Dear Southernites and Friends!
Yesterday, I arrived in Washington, DC for the 70
th
Annual DC Mardi Gras, not to be confused with our Washington, DC Chapter Mardi Gras Gala scheduled next month in Bethesda. Marian and I attended King Todd Graves’ Masquerade Ball at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, which was fabulous. Many are saying it was the best masquerade ball ever at the DC Mardi Gras. As you may know, Todd is the CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and his company donated a million dollars to Southern last year.
Today, I attended the Louisiana Economic Development Luncheon. Congressman Garret Graves (no relation to Todd) is the Chairman of the DC Mardi this year and he moderated the luncheon. Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Congressional delegation addressed the attendees. They all spoke of the economic successes and challenges our state is facing. Todd Graves and Sean Reilly (the CEO of Lamar Advertising) interviewed Michael Dubin, CEO of Dollar Shave Club, which served as the keynote address for the luncheon. Jennifer and Sean Reilly’s daughter, Anna, is this year’s queen. The DC Mardi Gras is a networking bonanza with an abundance of political, business and industry leaders here having a great time, but more importantly working for Louisiana. This is my first time attending the DC Mardi Gras, and I’ve always found it to be strange that Louisianians would travel all the way to Washington to celebrate Mardi Gras. But now, I get it. This won’t be my last trip.
