Contributors Our contributors give Inside New Orleans its voice, its personality and its feel. Here we are proud to highlight a few of them so that you can put a face with a name and get to know them.
Sandy Franco Health and fitness are Sandy Franco’s focus, livelihood, refuge and passion. Sandy and her husband, Ron, met working at a gym when they were in college. By 1988, they opened Franco’s Athletic Club in Mandeville. Being new parents helped them shape the growth of the club into a family-friendly, healthy-lifestyle headquarters that now has 14,000 members. They branched out in 2000 with a club in Lakeview that was completely destroyed by Katrina. Now, after nine years, Franco’s Fitness has opened on Magazine Street. Sandy shares her expertise on living healthy in Get Fit on page 140.
Chris Caire
Trudy Hurley
Bill Kearney
Susan Zackin
Passionate about food and wine, New Orleans native Chris Caire does freelance writing on these topics. After he received a bachelor’s in journalism from LSU in 1984, he worked for a daily newspaper and a trade magazine for eight years. Since 1994, he has worked for the family business, DA Exterminating Co., where he now serves as vice president. In “A Chef’s Thanksgiving” on page 78, Chris tells us what some of our great New Orleans chefs want to see on their Thanksgiving table at home.
New Orleanian Trudy Hurley was classically trained under her mother, Mary Helen Stall, who owned The Green Parrot, an antique shop on St. Charles Avenue. For more than 25 years, Trudy has worked in the finest homes in the New Orleans area and beyond for clients ranging from sports superstars to young couples. With dozens of local and national publications showcasing her work, Trudy has graced the cover of Southern Accents magazine and has been chosen for its “Four Under Forty” award—a prestigious group of decorators chosen for their talents in the field of design. Trudy reveals Trade Secrets on page 49.
Bill Kearney believes if you like a wine, it’s a great wine—and the best wine is shared with friends. For more than 20 years, he has added wines from many regions, grapes and friends to his private collection. Recently certified as a sommelier, he serves as the wine director for Galatoire’s Restaurant, Galatoire’s Bistro and 33 Bar and Steak, where he is also a partner. A graduate of Tulane, Bill is president of Yenraek, a governmental affairs firm. In each issue, Bill will take you on a journey to find a wine that you love in Wine Cellar (page 83).
Susan Zackin has more than 25 years of experience in the event planning and design business. A graduate of Metairie Park Country Day, she moved to South Florida for a career in interior design after getting her degree from the University of Alabama. In Palm Beach, she started an event planning business and made her way back to Louisiana in 2013. Susan now operates Z Event Company. She shares her insights on how to have a great party on page 149.
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