Board Member Biographies
Sean Blondell is the managing member and lead attorney at Sean Blondell Law Firm LLC in New Orleans. Blondell is a graduate of Howard University’s School of Business in Washington, D.C., and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and Marketing. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge where he was vice president of the Sports Law Association, treasurer of Black Law Students Association, and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Team and the Recruitment Committee. In addition to his work with AAEE, he regularly volunteers his personal time serving as the president of the board for the New Orleans Hoopz; on the board for College Beyond, an educational nonprofit; and a sponsor to many organizations and initiatives in the Greater New Orleans community. He and his wife, Laci, are the proud parents of four children.
Jill Condon is a certified public accountant with experience in public accounting and CFO roles in the New Orleans area. She is currently the AVP of Retail Pharmacy at Ochsner Health System and holds a B.S.M. from Tulane University. Ms. Condon also serves on the Audit Committee at Ben Franklin and is the mother of a Franklin graduate and a current student.
Charmaine Cooper Hussain, is the owner of Apostrophe Catastrophe, LLC. Ms. Cooper Hussain specializes in the application of Associated Press style in technical and corporate communications for clients such as Texas Instruments and ExxonMobil. She is the mother of a recent Franklin graduate.
Alea M. Cot, Board President, is the assistant provost for international education at the University of New Orleans and has been serving in various international capacities at UNO since 1988. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from Tulane University. She oversees study-abroad and exchange programs for international students and scholars and the Intensive English Language Program. Mrs. Cot is the parent of a recent Franklin graduate.
Stacy D. Deitelzweig, is the Parent Association representative on the AAEE Board. She is the mother of a current Franklin student and a Franklin graduate.
Richard M. Ireland, Jr., is chairman of the AAEE Finance Committee. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois, an M.B.A. from Tulane University, an M.S. in Finance from Louisiana State University, and a J.D. with concentration in tax and business law from Loyola University. He is also the father of a Franklin graduate.
Tandra LeMay is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce, Integrated Production Technologies & Technical Education at Fletcher Technical Community College. Ms. LeMay holds a B.S. in Business Administration from LSU and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans.
Jonathan Levy ’03 works for American Express Global Business Travel where he specializes in structuring partnerships and business development within new business lines; additionally, he develops and manages a portfolio of multifamily and commercial real estate around the Greater New Orleans area. He holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a proud Franklin graduate.
Allen Miller, Sr., is a partner at Phelps Dunbar specializing in the area of commercial litigation. He is a member of the Federal, National, American, Louisiana, and New Orleans Bar Associations. Mr. Miller currently serves as the chair of the city of New Orleans’ Ethics Review Board and president and executive committee board chairman for New Orleans’ Court Appointed Special Advocates. He holds a B.A. from Xavier University and J.D. from Southern University Law Center and is a current Franklin parent.
John W. Nicklow, Ph. D., is president of the University of New Orleans. He is a registered professional engineer who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Bucknell University and a doctorate in civil engineering from Arizona State University. He is a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. Dr. Nicklow is the parent of a Franklin graduate.
Todd Ragusa is the founder of Ragusa Consulting, a public relations consultancy firm specializing in senior-level counsel to clients facing dynamic issues pertaining to their public images. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans and a a M.A. in International Studies from the University of Denver. He is a fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics in New Orleans. Mr. Ragusa is married to a Franklin alumna.
Allen Square, Jr., is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Square Button Consulting, LLC. With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, Mr. Square has worked with and led teams to deliver value to projects and organizations. Mr. Square’s experience is deep and varied, covering several industries such as engineering, construction, consulting, and technology. After completing an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Square worked as a consultant with Bain & Company, Inc., and as the chief information officer of the city of New Orleans. Mr. Square also holds engineering degrees from Tulane University (B.S., Electrical Engineering) and Southern Methodist University (Master’s of Science in Telecommunications).
Stephen Tyler is the Athletic Association representative on the AAEE Board. He is a New Orleans native and lifetime resident of the city. He holds a B.A. in English from Tulane University and is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and writer. Mr. Tyler is a protégé of the late Brandon Tartikoff, with whom he created a pilot for a weekly “dramatic comedy” for PBS, Under New Management. Mr. Tyler directed many of WYES’ Nostalgic New Orleans documentaries and produced a documentary on former New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison’s investigation of the JFK assassination, He Must Have Something. He was co-creator of the satirical series Real New Orleans and the Saints television program Hey, Buddy D! Mr. Tyler is in post-production on a feature-length documentary, A Séance for Mary Sherman. He is the father of two Franklin graduates.
Dominique Lang Verner ’06 is the Alumni Association representative on the AAEE Board. She manages Lang Law, LLC, a private law practice where she represents a diverse group of clients in civil litigation and criminal matters, with an emphasis on family law, personal injury, estate planning, and DUI/DWI defense. Dominique earned her J.D. from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center and her B.B.A. in Economics from Southeastern Louisiana University. She holds memberships in several professional and civic organizations and currently serves on the Executive Board of the New Orleans Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc
Min Yang, Class of 1981, is a Franklin alumnus. He has over 30 years of experience in project management and resource development, chiefly in the realms of architecture, construction, and real estate investing. Mr. Yang received his B.A in Architecture from Tulane University. He is the chair of the AAEE Facilities Committee as well as other nonprofit boards in the city. He is the father of a current Franklin student and a Franklin graduate.
Carlos Luis Zervigón, Past President, holds a BA in History and a BFA in Glass Sculpture (both cum laude) from Tulane University and a Master’s in History Teaching from the University of New Orleans. Mr. Zervigon taught social studies at Benjamin Franklin from 1994 to 2000. Since leaving teaching, Carlos has worked as a freelance sculptor. His work has been shown in such cities as Seattle; New York; Los Angeles; Los Vegas; Santa Fe; Dallas; Portland, Ore.; and New Orleans. He was a co-founder of the New Orleans Creative Glass Institute and served as its president and CEO from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Zervigon’s past board experience includes founding board chair of Audubon Charter School, serving in that capacity for five years; vice president of the LASPCA; member of the Board of the Ruby Bridges Foundation; and member of the Board of Trustees of the NOCCA Institute. He is the father of two Franklin graduates.