The Idea Village is a nonprofit organization with a mission to identify, support, and retain entrepreneurial talent in New Orleans. In addition to supporting thousands of entrepreneurs, it has successfully elevated New Orleans’ reputation as a destination for business, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Its signature program, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), is an annual gathering that brings together the best and brightest minds from across the country to discuss and develop entrepreneurism.

Between 2011 and 2017, Ragusa managed the public relations for NOEW, attracting national media attention and boosting registration numbers. He excelled in both objectives, offering a whopping 93-to-1 return on investment, garnering a slew of national media representing more than 20 million impressions, and surpassing registration goals. Ragusa’s strategy led New Orleans to be named the “Coolest Start-Up City in America” by Inc. Magazine as well as coverage in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Atlantic, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other national media outlets.