Tess Monaghan is the Executive Director of Build Now, a non-profit organization building new, elevated homes in New Orleans’ flooded neighborhoods. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, she honed her business skills as a consultant at Bain & Company in New York City. There, she developed expertise in the packaged food and beverage industry and designed a market share tracking tool for a financial services company. Tess oversees Build Now’s operations and acts as an advocate for New Orleans’ displaced homeowners. Since moving to New Orleans in January, 2008, she has been proud to watch Build Now grow from little more than a concept to a major contributor to New Orleans’ rebuilding landscape, with more than 40 homes completed or under construction.

She is working with William Stoudt, Co-Founder of Youth Rebuilding New Orleans.