Donna K.Alley Dianne Baham Gaynell Bellizan Ruth Berggren Lolita Burrell Jeanette C. Butler Vanessa Claiborne Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson Elaine E. Coleman Katherine Conklin Charlotte M. Connick Lisa Crinel Susan2003 G. D’Antoni M. Christine D’Antonio Sandra Dartus Camilla Q. Davis Catherine C. Dunn Carol Etter womenPeggy A. Feldman Susan K. Fielkow ofDeborah theDuplechin Harkinsyear Deborah C. Keel Patricia A. Krebs Sen. Mary Landrieu Janet E. Leigh A. Kelton Longwell Laura K. Maloney Eve Barrie Masinter Elsie Mendez Eileen F.Powers Tonnette “Toni” Rice Deborah B.Rouen Dionne Rousseau Diane M. Roussel Kim Ryan Grace Sheehan Andrea Thornton Keely Williams Verrett Dawn Wesson Charlee Williamson Sponsoredby: Thanks Camilla Davis for thirteen years of dedicated service to our company and the insurance industry. We congratulate her as one of the 2003 CityBusiness Women of the Year. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Mandeville, LA, FARA is a nationwide insurance services provider of risk management solutions and group benefits administration to insurance companies, self-insured corporations and governmental entities. 2360 Fifth Street • Mandeville, LA 70471 • 1-800-259-8388 • www.fara.com Chaffe & Associates, Inc. 2003 Congratulates womenoftheyear Vanessa B. Claiborne table of contents One of the Donna K.Alley 5B CityBusiness Dianne Baham 6B Gaynell Bellizan 8B Women Ruth Berggren 9B of the Year Lolita Burrell 10B Jeanette C. Butler 12B for 2003 Vanessa Claiborne 13B Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson 14B Elaine E. Coleman 15B Katherine Conklin 16B Lisa Crinel 17B Susan G. D’Antoni 18B M. Christine D’Antonio 19B Sandra Dartus 20B ASSOCIATES, INC. Camilla Q. Davis 21B INVESTMENT BANKERS Catherine C. Dunn 22B Carol Etter 23B 201St. Charles Ave, Suite 1410 Peggy A. Feldmann 24B New Orleans, LA 70170 Susan K. Fielkow 25B 524-1801 www.chaffe-associates.com Deborah Duplechin Harkins 26B Deborah C. Keel 27B Patricia A. Krebs 28B Sen. Mary Landrieu 29B Janet E. Leigh 30B A. Kelton Longwell 31B Charlotte Connick Mabry 32B Laura K. Maloney 33B Eve Barrie Masinter 34B Elsie Mendez 35B Eileen F.Powers 36B Tonnette “Toni” Rice 37B Deborah B. Rouen 38B Dionne M. Rousseau 39B Diane M. Roussel 40B Kim Ryan 41B Congratulations Grace Sheehan 43B Andrea Thornton 44B Councilwoman Keeley Williams Verrett 45B Dawn Wesson 46B Charlee Williamson 48B Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, a wonderful example of caring for our City. Mayor C. Ray Nagin Photographer: Cheryl Gerber and the Published by the NOPG LLC 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., City of New Orleans Employees Suite 1440, Metairie, La. 70005 504-834-9292; Fax: 504-837-2258. Publisher and president: D. Mark Singletary Editor: Terry O’Connor Senior associate editor: Megan Kamerick Director/custom publishing and industry reports: McKenzie Lovelace Account executive/custom publishing and industry reports: Ann Bower Art director: Lisa Finnan Production manager: Julie Bernard Advertising coordinator: Heidi Decker 2003womenoftheyear “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” Rebecca West We always wonder each year when we start the Rebecca West quote because so often I interview women like these and process of soliciting nominations for Women of the they are quick to tell me “I’m not a feminist or anything.” West’s quote Year if we’ve exhausted all our possibilities. Can is usually my response. there really be another batch of at least 40 women Our editorial committee once again found it difficult to narrow the doing amazing things in this community? field down to 40 women. We even had several nominees who are past You have the answer in your hand. winners: Jennifer Magee, Sandra Shilstone and Judy Perry Martinez. Megan Kamerick They are a varied group in age and experience and Next year we plan to establish a CityBusiness Hall of Fame for multiple goals. Some have struggled with discrimination or Women of the Year nominees. poverty. Some have taken on the role of superwoman, pursuing a We thank the nominators for bringing these women to our atten- stressful demanding career while raising children. Most have found tion. And we thank these women for their contributions to New time to give back to their community in some way. They are doctors, Orleans. Please keep up the good work. lawyers, entrepreneurs, politicians and members of the military. I get a kick out of reading these every year and interviewing some of Megan Kamerick the women myself. They introduce me to professions and facets of the Senior associate editor New Orleans community I would otherwise never know. I chose the New Orleans CityBusiness THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SALUTE DR. SUSAN FIELKOW AS ONE OF CITYBUSINESS’ 40 WOMEN OF THE YEAR saints football. gotta be there. NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM For season or group tickets call 731-1700 2003womenoftheyear honorees 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Phyllis Adams Tonia Aiken Julie Condy Ann Cassagne Anderson Donna K. Alley Jan Boatright Lauren Anderson Sherie Conrad Annie Avery` Dianne Baham Patricia Denechaud Carol Asher Sheila Danzey Trilby Barnes Gaynell Bellizan Maura Donahue Judy Barrasso Judy Dawson Ginger Berrigan Ruth Berggren Betsy Dresser Diane Barrilleaux Ann Duplessis Dianne Boazman Lolita Burrell Lana Duke Suzette Becker Patti Ellish Donnie Marie Booth Jeanette C. Butler Nanci Easterling Elodia Blanco Jean Felts Christine Briede Vanessa Claiborne Midge Epstein Julia Bland Patricia Gray Kay Brief Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson Mignon Faget Cindy Brennan Beverly Gianna Stephanie Bruno Elaine E. Coleman Donna Fraiche Maureen Clary Sheilah Auderer Goodson Kimberly Williamson Butler Katherine Conklin Patricia Habeeb Sally Clausen Norma Grace Jane Cooper Lisa Crinel Connie Jacobs Dr. Elizabeth Terrell Deborah Ducote Keller Shirley Trusty Corey Susan G. D’Antoni Leslie Rosenthal Jacobs Hobgood Fontham Donna Guinn Klein Kay Dee M. Christine D’Antonio Alice Kennedy Joni Friedmann Roselyn Koretzky Eugenie Jones Encalarde Sandra Dartus Ti Martin Joanne Gallinghouse Corvette Kowalski Alethia Gauthier Camilla Q. Davis Judy Perry Martinez Brenda Garibaldi Hatfield Jennifer Magee Clem Goldberger Catherine C. Dunn Elise McCullough Paulette Hurdlick Barbara Major Patricia Green Carol Etter Ruth Ann Menutis Maureen Larkins Laurie Vignaud Marshall Judith Halverson Peggy A. Feldmann Siomonia Edwards Milton Gay LeBreton Suzanne Mestayer Barbara Johnson Susan K. Fielkow Phala Mire Saundra Levy Nancy Morovich Barbara Kaplinsky Deborah Duplechin Harkins Margaret Montgomery-Richard Londa Martin McCullough Barbara Motley Ruth Kullman Deborah C. Keel Karyn Noles Linda Mintz Roberta Musa Sharon Litwin Patricia A. Krebs Ruth Owens Judith Miranti Iona Myers Ana Lopez Mary Landrieu Sharon Perlis Angela O’Byrne Rickie Nutik Barbara MacPhee Janet E. Leigh Nellie Stokes Perry Rajender “Raj” Pannu Tina Owen Deborah Mavis A. Kelton Longwell Leaudria Polk Kay Priestly Sharon Rodi Marguerite McDonald Charlotte Connick Mabry Kay Priestly Kat Rice Wanda Sigur Cheryl Nickerson Laura K. Maloney Jan Ramsey P.K. Scheerle ChiQuita Simms Danette O’Neal Eve Barrie Masinter Marguerite Redwine Eileen Skinner Katherine Harlan Sippola Jimmie Phillips Elsie Mendez P.K. Scheerle Bettye Parker Smith Julie Skinner Stokes Catherine Pierson Eileen F. Powers Flo Schornstein Sherry Walters Ruby Sumler Jane Raiford Tonnette “Toni” Rice Janet Shea Nancy Bissinger Timm Rhonda Robichaux Deborah B. Rouen Kim Sport Ollie Tyler Julie Rodriguez Dionne M. Rousseau Carroll Suggs Pam Wegmann Judy Shano Diane M. Roussel Barbara Turner Windhorst Ann Wills Sandy Shilstone Kim Ryan Susan Spicer Grace Sheehan Suzanne Thomas Andrea Thornton Deborah Villio Keeley Williams Verrett Kay Wilkins Dawn Wesson Elizabeth Williams Charlee Williamson From the courtroom to the conference room, we’re leaders in today’s complex legal arena. Adams and Reese blends the wisdom of over fifty years of comprehensive legal and practical experience with the energy and vitality of an ambitious newcomer. Whether in the courtroom or in the conference room, our attorneys use proactive leadership strategies to provide the highest quality legal service in the most prompt, cost-effective manner possible. We're solving problems and getting results. Because when we're out front, our clients are too. Congratulations to our Partner and Executive Committee Member Deborah B. Rouen 2003 Women of the Year Recipient Out in front. www.adamsandreese.com One Shell Square ■ 701 Poydras Street ■ Suite 4500 ■ New Orleans, LA 70139 ■ 504.581.3234 Baton Rouge ■ Birmingham ■ Houston ■ Jackson ■ Mobile ■ New Orleans ■ Washington D.C. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers. Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization except as noted. Author: Charles P. Adams, Jr. FREE BACKGROUND INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. women of the year 5B 2003womenoftheyear Donna K. Alley Position: Provost,West Bank Campus, Delgado Community College Family: husband, Daniel; son, Jon, 36 Education: B.A., English/French, Central College, Fayette, Mo.; M.A., reading education, University of Missouri at Kansas City; Ed.D., higher education administration, Nova Southeastern University Donna Alley thinks community colleges not only offer a qual- Communication. ity education at an affordable price, they also play an essential In 1999, after moving to Florida, Alley received her role in