Hello.
Welcome to Bossy Like Me, an interview series and resource destination for and about women small business owners and pioneers.
Welcome to Bossy Like Me, an interview series and resource destination for and about women small business owners and pioneers.
Reneé Blanchard, C.V.
EXPERTISE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Create and execute annual and quarterly programming, staff, and financial development objectives; forecasting sales, cash flow, product devleopment & budget goals
COALITION BUILDING
Build and sustain long term relationships by meeting evolving needs through empathetic engagement and mobilization, reducing barriers for future collaboration
CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT
Create cohesive strategic design for target market campaigns, digital & service product development, design & implement market education and awareness campaigns, social media planning and coordination
Bachelor of Science, Dietetics July 2020 - May 2024 Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana
Bachelor of Science, International Political Science, July 1998 - May 2002 University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Church Alley Cafe & Grocery August 2012 -Present Owner and Operator
Design and implement strategic planning process, create annual & long-term finance goals, budget forecasting, product & menu development and implementation
Oversee daily operations; inventory control, vendor interactions, meet finance needs, procurement processes, marketing, and human resources management, utility needs
Design and implement emergency protocols related to hurricanes, flooding, water & power outages, liability issues
Build and maintain operation-related relationships; repair and maintenance vendors, community members, city hall departments, community organizations, insurance policies
Establish and oversee community-focused mutual aid and relief programs; partner with stakeholders, provide support to vulnerable populations, ease barriers for future collaboration
Develop and deliver engaging community nutrition workshops and provide coaching sessions
Josephine Street Collective October 2009 - Present Founder, Special Projects Consultant
Special Projects Manager; Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Plan and facilitate business strategy, planning, and coaching retreats for small business leaders; create education and reflection materials
Cafe Staff training, location and flow design, problem-solving protocol, financial strategy, and strategic planning protocol; Elysian Bar, Urban Vision Properties, Solo Espresso, Windowsill Pies
Technical science writing, editing, market research, and corporate campaign scorecards scoring for Climate reports, Greenpeace US, Greenpeace International, Stand.Earth
Waterkeeper Alliance January 2011 - March 2011 Gulf Coast Organizer
Nurtured relationships with impacted Waterkeeper-associated organizations in response to the BP oil disaster, provided resources, facilitated collaboration with allied organizations
Wrote and edited blog posts, newsletters, and citizen science reports documenting community stories
Participated and spoke in information gathering and community organizing on science and policy approaches to prevent future disasters
Planned and coordinated annual strategic planning retreat with 10 community-based organizations
Conducted citizen science collection during and after the disaster for monitoring and evaluation of community impacts
Greenpeace International October 2009 - January 2014 Campaign Organizer
Science report writer, researcher, & editor, and project manager, public speaker on data release; Green Electronics & COOLIT campaigns.
Conducted C suite Executive discussions on report findings, empowering eliminating toxic chemicals from products
Coordinated volunteer and press events; CES, Apple Inc product releases
Web content writing, social media planning, and execution during report releases, press events, and corporate campaign mobilization
Center for Health, Environment, and Justice March 2008 - October 2009 Campaign Organizer
Coordinated successful campaign that created Green Cleaning Policy at Disney World Hotels and Resorts
Founded and Coordinated the National Safe School Siting Working Group; 20 local, regional, and national organizations organized to pass state and federal safe school siting policies Assisted 30+ communities fighting polluting facilities; provided technical and organizing assistance, community skill training, Coordinated Green Flags School Program; nationwide k-12 environmental leadership, 100+ membership
Greenpeace USA January 2006 - March 2008 Campaign Assistant
Co-coordinated 2 photo ops around the listing of the Polar Bear as an endangered species in the US
Developed and coordinated K-12 organizing project for Forest Campaign
Assisted in developing and coordinating US component of Greenpeace’s International Toxic Tech Campaign
Managed daily and special project administrative and logistical details for a department of 32 staff
Co-ordinated the development and running of Campaigns Department Intranet, Orientation Program, and Internship Program Managed Mercury Hair Testing Project by collaborating with vendor, supporters, local businesses and coalition members
Recipe for Collaboration: Enhancing Medical Students’ Nutrition Training through a Dietitian-Chef-Led Culinary Medicine Course, January 2024
Nicholls State University; Co-Researcher & Presenting Author - Accepted to FNCE 2024
— Researchers studied 3rd year LSU medical students' knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in nutrition before and after a two-week RDN-led lecture and chef-led kitchen skills collaborative intervention.
Supply Chain, September 2022
Stand.Earth; Writer, Researcher
— An international report, in concert with Stand.Earth and Greenpeace Southeast Asia, details the technology sector's contribution to climate change through its failure to decarbonize its supply chain.
Focused & Flexible: Strategic Planning for Small Business, March 2022
Church Alley Cafe & Grocery; Creator, Writer, & Editor
— This is a step-by-step strategy toolkit for long-term strategic planning designed for small business owners to do good and grow in business.
Drinking Coffee in New Orleans, I May 2014 & II, May 2015
Church Alley Cafe & Grocery; Creator, Writer, & Editor
— A printed short series with original art, interviews, and essays on the things that make New Orleans food and culture so special.
Media War in the Gulf, January 2012
Waterkeeper Alliance; Writer & Editor
— Post-BP environmental disaster assessment of media coverage on both the safety of our nation's seafood, health, economy and oil and gas corporations' greenwashing report.
State of the Gulf: Status Report from Gulf Waterkeepers, September 2011
Waterkeeper Alliance; Writer & Editor
— One year report on the Gulf Coast's recovery from the BP oil disaster, including still needed governmental reforms, health impacts, and a timeline of how the disaster unfolded from the perspective of seven Gulf Coast communities.
Green Electronics Survey: Getting Greener But Still Not There, January 2011
Greenpeace International; Writer & Editor
— Eighteen companies rose to the challenge, sharing their most prized, environmentally-friendly products with us as we assessed the greenest electronics products that will be available on the market in early 2011.
School Siting Toolkit, 2009
Center for Health, Environment, and Justice; Writer & Editor
— Toolkit for community members and policymakers to create school siting policies to protect the health of children and their families from toxic pollution
Volunteer Experience
Wellness Project New Orleans, 2023 - Present Board Member
A mental health and wellness worker self-directed non-profit.
Cathy’s Pantry, 2020 - Present Founder, Operator
Collect and distribute period products, diapers, and meals for Mutual Aid within New Orleans.
W.E. Rise Louisiana, 2016 Founding Member
Organization of 12 New Orleans women-owned small businesses collecting, distributing, and organizing relief supplies around South Louisiana in the aftermath of the 2016 Flood.
