Our Team
Nellie Catzen • Executive Director
Nellie Catzen is a convener, connector, and capacity builder, who serves as Executive Director of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. From boardrooms to crawfish boils, Nellie seeks to create meaningful relationships to drive social change. Bringing in fifteen years of experience in community partnerships, program development, and nonprofit leadership, Nellie leads CBNO’s strategic direction, advocacy initiatives and programming.
In her last role as Program Director of Friends of Lafitte Greenway, she became known for developing joyful, impactful, and community-centered programming, including the Greenway Ambassador Program, which serves as a model for equitable community engagement in urban parks and trails nationwide. Prior to that she served as a Fox Leadership Fellow at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, where she focused on strengthening the organization’s services to immigrants and refugees.
Nellie graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. She’s at her best when dancing to live music on the streets of New Orleans.
D.D. DuBois • Organizer & Storyteller
D.D. DuBois is an organizer, an activist, and a cultural preservationist serving as CBNO’s Community Organizer and Storyteller. For fifteen years, D.D. has worked in the nonprofit sector to help connect people in remote areas with avenues to create social and political change. Through this work, she has helped build cultural preservation and equitability initiatives on Native American reservations all across the country and within remote rural communities and villages abroad. Currently living in New Orleans, D.D. now researches how activism meets culture in historical Black cities of the Deep South.
Board of Directors
Damian Clark • Co-Chair
Propeller
A New Orleans native, Damian is the Strategic Project Manager for Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation. He aims to focus on public policy, community engagement, capital access, and entrepreneurship in which he envisions equitable outcomes for his community. During his tenure with New Orleans City Council, he has experience in non-profit & local government administration, where he helped support many legislative initiatives across the New Orleans area. Damian is a proud graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, where he earned his bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in Operations & Entrepreneurship and his MBA from Loyola University at New Orleans.
Damian is a National Black MBA Association member, Urban League of Louisiana Young Professionals, and Youth Leadership Council member. In his free time enjoys attending music concerts & festivals.
Josh Zuckerman • Co-Chair
Humana
Josh currently serves as the chief of staff for Humana’s Gulf States region where he helps oversee the Medicare Advantage operations for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.Prior to joining Humana, Josh served in numerous positions in state and local government. Josh started his government career as a Legislative Aide to New Orleans Councilmember Susan Guidry where he focused on criminal justice reform and the public safety budget. After a brief stint working at the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office, Josh joined the Cantrell administration as Director of Research and Policy helping pass the mayor’s “Fair Share” deal increasing taxes on hotels and short term rentals and dedicating those funds to the first ever Infrastructure Maintenance Fund. He also played supporting roles in other policy areas such as property taxes, local sales and use tax, affordable housing, and infrastructure.
Josh is a native of Baton Rouge. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in 2011 and received his Juris Doctorate and Master’s of Business Administration in 2017. He lives along the Lafitte Greenway with his wife, two kids, and dog. He can often be found shopping at the mid-city farmers market on Thursdays.
Danielle Scott Parker • Treasurer
PFM
Danielle Scott Parker, is a Director with PFM’s Management and Budget Consulting (MBC) practice and co-director of PFM’s Center for Budget Equity and Innovation. Danielle specializes in providing equity, budgetary, and financial analysis, reviewing municipal operations and developing multi-year financial plans to help municipal governments overcome their fiscal challenges. Specializing in integrating equity, she helps clients develop long-term blueprints for fiscal, economic, and community sustainability.
In her work, Danielle advises public sector clients nationally on a broad range of organizational, budget and equity strategies including the American Rescue Plan Act, budgeting for equity, implementation of equitable strategies across local government, and stakeholder engagement in public sector decision making.
Danielle is also the Founder and CEO of the Leverage Collective where she provides consulting and coaching to clients navigating corporate and professional environments.
Danielle relocated to New Orleans in 2015 and resides in the Gentilly neighborhood with her husband Jordan. She is a board member for Youth Run NOLA and is proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Danielle received her bachelor’s degree in in Political Science from Howard University.
Samantha Fleurinor • Secretary
New Orleans Food Policy Action Council
Samantha Fleurinor, a native of South Florida, manages the direction and operations of the New Orleans Food Policy Action Council (NOLA FPAC), the flagship regional council of the emerging Louisiana Food Policy Action Council (LA FPAC). Samantha combines design thinking and social justice frameworks to empower individuals and organizations to co-create community-driven solutions across social issues and to promote systemic change. With 8 years of experience that span the fields of higher education, art equity, wealth equity, and now food policy, Samantha has acquired skills in program management, anti-oppression facilitation, partnership development, research, and communications. Samantha’s training includes the Water Center for Systems Thinking and VISIONS Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, with focuses in Finance and Classical Studies, and a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from Tulane University.
Sam is passionate about visiting art museums, reading as many books as possible, learning Haitian Kreyol, and cooking and sharing food with friends.
James C. Baker • Board Member
New Orleans City Council
James C. Baker is a New Orleans native and currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement for Council President At Large, JP Morrell.
His start in politics started in 2016, when he began serving as the Neighborhood Engagement Office Liaison and Faith-Based Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office under the leadership of Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu. During this time, he served as the interim director of the Civic Leadership Academy (CLA),and host of the Neighborhood Summit. In his roles in City Government, he has created capacity building opportunities for community partners and resources for them to grow.
Before serving in local government, James was the Chair of Religious Affairs for the New Orleans Branch of the NAACP where he arranged meetings in religious communities to address the problems and social concerns in the community. James was also selected to the 2018 Cohort of Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans (EPNO), 2018 Youth Empowerment Project 40 Under 40, Loyola University's Institute of Politics, Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee (OPDEC), Congressional Black Caucus Institute and the New Orleans Louisiana Public School (NOLAPS) Transition Team. James also manages the JPeridot Enterprise, LLC, a campaign strategy consultancy.
Mandi Cambre • Board Member
Historic New Orleans Collection
Mandi Cambre is the Director of Development at The Historic New Orleans Collection, where she works to build community and resources to support the exhibitions, programs, and educational initiatives of the world’s largest holder of objects and materials related to the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South.
She has over a decade of fundraising experience, including leading local development work for several regional and national nonprofits and as a consultant. She is also an accomplished fundraising speaker and facilitator. A proud South Louisiana native, Mandi holds a BA in English from Louisiana State University, a MLA from Tulane University, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She is a graduate of the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum (2014), EPNO (2014), NOLABA Economic Ambassadors (2019), NLC (2020) and NORLI (2022). In addition to CBNO, she currently serves on the boards of AFP-GNO and The Sassyracs.
Mandi lives in Gentilly with her husband, two daughters, and her cat. In her free time, she enjoys knitting and distance running.
Kelsey Foster • Board Member
Algiers Economic Development Foundation
Kelsey Foster is the executive director of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation. Her career has focused on civic engagement, public finance, and economic policy. Ms. Foster worked as a staff member of the Committee for a Better New Orleans from 2013 to 2019 where she led the organization’s municipal budgeting program and previously worked as the communications coordinator for the New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance.
She holds a bachelor's degree in print and multimedia journalism from Emerson College, a professional certificate in public finance from the University of Chicago and is completing a Masters of Public Service at the University of Arkansas. Ms. Foster is a resident of Algiers Point and serves as the Past-President of the Algiers Point Association, an At-Large board member of Old Algiers Main Street, and a Commissioner with the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West. She is a graduate of the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum, New Leaders Council, and in the current cohort of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. Ms. Foster is originally from Franklin, PA.
Rianne Egana • Board Member
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust
Rianne Egana is an accomplished Vice President Commercial Lender with Gulf Coast Bank & Trust with a heavy focus on building banking relationships, networking, and community outreach. She has 25+ years of an extensive financial consulting background which helped countless small business owners and individuals with business growth, lending, and success expanding their opportunities.
Through her drive and willingness to always help others excel, she also founded her business B2B Waymaker which is geared towards serving underprivileged minority youth, and young adults gain access to tutoring, life skills sessions, and motivational seminars to assist with personal development and career readiness. She is also working with Thrive New Orleans helping BIPOC, and re-entry citizens with job placement, financial literacy, and credit solutions.
Rianne is currently attending Tulane University furthering her educational growth, and a graduate of Formidable Coaching Institute where she holds several certifications as a Certified business development coach, Certified life skills coach, and Certified youth readiness coach.
She is an active Member of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.
Julie Grantz • Board Member
Ochsner Health Network
Julie Grantz is the VP Value-Based Insights for Ochsner Health Network in New Orleans. Her career in the health industry has focused on value-based care, which brings together physicians, hospitals, and insurers to create patient value by improving health outcomes and ultimately lowering the total cost of health care. Ms. Grantz worked for Peoples Health from 2001 to 2019, where she led medical risk management for seven Independent Physician Associations. Ms. Grantz holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Auburn University and a master’s in business administration from Tulane University. Ms. Grantz is a graduate of the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum, a past co-chair and current Board member of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. She is also a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Forum and a past chair of the Hynes Charter School Gala Planning Committee. Ms. Grantz and her husband reside in Lakeview with their two children.
Mithun Kamath • Board Member
Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman Sarver, LLC
Mithun B. Kamath is Of Counsel at the law firm of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman Sarver, L.L.C. He previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer and Deputy Chief of Appeals at the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office.
He is a New Orleans native and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 2004 and Tulane University in 2008. He obtained his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2013.
Mithun is a graduate of both the Committee for a Better New Orleans’ Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum (2018) and the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law / United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Nancy M. Marsiglia Institute of Justice (2019). He is currently a Board Member of the Gentilly Terrace & Gardens Improvement Association, an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and a Louisiana Advocacy Ambassador for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
C.C. Kahr • Board Member
The Pro Bono Project
C.C. Kahr is the Executive Director of The Pro Bono Project where she is responsible for the overall administration of the organization’s activities. Working closely with the Board of Directors, staff, and community partners, C.C. oversees Louisiana’s largest pro bono organization, which provides civil legal aid to under-served residents of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Washington, St. Tammany, and Plaquemines parishes through the recruitment, training and mentoring of over 1,500 volunteer attorneys, law students, and private citizens.
C.C. obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in History and Women’s Studies from Stony Brook University. She is an adjunct instructor at Tulane University where she teaches Latin American History. Prior to joining The Pro Bono Project she was the Executive Director of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and worked at the New Orleans Bar Association as its Program Director.
Anna Nguyen • Board Member
Office of Resilience & Sustainability
Anna specializes in strategic planning and communications, intergovernmental relations, community engagement, emergency management and disaster response, and volunteer management. In her current role, Anna works to develop policy and projects that advance resilience and sustainability priorities in New Orleans, craft communication plans to build coalitions of support, and secure funding from federal, state, and philanthropic grant programs as part of the Federal Infrastructure Task Force.
She previously served as the Public Engagement Director at the City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, where she oversaw the NOLA Ready emergency preparedness campaign, including: emergency alerting & crisis communications, community engagement & outreach related to disasters, access and accessibility, and the NOLA Ready Volunteer Corps. With over a decade of professional experience and a grassroots community lens, Anna has led numerous trainings on volunteer management, community engagement and outreach, and strategic and crisis communications to nonprofit organizations, city networks, and professional development programs. Anna is a native of New Orleans and currently serves as Logistics Chair for her dance krewe Sassyracs.
Alex Perdomo • Board Member
Edward Jones
I grew up in Metairie, and I am proud to help those in my community to prepare for reaching their financial goals. As a local, it is important to me that our hometown is as best served as possible.
Metairie has been my home for my entire life. After leaving East Jefferson High School in 2010, I received my bachelors from LSU and an MBA from Tulane. For the past five years, I have watched our community grow as a project manager in the commercial construction sector, and now, I am here to help our neighbors grow financially.
I have been blessed with a saint of a wife and an angel of a daughter. In the fall, you find us cheering for the Tigers on Saturdays and the Saints on Sundays. Meanwhile, we spend the rest of the year letting music and food fill our lives.
Andrew Wlos • Board Member
Uber
Andrew is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans and a resident of Central City. He is passionate about New Orleans, its people, its culture, and its significance.
He works as a Senior Account Executive for Uber where he oversees the process of bringing new restaurants and multi-location brands onto the Uber Eats App in the City of New Orleans and the entire Gulf South Region. He is enthusiastic about driving business prosperity and thoroughly enjoys helping restaurant stakeholders grow their businesses by adding delivery capabilities and online ordering to their repertoires.
Oftentimes, Andrew’s role with Uber involves him working 1-on-1 with merchants who are looking to use online ordering tools and software products for the very first time. Andrew’s favorite part of his work has been the exceptional opportunity to help the beloved merchants of New Orleans embrace technology and open their doors to the digital world.
Outside of work, Andrew can be found appreciating and celebrating the city’s vibrant spirit.