City Hall Spotlight

September 9, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Darren Martin Sr.

What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?

Kingswood Subdivision / Grew up in Historic Ponchartrain Park.

Describe your job to us!

Represent Councilman Thomas and District E in neighborhood and community meetings within District E.  Meet with and address constituent issues/concerns.

Tell us about your career path.

Certified Teacher/Coach with NOPS, Volunteer NORD Coach, Hearing Officer for HCVP- HANO, Case Manager – Odyssey House Louisiana

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

Working in conjunction with dedicated city staff members to address resident’s concerns.

What challenges do you find to be the greatest in your role?

Informing constituents that issues/concerns can not be addressed in a timely manner due to staffing issues in various departments.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

Living and working with Authentic people.

August 8, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Pierce Huff

What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Atlanta, but New Orleans is home. I have lived in this city and the area for the majority of my life since I came down here in 1993 to work as a sportswriter at the Times-Picayune. Although I have lived other places, this city is unique. I love its soul and its people. And through my travels I have come to learn that people in other places love the soul of New Orleans as well. When I worked as the Night Editor at the Provo (Utah) Daily Herald my co-workers always asked me about living in the city and the food and customs. This is a special place.

Describe your job to us!

I do some of everything, and I like it. Work as an administrative assistant doing various duties such as scheduling. I work on our weekly newsletter. I also do constituent services. I like the constituent services part the best, because I like trying to help people get the help they are seeking at their times of need.

Tell us about your career path.

I don't know about a career path. I'm too old to have that again. I just believe in this city. I work with some great professionals, and I am very thankful to God for my job. I once told a constituent: "I usually don't try to speak for everybody at City Hall, but I will in this sense: Everyone I work with cares about the City of New Orleans and wants to do everything they can to make it great and help with its citizens."

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

When I can help someone, and someone thanks me for helping them, that's my reward. 

What challenges do you find to be the greatest in your role?

The most challenging things are the situations when I can't provide immediate help for people, but that is rare.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

I love the soul of New Orleans. It's families in neighborhoods celebrating Mardi Gras. It's people living and dying on the results of a New Orleans Saints football game. It's family gatherings with relatives in Gentilly eating boiled shrimp and crawfish and enjoying being with your people. It's driving through the French Quarter and seeing people lined up on the sidewalk to get to Cafe' Du Monde. It's people loving life and having the resilience to come back and rebuild after storms. There is no other place like it. 

July 11, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Winston Fiore

What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?

7^th Ward.  Bloomington, IN

Describe your job to us!

East Bank constituent services, and when I occasionally come up for air, all things land use.

 

Tell us about your career path.

Circuitous. My parents own a restaurant.  We lived upstairs.  Born and raised in hospitality; I have always worked in restaurants to support myself. 2003 Served a year in AmeriCorps NCCC2004 Served two years with the Marines 2006. Attended CUNY Hunter College in NYC 2007 Attended Indiana University Bloomington. 2008 Attended Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. 2009 Graduated from Indiana University as a theater major. 2010 Deployed to Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. 2011 Walked 5,000 miles across Southeast Asia to raise funds/awareness for children living with clefts.  At some point, a US consular officer stationed in Laos caught wind and reached out.  From there, I began speaking at US Embassies along the way. 

This led to an introduction to the head of Google's Hong Kong office, which led to speaking opportunities at Google offices along the way.  They even went so far as to feature me in a Google Maps commercial. 2013 Moved to Chicago to apprentice at an urban farm. 2013 Followed my then-girlfriend/now-wife to Tampa Bay, where she landed her clinical fellowship after grad school in speech pathology (she is now a professor at LSU in New Orleans)

Made my living at night serving up steaks at Capital Grille. Got my first taste of effecting legislative change around this time: we kept a miniature goat and sheep and got cited by code enforcement. 

This prompted me to reach out to our city council rep and get the law changed.  Residents of St Pete can now keep up to two miniature goats and two miniature sheep. 2014 Left Capital Grille and opened up St Pete's Ruth's Chris Steak House. 2016 Transferred to New Orleans' Ruth's Chris, where I met Cm King.He must have liked what he saw because I work for him now,

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

Losing myself in the details, getting to the bottom of exactly why/how a breakdown occurred, problem-solving until resolution is reached

What challenges do you find to be the greatest in your role?

I would say the emotional intelligence component has been a learning curve for me: knowing when a constituent just wants to be heard / needs someone to vent to vs. when they are actually looking for action to be taken; appropriately managing constituents' expectations.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

The streetscapes

 

June 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Matthew Schoenberger

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

I currently live in the Touro neighborhood. I grew up in Covington, Louisiana and lived there until I graduated high school.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

My job as the Director of Community Engagement is to listen to the concerns of residents, identify issues, communicate the issues to city departments, and work towards providing solutions.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

The true beginning of my involvement in the political process was during the 2016 presidential election. I, along with local activists and community leaders, helped organize both the Women’s March and the People’s Climate March in New Orleans. During the 2017 City Council Election, I was chosen to work on a campaign as the field director. That experience gave me an opportunity to start listening and learning about a lot of the issues that New Orleanians face on a daily basis. What began as activism sparked a passion for public service and ignited a drive to continue working in community engagement. In May of 2018, I started my new job as the Community Engagement Liaison and then the Director of Community Engagement for former Councilmember Jay H. Banks. In June of 2021, I was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by Mayor LaToya Cantrell for unwavering dedication and leadership to the city of New Orleans. Currently, I am the Director of Community Engagement for Councilmember Lesli Harris, where I am thankful to continue my dedicated work in constituent services for the residents of New Orleans.

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

The aspect of my job that I love the most is knowing that my work truly helps people. An issue that may seem small to one person, might make a major difference to somebody else. There are many challenges right now in New Orleans today but working together we can make a difference and bring the change that we need. Being a part of that is an incredibly rewarding experience for me.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

The greatest challenge that I find in my role is navigating and working through the unprecedented number of crises that New Orleans has faced and continues to face today. Some of these include the Hard Rock Collapse, a cyberattack, hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a multitude of major issues and unique challenges for City Council staff.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? 

My favorite thing about New Orleans is the unique beauty and diversity that can be found on every street and neighborhood. Even though it has been said countless times, there truly is no place like New Orleans. Whether it be the feel of catching Mardi Gras beads, the sight of oak trees, the smell of jasmine, the sound of a second line, and the taste of crawfish, New Orleans is a city that stimulates all senses and welcomes in all people.

May 9, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Amanda Rizzo

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

I live in West Riverside. I was born in New Orleans, spent most of my childhood in New Iberia, La., and moved back to New Orleans as soon as I finished school.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

I am Councilmember Giarrusso's Chief of Staff. The best part of my job, besides helping residents, is the incredible teamwork and collaboration between the Councimember and our staff. In our office it's pretty much "all hands on deck!" 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

Following a very robust babysitting career during high school and college, my first job out of law school was at the Orleans Parish DA's office. After 4 years in public service, I entered private practice and worked in the fields of insurance defense, criminal defense, and personal injury. I joined Councilmember Giarrusso's team as his Constituent Services Director upon his election in 2017 and have been here ever since. 

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

I love my job. I particularly love all of the interesting and engaged New Orleans residents I have had the opportunity to meet and assist. 

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

Trying to prioritize the many needs of New Orleans with the limited resources available.

April 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: James Baker

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

I currently live in the Milan-Delechaise neighborhood. I’m born and raised in New Orleans.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

The best way I can describe my job is that I facilitate relationships between community leaders, stakeholders and city government. The people of New Orleans elected our offices to work for them, that’s what I do. My job is to work for the community in New Orleans.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

My career path is/was not ideal. I’ve always served in many capacities outside of government. I was offered a job in 2017 with the Neighborhood Engagement Office under then Mayor Mitch Landrieu. During my time there I grew to love working in the community but knew there was more that I can do. After Mayor Landrieu’s term was over, I then went on to work for Councilmember Jay H. Banks but after a time, I decided to walk away for a while. After that, I joined the Gary Chambers Congressional campaign which reignited my fire for community work. Once that campaign was over, former Senator JP Morrell called me and asked me to be his campaign manager for the Council At Large seat. After we won, I was offered a job as the Director of Community Engagement, which I accepted. So far, the fire is still going strong and pray to continue helping the citizens of the city.

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

Getting victories that help and impact black and brown people in New Orleans. 

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

In my role, the greatest challenge is getting community members  more engaged in the democratic process. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? 

My favorite thing about New Orleans is New Orleans. There is and will never be another place like her. From her culture, to her food and music…New Orleans is one of a kind!

 

March 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Sherae Hunter

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

I live Uptown in the Carrollton area with my husband and kids.  I am not from New Orleans, I was born and raised in MS but came to New Orleans for college over 20 years ago and met my husband here.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

I am the Director of Community Outreach and Special Projects for City Council President Helena Moreno.  A good portion of my job involves helping to resolve constituent issues, but also being engaged in the community.  I also sometimes represent the Councilmember at community events as well as attend events with her.  I feel like a big part of my job is just knowing who people are and what is going on. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

I went to college with plans of going to medical school and becoming a pediatrician.  It wasn't very long into my Freshman year at Dillard University when I realized maybe that wasn't the right choice for me.  I eventually changed my major to English but had an interest in public relations because I love social interaction.  I remember my Junior year in college I watched a debate between two women that were running for a United States Senate seat from Louisiana.  Not being from LA it wasn't something I was invested in 100% but I watched and listened to a candidate by the name of Mary Landrieu and heard the passion in her voice and said to myself that one day I would work for a woman like that.  She won the election and became the first woman elected to a full term as the US Senate from Louisiana.  Fast forward to the year after I graduated from Dillard, I interviewed for a position in Senator Landrieu's office.  I didn't get the job...immediately.  I was later hired to work in Senator Landrieu's New Orleans office where I stayed for the next 13 years.  After taking some time off to be with my family, I went to work for Mayor Mitchell Landrieu in his Neighborhood Engagement Office where I stayed until the end of his term.  At that point I went on to accept this position with newly elected councilmember Helena Moreno, and the rest continues to write itself.

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

I am a very social person and being able to interact with the community is the best part of my job.  I like problem solving and helping people, but I also like to just be able to celebrate the best things about this city.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

We are a city of lots of complex issues and sometimes not being able to find an immediate resolve can be challenging.  During the pandemic the biggest challenge was just a lack of interaction.  Not being able to go out to personally address an issue or to sit down and work with community leaders was very difficult and forced us all to find other ways to work together.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? 

THE PEOPLE.  I don't care where you go or what you do, the people of this city are like no other.  You will never meet a stranger here!  We are strong and resilient, we love and we love hard, we find ways to make things work when anyone else would have given up and walked away.  We know what matters and we fight for it.

February 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Edgar Alexis

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

Gentilly / Central City

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

I’m responsible for all of NORDC’s facilities ( existing and planned ) as well as the daily operations of a maintenance department.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

Well, starting out I had no idea that I would fall in love with facilities management. I've done some work from painting, drywall, and construction. I worked at the Housing Authority of New Orleans and for the City of Houston in similar capacities before I accepted an offer to work here at NORDC.

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

Seeing the smiles on the kids and seniors faces when their out enjoying our facilities.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

Currently, we are having major challenges with having jobs completed in a timely manner. It’s mainly due to the lack of products being made as well as being shipped.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? 

The people, New Orleanians can break down barriers.

January 10, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Matthew Wu

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

I currently live in the Lower Garden District, though I spent four years living in Uptown/Carrollton while studying at Tulane (SLA ‘20). I grew up in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, where I first developed my love for government and frustration with tourist groups, and I was born in Portland, Oregon, another place I hold very closely to my heart.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

As Briefings Manager for the Mayor, I ensure she’s prepared for each of her daily engagements – including (but not limited to) meetings, press conferences, and speeches – by writing and coordinating the preparation of her briefs. I work closely with department directors, their staff, and outside stakeholders to collect insights and background knowledge for her to review, augmenting their submissions with research of my own. Once I collect the information I need for the following day’s engagements, I write the briefs, and compile them in a binder for the Mayor to review in the evening.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

I majored in political science and minored in economics at Tulane University, and I worked on campus during the year to support my mostly unpaid political internships during the summers (I did receive a Tulane grant that partially supported my Gavin Newsom for Governor internship). I also worked for restaurants, delivery services, and Wag, a company that paid me to walk and hang out with dogs.

I graduated in the spring of 2020, at a moment when the world kind of felt like it was falling apart, so I decided to apply my energy and talents to what I felt was the most urgent, potentially impactful thing going on: the election. I was offered a job on one of the pivotal Senate races of that cycle, Sara Gideon’s bid to unseat Susan Collins in Maine, so I moved to Portland as soon as I could. As a field organizer I recruited and trained volunteers, knocked doors, and did everything else I could to elect Sara Gideon, Joe Biden, and other democrats further down the ticket.

I never stopped missing New Orleans, though – in fact I returned almost immediately after the race. I applied for this job as soon as I learned about the opening because I could tell how much it would teach me. Now here I am, over a year in, still supporting Mayor Cantrell!

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

I really appreciate that I get exposed to most every topic that crosses Mayor Cantrell’s desk. As a result of that privilege, I am learning the ins and outs of New Orleans’ government and familiarizing myself with a wide array of policy and issue areas. I also love my team! They are a pleasure to work with and our banter is exceptional (except for you Jacob, your banter is average).

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

A big part of my job is telling the City’s department directors (i) what information to submit and (ii) when to submit it by. It’s a delicate situation because they have accomplished a lot more than I have in life, they have earned their senior positions, and as directors they are rightfully used to a greater degree of deference, especially from people my age. But my overarching concern is the Mayor, and my foremost priority is making sure she has the information she needs to do her job with adequate time to review and digest it – the people of New Orleans deserve no less.

Some days my following through on that responsibility causes friction. However, this challenge is a minor consideration compared to the benefits and joy I get from working with so many smart and talented City leaders.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? 

I love so many things about New Orleans, but one of my favorite qualities of this city is that people here acknowledge one another in passing. I think this simple common courtesy has a big role in making the New Orleans community as strong as it is. Growing up in (and now returning to visit) a city where that isn’t a part of life, I’ve realized how odd it feels to ignore the presence of another human being, even if you don’t happen to know the person. We all deserve the courtesy of a simple greeting. The world can be cold enough as it is.

November 9, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Josh Hartley

 

WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

For the last 9 years, I lived in the Fairgrounds neighborhood very close to one of the Jazz Fest main gates and all its festivities.  In the last month, however, I moved to the Central Business District to be closer to work and surround myself with a busier and exciting environment.  Living in an urban area makes me happy and I enjoy just walking around downtown.

I was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri and earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla/Missouri University of Science and Technology (they changed the name of the school my last semester to the later one).  I started my engineering career in Kansas City, Missouri as an associate structural engineer with SPX Cooling Technologies, designing cooling towers for commercial and industrial buildings. 

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US! 

Public Works oversees the City’s infrastructure in the public right of way which includes roadways, sidewalks, parking, towing, booting, streetlights, school zones flashers, permitting and curb space management. It’s my job to secure and manage budgets and personnel to perform these critical functions in the most efficient way possible.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.  

In 2009 I started a Master’s in Business Administration program at the University of Missouri – Kansas but after a few visits to New Orleans to visit family I decided to stop my MBA pursuit and move to New Orleans.  

In fall of 2012, I resumed my engineering career as a project manager with the City of New Orleans, Department of Public Works.  I started working on the JIRR program rebuilding infrastructure that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Over the course of my nine years at DPW, my role expanded into managing CDBG-funded streetscapes throughout the City and then the Maintenance Division focusing on roadway, drainage, and catch basin repairs/maintenance.  I earned my professional engineering license in 2015 and am a registered P.E. with the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.  After about 2-3 years of heading the maintenance division, I was promoted to Deputy Director of Operations, which included oversight of all divisions of DPW and its operations, including traffic, streetlights, maintenance, parking, towing, and engineering/capital improvements.  In May 2021, I was promoted to Acting Director of DPW which oversees all divisions, programs, including JIRR, budgets, and operations of the department. I enjoy being in this position and would be honored to continue this role post 2021 election season.

Key Projects:      Bourbon Street Phase I & II Infrastructure Improvements (Canal – Dumaine)

                           Canal Street/Rivergate Tunnel Repairs (Sinkhole de Mayo).

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 

I am proud to be part of work that truly makes a difference in resident’s everyday lives.I remember attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Oretha Castle Haley Streetscape Improvement project that I managed. The project completely transformed this historical corridor in Central City. I remember a community representative and activist speaking and thanking the City for the project. She described how it was such a huge improvement for the community and you could feel the emotion in her voice. In that moment, I knew that I had chosen the right career path.

In my current role, I share past experiences with staff members to help them understand the value in feedback from residents, whether it be positive or negative.At the end of the day, we are all public servants, and I want my team to understand the important role we play in improving the City.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND TO BE THE GREATEST IN YOUR ROLE?  

The Department of Public Works is composed of five divisions responsible for maintaining approximately 1,547 miles of streets (21,000,000 square yards of pavement) and 149 bridges in the City of New Orleans.  This system includes 72,000 catch basins and approximately 8,200,000 linear feet of drainage lines.  Finding a balance and deciding how funding will be spent to maintain these systems is my biggest challenge.  As an engineer, I enjoy solving complex problems, so it can be frustrating to not be able to fix everything.  When residents request that their specific street be improved, but resources constrain our ability to do this, it’s really hard. This role requires me to balance and prioritize the needs that we have.  Looking for the most efficient way to fund priorities within the City is a daily exercise.  I am always trying to find ways to maximize this funding by improving the efficiency of our operations and looking for opportunities for divisions to collaborate is finding solutions.

An example of this that I am very excited about is our recent procurement of asphalt patching equipment.  Currently, the maintenance division uses hot mix asphalt to fill potholes on roadways with small hand tools.  This asphalt is compacted using in house dump trucks.  However, this operation can only handle small potholes.  The new equipment is multi-functional and can now fully restore pavement over large potholes and repairs “service cuts” done by other utilities. This is a major shift in operations for the maintenance division.  I am excited to see the impact that this new equipment can have on the overall quality of life in our city.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? 

It’s the culture, diversity and people that drive me!  I can remember my first few times visiting and being amazed by how everyone treated people, their unique backgrounds, and the overall aura of this place. I find that anyone can be themselves here, regardless of their perceived differences, which is a stark contrast from my upbringing.  There’s always something to do here with all the events and festivals and always something interesting to see.