Nine Locals Honored by WPO and 100 Black Men
100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, Inc., in partnership with the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), recently honored nine local women with the 2017 Women of Color Achievement Awards for outstanding professional achievement and exemplary community service.
The honorees include Lorraine Dinvaut – Marriott Moxy New Orleans Hotel; Michelle Gobert – Image 360 New Orleans; Tara Hernandez – JCH Properties; Dr. Jarrett Johnson – Primary Eye Care; Teresa Lawrence – Delta Personnel, Inc.; Luz Lobos – Synergy Design Group; Marian Pierre – Crescent Guardian, Inc.; Joaneane A. Smith – Global Commerce and Services, LLC; and Iam Tucker – Integrated Logistical Support, Inc.
Lawrence and Lobos are also members of the New Orleans chapter of WPO, a national peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million dollar companies.
Sponsored by UPS, Act-1 Group, H&S Resources Corporation, SDI International, and Xtreme Solutions, the ceremony took place on Nov. 29, at the Renaissance Arts Hotel.
“Building strong and vibrant communities is a priority for us at UPS. We understand the power of small businesses to improve people’s lives. I would like to congratulate the Women of Color Award recipients and thank the Women Presidents’ Organization and 100 Black Men for recognizing the outstanding contributions of these enterprising women,” said Charlene Thomas, president of UPS’ Mid-South district.
All award recipients were identified by the 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, Inc., in collaboration with the New Orleans chapter of the WPO.
Jeff Hebert leaves City Hall, Judy Reese Morse named new CAO
Deputy Mayor, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Resilience Officer Jeff Hebert recently announced that he will leave his post in mid-December to become the vice president for Adaptation and Resilience of the Water Institute of the Gulf.
Hebert has served as deputy mayor and CAO since Aug. 15, 2016. In this capacity he has overseen the day-to-day administration of City Hall, including the development and management of the city’s budget and the oversight of several departments. Hebert was appointed chief resilience officer Nov. 6, 2014. He began his tenure with the Landrieu Administration in August 2010 as the director of Blight Policy and Neighborhood Revitalization. Hebert also led the development and implementation of the Mayor’s Blight Reduction Strategy, which was awarded a 2012 Bright Idea Award by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
To succeed Hebert as CAO, Mayor Landrieu has appointed Deputy Mayor of Citywide Initiatives Judy Reese Morse. Morse has overseen the city’s work on murder reduction efforts, racial reconciliation and economic opportunity since 2014.
“As the longest serving senior member in my administration, Judy is an experienced and respected leader widely-recognized for her high-level strategic thinking, planning and execution,” Mayor Landrieu said. “She will ensure that the remaining priorities across all departments are met and that we finish strong on behalf of the people of New Orleans. Her ‘people first’ approach to government will serve as the foundation for her work in the Administration’s remaining months.”
Morse expects to make an easy transition into her new role.
She said, “It is an honor to be appointed (CAO) for the city of New Orleans. In my various leadership roles since 2010, I have always worked closely and well with the CAO’s office to ensure continuity in services across city government. As the Landrieu Administration nears its end, I look forward to working with the city department heads to continue to provide the day-to-day services the public expects and to support an organized, professional and seamless transition to the next administration.”
Morse will also continue overseeing the transition between Mayor Landrieu’s Administration and Mayor-Elect LaToya Cantrell’s Administration to establish an open line of communication between the two teams.
Morse’s professional experience includes work in the government and media sectors. Morse began serving in New Orleans city government in May 2010, at the start of the Landrieu Administration.
Before joining city government, Morse led Transition New Orleans, the organization that transitioned the Landrieu Administration into office.
Delgado Community College Names New Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development
Arlanda Williams has been named vice chancellor for workforce development and institutional advancement at Delgado Community College.
In her new position, Williams will have senior administrative responsibility for the areas of workforce development, which provides job training services and continuing education, and institutional advancement, which includes college-wide public relations, marketing, development, alumni affairs and support services for the Delgado Foundation. Also under her leadership are the Delgado Maritime and Industrial Training Facility, the Workforce Center of Excellence, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and several major federal grants. There are about 40 full-time employees in the division.
“It is an absolute pleasure and honor to be selected by Delgado Community College leadership, faculty and staff to join Louisiana’s largest and oldest community college in this critical role,” Williams said. “As we advance toward Delgado’s second century of service to our city and our region, I look forward to working side-by-side with our community members and leaders to enhance awareness and support for the college, as well as providing targeted, effective workforce development for regional business and industry.”
Williams is currently serving her second term as the elected representative of District 2 on the Terrebonne Parish Council and has been re-elected to serve her third term on the Terrebonne Parish Council. Williams was the first female elected to serve as chair of the Terrebonne Parish Council and has served three times as chairwoman of the Council. She is active in numerous local, state and federal organizations.
Williams is a graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, having earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a master’s degree in criminal justice, and is also 2014 graduate of Southern University at Baton Rouge with an executive master of public administration degree. She is a graduate of Leadership Terrebonne 2007.
