“Who are those guys, anyway?” (Sundance Kid to Butch Cassidy)
Following are some short Bios of the people who started the Katrina Corps:
Pam Murtaugh, Director, leads Pam Murtaugh & Co – management catalysts to Fortune 100 companies, specializing in a re-orientation from “consumer” strategies to human strategies. Her email is pam@pammurtaugh.com. She is moved to help the world see what happens when “economy” replaces “society” –to bring back a society, where every individual is valued because they are alive. The key to returning to a society is the recovery of soul. The silence in the aftermath of Katrina represents the lost soul of America. As the city of Soul, the recovery of New Orleans (and Katrina-land) represent an opportunity for re-activating a democracy where everyone acts as if we’re all connected.
Keith Frohreich, Director In 2000, after 25 years as an advertising executive and marketing head of such restaurant chains as Sizzler, Carl’s Jr., and Dennys, I said goodbye to strategic plans, advertising campaigns, and large drycleaning bills. Instead of helping bring home the bacon, I began cooking it. I fill my days with writing, culinary creations, and volunteering. I write columns and non-fiction. My current writing project will mostly be about cooking…think Dave Barry in the kitchen. In March of 2006, I spent two weeks in Goma, Congo with HEAL Africa (www.healafrica.org). In early 2006, I was the first of our gang to gut in New Orleans. I began recruiting other gutters and two gutting trips later we envisioned Katrina Corps. Volunteering is good for others, and for my soul. Long live New Orleans.
Barbara Mitchell Hutton, Director, is founder and Executive Director of Rocky Mountain School for the Gifted and Creative (www.rms.org). She consults with schools and programs serving gifted students and organizational development with non-profit organizations. Serving highly and profoundly gifted children, support of gifted girls and women, global awareness and education and the development of leadership skills light her fire! She believes in the power of the individual. She believes that presenting ourselves in a spirit of service to our fellow citizens in New Orleans will restore the heart of our nation. She can be reached at blmh@rms.org
Vickie Law, Director, now working as a consultant, has conducted clinical drug trials which emphasized a category the FDA labels, “orphan drugs”- essential for a small percentage of the population which mandates development expense as prohibitive. Vickie is a community volunteer who feels like, “it’s just too easy to do the right thing, not to do it”. She continues to work locally and internationally to support and encourage those who cannot represent themselves. She was a member of the gutting team that located the Ali poster in the ruins of a home in New Orleans which eventually led to the inspiration of Katrina Corps that “Impossible is Nothing”. She can be reached at vickiehlaw@yahoo.com.
Andy Parrish, Director, is President of Wind & Rain, Inc., an affordable homebuilder in Coconut Grove, FL., specializing in making lifelong renters into homeowners. His web site is www.windandrain.com. His email is Aparrish@windandrain.com. His motto comes from Sir Francis Drake: “There must be a beginning to every great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.”
Ray Thomas, Field Director Katrina Corps. (Detroit, MI). Operations manager for companies in multiple industries with experience including; human health services, information technology, logistics and education. A former business owner and creator of state and federal computer repair programs, he has a reputation for dedication, creative problem solving, and outstanding service. His Katrina Corps inspiration comes from old family values surrounding the idea of supporting and helping those in need. He believes that purpose is the fuel of passion. “It must be the passion of the whole nation to rise up.” Reach him at ray@katrinacorps.org
Fred Pfaff, Strategy Director, leads Fred Pfaff Inc. (New York, NY). His specialty is high ground marketing—creating platforms that allow companies to change the game in their industries by introducing new ideals, approaches or metrics. He’s forged distinct reputations for a wide range of companies—from Fortune 50 to fledgling consultancies—in such crowded categories as media, consumer products and technology. A former nationally ranked athlete and award-winning poet, he champions underdog causes. He’s a director of Getting Out & Staying Out, the non-profit that’s reversing recidivism in New York City, and an advisor to Community Prep High School, the New York City school that’s giving a second chance to previously incarcerated teens. His Katrina Corps inspiration comes from George Bernard Shaw: “This is the true joy in life…being used by a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one.” Reach him at fred@fredpfaffinc.com.