Member Spotlight
Kerry Andersen
Founder & CEO
Empire Consulting
Kerry Andersen has spent her career telling stories, first as a broadcast journalist and today as the owner of a boutique PR firm that helps Louisiana businesses and destinations tell their own.
Born in South Africa, Kerry built her career in television news as an anchor, reporter, and news director,
earning more than 30 Louisiana Associated Press and other journalism awards. She entered tourism
when she left the newsroom to join the development team for L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles as
its first hire. That move launched a 15-year career with Pinnacle Entertainment, where she became
Corporate Director of Public Affairs and served on the opening teams for four of the company’s luxury
gaming resorts. Along the way, she led communications through hurricanes, major acquisitions, elections, and grand openings. She earned national coverage on the Today Show, CNBC, The Wall StreetJournal, CNN, TIME, and more.
Following Hurricane Laura in 2020, Kerry moved to New Orleans and founded Empire Consulting. Her
firm specializes in public relations and AI visibility (GEO), focused on tourism and making sure brands are
found and accurately represented when travelers use tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews to
plan trips and book restaurants. Kerry also provides media training for executives and chefs, preparing
them to step confidently in front of a camera or microphone. She has media-trained more than 100
executives and athletes.
Kerry is a two-time National Communicator Award winner for Excellence in Writing and freelances
monthly for Thrive Magazine. Her community work has earned her the Judge Richard Ware Award from
the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund and recognition as a Champion for Children’s Health. A longtime
member of the Louisiana Travel Association, she is a former Chair of its Board of Directors. She is also a
past president of the Literacy Council of Southwest Louisiana and Family & Youth.
When she’s not working, Kerry is always on the go, soaking in New Orleans culture. You’ll find her at the
ballet, comedy shows and concerts, or cheering on the Saints and Pels. She’s also working her way through an ever-growing bucket list of restaurants.
For Kerry, MSWIT is about strength in numbers. She believes that together, its members can champion
tourism across Louisiana. She values the group as a place where women in the industry share ideas, open doors for one another, and grow the opportunities that keep the state’s visitor economy thriving.
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