A prominent group of local business leaders is headed to Cuba Thursday for a three-day visit to that nation’s capital. More than 30 Louisiana CEOs who are members of the state chapters of the Young Presidents’ Organization and World Presidents’ Organization will make the trip to Havana, as will their spouses.
Among the local business leaders are Beau Box, Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves, The Advocate Publisher John Georges and Emprint Moran Printing CEO Courtney Westbrook.
“I’ve never been to Cuba and I’m looking forward to it,” Box says. “Things are going to be changing there shortly so it’s an interesting time to be going.”
The timing of the trip, planned month ago, is fortuitous. In mid-December, President Barack Obama announced the U.S. plans to restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba. As part of the policy change, the administration also is easing restrictions on travel to Cuba, including for family visits, official government business and educational activities.
The Louisiana YPO-WPO group is making the trip through Cultural Exchange Dimensions, a Los Angeles-based travel provider that is licensed by the U.S. government to sponsor and organize programs to promote people-to-people contact and educational exchanges between the U.S. and Cuba with the goal of promoting awareness and understanding, according to the Cultural Exchange Dimension website.
YPO is a worldwide peer networking organization of prominent CEOs and business leaders under age 45. WPO is an affiliated organization for former YPO members over age 50. The group will meet in Miami today and fly to Cuba Thursday, returning Sunday. —Stephanie Riegel
