Ray Nichols

Current

intern at Gamechangers
Photography Intern - The Trumpet at Neighborhoods Partnership Network
Sense Maker at The Poynter Institute

intern at Media and Democracy Coalition
Evangelist at NEW ORLEANS INSTITUTE For Resilience and Innovation
Member Y@ Pac at Net2NO
Big Chief at Revitalization Social Aid and Pleasure Club
Member at Horizon Initiative
Gonzo Volunteer at Marigny Consults
Charge' D'Affairs at New Orleans Levee Dog Park
Executive Committee, Board of Directors at Carrollton Audubon Renaissance, Inc.
Member at Maple Area Residents, Inc.
Volunteer at United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area
Owner at The Crescent Group
Member Board of Directors at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana

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Past

President Emeritus, Board of Directors at Priestley School of Architecture and Construction
Vice President, Board of Directors at Louisiana Institute for Education in the Arts
Human Resource Depts. at Variety of N.O. firms

President at Personnel Management Association of New Orleans
Sentry Dog Handler at United States Air Force

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2 more...

Education

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Recommended

18 people have recommended Ray

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Management Consulting

Ray Nichols’s Summary

While retired from paid consulting assignments, I remain deeply involved with a variety of non-profit organizations working to rebuild and revitalize the natural, built and socio-economic environment in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav & Ike.

Ray Nichols’s Specialties:

Volunteer leadership
Social Entrepreneurship

Ray Nichols’s Experience

intern

Gamechangers

(Management Consulting industry)

2009 — Present (1 year )
Photography Intern - The Trumpet

Neighborhoods Partnership Network

(Publishing industry)

October 2009 — Present (4 months)

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

The Poynter Institute

(Non-Profit; Newspapers industry)

March 2009 — Present (11 months)
intern

Media and Democracy Coalition

(Management Consulting industry)

2009 — Present (1 year )
Evangelist

NEW ORLEANS INSTITUTE For Resilience and Innovation

(Political Organization industry)

August 2008 — Present (1 year 6 months)

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.
Member Y@ Pac

Net2NO

(Privately Held; Internet industry)

August 2008 — Present (1 year 6 months)
Big Chief

Revitalization Social Aid and Pleasure Club

(Civic & Social Organization industry)

March 2008 — Present (1 year 11 months)

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!
Member

Horizon Initiative

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry)

May 2007 — Present (2 years 9 months)

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.
Gonzo Volunteer

Marigny Consults

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

March 2007 — Present (2 years 11 months)

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.
Charge' D'Affairs

New Orleans Levee Dog Park

(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry)

June 2005 — Present (4 years 8 months)

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.
Executive Committee, Board of Directors

Carrollton Audubon Renaissance, Inc.

(Non-Profit; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

June 2004 — Present (5 years 8 months)

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.
Member

Maple Area Residents, Inc.

(Non-Profit; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

October 2002 — Present (7 years 4 months)

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.
Volunteer

United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

March 1985 — Present (24 years 11 months)

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.
Owner

The Crescent Group

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Management Consulting industry)

January 1984 — Present (26 years 1 month)

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.
Member Board of Directors

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana

(Non-Profit; 501-1000 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

May 1983 — Present (26 years 9 months)

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.
President Emeritus, Board of Directors

Priestley School of Architecture and Construction

(Education Management industry)

September 2005 — September 2008 (3 years 1 month)

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.
Vice President, Board of Directors

Louisiana Institute for Education in the Arts

(Educational Institution; 11-50 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

August 1995 — June 2000 (4 years 11 months)

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.
Human Resource Depts.

Variety of N.O. firms

(Human Resources industry)

January 1972 — November 1983 (11 years 11 months)

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

Personnel Management Association of New Orleans

(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry)

January 1982 — January 1983 (1 year 1 month)

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.
Sentry Dog Handler

United States Air Force

(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; Law Enforcement industry)

June 1964 — September 1965 (1 year 4 months)

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.

Ray Nichols’s Education

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

B.S. Management , Management , 1968 — 1971

As President of SAM, developed revenue stream of approximately $3500/year. Used those funds to sponsor 2 Junior Achievement companies with management students serving as advisors to Lafayette high school students playing various roles in operations and leadership. This occured the year Lafayette Parish Schools were integrated. Interesting Times!

Activities and Societies:

President Southwestern Association of Management - 2 years,

Chaired Committee on Academics for the College of Commerce,

Blue Key National Honorary Fraternity - Treasurer

Additional Information

Ray Nichols’s Interests:

Volunteer leadership, Restoration and revitalization of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

Ray Nichols’s Groups:

NEW ORLEANS INSTITUTE For Resilience and Innovation,
Horizon Initiative,
Carrollton Audubon Renaissance, Inc.,
Priestley School of Architecture and Construction,
Revitalization Institute,
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana,
United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area,
Friends of the Great River,
Maple Area Residents, Inc.,
Gulf Restoration Network,
Friends of New Orleans,
CityWorks,
The Green Project,
Unified Non-profits of Greater New Orleans,
America's Wetlands