Robyn Sodaro Cook

Owner and operator of multiple restaurants in New Orleans. Over 20 years of experience with arts, education, and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. Expertise includes restaurant development and management, festival and fundraising events, theater production and tour management, fundraising campaigns, database management, board management, customer service, and donor relations. Founding Board Member of local veterans’ foundation. Active community volunteer in the Greater New Orleans area.

• Krewe of Cleopatra (Lieutenant)
• First to Fight Foundation (Founding Board Member)
• Krewe of Orpheus (Member)
• New Orleans and Company
• Louisiana Restaurant Association
• East Jefferson General Hospital Foundation
• Better Than Ezra Foundation
• Audubon Nature Institute
• Zoo-To-Do
• Hogs for the Cause
• Take Paws Rescue
• New Orleans Botanical Gardens
• Steel Beach Picnic
• Celebration in the Oaks
• Mahalia Jackson Theater
• Tulane University
• Orpheum Theater
• Young Audiences
• New Orleans Opera
• Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
• Delta Festival Ballet
• Giacobbe Academy of Dance

Restaurant Operations: 

Design, concept and development of two restaurants, each with over 3 million in annual sales. Leadership over team of 12 managers and 94 employees. Branding and website design, menu costing and development, staff training and standards of service, scheduling, purchasing and inventory, budgeting and quarterly reporting, customer service and hospitality.

Development: 

Created advancement department at small private school with budget of $1.5 per year. Annual Campaign Director for school with advancement budget of $2 million per year. Administration and completion of capital campaigns for building and expansions ranging from $1-12 million. Created campaigns 'Give ASH' and 'Give EB,' in addition to success in 'Giving Tuesday' and 'Give NOLA' leader board. National and local grant-writing for non-profit development and outreach programs.

Event Fundraising: 

Special event logistics, permitting, sponsorships, rentals, marketing, advertisement, ticketing, and volunteer coordination. Live and silent auction management. Events with up to 20,000 guests, and income ranging from $5,000 - $2 million net. Coordinator of La Fête du Ballet for Delta Festival Ballet for six years. Board Member and Auction Chair for Better Than Ezra Foundation for four years. Director of Sacred Heart’s Congé fair for three years. Director of Fête Française, New Orleans’ annual French festival, for three years. Co-Chair of the First to Fight Foundation’s annual Steel Beach Picnic and Hogs for the Cause BBQ Team.

Database & Accounting:

Responsible for all restaurant financials and record-keeping, including payroll, sales reports, and tax accounting. Donor database management for schools and hospital foundations with over 100,000 constituents. Developed database for dance school with 5,000 students. Fundraising and special event budget, accounting, and reporting. Certified in Raiser’s Edge, Donor Perfect, Network for Good, 501 Auctions, Quickbooks, Toast, and all Office programs.

Arts Production & Theatre Management:

Former dancer, teacher and manager of a professional ballet company. Tour scheduling and logistics, casting, training, contracts, payroll, advertising, box office, budget, reporting, outreach program development, and grant-writing. Seasonal Front of House Manager for Orpheum Theater. Designed Jeri Nims Dance Studio and developed dance program for Academy of the Sacred Heart.