Ray Nichols Email & Phone Number

New Orleans, La

Learnin the ins & outs of photography in a professional environment...

The purpose of this unique, intensive gathering of fellows was to discuss how democracy will work in a world where professional journalism is losing capacity and citizens everywhere are gaining in power.The Sense-Making Fellowship's goal was to survey the values and influence of the work of the invited fellows towards helping citizens participate in society and influence our democracy.It will reconvene in a year around, culminating in the review of a participant-led collaborative project decided upon by the group.

Since the 2005 levee failures New Orleanians have been challenged to evacuate, resettle, reevaluate and rebuild. New networks have formed and a new generation of private sector, non-for-profit, and community leaders has emerged.

In this new LinkedIn Group, we plan to assemble a tribe of "The Good Guys" engaged in rebuilding and revitalizing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. See Karen Stephenson's article in Contact Settings (below) for a definition of "Good Guys".We exist to CREATE HOPE!

Joined this exciting new organization with interests in economic development, education reform and rebuilding, restoring and revitalizing New Orleans natural, built and socio-economic environments in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita through a number of Centers of Excellence focused on these topics.

Served as President of MARI in 2004. Worked with City Planning and the City Council in representing neighborhood interests in zoning, police protection and a variety of quality of life issues.Led efforts to reduce negative impact of existing and proposed alcoholic beverage outlets in our neighborhood.

Formed the firm to provide Human Resource consultation and workshops aimed at supporting our clients in attracting, retaining and developing the talent needed to achieve their goals. Worked with a variety of corporations ranging from small to Fortune 500 in a variety of capacities.Also worked with a number of non-profit organizations in determining strategy and action plans designed to help their teams achieve maximum results with limited resources.

New Orleans, La

The Awesome Foundation is an ever-growing, worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of awesomeness in the universe. Created in 2009 in Boston, the Foundation distributes a series of monthly $1,000 grants to projects and their creators. The Foundation provides these grants with no strings attached and claims no ownership over the projects it supports. The New Orleans Awesome Chapter began in April 2013 and focuses on funding projects with a civic media focus.

This voluntary organization has been formed to establish a formal Dog Park on the Mississippi River Levee between Audubon Zoo property and the Corps of Engineers facility in New Orleans. I am working with the New Orleans City Council, the Corps of Engineers and a variety of others to obtain official Dog Park status from the City and to add enhancements to increase the safety and comfort of Dog Park users, bikers and horse riders currently using the park.

I have been an active volunteer with Goodwill in a variety of capacities. I served as Board Chair from 1993 to 1995 and was active in establishing training programs in the Housekeeping area which positioned Goodwill to grow a multi-million $ array of contracts employing several hundred people with disabilities.Since Katrina Goodwill has been active in creating the Priestley School for Architecture and Construction, a new charter school focused on preparing our youth to be instrumental in rebuilding and revitalizing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Helped found CARI in an effort to engage residents, businesses, educational institutions, churches and other community leaders in creating a vision and developing plans for enhanced economic development of our area while preserving its wonderfully intact 19th Century character.

Initially engaged in conducting non-profit workshops on board development, fundraising and similar topics, I was elected to the Board of Directors in 1987. Worked with new U.W. President in developing effective relationships with member agencies.After chairing the Community Impact Division have continued work in developing measurement systems focused on increased accountability and measures designed to better communicate member agency impact to donors and the public.As U.W. representative, chaired the Emergency Food and Shelter program for the Greater New Orleans area from 1998 to 2006.Serve on United Way's School to Career Advisory Board. Since Katrina we have been deeply involved in creating Priestley School of Architecture and Construction and working with others involved in enhancing public education in Louisiana through preparing students for challenging and rewarding careers in a variety of fields.

Served as founding Board President of a new charter high school focused on preparing our youth to be instrumental in rebuilding and revitalizing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.As President Emeritus, continue to be involved in fundraising and positioning Priestley to serve as a community center offering a variety of services to the surrounding neighborhood.

Work with founder Laura Paul in efforts to energize and strengthen Community Benefit Organizations as they continue to play lead roles in restoring, rebuilding and revitalizing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

As one of two founding Board members, built LAIEA to offer educational opportunities providing non-art teachers support in integrating the arts into cirriculums as a means of better involving students in learning, creative thinking and working with others on team projects.

Held a number of progressively more responsible human resource postions at D.H. Holmes Co. Ltd, Touro Infirmary and Entergy Services.

Now called The Society for Human Resource Management. It's mission: The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest professional association devoted to human resource management. Our mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing the most current and comprehensive resources, and to advance the profession by promoting HR’s essential, strategic role.

My first real job involved securing the 27 miles of perimeter fence lines at Clark Field in the Phillipines. Since other obligations resulted in only 3 to 4 Dog Handlers being free to conduct these duties, I can't claim any major successes.Upon returning to the States, I was reassigned to Personnel. In Personnel, I worked with an Air Force Reserve Medical Service Unit until January 1968.