Long before he became CEO and publisher of one of the Gulf South’s most respected regional media companies, New Orleans native Todd Matherne was an 18-year-old college student with a sharp eye for numbers and a foot in the door of the publishing world. While studying accounting and finance at the University of New Orleans, he began his career as a courier for what was then MCP–New Orleans Publishing Group (NOPG), learning the business from the ground up.
Within a year, an opportunity opened in the accounting department, and Matherne stepped forward. Applying both discipline and ambition, he rose through the ranks to lead the department, gaining an intimate understanding of the financial engine behind successful media operations. Those early years—spent immersed in spreadsheets, budgets, and acquisition strategy—laid the foundation for a career that would ultimately reshape regional publishing across Louisiana.
Matherne joined NOPG in 1987 and later served as controller, working extensively on the corporate finance side of multiple acquisitions. During a period of significant expansion in the 1990s, the company divided its business and lifestyle media divisions. From 2000 to 2006, Matherne served as partner and chief operating officer of MCMedia, the lifestyle division, refining the operational discipline and long-range strategic vision that would define his leadership.
In 2006, amid the uncertainty and devastation following Hurricane Katrina, Renaissance Publishing was born. At a time when New Orleans itself was rebuilding and reimagining its future, Matherne leveraged his minority interest to acquire New Orleans Magazine, New Orleans Homes, New Orleans Bride, St. Charles Avenue, and additional media assets. Launching with a lean team of 15 employees, he made a bold bet—not only on a business, but on a city.
What began as an act of faith evolved into a thriving publishing enterprise that mirrors New Orleans’ own resilience. Under Matherne’s leadership, Renaissance Publishing has grown to include New Orleans Magazine, Biz New Orleans, St. Charles Avenue, Louisiana Life, Acadiana Profile, New Orleans Bride, and New Orleans Homes, along with a robust portfolio of custom publications serving organizations throughout the region. These brands have become trusted voices—celebrating culture, advancing economic growth, and reflecting the distinct character of South Louisiana and Acadiana.
Though he does not describe himself as a journalist, Matherne has always understood the responsibility that comes with publishing. He has championed credible reporting, quality storytelling, and service-driven content that places readers and communities first. Through shifting economic cycles and an ever-evolving media landscape, Renaissance Publishing’s titles have not only endured but excelled, earning consistent national and local industry recognition.
Beyond his company, Matherne’s impact has been equally profound. He has served as board member, chairman, or president for numerous civic, business, and industry organizations, including the City and Regional Magazine Association—where he is a past president and current board member—the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Business Council, and the University of Holy Cross. His peers recognize him as a steady, thoughtful leader who believes that strong local institutions are essential to thriving communities.
At the center of it all is family. Matherne lives in New Orleans and spends weekends at his family’s home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He and his wife of 36 years, Andrea, have raised three daughters and now cherish life as grandparents to six grandchildren, with another on the way. Amid the demands of publishing and civic leadership, family remains his anchor and greatest source of pride.
The City and Regional Magazine Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose careers have strengthened both the industry and the communities it serves. For Todd Matherne—whose nearly four decades of stewardship have sustained, elevated, and championed regional media across Louisiana—the recognition is a fitting tribute to a career defined by resilience, integrity, and an unwavering belief in the enduring power of local publishing.