About Us

JoAnne spent 27 years of her professional life in the insurance business before becoming an entrepreneur.  JoAnne returned to her hometown of New Orleans in 2007 after being gone for 31 years. She discovered that living in New Orleans meant becoming an animal lover as New Orleans is a huge dog city. Rescue organizations are very active but are always struggling for funds.  So in 2018, she founded the NOLA Dogs Race to the Rescue 5K and in 2019 founded NOLA Girl Charitable Giving (now NOLA Dogs Charitable Giving), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit to raise money to improve the lives of animals. JoAnne also owns Alice and Amelia, a gift boutique on Magazine Street. When not working, JoAnne enjoys traveling with her husband Dan, watercolor painting, facetiming with her grandchildren and sitting on her front porch with Daisy, her four legged fur baby.  JoAnne is a member of the Krewe of Muses.

Dan was born and raised in Connecticut and has had a long and distinguished career in public education.  He received his BS degree in Biology Education, a Master’s Degree in Educational Research and a degree in Public School Administration.   

In 2007, Dan and his wife JoAnne made the decision to leave the winters of the Northeast and move to New Orleans, JoAnne's hometown. Dan moved to New Orleans with the intention of continuing his commitment to the education of children and spent the next 15 years consulting at the high school level.  Dan joined the Krewe of Thoth and has been an active member for sixteen years. Dan is also a certified tennis instructor (retired) and an avid golfer. He and JoAnne have five adult children combined and four grandchildren.  He's also enjoys taking Daisy, their four legged child for long walks at City Park.  Dan is excited to bring his organizational skills that will assist the Board in successfully achieving its goals.

Meet Abby, proud dog mama and Marketing Manager at Gambit Weekly. When she's not busy marketing small businesses, you'll catch her marching as a Weather Girl, traveling with her husband, and running her dogs Instagram page for fun. Abby has always had a passion for animal rescue and is proud to serve on the board for the Nola Dogs Race to Rescue 5k.. 

Lisa is a valued board member of NOLA Dogs and the devoted hooman to Buster. An entrepreneur extraordinaire, Lisa is the owner of Forever New Orleans, a collection of beloved gift shops located in the heart of the French Quarter that celebrate the spirit, art, and culture of the city.  Lisa brings her passion, generosity, and boundless energy to NOLA Dogs, where she plays a key role in securing auction items for our fundraising events. From unique gift items to one-of-a-kind pieces of art, her contributions help make our auctions a success year after year. Beyond that, Lisa is always willing to give her time and talents wherever they are needed, embodying the true spirit of service and community.

We are incredibly grateful for Lisa’s dedication, heart, and “superhuman” commitment to helping NOLA Dogs thrive.

Beth is a retired Verizon Engineer.  She has participated in the Nola Dogs Race for the Rescue for several years and now spends time volunteering with the race.  Beth is a lover of animals of all kinds, and believes that every single animal deserves a loving home and the opportunity to lead a full life.  Beth and her partner Joe enjoy all varieties of coastal fishing.  She loves cooking and is an avid runner.  She is a proud member of the Krewe of Muses for 15 years.  She is honored to serve on the board of such a great organization and looks forward to using her skills to help grow the support for animal rescue.  While she lives in coastal North Carolina, Beth considers New Orleans her heart’s home.

BIO COMING SOON!

 Benjamin moved to New Orleans via Washington DC years ago to live full time and call it home - he enjoys the rich culture including his involvement in the music scene and local racquet sports clubs. Ben is the Founder of CODEX Engineering LLC, a firm that began operations in 2011. Since then, he has been engaged by a number of large Architecture and Engineering (A&E) firms to develop new offices and practice-lines nationwide and internationally. He is excited to continue serving NOLA Dogs as a Board Member and working to expand its charitable givings in a similar capacity!