Executives, politicians and community leaders across the corridor got unprecedented insight and access into state government this spring at the Louisiana Leadership Forum, hosted by 10/12 magazine.
Five of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top cabinet members gave attendees the lowdown on their accomplishments during the administration’s first year in office, and their priorities for the coming year.
The forum, sponsored by Postlethwaite & Netterville, Jones Walker law firm and Business First Bank, kicked off with a breakfast at Tchefuncta Country Club in Covington, and ended with a cocktail hour at City Club of River Ranch in Lafayette.
Front and center at the forum in Covington [1] were Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital Secretary Alan Levine; Louisiana Business Inc. Vice President for Editorial and 10/12 Associate Publisher J.R. Ball; Commissioner of Administration Angčle Davis; and sponsor representatives Bill Balhoff, managing director & CEO of Postlethwaite & Netterville; and Albert “Joey” Richard III, a director and managing partner in the accounting firm’s Metairie office.
Department of Transportation & Development Undersecretary Michael Bridges [2] stood in for Secretary William Ankner, who was called away to Washington, D.C., on official business.
More than 200 people turned out at each venue [3]. The forum gave community leaders all along the corridor the opportunity to share experiences and ideas. GNO Inc. President Marty Mayer [4] talked about corridor matters with Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret [5]. Richard of Postlethwaite & Netterville caught up with Jefferson Business Council Executive Director Tim Coulon and Northshore attorney and Northshore Business Council board member Howard Daigle. And James Gilmore and Eric Lewis, managing parters in Sable International, and Genevieve Silverman of the Louisiana Technology Park [6] made use of the occasion to do some networking.
Former Gov. Buddy Roemer [7], now president of Business First Bank, shared with the standing-room-only crowd [8, 9] the central role the corridor will play in Louisiana’s future. Business First Bank was one of the sponsors of the Louisiana Leadership Forum.
Louisiana Business Inc. President Julio Melara, Covert Geary of Jones Walker and 10/12 Editor Penny Font [10] were among those who enjoyed the occasion.
At the afternoon session in Lafayette, Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Tim Barfield [11] painted a positive picture of labor along the corridor.
Lafayette attorney Elaine Abell [12], past chair of the Community Foundation of Acadiana board of directors, posed a question to one of the speakers, while Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Rob Guidry [13] listened in.
Front and center at the afternoon forum [14] were Commissioner of Administration Angčle Davis; Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret; Charles Landry of Jones Walker, a forum sponsor; Louisiana Business Inc. Vice President and 10/12 Advertising Director Richard Dixon and Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Tim Barfield just before the forum began.
Both events drew guests from all along the corridor. Both Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach [15] and Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance President & CEO George Swift [16] traveled to Lafayette to attend.
After an hour-long forum and question-and-answer session, participants attended a cocktail hour at the City Club hosted by 10/12 and sponsors Postlethwaite & Netterville, Business First Bank and Jones Walker law firm. Among the guests were University of Louisiana Lafayette President Joseph Savoie [17], Rick Melebeck of Moody Company and attorney Bill Stubbs [18], Louisiana Economic Development Communications & Marketing Director Carole Dupré and South Louisiana Community College Chancellor Jan Brobst [19], and Louisiana Capital CDC President & CEO André Frugé and David Stother of DSW Wealth [20].
So what might be the most pressing issues for the corridor in the coming year, as far as those who attended are concerned [21, 22]? If questions and casual conversations are any indication, look for it to be money and infrastructure.
