New Orleans meets: first time since Katrina.

On August 22, FEI's New Orleans Chapter held its first meeting in two years, since Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in its city and among its members. Seven members--six of whom were former New Orleans Chapter presidents--attended a joint meeting with the local Turnaround Management Association chapter.

Those in attendance included: Bobby Brannon, Treasurer, Ochsner Health CareFoundation; Stan Smith, CFO, Orleans Parish School Board; Bob Galofaro, President, Galofaro Consulting; Harry Smith, President, Smith Financial Consulting; Tom Sandeman, CFO, Piccadilly Restaurants LLC; Jim Alack, Financial Executive, Entergy; and J. Fred Johnson, CFO, Carter Chambers LLC.

The chapter was supported by the National office, which helped arrange the details. "Please tell all of our friends at FEI National that their help and support is sincerely appreciated as we rebuild the New Orleans Chapter of FEI," said Sandeman, who noted that a number of professional groups are a hosting joint meetings because of lower population and fewer members.

"We have a standing invitation to attend future turnaround management meetings from Vincent J. Liuzza Jr., president of the Louisiana TMA chapter, and we'll be looking for additional opportunities for joint venues."

Having gone through a turnaround, Sandeman, who has been CFO of several restaurants and public companies, presented the stories and strategies of how a Louisiana company was saved and brought back to leadership in its industry--without moving its corporate headquarters out of the state.

Editor note: Profiles were published of Sandeman and Smith in the the FEI News section of Financial Executive's October 2005 and October 2006 issues that highlighted Sandeman and Smith's travails immediately following Hurricane Katrina and one year later.