OUR TEAM

Chief Executive Officer

Dennis Bagneris

Dennis brings over 15 years of program management experience to Liberty’s Kitchen, where he’s held leadership roles since 2011. Prior to becoming our CEO, Dennis was our Youth Development and Leadership Program Director where he ensured our programs had a youth-centered voice. As CEO, Dennis makes sure we’re adhering to our organizational values and are moving forward in line with our vision for the future.

Chief Finance Officer

Bernadette Lucas

Bernadette has been in finance for over 20 years and at Liberty’s Kitchen since early 2018. A New Orleans native, Bernadette connects with the mission of Liberty’s Kitchen and is here to serve some of the city’s most marginalized youth. Prior to her time at Liberty’s Kitchen, she served as board chair for Common Ground Health Clinic for four years.

Chief Operating Officer

Tasheena Butler

Tasheena has been at Liberty’s Kitchen since 2014, initially as our Culinary Training Coordinator where she created our Culinary Training curriculum for our Youth Development Program. As Site Director for our Broad Street location, she ensures our team balances the training we deliver to our youth with restaurant-quality service. Aside from her role at Liberty’s Kitchen, Tasheena is the Mission and Service Coordinator at St. Joseph’s Church in New Orleans.

Cafeteria Manager

Lee Andrews

Lee has over 30 years of cooking experience and has worked at the Poydras cafeteria for 24 years. He has experience in Louisianan and Italian food cooking and is at Liberty’s Kitchen because he loves helping young adults improve their lives through teaching them culinary skills.

Line Cook

Gioia Barconey

Director of Human Resources

Nadine Cameron

Nadine has over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources. Prior to Liberty’s Kitchen, Nadine worked with the Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group. Nadine loves connecting with the trainees and making an impact on them.

Director of Programs

Reginald Coleman

Front of House Supervisor

Thea Daniel

Grant Writer

Mara Hussey

As part of the development team, Mara is responsible for maintaining our annual reporting duties and writing compelling proposals for new grant opportunities. She has a background in art history, and in her free time she visits museums, makes jewelry, and bikes around the city.

Value Chain Coordinator

Da’Mon Keelen

Da’Mon’s path with Liberty’s Kitchen has come full circle. A 2017 graduate of the YDP, Da’Mon worked most recently as the lead line cook at Ruby Slipper Cafe before returning to Liberty’s Kitchen this year as the Program Associate, where he mentors incoming participants and is their first point of contact upon enrolling in the program. In his free time, Da’Mon plays basketball and video games.

Customer Service Instructor

Tabetha Long

Tabetha has been at Liberty’s Kitchen Poydras since 2017. She is the Poydras Program Manager, coordinating on-site training activities ranging from resume writing to customer service.

Development Director

Michelle Mathew

Michelle ensures we’re telling our story the best we can. Her many hats include communications and fundraising campaigns, donor relations, and special events. Before she moved to development, she was our Pastry Instructor, and if she’s not at her desk, she’s probably teaching a cycling class, at a concert, or baking scones.

Marketing Associate

Mary Rockwell

As Marketing Associate, Mary helps plan and implement our marketing and advertising activities. She helps us promote both the Broad Cafe and Poydras Cafeteria, events, and recruitment of trainees to our programs.

Cafe Manager

Jessica Starling

Chef Jesse is responsible for our Broad Street Cafe menu and is also our back of house instructor. She came to Liberty’s Kitchen to share her 25 years of kitchen experience with others. A seasoned industry expert, Jesse recognizes talent in her students and patiently waits for them to realize it for themselves.

Youth Resource Coordinator

Aisha Thomas RSW, MSW

Aisha is a graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 2006 and a Master’s Degree in 2011. Aisha has ten plus years  experience  in Case Management services with youth and families. Aisha’s  main goal is to eliminate barriers for every young person at Liberty’s Kitchen so that they can be successful not only  in the program but in their  lives.  Aisha’s hobbies include reading and writing poetry.

Cafeteria Supervisor

Sunje Warren

Sunje has worked in hospitality for nearly 15 years and her experience spans all aspects of working in kitchens, making her a great trainer for the young people who come through our Youth Development Program. Sunje likes seeing her regular customers and getting a chance to teach young people how to work in a kitchen.

Steward

Derrick Washington

Community Resource Manager

guenevere wilson

As Community Resource Manager, guenevere works hard to ensure that trainees receive the social supports they need to succeed. She has a background in public health and a passion for nutrition, the environment, and how they connect. In her free time, guenevere gardens, bikes around the city, and creates art.

Culinary Instructor

De Borah Wells

Chef De is an instructor, volunteer chef, community program director and private chef. The retired sports executive is a former pastry, garde manger and back line cook for Commander’s Palace as well as the attending chef for Community Table to Go which provides 600 meals weekly in Central City. Since the age of four, the kitchen has been her “happy place”, and family meals at home became her household chore at age nine. She is a member of the American Culinary Federation, has taught culinary lessons at several camps, schools, girl scout meets and private events throughout New Orleans, and is thrilled to call Liberty’s Kitchen home.

Career Specialist

Jessica Young