Why I Made This Mini-Documentary
A Special Thanks to KW and KW Cares from KW New Orleans and the Doussan Family
I grew up inside KW New Orleans. I wasn’t planning a career in film; I was learning a business — watching my dad build companies and investments, helping solve practical problems, and seeing what “showing up” looks like when people count on you. Katrina finished that education.
On September 9, 2005, my dad and I returned to New Orleans. Two days after landfall, Mo Anderson had already called him with a clear commitment: keep the market center operating and help find and support every agent. What followed wasn’t theory. It was logistics, money, housing, phones, and accountability — delivered quickly and personally.
This film is our record of that response and my thank-you.
What the film covers:
The call that set the tone. A direct promise from Mo, 48 hours in. Specific, actionable, immediate.
Heart 2 Heart. One-to-one matching so every agent had a named contact sending what was actually needed — tools to work, temporary housing, simple daily check-ins.
Grants with speed. Cash that landed fast enough to matter — rent, medicine, childcare, laptops/phones.
Reopening. We re-entered on September 9 and reopened on Leake Avenue. We worked the call list until we reached every agent.
Holly’s leadership. Holly Freas lost her home and still helped stand the office back up. That’s culture, measured in actions.
What I took from it:
Leadership is operational. In a disaster, it’s a checklist and a call tree, not a speech.
Sequence matters. Restore communications → replace essential tech → create one reliable place to show up.
Timing beats volume. A smaller grant today is more valuable than a larger grant “soon.”
Culture scales when it has a system. KW Cares worked because associates fund it at every closing and because the process is simple enough to run at speed.
Why now:
Twenty years later, our market center is thriving and the city is vibrant. New agents still ask, “Why Keller Williams?” My answer is simple: there’s a safety net under this business — funded by people who plan ahead so help is there when you need it. This film is for the people who built that net and for the people who may need it next.
Special Thanks:
To Mo Anderson for the call and the standard.
To Holly for turning a hard situation into leadership.
To my dad for building KW New Orleans and setting the example of how we take care of our people.
To every KW associate and market center that gave money, time, gear, and attention — thank you. You helped rebuild more than an office.
If you want to engage:
Watch the film and share it with someone who needs a concrete example of culture in action. Here is the link to watch on Youtube:
Support KW Cares if you’re able. Small, steady contributions are what make rapid help possible.
Ask for help if you need it. That’s what the system is for.
That’s why I made this mini-documentary: to document what worked, thank the people who made it work, and make sure we’re ready the next time someone needs the net.
This article was originally published on our website, which can be accessed here.