Biography

Kristian Sonnier is a strategic thinker, expert communicator, decisive leader and diplomatic problem solver with 25 years of communications and public relations/public affairs experience. He believes that everything communicates something. As such he has led an award-winning career in the communications and public relations industry. He currently serves as a vice president of communications and business development at Ryan Gootee General Contractors. Prior to joining RGGC, Sonnier served as vice president of communications and public relations for five years at New Orleans & Company, the city’s official destination marketing organizations (DMO). Before that, he managed the public relations strategies for more than 15 years at Peter A. Mayer Advertising in New Orleans where his proven track record of cultivating valuable relationships with elected officials, community leaders, policy makers and other influencers led to local, regional, national and international media exposure for his clients.

Sonnier has a keen interest in community involvement and civic engagement with memberships, honors, and service in the following organizations:International Association of Business Communicators, member; Public Relations Society of America, member;Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) Leadership Louisiana Alumnus;New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI) Alumnus;Racial Equity Institute (REI) Alumnus; Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy Alumnus; U.S. Travel Association Communications Advisory Committee Chairman; French Quarter Festivals Board of Directors, member;Preservation Hall Foundation Advisory Board, member; and Destinations International Communications and PR Task Force member