Mark Venczel, President
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
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Mark Venczel, Ph.D., moved to New Orleans in 1997 to attend Tulane University, where he earned his MS degree in Chemical Engineering. After falling in love with the city, Mark decided to stay. The mid-city neighborhood near the end of Bayou St. John that he had grown to call home was hard hit by the flood in 2005. Immediately after the flooding he returned to Mid City to help in rebuilding several properties and the community he was now a part of. In 2010 Mark completed a PhD program in environmental science and engineering at Clarkson University in upstate New York. Mark has recently purchased two blighted properties on Toulouse Street one block from the future Lafitte Greenway. Since finishing the PhD program and returning to New Orleans, he has been working on renovating one of the properties which is now his home, and starting a community garden/compost center on the other property. Mark is interested in becoming more involved with sustainable design and urban development in New Orleans. Being on the board of FOLC will give Mark the opportunity to bring his knowledge and energy to this project, and also to learn and gain valuable experience.
Ryan Bordenave, Vice-President
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
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Ryan Bordenave is a lifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. He enjoys a career with the Downtown Development District where he is responsible for attracting regional and national retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues to Downtown New Orleans, and in particular to the historic retail corridor of Canal Street. The role of the Retail Attraction Specialist was developed from the 2004 Canal Street Development Strategy. In his time at the DDD, Ryan has worked to land businesses like IHOP Restaurant, PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, and Serenity Day Spa. He continues to interface with multiple national retail organizations, pitching them on the opportunities that exist within Downtown.
In addition to his responsibilities to the DDD, Ryan also serves as a media consultant for WWNO 89.9 FM – New Orleans, the NPR affiliate in this region. A graduate of Brother Martin High School and the University of New Orleans, he lives in the City Park neighborhood in a 100 year old historic house that is located one block from the Lafitte Corridor.
Matt Rufo, Chair
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
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New Orleans infected Matt on his first visit in 2008 when he volunteered with Providence Community Housing. In 2009, he moved from Philadelphia armed with a passion for the city, a fresh master’s degree in City and Regional Planning, and a yearning to participate in the city’s recovery. Matt has interned at the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and worked as a research analyst at the Bureau of Governmental Research. Today he serves as a bicycle and pedestrian transportation planner at the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University, where he manages the KidsWalk Coalition, a partnership of local public health, transportation and community organizations that promotes safe, walkable and bikeable streets in New Orleans for children and families. Matt is a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, and believes in the transformative power of outstanding public spaces. He lives in the Marigny with his girlfriend Rachel and dog Zoe.
Erica Normand, Secretary + Communications Director
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
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With nearly 15 years of marketing and public relations experience under her belt, Erica Normand has worked with numerous local clients consisting of restaurant owners, chefs, hotels, artists and musicians, government groups, healthcare entities, non-profits, small business owners and more. She works full-time with Deveney Communication, and owns and operates NOLAfoodtrucks.com and Joy Ride Bike Rentals, which was founded Jazz Fest of 2010. Born and raised in New Orleans, Erica takes much pleasure in seeing New Orleans succeed in progress and positive development, and believes that the construction of the Lafitte Greenway is an essential part in contributing to the city’s growth. By joining the Friends of Lafitte Corridor team, she hopes to help make this happen.
Linda Landesberg, Treasurer
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
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Linda Landesberg is a 30 plus year resident of New Orleans who has been having a “second honeymoon” with the city since the failure of the levees in 2005. Moving from the French Quarter to the Faubourg St. John neighborhood in 1984 for proximity to green space for biking, recreation and the Bayou increased her interest in a more complete sustainable style community where walking for dogs, groceries, restaurants, parks was the community’s social network conductor. Linda works in the import business for Amoss Trading Services, a locally owned New Orleans group. Serving as Treasurer of Friends of Lafitte Corridor since the group formed in 2006, Linda hopes to always be considered an advocate for the “corridor community” serving on the board of the Faubourg Saint John Neighborhood Association and Broad Community Connections, advocating the renewal of Broad Street. Linda views the Friends of Laffite Corridor mission and the completion of the Greenway as one of the single most positive dynamic changes that will affect New Orleans in the early 21st century.
Alli DeJong
Board Term: Jan 2012 – Jan 2015
Alli DeJong is an urban planner for transportation projects at GCR Inc. She lives and rides her bike in Mid City. In addition to her current work with Jefferson Transit at GCR, Alli has advocated for child nutrition programs at the city, state, and federal levels, and believes that land use, hunger, and transportation are connected issues that require comprehensive solutions. She is also a conference planner for the Rising Tide Conference, an annual gathering of new media users to discuss the future of New Orleans. Alli has been excited about the Lafitte Greenway since she participated in the corridor Hike in 2008, and can’t wait to make it a reality.
Sophie Harris
Board Term: July 2012 – July 2015
Sophie Harris is the coordinator of NEWCITY Neighborhood Partnership, a coalition of over 70 stakeholders committed to ensuring catalytic, place-based development in Tremé and Lower Mid-City. She works for Providence Community Housing, a non-profit affordable housing developer that is rebuilding the former Lafitte public housing development, adjacent to the Lafitte Greenway. Sophie graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May of 2012 with a BA in Urban Studies and Political Science, and is in New Orleans completing a Post-Graduate Fellowship through Penn’s Robert A. Fox Leadership Program. A newcomer to New Orleans, Sophie grew up in Minneapolis, one of the country’s most bikeable cities. She is thrilled to be a part of the Lafitte Greenway project, enhancing the bikeability of New Orleans.
Annalisa Kelly
Board Term: Jan 2012 – Jan 2015
Annalisa Kelly has lived in 13 cities, mostly overseas, and is happy to call New Orleans the 14th home indefinitely. She currently helps coordinate the Deconstruction & Salvage Program of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, a program of the Preservation Resource Center, and previously managed government relations at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. She is an avid lover of maps, geography, history, and exploring, and has routinely led 20- to 40-mile walks within cities.
Jessica Knox
Board Term: Jan 2010 – Jan 2013
Jessica D. Knox has had a rewarding career as a long term public servant through her management work with distinguished nonprofit organizations like the United Negro College Fund and Louisiana Public Health Institutue and as an attorney with Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland. She is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and Tougaloo College. She has sat on various boards and commissions including Mayor Landrieu’s Neighborhood Development Taskforce, the Historic Faubourg Treme’ Association (Vice-President) and the steering committee for the Citizens’ Participation Project. In her professional capacity, she is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Community Development (ICD) where she is responsible for the overall direction and the day-to day operations of ICD.
Martha Landrum
Board Term: Jan 2010 – Jan 2013
A native of New Orleans, Martha McDermott Landrum is the vice president of marketing and communications for the Greater New Orleans Foundation. She has served on the boards of the Contemporary Arts Center, Kingsley House, Louisiana Children’s Museum, Junior League of New Orleans, and the Academy of the Sacred Heart. For the past five years, she has served as president of her neighborhood association. She learned about the Friends of Lafitte Corridor while doing bike tours for Prospect 1.
Mac Lemann
Board Term: Jan 2012 – Jan 2015
Mac Lemann is excited to join the FOLC board. He supports the Lafitte Greenway project as a catalyst to help beautify and unify our city, and believes it can also as act as a force for nurturing the health of individuals in our community. As a groundskeeper at a Quaker retreat center, Matt learned that the beauty of an environment can be healing to our minds and bodies through exercise, growth and consuming healthy food. Matt has worked with the New Orleans Food Cooperative, for the past two and a half years, as the chairman of the board of directors and is eager to dive into another project that can enliven New Orleans.
Vance Levesque
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
Vance is a CPA and the Controller of The Arc of Greater New Orleans, a United Way 501(c)3 non-profit partner agency working to help people with disabilities and their families. He is also the Finance Director for the LA Green Corps, a green job training program for disadvantaged youth. He is currently the Vice Chair for the New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club, and has been a “Friend of the Lafitte Corridor” and an enthusiastic supporter for about three years. He is currently working alongside Future Proof to build a rain garden in Central City, which will be funded by Planter’s Peanuts. Vance believes in neighborhood revitalization and active transportation.
Daniel Samuels
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
Daniel Samuels is a practicing architect with a background in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning. He is a resident of Faubourg St. John and a Board member of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association. Daniel first became aware of the history of the Lafitte Corridor and its potential as a public open space amenity while researching the history of North Claiborne Avenue and the construction of Interstate 10 through downtown New Orleans. Daniel served as FOLC’s President from 2006-2008 and currently serves as Chair of the City’s Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee.
Jeff Schwartz
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
Jeffrey Schwartz is an urban planner and self-described flâneur who is in love with the Crescent City. He is currently the Director of Broad Community Connections, a neighborhood development organization and urban Main Street working to revitalize the neighborhoods lining Broad Street. Jeff has a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, with a focus on urban design and community economic development, and he is interested in the relationship between the built environment of a community and the health, engagement, and vibrancy of its citizens. He believes the Lafitte Greenway is a vision for a sustainable New Orleans, and is anxious to play a part in bringing it to fruition.
Leonetta Terrell
Board Term: Jan 2011 – Jan 2014
Leonetta Terrell is a resident of Treme and a social worker. She is a member of St. Peter Claver Church’s Health Cabinet and also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.