About

Founder, The Guided Endeavor

With a deep passion for purposeful gatherings and decades of experience in event development, Andi Masden Oustalet is the visionary behind The Guided Endeavor, a consulting and event planning company known for transforming ideas into meaningful, memorable experiences.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Andi studied Marketing with a minor in English at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she began honing her organizational talents while working in the sports information office under legendary coach Gene Bartow. Her early hands-on experience in coordinating collegiate athletic events—including the 1982–83 Sunbelt Conference Basketball Tournament—laid the foundation for what would become a vibrant and far-reaching career in event development.

After residing in Seattle, Washington and Destin, Florida, Andi spent 28 impactful years in Gulfport, Mississippi, where she built a reputation as a dynamic force in community projects, nonprofit initiatives, and high-profile celebrations. Now based in New Orleans, Louisiana, her work spans states and sectors—from grassroots fundraisers to nationally recognized festivals.

Andi’s portfolio includes:

• Developing décor and experiences for Bam on the Beach with Emeril Lagasse (2004)
   
• Leading a city-wide revitalization effort for Bayou View Park post-Hurricane Katrina (2007)
   
• Serving as a board member for Gulf Coast Carnival Association, orchestrating Mardi Gras royalty logistics (2011–2021)
   
• Directing multi-year holiday spectacles such as Christmas at Beauvoir (2012–2014)
   
• Founding and producing Twelfth Night Celebration on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (2012–2020)
   
• Spearheading charity events like Dancing with the Stars – Red Cross of South Mississippi (2015) and The Witches Weekend (2018–2020), benefitting local nonprofits CASA and The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
   
• Playing key roles in national events including Chi Chi Miguel Fundraiser and Bourbon & Barbeque Louisville
   
• Overseeing construction and relocation of the Mardi Gras Museum in Biloxi as Board President (2018–2020)
   

Andi has also contributed to the missions of Habitat for Humanity, the American Heart Association, and the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, where she currently serves on the Board of Directors and Events & Grants Committee.

Andi’s excellence in civic engagement has earned her recognition as a Golden Magnolia by Mississippi Magazine in 2020 for her philanthropic work. She is an active Associate Member of the Bayou View Garden Club, a current Board Member for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, and serves on the Board of Managers for Louisiana State University’s Lod Cook Hotel and Conference Center in Baton Rouge.

Whether designing elegant fundraising galas or pioneering community development efforts, Andi Oustalet brings unmatched dedication, creativity, and leadership to every endeavor.