Capital Assets Roundtable 2026

While news headlines often focus on challenges, Capital Region leaders are focused on advantages. Executives from education, healthcare, finance, industry and economic development joined moderator Mark Lorando in the Melara Enterprises Executive Conference Room to discuss Baton Rouge’s assets, workforce pipeline and five-year outlook. Different sectors, shared perspective: Baton Rouge’s best days are yet to come.

Charles Landry

Partner

Fishman Haygood

Chuck Daigle

CEO

Ochsner Baton Rouge and Lake Charles

David Cresson

President & CEO

Louisiana Chemical Association and Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance

Willie E. Smith, Sr.

Chancellor

Baton Rouge Community College

Jeff Conrad

CEO

Pelican Credit Union

Connie Fabre

President & CEO

Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance

Capital Assets Roundtable: What do you see as Baton Rouge’s greatest assets – and biggest differentiators – in attracting investment and talent?

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 SPOTLIGHT  JEFF CONRAD Chief Executive Officer, Pelican Credit Union "Our greatest strength starts with the fact that Baton Rouge is a large city sitting right on the...
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Capital Assets Roundtable: Are there assets the Capital Region needs to leverage more effectively?

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 SPOTLIGHT  DAVID CRESSON President and CEO, Louisiana Chemical Association and Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance "Of Louisiana’s many assets, the one piece we’re failing to leverage is our...
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Capital Assets Roundtable: What challenges must the Capital Region overcome to meet the workforce needs of the future economy?

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 SPOTLIGHT  WILLIE E. SMITH, SR. Chancellor, Baton Rouge Community College "I think there is an opportunity for us to seize the moment to provide the services that...
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Capital Assets Roundtable: Baton Rouge residents are notoriously self-critical about their own city. Why is that, and how do we fix it?

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 SPOTLIGHT  CHARLES LANDRY Partner, Fishman Haygood "What we need in Baton Rouge is exclaimers, not complainers. We have got to let go of our inferiority complex and...
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Capital Assets Roundtable: Get out your crystal balls. What is your five-year outlook for your organization and the Capital Region?

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 SPOTLIGHT  CONNIE FABRE President and CEO, Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance "By 2030, we will have grown dramatically. Industrial projects that are planned today will be underway....
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