sharmaine russ

Senior Advisor of Special Projects

Sharmaine Russ is a member of the executive leadership team and serves as Senior Advisor of Special Projects, where she plays a strategic role in fostering a high-performing and values-driven workplace culture with a focus on staff development, retention, and growth.

With nearly a decade of public service in the City of New Orleans, Sharmaine brings a proven track record of operational excellence, cross-agency collaboration, and mission-driven leadership. Most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Mayor's Office, she directed the daily operations of the Executive Office, managed interdepartmental communications, and led high-impact initiatives aligned with the Mayor's citywide strategic vision. Throughout her tenure, she held progressive roles including Executive Office Director, Deputy Social Media Manager, and Briefings Manager — each of which deepened her expertise in people management, strategic planning, and community engagement.

Sharmaine is passionate about building systems and environments where people can thrive. At Operation Restoration, she oversees daily operations and provides strategic direction for the Education, Social Services, and Operation Girls departments. Her experience managing the Mayor's Office budget and operations, overseeing the AmeriCorps VISTA program, and executing large-scale events reflects her ability to drive results at every level of an organization. A Savannah, Georgia native with deep family ties to Louisiana, Sharmaine is committed to pouring into the people and communities she serves.