THE TEAM
Touré Folkes
Executive Director
Touré Folkes is a hospitality innovator bridging communities through inclusive education and industry access. His journey from New York City to New Orleans has been focused on creating opportunities and fostering professional growth in the spirits sector.
At Turning Tables, Touré has developed comprehensive programs that open doors for talented individuals who have historically had limited access to career advancement in hospitality. His approach combines technical expertise with community-building strategies that benefit both professionals and the industry as a whole.
His contributions to the hospitality industry have earned him widespread recognition. He was included in Drinks International's 'Bar 100' and named one of SevenFifty Daily's 'Drinks Innovators' in 2024, following his selection as an Imbibe 75 'Person To Watch' in 2022.
Touré remains dedicated to transforming the hospitality landscape through education, mentorship, and creating pathways for underrepresented professionals to thrive in the spirits industry.
Ariel Neal
Program Director
Ariel E. Neal is leading bar industry in to better days. She has positioned herself to reimagine how society perceives hospitality. “If you can take better care of yourself you can do that with in your community.” As the 2024 President of Chicago USBG, founder of Leira Knows Cocktails, Events & Production LLC, Co Creator of Good Vibes Healing Haven, Sponsor Chair for Sip of Paradise, Ariel believes Hospitality Shapes Society.
She is passionate about providing the Bar Industry with sustainable resources that allow growth and development as hospitality professionals.
In response to the challenges she and other hospitality professionals of color experienced, Neal was the Orginal Co Founder of the Non profit Causing A Stir. Fueling her passion for change in the industry she Co created Good Vibes Healing Haven, a Retreat consulting agency that creates educational workshops and hospitality driven experiences to deliver professional development with a holistic approach.
Through education, mentoring, leadership training and immersive travel programs, Neal is transforming bartenders into hospitality professionals with skill sets that allow them to indeed, exceed the bar. Neal’s motto: “Connecting people through cocktails,” stems from her mission to make wine, spirits and cocktail education accessible and approachable. To get Neal talking for hours, just ask her about her two passions — the hospitality industry and educational travel. You can find her ‘nerding’ out with other hospitality professionals in various events nationwide. Neal has been featured in Ebony Magazine, Food and Wine, Tales of the Cocktail seminars and panels, CHILLED 100, Elevate, Portland Cocktail week, Spirit Forward, Letters to a Young and Bartender Cocktail Swagger.
Geoffrey Wilson
Assistant Programs Coordinator
Geoffrey has spent more than a decade working at some of the best bars across the country, such as Ocotillo in Phoenix, and Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland. He earned the title of Best Bartender in Chicago, IL in 2008 as well as Best Bartender in Phoenix, AZ in 2014.
“I’ve been in and out of this business for 30 years and for the 1st time, There are people that look like me that I can pass things that i know onto a new generation.”
“Turning Tables not only teaches basic knowledge, it passing on a sense of self worth in an industry that doesn’t recognise the self worth of marginalized cultures. My goal is to have these students leave this program and know their own self worth and because of that, This sets their own path to be successful. Especially in an industry that needs a fundamental change.”
THEY ARE THE CHANGE. RECOGNIZE.
geoffrey@turningtablesnola.org
Marketing & Photography: The Story Tellers
Ray Fontaine
Erika Flowers
Marketing
