Board President
Valerie McGinley Marshall
Director of External Relations Stone Center for Latin American Studies
Tulane University
vmcgmar@tulane.edu
Valerie McGinley Marshall has been with the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University since 1995 in various capacities. At present she oversees the planning and supervision of outreach activities and media/public relations including the production of Center publications. In addition, she coordinates all external funding initiatives, including grant applications, and manages various Stone Center programs such as summer study abroad and special projects related to the Stone Center’s US Department of Education Title VI NRC grant. She holds a B.A. in Spanish from Newcomb College and a M.Ed. in Second Language Instruction from Tulane University, and has taught high school Spanish and adult ESL in the metro-New Orleans area. She is the past President of the Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs and has served as a board member of a local international charter school. She currently serves as the president of the board of the Greater New Orleans Afterschool Partnership.
Kelly Barbier
Staff Attorney, Louisiana Supreme Court
kellybarbier@cox.net
Kelly E. Barbier is a 1992 graduate of Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Following graduation, she clerked for Judge Bernette J. Johnson in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. She then began her practice as an associate with the Barbier Law Firm for six years, continued as a solo practitioner for two years, and went on to specialize in research, writing and appeals at the Law Office of Thomas A. Gennusa, II for six years. Ms. Barbier is currently employed as a law clerk to Justice Bernette J. Johnson on the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Ms. Barbier is active is several legal and community organizations. She currently serves on the board of the Association of Women Attorneys as corresponding secretary, after several terms as President of that organization. She is active in the Academy of New Orleans Trial Lawyers, and formerly served as a board member for three years. She is also a member of Louisiana Association for Justice, and served on the Board of Governors of that organization from 1998 to 2001. Ms. Barbier is a member of the A.P. Tureaud Inn of Court; a fellow of Loyola University’s Institute of Politics; a former Board Member of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Louisiana; and has served as a mentor in the H.O.S.T.S. (Help Our Children to Succeed) program. Ms. Barbier is married to Michael McLain and is stepmother to three children: Megan, Christian and Madeleine McLain. She and her family reside in Algiers.
Board Treasurer
John H. Denenea Jr.
Attorney at Law
jdenenea@midcitylaw.com
John H. Denenea has been a Partner with Shearman-Denenea, L.L.C. since 2000. His legal expertise includes: litigation, jury and bench trials, appellate arguments, brief writing, hearings, and depositions, drafting pleadings, contracts, and appearing and practicing before administrative hearings. Prior to working with Shearman-Denenea, L.L.C. he was an attorney for Wiedemann & Wiedemann, (formerly Wiedemann & Fransen). John is a graduate of Louisiana State University and the Loyola School of Law. John and his wife, Cheryl Hoffman Denenea have four children: Patrick, Maddie, Elizabeth, and Aimee. They attend St. Matthew the Apostle Parish Church.
Melonie Hall
Customer Service Director, Entergy New Orleans
mhall1@entergy.com
Melonie P. Hall is the Director of Customer Service for Entergy New Orleans. She is responsible for establishing relationships and maintaining service levels to residential, commercial and industrial customers in New Orleans. Melonie is also responsible for the operation of two full service Customer Care Centers and for handling customer service concerns from the New Orleans City Council.
Melonie graduated from the University of Louisiana in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. She also earned and a Masters of Business Administration from Tulane University. Melonie started her career as a Transmission Engineer and has held numerous engineering and management positions in Engineering, Operations and Customer Service during her 24 years with Entergy.
Hall served as the Chairman of the Entergy United Way Program, is the Executive Sponsor of the Entergy New Orleans Low Income Program, Board Member and Development Committee Chair for Boys Town Louisiana, Finance Chair for the 2010 IEEE Transmission and Distribution Convention and development committee member for the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation.
Ronald S. Markham
President and CEO, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Inc.
rmarkham@thenojo.com
Ronald S. Markham is President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Inc. (NOJO). New Orleans Jazz Orchestra is dedicated to presenting authentic, engaging and transformative Jazz experiences. Under Markham’s leadership NOJO has launched national tours for the critically acclaimed 16-piece big band orchestra, quintet and duo. With nearly 40 dates per year at prominent performing arts venues and clubs across the country, the NOJO has become one of the most successful touring jazz orchestra’s in the country.
Markham has positioned NOJO as the leading organization that is working to fortify the Jazz industry in New Orleans. In 2008, Markham developed the New Orleans Institute (NOJI) at the University of New Orleans. This program provides advanced music instruction and performance opportunities to UNO music students. In partnership with UNO Capitol One Charter School Network, the Saturday Music School program was established for elementary students. In 2003, Markham led NOJO to a partnership with Dillard University to create the Institute of Jazz Culture (IOJC). The IOJC focuses on the study of cultural elements affected and created as a result of Jazz music.
Markham is a graduate of the University of New Orleans where he studied science and mechanical engineering. Markham also studied music at NOCCA. Currently Markham serves on the Board of Directors of the Audubon Nature Institute and is also a member of the Fleur-de-lis Ambassador program.
Tiffany Oestreicher
Real Estate Developer
tjlucky1@cox.net
Tiffany Oestreicher is an owner and developer of real estate property in Louisiana and North Carolina. Prior to real estate she was the Director of Sales and Marketing at Fabricut, Inc. She has won four national Addy Awards for her advertising expertise. She currently serves on the New Orleans Ballet Association Board and the Young Audiences Board. She also lends her hand to many local committees in New Orleans. Those organizations include: the Audubon Institute’s Zoo to Do, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Gala, New Orleans ASPCA, New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation Luncheon, and the Isidore Newman School. The Carnegie Mellon University graduate is a married with two children, Aidan and Bibi.
William A. Oliver
President, AT&T Louisiana
william.oliver@bellsouth.com
William A. Oliver, President, AT&T Louisiana, began his career with South Central Bell in 1973 as an engineer. After spending 11 years in the network department, Oliver joined the marketing organization and in 1987-1988 he served as Operations Manager, responsible for providing telecommunications services for the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.
In 1994, he was promoted to Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Vice President, heading up the external affairs department and serving as the company’s liaison to the Louisiana Congressional delegation. In 2000, he assumed responsibility for the regulatory department and began representing the company in matters concerning the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He held this position until he was named President of Louisiana on May 1, 2001.
During his tenure, Oliver also served 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as an officer, retiring in 1991 with the rank of major.
Oliver currently serves on the board of directors for several business, educational and civic organizations, including Greater New Orleans, Inc., New Orleans Business Council, Blueprint Louisiana, World Trade Center, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, LSU Manship School of Mass Communications Board of Visitors, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Boy Scouts of America New Orleans Area Council, New Orleans Police Foundation, Louisiana Museum Foundation, Ogden Museum of Southern Art Foundation, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Committee of 100 and SECURE. He is also a member of the Reserve Officers Association and the AT&T Pioneers.
Oliver, a native of Lake Charles, graduated from McNeese State University with a B.S. in mathematics. He was recognized in November 2005 with the McNeese State University 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award, becoming the 19th recipient of the award. In addition, he has an M.B.A. from Tulane University. He and his wife Carolyn reside in New Orleans.
Board Secretary
Julia Wessman
Policy Director, Levees.org
julia.wessman@gmail.com
Julia Wessman is excited to be a new board member with the GNO Afterschool Partnership. A native New Orleanian, Julia received a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, and a Masters degree from the Sorbonne University of Paris. In recent years, she taught English and a photography extracurricular in Paris, and has also tutored students in French, English, Math, and served as a “homework helper” in a public library in Providence. Her experience with after-school programs in Providence and New Orleans, and as both a student and an educator in the French school systems, has sparked her interest in engaging students in a variety of ways. She currently works on raising awareness with Levees.org, and also directs the New Orleans Bicycle Project (NOBP), a project to bring a shared public bicycle system to New Orleans.
Mary Hwang, Board Intern
Senior Management Consultant, Hagerty Consulting
maryhwang@gmail.com