Anisha V. Williams Professional Portfolio

Portfolio
of
Anisha V. Williams
Marketing/Communications
Professional
P.O. Box 853
Marrero, LA 70072
(504) 982-4535
avwilliams20@gmail.com

ANISHA V. WILLIAMS
P.O. Box 853, Marrero, LA 70072 Phone: 504-982-4535
Email: avwilliams20@gmail.com Website: bit.ly/anishavwilliams
MARKETING/ MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL
10 years of successfully combining media and marketing experience in diversified environments
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER – Kelly Educational Services, New Orleans
4/16 to Present
Implement K-12 learning plans and offer instruction independent of a certified teacher in classroom settings.
Ensure preparedness by interacting with school employees and completion of training program legally compliant with
federal/state legislation and regulations for substitute educators.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE
FIELD MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE - Geometry Global, National
10/14 to Present
1,000+ hours communicating detailed product information in a fun & friendly manner at consumer events and retail locations.
Captivate audiences with an emphasis on brand awareness, sampling, retail sales and building customer loyalty.
Increased stadium sales at Minor League Baseball games in New Orleans by 60%.
DISTRICT MARKETING COORDINATOR - H&R Block, New Orleans, LA 10/14 to 02/15
Maximize new client growth opportunities by coaching 21 office managers on best marketing practices. Coaching included
delivering weekly presentations at managers meeting and composing weekly newsletter with key data on local initiatives.
Implement lead generation activities. Successfully collected 500+ leads at a single event through innovative promotions.
Secure media coverage with local news outlets and set up interviews with Tax Professionals to educate public on 2014 tax
filing changes including ways the Affordable Care Act affects individuals.
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER - Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. - Metairie, LA 05/13 to 05/14
7 th employee hired by this start-up company and only full-time employee managing communications/marketing initiatives.
Write content for brochures, fact sheets, press releases, newsletters, website, social media and member letter templates.
Led website redesign on site that received 7,700+ unique visitors during first month and 45,000 unique visitors in first 6
months live. Overall resulted in a clear increase in unique web visitors, web page activity/clicks and social media interactions.
Increased Facebook followers by 3000%; increased Twitter followers by 1000%; increased LinkedIn followers by 336%.
JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE 10/06 to 07/12
WVUE-TV FOX 8, New Orleans, LA, DMA #52 04/11 – 07/12
WKMG-TV CBS 6, Orlando, FL, DMA #19 09/10 – 03/11
KSLA-TV CBS 12, Shreveport, LA, DMA #84 08/08 – 08/10
KWES-TV NBC 9, Midland, TX, DMA #159 10/06 – 4/08
Coordinate multiple aspects of daily live TV news broadcast, including writing news copy, editing video, setting-up interviews,
pitching story ideas, leading post-show meetings and updating website with news copy & video.
Scouted and hired by News Director to lead brand new newscast which showed immediate & sustained increase in ratings.
Morning newscast I solo-produced earned an unprecedented 9 Nielsen rating for the February 2008 book.
My ability to manage multiple tasks while also keeping a close ear to police scanners led to my station frequently being first on
scene and breaking big stories ahead of other news outlets in market.
Consistently exceeded managers’ expectations in covering developing news and creating story breakouts.
CONTRIBUTING WRITER - Nola.com/The Times-Picayune - New Orleans, LA 09/12 to 09/13
Cover news for daily publication with circulation of 130,000. Conduct interviews and photography/videography to aid
storytelling.
I offered a unique skill set of video producing and editing skills which added a multimedia facet to all of my stories. This
specifically led to my stories being shared via social media three times more than other news within West Bank category.
EDUCATION: BACHELOR OF ARTS – Mass Communications, 2006, Grambling State University, Grambling, LA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Sheet ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Résumé ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Published Articles …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Louisiana Commerce and Trade Association ……………………………………………………………. 5-7
Data News Weekly Bayou Classic Health & Wellness Initiative …………………………………... 8
Nola.com Articles
Kenner woman gets VIP treatment at Pres. Obama inauguration …………………... 9-10
Our Lady of Prompt Succor gets visit from Body Walk ………………………………… 11-12
West Bank’s first babies of 2013 welcomed at two hospitals ……………………….. 13-14
Cigarette smoke danger to children emphasized at Ochsner roundtable ……...… 15-16
Metairie Girl Scout troop seeks stewards for Little Free Libraries………………… 17-18
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback donates to charter School in Algiers …………… 19-20
Newsletters …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
H&R Block District Digest
Issue 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22-23
Issue 2 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24-25
Issue 3 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26-27
Issue 4 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28-29
Issue 5 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30-31
Issue 6 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32-33
Issue 7 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34-35
Issue 8 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36-37
Issue 9 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 38-39
Issue 10 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 40-41
Issue 11 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 42-43
News Releases ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 44
LAHC Announces CEO ...……………………………………………………………………………………… 45-46
LAHC Expands Agent & Broker Initiative ………………………………………………………………… 47
LAHC Welcomes VP of Member Group ………………………………………………………………… 48-49
LAHC Granted Insurance License ………………………………………………………………………… 50-51
LAHC Awarded NCQA Accreditation ……...………………………………………………………………… 52
LAHC Provider Network Statement ………………………………………………………………………… 53
LAHC Ribbon Cutting ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 54
Recommendation Letter …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 55
LinkedIn Homepage ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 56
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PUBLISHED ARTICLES
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Kenner woman gets VIP treatment
at President Barack Obama's
second inauguration
By Anisha Vanita Williams on January 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM
For one Kenner woman, years of dedicated service to the Obama for America campaign and decades of
genuine interest in politics landed her an opportunity to be a part of history. Eighty-four-year-old Ethel
Mae Henderson traveled more than 1,000 miles to Washington, D.C. to witness President Barack Obama’s
second inauguration on Jan. 21. She calls it "an experience of a lifetime.”
Henderson’s recent trip to the capital was
sponsored by her cousin and Louisiana native
Donna Brazile. “Donna was born and raised in this
house,” said Henderson, of her Kenner home.
Brazile is vice chairwoman of the Democratic
National Committee and is also an author and
political analyst.
Vice President Joe Biden, Ethel Mae Henderson of Kenner and Donna Brazile
gather at the inauguration.
people.
Henderson is avid reader and well-traveled woman,
detailing trips as a young girl to New Jersey to visit
her mother, a visit to New York for the World’s Fair
with her grandfather, as well as several other U.S.
cities. Henderson's profession as a seamstress also
provided opportunities to travel and meet new
“I had a friend who lived in Chicago who opened doors for me and I went up there to work. With my
experience, I was able to sew for Hugh Hefner.” She sewed bed sheets for Hefner’s heart-shaped mattress.
“He’d tell the crew, I want nobody to make my bed coverlet but Ethel Henderson because whatever she
does she puts herself into it.”
Deadre Edwards, one of Henderson’s five children, describes one of her mother’s childhood experiences,
saying, “Her mom was employed as a maid and took her employers' children to the zoo, and often cried
when she came home as she would tell my mother about all the things she had seen but my mother would
never be able to see because of segregation.”
Henderson said she preferred to focus on positive experiences.
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“I got a lot out of the inauguration and I will never forget it.” In addition to having a seat at the public
ceremony, Henderson was invited and attended a private swearing-in ceremony for Vice President Joe
Biden at the Naval Observatory.
Ethel Mae Henderson of Kenner greets U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at
President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
“My most funniest thing was meeting the vice
president. He has so much energy,” Henderson
said.
“Fortunately, with Donna Brazile, I was able to get
VIP to everything. We also had passes to sit in the
bleachers to watch the inaugural parade,”
Henderson said. “After the inaugural ball for the
public, I was invited to the White House in the
Green Room where they had a private inaugural
ball.” Hendersonalso attended the National Prayer
Service at Washington National Cathedral on
Tuesday. She said, “It was quite an experience.”
This was not a happenstance trip to Washington,
D.C. for Henderson It was preceded by several
months assisting the Obama for America campaign, setting up voter’s registration drives for her
neighborhood’s National Night Out, and organizing Jefferson Parish’s first-ever Presidential telephone
headquarters. “We did 1,800 calls in two hours right from this area,” Henderson said.
Edwards said, “The New Orleans area camp told my mom that the Kenner camp made more phone calls
than most of the other camps in that short period.”
Henderson said, “I had a chance to really relate to what it meant to me from the struggles that we’ve had.''
She recalled attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008. “I never thought I would
live to see a black man be president and with a second term. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences over
my life.”
Another one of Henderson's daughters, Gina Thies, accompanied her to the inauguration. Henderson says
she’ll be back in Washington in April, when she anticipates an opportunity to speak to President Obama in
person.
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Our Lady of Prompt Succor School
in Westwego gets visit from the
Body Walk
By Anisha Vanita Williams on January 23, 2013 at 10:28 AM, updated January 23, 2013 at 10:29 AM
A larger-than-life sized exhibit recently gave students at Our Lady of Prompt Succor School in Westwego a
visual and hands-on experience of the inside of a human body. “The goal is to teach kids about eating
healthy and exercising to fight childhood obesity,” said John Albarado, Body Walk manager.
Archbishop Shaw High School senior Joshua Cyprian talks to Our Lady of
Prompt Succor students in the final station of the Louisiana Body Walk
exhibit.
On Jan. 16, the Louisiana Body Walk transformed
the Our Lady of Prompt Succor gym with a 35-footby-45-foot
enclosed walk-through exhibit. Students
spent five minutes at 11 different stations, starting
with the brain. “In that particular station, kids sit
while a presenter goes through a flip chart that
teaches the kids the importance of keeping their
brain safe through, for instance, wearing a helmet
while riding a bike or while participating in other
sports,” Albarado said.
As fourth-grader Emma Bordelon sat waiting to
enter the Body Walk exhibit, she said, “I’m really
excited to have this experience because I’ve never
been inside before.” The mouth is one of the more
interactive stations where students sit on stools that resemble teeth and learn about oral health. After
leaving the stomach, students walk along a curvy intestinal path featuring hundreds of plastic tabs hanging
from above which represent villi, hair-like fibers that absorb nutrients into the blood.
Body Walk is one component of the Smart Bodies program, which focuses on healthy bodies and active
minds in Louisiana youth. Smart Bodies is a joint initiative of the LSU AgCenter and Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Louisiana Foundation. The statewide program gives participating schools approximately $1,800
worth of free teaching material, and the big event culminates 12 weeks of curriculum on the human body.
Albarado visits 55 schools across Louisiana each year as part of the program that has been going on since
2005. It takes six to eight volunteers to setup the exhibit. Chantel Williams, 4-H Agent of Youth
Development with the LSU AgCenter, trains those volunteers at each school and helps them organize and
breakdown exhibit. Williams said, “Once all the students walk through, we’ll tear it down and go to St.
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Rosalie School in Harvey for another setup, where their students will be able to experience Body Walk
tomorrow.”
The presenters consist of upper classmen from nearby schools. Archbishop Shaw High School senior
Joshua Cyprian was the presenter in the last station, "Pathway for Life."
“My station is a review of every part of the body. Here they get a lesson on daily life when it comes to health
so they can grow up strong,” Cyprian said.
In addition to the curriculum preceding the Body Walk experience, there are post-exhibit classroom
activities, including take-home activities for students to read with their families. You can learn more by
visiting www.smartbodies.com. There you’ll also find a list of upcoming Body Walk exhibits.
Anisha Vanita Williams covers community news on the West Bank for nola.com and the Times-Picayune.
She can be reached via email at AV@westbankwhispers.com.
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West Bank's first babies of 2013
welcomed at two hospitals
By Anisha Vanita Williams on January 07, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Only a small number of people can claim they were the first baby born in a particular year. Administrators
at Ochsner Medical Center West Bank say baby boy Ahmad Qasem Sara was the first baby of 2013 born on
the West Bank, entering the world at 12:03 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Ahmad was born to Qasem and Mary Sara of
Terrytown, weighing 7 pounds and 13 ounces and
measuring 19.25 inches in length. Mary Sara, who
was due to deliver on Jan. 6, said, “I used to joke
around and be like 'I’ll probably have it on New
Year’s,' but I wasn’t expecting that.”
This is Qasem and Mary’s third child, all of whom
were born on holidays. Sarah Sara will be 3 years
old on Valentine’s Day, while 7-year-old Haleh Sara
recently celebrated a birthday on Dec. 19 (Eid). “It’s
a Muslim holiday, but unfortunately for her that
holiday comes 10 days earlier each year, but she was
born on that actual holiday in 2007,” said her
father, Qasem Sara.
Mary Sara and Qasem Sara can boast the first baby born in 2013 on the
West Bank, Ahmad Qasem Sara, born New Year's Day at Ochsner Medical
Center West Bank. His sisters, Haleh Sara, left, and Sarah Sara, right, also
were born on holidays.
“I was anticipating a Christmas baby; I tried and it
didn’t happen, so I just kind of just stepped back
and let it happen for New Year’s,” Qasem Sara said.
Qasem said, “I’ve always wanted a boy, so I was thankful that he was healthy and his mother is healthy.”
More than a day later, West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero delivered its first baby of 2013. Aiden
Joseph Lewis was born on Jan. 2 at 8:18 a.m., weighing 6 pounds and 13 ounces. He is 18 inches long.
First-time parents Lester Lewis and Makayla Still of Westwego said they were surprised their baby came
early. Makayla, whose due date was Jan. 21, said, “doctors induced her early because of high blood
pressure, but noticed the baby was breached during an ultrasound, so they decided to do a C-section.”
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“We would have never thought he would have come
out this precious. He looks like both of us. I don’t
think he could have got any better than this,” Lester
Lewis said. Still said, “He had so much hair. I
thought it was a myth that heartburn during
pregnancy causes the baby to have lots of hair, but I
had heartburn the whole time and he has so much
hair, even on his back.” She went on to say, “I think
he’s the sweetest thing in the world.”
Parents Lester Lewis and Makayla Still hold baby Aiden Joseph Lewis, born
Jan. 2 at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero.
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Cigarette smoke danger to
children emphasized at Ochsner
roundtable
By Anisha Vanita Williams
on December 11, 2012 at 1:43 PM, updated December 11, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Ochsner Health System recently hosted a series of discussions on tobacco control and children’s health at
its Jefferson Highway campus, which went completely smoke-free in April 2011. The moderator was Dr.
Patrick Quinlan, executive director of the Ochsner Institute for Community Wellness and Health Policy.
From left, Dr. Harold J. Farber, Associate Professor of Pediatric Pulmonology
at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston; Dr. Patrick Quinlan, executive
director of the Ochsner Institute for Community Wellness and Health Policy;
and Dr. Fernando Urrego, Pediatric Pulmonologist and Ochsner Health
System, gather at a recent roundtable on tobacco at Ochsner.
"Tobacco smoke is poisoning the air of our
children,” Quinlan said.
The two-day educational program was paid for
through a grant awarded by the American Academy
of Pediatrics’ Julius B. Richmond Center of
Excellence to pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Fernando
Urrego.
tobacco industry highly promotes its products to children in the U.S.”
Dr. Harold J. Farber of Baylor College of Medicine
in Houston delivered a presentation during a
meeting with local and state leaders to discuss
tobacco prevention and control policy.
“Four thousand adolescents start smoking
cigarettes each day,” Farber said, “and the giant
Farber said $36 million is spent daily by the tobacco industry to promote and market its products. He said,
“We need to focus on the facts of smoking and focus on the lies of tobacco companies” as a way to combat
the steady trend of smoking.
In suggesting ways to curtail tobacco smoking, Farber said, “change the image of smoking, reduce/set
limits on tobacco company advertising, promote truth on smoking consequences, demoralize smoking,
reduce access and increase cost.”
The presentation was followed with a nearly two-hour open conversation among attendees. Concerned
participants debated taxing tobacco, cessation initiatives, and changing society’s image of tobacco.
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Panelists consisted of Dr. Karen DeSalvo, health commissioner for the City of New Orleans; Tonia Moore,
associate director of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living with the state Public Health
Institute; Brandi Bourgeois, program manager of the state Tobacco Control Program for the Department of
Health and Hospitals; and State Rep. Harold L. Ritchie
“In Louisiana, 48 of the state’s 70 school districts are tobacco-free,” Bourgeois said. She detailed how DHH
is using youth advocates to speak at school board meetings in hopes of persuading change.
She said, “The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living encourages peer-to-peer influence, especially
since young adults understand how to communicate with each other.”
New Orleans Health Commissioner DeSalvo said, “The youth voice is a real voice that lawmakers and
policymakers listen to.”
Speaking about constituents’ influence on lawmakers in passing tobacco taxes, the self-proclaimed
“heaviest smoker in the Louisiana House of Representatives,” Ritchie said, “keep pushing your legislators.”
Two hours of discussion yielded no finite answer of how to tackle what Quinlan calls a “looming crisis in a
society that would rather ration health care than take preventive measures.” Quinlan said, “Tobacco is not
only a health issue, but also a morality issue. We need to remove diseases of choice by starting with a
moderate goal.”
He asked the room full of panelists, Ochsner employees, medical students, nurses and the general public,
"Can we at least start with protecting the air of vulnerable children?”
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Metairie Girl Scout troop seeks
stewards for Little Free Libraries
By Anisha Vanita Williams on November 19, 2012 at 10:35 AM, updated November 29, 2012 at 10:06 AM
In an effort to improve literacy and make sure New Orleans area residents have access to community
libraries, the St. Francis Xavier seventh grade Cadette Girl Scout Troop 1231 is getting in on the budding
Little Free Library movement by volunteering 50 hours in order to earn their Silver Award. The Metairie
troop is spending all those hours planning and building the libraries that resemble miniature school
houses, as well as painting and placing them in deserving neighborhoods.
(L-R) Erin Burkart, Allison Pace, Taylor Cannon and Caroline Troendle paint a
Little Free Library with the other members of Saint Francis Xavier 7th Grade
Cadette Girl Scout Troop 1231 in Old Metairie on Saturday, November 17th,
2012. (Eliza Morse Photo)
Speckled in communities throughout the nation,
each little library requires a steward to oversee it.
Currently, Troop 1231 is seeking homes for their
two little libraries, which operate on the honor
system, allowing a free-flow of books among
residents.
Troop co-leader Shelia Pace said, “While
brainstorming ideas for a project I saw a news
story” about an Algiers woman working to bring
several Little Free Libraries to the metro area.
Linda Prout bruilt 10 little libraries, thanks to a
$500 Love Your Block grant from the City of New Orleans mayor’s office. Pace said Prout instructed them
on how the libraries work, “from start to finish.”
When it came to constructing the libraries, the troop reached out to former carpenter Paulette Mire of New
Iberia. The troop and its leaders drove to the town south of Lafayette, more than four-hours round trip
where Mire opened her husband’s carpentry workshop to the girls. Mire showed them the basics of drawing
up plans and used scrap wood to teach measuring and how to use a table saw. “After making minor
adjustments to the design suggested by the national organization it turned out to be a fun project, not
difficult at all,” Mire said.
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Perspective on difficulty differs slightly for troop
members. When asked about the hardest aspect of
the project, members Caroline Troendle and Halle
Briede both said, “Building it.” Troop member Erin
Burkart said, “The best part about this project is
helping people.”
In addition to earning one of the Girl Scouts highest
awards, troop leader Cherie Rose said, “These girls
have been part of this troop for eight years and with
high school interviews coming up, their consistency
Megan Brannon (L) and Halle Briede paint a Little Free Library with the
other members of Saint Francis Xavier 7th Grade Cadette Girl Scout Troop
1231 in Old Metairie on Saturday, November 17th, 2012. (Eliza Morse
Photo)
kindergarten.”
over the years and through this project shows an
ability to set and achieve long term goals.” Coleader
Pace said, “Troop 1232 formed the year of
Hurricane Katrina when these girls were in
The troop is looking for book lovers who want to share their love of books with the community. Members
plan to install the libraries in the winners’ yards, supply the library with enough books to get started and
will continue to help stock the library for at least two years.
If you would like to be the steward of a little library, write a one-page letter explaining “Why I want a Little
Free Library and what it would do for my neighborhood.” The deadline for submissions is Nov. 30. Send
the letter to SFXTroop1231@gmail.com. Two winners will be notified Dec. 14. For more information, visit
www.littlefreelibrary.org.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback
donates money to Martin Behrman
Charter School in Algiers
By Anisha Vanita Williams on November 06, 2012 at 9:15 AM, updated November 19, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Keenan Lewis, a 26-year-old Algiers native, recently donated several
thousand dollars to Martin Behrman Charter School Academy of Creative Arts & Sciences’ cheerleading
team in Algiers. Lewis’ cousin, Kristy Martin, happens to coach the cheerleading team and has a daughter
on the squad.
Martin Behrman Charter School cheer coach Kristy Martin, cheerleaders
Hermione Johnson and Mya Forbes, and teacher Muriel Lewis show off the
new cheerleading skirts, paid for by a donation from Lewis' son and
Martin's cousin, Pittsburgh Steeler cornerback Keenan Lewis.
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Martin said the school has been trying to get the
cheerleaders’ uniform skirts for the past two years.
Eighth-grader and two-year squad member Mya
Forbes said, “It feels great to have the new skirts.
All my classmates love the look!”
Fifth-grader Hermione Johnson, whose mother is
Coach Martin, said, “I love the skirts too!”
Squad members say they will give the old uniform a
“proper burial” and look forward to wearing the
new uniform at multiple school activities and in
approximately 10 Mardi Gras parades in 2013.
Lewis is no stranger to the students of Behrman
Charter School. His mother, Muriel Lewis, teaches
seventh grade social studies and science at the facility for kindergarten through eighth grade.
She said, “Keenan visits the school and speaks with students multiple times a year. Every trip home, not
only does he stop here, but also his alma mater, O.Perry Walker High School.”
Muriel Lewis said her son enjoys walking through the halls, conversing with students and stepping into
classrooms to truly interact with students, rather than a traditional assembly-like setting.
“Keenan is genuinely looked up to by these students, many of which desire to walk in his footsteps as a
professional athlete,” his mother said. She jokes, “If he ever calls me while I am in class and I happen to
answer, my students beg me to place the phone on speaker so they can greet him.”

Muriel Lewis’ unique role allows her to emphasize the strong connections between education and success.
“I made sure Keenan had an understanding of the importance of school,” said the elder Lewis.
-- AnishaVanita Williams is a Marrero resident who writes about West Bank news and
events. She can be reached at AV@westbankwhispers.com.
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NEWSLETTERS
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NEWS RELEASES
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RECOMMENDATION LETTER
written by Former Interim Communications Director during the time I served as
Communications Manager
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LINKEDIN HOMEPAGE
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