Our Team

Our Staff

William Stoudt

Executive Director

Mike Kingston

Construction Supervisor

Mike Kingston, a long-time volunteer with Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, recently joined our staff to supervise our youth workers. Mike’s expertise and skills make him an invaluable resource. His duties include supervising volunteers and junior staff members, managing our tool library, and teaching and training new members key construction skills.

Brian Templet

AmeriCorps VISTA

Brian Templet, a Cell & Molecular Biology major from Tulane University, joins YRNO as an Americorps VISTA through the Tulane Center for Public Service. An Eagle Scout, Brian is familiar with working hands-on with projects and managing large groups of volunteers. His duties include working to increase volunteer and service learning capabilities and improve sustainability for Youth Rebuilding New Orleans. After his VISTA term ends in July, Brian will be attending Tulane School of Medicine in order to one day practice surgery.

Willie Leonard

Project Manager

I have been married for 17 years to my beautiful wife Aly.  We have two wonderful children Kateri and Luke.  My background is forestry (with a BS from LA Tech) and theology (MA from Notre Dame Seminary).  I have taught religion for about 19 years in New Orleans.  On the job site, I enjoy teaching the students about different methods of construction and learning about their various cultures, and my spare time I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, and storytelling.

Sam Doersch

Team Leader

Sam owned a sustainable contracting company in Oregon for seven years, and has worked in nearly every phase of restorative construction.  He recently moved to New Orleans to work with Youth to promote social outreach and sustainability, which he feels he can accomplish at Youth Rebuilding New Orleans.

Dvhante Woods

Team Leader

Dvhante, a graduate of John McDonogh Senior High School and a Construction Engineering Major at Delgado Community College, is a dedicated worked at Youth Rebuilding New Orleans.  He started with the team in the summer of 2011, and his work ethic led him to join the staff officially as a team leader.

Prince Holmes

Team Leader

Prince is a proud alumni of Edna Karr High School.  He is currently attending Delgado, studying Criminal Justice.  Prince joined YRNO through the JOB 1 summer program in 2011.  Prince enjoys meeting and working with volunteers, and his charismatic personality makes him a great ambassador for the city and for YRNO.

Ryan Roberts

Team Leader

Ryan started working for YRNO in the summer of 2011, after graduating from Archbishop Rummel High School.  Carpentry is his area of expertise, along with helping volunteers.  He learned how to work in construction in New Orleans at an early age and is currently a student at UNO.

Our Board

Project Manager

Mary C. Shoemaker is an Archbishop Chapelle and UNO graduate with a BS in Biology Education and a MED in Curriculum and Instruction. She recently retired after thirty-five years teaching biology and chemistry in public and parochial schools in the metro New Orleans area. Katrina motivated her to actively participate in the recovery of the city of New Orleans by co-founding YRNO. She currently serves as Project Manager.

Robert Whitman Jr.

Director

Robert Whitman Jr. received his B.S. from Tulane University in 1973 and his Masters in Education one year later from Loyola. In addition to his educational pursuits, he received and has maintained his status as a Certified Financial Planner. Bob has worked for Rummel High School since 1983,where he has served in various capacities including: director of guidance, president of school board, and director of special education. He began his community service campaign in 1992 including a Service Learning Ambassador for the state in 1998. After Katrina, he helped create Youth Rebuilding New Orleans to help students get involved with the area’s recovery. In addition to his service work, Bob enjoys staying active by playing and following various sports.

Evan Nicoll

Public Relations

Evan Nicoll, from Kenner, LA attended Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie. He first became involved with YRNO in the Fall of 2006 after being displaced to Panama City Beach, Florida for a year due to Hurricane Katrina. Upon returning to Rummel, he helped work on some homes with friends through YRNO and have been with the organization ever since. Now an undergraduate at Tulane University, Evan is completing a joint degree with my Bachelor in Management with a concentration on Entrepreneurship and a Master of Accounting. After retiring from two seasons of Tulane Track & Field, he now serve on the Board for the Tulane Hall of Fame Committee. Evan also serve as an A.B. Freeman School of Business Senator to the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) at Tulane.

Sam Stephens

Social Media

Sam, a Senior at Tulane University and a native of St. Louis, MO, is the most recent addition to the YRNO board after his good buddies, Evan Nicoll and Will Stoudt, nominated him. As a Community Service Scholar at Tulane, Sam has been involved with YRNO’s build crew throughout most of his undergraduate career. In addition to his work with YRNO, Sam volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans Court Watch and the Roots of Music program. After graduating Tulane, Sam would like to remain in New Orleans, the birthplace of his grandfather, to live for an extended period of time. An avid jazz enthusiast, Sam is currently building his collection of local jazz, roots, and Americana music.

Irv Barousse

Historian

Irv Barousse, a graduate of St Aloysius High School and the University of New Orleans with a BA in Psychology, Irvin Barousse received his Masters in Special Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. His 41 years of teaching included St. Philip Neri, Holy Cross High School, and Archbishop Rummel High School. During his tenure at Rummel, Mr. Barousse created and maintained the Resource Department for 29 years before retiring in 2009. Irvin began working with Bob Whitman in the early 1980s when Resource Students built vegetable and flower gardens for residents of the St. Thomas Projects. Mr. Barousse has continued to work with Mr. Whitman in his outreach programs because of Mr. Whitman’s commitment to bettering the lives of the New Orleans community by involving the next generation of service leaders.