Gambel Girl

Aug. 29 marked the 15th  anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and I remember the weeks after the storm being a PR professional’s “moment.”

Sunday was my first Mother’s Day without my mom.

As the decade closes, I reflect on two profound losses.

Recently, a young colleague was fixated on having her “social justice” voice heard, and she believed that rallies and marches were the best way to effect change.

Growing up, the dinner table was sacrosanct. Whether red beans and rice Mondays or chipped

I met Cokie Roberts several times, usually with her mom, Lindy Boggs, or through the Academy of the Sacred Heart.

I have traveled lots lately, and that means time. There is time online identifying the best fares and schedules; time…

Age is just a number, right? I feel younger, healthier and more self-assured than my years might suggest.

Often it is difficult to visit someone who does not remember. But does that really matter? I recently read “The Present Moment in Dementialand,” which explains: You probably don’t remember your first birthday party, but your parents celebrated it.

It is always nice to receive compliments, and during our 10th anniversary, I am particularly proud of our staff, for whom I hear praise regularly.

With Mardi Gras 2019 wrapped, the Gambel Girls needed a dose of creativity to avoid withdrawal. A story from The Dubai 100 was inspiration: create three-word horror stories.

Although Mardi Gras is over, merriment continues. Next month marks the tenth anniversary of Gambel Communications.

What an exciting time to be a New Orleanian! On the heels of our 2018 Tricentennial, we are experiencing the convergence of Mardi Gras and our amazing Saints.

If there were a word of the year, thus far in January, “lifting” would be it. We lifted towering smokestacks on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong which is scheduled to welcome guests this spring. The same day, we lifted the final beam of 731 St. Charles Ave., a historic New Orleans building conversion, and later lifted the hopes of school counselors with a panel discussion on addiction presented by Longbranch Healthcare.

While most people associate a new year with resolutions, I relate it to the anniversary of my cancer. And while most think of 13 as unlucky, that number is a blessing to me as it signifies the years I have been in remission from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

With so much hate in the world, can one person make a difference? Entrepreneur Peter Shankman says yes, and it…

Gambel Communications is proud to be completing its second year publishing The New Orleans 100. This milestone is made sweeter because Tod Smith, general manager of our presenting sponsor, WWL-TV (CBS, Tegna), recently was awarded The 100 Companies’ inaugural Visionary Award.

While the traditional Thanksgiving meal in Southeast Louisiana is turducken, sweet potatoes, oyster dressing and pecan pie, Camellia Beans, best known for its iconic red beans, will serve red beans and rice across five New Orleans Council districts on Thanksgiving Eve.

Personality styles vary depending on individual abilities, group dynamics and opportunities. At our recent staff retreat, we surveyed the team to identify each staffer’s personality as it relates to four animals, providing a lens for examining – and appreciating – others.

As midterms approach, female candidates lag behind their male counterparts. A recent panel of women elected officials revealed some interesting observations. Women:

My visit to Africa this summer was the trip of a lifetime: a safari in the Serengeti, sailing and snorkeling in Zanzibar and a city experience in Cape Town.

One of my friends likes nothing more than to ensnare me in wearying debates. Given that we are polar political opposites and his strong opinions – and his 6-foot 5-inch frame – overpower me, I often opt for restraint.

Some people call me a networker extraordinaire, and that moniker has helped me make great connections. While meeting new people is good for business, it’s important to steward your existing relationships.

World Elephant Day highlighted the fact that in 1800, there were 26 million elephants in Africa; in 1900, 5 million; today, less than 500,000. Fifty-five elephants are killed for their tusks daily.

Our country seems more divisive than ever. Where are the days when we could respectfully debate, even learn from a different perspective rather than turn contrary views into shouting matches? A business professional’s political conversation and activity should reflect what he or she is comfortable with while remaining steadfast in one’s beliefs.

I sit in my office with phones and internet down. Staff has scattered to coffee shops, and our provider cannot service us until tomorrow. I feel anxious, angry and out of touch. Disconnected is distressing. The irony is that on my trip to Africa, I’m looking forward to respite from cords and cables. Research indicates benefits of powering down:

At my recent Sweet Briar College (SBC) reunion, I was impressed at the masterful reinvention of this small liberal arts college for women in Virginia. To remain relevant today, SBC has shifted from a traditional curriculum to Leadership Core, which is designed to foster lifelong learning, innovation, ethics and empathy.

I love napping and wish my office had a comfy couch. While there are drawbacks to napping, such as waking up feeling groggy or napping so long that it interferes with your nighttime sleep, there are also some benefits:

Growing up in New Orleans meant cabbage ball during spring. It was not until I went away to college that I realized this was a New Orleans tradition, primarily played in Catholic schools, which usually had fenced-in playgrounds.