Life and Work in the Big Easy
McCombs alumni share stories of loss and renewal in New Orleans
Three years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged much of New Orleans, many of the more than 200 McCombs alumni working in the city say they’re committed to revitalizing the city’s business and cultural landscape. Some are frustrated with the slow rate of change but are optimistic that residents have the resilience to help the city move forward.
A classic car restoration business owned and operated by Pamela Lyles, BBA ’77, and her husband was one of the many small business casualties of Hurricane Katrina. The business was totally destroyed under six feet of water and has not been rebuilt. Lyles says that, like many of her neighbors, the hurricane prompted her to take a different path in life. She has since written and self-published a Cajun cookbook and has devoted more time to volunteering.
She adds that many citizens have become more involved in city affairs, demanding change for a city that remains in repair mode.
“People who are from here stay here,” explains Lyles, who was raised in New Orleans and has spent the last decade restoring her 150-year-old home. “There’s major roots, there’s major commitment.”
Sandra Lyon, BBA ’70, an independent accountant, describes the economic consequences of the hurricane as “a doubleedged sword.” Although her CPA office closed for three months, the amount of work she’s had since the storm has grown exponentially. Accounting for clients’ property damage and rebuilding efforts makes tax returns more complex, and she’s still working on tax extensions from two years ago.
Businesses that have survived despite a reduced customer base were able to adapt to the changing business climate, says David Fried, BBA ’84, vice president of administration and a controller for a marine transportation company. Fried says that while some industries have dried up, the city’s changing economy presents professionals of all types with numerous opportunities.
Bill Strobel, BBA ‘75, runs a management consultant firm and immediately changed gears with clients after the storm, shifting from a focus on strategy to damage assessment, rebuilding and now growth. He says the city is finally showing signs of its former self.
“Streetcars began running again toward the end of 2007, and tourists started coming back,” says Strobel, who recommends that visitors check out Clancy’s restaurant and the Royal Street antique shops. “We’ve had conventions, hosted the NBA all-star game and the BCS [NCAA football] championship game.”
He points to groups such as Idea Village that help entrepreneurs start new businesses and build economic momentum in the city. But some businesses remain understaffed, and New Orleans has faced a surge in the cost of living. “There’s a level of optimism, but that’s against a backdrop of a city with no Fortune 500 companies and oil companies moving to Houston,” Strobel says.
Michael Tu, BBA ’06, an IT professional for Chevron and Baton Rouge native, likens the cultural climate in New Orleans to Austin. Both cities are “oozing with creativity and progressive thinking,” he says. But New Orleans has always held a special distinction as an underdog city, a place “with faults that are as much a part of its soul as its strengths,” Tu says. He adds that while he initially was concerned about moving to New Orleans, any doubts are now long gone.
“The city is not just surviving; it’s thriving,” says Tu. “New Orleans is, simply put, a special city.”
- Behnaz Abolmaali
For photos and more stories of McCombs alumni living in New Orleans, visit the McCombs TODAY blog.
