Sutton Among New Orleans CityBusiness
Women of the Year

New Orleans CityBusiness recently honored North Oaks Chief Operating Officer Michele Kidd Sutton of Hammond as one of the publication’s “Women of the Year” for 2007.
CityBusiness has sponsored the Women of the Year program for 9 years to honor notable women for setting the pace in the Greater New Orleans area through their success in business and contributions to the community.
Sutton was among 50 women—and the only honoree from Tangipahoa Parish— recently recognized at the 2007 Women of the Year luncheon on Friday, Nov. 16. The event was hosted at the downtown Sheraton in New Orleans with 700 guests in attendance. A selection committee reviewed over 200 nominations before naming the Class of 2007.
“Michele’s leadership, insight and expertise have been invaluable to the smart growth of our health system and our region for nearly 2 decades,” comments North Oaks Chief Executive Officer James E. Cathey Jr. “Her selfless commitment and contagious enthusiasm continue to inspire many.”

Sutton has served on North Oaks’ senior management team for 19 years and currently oversees the daily functions of 25 clinical and non-clinical areas. She earned a master’s degree in business administration and bachelor’s degree in marketing with minors in communications and management from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

Currently, Sutton is president of the Hammond Rotary Club, for which she has been a member since 2002, and serves on the local Prescription Drug Abuse and Fraud Task Force. She has been an active member of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce for nearly 23 years, having served as board chairman in 1991. For nearly 10 years, she has worked with the Community Hospital Coalition, serving as chairman from 2003 to 2004.

Professionally, she belongs to the American College of Health Care Executives, the American Society for Health Care Marketing and Public Relations and the Louisiana Society of Hospital Public Relations and Marketing through which she was honored as Marketer of the Year in 2003. Additionally, Sutton was the 1999 recipient of the ANNIE Award for Businesswoman of the Year, sponsored by the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and Southeastern Louisiana University, and the 2004 recipient of the Hammond Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year Award.

From left, New Orleans CityBusiness President and Publisher Mark Singletary recognizes North Oaks Chief Operating Officer Michele Kidd Sutton as one of 50 Women of the Year selected by the publication for setting the pace in the Greater New Orleans area through their success in business and contributions to the community. Sutton was the only honoree selected from Tangipahoa Parish.