Creating ecotourism experiences and partnerships that educate and inspire people to celebrate, protect and advocate for a sustainable, resilient environment and vibrant economic future for southeast Louisiana.

Barbara K. Johnson brings over 20 years of experience as a practitioner leading innovative approaches to growing economic prosperity in the New Orleans region. Her career has focused on building partnerships to drive positive community change in the areas of market-driven workforce solutions, community revitalization and resiliency, and ecotourism strategies. As Principal of The Johnson Group, Barbara has been retained by corporations, non-profits and economic development organizations to facilitate and complete numerous organizational and business development initiatives including coastal fisheries, higher education and neighborhood commercial revitalization strategies. Before starting her own business strategy group in 2009 and ecotourism company in 2016, Barbara held executive positions at the Bureau of Governmental Research, New Orleans Downtown Development District, MetroVision Economic Development Partnership and Greater New Orleans, Inc. Barbara has a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Arts in City and Regional Planning from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Barbara was recognized in 2014 by the International Economic Development Council(IEDC) as a Fellow Member for her outstanding contribution to IEDC and the field of Economic Development.

Teaching the community how to reform the criminal justice system through the jury box, the Juror Project focuses on increasing the diversity of jury panels in order to increase the fairness of the criminal justice process.

In 2013, William Snowden chose to be a public defender in New Orleans, LA, because it is the prison capital of the world. In his words, “they’re simply locking up too many black people and people of color, and the majority of these people are poor.” As a felony trial attorney, William witnesses the discriminatory practices removing jurors from the jury panel. To combat these practices, William founded The Juror Project to increase the diversity of jury panels, improve people’s perspective of jury duty, and educate the community how the criminal justice system is currently working. Most recently, William was a practitioner-in-residence at UC Berkeley Law School in the Spring of 2017.

Making great donuts and giving second chances at life to formerly incarcerated individuals. Through strategic partnerships, 2nd Chance Donuts provides their employees with a solid foundation as they re-enter society, connecting them with basic services including medical care, legal counsel, housing, education, and counseling.

Chris Keefe is a regular guy from a small town outside of Boston, who really doesn’t like the Yankees but does love a good donut. His grandfather always said that “he was a smart kid who did dumb things” and some of those dumb things along the way landed him in trouble with the law. Having received his fair share of second chances in life, he knows that people shouldn’t be thrown away because of what is on their criminal record. After serving in the United States Coast Guard, he moved back home and started his entrepreneurial career which has spanned the transportation, hospitality, marketing and event management fields. Throughout his adult life, Chris has strived to make a difference in his community through volunteering, coaching youth sports and working with at-risk youth. With his diverse business background and having studied under some of New Orleans finest restauranteurs, he is prepared to make 2nd Chance Donuts a mainstay in the community for decades to come.

A ready-to-enjoy, authentically Greek treat that merges an ancient family recipe with Louisiana-sourced ingredients.

Artemis Antippas, a native of New Orleans, is the owner and founder of Greek Girls Rice Pudding. In 2016, Artemis started preparing, packaging and selling her family’s delicious rice pudding, a recipe that has been passed down in her family for over 150 years! With all of the determination and passion in the world, and not an ounce of culinary expertise, it wasn’t long before Artemis placed Greek Girls Rice Pudding on retail shelves throughout New Orleans. Now her rice pudding can be found in over twenty wonderful and diverse food establishments around the city, and will soon be available at both Whole Foods and Rouses in the Fall of 2017. By sourcing most of the recipe’s ingredients locally in Louisiana, Greek Girls Rice Pudding is truly the beautiful merging of both her Louisiana and Greek backgrounds, two cultures known and adored for their cuisine. Artemis received her BA in Art History and Communications from American University in Washington, DC and is a nationally exhibiting visual artist.

A student transportation consulting agency providing comprehensive reviews and recommendations to improve service and profitability of the transportation programs offered by school networks, individual schools, and third party school bus companies.

Alfred Matthews III
Alfred Matthews III is a 34-year-old transportation fanatic. Alfred started his transportation career out as a bus monitor. Soon, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father he moved on to become a bus driver. Shortly after, Alfred purchased his own bus and became an owner operator. You may know it as, “The Yellow Magic Bus”. After a few years of driving his own bus he became a safety instructor at Hammond’s Transportation, later heading the safety department. Shortly after, he was promoted to a Field Supervisor position. Now Alfred holds the title of Director of Transportation at Arise Schools here in New Orleans Louisiana.

Jared Bluford
Jared Bluford is a 32-year-old IT Director in New Orleans. After leaving retail in 2013, Jared started his career in Information Technology and Transportation and has used his expertise to bring a methodical, formulaic approach to the transportation industry. Shortly after starting this career, Jared began his own transportation business using the knowledge gained during his tenure as the IT Director. Jared is currently still an IT Director, routing consultant and entrepreneur.

A New Orleans-based environmental technology company utilizing recycled and repurposed hazardous mineral waste and well-developed geopolymer science to create custom coastal erosion infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico.

Michael Boatright (Founder, Managing Partner)
Born and raised in New Orleans, Michael has been an entrepreneur since an early age. A founder and owner or Priority EMS, he was an innovator that grew the once-small company to more than 400 employees and diversified into air ambulance, Internet, software development, and healthcare design. He also served as an adjunct instructor at LSU in Emergency Management for Homeland Security. Since 2004, Michael has been passionately devoted to reef sciences and has worked closely with academia and local NGO’s in the Gulf of Mexico, studying reef systems, designing high-density aquaculture systems, raising local game fish for stock enhancement, and participating in a number of studies involving oil platforms and the ecosystem. As a direct result, Marine Gardens LLC has made key discoveries that link reef abundance to basic sciences and solutions leading to a healthy Gulf ecosystem.

Kristen Boatright (Director of Media and Communications)
Kristen is a seasoned multi-media journalist with experience covering news, business and finance, arts and culture, travel, and food and wine. Born and raised in New Orleans, Kristen received a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College in 2005 before moving to New York to work as a television producer. She is now back in New Orleans, using her media and video skills to illustrate the problems and solutions surrounding coastal erosion in southeast Louisiana.

Goshin-Kai Academy is a school for the art of self-protection that fuses literacy, traditional martial arts training, meditation, and contemporary martial arts therapy. The Academy also teaches firearms training, responsibility, and adherence to local, state and federal laws.

Sensei Maximum is a youth development expert and Martial Arts teacher. Andre currently holds a 4th degree black belt in Shotokan Karate. He has worked in youth development management for over a decade, studying youth development at the Pace/Baruch youth development program, business management at Rutgers University and Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Developing, building and marketing patented products, including a drag net designed to contain and collect water-borne oiled debris, tar balls, and thin oil sheens. The net enhances mechanical methods of oil spill cleanup in order to protect aquatic life, wild life, plants, and coastal areas.

Dr. William Belisle is the owner and Chief Science Officer for Orleans Resource Center, LLC and his education background includes a B.S. in Chemistry, a M.S. in Environmental Chemistry and a Ph. D. in Soil Science (organic chemical transport). His work experience includes positions as Director for Grants and Sponsored Programs, Director for Research and Strategic Initiatives, Geo-optical Physicist Research Faculty, Environmental Engineer. He has received seven (7) patents from the USPTO as a Pro Se patent application inventor and has numerous major and minor research and grant publications. He has received leadership training from as a W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the National Association for Equal Opportunity Leadership Fellow and he has also held internships and fellowships at Battelle National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Belisle has taught various levels of grant writing courses, is a Certified Grants Consultant and is a member of professional research administration, sponsored programs and national organizations.

An all-female team building and maintaining organic, sustainable Edible Gardens to provide New Orleanians with the health benefits and self-sufficiency of growing food in their own backyards.

Erika Nolan
Erika Nolan was born and raised in New Orleans. After graduating from Arizona State University with a BA in Psychology, her world travels led her to Ecuadoran Amazon, where she had her first intimate encounter with nature. There, she volunteered at a biological research station, Jatun Sacha, working in the organic gardens and learning about sustainability practices in the rainforest. Later, Erika received her CTS in Horticulture as well as her Landscape Horticulture License.

Maggie Kaiser
Along with working for Instar Farm, Maggie travels around the U.S. as a Food Safety Trainer for the National Young Farmers Coalition. Her husband and her have recently started Too Tall City Farms, growing vegetables & herbs, which will be planted in the Rooftop Garden of the New Orleans Convention Center.

Jen Zabalaoui
Jen has recently become the CFO for Instar Farm. She is finishing up her studies in Accounting at the University of New Orleans.

A project helping a diverse cohort of men find the healthiest version of themselves through peer learning, community events, and local media outlets cultivating healthy masculinities.

Dr. Charles Corprew asks everyone he meets his signature question, “What’s Your Revolution?” He is a former professor of psychological science at Loyola University New Orleans, the founder and president of What’s Your Revolution Consulting, and the host of the “What’s Your Revolution?” radio show. During his tenure at Loyola University New Orleans, he devoted his time teaching and researching the development of masculinity and hyper-masculinity in adolescent and emerging adult African American males. As a consultant he assists school divisions, non and for-profit entities, and local and state agencies in discovering and implementing equitable solutions for the people the serve and his radio show on WBOK1230am seeks to help men find and embrace the healthiest version of themselves. Dr. Corprew is also a W. K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Fellow. This a prestigious fellowship given to 120 community activists from across the country to help better serve the communities in which they live.

A landscape architecture office designing streetscapes and stormwater management systems to improve the livability and infrastructure in New Orleans communities.

With a 20 year career, David has a wealth of knowledge and a strong foundation in the landscape industry. He started with a love for plants and the outdoors which has led him to designing and implementing projects of various sizes (both public and private). After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University (2004), David spent two years in Atlanta working for an accomplished Landscape Architecture firm designing residential, commercial and public developments. Since coming home, he has been involved with well over 100 commercial, institutional, single and multi-family projects here in Southeast Louisiana. David takes tremendous pride in our community and developing places for people to enjoy.

A mobile fitness unit designed to build a more personal and accessible relationship with fitness, wellness, and health by educating individuals, communities and corporations.

By being an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, visionary, and fitness king, Daymian McGuire has taken the New Orleans health and fitness scene by storm. Originally from the Midwest, Daymian has come to love New Orleans and has made it his home. While here, he has managed to motive thousands to be more active, live healthier and get fit. Daymian provides individualized training and wellness to clients seeking to acquire a healthy lifestyle. Being the founder of Empower 504 helps clients focus on boxing, high intensity interval training, and total resistance training. His personal connection with his clients and students is what separates him from the rest and makes for an easier transition into this lifestyle.

Providing wholesome, nutritious, and delicious, meals to suit everyone from the busy mom looking to slim down to the fitness junkie bachelor looking to bulk up, and everyone in between.

Kim has lived majority of her life in New Orleans, a city rich in culture, tradition, and food. She attended Xavier University of Louisiana where she received her B.S. in Chemistry and took a slightly different approach for her professional development. She decided to explore the world of public health and fell in love. In 2014, she obtained her Masters of Public Health degree from Tulane University. Clean Course began as her own personal journey to turn her health around. Battling obesity and pre diabetes, she embarked on a journey to lose over 100 pounds by learning the how to simply to eat better and move more! In 2016, she took a leap of faith and became a public health entrepreneur to teach others what she had taught to herself. For that, Clean Course is not your average meal prep company. Yes, they will do all your grocery shopping, meal prepping, and even deliver, but what sets them apart from the rest is that they have a mission to educate the communities where the change is needed most.

Building a talent pipeline that creates the next generation of law enforcement leaders.

Brent Godfrey is the Executive Director of Crescent City Corps and a New Orleans Firefighter. He has dedicated his life to public service and is deeply passionate about helping others find their own call to serve. He served on active duty as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy four years, where he deployed to sea twice, developed and taught leadership curriculum to future naval leaders, and served as a collections strategist for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to joining the military, he lived in New Orleans, where he served as a firefighter and led IDEAcorps, a service learning program for MBAs, at The Idea Village. Brent earned his BA in History from Yale University and he is a Field Instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).

New Orleans Faith-Based Health and Wellness Clinic providing health screenings, food programs, and health education to marginalized individuals and their caretakers.

Rev. Warren Lattimore serves as the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in the Seventh Ward, where he has served as the host of the Black Churchmen Conference as well as last year’s LCMS National Youth Gathering. Within New Orleans, Warren serves on the Board of Directors of LINCNewOrleans and Christian Families United for Progress. Outside New Orleans, Warren serves on the Black Ministry Advisory Council, the Executive Committee of the Black Clergy Caucus of the Lutheran Church. In his free time, Warren enjoys listening to live music at the Jazz Market, playing tennis in City Park, and attending art exhibits at NOMA, Ogden, and McKenna.

Improving pregnancy and birth experiences and eliminating perinatal disparities by increasing the numbers of black birth workers, teaching families about their patient rights and creating transparency and accountability within childbirth education and the medical obstetrical system.

Nicole Deggins is a sought after trainer, public speaker and community advocate working to eliminate perinatal disparities and bring transparency to prenatal education and the medical obstetrical system. Nicole provides education, training and consultations for communities, birth workers and organizations that work with child bearing families.

Nicole is the creator of The Birth Plan Myth™ and the Sista Midwife Birth Sister/Doula training. She is a board member of Community Birth Companion in Opelousas, LA and a consultant for the Global Infant Safe Sleep Center (GISS). She has provided guest lectures to public health students at Tulane and Xavier Universities and has provided training and consultation to many local and national birth agencies including Healthy Start New Orleans, Birthing Project USA, Birth Mark Doula Collective, The Intune Mothering Project, Birth Rite New Orleans, WIC and others.

Nicole received her BS in Nursing from Georgetown University, and completed a dual degree program at Emory University where she fulfilled the requirements for the MS in Nursing with a concentration in midwifery, and an MPH with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. During her clinical career, Nicole practiced as a midwife in Washington DC, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and has worked as a labor and delivery nurse in numerous public and private settings throughout the country.

Tackling coastal land loss in Louisiana through science-based environmental services including surveying, wetland delineation, permitting, planting, monitoring and analysis.

Kristen Butcher (Co-Founder)
Kristen Butcher has 10 years experience working on diverse environmental issues, both in and out of the coastal sector. While contracted by National Oceanagraphic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), she helped develop a website coordinating climate needs for member states within the Eastern Region. She worked in the private sector, completing wetland delineation for wind energy construction projects. Her main interest however has always centered around the coast. She received a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of California of Santa Cruz, where she was certified as an American Academy of Underwater Sciences Scientific Diver. Kristen completed an M.S. from Tulane University in Earth and Environmental Sciences and is contracted as a coastal scientist with a New Orleans based nonprofit, where she is involved with cypress reforestation and numerous other field based research projects.

Eva Hillmann (Co-Founder)
Ms. Hillmann is a PhD candidate at Louisiana State University and a professional coastal scientist with 10 years of experience working in coastal and estuarine ecosystems, with particular expertise in submerged aquatic vegetation habitats. She also has extensive experience working along the northern Gulf of Mexico, in freshwater wetlands to saline marshes. As a scientist for a local non-profit, Ms. Hillmann’s focus has been directed toward applied ecological research and monitoring related to the management and restoration of southeast Louisiana wetland resources. She is an accomplished field ecologist with over 1,000 working field days, and 5,000 hours piloting and trailering research vessels, including airboats. Ms. Hillmann has experience in management, analysis, and reporting of complex scientific data sets. She has worked with university academics, state and federal researchers, and with professional private‐sector consultants. Currently, Ms. Hillmann is finishing up her dissertation research in Baton Rouge, while working as the project lead on wetland tree restoration along the north and south shore of New Orleans.

Empowering teens in the Greater New Orleans area who are impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline by providing culturally accessible and trauma responsive yoga classes.

Bonita Day (Co-Founder)
Bonita Day is a Co-Founder of YEAH! YOGA. Inspired by her students, while teaching yoga to juveniles in a local detention facility, she co-founded an organization empowering adjudicated teens to excel and express their highest potential using the tools of yoga and mindfulness. Her goal is to be of service to her community by empowering our youth, with confidence that this intervention will instigate effective change to disrupt the stagnant social structures that create disparity. In addition to earning an MFA from Tulane University, Bonita trained to be a Yoga Instructor with Golden Bridge in India, has trained in Kundalini Yoga Therapy and has Trauma Informed Youth Yoga training through Project Peaceful Warriors, Street Yoga, Up2US Sports and YEAH! YOGA.

Camille Baldassar (Co-Founder)
Camille Baldassar hails originally from Pittsburgh PA, and has lived in New Orleans for the past 20 years. Her love of all things interdisciplinary motivated her to complete two Interdisciplinary MAs: one in Studio Art, Art History, and Literature, and a second in Organization Design and Renewal. Camille has 20 years experience working with opportunity youth in K-12 classrooms as an Artist and as a Literacy Consultant. As part of her dedication to creating programming that disrupts Louisiana’s school-to-prison pipeline, she co-founded Yoga 504 Youth, which empowers adjudicated teens through the beneficial tools of yoga and mindfulness. She is Trauma Informed trained, and currently completing her 500-hour yoga certification.

STEM Library Lab is a nonprofit equipment lending library that fosters academic success by providing teachers and students with access to equipment and support for high-quality active learning.

THE PITCH

STEM Library Lab is a nonprofit equipment lending library that fosters academic success by providing teachers and students with access to equipment and support for high-quality active learning.

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Todd Wackerman, Sarah Sievert
Todd Wackerman, Sarah Sievert
THE ENTREPRENEUR

Todd Wackerman is the director and co-founder of STEM Library Lab, and is a former Physics and Algebra teacher at public schools in New Orleans and Brooklyn. While teaching at Uncommon Schools, Todd helped his students raise their interim test scores to over 10% above the network average for Physics. Todd recently completed his MBA at Tulane’s Freeman School, and received his B.A. from Boston College in Political Science and History, and his M.A.T. in Science Teaching from the University of New Orleans. He feels most comfortable when surrounded by books or trees, and once finished 11th to last in the Boston Marathon. Recently, Todd was named as one of New Orleans “New and Notables of 2019” by Biz Magazine for his work with STEM Library Lab helping foster creativity and rigor in local science classrooms.