JAMNOLA Krewe
Catherine Todd
Catherine is the co-founder and creative director of Where Y'Art Works. Cat's passion for the arts is instinctual and stems from a lifetime surrounded by it. With her roots in New Orleans, to growing up having an artist for a mother, and living and working for the past 20 years as a graphic designer both in the corporate field, as well as running her own branding and design business, Mama Roux Studio; Cat's history and experience drove her to envision a website where local art is easily accessible to the people. Together with Collin, designed Where Y'Art Works; a platform wholly dedicated to ensuring a future for local working artists, while doing our part to build and sustain the New Orleans art community.
Website
Chad Smith
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Chad Smith has spent his career curating beauty and joy. Starting his career as a high-end fashion stylist, for the past 20 years Chad has been a luxury real estate photographer, overseeing art direction and styling for shoots from coast to coast. He now brings his creative vision to the JAMNOLA team—overseeing the merchandising and creative direction of this one-of-a-kind play space. Chad has a degree in cinematography and film production from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He lives in Bywater, New Orleans.
Collin Ferguson
Collin serves as co-founder & managing director of Where Y'Art Works. Her love affair with New Orleans began at Tulane University, where she was torn between studying art and business. In 2011, after over six years overseas, she settled back in New Orleans as a visual artist and founded Birds of a Feather NOLA. She witnessed firsthand the difficulties of arts promotion and marketing aong her fellow artists, and at the same time was approached by Cat Todd about a platform for Nola artists. Where Y'Art was born.
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Joan Coraggio
VP of Partnerships
Joan has had an expansive career creating live event experiences in entertainment, art and sports developing dynamic partnerships with brands and non-profit organizations. She earned her BS of Marketing from The University of Arizona with additional certifications in Social Impact from Wharton. Having led the development of a wide variety of immersive event experiences and partnerships she has represented brands such as Netflix, Universal Studios and Toyota. Joan led the Experiential Marketing team at Saatchi & Saatchi creating integrated partnerships, artist installations, music festival activations, pop-up experiences, film premieres and community events.
Jonny Liss
Co-Founder
What started as one simple idea—to spark more smiles—has now become a reality. Jonny Liss is the visionary and Co-Founder of JAMNOLA (Joy-Art-Music/New Orleans). He began his marketing career in the beauty industry doing stints at Revlon, L’Oréal and Aveda in New York City followed by a long tenure at Herbalife where Jonny came to understand the relationship between happiness and well-being. After spending more than 30 years in worldwide marketing, sales and events, Jonny and Chad came up with the idea of increasing and spreading joy through the experience of art, music and culture. He has a degree in marketing from Northeastern University and currently resides in Bywater, New Orleans.
Juan Cabrera
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Originally hailing from the Dominican Republic, at 6’7” JAMNOLA’s Customer Service lead, Juan Cabrera is hard to miss. A former MLB pitching prospect who sustained a career ending shoulder injury in high school, Juan earned a Basketball scholarship and degree in Business Marketing from Lehman College in the Bronx. Juan started his career working at a Law Firm in Manhattan, did a stint in property management with Eanes Properties and eventually moved into event production before finding his way to JAMNOLA. When he’s not providing exceptional support to JAMNOLA guests, Juan produces Silent Discos for Quiet Events.
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Kaila Robertson
Storyteller Management
Kaila's storytelling journey began in early childhood, weaving words together as soon as she could speak. A proud New Orleans native and graduate of NOCCA's Creative Writing program, she draws inspiration from the vibrant and whimsical beauty of her surroundings. Kaila's creative expressions span fiction, visual art, and performance art, all aimed at sharing diverse perspectives. Her mission is to bring joy and inspiration to everyone she meets. As a manager at JAMNOLA, Kaila fulfills this mission every day.
Kayla Red
On-site Manager
Born and raised in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, Kayla Red brings deep local roots and a passion for storytelling to her role as On-Site Manager at JAMNOLA. A graduate of The Willow School where she studied Creative Writing, Kayla loves exploring the intersection of art, history, and culture—something she celebrates daily through JAMNOLA’s immersive experience. With a background in anthropology and a naturally calm presence, Kayla is dedicated to helping guests feel welcomed, inspired, and more connected to the spirit of New Orleans.
Rachael Burke
Director of Retail Operations
Originally hailing from Cincinnati, Rachael's love for New Orleans' vibrant culture and architecture, along with her passion for people, drives her commitment to creating a memorable and engaging retail experience at JAMNOLA. With certifications in Management and Communications, she excels in fostering teamwork and ensuring smooth retail operations while driving product innovation. Rachael is also a successful realtor, valued for her ability to build meaningful relationships and help others appreciate the unique charm of this magical city.
Stacie Davis
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, Stacie Davis has called New Orleans home for the past 15 years. With a dynamic background in television and film—both behind the scenes and on camera—her credits include productions like Treme, National Treasure, The Hunt, and more. A true New Orleanian at heart, Stacie credits the city's vibrant culture and spirit for keeping her rooted here, despite several attempts to leave ("Momma NOLA just won't let go!"). Known for her passion for organization, positivity, and bringing joy into every space she touches, Stacie is the ultimate team player. Outside of JAMNOLA, you’ll find her soaking up live music around town with her beloved companions, Tina Turner the Chihuahua and Whitney Houston the tabby cat—both named after her favorite musical icons.