METAIRIE, LA – Deutsches Haus, the New Orleans-based German cultural organization serving the Gulf South, has hired its first-ever Executive Director. The position was awarded to Theresa Crosby, a marketing and sales executive who has served on several non-profit boards.
Crosby will oversee not only the organization's regular operations but it's fundraising efforts to construct a new home on Moss Street in the Bayou St. John section of New Orleans.
In the last decade, Deutsches Haus has had numerous challenges. Not only did its original home on Galvez Street flood during Hurricane Katrina, but just after it was rebuilt in 2006 (in time for Oktoberfest), the state expropriated the land to make way for the downtown medical complex that includes University Medical Center. While the Haus was compensated by the state, its leaders had to hurriedly find a temporary location as they designed plans for the new building. They settled on an American Legion hall, located at 1023 Ridgewood Dr. in Metairie, LA, where the Haus has now operated for 6 years.
The temporary home is too small to accommodate the annual Oktoberfest. Deutsches Haus found a welcoming partner in the City of Kenner; Oktoberfest is now Rivertown's largest attended event. The architectural firm of Mathes Brierre helped finalize a design on the "New Haus" on Moss Street, and the City Planning Commission has approved the plans. Deutsches Haus realized they needed assistance in raising these funds and is engaging the public to further this initiative. Crosby began as a fundraising consultant before being hired full-time.
Crosby has served on several boards: Habitat for Humanity, Forum for Equality and American Marketing Association, of which she was President. She was also a founding member of Dress for Success-New Orleans and Justice for All-Houston. She has been a member of the following non-profits: Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Young Leadership Council, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), HRC, Legal Marketing Association, Junior Achievement, United Way's Women's Leadership Initiative and many others.
"She's got the right amount of marketing, sales, fundraising and non-profit experience to help us move forward and raise the millions we need to build our 'New Haus,'" said Keith Oldendorf, president of the Deutsches Haus Board of Directors.
With architectural plans finalized and a new executive director in place, the next year or two will be focused heavily on raising funds and educating the public that Deutsches Haus needs help in order to return home to New Orleans.
Established in 1928, the Deutsches Haus is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to foster and celebrate the rich German heritage of New Orleans and the Gulf South. The Deutsches Haus celebrates the annual Oktoberfest and features programs on German culture, heritage, music, food, language and film.
