Ti Martin, Managing Partner, Commander's Palace Restaurant

Food has always played a major role in Ti Martin’s life. Ti grew up going to work in her family’s restaurants alongside her mother, Ella Brennan. Her first job, at the age of ten, was stamping “souvenir” on the restaurant’s menus. Stints in the kitchen, at the front door, and even in the dish room followed.

After graduating from Newman School and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Ti received her Masters in Business Administration from Tulane University in 1984. She then went to Texas to work in real estate, but the tug of her beloved New Orleans ultimately called her home in 1986.

In 1991, Ti teamed up with her cousins, Brad and Dickie Brennan, to open Palace Café, chosen by Esquire magazine as one of the top new restaurants in America that year. In 1997, Ti returned to Commander’s Palace to join Lally, Brad, Ella and Dottie Brennan at the family’s flagship restaurant.

In November 2000, Ti co-authored the James Beard nominated “Commander’s Kitchen” cookbook with Chef Jamie Shannon. In December 2003, Ti along with Lally Brennan and Alex Brennan-Martin, opened Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar in the new Loews New Orleans Hotel.

Ti has been involved in an array of civic activities:

• Board Member, New Orleans Aviation Board
  
• Board Member, Urban League of New Orleans
  
• Commencement Speaker, Loyola University New Orleans May 2005
  
• Co-founder, New Orleans “Proud to Call it Home” Campaign
• Past Member, Executive Committee of Metrovision
  
• Board Member, Bureau of Governmental Research
  
• Co-Chair, 1997 Louisiana Human Rights Campaign
  
• Louisiana Board Member, United Negro College Fund
  
• Past Board Member, Young Leadership Council
  
• Past Board Member and Executive Committee Member, Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Tourism and Convention Bureau
  
• Les Dames d’Escoffier
  
• International Association of Culinary Professionals
  
• IAWCR – International Association of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs (founding member, New Orleans Chapter)
  
• International Women’s Forum
  
  Awards:
  
  
• 2005 Loyola University New Orleans – Honorary Doctorate, Business
  
• 2000 City Business – City Business’ Women of the Year Award
  
• 1999 Nation’s Restaurant News – 50 New Tastemakers
  
• 1999 Gambit – Top 40 Under 40
  
• 1998 New Orleans Magazine – Iberville Award Winner
  
• 1997 Restaurants and Institutions Magazine – Ivy Award “Restaurateur of Distinction”
  
• 1997 Women Business Owners’ Award