New Orleans, Louisiana
Geralynn
Wesley Coleman
Strategic Leader · Content Architect · Cultural Steward
Philosophy
I am not a content creator.
I am a cultural architect and strategic storyteller building legacy infrastructure, not a side hustle.
25 years of HR leadership across aviation, hospitality, food distribution, retail, and higher education. Combined with the deep cultural fluency of a New Orleans native and the brand instincts of the founder of Gatekeeping New Orleans LLC.
Core Competencies
People Strategy
Human Resources Leadership
25 years managing HR across aviation, hospitality, industrial, retail, and higher education. PHR® certified through 2027.
Financial HR
Compensation, Benefits & Retirement
Benefits specialist foundation, comp structure management, Oracle E-Business Suite, and employee retirement program oversight.
Talent
Talent Acquisition & Development
Full-cycle recruiting, internal mobility, and professional development programs. From individual contributor to senior leadership.
Brand
Brand Architecture
Conceiving and executing brand ecosystems from identity to revenue. Founder of Gatekeeping New Orleans LLC. Where Culture is Collateral.
Voice
Public Speaking & Hosting
Panels, pitches, cultural activations, keyholder dinners, and live event emcee. Warmth, authority, and cultural fluency in every room.
Culture
Cultural Intelligence
Lived fluency in Black and Creole New Orleans culture. The kind earned over decades, not researched. Pattern recognition before trends surface.
Narrative
Strategic Storytelling
Crafting narratives that hold weight over time. Brand manifestos, cultural dictionaries, editorial content, and the kind of copy that makes people feel something before they decide anything.
Content Creation · Since 2010
Digital Content & Media
Over 15 years creating digital content across platforms before it was a career title. Former Eater NOLA contributor, Yelp Elite, and Black New Orleans Mom. Photography, video, editorial, and social rooted in authentic community voice.
Professional Experience
Gate Gourmet
HR Manager
HR leadership within aviation catering and hospitality operations.
2025 – Present
HMSHost
HR Business Partner
Multi-market HRBP covering New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.
2024 – 2025
Omni Hotels & Resorts
HR Manager
HR management for luxury hospitality in the Greater New Orleans region.
2023 – 2024
BWC Terminals
HR Manager
5 years leading HR in industrial operations. Oracle E-Business Suite, Compensation & Benefits.
2018 – 2023
Sysco
HR Manager
HR leadership within food distribution operations.
Prior
Tulane University
Benefits Specialist → Talent Acquisition
Promoted from Benefits Specialist to Talent Acquisition within higher education HR.
Prior
Xavier University of Louisiana
HR Manager
HR management at HBCU. Generalist support across the institution.
Prior
Home Depot · CORT Furniture · Autochlor
HR Manager / Recruiter
HR management and recruiting across retail and industrial environments.
Prior
Systems & Tools
Brag Book · Credentials & Education
Every credential earned. Every institution attended. Every certification held.
25 years of professional development across human resources, food service, hospitality, and digital media. This is the full record.
Professional Certifications
Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®)
HRCI · Human Resource Certification Institute
Active through 2027
The gold standard in HR certification. Demonstrates mastery of HR practice, policy, and strategy at the professional level. Held since 2012 — over a decade of continuous certification.
ServSafe Food Handler Certification
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Industry-standard food safety certification. Covers food handling, sanitation, temperature control, and safe food preparation practices. Validates deep knowledge of the food service industry beyond the HR desk.
TIPS Alcohol Service Certification (Patron)
Health Communications Inc.
Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS) certification for responsible alcohol service. Directly relevant to hospitality operations, event management, and wine and food event coverage.
Communicating with Transparency
LinkedIn Learning
2024
Advanced communication strategies for leaders and professionals. Aligns with the Architectural Restraint philosophy — saying more by saying less, with precision and intentionality.
Education
B.S., Business Administration
Xavier University of Louisiana
HBCU · New Orleans, LA · 1996 – 2000
Business foundation from one of the nation's premier HBCUs. Xavier University of Louisiana has produced more Black students who go on to earn professional and doctoral degrees than any other institution in the country. That legacy is part of this credential.
Redeemer High School
New Orleans, Louisiana
1992 – 1996
New Orleans foundation. The beginning of a career built entirely in and for one of the most culturally rich cities in the world.
Earned in the Field
Content Creation
Since 2010 · 15+ Years
Former Eater NOLA contributor. Yelp Elite. Black New Orleans Mom. Creating digital content before it was a career title — photography, video, editorial, and community voice rooted in authentic New Orleans culture.
Vibe Coding & Web Development
Self-Directed · Squarespace · Substack · HTML
Building and managing digital platforms, websites, and content systems. Squarespace, Substack, and hands-on HTML — the technical side of brand architecture in practice.
Cultural Stewardship
Gatekeeping New Orleans LLC · Founder
117+ entry cultural dictionary. Keyholder membership model. Live event coverage of Essence Festival and New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Building legacy infrastructure for a city whose culture the world borrows but rarely credits.
Contact
"Where Culture is Collateral."
lynnwesleycoleman@gmail.com