BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. John B. Elstrott, Jr.

Dr. John Elstrott is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Executive Director of the Levy- Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business in New Orleans, LA. He holds bachelor and master’s degrees in economics from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge and a doctorate in economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Dr. Elstrott teaches courses in entrepreneurship and has research interests in the areas of entrepreneurship, family business, strategic planning, regional economic development, technology commercialization, and environmental  economics.  He has won numerous teaching awards including the National Freedoms Foundation Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education, the Edwin Appel Prize for bringing Entrepreneurial Vitality to Academe, and the James T. Murphy award for Teaching Excellence.  He was named the Ernst and Young Louisiana Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997 for his support of entrepreneurship education.  He also serves as the Chairman of Board for Whole Foods Market, Inc., a Fortune 300 and S&P 500 company.

Nene Vanessa Glenn

Nene Vanessa Glenn joined Chaffe & Associates, Inc. as a financial analyst intern in the corporate valuation group in June 2007, and upon completion of the internship joined the company. Ms. Glenn specializes in database research, financial analysis, and business valuation. She graduated summa cum laude from Tulane University in May 2007, receiving a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance.  Upon graduation, she joined the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and received the Dean’s Service Award.  In May 2011, Ms. Glenn received her Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of New Orleans. In addition, Ms. Glenn sits on the board of several local start-ups in the City of New Orleans.

Robert C. Hailey

Currently completing his 18^th year at Tulane University, Mr. Hailey has recently assumed a new role at the University that includes reporting responsibility to the VP of Administrative Services.  In this role additional responsibilities for University Card Operations, Campus Transportation, University Print/Copy/Mail Services and dining and vending services at the Health Science campus are now included in University Services. Prior to this Mr. Hailey served for the last ten years as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs for University Services. In this position Mr. Hailey was responsible for the negotiation and management of over $20 million University wide service. Mr. Hailey holds a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University, a Master of Science in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University.  In 2007 Mr. Hailey completed the Management and Leadership in Education program at the Harvard School of Education.

Rebecca Otten

Rebecca Otten joined the IN Exchange founding team as vice president while studying the intersections of business, anthropology, and international development. Rebecca Otten is a 2009 graduate of Tulane’s School of Liberal Arts and the A.B. Freeman School of Business. Rebecca’s current focus is developing and supporting students as social innovators and changemakers through the newly-created Center for Engaged Learningand Teaching (CELT) at Tulane, where she is the Program Coordinator.

Katie Schmidt

Katie Schmidt is the new Executive Director of IN Exchange. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Drama with a Honors in Costume Design from the University of California, Irvine. Just recently, in May 2011 she completed a master’s degree in Luxury and Fashion Management from SKEMA Business School in the Silicon Valley of France, Sophia Antipolis. As director of IN Exchange, she has a vast array of responsibility such as planning and implementing the marketing and events campaign, seeking fundraising and grant opportunities, maintaining the ecommerce platform, creating partnerships with other non-profits and community members, and managing the inventory and in-store operations, which includes the supervision of student interns and workers. She also works with the board to create an overall vision and goals for the organization. Previously Ms. Schmidt worked as a freelance costume designer and crafts person in several theaters in California. During her master’s degree, she had the honor of planning and designing an Indian themed fashion show for the French Olympic Committee.

Lina Alfieri Stern

Lina Alfeieri Stern is the director of the Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane University. She obtained a BA in Sociology from Tulane University’s Newcomb College in 1992 and an MBA from the Freeman School in 1997. In her capacity as director of the Institute, she plans and implements projects relating to entrepreneurial studies, urban economic development and social entrepreneurship; places and mentors volunteer business students in consulting projects for disadvantaged businesses and not-for-profit organizations; and facilitates the student-run Tulane Business Plan Competition.  She serves on the Board of Directors for the Central City Economic Development Corporation and has worked closely with the New Orleans public housing community in economic development efforts.  She also serves on the the Board of Advisors for Swim4Success; and the Board of Directors for the Tulane Business Plan Competition.  Ms. Alfieri Stern was named Tulane University’s 2002 Social Entrepreneur of the Year and was a recipient of New Orleans’ CityBusiness 2001 Power Generation award.

Erica Trani

Erica Trani is the Founder of IN Exchange.  She served as the Director of IN Exchange for the first four years of operations and has now found a seat on the Board of Directors.  Ms. Trani holds a BA in International Development and Political Science from Tulane University under Newcomb College.  During her time as a student, she traveled and studied fair trade cooperatives in other countries.  After hurricane Katrina, she conceived of the idea for IN Exchange and opened the store in 2007.  IN Exchange continues to serve its founding mission of supporting both artisans in other countries and New Orleans artists that compose the city’s important cultural economy.

Charlotte Travieso

Charlotte Travieso has been has been executive director of the alumni affairs office at Tulane University since 2000. She received a BS degree in mathematics from Newcomb College of Tulane University where she was a merit scholarship student and president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She received an MS degree with distinction from American University in Government and Public Affairs.  Charlotte served as President of the Tulane Alumni Association Board of Directors (1991-92), Chair of the Associates Board (1998-2000) and member of the Tulane University President’s Council (1991-2000).  The USDA recognized her with the Outstanding Mid-Career Award in 1986 and the Meritorious Service Award in 1989 and 1990.  She also serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Louise S. McGehee School. She is a charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the National Museum of the American Indian and a member of the Krewe of Muses.