Serves as Lead Developer managing the development process. With residential portfolio management exceeding $5M+. Her role as a community developer identifies opportunity gaps and uses construction work(s) to generate employment access for varied contractors in the housing industry to increase quality, housing options.

Since 2000, her work with public and private sectors leveraged capital to benefit small businesses, commercial developers, and diverse neighborhood capacity building organizations. Kimberly works for Renasant Bank as the Louisiana Community Development Officer, and previously worked for Woodforest National Bank, the U.S. Peace Corps in Lesotho, Southern Africa, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, HRI Properties, the City of New Orleans Office of Community Development & Recovery Management, Orleans Parish Public Schools, and Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. The latter organization won an International Economic Development Council Honorable Mention Award for data analysis and application. Kimberly’s works have coordinated $100M+ in public-private, program and project management.

Owner of Successful Endeavors, a five-plex retail center in New Orleans, LA. with annual lease and sales revenue of $1.3M+.

Ronn not only employs 20+ people in the food/beverage industry, which at a peak height operated 3 Chicken-n-Watermelon Restaurants and Jazz Daiquiris, his firm leases retail space to two organizations with cultural significance: Operation Restoration “The Closet,” which provides services to formerly incarcerated women and The Beautiful Creole Apache, a masking Indian store.

Since 2016, through a true partnership in leadership with his management team, the company’s non-profit arm, Help Me Help You, has mentored countless neighborhood youth and donated $70K+ to youth and supportive service non-profit organizations through book sack and toy drives, and essay writing monetary award contests.

Help Me Help You Partners

• YWCA
• Eleanor McMain Secondary School
• Esperanza Academy Charter School
• Frederick Douglas Highschool
• Broadmoor Improvement Association Night Out Against Crime

Charmaine is an arts advocate whose career includes work as a past performing artist, professional dancer; dancing with the Kris Cangelosi Dance Company. She views the arts as a contributing factors to Community Development and Education.

Charmaine has an eclectic and diverse teaching background, beginning as an Ameri-Corp volunteer teacher and subsequently teaching in various schools throughout New Orleans for 15+ years. She is a former Parent Educator with the Louisiana Department of Health and former New Orleans charter school board member.

Charmaine serves as the Girl Scouts Louisiana East (Region 4) Membership Recruiting Specialist where she continues to advance the mission of “helping to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.”

Charmaine hopes to utilize the rich, diverse culture of New Orleans to create innovative solutions to community problems. She also continues to serve in multiple roles at Mt. Herman Baptist Church.

Serves as Palesa Development Consultant for the Deer Park Housing Development with a focus on public policy and financial analysis.

As owner of REO, LLC, Steven provides real estate advisory, research, cash flow projections, development pro formas, civic engagement, deal structuring, and advisory in housing financial programs His legislative advocacy, policy and data analysis have assisted women and minority communities statewide in garnering increased access to government contract opportunities.

Steven provides charitable, Board of Director services with the following:

• City of New Orleans Industrial Development Board Member
• City of New Orleans Business Alliance Board Member
• Broadmoor Community Connections Board Member
• French Market Corporation Finance Committee Board Member

Mario P. Pleasant is a nationally recognized comedian, entertainer, and cultural ambassador representing the entertainment landscape of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Widely regarded as one of the most influential comics in Louisiana, Mario has cultivated a powerful platform with a combined social media following exceeding three million across multiple platforms.

A New Orleans native, Mario is a graduate of L.E. Rabouin High School and John McDonough High School—two institutions that played a significant role in shaping his perspective, work ethic, and connection to the communities he serves today. His early experiences within these schools deeply influenced his approach to leadership, storytelling, and community engagement.

Mario has headlined and contributed to some of New Orleans’ largest events, festivals, and live productions. His professional work spans stand-up comedy, film, digital media, and live entertainment, including multiple film projects and ongoing involvement in filmmaking and production. He is frequently selected for projects that come to New Orleans requiring authentic cultural representation, local production insight, and strong community connections.

Beyond entertainment, Mario is actively involved in civic and community initiatives. He has received three official proclamations from the City of New Orleans recognizing his contributions to culture, entertainment, and community impact. He has also been selected to support and promote political leaders and public initiatives during election cycles, using his platform to engage, inform, and mobilize diverse audiences.

Through his work, Mario consistently bridges entertainment, culture, and community development. His service on the Palesa CDC Board reflects his continued commitment to advocating for neighborhood growth, cultural preservation, and positive representation of Louisiana.