Our Board

Tim Williamson is a serial entrepreneur and transformational executive with over 30 years of experience in business formation, operation, finance, and management. He is the founder and CEO of NieuxCo, a venture studio dedicated to creating and launching companies that fuse art, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Williamson has a long history of success in the New Orleans entrepreneurial community. He founded and led The Idea Village, a non-profit organization that supports startups in the city and New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, a major annual event for entrepreneurs. 

In addition to his work in the entrepreneurial community, Williamson held senior leadership positions in the media industry. He served as president of NOLA Media Group, Louisiana’s largest media company, from 2016 to 2018 and with Cox Interactive Media as Regional General Manager 1996-2000.

Ivy serves as the Senior Vice President of Store Operations for Walmart’s East Business Unit. Prior to assuming her current role, she served in roles of Regional Vice President for neighborhood markets in the Southwest US, and Complex Market Manager in Southeast Florida. She joined Walmart in 2011 in Store Operations, serving as Divisional Merchandise Director and then Director of Innovations, responsible for merchandise and operational support for a division of stores. Ivy then joined the Walmart U.S Supply Chain as a Senior Director, leading teams responsible for supplier quality, inbound optimization, and warehouse administration functions. Ivy is also a former chair of Walmart’s Black and African American Associate Resource Group. 

Prior to joining Walmart, Ivy spent 11 years in Technology Consulting with Accenture, delivering enterprise technology solutions for Fortune 500 companies in the Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment industries. She earned an MBA from the Tulane University Freeman School of Business and a BS in Computer Science from Hampton University. Ivy and her husband Shawn have two girls, Lucille and Marin.

A lifelong New Orleanian, Ryan Berger is a Principal of The Berger Company, a real estate investment and development company headquartered on the Vieux Carré Riverfront. Principals of The Berger Company helped establish French Quarter Fest in 1984, and the company has been a proud supporter throughout FQFI’s 40-year history. Having attended French Quarter Fest since he was a small child, Mr. Berger joined the FQFI Board in 2019, serving on the Finance, Strategic Planning, Business Development, and Executive Committees. In addition to his service with FQFI, he sits on the Board of Directors of Isidore Newman School, 18th Ward, NOCCA Foundation, and WYES New Orleans. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Uptown New Orleans with their two young daughters.

Raj Smoove is New Orleans’ consummate DJ. From his multiple residencies across the city to his work DJing for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Raj is arguably one of the most successful DJs to emerge from the region. Dubbed “the Greatest DJ in the world” by Lil Wayne, Raj Smoove has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Mannie Fresh, PJ Morton, NBA Youngboy, 5th Ward Weebie, Mia X, Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas, Kourtney Heart, Flagboy Giz, 504Icygrl, PoppyH, HaSizzle and many more. His extensive list of collaborators also reflects his work beyond the turntables: he is a producer, writer, studio engineer, manager and member of the New Orleans Music Economy Initiative (NOME). Currently, Raj Smoove is working on multiple projects in artist management, booking, event production and more through his creative strategy development firm The Gentilly Agency.

Raquel “Rocky” Dufauchard, CMP, is the Director of National Accounts at New Orleans & Company. With an impressive 34-year tenure in the Hospitality Industry, Rocky has become a true icon in the field. Passionate about the New Orleans & Company destination brand, culture, and clients, she is a sales leader who leaves an indelible mark on every project she touches.

Starting her career at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in 1989, Rocky quickly established herself as a rising star. After a decade of honing her craft, she joined the convention sales team at New Orleans & Company, where she has since dedicated the past 24 years of her professional journey. As Director of National Accounts, Rocky takes charge of the Financial & Insurance Market, as well as Associations and Corporations in the Northeast.

Beyond her impressive career, Rocky is deeply committed to making a difference in her community. She serves as a Board Member for the New Orleans Public Library, lending her expertise to promote literacy and access to knowledge. As a Commissioner for the New Orleans Recreation Department, she actively contributes to creating recreational opportunities for all residents. Additionally, Rocky proudly sits on the Board of the French Quarter Festival, where she plays a pivotal role in organizing one of New Orleans’ most beloved cultural events.

Rocky’s dedication to professional excellence extends beyond her immediate scope. As a member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals, she actively contributes to fostering diversity and inclusion in the industry. She also serves as an HPAC member for the Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals Organization, where her insights help shape the future of meetings and events.

Despite her demanding schedule, Rocky finds joy and fulfillment in her personal life. As a loving mother of two daughters, Cameron (34) and Riley (16), she cherishes family time and relishes the role of Glam-maw to her adorable grandchildren, Karsyn (12), Kendyl (11), and the newest addition, baby Hendrix. In her rare moments of leisure, Rocky indulges in her passions, which include traveling, cooking up delectable culinary creations, retail therapy, and the blissful act of getting some well-deserved shuteye. And let’s not forget her four-legged furry child, “NOLA,” who keeps Rocky’s heart warm with every wag of the tail.

Zach is the Founder and CEO of Kupperman Companies, a real estate investment and development firm with more than 520,000 square feet of hospitality, retail, and mixed-use assets and over 100 acres and 550 pads of manufactured housing communities. Current projects include Hotel Saint Vincent, The Drifter Hotel, the Mountain Chalet Aspen, and other hotels, multi-family, and retail assets throughout the Southeast and Mountain regions. Zach is active in the New Orleans community.  He currently sits on the boards of the Anti-Defamation League – South Central Region, The NOCCA Foundation, the Touro Infirmary Foundation, French Quarter Festivals, Inc., and the Pontchartrain Beach Foundation. Mr. Kupperman previously practiced law as a real estate, business, and corporate attorney. Zach earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from Tulane University Law School.  He lives in uptown New Orleans with his wife, Emily, and their three children.

Carol Markowitz is Loyola University’s COO and SVP of Finance, responsible for all financial management, accounting operations, facilities, public safety, human resources, and information technology for the University.  Prior to joining Loyola in July 2019, Carol spent six years launching New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute (NOCHI), a post-secondary culinary school that is the first of its kind in the city of New Orleans.  She possesses a unique combination of entrepreneurial capabilities and extensive experience in corporate finance (for Fortune 500 to private equity and venture capital backed companies) that has been widely recognized in her adopted hometown of New Orleans.  Markowitz earned a B.A., Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Kenneth Morgan, Jr. has experience in both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Executive Director of SBP New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana, where he is responsible for growing SBP’s operations in the Southeast Louisiana region, supporting disaster-impacted communities, and meeting the housing needs of low to moderate-income families.

In 2019, he started KM Consulting, to support nonprofit and community organizations in accomplishing and advancing their mission and goals by providing organizational, strategy, and project management support.

Previously, Kenneth served as Director of the Mayor’s Office for the City of New Orleans under the Landrieu Administration. He guided efforts to streamline processes and systems in city agencies, resulting in faster and more reliable customer service for New Orleans residents and businesses. Before leading the Mayor’s Office, Kenneth supported the Network for Economic Opportunity. There, his work focused on improving opportunities and outcomes for at-risk and underserved communities in workforce development, housing, and economic development.

Courtney Nero, known as ‘Nesby Phips’ is a New Orleans native musician, visual artist and woodworker based in New Orleans. The grand-nephew of Mahalia Jackson, Phips’s musical lineage runs deep, and as a multi-genre producer and rapper he has worked with some of the brightest stars in the industry. As a visual artist, he has created murals, canvases and art installations with the color and culture of New Orleans as his central inspirations. His art installation, Beaucoup Power, resulted in multiple billboards located throughout New Orleans and New York, intended to support the esteem and self-awareness of the peoples of the Black Atlantic.

Mark has a deep-rooted history of serving the community. Building on the legacy of his grandfather, A.P. Tureaud, Mark has played a vital role in advancing various equity-centered efforts across the Greater New Orleans area and beyond. From renaming historic streets and landmarks in New Orleans to creating a more accessible and robust rehabilitative health infrastructure in the Gulf South, Mark’s aptitude for cultivating relationships and driving coordinated, healing-centered change has been vital to the advancement of those
most disadvantaged.

Mark’s commitment to fighting for justice and equity started as a child, but was intensified following a shallow diving accident in 2016, in which he damaged the vertebrae by the base of his neck and lost the ability to walk. For Mark, this life changing experience illuminated the reality of disparities in access, and there were very few community resources to turn to for help. His new disability and lack of support, ultimately pushed him to advocate for millions of others by transforming the split-second that led to his injury into a life filled with awareness, hope, and action. He founded Split Second Foundation to make people aware of a growing population of
individuals impacted by disability, advocate for their rights, fund cutting edge research, and provide clear-cut steps to immediately improve their quality of life.

To date, Mark’s impact on inclusive health and human services, as well as justice driven policy work, has been substantial. Mark was able to open Split Second Fitness, which is the first inclusive gym in Louisiana, with an intentional focus on people living with paralysis, amputation or other neurological conditions that impact mobility. He also serves on several federal, state, and local boards and commissions in order to represent and advocate for people living with disabilities. Notably, Mayor LaToya Cantrell appointed
him to the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) New Orleans Board of Commissioners, where he holds the positions of Vice-Chair and Chairman of the Finance Committee overseeing the planning, implementation, and execution of the agency’s $109 million budget.

Mark’s work within the community and through SSF has earned him numerous awards including:
• Gambit’s “40 Under 40”
• New Orleans Magazine’s “Ones to Watch”
• Millennial Change Makers Award
• Xavier University’s “40 Under 40”

Jerry is an Area Managing Director for Highgate Hotels based at The Westin New Orleans. Before joining The Westin New Orleans, Jerry worked for Marriott, Loews and Starwood branded properties. Beginning his career as a restaurant server and gaining experience in several departments, Jerry gained experience in the industry while also obtaining his bachelors and Master’s Degree in Hospitality. His experience has also assisted him in becoming a Six Sigma Green Belt. Jerry is a native of New Orleans, and obtained his Master’s Degree at the University of New Orleans. Jerry is a husband and father of three.

Hotel execs said Reyes’ growth through operational roles in the hotel industry have prepared him to realize great success in our industry.

Jerry has a passion for teaching and developing others. “My goal is to assist others in realizing their potential and exceeding their goals. We all deserve the opportunity to grow. That growth can only come when leaders create an environment that allows their team to develop themselves”, says Jerry.

Jerry has a great passion for hospitality as well as the city of New Orleans and is the current Chairman and President of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Board Authority, a current board member of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association, the French Quarter Festival Inc. Association as well as Southeast Louisiana Red Cross Board.

Louisiana born and raised, Lindsey Roussel is a creative visionary with a lifelong passion for the arts. Armed with a BFA in Photography from the University of New Orleans (UNO), Lindsey embarked on an inspiring journey in the world of art.

Immediately after graduating, Lindsey seized a remarkable opportunity, assuming the role of gallery Director at Guy Lyman Fine Art. In 2010, she furthered her entrepreneurial spirit by founding Magazine Street Framing, providing expert framing services to NOLA.

In 2018, Lindsey expanded her artistic footprint by launching Sidewalk Side Studio, a contemporary art gallery dedicated to the vibrant local arts scene. 

Presently, Lindsey spends the majority of her time and expertise on The Nieux Society Collective, where she acts as both an artist & the Managing Director of NieuxCo.

A true advocate for the arts, Lindsey continues to push creative boundaries, and her journey promises many more exciting chapters ahead.

Matt co-founded The Domain Companies with Chris Papamichael in 2004. Matt and Chris oversee the company’s development activities and are responsible for the overall management and oversight of company operations. Over the past 20 years, Matt has been involved in over $3 billion of development and capitalizations in virtually every sector of the real estate industry. Prior to launching Domain, Matt was a Senior Vice President of Related Capital, then the largest multifamily owner and financial services provider in the country. While at Related, Matt was responsible for the acquisition and development of multifamily properties throughout the United States.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. He actively supports a variety of advisory and non-profit organizations, including serving as a member of the Business School Council at the A.B. Freeman School of Business, the board of Greater New Orleans, Inc., The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The Arts Council of New Orleans, The Idea Village, Tulane Hillel, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. and as a former Chairman of the Board of Liberty’s Kitchen.

Michael J. Siegel is the President of Corporate Realty. For more than four decades, Mike’s knowledge of commercial real estate has served to benefit both clients and New Orleans, for which he has a deep. This commitment can be found in his involvement in the community, where he is a member of business organizations such as the Business Council of New Orleans and the Urban Land Institute. Mike serves on the board of the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at the New Orleans Museum of Art, where he was Past President. He is also a three-time past president of the Board of Trustees of the Contemporary Arts Center and remains engaged as Emeritus Board Member.

As the Senior Director of Sales for the Fillmore and House of Blues, Anna has served in numerous leadership roles, including as the Director of Catering and Convention Services, Director of Food and Beverage and Director of Sales for various local hotels and venues. She has served on the board of the French Quarter Business Association, New Orleans Multi-Cultural Tourism Network as well as Dress for Success. Anna is a native of New Orleans, but her family is from Honduras. She graduated from the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and with a Minor in Economics. Anna is currently married to Allen Sumas and shares a home with her two children, Allen and Alexis as well as her nephew, Gabe.

Jenny Vorhoff is the founder and lead designer of boutique design firm, Studio Riga Interiors. She was born and raised in New Orleans before attending the University of Georgia for college. After graduating from Lamar Dodd School of art with a BFA she moved to New York City where she worked as an associate at Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors, on their hospitality design team. While in New York City, Jenny both volunteered and served with multiple non-profit organizations including Hudson River Park, Women-In-Need, Bowery Mission, Enterprise New York & Girl Scouts. She lived and worked downtown New York for 19 years before enthusiastically returning home to New Orleans with her husband, 4 children, and yellow lab. In addition to serving on the board of FQFI, she is a board member for both NOMA and Kids Join the Fight. She loves travel, art, the great outdoors, and any heart pumping activity.

Melissa A. Weber is a researcher, historian, writer, and educator whose areas of expertise include New Orleans music and culture, 20th century Black American popular music, and archives.

She serves as curator of the Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz, a unit of Tulane University Special Collections. Weber also currently teaches a History of Urban Music course at Loyola University New Orleans. She has presented her work and research at conferences for the American Musicological Society, International Association for the Study of Popular Music, National Council for Black Studies, and Society of American Archivists, among others.

A native of New Orleans, Weber is also known locally and internationally under the stage moniker of Soul Sister, the vinyl-collecting veteran WWOZ FM (since 1994) show host, and live DJ artist whose performances have earned her two Big Easy Entertainment Awards (including being the first DJ to receive the honor).

Sharonda Williams currently serves as Vice-President/General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs for Loyola University. Prior to that, Sharonda was Special Counsel at Fishman Haygood, LLP in New Orleans. Sharonda served as City Attorney for the City of New Orleans from May 2013-November 2015. Sharonda had served as Chief Deputy City Attorney from October 2011 until May 2013. Prior to joining the City of New Orleans, Sharonda was a partner in the general litigation section at Sher Garner, where she handled cases ranging from construction disputes, medical malpractice, insurance coverage disputes, entertainment law contract negotiations, intellectual property licensing issues, and bankruptcy adversary proceedings. She was recently appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards to serve as a Commissioner for the Board of the Port of New Orleans, and she has served as the Chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Regional Transit Authority, the Chair of the Louisiana Judiciary Commission (appointed by Gov. Kathleen Blanco), as well as being involved in numerous other professional and civic organizations.

Camille Whitworth is a 27-year professional journalist, entrepreneur and creator/CEO of her media company, Media by Design, which specializes in public speaking, media consulting, commercial production and media
coaching. She is also a successful entrepreneur. She’s the owner of Baroness on Baronne and the New Orleans Drink Lab in New Orleans.

Camille continues her special reporting. She can currently be seen on WWLTV (CBS) as television host of the Healthy Lifestyles Segment presented by East Jefferson General Hospital. Camille currently does voice over work for radio and tv, hosts/emcee events, conducts crisis communication coaching and is a blogger for various outlets. She is also a blog writer for various outlets. She’s oftenreferred to as the “voice” of New Orleans. Camille previously worked for WDSU TV (NBC) and co- anchored WDSU News weeknights at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. She has spent the last 25 years covering news in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and most recently in Southeast Louisiana.

Whitworth  is very active in the New Orleans community and gives much of her time to non-profit groups and charities; among them, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Ladies Leukemia League, March Of Dimes, National Association of Black Journalists, Children’s Hospital, The New Orleans Council on Aging and Young Audiences of Louisiana. She serves on the board of Appleseed Louisiana, Split Foundation, Morial Convention Center Authority Board, and the New Orleans & Company Board (2017). She is a proud member of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee and The Links, Inc. Crescent City Chapter.

Mr. Barrett Cooper holds a degree in Economics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Tulane University.  He is the founder of NOLA Capital Partners, a hospitality real estate and operations company.  Mr. Cooper has developed quite the unique skill set of investing, operating, and developing real estate and businesses spanning a diverse set of industries and locations.  He has led investment into boutique hotels from Napa Valley to Maine, including nine in New Orleans.  He has developed and operated multiple food and beverage outlets and event facilities and has invested in film, energy, technologies, and spirits just to name a few.  His projects have won many awards, including the Louisiana Landmarks Society award for best historic renovation, adaptive use, and restoration along with the world-prestigious Restaurant and Bar Design Award for best in the Americas.   Separate of his professional work, Mr. Cooper enjoys spending time in City Park with his wife, Alejandra, and daughter, Sophia.  Mr. Cooper recently served as the Chairman of the Board of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. 

Originally from Nashville, TN, Ms. Moench graduated from Mary Baldwin College (75) (Stauton, Virginia) and relocated to New Orleans, LA where she began her legal career as a paralegal with the Phelps, Dunbar Law Firm. Entering the night law school program at Loyola University School of Law, Ms Moench clerked for United States Magistrate Eileen Shaver and worked in-house for The Board of Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans.  Upon graduation from Loyola (83), Ms. Moench worked as in-house General Counsel (and FQF volunteer!) for The Darryl Berger Companies, Director of Real Property for The Louisiana Department of Insurance, Director of Construction Diversity for the original Harrah’s Casino development, and finally, in 1996, joined the Sher Garner Law Firm from which she retired in 2018.   

A New Orleans native, Robert’s over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry have included lead managerial roles at Ace Hotel, James Hotel in Chicago, The Westin New Orleans, The Pelican Club, and General Manager of The House of Blues / Foundation Room in New Orleans. During his time at the House of Blues, Robert and his team produced over 200 concerts and events yearly. In addition, Robert has served the New Orleans business community on the Board of the French Quarter Business Association since 2017 and as Co-Vice President as well as on the Board of the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. since 2015 and Chairman of the Board 2019-2020.  After spending three decades in hospitality in the historic French Quarter, Robert is now embracing another part of our fabulous city as General Manager of New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, established in 1879 and is the oldest tennis club in the Americas.

Ann Wills is an award-winning Public Relations professional with over three decades of experience building brand awareness and garnering solid results for a diverse roster of clients. She is a long-serving member of the Board of the French Quarter Festivals, including as Board President in 2014 and 2015.

Ann Wills Public Relations, LLC is a relationship-driven firm that specializes in strategic public relations efforts with an emphasis on media relations. Established in 2015, the agency works closely with its clients to help them engage their audiences and achieve their goals.

Wills, an alumna of the University of New Orleans, is a lover of music, movies, books, Scrabble® and all things New Orleans.