City Hall Spotlight

October 8, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Ashley Givens

What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?
I live on the Westbank and grew up in the Carrollton area, specifically Hollygrove.

Describe your job to us!

My title in the Department of Code Enforcement is Council Liaison. While my job duties can be extensive and to summarize, I serve as the primary point of contact for Code Enforcement concerns from each City Council District and Community Liaisons with the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement. I also work closely with neighborhood associations, attend community engagement events, and resource fairs to educate citizens on all matters related to Code Enforcement.

Tell us about your career path.
I attended Southeastern Louisiana University, where I earned a degree in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management. After college, I began my career with the City of New Orleans as a Title Researcher in Code Enforcement. I held that position for about two years before transitioning to the Department of Property Management (DPM) in the Real Estate and Records Division. During my time at DPM, I worked as a contract manager and eventually served as the acting Real Estate Administrator. After five years with DPM, I was presented with the opportunity to return to Code Enforcement as the Council Liaison.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
The aspect of my job that I enjoy the most is helping the people of this amazing city through Community Engagement! It is incredibly rewarding to connect with residents and show them that someone is here to listen and address the code issues in their neighborhoods.

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

Time! There simply aren’t enough hours in the day. As Director Davis often says, "The work of the Department of Code Enforcement is GREAT," and sometimes complex. I often wish there was more time to tackle everything at once.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?
There isn’t just one favorite thing! I love it all! The food, the people, the music, the culture. I especially love how EVERYBODY knows EVERYBODY.

September 9, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Andrew Logan

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

I live in the vibrant uptown neighborhood, and I was born and raised in the Hollygrove neighborhood off of Edinburgh Street. 

Describe your job to us!

Well, my job has many layers to it. I work at the pleasure of Mayor Cantrell. I write talking points, draft press releases, media advisories, and statements. However, a bulk of my job involves capturing and creating content for social media and planning and coordinating all major press conferences, ribbon cuttings, and special events. 

Tell us about your career path.

I graduated from Dillard University in May 2022 with a Mass Communications degree. My first job out of college was working as a Communications Specialist for STEM NOLA, from there I began working in the Mayor's Office of Communications in September of 2022. I have a deep passion for event planning and coordination and in any future role I embark on I would like to work in that sector. 

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

The aspect of my job that I enjoy the most is community engagement. Being from New Orleans, I have a different appreciation, respect, and dedication to moving this city forward. I grew up seeing the passion my family had for New Orleans, communicating to the public the initiatives and advancements we are making, that is the best way I can make a difference. 

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

THE PEOPLE! New Orleanians are some of the most heartfelt, honest, and resilient people in this world. I am inspired daily by our stories, challenges, and accomplishments. We are truly a unique people. 

August 12, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Frederick "Wood" Delahoussaye

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

I currently reside in Central City, a neighborhood considered the heart of New Orleans. An area with a deep history of many different cultures and even deeper history in the civil rights struggle featuring giants like Oretha Castle Haley, as well as a musical history that spans the gamut from Buddy Bolden and Kid Ory to No Limit and Cash Money! I grew up however, in the glorious 7^th ward and its history of creole language and creole cuisine. My neighborhood was a beautiful mix of families who looked out for each other and kept each other grounded. Neighbors became family and lifelong friends. 

Describe your job to us!

There are many elements to my job as Deputy Director of the Office of Cultural Economy but the most important lies in the responsibility to create and maintain initiatives that enhance and support the incomparable cultural heritage of our beloved city. New Orleans culture has no equivalent and I feel beyond blessed to part of an office dedicated to its preservation and sustainability.

Tell us about your career path.

My career path has seen me in the roles of artist, culture bearer, arts administrator, educator, and community servant. For the past decade I had the absolute pleasure to serve at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, first as a creative writing instructor and program coordinator for their youth initiative, Kuumba Academy, next as Artistic Director and Chief Creative Officer. Ashé helped raise me as an artist, community servant and human being and provided me with the knowledge, tools and support to help me on this journey.

What aspects of the job do you enjoy the most? 

I enjoy supporting our culture. Everyday I look forward to discovering new ways to support, elevate and empower our artists and culture bearers, they are the lifeblood of our city and the reason people love this place so much. For so long our artists and creatives have had to leave our city to find success and sustainability. Our office is here to build on their national and international acclaim, but also create economic opportunities right here at home, all the while preserving the incomparable rituals and traditions that make New Orleans the incredible gem it is.

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

I truly believe the greatest challenge in my role is that there is never enough support or time to go around. We want to empower and encourage everyone. Our artists, artisans and culture bearers deserve the world and our office can only do so much. We are always in forward motion to find additional opportunities and resources for the community we serve. I’m eager to learn how to be a better community servant and how to continue to show up for our city. 

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans? 

Have I mentioned the culture! I am a New Orleans artist and culture bearer. I live and breathe our culture, it’s the soundtrack to our lives and the tone of our existence. New Orleans culture speaks to the history in all of us, it lays tracks to our lineage, roots, neighborhoods and this nation. To live in New Orleans is to plan parts of our lives around Second Lines, Super Sundays and festivals. We open front doors and windows to hear the music created by our forefathers and ancestors who walked the same streets we do. We practice traditions that have carried on for centuries. We are a magical, mystical, musical place where we eat, sing, and dance because celebration is not only beautiful but necessary and every bit of who we are as a city and a people. New Orleans is not just where I live, it’s who I am. 

July 5, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Freda Richardson-Taylor

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

I live in beautiful New Orleans East, but I grew up in Chilly Gentilly, 7^th Ward on Randolph Avenue (one block long, but it was such a family-friendly block, full of two-parent homes that watched after each other. We couldn't stray too far in the neighborhood without one parent noticing us and telling us to make it back to Randolph immediately 🙂.

Describe your job to us!

I have the privilege and honor of co-leading the BEST staff in City Hall - FINANCE!  As Deputy Director of Finance & Comptroller, I wear two hats.  I oversee the entire Department of Finance under newly appointed Director Romy Schofield-Samuel and lead up the Bureau of Accounting. I'm incredibly proud of the Bureau of Accounting, as they are a resilient force. This year marks the first year in 5 years that we have finally been able to produce & submit the City's Annual Audit ON TIME to the LLA!  This is such a feat because the obstacles we faced kept coming: in June 2019, we went live with BRASS (or ERP Financial System), and in December 2019, we were hit with a Cyber Attack; then, in March 2020, we started COVID-19, and we finally recovered this year, after battling & defeating the configurations of our new BRASS system.

Tell us about your career path.

My career path started in the 11^th grade at my beloved Alma Mater, McDonogh 35 College Preparatory High School, where I took my first Accounting course under the late Glenda Ganier-Simpkins; taking her course changed my life & opened my eyes to the Accounting world when I graduated in 1993.  I then matriculated to my parents' Alma Mater, THEE Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA, where I received my B.S. in Accounting in May 1997. My first job was as a Junior Accountant at the City of New Orleans in the Bureau of Treasury for ten months.  My then Supervisor Joyce Atkins encourged me not to wait to long to acquire my Master's Degree, she said, "you'll get stuck here and never go back; you better go to grad school now!" I love that woman who became like an Aunt to me. I listened and moved to Richardson, Texas, to attend the University of Texas at Dallas and obtained my M.B.A. in May 2001. I then moved back to New Orleans and landed a job as an Accountant at the New Orleans Aviation Board. I was there for 15 years and matriculated from Accountant I to Senior Accountant to Principal Accountant to Acting Capital Manager.  In December 2017, I was allowed to interview & become Assistant Comptroller in January 2018, the first year of Mayor LaToya Cantrell's Administration. After assisting Comptroller Charlene Rollins in producing our 2017 Audit to the LLA in June 2018, our new CFO Norman White brought me aboard as the Finance Lead to configure our New ERP System BRASS. This was my first time being on a sizable IT project, creating & implementing from inception to fruition, and it was worth it. By September 2019, I became the Comptroller of the Bureau of Accounting. Since then, I navigated throughout City Government in the Finance arena, and in April 2024, I was appointed Interim Deputy Director of Finance.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy helping EVERYBODY! My lifeblood is hearing my co-workers and vendors say, "You have been so helpful; thank you so much!" It comes from my upbringing.  My parents were both educators, and the students they taught throughout the years never forget how they "helped" them along the way.  From students to the teachers to the janitorial staff, my parents treated everyone equally and taught us the same way. It harms NO ONE to be friendly & greet people with a smile & a warm heart. That is my daily driving force to help somebody along the way.

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

The expectancy from others that their fire is your fire! As the Comptroller, over Payroll, Accounts Payable, and Accounting division, we get daily fires we must put out. Now grant it, some of them are genuinely fires, but some of them are poor planning & execution on their part. The only way we all become better in our lanes is to become more accountable and hold our teams more responsible. I would appreciate your help; knowing your team still needs to complete their due diligence goes much further than demanding others what isn't demanded of your team.  My team knows I have their back 100%, and when they are correct, I will back them; when they are wrong, I will also acknowledge that. We can only grow if we genuinely look in the mirror and say, "That's on me!"

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

The family atmosphere! You can go to the corner store, the grocery store, a sporting event, the French Quarter, or even a concert, and I guarantee you will run into somebody that you know or who knows someone you know!  We are indeed a Southern City with Southern Charm. I'm a proud New Orleanian, and so is my husband, Edgar Taylor (love you, Hunniebear)

June 7, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: LaTosha James

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

I currently live in New Orleans East.  I grew up in downtown New Orleans near Canal St.

Describe your job to us!

Communicating with my fellow constituents and assisting everyone to the best of my ability. Taking messages and relating them to co-workers as needed to help their day run as smooth as possible.

Tell us about your career path.

I started school in 2019 and have been attending off on with hopes of receiving my associate degree in Radiology Technology. In the meantime, I have been doing customer service, and administrative office work the last 4 years.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

Aiding with constituents in the Mayor’s Office.

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

Trying to troubleshoot problems when someone is not available and providing correct and beneficial information.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

The food and the culture.

 

 

May 10, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Anthony T. Davis

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

I live on the West Bank in the Wood Stone conclave of Tall Timbers. I grew up in Sylvester, Georgia.

Describe your job to us!

 As the Director for the Department of Code Enforcement, I manage over 55 City employees and contractors. I am also responsible for the administration of personnel and exercises informal oversight of paralegals and lawyers detailed to the Department from the Law Department. My work includes managerial tasks, supervision of Departmental personnel, coordination with other City Departments and external stakeholders and the development of policy and operations in the enforcement of minimum property maintenance, blight/nuisance laws, and other regulations.  

Tell us about your career path.

I am a Retired United States Marine Corps Veteran whereby, I served from 1988 to 2008. I worked in every element of the Marine Air-Ground Force (MAGTF). In addition to participating in various exercises and operations, I attended a multifarious amount of resident and non-resident military schools over my career. During these two decades, I served in the Platoon-level, Company, Squadron, Battalion and Force Level Commands. After military retirement, I remained in the service of the Department of Defense by serving the United States Marine Corps Reserve as Federal Civil Servant. Initially, as the Training and Education Program Manager and ultimately as the Deputy Branch Head, Training and Readiness Branch. As the Deputy Branch Head, Training and Readiness, Marine Forces Reserve G-3/5, New Orleans, LA., he led and planned all strategic action supporting the training and readiness of Marine Forces Reserve. Performed management and supervision of over 25+ plus personnel assigned to four departments responsible for developing and executing training plans and CONUS-based exercises; readiness reporting; ground training, formal schools; and oversight of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training that enabled Commander, Marine Forces Reserve to provide trained and ready forces to augment and reinforce the Active Component Marine Corps across the full spectrum of crisis and conflict. I hold an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of New Orleans. From 2014 through 2015, I earned Certificates in Project Management from Villanova University and Executive Leadership from Cornell University. In 2017, I graduated from the yearlong Executive Potential Program at Graduate School USA in Washington, D.C. I have also co-authored two publications and has received many awards and accolades from the Marine Corps, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

A. Wholeheartedly serving the citizens of New Orleans. B. Being given the opportunity to make a positive difference. C. Helping to move this City forward.

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

The work is great with a varied level of complexity and since we just became a Department on 1 January of 2024, making the Department viable over the long-term is the greatest challenge.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

No one thing and I love the City in its entirety. From the culture, the people, the food, the entertainment, etc.

April 5, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Thomas J. Ecker

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

I live in Mid-City and my family is from New Orleans.

Describe your job to us!

I perform employee in-reach and my focus is on employee benefits while acting as a bridge between their expectations and outside agencies/vendors.  Before this I performed homeless outreach and helped navigate people to the programs and services that best match their needs. 

Tell us about your career path.

My career path always involved working with the public, and I am enjoying working for the benefit of others.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

I am expected to meet needs and expectations whenever they develop.  My skillset requires anticipation, communication, coordination, cooperation, and follow-through.  I carry this over to my involvement with community organizations, as I take active leadership roles in the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO), Rotary Club of Mid-City New Orleans, and the 1^st District Police Community Advisory Board (PCAB).

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

Interpersonal communication is the most challenging.  There is a solution to every problem.  Therefore, I need to be able to assess and respond to strengths and weaknesses in every situation, and this includes varying personality profiles. 

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

Being from, and a part of, one of the most unique and culturally significant places in the world.  New Orleanians, and South Louisianians in general, are lucky to share in something that transcends beyond surface level cultural touchstones, such as food and music.  It has a rhythm, to be sure, which acts as a cadence to the creative spirit that everyone is welcomed to become a part of.  The proof is the social/marching clubs, the Carnival krewes, the costumes and tomfoolery of locals in celebration, etc.  Not many places have all of what we take for granted.

March 11, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: LaNitrah Hasan

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

I am a lifelong resident of New Orleans and a proud resident of the Hollygrove neighborhood.

Describe your job to us!  

Currently, I wear two hats. I am both the Director for the Project Delivery Unit and the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Infrastructure (DCAO), Joseph Threat, Sr. As the PDU Director, I lead a Team of nearly 50 professionals. Our department assists with administration of both capital and emergency recovery projects through the procurement and management of federal grants and bond funding to improve the quality of life for the residents of New Orleans. As the Chief of Staff for Infrastructure, my role is to further the mission and vision of the DCAO based on any initiatives or priorities he has established for the 9 departments within his purview which are the 1.) Department of Public Works (DPW), 2.) Capital Project Administration (CPA), 3.) Department of Property Management (DPM), 4.) Sanitation, 5.) Parks & Parkways, 6.) Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS), 7.) Stormwater & Green Infrastructure, (SGI), 8.) Project Delivery Unit (PDU), and 9.) RoadworkNola.

 

Tell us about your career path. 

I started my career in the private sector as a management consultant and project manager. I worked for a firm for nearly 10 years where I would travel to other organizations throughout the US and Canada to understand what their goals were, then then I'd work with all levels of their management structure to identify their operational deficiencies. Those areas of improvement were often opportunities to help the company realize its goals. I learned so much in that role about myself, how to work with people, and how to be both results and solution oriented professionally. About a year and a half after Katrina, I decided to work locally because I thought my skillset could assist with Katrina recovery in the place I loved the most, home. I was hired by a disaster recovery firm who was working on a FEMA Individual Assistance program here in New Orleans. I later spent a couple years work along the Mississippi Gulf Coast helping develop a program which assisted Mississippi residents purchase cottage units that were issued by the State and FEMA. In late 2010, I was approached by my former manager from the FEMA IA project to return to New Orleans for a project working with the City's Bureau of Finance. I worked as a consultant for the City from January 2011 until September 2012 specifically focused on grants, when a group of us was offered full-time positions with the City. 

Since 2012, I have held a few different positions with the City. I've been a Management Consultant to the Bureau of Finance, the Federal Grants Manager overseeing all initiatives with FEMA for the City's Public Assistance grants program, the Director of Federal Grants which expanded my scope to the management of all the new grants the City was applying for through Cares Act, ARPA, Treasury, Dept of Energy, etc. All of those experiences prepared me for the 2 hats I wear today.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most? 

I love my Team and how they are always laser focused on the mission. We are always looking for ways to make ourselves better, which will in turn provide better service for the departments we serve. Though we primarily work on grant and bond funded projects, sometimes we get called on for special projects to assist other departments. The special projects keep things interesting and provide growth opportunities. I really love that my team loves to assist whenever and where ever asked.

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

In my Chief of Staff role, I can see all the competing priorities the Operations departments have, which presents the greatest challenge. Each and every director and team member has a strong desire to provide the absolute best service to the residents of this City; however, sometimes we have more needs than resources and that's really hard. 

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans? 

The people and the culture here are unmatched. I've been a lot of places, but nothing beats the energy in New Orleans.

February 19, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Courtney Story

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

We bought a home in Gentilly Terrace in 2020, but I’ve lived all over the City in the almost 19 years I’ve lived here. I’m originally from Monroe, Michigan which is a small suburb between Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Toledo, Ohio.

Describe your job to us!

I am the Director of Administration and Planning for the Chief Administrative Office. In this role I wear a lot of hats, but my work mainly focuses on supporting the Chief Administrative Officer in planning and executing priority projects as well as carrying out the administrative functions of our office. I also oversee the American Rescue Plan Act Implementation Team.

Tell us about your career path.

After I graduated from Tulane in 2009, I joined Teach For America and taught 9^th grade algebra for 2 years at L.W. Higgins High School in Marrero, LA. After that, I moved to Atlanta to teach 9^th grade math for Atlanta Public Schools. I missed New Orleans too much and moved back shortly after to support data and operations at both ReNEW and FirstLine before joining the Louisiana Department of Education in 2014 as an Education Pioneers Data Analyst Fellow. After 2 years at LDOE I returned to Tulane to get my Masters in Public Health in Disaster Management. I graduated with my Masters in May of 2018 and joined the City that fall as an Innovation Manager. I transitioned to my current role in February 2022.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

In my role I have the opportunity to work with colleagues from Departments and Agencies across the City. I enjoy getting to know and work with so many different people who are doing truly transformational things for the City. We have some of the most dedicated and hard-working employees and I am lucky to work with them every day.

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

One of the biggest challenges in my role is that we are usually working on very tight deadlines. I often must stop what I am working on and pivot to something completely different to “put out fires.”

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

My favorite thing about New Orleans is … everything! The community, the music, the food, the events – this City is one of a kind and I feel so fortunate that my kids get to grow up experiencing everything New Orleans has to offer.

 

January 12, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City Hall Spotlight: Justyn Hawkins

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

I currently live in Algiers District C. My upbringing spans various New Orleans neighborhoods, including the 9th Ward, New Orleans East, Algiers, and Gentilly.

Describe your job to us!

Currently, in my capacity as the Deputy Council Chief of Staff, my role assists the City Council Chief of Staff in the day-to-day operations of the council’s central staff. This can range from writing and reviewing policy and reviewing contracts to assisting the 7 council offices with their requests.

Tell us about your career path.

I began my government career as an intern in the Louisiana House District 99 office under then-Representative Wesley Bishop. When he transitioned to Sen. Dis 4, I moved to a different role. Subsequently, I joined city government as the District D liaison in Mayor Mitch Landrieu's Neighborhood Engagement Office. After Mayor Landrieu's second term, I moved over to the City Council District D office. Later, I returned to the Mayor's Neighborhood Engagement Office under Mayor LaToya Cantrell and served as the Deputy Director of the department. 

What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

I find immense satisfaction in the problem-solving aspects of my job. Each day presents a fresh challenge that allows me to apply my skills and creativity. I particularly enjoy the dynamic nature of problem-solving, as it keeps me engaged and encourages continuous learning. It's fulfilling to contribute to overcoming obstacles and finding innovative solutions in the ever-evolving landscape of my work.

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

One of the challenges I encounter in my role is the intricate task of understanding the unique dynamics within each council office. Each office operates distinctively, with varying strengths and office cultures. This complexity extends to managing diverse personnel and personalities, ensuring that I allocate sufficient time and attention to meet the individual needs of my colleagues. Juggling interactions with seven different offices, each with its specific functions, adds an extra layer of intricacy to the role.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

My absolute favorite aspect of New Orleans is the unique combination of its vibrant people, rich culture, and of course the food. I’ve lived in and visited many different cities across the country, but the authenticity and warmth found within the community is hard to find elsewhere.