Stephanie Grace

Stephanie Grace is a columnist focusing on New Orleans and Louisiana politics. She's been writing an opinion column about campaigns, elections and government since 2003, first at the Times-Picayune and, since 2013, at the Advocate.

She's been writing about the state since 1994, when she joined the Picayune as a reporter; she previously worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Los Angeles Times, and CBS News. She's a native of Needham, Massachusetts and a graduate of Brown University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. 

She also appears regularly on WYES's "Informed Sources.

Karen Carvin Shachat

Karen has successfully handled many political campaigns serving as a strategist and media consultant beginning with her late father, the renowned Jim Carvin, and now with partner Deno Seder. Among our wins are: Mayor LaToya Cantrell, former Jefferson Parish Sheriff, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Jefferson Parish Council Members Cynthia Lee-Sheng, Chris Roberts and Jennifer Van-Vrancken, New Orleans Councilmember-at-large Stacy Head, former New Orleans Mayors Ray Nagin, Marc Morial and Sidney Barthelemy, former Jefferson Parish President John Young and Orleans Civil District Court Judges Nakisha Ervin-Knott, Chris Bruno and Rachael Johnson.

Karen began her career in commercial advertising working for five years in New York as an account executive and media planner for national accounts including Federal Express, Coors Light Beer, Dr. Scholl Footcare Products, Nyquil and Fiat Motors. Upon returning to New Orleans, she served as vice president of Bauerlein Advertising, supervising five of the agency’s major accounts.

Karen has consulted with a variety of clients to provide advice and counsel in dealing with the press and local media, crisis management and public relations issues.

She is the proud recipient of a national Gold Effie for advertising effectiveness for Federal Express and is a winner of the New York Art Directors Club merit award for a TV commercial for 10-K.