Associate, EMH Strategy
What initially attracted you to Venture for America?
There were quite a few factors that got me interested in the programthe combination of working at a small company, attending a 5-week training institute, being part of a cohort of motivated people, and moving to an emerging city all were very appealing.
What is the best part of being a VFA Fellow?
Definitely having a network of other Fellows to live, work, and explore the city with. New Orleans is a city that should be enjoyed with people, and I feel lucky to be part of a group that is eager to meet local entrepreneurs, try new restaurants, and get engaged. I must say it’s a pretty fun bunch.
What does EMH Strategy do?
We work with a variety of clients in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and provide a mix of services including business design, financial services, project management, and expansion planning. We take a hands-on, collaborative, analytical, methodical approach to creative problem solving; and we make sure our solutions are actually implemented. Our goal is to help companies in the Gulf South grow and help the region live up to its full potential. Some example clients include the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, the Louisiana Department of Education, and a local chocolatier called Sucre.
What do you do on a typical day at work?
Because our company is comprised of just 6 people, I do a little of everything. I work on internal tasks such as business development, & marketing, and also client-specific work like crunching numbers in Excel to create financial models, research, writing, playing around with InDesign, meeting with clients, getting free chocolate toothpaste, talking with restaurant entrepreneurs, etc. So to be cliché I suppose there is no typical day for me. Which is pretty sweet.
What’s your favorite thing about New Orleans?
New Orleans is
amazing.
The city has an overwhelming sense of pride, yet is unpretentious and welcoming. The optimism among new and old residents alike is contagious and a lot of progress has been made around crafting local solutions to address pressing challenges like education, food access, and job training. Plus, the food can’t be beat, live music can be found every night of the week, and there is never a dull moment. And the weather is great. And and and
I love New Orleans.
What do you hope to accomplish in your time with VFA?
Ultimately, I want to learn but also execute. I hope to add value to EMH and help the company grow, while also meeting with various New Orleans entrepreneurs to learn about their experiences successfully starting their own initiatives. I plan to start volunteering next month with Liberty’s Kitchen, a non-profit restaurant that employs 16-24 year olds and provides job training so that they can transition into the workforce. So I’m trying to learn as much as I can about socially-focused business models that incorporate job training.
Name: Alison Schmitt