My Journey and Exciting News about New Orleans!

To start my blog this week, I wanted to point out an amazing article that ran in Entrepreneur Magazine in August 2009 – “The New Orleans Saints: In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a new entrepreneurial culture is taking hold in New Orleans.” Check out this article at http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/august/202586.thml

Anyone who has an interest in the city I love, will enjoy how vibrant and alive the city is because of fresh ideas and leadership.

As promised, this blog will also take everyone on a journey - a journey of my life and how life can go full circle when you have the passion and determination to soar. Who hasn't taken a chance in life to experience something new and exciting? If you haven't try it, you will love it! Even bumps along the journey will give you new insight and experience. Those of you who know my history, know how much I love the city!

Oh yeah, don't forget this weekend is Voodoo Fest in City Park...amazing line-up of music and food. Check out my friend and nolahotfirefighter.com Mike Gowland and his food booth...not only a firefighter doing an amazing job in the city, but also cooking up a storm at festivals...you can catch him at jazzfest too!



GEAUX SAINTS BABY!



My Journey Into River Life

I was in college studying to be a history major with a focus on Ohio history when a job opportunity became available on the Delta Queen. I decided that working on the boat would give me a greater first-hand experience of the history and legend of an American Icon than I could ever learn from a textbook in college.
The evolution of my career with the Delta Queen Steamboat Company took many twists and turns along the way. I have never regretted for one minute any of the choices I made as far as advancements and promotions during my career. Each position gave me more insight, more experience and more of a complete understanding overall of what it takes to make the Delta Queen successful.

When I was originally hired my position was Crew Purser. The Crew Purser position very quickly evolved into the position of Tour Purser. Within a short period of time, I was offered the relief Chief Purser position. Within a year, I was asked to become the relief Cruise Director.

The Delta Queen’s Future Changes as the Boat is Sold to a Private Investor

When Sam Zell, a private investor, purchased the company, he sent a representative on the boats to discuss jobs in the office. His intention was to move the corporate headquarters to New Orleans and combine it with Marine/Hotel division. He wanted people in the office who understood the boats, had a passion for them and would understand the living conditions that crew members endured. I was approached to revamp the shore tour operation and accepted the position to move off the boat. This gave me the opportunity I had dreamed of -- to live in New Orleans.

From Cincinnati to New Orleans, the Relocation and Restructuring of the Delta Queen Under New Ownership

Once the office was relocated, I was given the task to drive the entire river system and set up tours, guides and motor coaches. The revenue for shore tours was very low and I was given the task to increase sales and offer a variety of options. By the time I revamped the tour program, our sales increased 70% in one season. My next position was to Manager of Production. In this capacity, I worked directly with the VP of Production as the project coordinator and associate producer. I worked as the road manager for a promotional road show which included the coordination of the cast, crew and technical production staff

My Evolution into the Entertainment Industry

The next promotion was to Manager of Entertainment. In this capacity I worked directly with the Director of Entertainment with the hiring of the entertainment staff. I also implemented and developed operations manuals for all theme cruises on the boats. During this time, I was directly involved in the building and staffing of the American Queen and also the transition of the company to include the American Hawaiian Vessels. During my time in the office, I spent the majority of the time on the boats travelling and observing the programming. In 1992, I was offered the position of Director of Entertainment, reporting directly to the Vice-President of Entertainment.

Entrepreneurship in Florida

After leaving DQSC; I started my own business in Pensacola, FL. The Good Neighbor Coffee House was a full service coffee house, deli, and gift shop. One on one contact with the customer was my priority. A book called, “The Great Good Place,” by Dr. Ray Oldenberg, inspired the concept for the coffee house. He said that in life you have three places – your job, your home and you must have a third place to experience community. My coffee house had the honor of being selected as one of the “Third Place Success Stories” the second book published by Dr. Oldenberg. My coffee house definitely created community and was the first coffee house in the city. I also used my special event planning skills to host poetry readings and other programs with entertainment at the coffee house.

Focus on the Arts

My relocation to Cincinnati was based on having a daughter whose talents exceeded the opportunities available in Northwest Florida for a dancer. Special event work became my passion when I relocated to Cincinnati. With a daughter in a public performing arts school, it quickly came to my attention that money was needed to keep artistic staff. I immediately took the challenge of finding the funding to support the cause. While working my day job at Schiff, Kreidler-Shell Insurance, one part of my current job entails employee events. I decided that the best way to attract benefactors to the school was to feature students at each employee event I planned. I started with the dance department performing at our company wide Fine Arts Fund Event Day. Next came the service dinner where I featured the jazz department, followed by the harp department at the Holiday Luncheon. By the end of this, I had the President of company asking how he could help. In 2008, I organized “A Winter Wonderland of Talent and Sweets” where we raised over $56,000 to keep artistic staff. The event included every artistic department in the school and the overall net profit was $50,000. Through creative planning, I have increased employee contributions for the Fine Arts Fund Campaign and the United Way. I also was able to obtain a 100% employee participation in both campaigns.
As you can see from my experience I have covered a wide range of positions and over the years developed a deep devotion and dedication to my passions – the arts, the Mississippi River and the city of New Orleans.

Why I created this blog....

New Orleans, Take Me Back To The City I Love!

Back in 1980, the Crescent City took my heart। I was a young single girl working for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company when I first saw the skyline of the city and it took my breath away. From the moment I stepped onto Canal Street I knew I had found my true home. This was a city of life, a city of vibrant people, happy people, people who lived each day to the fullest and appreciated every moment, these were people who loved the Saints no matter how bad the team (which we all know is not the case now WHO DAT!) And the music, my ears discovered WWOZ.ORG ( 90.7FM) a public radio station that brings the soul of the city to your ears!

By 1992, I had a daughter and decided to leave the city to raise her in Pensacola Florida. Later Hurricane Ivan in 2004 put a closure on our time in Florida and my daughter wanted to pursue a high school career at a performing arts school in the field of dance. She selected Cincinnati, Ohio another city on the river. In May of 2009, she graduated high school and I determined it is time to restart my life, living where I want live in the city I love and giving all I have to my passion.

What is my passion, the city of New Orleans! I want the world to know how amazing the city is and what we have to offer. Let us not be remembered because of Katrina, let us be remembered as the "city that care forgot, and we survived and thrived!"

Up next: My journey through life, it will come full circle when I return to New Orleans.

For anyone who is near the Covington, LA area visit the Courthouse Cafe at 415 N. Jefferson. Hours Mon-Fri 10:30 - 2:30, phone: 985-327-5303 or fax: 985-327-5305. Owners: Lindy and Janice Sanders. Recommended item: Fried Green Tomatoes w/Shrimp Remoulade Po-Boy.

Also check out some amazing photography from New Orleans, France, Washington State and Norfolk VA at www.davidcarlgrulke.com . Let me know if you are interested in any of his work.

For music in the Crescent City: Look for Tom Hook you can find his listing at Gambit.com or on WWOZ music update.