. Licensed across Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and New Jersey, Tracie and Julie aim to make an impact both locally and nationally.

Julie, past president of the New Orleans Component of the American Institute of Architects, is also an alum of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and the Loyola Women’s Leadership Academy. Tracie serves on the Historic District Landmarks Commission’s Architectural Review Committee and is currently participating in the Loyola Women’s Leadership Academy. Both partners are graduates of the Tulane School of Architecture.

practis’ philosophy is to embrace a collaborative approach, treating each project as a unique exploration of creativity and context. All projects at practis are driven by the firm’s core mission — aligning place with purpose. practis

3450 Magazine Street / New Orleans connect@practis.design.com

Rochelle Wilcox and Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D.

Co-chairs

Geaux Far Louisiana

Started in 2021, Geaux Far Louisiana is a movement that specializes in the needs of Louisiana’s children from prenatal to 5 years. Under the leadership of co-chairs Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D., and Rochelle Wilcox, this coalition believes in equitable, unified early childhood systems to ensure families have access to seamless, high-quality early childhood development, health, and educational services.

As Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children since 2019, Dr. Sonnier has led teams in system-wide initiatives for the betterment of children, families, caregivers, and practitioners for over two decades. Rochelle Wilcox, CEO of Wilcox Academy of Early Learning and Co-founder of For Providers By Providers, an early childhood education professional for almost 20 years, Mrs. Wilcox, boasts an impressive educational background, possessing an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies focusing on Education in Urban Society.

Geaux Far Louisiana is their brainchild, conceived as a comprehensive effort to engage parents and early childhood health and education providers in leading the transformation of the state’s early childhood systems to better meet the needs of families. With policy accomplishments such as the inclusion of state budget funds for early care and education, doula maternity support, and extended pregnancy coverage for low-income mothers, the Geaux Far Louisiana impact has been felt throughout the state. It intends to only further their gains in the years to come.

By engaging high-quality early childhood providers, parents, business leaders, policymakers, and community members, Geaux Far Louisiana, through the work of Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D., and Rochelle Wilcox and the entire steering committee, aims to shape policies, advocate for change, and improve outcomes for young learners statewide.

Geaux Far Louisiana

P.O. Box 13552 / New Orleans

504-442-0298

info@geauxfarla.org

geauxfarla.org

Julie Couret Business Coach

Meet spitfire Business Coach Julie Couret.

This New Orleans native is known for her straight shooting and highly intuitive approach to eliminating the workplace drama and chaos that keeps executives up at night.

When owners feel trapped and without time to devote to growth, key relationships, and vision, they call Julie. She works with business leaders who are tired of playing Whack-A-Mole and who want their teams to show up aligned and inspired. Julie eliminates their chaos with a plan that accelerates growth to previously unattainable results. Leadership teams trust Julie because of her track record of successfully implementing proven processes to solve issues based in reality, not theory.

Her candid and direct approach isn’t for everyone, but the results are the kind everyone wants. Julie is a sought-after National Speaker, TV, Radio, and podcast Guest, Exit Momentum Business Coach and Vistage CEO Peer Group Facilitator with 13+ years as an Executive Coach. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Management, is the 2019 Jefferson Chamber Entrepreneur of the Year, and has been a three-time Loyola University Women’s Leadership Academy Mentor.

When Julie isn’t implementing organizational operating systems, you can catch her in full Mom mode: volunteering, carpooling, or chaperoning. This spring, you will find her in the stands cheering on her 13-year-old daughter Emma Mae’s softball game or in the front row applauding her 11-year-old daughter Helen’s performance in the school play.

Julie Couret

Julie@juliecouret.com

504-723-8997

juliecouret.com

Dr. Jennifer Couvillon, RN-BC, PhD, CNE

President New Orleans Campus

An experienced nurse educator and innovative leader specializing in academic-hospitalcommunity partnerships, professional development, and accreditation, Dr. Jennifer Couvillon is on a mission to make the world a more caring place.

Before joining Chamberlain University in 2017, Dr. Couvillon was a nurse leader in the Ochsner Health System, faculty at Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Nursing and Georgetown University MedStar Health System. Organizing study abroad programs to promote nursing education globally earned her recognition in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society and started her passion to volunteer as the Academic-Volunteer coordinator for the American Red Cross.

“If your heart is open to a career in caring, it is a blessing to be educated as a nurse, and my hope is to create opportunities for people to safely care for each other,” says Dr. Couvillon.

Currently, the president of Chamberlain University’s New Orleans campuses, which are part of the Ochsner Health and LCMC Health System, Dr. Couvillon is focused on addressing the local shortage of nurses by integrating the nursing school educational experience with hospital nursing professional development programs. This novel approach maximizes hospital workforce funding and solidifies a pipeline of nurses.

Chamberlain University College of Nursing is the largest and most diverse pre-licensure BSN nursing program in the United States. As campus president, Dr. Couvillon feels fortunate Chamberlain University educates students in New Orleans and celebrates the mission to improve access for students while recognizing the social determinants of learning.

Chamberlain University

Chamberlain.edu

jcouvillon@chamberlain.edu

Heather Matthews

Executive Director

The Arc of Greater New Orleans

The newly appointed head of The Arc of Greater New Orleans, Heather Matthews, is where she was always meant to be. A 70-year-old institution created to serve and provide cradle-to-grave services for people with intellectual and Developmental disabilities and their families, The Arc of Greater New Orleans is more vital than ever, and Heather knows well the importance of programs and support for such families.

“I grew up with siblings with developmental disabilities, and even as a child, I fought for all people to be included at school, work, and social settings,” says Matthews, “People with developmental disabilities are no different than the rest of us and should have the same opportunities to thrive and succeed.”

The Arc of Greater New Orleans is a lifeline for thousands. It provides extensive support for local families in their homes, at work, and in four community centers across the region. To expand its reach and maximize its philanthropic capabilities, it requires a dedicated and passionate team of professionals. Profoundly committed to the community, Heather also operates the Mardi Gras Recycling Program, which keeps parade throws out of the trash and our drains. The Mardi Gras Recycling Center hires people with disabilities and develops employees for other work at other jobs. Job training offers more opportunities for advancement by increasing the workforce, and the positive outcomes have a ripple effect on the community.

“I have 20 years of leadership experience and demonstrated success realizing efficiencies,” says Matthews. “Working in disabilities services since 2001, my vision is to expand The ArcGNO even further, to serve more people and provide an even richer array of services.”

The Arc of Greater New Orleans 925 Labarre Road / Metairie 504-324-1652 arcgno.org

SPONSORED

Jessica LeBlanc

CPA / Real Estate Broker

CPA Realty, LLC

Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA, LLC

Numbers have always made sense to Jessica LeBlanc, who found a passion for accounting in high school. As a multi-hyphenate professional, CPA, consultant, and real estate broker, Jessica combines her love of numbers with a commitment to helping others better understand their finances and real estate assets. Known for her analytical prowess and exceptional listening skills, Jessica has the years of excellence and experience to know what makes a balanced transaction in business and real estate.

“I love being very analytical, but anyone who knows me knows that I love to laugh and socialize,” says LeBlanc. “Connecting with others is really what drives me. Throughout my professional and personal life, I have found that helping others understand and achieve their financial or real estate milestones is an enjoyable process.”

Jessica acquired an MBA from UNO in 2004 and has over 20 years of experience in accounting and financial consulting. Her specialties as a consultant include business consultation, forensic accounting, litigation support services, and outsourced accounting services.

While working towards her accounting degree, Jessica worked for a law firm with its own real estate title company. Digging deep into these transactions unlocked a love of real estate that would dovetail with her financial interests.

In addition to her certifications as a CPA and CFF, Jessica is also a licensed real estate broker in Louisiana, Colorado, and Pennsylvania and oversees CPA Realty, LLC, a residential and commercial real estate brokerage firm that also offers property management services. She received the National Association of Realtors’ certifications of Real Estate Negotiation Expert and e-Pro and has also received the Commitment to Excellence Endorsement.

CPA Realty, LLC

504-812-8807

cparealtyllc.com

Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA, LLC

504-812-7105

jessicaleblanc.cpa

Kimee Nass

Co-founder Avexon

Founded in 2018 by Kimee and Ted Nass, Avexon is a dynamic, women owned IT solutions provider based and born in New Orleans that has exploded into the industry with a passion derived from its founder.

“I didn’t want to take the safe path. So, when we saw an opportunity to start our own company, we leaped at the chance,” says Nass. “It has been a joy and a wonderful challenge exceeding our wildest expectations.”

With a team-based approach that has led to consistent growth from the organization’s inception, Kimee Nass credits their success to direct involvement in solutioning, marketing, and operational efforts.

“I have always wanted to make an impact by creating a prosperous, effective, and welcoming work environment where employees want to be every day,” says Nass. “People commit a lot of time to an organization and deserve to be treated with fairness, trust, and professionalism.”

Avexon prides itself on delivering tailored IT solutions, a bespoke mentality that connects real time solutions to each client’s unique needs and desires. By emphasizing a solution-driven approach over standard sales cycles for its customers and establishing itself as a leader in the cybersecurity field Nass has created a pipeline for success, increasing productivity not just through automation, but through empowering a knowledgeable and proactive workforce.

“I know technology impacts everything. It determines how we carry out simple daily tasks but should be safe and accessible for all generations and user levels,” says Nass.

Offering cutting edge innovation toward a stressless digital transformation for your business, Kimee Nass is prepared and ready to be a leader in this brave new world.

Avexon

Avexon.com / avexonsecurity.com 504-218-8664

Hiba Tay

Founder and owner

The Bookkeeper

Founder and owner Hiba Saab Tay of The Bookkeeper, a professional bookkeeping, CFO, and consulting firm based in New Orleans, is a model of entrepreneurial ingenuity and spirit. Since its establishment in 2013, Hiba has transformed her one-woman endeavor into a flourishing enterprise, propelled by glowing recommendations and exceptional outcomes. Now, with her husband Faysal Tay on board, The Bookkeeper is poised to extend their influence even further and make a distinctive mark in the accounting industry.

By prioritizing personalized service and forging collaborative partnerships with clients, Hiba has elevated her company beyond the realm of mere consulting and accounting; it has become an indispensable asset within its clients’ operations.

“What sets us apart is our commitment to going the extra mile,” Tay explains. “Through a thorough comprehension of our clients’ operations, we become deeply involved in the expansion of their business, producing real-time data and key performance indicators (KPIs), all the while providing continuous guidance for their sustained financial prosperity.”

A cornerstone of The Bookkeeper’s success lies in its adeptness at tailoring solutions to address the unique requirements of each client. This approach, complemented by Hiba’s multifaceted background in programming, IT, accounting, and consulting, empowers the company to harness modern technology (AI) effectively, streamlining processes and delivering superior outcomes.

“We aim to integrate seamlessly with your business. We collaborate closely with clients and effectively function as their financial department,” explains Tay. “Businesses choose us because we serve as a substitute for a complete accounting team.”

Ultimately, Hiba Saab Tay has crafted more than just a business; she has forged a partnership grounded in trust, personalized care, and a genuine interest in her clients’ success.

The Bookkeeper

3901 Houma Blvd. / Suite 302 / Metairie 504-521-1001

thebookkeeper.com

Tamara Kennedy

Chief of Staff Port of South Louisiana

A nearly ten year veteran of America’s leading grain exporting port district, Tamara Kennedy has recently become Chief of Staff for the Port of South Louisiana; becoming a centralized figure and strategic lead on one of the largest tonnage port districts in the western hemisphere.

A native New Orleanian, born and raised, Tamara attended Grambling State University where she received her degree in economics, a choice which would greatly impact her career trajectory. Returning home, Tamara moved into Human Resources, where she later became the Director of Human Resources at the Port of South Louisiana. Through her dedication and work ethic, Tamara has now risen to the role of Chief of Staff, overseeing the organizational development and overall productivity of the Port.

The Port of South Louisiana is a crucial economic factor in the overall health of the region. In recent years, revenues have begun to rise through sustained efforts that Tamara attributes to CEO Paul Matthews, but also an entire team of professionals who are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve sustained success.

“Our recent strides come from looking at things in a fresh way, streamlining and innovating,” says Kennedy. “Everyone here is willing to drop what they are doing to get any job done, regardless of their job description.”  This culture of open communication, team building, and constant evolution has made the Port of South Louisiana into a family environment that Tamara is proud to call home. It is this mentality, and the passionate work of those like Tamara, that will undoubtedly lead to an era of bountiful growth for the benefit of the entire Gulf Coast region.

The Port of South Louisiana 985-652-9278

tkennedy@portsl.com

Allison Herrera

Founder and CEO

Uptown Girl Media, LLC

When her dream job didn’t exist, Allison Herrera didn’t search for simply a seat at the table. Instead, she created a whole new table for herself and opened Uptown Girl Media.

Allison Herrera, a New Orleans native, is the founder and CEO of Uptown Girl Media, LLC, a full-service marketing agency focused on digital marketing services. Before launching her own agency, there were no local marketing agencies who produced videos in-house. Herrera kick-started a revolution for how marketing was perceived in South Louisiana and became the first minorityowned company that transformed digital advertising, specifically video advertising.

Through her modern advances and allfemale powerhouse company, Herrera is a valuable player in her industry - working with well-established brands as she embraces innovative approaches in shifting what the traditional role of a marketer looks like. Herrera also enjoys taking a multiperspective team approach and values a collaborative effort in achieving success, as she fully invests in her clients’ companies. She strategizes her clients’ marketing goals based on a direction of what she truly believes is best for their businesses.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Herrera is an ever-present staple in her community. She holds a handful of board positions and is currently the President of the American Marketing Association. Whether supporting charities such as Son of a Saint, serving on the board of the Junior League, or working hands on with students at St. Michael Special School, Herrera is a strong believer in giving back to her community.

Uptown Girl Media, LLC

504-788-2UGM

uptowngirl.media

contact@uptowngirl.media

Jennifer Fuselier

Director EisnerAmper

Born and raised in New Orleans, Jennifer Fuselier, CPA, started her career as an intern at Postlethwaite and Netterville. (This prestigious accounting firm later joined EisnerAmper in 2023.) The epitome of a professional, Jennifer has risen through the ranks over an auspicious 14 years to become a director in the firm’s Audit and Assurance Services Group.

Overseeing fieldwork and junior practitioners, Jennifer specializes in notfor-profit organizations, governmental entities, and charter schools, spearheading an innovative approach to a rapidly evolving accounting industry.

“A lot has changed in the accounting profession from when I started as an intern to now,” says Jennifer. “Utilizing all of my education, training, and practical experience allows me to offer much more to both colleagues and clients.”

An integral member of EisnerAmper, Jennifer focuses her efforts on benefiting notfor-profits beyond audit services, either through volunteer work, serving on boards, or going the extra mile in her service. As such, Jennifer is an active member of several high-profile organizations, including the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (“LCPA”), the LCPA Not-forProfit Issues Committee, and the LCPA Women’s Committee, as well as a board member of the Academy of Our Lady, and treasurer for A Studio in the Woods.

With a husband of ten years and two children, Jennifer is eager to tackle the future and utilize her experience to grow in knowledge, commitment, and leadership.

“As a famous athlete once said, ‘you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,’ so don’t let insecurities hold you back,” says Jennifer.

“Even when things don’t go according to plan, it’s still an opportunity to learn. We’re all constantly learning and evolving.”

EisnerAmper

504-335–3218

jennifer.fuselier@eisneramper.com

Caryn RodgersBattiste

Incoming Chief Executive Officer and President

Bright Moments LLC

Bright Moments is uniquely positioned as a local, minority, and family owned and operated advertising, marketing, and public relations firm. The agency is committed to making a difference in New Orleans by striking the right balance between supporting businesses and ensuring that residents have access to information and resources to better their lives.

As the company’s incoming Chief Executive Officer and President, Caryn RodgersBattiste is committed to building upon the legacy that her father and Bright Moments Founder, William “Bill” Rouselle, started in 1984. His motto of “doing well while doing good” will continue to shape the trajectory of the company.

“The legacy that my father built over these 40 years will continue to shape how Bright Moments moves and operates within and for the New Orleans community,” says Rodgers-Battiste.

Over the past forty years, Bright Moments has remained steadfast as a thought partner and catalyst for change by providing strategic consultation, outreach, and community engagement that brings honest communication on issues impacting people’s quality of life. As the industry changes, Bright Moments has built on its foundational use of traditional mediums to help promote clients with an intuitive understanding and implementation of social media and digital marketing strategies that penetrate the market. Actively engaged in the community, President Rodgers-Battiste serves multiple organizations, including being a board member of the Audubon Nature Institute and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. She is also Director of Logistics with the Women’s Ministry of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, to name a few.

Bright Moments

504-592-1800

caryn@brightmomentsnola.com

Judy

DeLucca President and CEO

Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union

The President and CEO of New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union, Judy DeLucca, is dedicated to upholding NOFFCU’s community-focused mission and expanding its services to eliminate barriers to financial services for our underserved neighbors.

“The mission of NOFFCU is to provide responsibly priced financial services to the community,” says DeLucca. Our goal is to fully democratize financial services and ensure everyone can participate in the American dream with equity and dignity.”  DeLucca credits her mentors and experience in credit unions with instilling in her the experience to lead an organization such as this and the importance of how these institutions impact others. She has surrounded herself with a worldclass team of experienced financial professionals dedicated to serving others in keeping with the organization’s namesake and guiding principles.

“This credit union was started in a cigar box in NOFD central station because firefighters banded together and thought they could give themselves a better deal than what the big banks were offering,” says DeLucca, “90 years later, while we have grown and expanded past our origins, we retain that independent attitude.”

Recognizing the generational detriments of the black/white homeowner gap in the US has fueled DeLucca and her team to devise innovative ways to bridge the glaring wealth divide.  DeLucca’s intentional commitment to providing free financial education, creating more holistic underwriting policies beyond simple credit scores, and boldly addressing systemic disparities in underserved and overlooked communities has positioned NOFFCU as an industry leader in the mission to create equity through homeownership.

New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union

504-889-9074

NOFFCU.org

Robin Cassedy

Attorney

Strauss Massey Dinneen, LLC

A dynamic and client-conscious attorney, Robin Cassedy has dedicated her law practice at Strauss Massey Dinneen, LLC to the defense of automotive and property insurers, maritime law, and commercial litigation.

A cum laude graduate from Tulane University Law School, Cassedy began her career at the law school’s Domestic Violence Clinic and later served as a clerk for Chief Judge Thibodeaux of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal, gaining the firsthand experience necessary to represent clients from all backgrounds.

“Insurance defense in Louisiana is constantly evolving and presents unique issues,” says Cassedy. “My firm handled a huge docket of cases arising from the Hurricanes in 2020 & 2021. Many of these cases involve allegations of bad faith; a prevalent issue in recent years.”

A 2023 CityBusiness Leadership in Law and 2024 Best Lawyers in America: One to Watch, Cassedy prides herself on great relationships with her clients and the ability to prepare them for any eventuality.

“Our work often involves defending drivers who were in auto accidents, which can be rewarding,” says Cassedy. “Many clients in these cases have never been defendants in the judicial system before and being served notice can be unnerving. My job is to make sure they understand what is happening, walk them through the litigation process, and try to get the best possible outcome.”

Cassedy is also an active member of her community, serving as a board member of the Tulane University Inn of Court and director of that organization’s mentorship program, which pairs law students with practicians in their chosen practice of law. Cassedy is also a Member and Secretary for the New Orleans Official Liverpool Supporters Club.

Strauss Massey Dinneen, LLC

935 Gravier Street / Suite 1250 New Orleans

504-380-0274

Tina Dang, MPH

Co-founder Expressway Pharmacy

Offering a unique perspective to the world of pharmaceuticals, Tina Dang draws inspiration from healthcare’s transformational power and strives to affect positive change in her community’s health. A proud woman co-founder of Expressway Pharmacy, Tina’s experience in the healthcare system primed her to understand the bureaucratic gaps that her services could fill for patients.

“Having worked in the public health sector, private health clinics, and now the pharmacyall of these unique experiences allow me to view people’s health through a much wider and more comprehensive lens” says Dang.

Armed with a Masters of Public Health degree from Tulane University, Tina continues her quest for more affordable and effective care within the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Offering personalized services that larger chain pharmacies cannot compete with, Tina and Expressway Pharmacy offer tailored services, complimentary local delivery, specialty meds, round-theclock counseling, and assistance from a multilingual team dedicated to advocacy and education. This leads to more positive and effective outcomes for patients.

“My current wish is to dive more into the realm of women’s health, mental health, and the trending weight management sector- let’s see if we can make meaningful impacts there,” says Dang.

Tina’s dedication to wellness extends beyond her business, as she actively supports many organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,  Dress for Success, Legacy Donor Foundation, and the Chick Mission.  She was a Belle honoree for the American Cancer Society and was also recently featured as one of the Ladies Who Launch.

Expressway Pharmacy

315 Westbank Expressway / Suite A / Gretna 504-302-0987

expresswaypharmacyinfo@gmail.com

Krista PouncyDyson

Founder Performance First Digital

In the fast-paced realm of digital media, Krista Pouncy-Dyson shines as a trailblazer, navigating the industry with innovative strategies and an unwavering dedication to quality. With over two decades of experience under her belt, Krista has established herself as a senior executive who not only embraces evolving trends but also sets the pace for others to follow.

Krista’s journey into digital media commenced in 1999 when she quickly distinguished herself as a direct digital sales professional, consistently achieving seven-figure billings for an impressive six consecutive years before founding Performance First Digital, a comprehensive programmatic digital strategy and media buying solutions company. Under her leadership, Performance First Digital has experienced remarkable growth, revolutionizing digital strategies for businesses nationwide through the utilization of cutting-edge advertising technology.

Holding esteemed positions such as Chairwoman of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, Krista actively works to foster growth and opportunities within her community. These efforts earned her prestigious accolades, such as City Businesswoman of The Year honoree and recognition as an Influential Leader by Biz New Orleans. Krista’s dedication to supporting fellow women is evident in her recent investment in Salon 22, a premier women-centric professional coworking and event venue in New Orleans.

With exciting ventures on the horizon, including the development of Performance

First Digital’s newly acquired commercial space and a first-of-its-kind partnership for billboard and digital advertising at both cruise terminals for Port NOLA with female-owned company Transmedia, LLC, Krista’s impact will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of digital media for years to come. As a true pioneer in digital media, Krista Pouncy-Dyson’s influence resonates throughout the industry. Her relentless pursuit of excellence and visionary leadership mark her as a woman to watch.

Performance First Digital performancefirstdigital.com

krista@performancefirstdigital.com

Alyssa Fletchinger Higgins

Vice President Plush Appeal

Alyssa Fletchinger Higgins, Vice President of Plush Appeal – The Mardi Gras Spot, epitomizes the spirit of joy and community that defines this vibrant region. Under her leadership, this cherished familyowned business, founded in 1989 by Daryl Fletchinger, has become synonymous with Mardi Gras celebrations, providing exquisite, tailor-made throws and decorations. Alyssa’s dedication extends beyond merely supplying carnival essentials; she is also involved in ensuring that the joy of Mardi Gras is intertwined with values of sustainability and environmental consciousness.

Alyssa’s journey with Plush Appeal began at the tender age of eight when she served as the company’s first “product tester,” a role that has since seen her grow into a pivotal figure in the Mardi Gras community. Her commitment to innovation is evident in her push towards eco-friendly throws, such as recycled plastic beads, which make up 80% of the store’s offerings, and sustainable keepsakes like fanny packs and glass beads, reflecting a return to tradition with a modern twist.

Plush Appeal’s evolution under Alyssa’s guidance showcases a balance between festive extravagance and environmental stewardship, a testament to her ability to adapt and lead in changing times. By fostering partnerships with local organizations for bead recycling, Alyssa has ensured that Mardi Gras remains a celebration of culture and community. Her efforts exemplify how traditions can evolve to meet contemporary values, making Alyssa Fletchinger Higgins a beacon of innovation in the heart of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations.

Plush Appeal

504-482-6100

afletchinger@plushappeal.com

MardiGrasSpot.com

SPONSORED

Sandra Lombana Lindquist

CEO New Orleans Chamber of Commerce

Shepherding connections and advocacy to shape New Orleans as a great place to live and do business has been one of the greatest honors of Sandra Lombana Lindquist, CCE. As the CEO of the New Orleans Chamber, now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Sandra is excited to grow a network of more than 1,300 members and have a positive impact through alliances and partnerships.

New Orleans Chamber founders believed in building community by fostering connections and supporting local businesses. Under Sandra’s leadership, membership has soared by more than 150% in 2024, with more than 75 annual events for networking and development.

Offering members a greater voice in shaping local, state, and federal policies, the Chamber is a part of the Gulf Coast Chamber network, tackling issues such as rising flood insurance rates, public safety, coastal protection, and disaster response and recovery. The coalition, now competing for a $50 million federal EDA grant focused on strengthening the local workforce, is one of 22 finalists hoping to apply federal dollars to bolster economically distressed areas of a three-state region where the prime age (25-54) employment is significantly lower than the national average.

In time for its anniversary, the Chamber has also launched a “Businesses Belong Here” campaign to support local businesses. For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in the community. That is why the New Orleans Chamber and Sandra Lombana Lindquist work tirelessly to expand support for small businesses, the backbone of our economy.

New Orleans Chamber of Commerce

1515 Poydras Street / Suite 1010 504-799-4260

info@neworleanschamber.org

neworleanschamber.org

Arita Bohannan

The Honorable Arita M. L. Bohannan proudly serves the Jefferson Parish community as the first female Councilwoman for District 4. An accomplished family law attorney, a former magistrate, and mediator, Arita is also an award-winning author who values the written word and will use her talent to draft laws that stand the test of time.

A self-described Army brat, Arita graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree before attending Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree and special certificates in common law and international law. As the owner of the family law firm, Bohannan & Associates, since 2002, Arita is an adamant advocate for the victims of domestic and sexual violence and often donates hours of pro bono work to those in need. Arita was honored to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee as a chairman and to partner with the Louisiana Bar Association in teaching other lawyers about ethics and professionalism. Arita and her husband are the founders of Anthony’s Missing Pieces Playground, a unique inclusionary playground located in the heart of Kenner’s Holly Heights’ Miquez Park. It is the first Inclusionary Park of its kind in the entire state, designed for people on the spectrum, who have sensory issues, mental health disorders, and/or physical disabilities.

An Indie Book Award winner for her novel, Docket No. 76, Arita has been invited to speak at numerous events including several keynote addresses at Military Bases, schools, organizations, and symposiums where her speeches deliver a powerful and inspirational message.

Arita lives in Kenner with her husband, Brad, and they have two sons, Deuce and Bryce.

Arita M. L. Bohannan 504-468-1100 Nolalawyer.com

SPONSORED

Melissa Bennett Simeon

Founder Bennett Simeon Insurance

After completing her international business studies at the University of Georgia, University of Oxford (UK), and Universidad de Cadiz, Melissa Bennett Simeon decided it was time to return home to a post-Katrina landscape of citizens who were extremely frustrated by insurance, and understandably so. A second generation insurance professional with now almost two decades of experience, Melissa founded Bennett Simeon Insurance, one of the only woman-owned independent insurance agencies in the Greater New Orleans area.

“People spend their entire lives developing their property portfolios, building up their businesses, and to watch them lose all of that because they don’t have proper insurance is devastating,” says Simeon.

Melissa aims to preserve and protect these businesses every day through creative strategies for ensuring challenging risks, a knack for building property insurance programs for large portfolios, and for insuring those in the construction field.

“Being a great insurance agent means constantly educating yourself on new risks, how to insure them, new markets, and new strategies. You have to embrace change and challenge head on to serve your clients best,” says Simeon.

With the team at Bennett Simeon Insurance, no risk is too small, no challenge is too big. At this agency, they love supporting their clients in the community and watching them grow and succeed. That’s what it’s all about.

Bennett Simeon Insurance

3100 Ridgelake / Suite 204 / Metairie 504-603-3333

bennettsimeonins.com

Hedy Kraft

Owner Kraft Development LLC

A New Orleans native, Hedy Rose Kraft made the decision to place business roots in the heart of her beloved city in early 2020. While this was a bold move amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Kraft was able to develop and build the area’s first Mayweather Boxing + Fitness location. Although cardio boxing was an expected focus, the studio also offered group fitness classes, TRX sessions, and personal training to accommodate any workout preference. After two years of being open to the public, she made the difficult decision to close the facility and adapt to the city’s everchanging needs. In its tenure, the versatile space was known to draw well-known sports groups and was even the set for a TV documentary, several short films, and a music release party.

“Creating an upscale boutique fitness studio with an inclusive atmosphere was incredibly rewarding,” says Kraft. “It afforded me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful locals as well as to welcome first-time visitors to New Orleans.”

While the next chapter of 897 St. Joseph is still being written, Kraft can return focus to her consulting work in business development. With ten years of experience and multiple engineering degrees, she’s well qualified to launch cutting-edge concepts with adaptive roadmaps. Her most recent resume boasts a combination of residential and commercial renovations and redesigns.

“As a graduate of both Sacred Heart and Tulane, I remain dedicated to boosting our city’s commerce,” says Kraft. “I’m looking forward to showcasing my pending projects as they approach completion.”

Hedy Rose Kraft

504-930-4730

Hedy.kraft@mayweather.fit

FROM THE LENS

70 GREAT WORKSPACES

An adaptive reuse, The Warehouse marries modern design with historic architecture.

78

NEIGHBORHOOD GEM

After eight years in business, this neighborhood theater has proven itself a crowd pleaser.

80 NEW ORLEANS 500

Michelle Craig, owner of Transcendent Law Group

74

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

A new bar concept is making dogs and owners want to sit and stay.

FROM RUBBLE TO RAVISHING

An adaptive reuse, The Warehouse marries modern design with historic architecture.

BY MISTY MILIOTO PHOTOS BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

The open, central atrium features a rooftop monitor with clerestorystyle windows that flood the interior with natural light. Hanging steel bike racks provide safe storage inside.

Located in an 1868 cotton warehouse in the Bywater, The Warehouse co-working space required extensive renovations prior to opening in 2015.

The owners, Albert Walsh and Steve Nutting, wanted a space with a sense of community, and when they found the building in 2011, they knew it was the perfect spot.

In the middle of the acquisition, however, the building’s façade — as well as part of what is now the main atrium — collapsed. Thanks to some quick thinking on Walsh’s part (with help from The Green Project and the New Orleans City Council), the building was saved from total demolition.

The owners brought in Tracie Ashe, partner at Practis (formerly studioWTA) to provide full architectural design services for the restoration and renovation of the building. Work included space planning, zoning research and feasibility studies for several potential tenants. Others on the team included architectural design director Wayne Troyer, architectural designer Toni DiMaggio and independent interior designer Erin Allen.

During the space-planning process, the team decided to place the co-working space in the back of the building, and a restaurant (Capulet) in the front. Other additions included a new rooftop deck and shared restrooms.

While most of the interior walls were rebuilt, an original brick wall with two metal fire doors is original and now separates The Warehouse and Capulet. Most of the interior beams, columns and joists — along with the concrete

QUICK LOOK

Number of Years

in Operation

8

Style of Architecture

Historic modern adaptive reuse

Square Footage

9,000

Number of Employees

3

Persons in Charge

René Merino

Architecture practis (formerly studioWTA)

Interior Décor

Erin Allen

Initial Brand Development

Erin Allen

Art and Furnishings

Bryan Tarnowski, Chris Davis, René Merino and Nathanael Sprague

slab floor — are also original, but an existing second floor was removed to create an open atrium. The rooftop monitor, with its clerestory-style windows, floods the interior with natural light and was fully restored in place.

“We started with a beautiful space that needed to be clean and functional, [but] we wanted to embrace the existing building and materials,” said René Merino, artist and manager of The Warehouse.

The design plan called for creating modern workspaces throughout the historic building.

“In order to highlight the original wood, brick and concrete, new materials were chosen for their texture and lightness: translucent polycarbonate to filter light and hint at space beyond; light colors to help with interior illumination; warm wood trim and accents to bring a tactile experience; and fabric panels to help with acoustic absorption,” Ashe said. “The intent is that a visitor can understand which parts of the building are original and which are part of the renovation. It is easy to see how the new elements could be removed and the warehouse returned to its original state without any loss of significant historic materials.”

The space now includes 25 private offices along three sides of the interior perimeter (available on six-month leases). These offices can be joined to make larger offices, and feature sliding glass doors that allow views from the center of The Warehouse. Meanwhile, three private conference rooms (available by the hour to both members and guests) sport acoustically private, translucent polycarbonate wall panels. These custom-built panels serve as oversized elements to underscore the vertical proportions of the warehouse space.

The center of the space houses 30 individual desks (available to rent by the month), four co-working tables (16 spots available for day passes), a full kitchen with island seating, a copier and mailbox areas, two lounges, lockers and hanging steel bicycle racks. Two phone rooms and three phone booths also are available for private calls.

When it came to the interior design, the industrial look of the building provided inspiration. For example, pre-renovation photos of the building — including one of the collapsed façade — are prominently displayed.

“One of our design principles was about

creating a quiet foundation for work, so we tried to keep it visually simple rather than create a design that would compete for attention,” Allen said. “I joked that our color palette was white, wood and plants, but that honestly helped guide a lot of the decisions.”

Together, the architectural and interior design work together to create a calm, comfortable and focused environment.

“Walking into The Warehouse, you can immediately read and understand the original brick and wood building, over which is layered the new program [that] transforms a wide, open space to one that feels welcoming and conducive to creativity and collaboration,” Ashe said.

“It feels good in here, so it makes working more pleasurable,” Merino added. “We currently have 24 businesses, nonprofits and organizations in our offices (we have one office available) and another couple dozen people that have desks or share our co-working tables. Their industries range from the arts, education and community-based nonprofits to construction, accounting, real estate, journalism, insurance and law. It’s fun to see relationships develop among our members.” T

The Warehouse’s original brick and wood building serves as an interesting backdrop for new, modern materials that bring the space into the 21st century.

FROM THE LENS

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

HAVING A BALL

A new bar concept is making dogs and owners want to sit and stay.

BY ASHLEY MCLELLAN PHOTOS BY EDMUND D. FOUNTAIN

Pardon the pun, but a new Mid-City bar has really gone to the dogs, and in the best business way. The Dog House officially debuted in February, the creation of dog-loving business partners Samantha Chodlya and Kelly Robinson. The bar offers a place for dogs and their owners to connect, imbibe and relax in a safe, self-contained space.

Their official motto? “We love spending time with our dogs. We also love going out. We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between the two.”

While there are plenty of dog-friendly cafés, bars and taverns in New Orleans, Chodlya and Robinson were inspired to bring something new and different to the city that would be more inclusive of pet needs while also entertaining their human companions in a new way.

“I would frequent a similar concept in Dallas and knew since we had nothing like that here,” said Robinson. “I wanted to be the first to bring it to New Orleans. I knew it would be a hit.”

The Dog House includes a canine play area made up of soft, durable and mud-proof AstroTurf that is completely fenced in, highlighted by brightly painted murals and a glass wall that

The Dog House owners Samantha Chodlya (left) and Kelly Robinson (right) launched the bar-meetsrestaurant-meets-doggie-play space in February as a safe way for canines and their companions to relax and connect.

provides a modern, open indoor/outdoor feel throughout. Special pet-friendly events are held each week, such as holiday parties, light-hearted competitions (such as the recent Mutt [March] Madness), live music and trivia nights, plus adoption and local animal shelter fundraising events.

“While Sam takes care of the operational side of things, I am super passionate about partnering with local shelters and creating a safe place for the pups,” Robinson said.

Unlike a traditional bar that happens to be dog friendly, The Dog House follows a membership model, which Chodlya and Robinson said ensures the safety of all patrons. All dog owners must fill out a brief online application, which includes veterinarian and vaccination information, and pay a small fee of $5 for a day pass, $10 for a month pass or $100 for a year pass.

“The fee really isn’t about a profit, but rather instilled to help us make sure the right protocols are in place and patrons and puppers have a safe place to interact,” Robinson said.

While canines play, patrons can enjoy a seasonal cocktail menu. A recent version included a rummy “Scooby Snack Punch,” a

“Wishbone Martini,” and a zero-proof “Slinky Dog” (with the option to make it a boozy cocktail), plus a selection of light bites.

“It’s better than anything we could have come up with ourselves,” said Robinson of the menu. “We are lucky to have Tony Burgeson as our head chef and Carly Lacoste as our lead bartender. They are so creative and really put a lot of thought into the menus.”

Early reception to The Dog House has been encouraging.

“The response and overwhelming amount of support have been insane,” said Robinson. “We always knew it was a good idea and the fact that our patrons reaffirm that on a daily basis makes a huge difference.”

The pair, who originally connected at Tulane University, bring their own experience in business and working in the hospitality industry to their new venture.

“We actually met while getting our MBAs together at Tulane,” said Chodlya. “Before starting my own company, Silver Linings Consultancy, and getting The Dog House up and running, I was lucky enough to work under

Located in Mid-City in a lot that neighbors Take Paws Rescue, The Dog House, features an enclosed area for dogs to play, along with a specially-crafted cocktail and mocktail menu. Monthly events offer unique opportunities for patrons and pups to get together.

Neal Bodenheimer and learn from him and the rest of the Cure family for about two years. But this was Kelly’s original idea, and I am just grateful to be along for the ride.”

Robinson said that while scouting for a location with a Realtor, they discovered a plot of land in Mid-City that turned out to have an extra feature.

“When our Realtor spotted the location, we didn’t even realize that Take Paws [Rescue] was next door,” she said. “But after arriving on-site, it confirmed it was the perfect location. And we just love Mid-City. Thankfully…the incredible team at Studio West Design & Architecture made our vision come to life.” T

BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE

The climate is perfect for pet-focused business ventures.

According to a January 2024 Forbes report, “Pet ownership has increased significantly over the past three decades. In 1988, only 56% of U.S. households owned a pet. As of 2024, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet.”

The report goes on to note that not only do more Americans include pets in their homes but that “more than half of pet owners (51%) consider their pets to be as much a part of their family as a human family member.”

Millennials make up the largest percentage of current pet owners (33%), followed by Gen X (25%) and baby boomers (24%).

Gen Z pet owners (ages 18 to 25) are the most likely to spoil their pets with birthday cakes (34%), birthday presents (39%) and clothing or costumes (32%).

The Broad Theater

After eight years in business, this neighborhood theater has proven itself a crowd pleaser.

BY KEITH TWITCHELL

Neighborhood movie theaters used to be commonplace, but they have been almost entirely replaced by suburban mega-plexes.

This did not deter Brian Knighten, owner and founder of The Broad Theater, from pursuing a dream for nearly two decades.

“I was at Katie’s restaurant, and I sat next to a couple talking about Movie Pitchers closing down,” recalled Knighten. This was 1999, when he was 23.

“I talked to the owner,” he continued, “and he offered to give me three years’ worth of his books. Unfortunately, the books were awful. He was losing thousands of dollars a year. I took them to a bank, and they said, ‘You must be crazy!’”

Knighten looked into buying the theater, but the building was quickly torn down. The concept, however, stuck in his head.

Then, in 2014, 636 North Broad Street became available. The 1924 building had housed everything from a boxing gym to a boat store, but was empty when Knighten took it over, even down to dirt floors in some places. He did a complete rebuild, and The Broad Theater opened in March 2016.

Knighten works hard to please his primarily neighborhood-based clientele.

“We try to hit all the different genres, to satisfy people’s needs,” he said.

This includes a mix of major releases — “Dune” being a recent example — as well as art house films such as “Poor Things” and “American Fiction.” Drawing from the some -

times-quirky Tremé and Mid-City customer base, it’s no surprise that those films attract more viewers.

Still, the biggest challenge is getting the word out about these films, which generally have smaller promotional budgets from the studios.

“We select movies based on what we think is good and what will work, but conveying to people that a movie is worth seeing is difficult sometimes,” noted Knighten.

Social media and a weekly email blast are his primary marketing tools. Ticket sales account for about 30% of The Broad’s revenue, with concession sales (including a full bar) comprising most of the balance.

To help draw people in, Knighten partners regularly with a variety of nonprofit organizations, providing a theater and a film for these groups to use as fundraisers. Another community activity is hosting school field trips. Parties and event rentals also help fill the seats.

“Sometimes I feel like this business itself teeters on being a nonprofit because of all the community work we do,” Knighten observed, “but I think that

really helps us connect with our customers.”

Another challenge is that the films must be booked from their distributors before any reviews come out. If those reviews are bad, Knighten is usually still stuck screening the films. Further complicating things is that the distributors control how long each movie must run, and sometimes how often it must be shown each day.

The theater is helped by its symbiotic relationship with Knighten’s more recent project, the Broadside concert venue. Launched as a place to host live outdoor music during the pandemic, it has recently expanded to include an indoor music and event space, hosting everything from weddings to fundraisers.

While attendance at The Broad Theater is still 20% below pre-pandemic levels, Knighten’s neighborhood connections and the constant stream of community events keep the operation viable.

“Working with all these organizations and showing as diverse programming as possible is what makes us a good neighbor and makes us successful,” he said. “My role is facilitating these good relationships.” T

FROM THE LENS

DID YOU KNOW?

Michelle Craig was the first African-American female partner at the New Orleans office of Adams and Reese. She founded Transcendent Law Group in 2014 because she “saw a need for legal counsel among socially responsible organizations that couldn’t necessarily afford big firm fees.” Now, her team assists everyone from charter schools and universities to startups, public-private partnerships and established multinational companies.

Education: Louisiana State University (JD, BCL), Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern State University (BA)

Nonprofit Cause: The Innocence Project

Hobby/Passion: “Brunch with my girlfriends is my absolute favorite hobby.”

Hidden Gem: “Jewel of the South. I love that little bar. It’s so cute.”

Go-to Restaurant? “This is a trick question. My favorite New Orleans restaurant is New Orleans.”

What do you love about your job? “I really love helping business owners fulfill their dreams. I’m kind of a tough cookie, or at least that’s what they tell me, but I’m doing this with them. I know the business considerations they have. I’ve been in the same boat making the same decisions so I get where they are … and I want what’s best for them.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “I’m going to Morocco in a few days and I’m pretty sure that’s going to be my new favorite. Although I really love Italy, and when I go to Barcelona I feel like I understand New Orleans better.”

Michelle Craig

Owner of Transcendent Law Group

PHOTO BY THERESA KING