Jessica Serrano 

Jessica Serrano, a proud New Orleanian, comes from Cuban immigrant parents.  Born in Poughkeepsie, NY and raised in Miami, FL, Spanish was her first language; Jessica didn’t begin speaking English until she was five.

Fascinated with hospitality, her journey began at the age of 14, and by 15, she was managing both a yogurt shop and a lunch restaurant. She continued her education at the University of Miami, where she participated in the Honors Program, focusing on political science and communication studies. Jessica also had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia and later taught English in China.

Jessica pursued further education at Tulane University in its Maritime Law Program and studied in Greece. While at Tulane Law, she held the position of Chief Administrator of The Honor Board, actively contributing to the academic environment.

Her commitment to service is evident through her four years on the board of the Wedding International Professionals Association, where she served as Community Service Chair and Secretary. She has organized and hosted numerous nonprofit events for organizations such as Son of a Saint and Cancer Crusaders and has assisted in events for Hope Stone and Luke’s House. She also co-chaired all Tulane Law reunions, including the most recent one with her friends and fellow board member, Taryn Brown.

For three years, Jessica hosted and planned events for the Democratic Governors Association at both Elms and Derbes Mansions. She has been the Executive Director of Elms Mansion for eight years and is also the owner of Derbes Mansion, previously known as Benachi House.

Deeply engaged in the New Orleans event scene and community, she is a member of Crescent Nola, a hospitality organization, and has hosted events for BRAVO. 

On a personal note, Jessica is married to Chris Short, a partner at Kiefer and Kiefer, and she cherishes her role as a godmother to four children. Her passions include connecting with people, spending time with family and friends, caring for animals, traveling, appreciating historic architecture, and enjoying boating and the water.