May has always been a special month for me. The season is changing, the school year is winding down, calendars are filling with graduations and celebrations, and Mother’s Day gives us a reason to pause and think about the women who shaped us, raised us, encouraged us and, in many cases, showed us what strength looks like long before we had the words for it.
For me, May carries another kind of meaning. This issue marks the anniversary of my acquiring Inside Northside and becoming the fourth female publisher of this magazine.
When I stepped into this role, I understood I was inheriting more than a publication. I was becoming part of a story that had already been written by talented, determined women before me. Each one left her own imprint on these pages and on this community. To now have the privilege of continuing that work, especially in a place I love so much, feels both humbling and energizing.
Every May/June Women in Business issue, I am reminded that success rarely looks as effortless as it appears from the outside. Behind every polished headshot and professional title, there is a woman who has made hard decisions, taken risks, started over, pushed through doubt, carried more than people realized and kept going anyway. Some are building companies. Some are growing family businesses. Some are leading nonprofits, schools, hospitals, creative studios, law firms, restaurants, real estate offices and organizations that make the Northshore stronger.
What I love most is hearing the stories behind the résumés. They remind us that business is never just business. It is families, payrolls, ideas, service, community investment and the courage to put your name on something and make it work.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day this month, I also think about how many women are building while mothering, caregiving, mentoring or simply mothering the world around them in the way women so often do. The work is visible in some places and invisible in others, but it is everywhere.
This May/June issue is a celebration of that work. It is a tribute to women who lead with intelligence, grit, generosity and vision. It is also, in a small way, a love letter to the magazine that gave me the opportunity to tell their stories.
Thank you for reading, for supporting Inside Northside and for continuing to believe in the women who help shape this community.
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INSIDE NORTHSIDE
MAY-JUNE | VOL. 42, NO.3
PUBLISHER
DESIREE FORSYTH desiree@insidepub.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
SALES DIRECTOR
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EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR
MARGARET RIVERA margaret@insidepub.com
BUSINESS MANAGER
JANE QUILLIN jane@insidepub.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
JULIE NAQUIN
MEGHAN LABORDE
RACHEL KINCHEN
SOCIAL MEDIA
MAL NICHOLSON
CONTRIBUTORS
MARIANNE RODRIGUEZ Page 12
985-626-9684
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Our contributors give Inside Northside its voice, its personality and its feel. We are proud to highlight a few of them so that you can put a face with a name and get to know them.
KAREN GIBBS
Longtime contributor to Inside Northside Karen Gibbs is a wife, mother and grandmother who relishes the freedom and variety that comes with freelance writing. From lifestyle articles for TODAY.com to health and education pieces for a New Jersey family magazine, her subjects are ever changing and always challenging.
MIRANDA MOORE
Miranda is a freelance writer and her work has covered many different topics such as relationships, disabilities, and health and wellness. She has written blogs for the Iris Dating App, articles for Array Magazine, and more. When she’s not writing, Miranda enjoys a good book, hot tea, and spending time with her partner and dog.
EDITORAL CONTRIBUTORS
Zachary Cavaretta, Damon Drake with Habitat for Humanity, Raegan Moeller, Abby Photo, Bellus Photography, Kati Morse Lebreton, Lettuce Media, Mal Nicholson, Northshore Community Foundation, Fran Songy, and Visit the Northshore
Coloring a Life in Motion:
The Art of Marianne Rodriguez
By: Miranda Moore
Photos courtesy of Marianne Angeli Rodriguez Gallery
Marianne Rodriguez’s day starts with greeting her three cats, one of which is a black cat affectionately named Graffiti. What follows may be a prayer or the making of a to-do list to get her in the mindset to create. There may be incense or essential oils wafting through the air to set the mood.
“It’s really important to start the day on a positive note because that dictates how the day is going to go,” she says.
Rodriguez’s journey into the art world is anything but conventional. Anyone would be surprised to learn that she is not formally trained, because her vibrant canvases tell a different story, bursting with confidence and color. When she talks about her creative process, her eyes light up and her hands dance in the air, as if she’s already painting.
She has two degrees she is not using. At one point in her life, she thought she would follow in her parents’ footsteps and pursue a diplomatic career. The other option was fashion design. Marianne explains how she got here:
“I still craved a creative outlet that was different from what I was doing. So, I would illustrate and freelance for a New Orleans bridal magazine. Everything just grew from there. I got bored with working small, and one day I bought a canvas and some paint and played around, and I fell in love with the manipulation of color.”
She never studied color theory, but she was fascinated by the way colors worked and what made them harmonious. The act of blending colors became a passion. She even custom-mixes her own colors and keeps them labeled and stored in a binder.
“I feel called to share the color,” she explains. “When people walk into the gallery space, they just light up.”
From there, business grew, and she will mark nine years this May. But she says two different artists are battling for supremacy in her mind.
“I go through phases in my creative process where I crave more control,” she says. “I may want more defined lines, clearer shapes or more representational subject matter. And then I’ll go through seasons where I want to be really messy.”
Marianne has tried to paint darker pieces, but she has never released them. They do not reflect the messages she wants to convey.
“I’m really searching to bring a liveliness to people’s spaces.”
Rodriguez also dabbles in mixed-media art from time to time. While her heart belongs to large-scale painting, she has an inquisitive spirit that keeps her exploring. Every year, Marianne makes a point of pushing her artistic boundaries by experimenting with a new medium.
Lately, her studio table has been scattered with the tools of jelly print painting. This hands-on technique involves pressing a gelatin plate onto paper or fabric. Armed with a brayer, a rolling brush, and a set of custom-made stencils, she layers colors and shapes to create unique, one-of-a-kind monoprints. These vibrant 12-by-16inch artworks support a wonderful cause. The proceeds go to the Covington Public Art Fund.
Before settling in the United States, Marianne and her family traveled all over the world because of her parents’ careers. Each new country and culture left an imprint on her, weaving a tapestry of experiences that now finds expression in her art. These journeys have influenced Rodriguez’s creative vision, infusing her work with a vibrant, worldly perspective.
Her art is a vivid reflection of those travels and childhood memories. Her black-and-white pieces, for example, echo the striking contrasts she observed during her time in West Africa. She speaks fondly of Guatemala, where the explosion of handwoven textiles and their intricate patterns left a lasting impression. Incorporating those warm hues and distinctive designs, Marianne creates work with an unmistakable eclectic flair.
As a child, she was captivated by artisans and would often watch their skilled hands transform raw materials into something beautiful. This early fascination with craft and detail continues to shape her creative process today. Above all, color remains the heartbeat of Marianne’s art. She draws inspiration from the lush palette of the subtropical climates she has called home, infusing her canvases with the energy and vibrancy of those landscapes.
Rodriguez’s educational background has also shaped her professional life. Her time in public relations developed her communication skills, enabling her to connect more easily with customers. The presence of her brick-and-mortar shop in Covington encourages her to treat all clients, customers and visitors with warmth and familiarity, as if they were longtime friends. Marianne’s experience in design has been crucial to her artistic growth. She emphasizes that understanding composition is essential, and that mastering balance, along with the ability to edit and refine her work, were important skills acquired during her pursuit of a fashion degree.
The size of Covington and its strong sense of community allow Rodriguez to move at her own pace. “There’s so much freedom in that,” she explains. She compares the scale of Covington with the much larger hustle-and-bustle culture of New York City.
“I wouldn’t be able to do what I do here in a place like New York. There’s a momentum that you must keep up with. Living in Covington and on the Northshore is vital for me to thrive as an artist.”
Rodriguez elaborates further on the community in Covington and the role it plays in her art.
“When you’re part of a community and know most of the business owners surrounding you, there’s a more crucial commitment to delivering a certain caliber of work and experience. There’s a sense of pride in that community, and I always try to put my best foot forward when representing it.”
The community seems to have returned that positivity to Rodriguez in spades. She tells the story of someone from her church recognizing her artwork while visiting their husband in a cancer treatment facility.
“That meant so much to me. Not because they recognized it, but because it was placed in a place of healing where people really need it. You never know who is appreciating it and what chapter of their life they are in.”
Marianne says she wants to bring liveliness to people’s spaces, and that is exactly what her work does. Whether bringing a pop of color
I feel called to share the color. When people walk into the gallery space, they just light up.
to a cancer treatment facility or to a person’s living room, Marianne Rodriguez’s art brings smiles and color to people’s lives.
If you want to check out Marianne’s artwork for yourself, she holds a showing of her work every year that is not for commission. The show usually consists of pieces that follow a specific theme. That theme will be peacocks this upcoming May.
The showing is appropriately titled Splendor and will be held at Paradise in downtown Covington on Thursday, May 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. This will be a curated event with live jazz. Tickets go on sale in April at www.rodriguez.art.
The same collection will be open to the public at Rodriguez’s own gallery at 323 N. Columbia St. in Covington. This showing will be held Saturday, May 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. Marianne will showcase new art at Covington’s White Linen event on Aug. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Finally, there will be a showing at The Loyola Art Show in Mobile, Alabama, from Aug. 20-22.
MAY
STAA Presents Love in the Face of ALS: A Photographic Journey
April 11–May 27, Wednesdays–Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; opening reception April 11, 6 to 9 p.m.
Experience a deeply personal exhibition by New Orleans photographer Rusty Costanza, whose recent ALS diagnosis reshaped both his life and creative process. Featuring intimate black-andwhite images captured with a small fixed-lens camera, the collection reflects resilience, connection, and the power of storytelling through adversity. Curated by former Times-Picayune photo editor Andrew Boyd, the exhibition raises awareness for ALS and honors the caregivers who support those affected. Admission is free.
320 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-8650, sttammany.art
Mandeville Family Reunion
May 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrate Memorial Day weekend at this community lakefront picnic featuring live music, patriotic tributes, family activities and food trucks along the Mandeville lakefront. Guests are invited to bring picnic setups and enjoy a full day of entertainment, games and community connection beneath the live oaks. Admission is free.
Lakeshore Dr. near Coffee & Carroll Sts., Mandeville, (985) 264-3014, heroesathome.net presented by
Gail Hood: A Retrospective of Landscape Paintings
April 20–May 30, Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore a retrospective of landscape paintings by Covington artist and educator Gail Hood, whose work captures the beauty and spirit of the Gulf South.
Spanning a decades-long career, the exhibition highlights both her artistic legacy and her influence on generations of students. An opening reception will be held April 25 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
A Taste of Covington Food, Wine, Music & Art Festival
May
1–31
Celebrate Covington’s vibrant culinary and cultural scene during this monthlong festival featuring wine dinners, tastings and special events at local restaurants. Guests can enjoy multi-course meals with
curated wine pairings, along with signature experiences including Festa del Vino, a global whiskey tasting and the Grand Tasting. Events are reservation-only, and seating is limited. Ticket prices vary by event.
Covington, (504) 439-2543, atasteofcovington.com
Playmakers Theater presents Neil Simon’s Chapter Two
May 2–17, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m.
Neil Simon’s bittersweet comedy follows novelist George Schneider as he attempts to rebuild his life after loss and is encouraged to reenter the dating world. When he meets Jennie Malone, a divorced actress with her own emotional history, the two discover that second chances at love are never simple. Blending humor and heart, this autobiographical work explores grief, vulnerability and hope. Tickets are $15–$25.
Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in true Southern style along the river at Tchefuncte’s Derby Day. Guests are invited to dress in their finest race-day attire for an afternoon of elevated Southern fare, handcrafted cocktails and festive competition, including a Best Dressed Contest and betting token experience. Admission includes a signature cocktail, passed hors d’oeuvres and a commemorative souvenir cup. Tickets are $65 per person.
407 St. Tammany St., Madisonville, (985) 323-4800, louisianarg.com
The
Lobby Lounge Listening Room Concerts
May 8, and June 11, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Experience an intimate listening room concert featuring singersongwriter Grace Russell on May 8 and a New Orleans rhythm and blues group blending jazz, swing, and early rock, The Jump Hounds, on June 11. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and seating is limited. Tickets range from $22–$116.
100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (985) 781-3650, harborcenter.org
Dew Drop Jazz Hall Concert
May 9, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Celebrate live jazz under the stars at the historic Dew Drop Jazz Hall, featuring performances from acclaimed regional and international artists. Guests can enjoy indoor listening-room seating or an outdoor lawn experience beneath the oak trees. Admission is $15 for adults and free for students and children.
430 Lamarque St., Mandeville, dewdropjazzhall.com
Jazz’n the Vines Concert Series
May 9, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Head to Wild Bush Farm & Vineyard for an evening of live music under the stars as part of the Jazz’n the Vines series. Guests can enjoy wine tastings, food trucks and a relaxed outdoor concert atmosphere. Picnic seating is encouraged, and outside alcohol is not permitted. Tickets range from $5–$32.
81250 Old Military Rd., Bush, (985) 892-9742, wildbushfarmandvineyard.com
Mandeville Food Truck Festival
May 9, 4 to 8 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of local flavor at the annual Mandeville Food Truck Festival featuring a wide variety of food vendors, craft booths, live music and family-friendly activities including a bounce house. Admission is free.
Spend the afternoon exploring local art, live music, food and
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artisan booths at the Scenic Rivers Art Festival hosted by Giddy Up Folsom and Far Horizons Art Gallery. The event features live entertainment by the Silver Lining Band and an open gallery exhibit. Admission is free.
Turn up the volume at Olde Towne Metal Fest, a high-energy all-ages music festival featuring 10 regional bands, local brews and food vendors. The event celebrates Louisiana’s heavy music scene with a full day of performances and community spirit. Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for children under 10.
153 Robert St., Slidell, (985) 201-7075, facebook.com/Staugustbrewco
Mandeville Artists Guild
Spring Art Market
May 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Browse original artwork, meet local artists and enjoy live music and food at this open-air art market held at the Mandeville Trailhead. The family-friendly event welcomes children and pets for a relaxed afternoon of creativity and community. Admission is free.
Tour historic Old Mandeville during this annual Mother’s Day tradition featuring the Jean Baptiste Lang House, Newell Chapel and five additional private homes opened exclusively for the event. Guests will explore architecturally significant properties while supporting preservation efforts for local historic landmarks. Admission is $25 in advance and $30 day of event.
Step into an intimate evening unveiling Splendor, a new collection by Covingtonbased artist Marianne Angeli Rodriguez. Hosted at a hidden rooftop cocktail lounge in downtown Covington, this immersive experience blends fine art, live jazz, curated bites and cocktails in a limitedcapacity setting. The collection features richly detailed, jewel-toned peacock imagery. This is a 21+ event. Tickets are $135.
411 E. Gibson St., Covington, (985) 238-0842, rodriguez.art
Northshore Naturalist Weekend Workshop
May 15–17
Immerse yourself in the natural world during this overnight field and classroom workshop at Fontainebleau State Park. Participants will explore native wildlife and ecology through guided instruction led by Louisiana Master Naturalists, along with hands-on field experiences and overnight camping. Registration is limited to 20 participants, ages 18 and up. Admission is $60.
Enjoy an evening of Louisiana roots music at Abita Springs Town Hall featuring live performances from regional artists, plus a pre-show porch set beginning at 5:45 p.m. The Opry blends traditional acoustic music with community spirit, followed by an informal jam session at the Abita Brew Pub. Admission is $20.
22161 Level St., Abita Springs, (504) 214-7777, abitaopry.org
Splendor Art Opening — New Collection by Marianne Angeli Rodriguez
May 16, 5 to 8 p.m.
Celebrate the debut of Splendor, a new collection by Covington artist Marianne
Angeli Rodriguez, featuring opulent, jewel-toned peacock-inspired works. Guests are invited to an open gallery experience highlighting beauty, abundance and creative expression in an intimate downtown setting. Admission is free.
323 N. Columbia St., Covington
Third Sunday Concert at Christ Church
May 17, 5 p.m.
Experience a free classical piano performance by Dr. Quifan Wu as part of Christ Episcopal Church’s long-running Third Sunday Concert Series. The program features works by Schubert, Lyadov, Granados and Liszt, followed by a reception for attendees. Admission is free.
120 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, (985) 892-3177, christchurchcovington.com
Some Enchanted Evening with Northshore Community Orchestra
May 17, 5 to 7 p.m.
Enjoy a relaxing evening of live orchestral music along the bayou at Slidell’s Heritage Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and refreshments for this outdoor performance featuring the Northshore Community Orchestra. Admission is free.
Experience a full day of Cajun and Creole cooking competition, live music and local culture in Historic Olde Towne Slidell at the annual Cast Iron Cook-Off. Watch chefs and home cooks prepare traditional Louisiana dishes ranging from gumbo and jambalaya to pralines and bread pudding while competing for top honors. The festival also features Artist Alley, Boutique Alley, a Kids Zone and a food court. Admission is $20 for ages 12 and up and $5 for ages 11 and under.
Enjoy three days of hot air balloons, carnival rides, live entertainment, food and craft vendors at the Washington Parish Balloon Festival in Franklinton. The family-friendly event includes balloon displays, tethered rides and nightly entertainment, offering a full weekend of festival fun. Admission is $5.
100 Main St., Franklinton, wpballoonfest.com
PRIDE Northshore Parade & Block Party
May 30, 4 to 10 p.m.
Celebrate Pride Month in Old Mandeville with a full day of events including a Pride Market, parade and block party featuring live entertainment, local vendors and community organizations. The parade begins at the lakefront and ends at the Mandeville Trailhead, followed by an evening celebration. Admission is free.
Experience an immersive dance performance exploring the landscapes, folklore and cultural history of Louisiana’s wetlands. Through choreography and original sound design, Native Swamp reflects on the connection between people and place in the bayou region. Tickets are $25.
June 4–21, Thursdays–Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m.
Based on the hit film with music by Dolly Parton, this fast-paced comedy follows three office workers who team up to take
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control of their workplace and challenge their overbearing boss. Filled with humor, heart and high-energy music, this production celebrates friendship and empowerment. Tickets are $32.
2635 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, (985) 236-8800, evangelinetheater.com
Classics on the Boulevard Car Show
June 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Enjoy a morning of vintage vehicles and family-friendly fun at TerraBella Village in Covington featuring more than 60 classic cars displayed along TerraBella Boulevard. Guests can stroll the walkable town center while enjoying a DJ, food and beverage vendors, and a lively community atmosphere. Admission is free for spectators, with vehicle entry available for $30.
111 Terra Bella Blvd., Covington, (985) 871-7171, events@terrabellavillage.com
Bogue
Chitto Youth Fishing Rodeo
June 6, 7:30 to 11 a.m.
Bring young anglers to this annual fishing rodeo at Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, designed for kids ages 4–15. Participants receive bait, a T-shirt, lunch, and prizes, with fishing held during Louisiana Free Fishing Weekend so no license is required. The event is limited to the first 120 registered youth and includes loaner poles if needed.
70242 Atlas Rd., Pearl River, (985) 882-2025, lwrfriends@gmail.com
Northshore Robotics STEM Fest
June 6, time TBD
Explore hands-on STEM activities as robotics, drones, and interactive exhibits take over Rev. Peter Atkins Park in Covington. Families can engage with student teams, local nonprofits, and live demonstrations showcasing engineering and innovation. Admission is free, and the event also supports meals for underserved families.
701 N. Tyler St., Covington, (985) 777-1812, BoardPresident@NorthshoreRobotics.org
CLAPS Presents “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.”
June 12–20, 10 a.m. performances (select days)
Follow Alice through Wonderland in this student production filled with beloved Disney songs and whimsical characters like the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat. Presented by CLAPS, the show highlights youth performers gaining hands-on theater experience through a long-running arts education program. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students.
Brooke It Forward Foundation Celebrates Birthdays & All That Jazz
June 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy a brunch fundraiser featuring live jazz, bingo, silent auction, and brunch at the Covington Country Club benefiting children in crisis. Guests are encouraged to dress in brunch chic attire in blue and gold while supporting birthday celebrations for vulnerable children. Tickets are $135 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10.
200 Country Club Dr., Covington, (985) 900-2433, info@ brookeitforward.org
30 by Ninety presents “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”
June 13–28, showtimes vary
This musical comedy follows the story of the Chicken Ranch and its clash with media scrutiny and small-town politics, featuring classic songs like “Hard Candy Christmas.” Performances run weekends with reserved seating available in advance. Tickets range from $25–$32.
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”, A fast-paced comedic take on all of Shakespeare’s plays performed in under two hours by student actors. June 18-21, and “Finding Neverland”, June 25-28, This musical tells the story behind Peter Pan, following playwright J.M. Barrie as he discovers inspiration through a widowed mother and her children. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for students.
View more than 350 juried quilts from across the Gulf South along with vendors, demonstrations, appraisals, and raffles at this regional quilting showcase. The event highlights a wide range of quilting styles and techniques and includes food trucks and boutique handmade goods. Admission is $12 per day or $15 for a two-day pass.
100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (985) 781-3650, gulfstatesquiltingassociation@gmail.com
Larry Brew Fest & Homebrew Competition
June 27, 4 p.m. (early entry 3 p.m.)
Enjoy one of the Northshore’s most popular beer festivals featuring more than 200 craft and homebrew samples at Pelican
Park’s Castine Center in Mandeville. Guests can taste offerings from regional breweries, vote in a People’s Choice homebrew competition, and enjoy live music, food vendors, and local craft booths. The event also benefits Northshore Humane Society, with adoptable pets on site and proceeds supporting animal rescue efforts. Admission is 21+ only and includes beer samples, with designated driver options available.
Celebrate America’s birthday early at the Slidell Heritage Festival, an evening of live music, food, family activities, and fireworks at Heritage Park in Slidell. Gates open at 5 p.m. with live entertainment beginning at 6 p.m., leading up to a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Guests can enjoy food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and a kids’ activity area throughout the night. Proceeds benefit multiple local charities supported by the Rotary Club of Slidell. Admission is $15 for ages 13+, free for children 12 and under.
Cat lovers take over the Fleur-de-lis Event Center for a full day of feline fun at Louisiana Cat Fest in Mandeville. The event features adoptable cats, vendor booths, educational sessions, contests, themed photo ops, and interactive experiences like Kitty Yoga. Guests can also enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, and a VIP Cocktail Pawty benefiting feline health research. Proceeds support organizations advancing treatments for feline diseases and improving animal welfare. Admission varies by age, with family and VIP packages available.
1645 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, (985) 788-4322, info@louisianacatfest.com
Fish.Crab.Explore
The Great Outdoors in Lacombe
June 27, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Get outdoors with hands-on fishing, learning stations, and family-friendly activities at this interactive outdoor education event in Lacombe. Participants can explore fish identification, pond ecology, and fishing demonstrations while learning about Louisiana’s waterways. Fishing is allowed with a valid license for ages 18+, and shuttles will be provided from designated parking areas. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on-site. No outside food, drinks, or gear allowed. Admission is free.
Lacombe, (985) 882-1314, office@lacomberec.com
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Moving Soles and Souls
By Karen B. Gibbs
They are part dance team, part sisterhood, part cultural legend. Northshore women’s parade groups bring color, humor, heart, and serious stamina to the route, creating communities that extend far beyond carnival season. Bad Moms That Dance, Lollipops, Bionic Babes, Dancers of Hope, and The Mande Milkshakers show just how much life can grow out of a little music and a lot of movement.
Bad Moms That Dance: Cultural Reset
Bad Moms That Dance is officially more than just a parade team with top-tier choreography. With 300 members and a waitlist of 5,000 (yes, you read that right), it’s evolved into a service-oriented community and full-blown cultural phenomenon.
The team is an outgrowth of Moms That Dance, a dance studio launched in 2021 by Whitney Hebert and Alyse Renz. Their hip-hop classes are curated for women in their 30s and 40s who are desperate for a “third space” that’s just for them. “These classes give off a clubbing vibe but just for women,” Whitney says. It’s a literal joy-sparking zone where women can drop the “mom/boss/wife” labels and just exist. In this environment, the confidence boost is real. And for many, it’s been life-changing.
Take Kassie Miele, for example. She joined during a particularly hard season of life, looking to find herself again after a major personal loss. “Not being a dancer, I was terrified,” Kassie admits, “but I was so ready to do something to pull me out of the headspace I was in.”
Moms That Dance ended up being the healing journey she needed. “Women are natural givers,” Kassie says. “Dancing is a way to hit the
refresh button and refill our own cups, to do something good for ourselves.” She found her people in this sisterhood where celebrating each other is the whole point.
But they aren’t just dancing for instagram. They’re putting in the work. All 300 members are active volunteers, and 90% of them give five times the required service hours. They’re out there supporting community lifelines like Hope House, Safe Harbor, Habitat for Humanity, and One Way Love. Their signature gala, the Mom Prom, raises funds for Lynnhaven Retreat.
When the group decided to take their energy to the streets, the parade team, Bad Moms That Dance, was born. Clad in varsity jackets, custom jerseys, and Nike Panda Dunks, these women are completely redefining the “parade team” aesthetic.
That authentic energy clearly struck a chord; the team ballooned from 60 to 300 members in just two years. They’ve even formed a 40-member pro-team that performs at events like the Hammond Air Show and Night Out Against Crime, and most notably - London’s 2026 New Year’s Day Parade.
Photo credit: Sherri Lynn photography – front from left to right: Amy Green, Whitney Hebert, Gia Hebert, Alyse Renz, Kassie Miele
After being scouted at the Irish-Italian parade in Chalmette, the Bad Moms were invited to take their routine across the pond. The performance was a smash, catapulting the group to international fame.
For Kassie, that moment was everything. “I’ll never forget when the confetti cannons went off. We were dancing on a world stage. It was easily one of the most beautiful moments of my life.”
Right before they hit the route, Whitney reminded the squad of the magnitude of what they’d achieved: “There are professional dancers who train their whole lives and never get an opportunity like this. Celebrate yourselves, because we did it!”
Bionic Babes, Dancers of Hope: Giving in High Gear
The Bionic Babes, Dancers of Hope are more than a sassy dance team. They are a 501(c)(3) sisterhood of cancer survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and supporters bound by resilience and a shared mission to spread hope.
For founder Gina Pausina Cherry, creating the group became a way to reclaim joy after years marked by profound loss. Within five years, she was diagnosed with cancer, lost her son in a fatal car accident, and lost her father to COVID.
“Those years were really tough for me,” says Gina, who first imagined starting the team after finishing cancer treatment in 2017. “That’s why the team did not get off the ground until 2022.” When it finally did, Gina built it around the same principles that carried her through her own fight: exercise, good nutrition, and support. “This brought purpose and meaning to my life and gave me back that spark.”
That sense of renewal runs through the organization. Bionic Babe and board member Kathy Williams, a vibrant 70-year-old, cared for her mother for 12 years and is now caring for her husband. “Joining Bionic Babes was a turning point in my life,” says Kathy. “My involvement and the camaraderie and friendship of these ladies have played a significant role in healing my emotional wounds, including grief.”
The Bionic Babes perform in parades throughout the year, including Mardi Gras, Christmas, and St. Patrick’s Day. Among the most moving parts of those appearances is the role of the “Bitty Babe,” a child with cancer who becomes the group’s celebrity guest.
Gina feels a particular kinship with those children because of her own experience with childhood illness. “All they know is sickness,” she says. “As a Bitty Babe, we give them a joyful memory, some hope, some happiness. They ride in a convertible wearing a beautiful outfit.”
Costumes are color-coded to represent each lady’s role. Lavender: survivors and their wig colors depict the cancer they battled; turquoise: healthcare professionals; plum: caregivers/supporters; yellow gold: child survivor
Babes in the Krewe of Carrollton Parade with their honorary 2026 Bitty Bionic Babe III, Lily Zaatar
Front left to right: Kassie Miele, Brooke Parks, Karen Crawford
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In shorter parades, such as the Christmas parade in Mandeville, Bitty Babes may walk and hand out candy canes or the group’s signature throw, a glittered bell that echoes the bell many cancer patients ring at the end of treatment. “During parades, we give out the bells when ‘Ring My Bell’ plays and when we see ‘We Love the Bionic Babes’ signs,” says Gina.
Not every Bionic Babe dances. Members can also take part in the group’s community service events, including Bras for a Cause, Ochsner’s Rooftop Rendezvous, CALA Camp Challenge children’s summer camp, and Dr. Saux’s Pirate Party Pub Crawl.
One event Kathy especially loves is Hugs for Kids, a style show for children with cancer or disabilities. “The children ‘walk’ the red carpet in wheelchairs or with somebody,” says Kathy. “It warms my heart to see all these kids with their family and friends cheering them on.”
For more information, contact Gina Pausina Cherry at 504-650-3910, visit bionicbabesdancersofhope.com, or follow Bionic Babes, Dancers of Hope on Facebook and Instagram.
Parade in Walmart Supercenter in Covington with Bitty Bionic Babe I, Julianna Cotton & Bitty Bionic Babe III, Lily Zaatar
Lollipops: Sweet on the Route
Lollipops founder Judith Perez left a popular parade group to form her own part-time troupe in 2021, wanting a schedule that left more room for family life. “Lollipops march in six Mardi Gras parades, one Veterans parade, the Lollipops Christmas parade, and one Celtic parade. Then we’re off for 4-5 months,” says Judith.
That balance is part of the appeal, but the season itself is no joke. The team begins building stamina with twice-weekly practices in August. “We may be marching in a six-mile parade, but by the time you add
in the dancing, you’re doing 12-13 miles,” Judith explains. “That’s because they dance non-stop.” When the parade stalls, the group keeps the energy up with crowd-pleasers like “YMCA,” “Cupid Shuffle,” and “Mardi Gras Mambo.” “We do dances people know so they’ll come join us, and they do!”
That spirit is a big part of what sets the Lollipops apart. “We have a ton of fun,” says Judith. “When people call our name on the parade route, it gives me a high. You have to hold me down.” One of the group’s
Lollipops at Lundi Gras.
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biggest fans is a little girl who dresses like the Lollipops and regularly cheers them on with “I Love Lollipops” signs. That kind of support still gets to Judith every time. “It’s the most humbling, amazing experience and we never take that for granted.”
The group’s signature event is the Lollipop Christmas Parade in downtown Covington. Made up largely of school groups, the one-mile parade includes Santa, golf carts, Jeeps, and Mustangs. Paradegoers bring canned goods, which “elves” collect and load into a Northshore Food Bank van. “Last year we collected over 200 pounds of food!”
The Lollipops also perform and volunteer at community events throughout the year, including Madisonville Elementary’s Fall Fest, the American Legion Hall event, the Halloween Spooktacular, the Veterans Parade, and Reach.
New York transplant Ruth d’Arrego first saw the Lollipops at a Mardi Gras parade in Covington in 2023. “I thought they looked cute,” says Ruth. “I was new to the area and didn’t have any friends here, so I reached out to them.”
Today, Ruth helps with social media and serves on the Christmas parade committee. At her suggestion, the Lollipops promoted last year’s Christmas parade with an ornament scavenger hunt the week before. “It was fun and amazing,” says Ruth, “so in April, we’re having a social to make ornaments for next year’s scavenger hunt.”
For Ruth, being part of the Lollipops has brought friendship as much as fun. “They are my best friends.” When Ruth’s husband passed away two years ago, the group showed up for her in the ways that mattered, calling, helping, and bringing food.
If being a Lollipop sounds like a sweet deal, learn more at www. lollipopsmarchinggroup.com. There are no tryouts, just a willingness to put in the time and energy. Training takes place twice a week from August through January and may even spill into impromptu dancing in downtown Covington or nearby neighborhoods.
The Mande Milkshakers, one of the Northshore’s first all-women parade teams, got their start in a way that now feels almost unbelievable.
Founder Tina Rhinehart had seen dance groups parading in New Orleans years earlier and imagined something similar on the Northshore. But as a busy mom, teacher, and student, she let the idea sit until 2016, when she mentioned it to three friends. Their response was immediate: Let’s do it.
Tina emailed parade krewes about a women’s dance group with a 1950s vibe. To her surprise, the Krewe of Dionysus said yes. There was just one problem. The parade was three weeks away, and Tina had almost nothing in place: no dancers, no routines, no costumes, no DJ, and no equipment. What she did have was nerve and a name: Mande Milkshakers. It was playful, memorable, and just cheeky enough.
She put out a call for dancers on Facebook. Thirty women said yes, many of them family members, including Tina’s mother-in-law. Then came the scramble. Tina found costumes on Amazon, tracked down a DJ with sound equipment, and got a banner made.
Twenty-seven Mande Milkshakers danced in that first parade. “It was a total mess,” confesses Tina. “But it was addictive.” The group went on to perform in two more Carnival parades that year. “We didn’t want to stop, so we did a couple of St. Patrick’s parades, too.”
Somewhere along the route, the group became more than a parade team. It became a sisterhood. Tina wanted that energy to mean something beyond the parade route and suggested helping Miracle League build an adaptive baseball field for children with special needs.
She asked the group’s 1,500 Facebook followers to give $1 each. The response was immediate. “Then we planned a charity ball and it took off from there.”
Ten years later, the Mande Milkshakers have 87 active members. Along with dancing in 14 parades, they use their visibility to support causes including Crawfish for a Cause, Heart Walk, the Special Needs Pageant, Mande Milkshakers High Tea, Safe Harbor, and the Seafood Festival. “We book one event a month but members do not have to participate in every event,” says Tina. We know everyone has responsibilities.”
Jamie Straughan, a 10-year Mande veteran, joined the group in search of friendship. “I’d given all my time raising my kids and teaching. I was ready to do something for me,” says Jamie.
“I’d seen the Mandes perform and knew they were my people. It was the best decision I ever made,” she says. “I’ve made so many friends. And when we’re parading, there’s something about those polka dot dresses. I feel like a rock star.”
One of Jamie’s favorite moments comes during what the group calls its “confetti moments,” when all 87 Mande Milkshakers toss confetti at once. “The crowd goes wild,” says Jamie. “It’s such a vibe.”
Tina has her own explanation for the group’s appeal. “It’s peacocking. It’s living out loud—showing off your big, bright beautiful colors in every way.”
And that, really, is the Mande Milkshakers: excitement, fun, and a little glamour, brought to every parade and plenty of places beyond it.
Mande Milkshakers make their debut with the Krewe of Orion in Baton Rouge.
She Didn’t Find the Right Room, So She Built One
DESI ALLUMS, FOUNDER EMPOWER HER LIFE
Desi Allums spent over two decades in sales and leadership learning one quiet truth: the room you’re in shapes what you believe is possible for yourself. High-performance environments have a way of setting a standard, then holding you to it.
What she kept noticing, outside of those environments, was that most spaces designed for women didn’t work the same way. There was warmth. There was connection. But the conversations often stayed at the surface, and the relationships rarely went anywhere meaningful. Women were showing up, but they weren’t necessarily growing.
In 2023, she decided to do something about it.
EmpowerHER Life started as a local gathering — intentional, elevated, and built around the idea that women deserve more than a night out with a name tag. The events were wellattended from the start, but what stood out to Desi wasn’t what happened during the events. It was what happened after. Women stayed in conversation. They started talking honestly about business challenges, financial stress, leadership struggles, relationships. They weren’t looking for more social experiences. They were looking for somewhere to grow.
That feedback changed everything.
EmpowerHER Life grew into what Desi calls a developmentdriven ecosystem, a community where expectation and support live in the same space. Women inside the community began starting and scaling businesses, stepping into leadership, and making decisions with more confidence. The outcomes became visible, and they pointed to something bigger.
The numbers tell part of the story. Around 1,800 women start businesses every day in the United States. Within five years, a significant portion of those businesses close.
Female founders receive roughly 2% of venture capital. These aren’t just funding statistics — they reflect a deeper infrastructure gap. Women are building, but often without the consistent access to mentorship, peer networks, and professional proximity that accelerate real growth.
For generations, men have had environments designed to create that access. Professional clubs, shared workspaces, and informal networks have quietly generated referrals, partnerships, and capital in the background. The equivalent for women has been scattered, underdeveloped, or missing entirely.
The Female Foundry is Desi’s answer to that gap.
Designed as an integrated hub — part coworking space, part professional community, part business institute — The Female Foundry is built for women who are serious about what they’re building and want an environment that takes them seriously too. Work and development happen in the same place. Education connects directly to execution. Relationships are designed to move beyond conversation and into collaboration. The model isn’t theoretical. EmpowerHER Life has already demonstrated what changes when women
are placed in the right environment with the right structure around them. The Female Foundry gives that a permanent home — and a foundation that can be replicated in cities across the country.
To launch the first location, EmpowerHER Life is raising $180,000 in initial capital to support the buildout, operations, and first phase of programming.
Desi has never waited for someone to open a door she needed. She’s spent her career building things — teams, cultures, businesses, and now a community that has already changed the trajectory of hundreds of women’s lives. The Female Foundry is the next chapter of that work.
The vision is clear: create environments where women have access to structure, proximity, and real opportunity. Then expand that model to every city that needs it. She built the room. Now she’s building the system that lets other women walk into it.
For more information, visit empowerherlife.network.
North Oaks Leaders Jessica Bennett and Rami Nelson
North Oaks Health System Chief Ancillary Officer Jessica Bennett and Chief Quality and Health Equity Officer Rami Nelson believe healthcare leadership is about purpose, people, and creating change that truly matters.
Jessica Bennett, DBA, LOTR, FACHE, began her career at North Oaks in 2011 as an occupational therapist. She rejoined the health system in 2018 as regional director of the North Oaks
Physicians Group, also serving as administrative chief of staff before becoming Chief Ancillary Officer in 2023.
Rami Nelson, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSMBB, transitioned from pediatric nurse to healthcare leadership, holding several quality, patient safety, and risk management roles from clinical operations to director. Most recently, she served as the national director of quality, patient safety, and clinical risk
management for Tenet Healthcare, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, before joining North Oaks as Chief Quality and Health Equity Officer in 2024.
What inspired you to go into healthcare, specifically healthcare leadership?
Jessica: I was drawn to healthcare because it’s one of the few fields where the work truly matters every single day. What inspired me to move into healthcare leadership was realizing that I could make a broader impact behind the scenes—not just on individual patients, but on the systems, teams, and processes that support care delivery.
Rami: I was always someone who wanted to learn more and do more. I wanted to understand the bigger picture. Why policies existed, how decisions were made, and how improvements could happen. I’ve always believed that growth comes from saying yes to learning, even when it stretches you. That mindset really shaped my journey in healthcare leadership.
What
is your favorite part of your current job?
Jessica: The opportunity to bring people together and help teams overcome barriers so we can work more efficiently and effectively. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing an idea move from discussion to action, and then watching it create meaningful, real-time improvements for both staff and patients.
Rami: The ability to be innovative, to think outside the box and pair that creativity with change leadership. I really enjoy sitting down with teams, identifying problems, and developing solutions that help people.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
Jessica: That leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about listening. I’ve learned that leadership is about people first: trust, communication, and empathy matter just as much as decisions, metrics, and strategy.
Rami: The power of listening, truly listening. That means asking for feedback, listening to it openly, and then actually
doing something with it. Patients will tell you what they need. Staff will tell you where barriers exist. Communities will tell you where disparities lie—if you’re willing to listen.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a similar career path?
Jessica: My advice is to stay curious and never stop learning. Healthcare leadership can be challenging, but resilience, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to serving both patients and staff will carry you far.
Rami: Remember your purpose and stay anchored to your “why.” There will be moments when things don’t go as planned or when your path looks different than you expected. When that happens, staying true to why you started in the first place matters most.
How do you create work-life balance?
Jessica: For me, work-life balance starts with my family. I’m intentional about protecting time with them and creating routines that allow us to slow down and be present together. Those moments ground me and give me perspective.
Rami: I don’t think work–life balance is about evenly splitting your time 50-50. Instead, I think it’s about being intentional with the time you do have. Even when my husband and I have limited time together, we focus on making that time meaningful. It’s also important to create intentional “me time,” whatever that looks like for you.
If you could pick one thing for people to know about North Oaks, what would it be?
Jessica: We are a community-driven, family-centered organization. North Oaks is part of the fabric of this region, and the people here care deeply about the neighbors we serve.
Rami: North Oaks is filled with people who genuinely care about this community, and it shows. Look at the generations of people who work here, who choose to stay here. To me, that speaks volumes about the impact our organization has in our community as we continue to grow.
Restore Health & Wellness Built Around Better Care
JESSICA BOSCH AND ALISON THORNHILL
There is a reason people feel at ease when they walk into Restore Health & Wellness, and it begins with Alison Thornhill and Jessica Bosch.
Both nurse practitioners, Alison and Jess did not set out to build something big. They set out to build something better. At the time, both were working full-time in healthcare and seeing patients on the side, making room for that work whenever they could. It wasn’t about making a big move. It was about caring for people in a way that felt more responsive and aligned with their own standards.
“We just wanted to take care of people the right way,” Jess says. “Nothing fancy. Just real care.”
Restore didn’t expand because of a plan on paper. It grew because patients kept asking for more. More time. More access. More options that made sense under the same roof. Instead of sending patients elsewhere, Alison and Jess expanded the practice around those needs.
Today, Restore offers a broad range of services, from primary care and chronic condition management to wellness support, hormone balancing, and peptide therapy. They’ve also added aesthetic services and massage therapy, creating a space where patient care is notably comprehensive.
That range is part of what distinguishes the practice. There are few places on the Northshore where this level of medical care, wellness support, and aesthetic treatment exists under one roof, led by nurse practitioners who stay directly involved.
“If it didn’t make sense for our patients, we didn’t add it,” Alison says.
The addition of Direct Primary Care has been especially significant. For patients accustomed to hurried appointments and fragmented communication, the difference is immediate. There is time to ask questions, time to follow up, and time to be known beyond a chart.
“It shouldn’t be hard to talk to your provider,” Alison says. “That’s the part that never made sense to us.”
What stands out most isn’t just what they offer. It’s how they do it. They remember what’s going on in your life. They check in. Nothing feels rushed.
“We’re not trying to be anything we’re not,” Jess says. “We just show up and do the work.”
It all works together because it was built that way, step by step, based on what their patients needed and trusted them to provide.
Even with everything they’ve added, Alison and Jess are still hands-on, still involved, and still paying attention to the people who walk through their doors every day.
It’s the kind of place people come back to, not because they must, but because they want to.
Anvoi Hospice Care Leading with Compassion
ANGELIQUE RICHARDSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
For Angelique Richardson, hospice care is where mind and heart meet.
She began her career in public accounting, work she found both challenging and rewarding, but it did not fully answer what she was looking for. A Tulane commencement speech helped clarify that search.
“In a Tulane commencement speech, the Dalai Lama said that without the heart, the mind is useless, and it defined for me something for which I was searching,” she says.
She found that calling in health care, and more specifically, in hospice.
At Anvoi Hospice Care, Richardson leads with a clear sense of mission: to support the caregivers who guide patients and families through one of life’s most difficult passages. While many people avoid conversations around death and dying, she believes hospice offers something far more meaningful than most realize.
“Nearly half of those eligible never access it, often simply because they
don’t fully understand what it offers. Our mission is to educate our communities about what Hospice is so they can access this benefit. One thing I wish more people understood about hospice is how much choice, dignity, and support it offers, far beyond the common myths about death and dying,” she says.
That belief is reflected in Anvoi’s name, derived from the French word envoi, the final stanza of a poem. For Richardson, hospice allows patients and families to shape that final stanza in a way that reflects their own values, priorities, and wishes.
Success, for Richardson, is also measured internally. She takes particular pride in mentoring team members and helping them grow professionally through education and advancement.
“Each of those individual success stories feels like a personal win for me too,” she says.
Ultimately, her work is grounded in protecting both the dignity of patients and the extraordinary people called to care for them.
Lauren K. Navarre Leadership with Impact
Lauren K. Navarre has built her career around one central belief: strong businesses help shape strong communities.
As co-founder of Arena Collective, Lauren has helped build a law firm and title company centered on the growth of businesses in St. Tammany Parish and beyond. The firm’s work spans legal services, title, and real estate transactions, with an emphasis on practical guidance, lasting relationships, and steady support for entrepreneurs and investors.
That local focus is what gives the work its meaning for her.
“I am passionate about sharing the stories of the amazing entrepreneurs and clients we have in our community and helping each of them achieve their goals”, she says. What distinguishes Arena is not only its experience, but the way the firm approaches the people it serves.
“What makes us special is our relatable approach, combined with years of experience in the industry and strong partnerships,” she says. “At Arena Collective, clients are not just customers; they become friends, as the company prioritizes building lasting relationships based on trust and care.”
That emphasis on relationships carries into her approach to leadership. She serves in multiple civic and nonprofit roles across the Northshore and has made both
leadership and community involvement a visible part of her professional life.
Her ambitions for Arena remain closely tied to the future of the parish itself.
“We want to be part of building a better St. Tammany by contributing to the local ecosystem that empowers businesses to hire more local employees, develop and enhance local real estate, and contribute to our local organizations,” she says.
For Lauren, growth belongs as much to character as it does to career.
“Set out every day to be a better version of yourself,” she says. “Some days it’s professional; some days it’s personal. Just don’t stop learning.”
442 Fremaux Ave., Slidell, LA 70458 | 132 Terabella Blvd., Covington, LA 70433 | (985) 607-7630 arenacollective.com
John Stephens, Lauren K Navarre, Rebecca Norton Saucier, Jared Miguez LA-26-20442
The Heart of Cedarwood School
KATHY LEBLANC, PRESIDENT, AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE CEDARWOOD SCHOOL UNIQUELY SPECIAL
At Cedarwood School, it doesn’t take long to understand why families are drawn here. The atmosphere has an intentional spirit of community that Kathy LeBlanc has spent a career refining. As an educator and leader, she has implemented a model that reflects who she is: thoughtful, engaged, and tied to the quiet power of human connection.
For Kathy, the mission is to foster a landscape where children are encouraged to be curious, creative, courageous, and confident. It is a philosophy born from her own history. Having struggled to read as a child, she understood early on that school can be a place of friction rather than flourish. That experience stayed with her and became the reason behind what she’s created.
“I wanted to create a place where children genuinely enjoy learning, where they’re engaged, collaborating, and excited to grow,” she explains. “Connections with students, families, and colleagues make this work deeply personal. It’s the small moments that fuel my energy, watching a student suddenly ‘get it,’ seeing growth over time, knowing I played even a small role in a family’s journey.”
Kathy operates with clear confidence and trust in her administrative team. They support families, guide students, and help create the kind of environment people recognize as uniquely Cedarwood the moment they walk in. “I believe leadership lives at every level, and my role is to cultivate it, not control it. Shared purpose is everything,” she says.
When she isn’t molding the educational experience at Cedarwood, she finds her equilibrium in Pilates, gardening, and the coastal clarity of the beach. It is a life lived with intention, anchored by a simple, enduring truth: “It’s not about perfection. It’s about finding joy in the journey.”
607 Heavens Dr, Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 845-7111 | cedarwoodschool.com
Growing Together at Courtyard Bistro
PEMMIE SHEASBY AND KALI PELLEGRINI
At Courtyard Bistro, being a family business isn’t just something they say. It shows up in how they run the dining room, how they support each other, and how they grow.
Owner Pemmie Sheasby opened the bistro alongside her stepson and business partner, Michael Sheasby, with a shared vision. Today, a big part of that story is watching the next generation find their place in it. Pemmie’s granddaughter, Kali Pellegrini, has stepped into the front of house manager role, taking on the responsibility of leading the floor and the team.
“From the beginning, I knew this wasn’t just about opening a restaurant,” Pemmie says. “It was about building something that could grow with the people in it. Watching Kali step into this role has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.”
For Kali, the shift has been real. Working in a restaurant is one thing. Being responsible for it is something else entirely. “You have to be present for everything,” Kali says. “It’s more than managing the floor or checking on tables. It’s making sure the team is working together and that our guests feel taken care of, even when it’s busy.”
That culture of teamwork is Pemmie’s nonnegotiable. “This only works if we work together,” Pemmie says. “No one person makes a restaurant successful. It takes every single person doing their part and supporting each other.”
While Pemmie provides the roadmap, she’s given Kali the space to find her own footing. It’s a delicate balance of mentorship and autonomy that has allowed Kali to develop a leadership style of her own.
“She gives me the space to figure things out, but I know she’s there if I need her,” Kali says. “That’s helped me build confidence and step into the role.”
As a family business, that shared growth is intentional.
“We’re building something together,” Pemmie says. “If we do it right, it’s something that will last for everyone who’s a part of it.”
At Crosspoint, Care That Grows With the Community
At Crosspoint Veterinary Hospital, care is measured not only in medicine, but in the way people and their animals are treated from the moment they walk through the door.
For Dr. Christie McHughes Barr, that approach has shaped a practice built on trust, consistency, and a genuine respect for the bond between pets and their families. Veterinary medicine, in her hands, is as much about listening as it is about diagnosis, with time taken to understand both the animal and the owner sitting across from her. “Our goal is simple: to provide the best care possible for our furry companions,” Dr. McHughes confirms.
What began as a single practice has grown alongside the community it serves. With the addition of Village Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Christie McHughes Barr has expanded her reach while holding onto the same steady philosophy that defined Crosspoint from the start. Growth, for her, has been about making thoughtful care more accessible without losing the personal touch clients have come to expect.
“We want people to feel like they’re being heard,” Dr. McHughes says. “Every pet is different, and every family is different. Taking the time to understand both makes all the difference.”
Much of the practice has grown through word of mouth. One family tells another, and over time those relationships become the foundation—familiar faces, known pets, and a level of trust that can’t be rushed.
In a field that can drift toward efficiency at the expense of connection, Dr. Christie McHughes Barr has built something steadier. A place where growth hasn’t changed the heart of the work, only widened its reach and strengthened the connections that keep people coming back.
That balance shows in the details. Appointments are not rushed. Conversations are clear and honest. Preventive care is a priority, but so is helping owners feel confident in the decisions they make, whether routine or more complex. There’s a quiet steadiness to the way the team works, grounded in experience and a shared sense of responsibility. 70323 Highway 1077 |
(985) 888-1566
crosspointveterinaryhospital.com
The Hands Behind the Care at Focus Massage & Wellness
At Focus Massage & Wellness, growth has been gradual but intentional. What began with Candy Welch working one-on-one with clients has become a small team serving both Covington and Mandeville, with each therapist bringing a distinct strength to the practice.
For Candy, expanding the business was never simply about adding staff. It was about building a team she could trust completely.
“I have to trust them completely,” she says. “When someone walks in here, they’re not just booking a service. They’re trusting us with how they feel. That matters.”
That philosophy is evident in the way the team has taken shape.
Amanda Thompson has been with Focus for three years and is now one of its most requested therapists. Her work is therapeutic, with a focus on deep-tissue and lymphatic massage. Many of her clients return regularly because they feel a real difference over time.
Brooke Duplechin’s sessions are slower, more calming, and centered on helping the body settle while still addressing areas of tension.
Clients who are looking to relax but still need focused work often connect with her right away.
Sunny Hattan, who is available in the evenings and on Saturdays, blends orthopedic massage with an intuitive approach. She often works with clients dealing with chronic discomfort, as well as those who need a more flexible schedule.
Kasi Yaeger focuses on orthopedic massage along with basic craniosacral work on adults. Her sessions are specific and deliberate, often geared toward clients trying to work through a particular issue.
“Brooke and Sunny both trained with me,” she says. “It’s been really rewarding to watch them find their own style and confidence. They’ve put the time in.”
Each therapist brings her own strengths, but the standard does not change: to keep the experience consistent and make sure clients feel comfortable and well cared for.
It is a team she is proud of, one that has grown without losing the personal care at the center of the practice.
Grieve with Grace
ERICA MOREAU SCOTT
Grief is a universal human experience that can also be deeply isolating. Erica Moreau Scott, pre-planning counselor and grief support specialist at Grace Funeral Home, as well as founder of Grieve with Grace, has a simple mission: to offer authentic, meaningful support to those navigating loss.
“People often feel like they’re supposed to move on quickly or be strong for everyone else,” Erica shares. “But grief doesn’t work that way. It shows up spontaneously, and it deserves to be nourished.”
After years of working with families, Erica recognized a gap in traditional support systems. She saw a need for a more personal, localized approach and created Grieve with Grace—a program offering a safe, compassionate space for those navigating the complex aftermath of loss.
“This isn’t about fixing grief,” she says. “It’s about creating a place where people feel safe enough to experience it. My mom passed away when I was 24. I wish there had been a place for me to sit with others. Everything I found was faith-based, and I wasn’t in that place at the time.”
That experience shaped the inclusive way she supports the Northshore community today. She understands that healing requires a spectrum of emotions that don’t always fit into a neat box.
“People need a place to be sad, angry, hurt, to share guilt and hear others’ stories,” she says.
The power of the program lies in the shared experience of the group. “I’ve never left a Grieve with Grace meeting without taking something away,” Erica adds. “Sometimes one shared thought can change how you see your grief and help you move through the season you’re in.”
“There is no right way to grieve,” she says. “Baby steps. Just take it one moment at a time, and don’t feel like you have to do it alone.”
A monthly support group for healing after loss. For more information call (985) 502-1513 or email erica. scott@sci-us.com.
Meet Cate McCahill of Meribo
If an event at Meribo comes off without a hitch, with the room humming, the timing right, and the host free to enjoy the thing they planned, odds are Cate McCahill had a hand in it.
As Meribo’s private events and catering manager, Cate oversees everything from dinners in the restaurant to community events. In six years with the company, she has grown into a role that requires her to anticipate needs before they are voiced and solve problems before they become visible. She is composed, attentive, and exceptionally good at reading a room, whether that room is full of guests or exists only as a plan in a client’s mind.
Her favorite part of the process is working closely with clients to understand their vision. Many clients arrive with simply a feeling, a few preferences, a vague sense of what they want the evening to hold. Cate knows how to take those loose threads and draw them into a plan, allowing clients to enjoy the experience and carry memories with them long after the event ends.
That sensibility fits Meribo. Under owner Gavin Jobe, the restaurant has cultivated a kind of hospitality that shows up in the dining room, in the food, and behind the scenes, right down to “family meal” with the team before each shift. Executive Chef Joshua Taylor and his team bring precision and range to the menu, while the front-of-
house staff delivers polished service. Cate works in concert with both to ensure the experience feels seamless to the guest, even when a great deal is happening just out of view, a collaborative rhythm that extends to their other concept, The Jaybird at Covington Beer Garden.
She is constantly refining processes to make each event better than the last. The work is exacting, and she likes it that way. Give her a room, a menu, and a stack of decisions, and she will turn them into a flawless occasion.
Middle C Music
ANNA ZIMMER’S NEXT CHAPTER
There is something truly special about Anna Zimmer, about what she built, and how she built it. Long before Middle C Music had a physical home, she was already teaching with the kind of personal investment that set her apart.
When Inside Northside first featured her in 2019, Anna was leading Little Chopin’s Music Lessons, a company she founded in Denver and later expanded to Louisiana. Its model was distinctive from the start. Rather than asking families to come to her, she and her instructors brought lessons into students’ homes, creating a more personal and flexible music education, one built household by household and relationship by relationship.
Behind the scenes, the work was evolving. With years of teaching, performing, and training at Berklee College of Music, The Boston Conservatory, and in Paris, Anna was shaping a larger philosophy of teaching, and eventually it outgrew the structure that first housed it.
In 2020, during a period of significant life change, she closed Little Chopin’s and began again as Middle C Music. It was a time of rebuilding, both personally and professionally.
Today, the business has matured into a dedicated studio with a team of instructors and a broader range of offerings, including private lessons, group classes, workshops, camps, and quarterly performance opportunities.
“I’ve always wanted this to be a place where people feel comfortable,” Anna says. “Not just learning music, but growing in confidence.” You can feel that the moment you walk through the door. Students are supported, encouraged, and challenged in a way that is genuine and lasting.
Since that first feature back in 2019, Anna’s life has changed in visible ways. Her business has grown. Her personal life has entered a happier chapter. And the work itself has deepened. Through it all, one thing remained constant: She kept showing up. She kept doing the work. The shape of the business may have changed, but the force behind it did not.
Making the Grade
BETH ALFORD
At Northshore Technical Community College, Beth Alford has built her career around helping students see what they’re capable of. An Associate Professor of Mathematics and recipient of the Caleb David Page Endowed Professorship, she brings 36 years in education to the classroom, including the past 12 at NTCC.
A graduate of University of New Orleans and Louisiana State University, Alford holds degrees in secondary education, curriculum and instruction, and natural sciences. At her core, though, she is simply someone who loves teaching and learning. She understands that math can feel intimidating, and she works to replace that hesitation with confidence.
Her path into education was not a straight one. After exploring several majors, she found her place in teaching, pairing education with a minor in psychology. That foundation continues to shape her approach, with equal focus on how students learn and how they are supported along the way.
In her classroom, math is active. Through her endowed professorship, she has created a space built on collaboration and real-world problem solving. While the content may stay the same, her methods continue to evolve, and the shift shows in her students’ engagement and growth. “I’ve always believed that when students begin to see what they’re capable of, everything changes,” Alford says. “Math just happens to be the place where that starts for many of them.”
Alford’s impact extends beyond her own classroom. She shares ideas with colleagues, leads a faculty learning community, and presents at workshops and conferences. She also advises Phi Theta Kappa and supports campus life through student involvement. Through initiatives like Math Measures Up, a Chevron-supported outreach program that brings younger students to campus for hands-on STEM experiences, she helps spark interest well before college begins.
For Alford, “Building Futures” is more than a message. It is the work itself—helping students recognize their potential and carry it forward into their lives and communities.
5229 Pinnacle Pkwy Ste 25 Covington, LA 70433
(985) 259-5934
https://www.sbnurseink.com/
A Different Kind of Restoration
NURSE INK
Inside Sola Salon in Covington, Sheree Cuevas is doing work most people don’t realize is even an option, yet for those who find her, it can shift how they see themselves.
Through Nurse Ink, Sheree specializes in paramedical tattooing, including scar camouflage, stretch mark treatments, inkless scar revision, and areola restoration. It’s not about changing how someone looks. It’s about helping them feel more at home in their own skin.
Some clients come in after surgery, still adjusting to a body that feels unfamiliar. Others have lived with scars for years and are ready to stop seeing them first. There’s often a quiet hesitation when they arrive, but it fades quickly.
Sheree is easy to talk to. She listens, asks thoughtful questions, and takes her time with each person. She understands that for many clients, this isn’t just about skin, it’s a personal part of their identity. Skin tones are matched carefully, creating results that blend naturally and don’t draw attention.
Her training reflects that level of care. Sheree is master trained through United Ink Academy and trained with Cover Up by Jenny, known for advanced color theory and FOLLICURE. She was the first in Louisiana certified in FOLLICURE and uses Nue Reader technology to achieve precise, natural results.
Whether she’s softening the appearance of a scar or working with inkless scar revision to improve texture and support the skin’s natural healing, the end result feels natural and never overdone.
Clients travel from across the Northshore, Baton Rouge, and Hammond, often by referral. It’s quiet work, but it leaves a lasting impression—one that shows up when someone catches their reflection and no longer focuses immediately on the flaw that used to bother them.
Leslie Maestri Amedeo
SHOWROOM MANAGER, NOEL MAESTRI’S FLOORING AMERICA
For Leslie Maestri Amedeo, flooring is not simply the family business. It is the backdrop of her life.
Noel Maestri’s Flooring America has been a fixture on the Northshore for more than five decades, and Leslie has never really been apart from it. As a child, she spent sick days at the store while her parents worked, dusted flooring displays for spending money, and returned in high school and college to help during the summers. She has been there full time since 2003, part of a business her father, Noel Maestri, began over 53 years ago.
As showroom manager, she remains most energized by the human side of the work. In a parish that has grown quickly over the last two decades, she says the store has held onto its small-town sensibility while helping customers navigate everything from new flooring to shower tile and backsplashes. That blend of expertise and familiarity appears to be part of the formula. The company describes itself as a locally owned flooring showroom offering design guidance, installation services, and access to the buying power of the national Flooring America network.
“I’m passionate about helping people find the right material to make their house feel like a home,” Leslie says. “Whatever their style or aesthetic, our company works with the customer to create the vision they have.”
She credits Flooring America’s scale with helping the store stay competitive and current, giving the team access to a wide range of products and pricing, while conferences and trade shows help them keep pace with what clients are asking for.
Still, the deepest influence on her career is closer to home.
“My father, Noel Maestri, is the owner, and began this business when he was 19,” she says. “A good reputation has always been important to him, and as he likes to remind me, when your name is on the building, you do what’s right.”
Lauren Yarbrough
DIRECTOR OF DESIGN, LIVIO DESIGNS
As Director of Design at Livio Designs, Lauren Yarbrough brings more than expertise to every project - she brings a deep respect for the people who live in the spaces her team transforms. With a portfolio that spans ground-up new construction, whole-home renovations, and single-room refreshes, Lauren leads with both vision and humility, believing great design starts with listening.
Her path into the industry was hands-on from the very beginning. For twenty years, she worked alongside her mother, learning not just the mechanics of design and project management, but the emotional intelligence required to create spaces that truly serve the people inside them. That early experience became the foundation of her leadership approach today - thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply attuned to detail.
At Livio Designs, Lauren leads a team of designers who understand that no two clients - or homes - are alike. Their work is layered and livable, grounded in architectural context and elevated by the personal style of each homeowner. From reimagining a kitchen layout to walking a client through finish selections for a custom build, Lauren’s role is part designer, part guide, and part trusted advocate.
“Our job isn’t to impose a look - it’s to draw out what’s most authentic to the client,” she says. “I always tell people: I can design a beautiful house, but I’d rather help you design a home that fits your life.”
Whether she’s leading a team meeting, sourcing a hard-to-find textile, or walking a construction site in boots and a clipboard, Lauren balances creativity with clear communication, making the process as seamless as the result.
At its heart, her work is about more than aesthetics - it’s about creating spaces that feel like home, and a design experience that feels as considered as the final reveal.
Smith Sconzert: Law, Done Better
Located on the Northshore, Smith Sconzert is a new firm with a steady hand and a clear point of view. Founded in 2026 by Tara Smith and Elizabeth Sconzert, the womenowned practice was built around a clear idea: legal work can be rigorous, strategic, and straightforward. From offices in Mandeville and Baton Rouge, the firm handles complex disputes, regulatory matters, and high-stakes business issues with an emphasis on steady counsel and trial-ready thinking.
For Smith and Sconzert, the firm is the result of long experience and careful intention. Both came to it after more than two decades in practice, bringing backgrounds that complement each other well. Smith has served as both in-house and outside counsel, including 13 years as lead counsel for Walmart. Sconzert’s work centers on professional liability and public sector matters, shaped in part by her service as Mandeville’s first female city attorney.
That depth is reflected in the team they have assembled. Smith Sconzert includes seasoned litigators and legal professionals whose experience spans healthcare law, medical malpractice defense, business litigation, municipal law, land use, e-data practice, and alternative dispute resolution. Together, the firm brings more than 100 years of combined legal experience to its work.
What stands out is the firm’s practical point of view. The focus is on listening carefully, preparing thoroughly, and giving clients clear direction in moments that are often anything but clear. It is a collaborative environment where insight is shared, strategy is sharpened, and each matter benefits from more than one perspective.
At Smith Sconzert, the message is concise and the ambition is clear. Do the work well. Serve the client. Stay prepared.
Law, done better.
Tchefuncte Health & Wellness
The best primary care does more than respond to illness. It notices patterns, asks better questions, and helps patients improve their health over time. Tchefuncte Health & Wellness describes its model as a blend of traditional primary care and a modern, rootcause approach, with services that include wellness care, hormone therapy, weight management, and integrative medicine.
For Beth McLain, that approach aligns naturally with her experience and passion. A board-certified family nurse practitioner, Beth began her career in obstetrics and gynecology. At Tchefuncte Health & Wellness, her focus includes hormone replacement and optimization, along with helping patients improve overall health.
“I am passionate about helping patients of all ages improve their overall health and achieve a higher quality of life,” Beth says.
Misty Breakfield brings a similarly preventive lens to the practice. A nationally certified and licensed physician assistant, she has spent much of her career in primary care and preventive medicine.
“Over the past 21 years, I’ve witnessed primary care evolve significantly, shifting from a focus on prevention to managing increasingly complex chronic conditions,” Misty says.
At Tchefuncte Health & Wellness, she has been able to return to what first drew her to medicine: prevention, personalization, and long-term wellness. Her approach takes into account each patient’s health history, metabolic state, nutrition, hormone levels, and lifestyle.
“I believe that shared decision-making empowers patients and leads to lasting wellness, because our bodies are not one-size-fits-all, and our healthcare shouldn’t be either,” she says.
BETH MCLAIN & MISTY BREAKFIELD
Lesle Veca: A Style That Stays True
Some designers build their work around what is new. Lesle Veca has built hers around what lasts.
With more than three decades of experience, Veca has developed a point of view that is recognizably her own: clean, neutral, layered, and disciplined enough to outlive the trend cycle. She pays attention to what is happening in the design world and travels regularly to markets and shows, but she has never mistaken novelty for value. Trends are supporting elements in her design, never the forefront. Lesle has been a designer long enough to know that this is how you keep a space from feeling dated. Her rooms are current without being captive to the moment.
That approach has carried her well beyond the Northshore. Through Lesle Veca Designs and V Home & Interiors, the store she opened in 2020, she works on projects across the country and on homes of very different scales, from polished private residences to large, high-profile properties that require equal parts restraint, sourcing knowledge, and follow-through.
The same point of view shapes V Home & Interiors. The showroom is polished but approachable, filled with furniture, lighting, art, gifts, and décor arranged with enough clarity that customers can see how the pieces might live together. Some customers come in for a full home project. Others are looking for the one right chair, lamp, or mirror. The store supports both without overcomplicating either.
Some pieces come from her travels. Others come from vendors she has worked with for years. Everything works together, but when she curates designs for her clients, you see how much versatility is in her design.
As a daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother, Veca understands that a house is meant to be used, not protected from life.
“I’ve always believed your home should feel like yours,” she said. “Not like something you’re trying to keep up with.”
Mandy Gonzales
WHAT INSPIRED VIBE SALON?
My journey into beauty began in a friend’s mom’s salon, where I discovered my passion for uplifting women. In 2010, I expanded my role in the beauty world, joining the Aveda Institute of Covington. Shifting from styling to teaching, I shared my expertise with aspiring stylists. Despite my success there, I missed the personal connections with clients. This inspired me to open Vibe Salon, a warm and welcoming space where everyone can be themselves.
HOW HAS THIS JOURNEY SHAPED YOU AS BOTH A STYLIST AND MENTOR IN BEAUTY?
I admit my journey’s had bumps. Like many, I’ve encountered moments of self-doubt. However, through perseverance and the support of others, I have learned the value of continual learning. Today, I mentor and befriend, guiding my team and clients through their beauty journeys.
ANY CLOSING THOUGHTS?
I urge aspiring stylists to seek mentorship, keep an open mind, and recognize that success goes beyond technical skills—it involves nurturing meaningful connections within both the industry and the community.
Abby Sands
A LIFE LIVED WITH PURPOSE AND CAPTURED THROUGH A LENS
change the 1st paragraph to the following: For more than three decades, Abby Sands has been telling stories, not just through her lens, but with heart, grit, and an unmistakably creative spirit. As the founder of AbbyPhoto, she’s built a reputation grounded in authenticity, artistry, and genuine human connection. Named Best Photographer in St. Tammany Parish 14 times, Abby’s accolades speak to her talent, but it’s her passion for capturing the fleeting magic of a single moment that truly defines her work.
A proud single mother of three, Abby poured her heart into raising her children while growing her business, never missing the moments that mattered most. Today, she’s embracing life as an empty nester and enjoying every bit of the freedom she’s earned.
A true free spirit, Abby now solo backpacks the world with her empowering Red Dress, a symbol of strength, confidence, and fearless living. After all, “It’s not just a dress… it’s a feeling.” Her travels have inspired her upcoming coffee table book, Diary of the Traveling Red Dress, a visual journey of beauty and connection across the globe.
Deeply grateful for every blink, every breath, and every person who crosses her path, Abby sees photography not just as a profession, but as a calling, a way to witness the world, reflect its light, and honor every wild, beautiful moment along the way.
FLOURISHES
L’Amour Crisscut East West Pendant set in white gold, multiple sizes available starting at $4,595.
Boudreaux’s Jewelers, (985) 626-1666.
Kenley Vinyl Chocolate Jelly Sandal with sleek jelly straps and lightweight vinyl construction is complete with a piece of polished metal hardware, $60. Paisley Boutique, (985) 727-7880.
Elyse Strapless Stretch Maxi Dress is an elegant strapless maxi designed for a polished, sophisticated look.
Palm Village, a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, (985) 778-2547.
Emerald and Diamond Ring featuring a 3.69 carat center stone.
Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry, (504) 832-0000.
Pebble Hill with Top Scroll by The CopperSmith. Available in 3 sizes and 4 finishes in gas or electric. Gulf Coast Lanterns, 800-910-3275, gulfcoastlanterns.com.
This bold yet lightweight Ippolita bracelet features handcrafted 18K gold hammered links, finished with an easy-to-use toggle closure, $5,995.
Aucoin Hart Jewelers, (504) 834-9999.
Add a pop of color to your day with the Rainbow Plaid Canvas Tote. This spacious bag is ideal for the beach, shopping, or daily use. Hemline, (985) 778-0906.
Bold, modern, and designed to stand out, the Seaside Escape BBQ Ribs One Piece delivers confident style with sleek lines and sculpting support. Bra Genie, (985) 951-8638.
These statement earrings from Ippolita’s Rock Candy collection showcase vibrant turquoise set in 18K gold, creating a versatile pop of color, $2,995. Aucoin Hart Jewelers, (504) 834-9999.
David Yurman Sculpted Cable Cuff. Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry, (504) 832-0000.
DESIGN Tranquility Base
By: Desiree Bennett Forsyth
Photos by: Zachary Cavaretta with Lettuce Media and Mal Nicholson
Chris Remson is one of three principals at RHH Architects, an award-winning firm he founded in 1992 with offices in Baton Rouge and Covington. His wife and fellow architect Trula Remson and partner Sam Herpin round out the practice, which has spent 30-plus years designing public, commercial, and residential projects across Louisiana. Their residential portfolio leans traditional: lake houses, Baton Rouge renovations, hunting lodges. Tranquility Base was their chance to break from that.
DESIGN
“We’re very invested in architecture, and we believe that architecture can really affect the way you live,” Remson said. “It was really kind of a goal of ours to prove it to ourselves.”
This is Chris and Trula’s own home, designed together and built in Covington on the Tchefuncte River.
From the road, the home reads clean and deliberate. Board and batten siding in a warm neutral palette. A standing seam metal roof with sharp lines. Tall windows in dark frames that punch against the lighter exterior.
Going modern, Remson explained, forced a level of precision their traditional projects didn’t demand. “Without extra moldings and without all the extra stuff that most houses have, it really forces you to hone down every single detail,” he said.
Inside, the floor plan is organized around a single concept: an aperture of a camera, framing the landscape through floor-to-ceiling glass at the back of the house. The roof slopes away and the ground terraces down, so when you walk in, you see sky, water, and trees with nothing in the way.
DESIGN
The great room anchors the home with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace surround. Warm whites against natural wood tones, soft grays between. The kitchen island doubles as the gathering point, lined with stone countertops and custom cabinetry.
Some of the most personal details sit in the living room. Remson’s father was a wood sculptor who left him a collection of carvings. The built-in bookshelves were designed specifically to house and light those pieces. “We designed those bookshelves to actually fit the carvings and to light them and to really honor them the way they should be,” he said.
The primary suite sits apart from the main living area. A freestanding soaking tub faces the windows, and a walk-in shower is wrapped in glass and natural stone.
When it came time to build, the Remsons interviewed several contractors before choosing Jason Hand of J Hand Homes, who has spent 15 years building custom homes in St. Tammany Parish.
“We run a transparent contract, so you see the raw cost of everything,” Hand said. “And what that does is it allows us to focus on the build. It really creates an open setting to say, ‘Hey, let’s build something cool.’”
Hand recalled seeing the first elevation drawings. “He sent me the shots from the river, and I’m like, ‘I’m in.’ This is going to be so cool when we’re done with it.”
Outdoors, a covered patio with a fireplace and a pool extend the living space into the landscape.
“I would love for all my clients to feel the way I feel about our house,” Remson said.
For more on J Hand Homes, visit jhandhomes.com.
GENEROUS HEARTS
Highlighting Philanthropy on the Northshore
Our partners at the Northshore Community Foundation exist to make it easy for each of us to make a difference in our own backyard. Now in their 18th year, the Foundation has touched over 103 million dollars in philanthropic fuel, focusing on simplifying, organizing and magnifying philanthropy at every turn.
The Foundation has reached those remarkable numbers in three primary ways. First, they engage hundreds of individuals, families, companies and nonprofits in a membership model that promotes active connections and charitable work. Second, they take the paperwork out of “doing good” by administering funds that act as charitable checkbooks for any purpose. Last, they step into big roles when the need is great — especially in times of disaster. Through these three unique and critical roles, the Foundation uses its expertise and resources to magnify the incredible charitable work so prevalent in our region.
The Room Where It Happens
By Desiree Bennett Forsyth
What stayed with me after the Northshore Community Foundation’s 2026 annual gathering was not just the program, though that was moving enough. It was the room itself. To look around and see so many people from business, philanthropy, nonprofits and public life gathered around one hard subject, nonprofit needs, was a reminder that public service is still, at its best, an act of collective will. The morning centered on that urgent theme, featured Youth Service Bureau President and CEO Cleveland Wester as its keynote voice, and honored Sue Rotolo of The Good Samaritan Ministry with the 2026 Dick Knight Award.
The need could hardly be more plain. In St. Tammany Parish, 17% of children are living in poverty, and only 57% of low-income children ages 3 and 4 had access to a publicly funded early care and education seat. By 2023, 45,275 St. Tammany households, 43% of all households in the parish, were below the ALICE threshold, meaning they were either in poverty or earning too little to cover basic costs where they live. These are not abstract deficits. They are the conditions in which family stress rises, school attendance slips, and a child’s future narrows before adulthood even begins.
Everyone is a philanthropist. To Learn how you can do more in your own backyard, reach out to the Foundation at northshorefoundation.org
Wester’s story gave that reality a human face. He grew up in Boynton Beach, Florida, in poverty, amid abuse, drug activity and violence. As a boy, he set two goals for himself: to make it to the NFL and to spend his life serving underprivileged children and families. He did both, in his way. After a standout football career at Concordia and a brief stint with the Detroit Lions during the 1987 strike, he said he felt called away from sports and into nonprofit work. He has now spent decades in that world and, for the past five years, has led YSB, which serves at-risk youth and families in St. Tammany and Washington parishes. YSB programs served more than 2,200 children and families last year.
Sue Rotolo’s recognition felt equally apt. She has spent more than 25 years helping grow Good Samaritan Ministry into a far-reaching resource for Northshore families. And the strain on those families is not
theoretical: in late 2024, Rotolo told WDSU that demand for food assistance was the highest Good Sams had seen in its 32-year history.
That is what made the morning feel so consequential. The nonprofit sector is being asked to carry more at the precise moment its footing is less secure. Louisiana’s FY 2026 state budget carries more than $400 million in cuts. Federal nonprofit funding continues to contract. A recent Urban Institute study found that without government grants, at least 60 percent of Louisiana nonprofits would operate at a loss.
Which is exactly why Northshore Community Foundation matters. The foundation has generated $93 million in philanthropic support since 2007 and provided professional development, networking and training to more than 200+ nonprofit leaders. In a moment when the needs are growing faster than the safety net, that kind of local infrastructure is not ornamental. It is one of the ways a community decides to keep faith with itself.
Your Community. Your Voice.
The Northshore Community Foundation exists because of you. As we plan for the future, we invite you to help guide what comes next by completing our strategic plan survey.
BIG BAD BOOT
Eugene Bunch
LOUISIANA’S GENTLEMAN TRAIN ROBBER
By: Kati Morse LeBreton
Many adults can relate to the phenomenon of the “midlife crisis”. But what if the voice inside your head didn’t nudge you to get bangs or buy a Porsche you can’t afford. What if it told you, “Start robbing trains”?
That’s exactly what happened to Louisiana’s Gentleman Train Robber, Eugene Bunch.
Eugene Bunch was born in Mississippi in around 1845. His parents were poor. But unlike many men of the time in Mississippi, he also received a wonderful education. He was reported to be a very nice and respectable young man, who even taught Sunday School.
In May 1861, he enlisted to fight in the Civil War. He served the entire four years of the war and came out unscathed, aside from being wounded in one of his arms. After his service, he married a woman from Louisiana and began work as a schoolteacher in Amite City, LA.
For the next several years, Bunch’s location and professions varied wildly. He moved to Texas and published his own newspaper. He then moved again and was elected as County Clerk. However, Bunch was a chronic gambler and a shameless ladies’ man. When his vices became the talk of the town, he did not bother to file for reelection in 1882. It was then that he walked out on his wife and son and never looked back.
A rash of North Texas train robberies in 1886 and 1887 brought Bunch to the attention of state and federal authorities. Bunch soon became known as the “gentleman thief.” It was reported that he never shouted or used unnecessary violence. He famously only robbed men and would tip his hat to women.
Reporters and citizens alike were enamored with this guy. He was reported as being very handsome, charming, and talented. He was a “crack shot with a revolver”, physically powerful, over six feet tall. However, the reporting of his whereabouts was never quite accurate; making him hard to track.
After three years on the run, Bunch was back in Louisiana. Calling himself “Captain Grice,” he recruited two accomplices: Edward S. Hobgood and Henry Carneguay. In April 1892, the three boarded a train leaving New Orleans and robbed those on board. Thankfully no one was hurt. But the take was hardly worth the trouble – the Bunch gang only scored $500 in folding money and three bags of cheap jewelry. To make matters worse, the petty crime prompted the New Orleans police chief to call upon the Pinkertons for assistance.
On August 10, 1892, Carneguay was arrested. He confessed to several robberies, including one of a train in Tangipahoa Parish. He was sentenced to five years in prison in Baton Rouge. It is believed that during this capture, Carneguay provided authorities with the info they needed to narrow down the whereabouts of Bunch and Hopgood.
Turns out, Bunch and Hopgood were hiding in the Pearl River Swamp. Authorities searched through the night. At sunrise, they came up upon the bandits. A detective screamed, “Hands up!” and Hopgood obeyed. Bunch did not. Bunch whipped out a pistol and fired a shot but was immediately riddled with bullets from the authorities. He died on the spot.
Many people, including an influential judge, did not accept the official version of Bunch’s demise. It was widely believed Hobgood shot Bunch in his sleep and then riddled the body with bullets to cover up a coldblooded killing. No one really knows for sure.
Hobgood was found not guilty and never did time for any of his crimes. But Bunch’s death was romanticized in the press, dubbing him “The Prince of Outlaws”. Bunch is buried in Morris Cemetery in Franklinton, Louisiana.
What can we learn from Eugene Bunch? He was a man who had all the potential and talent in the world but turned to a life of chaos and crime. My advice? When the midlife crisis hits, just buy a motorcycle… and stay away from trains.
To hear more fun Louisiana history, listen to The Big Bad Boot Podcast. Kati co-hosts the show alongside her brother, Caleb Morse. As the state’s most popular independently produced comedy podcast, The Big Bad Boot covers Louisiana history, true crime, and folklore sprinkled with the siblings’ trademark hilarious banter. You can listen to The Big Bad Boot (for free!) on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more. You can also watch each episode on YouTube.
The podcast about the weird state you wish you were from, hosted by the weird siblings you wish you had. You can find and listen to Big Bad Boot wherever you get your podcasts.
www.thebigbadboot.com
2026 Chef Soiree
The 42nd Annual Chef Soirée was held March 15 at Bogue Falaya Park under sunny skies, welcoming approximately 3,500 guests for a memorable evening. A highlight of the night was the Banner Ford car raffle, which sold out for the first time, with one lucky winner driving home a new Bronco. Special thanks to presenting sponsor Chevron and the IJN Foundation for its “A Gift Given in Jesus’ Name” matching opportunity. This “Party with a Purpose” is powered by participating restaurants, beverage providers, sponsors, volunteers, and trade partners. Proceeds support the Youth Service Bureau and programs including CASA, Crossroads, FINS, truancy, and Options.
SONGY
Hammer and Heels
Photo Credit: Damon Drake with Habitat for Humanity
The Habitat STW 7th annual Hammers & Heels fashion show at Covington Country Club was another smashing success!
The sold-out event was colorful and elegant with the perfect balance of whimsy and fun! Delicious food was provided by The Lakehouse and Aperitif Spritz & Bites.
The fun filled fashion show kicked off with the Habitat STW construction crew strutting their stuff on the runway, followed by models from local boutiques and shops and ended with a successful silent auction.
All of the proceeds raised from Hammers & Heels go towards Habitat STW’s Women Build. To learn more about the sponsors and boutiques, visit habitatstw.org/hammersheels
2026 PWST Pink Tutu Run
Beneath the sweeping canopy of ancient oaks at Fontainebleau State Park, the Pink Tutu Run 5k unfolded as a vibrant celebration of fitness and festivity, where over 100 runners in pink tutus moved with energy, laughter, and community spirit. Proceeds support the Professional Women of St. Tammany Scholarship Program, empowering women through education and opportunity. Thank you for helping build futures, one finish line at a time. Inspiring growth, independence, and transformation across the parish.
EAT & DRINK
TCHEFUNCTE’S
MADISONVILLE
Indulge in a culinary journey at Tchefuncte’s, where our chefs masterfully craft Louisiana and American cuisine with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. The upscale atmosphere, paired with the breathtaking scenic view of the Tchefuncte River, sets the perfect stage whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a long, leisurely meal, we’ve got you covered. To ensure that you have the best experience possible, we recommend making a reservation. For large parties and events, email us at EVENTS@TCHEFUNCTES.COM
THE ANCHOR
Tuesday 11am-7pm
Wednesday-Thursday 11am-8pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-8:30pm
Sunday 11am-8pm
407 SAINT TAMMANY ST., MADISONVILLE (985) 323-4800
THEANCHORLA.COM
COURTYARD BISTRO
MANDEVILLE
Serving traditional breakfast and lunch made fresh each day, specializing in Dutch babies, sandwiches, and seasonal dishes. A small gourmet market nearby carries many of the same ingredients used in the kitchen, making it easy to enjoy them again at home.
1291 N. CAUSEWAY BLVD (985) 377-5288
THECOURTYARDBISTRO.COM
DESI VEGA'S STEAKHOUSE
At Desi Vega's Steakhouse Northshore, our expertly seared, aged steaks promise indulgence in every bite. Alongside our signature steaks, we offer house-crafted desserts, specialty appetizers, and seafood options like jumbo lump scallops, market fish, and broiled lobster tail. For the best experience, reserve your table on OpenTable or call us. For large parties, email EVENTS@DESIVEGASNORTHSHORE.COM. We look forward to welcoming you to an elevated dining experience. 527
MANDEVILLE
Tuesday-Friday: Lunch 11AM–2:30PM
Tuesday-Thursday: Dinner 5PM-9:30PM
Friday-Saturday: Dinner 5PM–10PM
527 N CAUSEWAY BLVD., MANDEVILLE (985) 778-2820 GALLAGHERS527.COM
COVINGTON 1950 N. Highway 190, Covington, LA, (985) 276-4994
GALLAGHER’S
SLIDELL AND COVINGTON
Award-winning entrées featuring sizzling steaks, pork chops, and the best seafood Louisiana has to offer. Whether you’re looking for fine dining in a comfortable setting, or a lunch that’s a cut above the rest, we specialize in creating the perfect experience for your needs.
GALLAGHERSGRILL.COM
PARDOSAN AMERICAN BISTRO
MANDEVILLE
Pardo's Fine Dining offers European and American Cuisine in a flavorful and relaxing atmosphere with a variety of foods from handmade pasta to Prime steaks, from specialty beers to artfully hand-crafted cocktails; there is surely something to please every palate.
