The Idea Village Team
The Idea Village Team is a group of entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals with diverse backgrounds, career paths and levels of experience. Many have either personally started or participated directly in starting and growing businesses.
Tim Williamson: tim@ideavillage.org
Co-Founder/CEO of The Idea Village
Tim brings his energy and leadership experiences from founding four entrepreneurial ventures in the last 15 years. Since 2000, Tim focused on founding and leading The Idea Village, one of the most innovative economic development organizations in New Orleans. Tim’s career began as Vice President with Bear Stearns in Boston and he received a BSM in Finance from Tulane University. Tim serves on the State of Louisiana Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission, Kingsley House, a graduate of the 2004 NORLI class, graduate of Loyola’s Institute of Politics, 1999 City Business Power Generation, 2004 Gambit 40 under 40, and 2004 Junior Achievement Rising Star Award.
Allen Bell: allen@ideavillage.org
Co-Founder/President of The Idea Village
Allen has devoted most of his professional career to starting or managing entrepreneurial organizations. He has consulted dozens of emerging ventures over the last ten years as co-founder of The Idea Village, an economic development organization increasingly recognized nationally for its innovative programming fueling the emergence of a vibrant entrepreneurial community in New Orleans. Allen’s career began as an account executive in the Houston offices of national advertising agencies Bozell & Jacobs and Benton & Bowles. In 1987 he started his first entrepreneurial venture in Atlanta, a marketing agency, serving a roster of high profile national and regional brands including Time-Life Video & Television, SeaWorld, USA Networks, Cox Cable and Tabasco. Prior to co-founding The Idea Village, Allen was General Manager of NOLA.com, a pioneer in Internet publishing, and New Orleans’ most visited local Internet site. Allen served as a board member for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity from 1997 - 2003 and was Board President in 2001. A New Orleans native, Allen received a BBA from the SMU Cox School of Business.
Lauren Baum: lauren@ideavillage.org
Director of Business Development
Lauren Baum, a New Orleans native, returned from New York after Katrina, with the intention of becoming “temporarily” involved in rebuilding her hometown before returning to her job as a publicist for eBay. After realizing the tremendous challenges and inspiration in her hometown, Lauren decided to declare the move permanent. Lauren completed her undergraduate degree in Communications and Chinese from Stanford University where she continued her studies to earn a Masters degree in Business and Organizational Sociology.
Margie Ellinghausen: margie@ideavillage.org
Development Assistant/Office Manager
Margie is a native New Orleanian who, besides her duties at The Idea Village, is raising her brood of five children to become future New Orleans entrepreneurs. Margie attended Louisiana State University and then held a long term position with Merrill Lynch. After some time spent with her children, she returned to work with a small advertising firm that specialized in interactive media. She handled day to day bookkeeping as well as the position of Office Manager. Margie is now full time with The Idea Village and splits her duties between the development world and the task of keeping The Idea Village working on all cylinders.
Catherine Lenihan: catherine@ideavillage.org
Director of Finance
Catherine Lenihan, returned to South Louisiana after traveling the world with Chiquita Brands International in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her BA from Louisiana State University in Economics and an earned her MBA from Tulane University. Catherine was the CFO of two marketing agencies and the Division Finance Manager for PepsiAmericas. She is the co-founder of Blabylon, a social networking site built on web conferencing platform. After Hurricane Katrina, Catherine pursued teaching and become the Program Coordinator for Marketing and Managment programs at Delgado Community College. She also serves as adjunct faculty for the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane.
Emily Mitchell Madero: emily@ideavillage.org
Director of Strategic Consulting
Emily moved to New Orleans as an undergraduate Tulane student prepared for an adventure. She graduated with a BA in Spanish and Psychology, MA in Spanish and Latin American Studies, and a love for New Orleans. After co-founding several start-up ventures, Emily returned to Tulane’s Freeman School of Business. Katrina reinforced Emily’s connection and commitment to the people and the culture of New Orleans. She became President of the Tulane’s Entrepreneurs Association and was a leader in the development of IDEAcorps™, a partnership between The Idea Village and Tulane University. Emily is now a full-time Idea Village employee and leads the strategic consulting program.
Nicky Henriquez Mast: nicky@ideavillage.org
Special Projects Manager
Nicky, a native of Curaçao, earned a Bachelors of Science in Management with a focus in Information Systems from Tulane University. Joining The Idea Village team first as an IT intern, she decided to stay with the organization upon graduation due to the unique opportunities the city provides.
Kate Schneiderman: kate@ideavillage.org
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week Manager
Kate Schneiderman, a native New Yorker, began her love affair with New Orleans in 2006. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a BA in Political Science, Kate was pursuing a career in corporate/investor communications when she watched as Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. A year later, she decided to move to New Orleans and take part in the recovery and rebuilding first as Communications Director and later, co-Chief of Staff for New Orleans City Councilman-at-large Arnie Fielkow. After a stint working on economic development in Detroit, Kate returned to her adopted hometown to join The Idea Village team and manage their annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW).
Cameron Yancey: cameron@ideavillage.org
Special Projects Coordinator
Cameron, a native New Orleanian, returned to the city in May 2009 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors of Arts in Publication Management from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Joining The Idea Village team first as a volunteer turned marketing intern to help complete How They Did It, she is now a full-time employee at the helm of many crazy ideas.