Leadership Team | You Night Events 2

OUR TEAM

The You Night team is comprised of over 50 individuals -- most who are graduates of our program -- whose desire is to pay it forward to help women embrace life beyond cancer. The team is responsible for year-round planning and programs, divided into teams representing each city we serve, and a corporate team. For more information, or to reach out to any of our team members, please send us a message here

YOU NIGHT FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Founder,

Executive Producer

877-581-5936 x1

LISA MCKENZIE

Lisa McKenzie is the Founder and Executive Producer of You Night Empowering Events, a program whose mission is to help women embrace life beyond cancer. Lisa's passion for exploring opportunities to empower women is what drives her daily ambitions. After going through a particularly dark period in her life, Lisa wanted to share with others powerful tools that she used to free herself from depression, and power through adversity. Drawing from her personal relationship with God, and His promises for our well-being. Lisa has created a program that incorporates powerful tools for emotional health. Lisa founded You Night in 2013 to bring together caring members of the community to love on and empower women, and show them they are stronger than they might know. That is achieved through faith, a positive outlook and the social support of the You Night sisterhood. To date – because of sponsorship support and donations to You Night’s non-profit (the We Lift You Up fund) -- You Night has gifted 300 local women with the You Night experience, resulting in a very active sisterhood of survivors in our community. In 2013, Lisa was a finalist in the “BIG IDEA” – for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. That same year she was a finalist in the Urban League’s “Women in Business Challenge” and a $10,000 grant winner for the Salesforce Challenge. In 2017, Lisa was awarded the InnovateHer Challenge winner for the state of Louisiana; You Night was named “Most Glamourous Event” by St. Charles Avenue Magazine, was named “Best Charity Event” by the Edge of the Lake Magazine reader poll, and was featured in a national Capital One commercial viewed by millions. Lisa is a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, and many of the programs she implements in the You Night curriculum draw on the positive sisterhood and leadership aspects learned from being a Delta Gamma.

 A Note from Lisa McKenzie, Founder: I believe that God's hands are all over our program, as we are witnessing mightily on a daily basis the blessings we can freely give and receive simply by LOVING ONE ANOTHER. Cancer does not discriminate based on age, shape, size or ethnicity, and neither does You Night. We are brought together under unfortunate circumstances but, with God's promises, we can learn to trust Him and stand strong together to help weather the storm. I have many favorite Bible versus, but this one has a particular important meaning to me. I pray this over our You Night sisters daily. Psalm 91: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. God bless each of you and thank you for the love you show to those in need.

CORPORATE TEAM LEADERS / CITY TEAM LEADERS

Deborah Tonguis

PROGRAMS

Oversees leadership and program development, including curriculum of all You Night programs.

Tara Huguet

ADMINISTRATION

Manages everything "administrative": Accounts receivable/payable, permits, tickets, database.

Bunny Rivers

SPONSORSHIP

Responsible for the oversight of sponsorship activities, and grant opportunities.

Becky Gilbert

LOGISTICS

Coordinates all volunteers for the various events for the various key positions.

Angela Becnel

EVENT MANAGER

Event manager responsible for vendors, caterers, venue, parking, staffing.

Kristyn Kemp

New Orleans Team Leader, Logistics

Team Leader for Logistics in New Orleans -- in charge of everything having to do with the current class (from first meet and greet until the runway stage).

Ruth Avila

New Orleans Team Leader, Community Relations & Sponsorship

Team Leader for Community Relationships, Board of Advisors and Sponsors for New Orleans.

Angela Palmisano

St. Tammany Team Leader, Logistics

Team Leader for Logistics in St Tammany -- in charge of everything having to do with the current class (from first meet and greet until the runway stage).