| Meet the Staff at NewOrleans.Com Media LLC |
| Our Executive Team |
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Bill Hammack Chief Executive Officer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Bill Hammack, a New Orleans native, has an extensive entrepreneurial background in various media and service companies. He was the founder and owner of The SunShine Pages, one of the nation’s leading independent telephone directory publishers. Additionally, he has owned and operated several Internet ventures, including partnering with Don Jones at YPSolutions, a Metairie based Internet software company that served Fortune 500 customers. Hammack is a partner in two of the city’s most popular and critically acclaimed restaurants, Herbsaint and Cochon. |
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Don Jones President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Don Jones, a New Orleans native, has an extensive background as an entrepreneur. He has worked since the mid 90’s developing Internet sales and training processes and has a national reputation as an expert in local search. He owned and operated YPSolutions, a very successful Internet software company which was acquired in 2005 by Local Matters, Inc. |
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Dwayne Fatherree Director of Web Operations 309-1004 ext. 215 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Dwayne Fatherree often jokes that he threw away a promising print journalism career in 1996, when he helped launch the online home of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. It was the best move he ever made. After building the Sarasota site to regional prominence, he moved on to do the same thing at The Tuscaloosa News. He also created TideSports.com, a 2007 EPpy award finalist. He returned to his hometown as the managing editor of NOLA.com in 2007 and served there until taking on his new role at NewOrleans.Com. In his off time he likes to play loud music, bad tennis and keep his family entertained with his constant battle against the philodendrons in the back yard. |
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Cathy Maddox SVP of Marketing 309-1633 ext. 203 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Cathy Maddox has extensive background in Marketing and Community and Public Relations. Although a native of Baton Rouge, she previously lived in Metairie for over 10 years prior to Katrina. She has worked closely with the region for many years in the banking industry and most recently as Manager of Advertising and Community Relations for SunShine Pages for over 12 years. Cathy has a love for New Orleans and sees NewOrleans.Com as the site that will help New Orleans continue to rebuild as its relaunched design encourages locals and visitors alike to take advantage of the rich culture that the region affords everyone. |
| Our Sales Team |
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Patti Goodrich Sales Supervisor (504) 309-1004 ext. 214 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Brandi Tracy Account Executive (504) 309-1004 ext. 233 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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David Larousse Account Executive (504) 231-5984 ext. 225 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Christine Clouatre Account Executive (504) 309-1004 ext. 220 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Marian Petta Elliott Account Executive (504) 309-1004 ext. 201 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Abby Sheffield Account Executive (504) 309-1004 ext. 230 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Our Finance Team |
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Sue Casper Finance Director 309-1654 ext. 224 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Sue Casper, a New Orleans native, has been in accounting for 25 years. After 15 years with the Miller Brewing Company, she has also worked for Radiofone, SBC and Alltell before working for Bill Hammack and Don Jones at eWeb Systems, Herbsaint and YPSolutions. |
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Amy Simon Finance Director Assistant This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Director of Production |
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Robin Evans Director of Production (504) 309-1004 ext. 223 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Robin Evans is a proud New Orleans native, and she has been working in the fields of production supervising and project management for over 15 years. She has prior experience with website design and web-based productions at Ewebsystem.com and Local Matters, Inc. Robin's excellence in quality assurance makes her a great asset to the NewOrleans.Com team. |
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Viki Gruntz Production Associate This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Heather Goodwin Graphic Designer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Our Web Design/Graphics Team |
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Leigh Landeche Technology Director (504) 273-5200 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Leigh Landeche is a native of Paradis, Louisiana, and has been A+ certified in computer technology since 1996...when he was in high school! He got his start building websites for his junior high school, continued to freelance through high school and then earned his degree in computer networking technologies. He learned about graphic design in a position at SignWorks New Orleans, worked in sales for Mobile One and landed here at NewOrleans.com as our Technology Director. |
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Kerry Comeaux Programmer (504) 309-1004 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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James Lee IT Tech (504) 309-1004 ext. 238 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Our Content Development Team |
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Kim Ranjbar Content Director/Staff Writer (504) 273-5251 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Kim Ranjbar has always been in love with New Orleans, and moved here from California - despite her mother trying to talk her out of it by bringing her to visit in mid-August heat - five years ago. After accumulating lots of internet experience at The Gale Group in the Bay Area and Kelley & Abide Co. here in New Orleans, she thought the position of content director at NewOrleans.Com would suit her degree in English with a focus on creative writing perfectly. |
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Anne Smith Event Coordinator (504) 309-1004 ext. 202 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Meghan Jones Staff Writer/Editor (504) 309-1004 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Our Sports Team |
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Ken Trahan President - NewOrleans.Com Sports (504) 309-1004 ext. 209 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Born and raised in the New Orleans area, Ken Trahan has been a sports media fixture in the community for 31 years having accumulated three national awards/recognition (National Football Foundation, College Hall of Fame, Professional Bowlers Association) and 17 state and local awards for his work in the field (UPI, A.P., New Orleans Press Club, Airline Place Management, Excellence in Media). |
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Jude Young Editor & Webmaster - NewOrleans.Com Sports (504) 309-1004 ext. 213 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it As a New Orleans-area native, Jude grew up a fan of all sports and teams in the area. It's a passion for the games that brought him into the fields of sports broadcasting and journalism. Whether he's informing, reporting or entertaining, Jude brings his own special flavor to the task at hand. |
| Our Contributors |
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Ryan Tramonte Arts & Culture Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ryan Tramonte is the General Manager of French Art Network and Rue Royale Art Partners of New Orleans. With galleries in Carmel by the Sea, California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; New Orleans and Key West, Florida; the company’s family of galleries represents 54 artists from across the globe. With his office in the center of the French Quarter at 541 Royal Street, Ryan has managed to surround himself with some of the most beautiful aspects of New Orleans, its artists. Artists mold the way we think and live on a daily basis, they are one of society’s most prized possessions. Ryan, himself works in all mediums, but centers his work on painting and collage. |
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Joe Briand Wine Blogger This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Joe is the Director of Operations and wine buyer for Link Restaurant Group (Herbsaint, Cochon, Calcasieu and Cochon Butcher.) As a part of his job he routinely tastes hundreds of wines a week from all over the world. If he could have only wines from one region it would be the wines of Burgundy. He constantly reinforces the notion both with his staff and the guests at the restaurants that wine is not something to be intimidated by and asking questions is the only way to learn. Joe is an admitted cork dork but is more committed to drinking wine and the pleasure that it gives then memorizing obscure facts about wines that most people have never heard of nor have access to. He is happy to answer your questions as best he can. Please feel free to email him: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Anne Baker Gardening Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Anne Baker has had a lifetime of gardening and farming experience. From her Cajun family farming heritage to running a certified organic farm and nursery in Uptown before Hurricane Katrina, and currently an organic urban farm in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, she has learned many skills that she enjoys passing on to other gardeners and growers through writing, seminars, workshops, and as a one-on-one gardening consultant, where she gets a sneak peek at growing spaces all over New Orleans. |
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Karina Nathan Fashion Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Independent fashion designer, Karina Nathan knows what’s cool in New Orleans. Her private fashion label, Miss Karina’s, has been sold in dozens of local boutiques and is currently available at www.misskarinas.com. Her carnival costume and eco-friendly apparel line capture the spirit of New Orleans. Each of her hand-crafted pieces is unique, timeless, and guaranteed to turn heads, much like the city of New Orleans. Karina strives to provide customers with a quality product fashioned to withstand turbulent times of trendy fashion while providing a humorous dose of resourcefulness. Karina is the mastermind behind the “Mardi Bra,” a Mardi Gras bead-adorned, Madonna-esque brassiere. Her Carnival costumes have been worn by Kings and Queens of Carnival as well as her dance troupe, The Bearded Oysters. |
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Daena Smoller Paranormal Investigator & Medium This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Daena Smoller, former on-air radio personality and advertising executive, began her paranormal career as a Ghost Expeditions researcher in 1995 in New Orleans, and she was promoted to work as a professional paranormal investigator and psychic for the International Society for Paranormal Research. She has participated in close to 100 ISPR paranormal field investigations after completing over 3,900 hours of parapsychological field training. The internationally recognized Empath and Physical Medium is a published author and co-creator of two 1999 award-winning documentaries; she is currently producing another documentary being shot in New Orleans. Smoller spent a dozen years in Hollywood working in the entertainment industry, as well as accumulating many exciting experiences interacting with the entities of earthbound celebrities. |
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Middleton O'Malley Real Estate Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it The residential real estate business gives me the opportunity to always place my client’s best interest before my own, and to enjoy ongoing professional growth. To satisfy the needs of clients, buyers and sellers alike, and to help them accurately make some of life’s most important decisions is enormously rewarding. My business serves clients in Greater New Orleans, with emphasis on Uptown, Garden District, University/Carrollton, French Quarter, and Mid-City. My 25 successful years in sales and marketing are at your service! |
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Frank Lodato Fishing Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Frank Lodato is a recreational fisherman born and raised in New Orleans. A local product of Brother Martin High School, Frank served 10 years active duty in the U.S. Navy. In 2002 he earned a BS in Electronic Systems Technologies from Southern Illinois University, and is the owner, webmaster, and editor of www.Yatfish.com, a website that provides links to real-time, observational, weather data in the Lake Pontchartrain area. Frank spends his time as a Network Engineer for the National Data Buoy Center when he's not fishing or performing his duties as NewOrleans.com Fishing Editor. |
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Mary Griggs GLBT Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mary Griggs is the Managing Director for Forum For Equality, a civil rights organization dedicated to promoting good govenment and to protecting the civil rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender persons in the state of Louisiana. She is also a senior consultant with Pacific Training and Resources, a consulting firm that specializes in assisting non-profits integrate their mission and administration. Mary is a founding Board member of The Community Coalition of Greater New Orleans, a member at large of the Greater New Orleans Women’s Soccer League, a board member of the Golden Crown Literary Society and was the past Female Co-chair of the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans. |
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Nancy Brister Historic New Orleans Born and raised in New Orleans, Nancy Brister has always been interested in the history of the city. After the levee failures in 2005, this interest led to a desire to save and showcase some of the unique history that appeared in danger of being lost. As a result, the website Old New Orleans came into being, also, the sites, New Orleans, Storyville and the Birth of Jazz and When Time Stood Still: A Katrina Retrospective. The Old New Orleans site includes vintage photography of all-things New Orleans, as well as, the history of dozens of N. O. locations, institutions, citizens and places---some that exist now only in the shadows of the past; and, also, individual stories and vintage photos of many New Orleans families. |
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August V. Martens GLBT Law August V. Martens is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law, where he obtained a Certificate of International Legal Studies. Martens maintains a diverse law practice, focusing primarily in the fields of Wills and Estate Planning, Successions, Donations and Trusts, Adoptions, and Family Law. He is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts, as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Martens Law Firm, L.L.C. is pleased to assist in all matters affecting the GLBTI community. |
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Margarita Bergen Culture Diva This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Margarita is known as the “Diva of Culture, Entertainment and Epicurean Delights of the New Orleans area. Ms. Bergen considers herself to be “a real gumbo.” Her paternal grandfather was from Bergen, Norway, her grandmother from the Canary Islands, her father was born in Cuba and her mother in Dominican Republic. Ms. Bergen is a Historic Properties Specialist Realtor with Latter & Blum Inc., a society columnist with New Orleans Living magazine and www.Bayoubuzz.com , as well as a former columnist with City Life magazine, Aqui New Orleans, Encuentro, Vocero News and several other bilingual publications. She is a licensed tour guide, licensed mixologist and a grant writer. Ms. Bergen has received numerous honors and awards for her charitable and civic achievements and is the hostess of the monthly Round Table Luncheon at Begue’s Restaurant of the Royal Sonesta Hotel. |
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Jeffrey Dupuis Capturing NOLA Born and raised in Louisiana, photographer Jeffrey Dupuis sees life through a viewfinder. When not disguised as a psychotherapist, his super-hero alter ego can be found following music and arts. Jeffrey is a regular contributer to Jambands.com, Jambase.com and most recently NewOrleans.com. You can see Jeffrey's work at www.jeffreydupis.com or click here to see his work on his Facebook profile! |
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Dean M. Shapiro Dean M. Shapiro is a freelance writer with 40 years of experience in writing for publication. He is also a publicist, copy editor, and author with four published books and more than 1,500 newspaper, magazine, and website articles to his credit. His career as a journalist dates back to the late 1960s when, as a sophomore in college, he reported award-winning stories from the anti-war protests in Washington, D.C. You can visit his website at http://deanseleventhcommandment.blogspot.com/. |
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Cyril B. Saulny Community Editor Cyril B. Saulny was born, raised, and still resides in the city of New Orleans, and is the product of the Orleans Parish Public Schools. Cyril has lived his entire life in the oldest settlement of free people of color in the country – the Treme. He received a political science degree from Xavier University. While in high school, Cyril became active in the award-winning New Orleans NAACP Youth Council and subsequently became its president. He went on to the New Orleans Branch NAACP, the oldest continuously operating branch south of the Mason Dixon line, and eventually became its president. Cyril has dedicated his life to making a significant and positive impact, however, he insists on addressing the disparities that exist between African-Americans and other disadvantaged groups. He is an advocate for people in the city that he loves so dearly – the “Queen City of the South” – but his focus is on a global solution. |
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Kendall Gensler |
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Kristy Buchanan Kristy has always been interested in dance. One of her favorite solo dancers is Michael Jackson because of his use and modification of tap and Charleston moves to form his own style. Since March 2007, she has been studying lindy hop as well as other forms of swing dancing such as Charleston and balboa. She often travels to lindy hop workshops and exchanges to improve her social dancing skills and to learn new techniques like the Great South West Lindyfest in Houston, the Loan Star Championships in Austin, Swing-out Swing-In in Indianapolis, and Camp Jitterbug in Seattle. She has also social danced in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden. Kristy placed second in the strictly lindy jack-and-jill competition for the Dance Renaissance event here in New Orleans and actively competes whenever possible. Kristy has also had the priveledge to learn under national champions such as Nina Gilkenson, Carla Heiney, Max Pitruzzela, Annie Trudeau, and Bill Borgida. Helping the lindy hoppers of New Orleans increase participation in the dance and attracting high-level dancers to the city to instruct and possibly relocate here is a goal Kristy has set for herself. Using venues like NewOrleans.Com, Kristy seeks to keep the New Orleans community up to date on what is happening in the lindy hop community world-wide. |
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Meghan Jones |
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Angela Schroeder |