Meet the Board Members

Carrie Williamson

Carrie Williamson is the Founder of CW Marketing, a marketing agency based in New Orleans, Louisiana. CW Marketing offers companies and law firms a comprehensive suite of marketing, branding, website, digital and communications services that Carrie and her team can handle on an ongoing basis or as needed for a specific project.

Over the last 25 years, Carrie has worked with clients in a variety of industries—from shipping to real estate to healthcare and travel—but her sweet spot is helping small to medium-sized businesses that recognize they need a marketing professional to help them grow. She acts as a Fractional CMO, applying her expertise across media platforms—digital, print, public relations, social, podcast, video—to devise and execute an ongoing marketing and brand strategy that consistently achieves results and best spends time and money.

She is fortunate to have been able to collaborate with some excellent clients on some wonderful projects and values the long-term relationships that she has built with many of them.

In a nutshell, she likes to put her good ideas to work for good people to make good things happen.

Robert Baer

With over 40 years of banking experience Robert works with companies creating innovative solutions that drive improvement across people, processes, and technology. These solutions break down barriers between functions to execute programs and projects that align growing organizations with shifts in regulatory compliance, the economic landscape and market conditions while focusing on continuous improvement, innovation, and business process optimization. He is an engaging and influential leader, coach, and business partner.

Mary Rose Walker

Mary Rose Walker, MBA, is a brand strategist, market researcher, and marketing leader who helps organizations transform consumer insights into effective brand and marketing strategies. She currently serves as Senior Brand Strategist at MDRG, Inc., a full-service custom market research firm, and is the founder of Owl Tree Consulting, a marketing agency focused on helping nonprofits build sustainable marketing, communications, and social media programs.

Mary Rose began her career in Portland’s craft beer industry during the height of the craft beer boom. Starting in high-volume on-premise sales, she advanced to become Craft Beer Portfolio Manager for a statewide distributor. During this time, she completed her MBA from Portland State University and developed expertise at the intersection of sales, consumer behavior, and brand marketing.

Since transitioning to marketing full-time in 2021, Mary Rose has worked across brand strategy, qualitative research, marketing, and project management. At MDRG, she partners with organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to regional institutions, helping translate consumer and stakeholder insights into actionable business strategies. Her client experience includes work supporting brands such as Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Ochsner Health.

Drawing on her background in psychology, sales, and market research, Mary Rose brings a consumer-centered approach to brand development, positioning, and communications strategy. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Marketing Association New Orleans as Membership Chair and moonlights as a guest lecturer at Cornell University.

Mary Rose earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biopsychology from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from Portland State University.

Bente van der Made

Bente van der Made is the owner of Jarimbi Online Marketing & Websites. A New Orleans based company focusing on WordPress websites, SEO and online visibility.

Bente grew up in The Netherlands but fell in love with the culture, music and people of New Orleans and has lived in the city since 2008.

Bente’s passion is to share her knowledge and to make people successful on the web.

Shahinoor Hafez

Shahinoor is the Digital Campaigns Director at The Von Mack Agency. She earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with a concentration in creative writing. She also studied at the American University in Cairo.

Shahinoor is a data-driven marketer, specializing in tourism, activities, and experiences.

Her hobbies include fashion, writing, and cooking. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband and goes by Shahi.

Jordan Figueredo

Jordan is a revenue and marketing leader with expertise in client relationship management, business development, and team strategy. She specializes in transforming client relationships from transactional to advisory—building frameworks that drive measurable results and long-term partnerships. With experience spanning content strategy, account management, and revenue leadership, Jordan brings a full-funnel perspective to growing businesses and developing high-performing teams.

Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Tulane University. She has spent her career in the digital marketing space, progressing from Content Strategist to Senior Content Strategist to Accounts Director before stepping into her current VP of Revenue role. Outside of work, Jordan enjoys reading, baking, re-watching The Sopranos, and planning her next vacation.

Tiffany Langlinais

Tiffany Langlinais Graves is the Founder and Head of Marketing at Freret Napoleon, a New Orleans-based marketing agency specializing in public relations, social media, influencer marketing, content creation, and strategic communications.

A recognized leader in the marketing industry, Tiffany has been named one of New Orleans’ A-List: 25 Most Influential New Orleanians, a Gambit 40 Under 40 honoree, and a New Orleans Magazine Top Female Achiever. Throughout her career, she has secured media placements for clients in outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, Vogue, ELLE, Architectural Digest, Garden & Gun, and hundreds of regional and national publications.

Tiffany has helped brands ranging from healthcare organizations and hospitality groups to startups and consumer products build visibility, strengthen reputations, and drive measurable growth.

In addition to leading Freret Napoleon, Tiffany serves as Chief Marketing Officer of King Cake Drive-Thru, the nationally recognized seasonal concept that has generated international media attention and achieved record-breaking growth, including front-page coverage in The New York Times.

Tiffany is the first woman to join Team Fleur de Que, an award-winning Hogs for the Cause fundraising team that has helped raise millions of dollars for families battling pediatric brain cancer. She is also a member of Les Bonnes Vivantes, a Mardi Gras bathtub rolling krewe.

Outside of work, you can find Tiffany exploring with her husband and daughter for the best cup of coffee or hidden neighborhood gem.

Guiselle Barrazza

Joanne Kaldy

Joanne Kaldy is an award-winning writer, editor, content creator, storyteller, and marketing and public relations consultant. She started her career at age 17 as a journalist covering high school sports for the Hagerstown (Maryland) Morning Herald, her hometown newspaper. After graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in communications, she moved to Washington, DC, where she eventually became a full-time freelancer and independent consultant. A side gig as an aerobics instructor drove an interest in physiology and wellness, and she has covered medical/health care issues for U.S. News & World Report, Provider, Caring for the Ages, JAMDA, The Senior Care Pharmacist, and other publications. Additionally, she has served as managing editor of several pharmacy and long-term care journals and magazines. She also has written and produced educational videos and conceived and directed marketing campaigns. She lives in New Orleans, where she shares her home with three dogs, Desmond, Zoloft, and Nell and still does aerobics daily.

Alexis Knecht

Alexis Knecht is a recent graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and graduated cum laude. Recognized as the Outstanding Marketing Student of 2024, Alexis was honored for her academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to advancing the marketing profession.

As the founder of After Sunday Social, a New Orleans-based social media marketing agency, Alexis has experienced swift business growth while helping local brands strengthen their online presence through intentional storytelling, creative content strategy, and data-driven marketing. Her work spans social media management, brand development, content creation, and digital strategy across a variety of industries including, but not limited to, real estate and healthcare. Passionate about building authentic connections between brands and their audiences, Alexis combines her natural born creativity and strategy to create meaningful digital experiences and help businesses grow from within.

Carmen Sarduy

Carmen Sarduy currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Marketing at Tulane University, where she helps lead the university’s brand, communications, and marketing strategy. With more than 15 years of experience across higher education, tech and agency settings, she has built and led marketing teams that drive engagement, strengthen reputation, and deliver measurable results.
Before joining Tulane, Carmen held senior leadership roles at the University of Miami, Virgin Trains (Brightline), and HGreg.com, where she guided multi-channel campaigns, advanced digital transformation initiatives, and developed data-driven approaches to marketing and communications. She has worked with clients such as Visa, Jabil, Burger King and Gallo.
Carmen holds an MBA and a BS in Mass Communications from Florida International University and is a Certified Scrum Master. In 2025, she was named one of Ragan’s Top Women in Marketing, recognizing her innovative and strategic contributions to the profession. She is passionate about advancing marketing excellence in New Orleans and mentoring the next generation of marketing leaders.

Michelle LeBlanc