Monday, March 28
ACE Louisiana Speakers
New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC)
Kristopher Khalil
Executive Director
New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC)
kkhalil@neworleansbio.com
As Executive Director, Kris ensures the New Orleans BioInnovation Center accelerates the growth of Louisiana’s biotech ecosystem. As Managing Director of the BioFund, Kris has invested over $5MM in 30 companies. These companies have collectively raised above $250MM in private funding and have hired more than 1,000 employees in the US. Before joining NOBIC, Kris help service a portfolio of over $3 billion of working capital, construction, equipment, real estate, bridge financing, and acquisition loans up to $125MM for national financial institutions. A native of New Orleans, Kris holds an MBA from Tulane
University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with concentrations in entrepreneurship and accounting from Louisiana State University.
NOBIC speakers will be prepared to offer insight regarding best practices for leveraging public/private partnerships to support industry growth and economic diversification within a geographical region — particularly regarding how commercializing technology from local research institutions serves as an incredible avenue for sustainable economic development across emerging industries such as the health sciences. NOBIC will offer opportunities to learn more about how our programs operate at the intersection of research, academia, entrepreneurship and venture capital throughout Louisiana. NOBIC will also
showcase investment opportunities across NOBIC and the BioFund portfolio companies, increase awareness of the federal BARDA DRIVe accelerator network nationally, and an invitation to help us establish a health sciences-specific SLZ program
here in New Orleans
NOBIC is encouraging the delegation to explore Louisiana as a burgeoning destination for life science and pharmaceutical companies seeking to enter the U.S. market to establish themselves.
Cameron Poole
Business Development
New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC)
cpoole@neworleansbio.com
Cameron has been a part of the NOBIC team for over four years – having started as a marketing intern for the BioFund, and later advancing into his present role. As Business Development Associate, Cameron primarily works to establish new strategic partnerships, as well as identify various opportunities to expand NOBIC’s impact in Louisiana and beyond. “Cam” is passionate about working with organizations and individuals working towards a “brighter future for all” through inventive collaborations, and advocate for their government(s) to pursue inclusive and sustainable opportunities. Cam graduated from Tulane University in May of 2020 with a dual-BA degree in Political Economy & International Development. Outside of work, Cam volunteers for Strong City – a non-profit dedicated to supporting youth-empowerment initiatives in New Orleans.
Offer an opportunity for delegates representing research institutions/ESOs in their region to connect with us, and potentially take part in the first SLZ cohort in Fall 2022. Offer insight on the value of experiential internship opportunities, particularly those within fields of entrepreneurship, innovation and STEM Offer an opportunity for other local partners to join the SLZ effort here, understanding it could expand to target out strategic industries here in NOLA/Louisiana.
Request guidance/insight regarding SLZ best practices from delegates representing research institutions/ESOs in their region who already have an SLZ in place or are also working towards establishing one Request connections with biotech and health sciences entrepreneurs from delegates home states — particularly those who may be ready to establish a U.S. market presence, or could stand to benefit from coming here to connect with our affiliated research institutions/startups
Ha'reanna Campbell
BARDA DRIVe Innovation Program Manager
New Orleans BioInnovation Center
hcampbell@neworleansbio.com
As BARDA DRIVe Innovation Program manager, Dr. Ha’reanna Campbell is responsible for developing and managing the BARDA DRIVe Program and Portfolio at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. She works with key stakeholders in the regional Ecosystem to understand and identify technologies and how they fit into the BARDA DRIVe’s mission of enhancing health security. She plans on networking and nurturing strong ties to the life science community. Dr. Campbell is from Laurel,
MS and Citronelle, AL. She graduated Cum Laude from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy in May of 2021 with her Doctorate of Pharmacy. Some of her special accomplishments include the 2021 Warren P. McKenna Service Award Recipient and Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. She has special interests in infectious diseases and combating health disparities.
As BARDA DRIVe Innovation Program manager, Dr. Ha’reanna Campbell is responsible for developing and managing the BARDA DRIVe Program and Portfolio at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. She works with key stakeholders in the regional Ecosystem to understand and identify technologies and how they fit into the BARDA DRIVe’s mission of enhancing health security. She plans on networking and nurturing strong ties to the life science community. Dr. Campbell is from Laurel,
MS and Citronelle, AL. She graduated Cum Laude from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy in May of 2021 with her Doctorate of Pharmacy. Some of her special accomplishments include the 2021 Warren P. McKenna Service Award Recipient and Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. She has special interests in infectious diseases and combating health disparities.
Nationally, seeking to learn more about BARDA adjacent programming else where in the US/internationally and being connected to those organizations. Regionally, we are seeking to support novel technologies applicable with BARDA Areas of Interest and expand resources within our network to assist those technologies/ventures.
ACE Louisiana Speakers
University of New Orleans
Christopher WIlliams, PhD
Associate Professor and Division Chair in Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences
Xavier University of Louisiana
cwilli35@xula.edu
My research career has been focused on identifying novel mechanisms through which biological processes contribute to or prevent neoplastic human disease. As a graduate student, my studies focused on the impact of HIV-Tat protein mediated changes in cell signaling and hematopoietic differentiation. As a postdoctoral fellow, I studied receptor tyrosine kinase
signaling, nuclear receptor signaling, and signaling crosstalk via nuclear receptor/kinase signaling mechanisms in breast. After being awarded an NIH K01 grant for the study of estrogen receptor phosphorylation in 2007, I acquired an independent position as an assistant professor at Xavier University of Louisiana in 2009 and focused my research program toward novel
therapeutic approaches in hormone-dependent breast cancer. Through these studies I have routinely employed animal models for these studies and have extensive experiences in animal protocols and experimental designs and related
techniques in data processing and statistical analysis. More recently, my lab expanded the scope of our work, to develop adipocyte-breast carcinoma co-culture models as microphysiological systems for testing of potential antineoplastic using live cell imaging. Throughout my career I have sought to provide mentorship to undergraduate students, pharmacy students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty in career development. Since 2009 I’ve had the privilege to mentor 20+ students both formally and informally. Invariably the focus of the mentoring relationship has been to facilitate the professional, intellectual,
and emotional growth of those I’ve mentored. Individuals I’ve mentored include a CEO of a biotech start-up, college administrators, and college/university faculty in STEM. Recently I have secured agreements with Louisiana State University to establish a pipeline from the PharmD to a PhD program in pharmacology, initiated a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences program at Xavier University of LA(RCMI), which I expect to yield more opportunities to mentor students toward careers in scientific disciplines. These research experiences have prepared me well to serve as a co-director for the Research Infrastructure Core to provide faculty expertise in cancer biology and therapeutic development, in particular designing studies using various animal models and perform adequate statistical analysis. Additionally, I am the co-director of the Ochsner-Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research, where we’ve instituted a 10-year plan do better health outcomes for Louisianians by 2030.
Xavier University seeks to matriculate into the workforce the next generation of leaders who are equipt to address the challenges of the future. In that spirit and by leveraging our expertise in the pharmaceutical science, we have developed an
MS in pharmaceutical sciences program and are developing specific training opportunities in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. As such, our goal is to develop highly trained prospective employees into the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology workplace.
To provide a driving force toward our programs, it is imperative that we develop pipeline programs to ensure that our students have viable, rewarding employment opportunities. We also seek partnerships that will allow XULA to become the key biopharmaceutical training hub for the gulf region, by contracting with industry partners to train current and prospective employees through our MS and prospective BPM programs. Furthermore, it is important that we have an industry ‘braintrust’,to partner with XULA to ensure our programs evolve to meet the skills needed in a modern biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals companies with a goal of developing industry recognized credentialing programs.
Dr. Lamartine Meda
Professor of Chemistry
Xavier University of Louisiana
LMeda@xula.edu
Dr. Meda earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Salem State University in 1992 and a Ph.D. in Materials Inorganic Chemistry from Northeastern University, Boston, MA, in 1998. He was a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) and The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering under Professor Hamid Garmestani from 1999 to 2001. After that, he spent four years as a Senior Research Scientist at Excellatron, Atlanta, GA.
Over 20 Years of research experience in Lithium ion and Lithium metal batteries. >Access to research laboratories including: -Two well-ventilated chemical fume hoods where dangerous chemicals can be handled without exposing students and postdocs to the harmful drawbacks; -Three MBraun gloveboxes interconnected via a heated T-chamber which houses a spin coater
Looking for collaborators and investors to advance the technology. -Low-pressure chemical vapor deposition LP-CVD system Develop new partnerships to advance the technology
Franziska Trautmann
Founder
Glass Half Full
franziska@glasshalffullnola.org
Franziska Trautmann, a Louisiana native, graduated with honors from Tulane University with her degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She combined her love for the environment and science in order to found and grow Glass Half Full alongside Max Steitz in the spring of 2020. Within the company, she manages communications, recycling operations, and research on expanding their impact, such as using recycled glass sand in coastal restoration. She also prides herself on keeping up with Glass Half Full’s social media network of over 250,000 people from around the world. Franziska and Max also founded Nola Alchemy, which creates jewelry and Mardi Gras Beads from recycled glass, and Glassroots, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding accessibility to recycling.
We can offer research expertise in the field of glass recycling and the uses of recycled glass, specifically for coastal projects.
We can consult with foreign or domestic partners to share our knowledge.
We are requesting help from local participants in finding a new location for our operations. We are requesting help from all participants in finding investors for our company, partnering in coastal restoration research, and opening new locations for glass recycling.
John Nicklow
President
University of New Orleans
president@uno.edu
Since becoming the University’s chief executive in 2016, President Nicklow has built significant momentum and achieved impressive outcomes related to his three priority areas: enrollment growth, strengthening research and increasing external partnerships. He has also woven the core values of diversity, equity and inclusion into each of these areas.
President Nicklow has helped lead three straight years of enrollment growth, something that had not happened at the University in 15 years. Enrollment increases for new first-year students, new African American students and new Hispanic students have been significant. Under President Nicklow’s leadership, the University has established new programs and agreements to reduce financial barriers and increase accessibility for students from the New Orleans region. With a clear focus on student success and support, the institution has markedly improved its student retention rates and graduation rates in recent years.
President Nicklow has prioritized research growth as part of the University’s strategic plan and its mission as a Carnegie R2 Doctoral Institution. The institution innovates on ways to support grant productivity, partnerships that enhance economic development and student engagement in research. In recent years, the University has significantly increased external grant and contract awards, and research expenditures.
During President Nicklow’s tenure, the University has reinvigorated its fundraising and alumni engagement activities, deepening connections with the 47,000 alumni in greater New Orleans and the 75,000 alumni worldwide. Through events like the Homer Hitt Distinguished Alumni Gala, the UNO Hall of Distinction Gala and the UNO 25 Celebration Luncheon, the institution has generated renewed pride among its alumni and raised substantial funds to support student scholarships and campus improvements.
President Nicklow has also launched a series of initiatives across campus intended to make the University a more welcoming and inclusive environment for students and employees. In 2021, he was named a NCAA Champion of Diversity.
President Nicklow has spent more than two decades in higher education as a faculty member and administrator with extensive experience in research, enrollment management, student success initiatives, fundraising, campus-wide collaborations and academic program innovation. Prior to his ascent to the presidency, he served as the University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for nine months. He previously held the position of Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Southern Illinois University, as well as earlier appointments as Assistant Provost for Enrollment Management, Associate Dean of Engineering, and Professor of Civil Engineering at that institution.
President Nicklow has been widely recognized at the university level by the American Society of Civil Engineers and by industry for his teaching and research. He currently holds the rank of Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and holds an Endowed Chair in Environmental Modeling. His research interests are focused on STEM education and on environmental and water resources systems optimization. He has published more than 75 articles and is the author of four books.
He is a registered professional engineer, a certified professional hydrologist, a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers.
President Nicklow earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and a Ph.D., in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University. He began his career as an Environmental Engineering Officer with the U.S. Public Health Service and was responsible for design and construction of water supply and waste disposal facilities for American Indian communities.
President Nicklow is a native of Berlin, Pennsylvania. He is married with one son.
Opportunities to collaborate in the University of New Orleans areas of expertise as will be elaborated upon by other speakers in session
Identify areas of collaboration and initiated conversations with corresponding university personnel
Matthew Tarr
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
University of New Orleans
mtarr@uno.edu
Dr. Tarr is also the Eurofins Professor of Analytical Chemistry and a Faculty Fellow in the Advanced Materials Research Institute (AMRI). He served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry from 2009-2015. He started at UNO in 1995 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Environmental Protection Agency in Athens, GA. He received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Georgia Tech in 1992, an M.S. in Chemistry from Emory University in 1988, and a B.S. in Chemistry (summa cum laude) from Emory University also in 1988. Professor Tarr conducts research in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, free radical oxidation of biomolecules, and synthesis and application of nanomaterials for biomarker detection and photocatalysis. He also coordinates outreach programs that provide research experiences for undergraduates, visiting international students, high school students, and high school teachers. As Vice President for Research and Economic Development, he works to enhance the success of the university community in research, scholarly work, and creative work. His office provides mentoring, training, and support for these endeavors as well as mechanisms for interfacing with private sector and government partners.
Provide expertise in key technical areas, including extended reality; artificial intelligence; naval architecture and marine engineering; transportation; emergency preparedness/mitigation; coastal and water management; environmental informatics;
hospitality; and healthcare management
Create partnerships in key technical areas, including extended reality; artificial intelligence; naval architecture and marine engineering; transportation; emergency preparedness/mitigation; coastal and water management; environmental informatics;
hospitality; and healthcare management
Rebecca Conwell
President/CEO
UNO Research and Technology Foundation
rconwell@unofoundation.org
As President and CEO of the UNO Research and Technology Foundation — a 501(c)3 that serves as a public-private partner with the University of New
Orleans — Rebecca is charged with leading the new era of the Foundation and the management and development of its greatest asset, the newly rebranded research park — The Beach at UNO, a Sandbox for Collaboration. Working closely with the Foundation’s board of directors, staff and the university, Rebecca is implementing a plan to create an environment at The Beach that is entrepreneurial and community-driven, where people come together to solve complex social, scientific and business breakthroughs for the New Orleans and Gulf region. Rebecca’s career has been defined by her civic and professional leadership in service to the Greater New Orleans region. Prior to joining the Research and Technology Foundation, Conwell served as the Executive Director of the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation, and as the Senior Advisor for Economic Development for Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the City of New Orleans where she was instrumental in strengthening the city’s economic development functions, attracting new businesses, overseeing the city’s incentive offerings. Additionally, Rebecca spent 14 years working at Tulane University, serving as Executive Director of State and Local Governmental Affairs,
Chief of Staff for the University President, and Interim Executive Director of the Cowen Institute, a think tank for K-12 education in New Orleans. Throughout her career, Rebecca has been appointed to and served on numerous local and regional boards and advisory bodies including United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Women’s Leadership Council, Son of a Saint’s Inaugural Advisory Committee, NOLA BA’s Board of Directors, New Orleans Regional Business
Park’s Board of Commissioners and Kingsley House’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Rebecca was an early mentor for the Justice & Accountability Center at Propeller, a Force for Social Innovation. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Lamar University. Additionally, she is a graduate of Leadership Louisiana and Loyola University’s Institute of Politics.
The UNO Research and Technology Foundation manages a premier research & technology park, the Beach at UNO a vibrant community where academia, government, and entrepreneurial endeavors come together to maximize transformative solutions. We are building an innovation ethos, that leverages the
power and resources of a top research university to support our tenants growth while creating educational opportunities for our students and assuring a strong workforce pipeline for the jobs of the future. In the next 12 months, we will be investing significant financial resources in reimaging the collaborative/collision space of the future. Our offer? If you work at the Beach, you have access to vast array of expertise including innovation, water, technology, cyber security in a beautiful setting on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain – just 6 miles from downtown New Orleans, 1.5 miles from a executive airport and with some of the most beautiful and unique views in the city with 24 hours security and free parking.
We are interested in learning how our areas of expertise and priorities align with the members of the delegation and enthusiastic about exploring
collaborations that could mutually strengthen our work.
Shafin Khan
Vice President of External Affairs and Innovation
UNO Research and Technology Foundation
skhan@unofoundation.org
Shafin is currently the Vice President of External Affairs and Innovation at the University of New Orleans Research Foundation, building programs and facilities to support academic/industry collaborations and student innovation within the University of New Orleans (UNO). He additionally teaches a course on the Lean Startup methodology at the UNO College of Business. Shafin previously worked as Licensing Associate at the Tulane University Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Development. At this office, Shafin helped Tulane faculty translate bench research and other innovations into commercialized products. He provided guidance to faculty and students regarding spinning out companies, managed faculty intellectual property and licensing, and actively engaged with faculty and industry to develop academic/industry collaborations. Shafin also regularly educated students and faculty on innovation and startup formation processes, guest lecturing and engaging in Tulane courses. He also managed an annual student innovation and prototype
development competition, the Novel Tech Challenge, which averaged 2 new student startup companies created each year. Before the Tulane role, Shafin served as the Director of Technology Commercialization at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center where he developed a life science technology commercialization program, providing business strategy and planning assistance, mentorship, and educational programming aimed at establishing and
growing the life science startup ecosystem in Southeast Louisiana. During his five year tenure at the BioInnovation Center, he helped life science startups create over 300 jobs and raise over $80M in funding for their businesses in that timeframe, many of which have continued to create jobs, raise additional follow-on funding, and successfully bring their products to market. Shafin continues to mentor and grow startups throughout the community. He serves as an instructor and mentor to startups throughout the Southeast US through the Delta I-Fund accelerator program, providing early-stage companies lean startup instruction and business planning and fundraising mentorship. He also has provided mentorship to faculty teams at Louisiana Tech and Tulane, helping the schools attract National Science Foundation funding through the NSF’s Innovation Corps program. Shafin also sits on the advisory board for a variety of startup companies in New Orleans and throughout the Southeast United States, advising on intellectual property, fundraising, and growth strategies. Shafin
earned his J.D. from Loyola University of New Orleans and gained his B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University. Additionally, he has four years of lab research experience at the LSU Health Sciences Center.
Technical Assistance, partnerships with University
facilitate industry connections to areas of research strength at UNO
Lamartine Meda
Professor
Xavier University of Louisiana
Lmeda@xula.edu
Dr. Meda earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Salem State University in 1992 and a Ph.D. in Materials Inorganic Chemistry from Northeastern University, Boston, MA, in 1998. He was a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) and The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering under Professor Hamid Garmestani from 1999 to 2001. After that, he spent four years as a Senior Research Scientist at Excellatron, Atlanta, GA. There, he worked on the R&D of solid-state
electrolytes for thin-film batteries using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). He was awarded two patents for his inventions of the PECVD deposition of LiPON solid electrolytes. He joined the chemistry faculty at Xavier University of
Louisiana in 2008 after spending two years as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Auburn University. Dr. Meda is the Director and Principal Investigator of the Materials and Interfaces Center for High Energy Storage and Sensing (MICHESS),
with over 20 years of experience in energy storage. The center contains state-of-the-art battery and sensor testing equipment with in-situ testing capabilities. He is a Full Professor of Chemistry and Materials Chemistry at the Xavier University of
Louisiana. His primary research interest is on high energy density solid-state lithium batteries with improved safety and reliability. Dr. Meda is also the CEO and owner of Solid Battery Energy, a Start-Up company developing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles.
W. Mark Roberts, MD, MMM
Dean of Research
Ochsner Health
william.roberts@ochsner.org
Dr Roberts obtained his Medical Degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine in 1982 and completed pediatric residency at the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO in 1985. Dr. Roberts completed pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN in 1985 and spent and additional six years there as Assistant Professor working as a physician-scientist focusing upon gene regulation, leukemia and lymphoma biology with emphasis upon minimal residual disease detection. In 1994, Dr. Roberts moved to the University of Texas M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center expanding his leukemia research into adulthood. In 2000, Dr. Roberts moved to Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA, taking on a progress of leadership roles including Chief Medical Officer and Chief Academic Officer positions. Dr. Roberts completed a Master of Medical Management at the Marshall School of Business in 2010 focusing upon leadership and entrepreneurism. In 2012, Dr. Roberts moved to St. Luke’s Health System, Boise, ID as Medical Director of Research, overseeing clinical research and medical education across Southern Idaho.
Outside of his day job, Dr. Roberts served as President of the Boise Angel Alliance and the Gem State Angel fund. In December, 2019, Dr. Roberts moved to Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, as Dean of Research, overseeing clinical, translational and outcomes research across Louisiana and Mississippi.
Ochsner has a database including more than 1 million unique Louisiana patients spread across our geography and are looking towards innovative means to improve the health of Louisianans through our Outcomes Research projects. We are seeking potential collaborators, partners, investors or philanthropists in stimulating this work.
We are looking for solutions that improve the health of Louisianans through our Outcomes Research projects. We are seeking partners that can drive technology related to epigenetic research, collaborators with expertise in this area and/or investors/philanthropists that can provide financial support for this meaningful work
Nick Duesbery, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Research
Ochsner Health
nicholas.duesbery@ochsner.org
After receiving a B.Sc. in biology (1987) from Queen’s University in Canada, Dr. Duesbery earned a M.Sc. (1991) and a Ph.D. (1996) in zoology studying developmental biology at the University of Toronto under the mentorship of Dr. Yoshio Masui. He
subsequently completed a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, MD under the guidance of Dr. George VandeWoude. In 1999, he joined the faculty at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, MI where he served as head of the Laboratory of Cancer & Developmental Cell Biology for 17 years. In that time, his lab investigated the role of MAPK signaling pathways in blood vessel formation in development and disease. In 2016, Dr. Duesbery moved to Spectrum Health Hospital where he served as the Director of Research Operations and CEO of the West Michigan Regional Laboratory. Dr. Duesbery joined Ochsner Health in 2020 as Director of Clinical Research for Oncology, Transplant, and Outcomes Research.
Ochsner has a database including more than 2 million unique Louisiana patients spread across our geography and are looking towards innovative means to improve the health of Louisianans through our Outcomes Research projects. We are seeking potential collaborators, partners, investors or philanthropists in stimulating this work.
We are looking for solutions that improve the health of Louisianans through our Outcomes Research projects. We are seeking partners that can drive technology related to epigenetic research, collaborators with expertise in this area and/or investors/philanthropists that can provide financial support for this meaningful work.
Max Steitz
Founder, Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
max@glasshalffullnola.org
Max Steitz is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Glass Half Full. Max was born and raised in New York City before he moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. Before starting Glass Half Full, Max Co businesses, musicians, and The Second Harvest Food Bank. As a Sophomore at Tulane, Max Co-Founded Plant the Peace, an environmental non-profit that has worked to plant more than 100,000 trees arou
Domestic: Roughly 66% of glass ‘waste’ generated in the US is landfilled. New Orleans’ lack of glass recycling is emblamatic of a broader issue in the US. For decades, glass recycling programs have fallen by sufficient recycling programs, to research and development on bioremediation and coastal restoration.
Domestic: Provide funding (via the form of grants, government-owned land-use) for similar programs in various communities across the country. International: Establish consulting services between Glass Half – our research and development plans can be replicated globally with ease. We’re seeking interested governments and local leaders to establish programs globally
ACE Louisiana Speakers
Churchill Technology and Business Park
Arlanda Williams
Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development & Institutional Advancement, Dean of Technical Division, and Executive Dean of River City Site
Delgado Community College
awilli4@dcc.edu
Arlanda Williams has senior administrative responsibility for the areas of Workforce Development, which provides job training
services and continuing education, and Institutional Advancement, which includes college-wide public relations, marketing, development, alumni affairs and support services for the Delgado Foundation. Also, under her leadership are the Delgado Maritime and Industrial Training Facility, the Advance Manufacturing River City Site, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, several major federal grants, and the Small Business Center. Williams is also the Dean of Technical Education and the Executive Dean of Delgado Community College’s River City site; there are about 75 full-time employees under her supervision. Williams served three consecutive terms as the elected representative of District 2 on the Terrebonne
Parish Council. Williams was the first female elected to serve as chair of the Terrebonne Parish Council and has served four times as chairwoman of the Council. She is active in numerous local, state and federal organizations; more recently Ms.
Williams was appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards to serve on the Southern University Board of Supervisors and the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation Board. Prior to her appointment as Vice Chancellor at Delgado Community College,
Williams worked twenty-one years in Risk Management at Terrebonne Parish School System. Williams is a graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and is also a 2014 graduate of Southern University at Baton Rouge with an Executive Master of Public Administration degree, and is a current doctoral candidate of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy at Southern
University. She is a graduate of Leadership Terrebonne 2007 and a recent graduate of the LCTCS Certified Workforce Developer Program.
To spur collaboration opportunities the visiting participants will have access to: • Facility resources • Advisory Boards • Curriculum Development • Customized Trainings • Industry Trained Individuals with Certifications
Institutional Goals/Expectations: • Locate/develop funding • Cultivate new Industry Partners • Create long term relationships
Brian Swindell
Engineering & Maintenance Manager
Zatarain's
Brian_Swindell@mccormick.com
Brian is the Engineering and Maintenance Manager for McCormick at the Zatarain’s manufacturing facility in Gretna. There, he
manages all capital projects and plant/infrastructure maintenance and has been directly responsible for over 44 million dollars
in capital development since 2013. Improvements during this time include brownfield expansion, upgrades to food safety and quality, and major infrastructure and packaging technology upgrades. Brian earned BS in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University in 2000. He worked for United States Gypsum Co. for 13 years at 6 location: New Orleans, Texas, Utah, Alabama, New Jersey, and Florida in operations, engineering, and quality roles. Starting a family along the way, he and his wife, Julie, have 3 children: Lisé (17), Abri (15), and Braxton (10). Active in the community, Brian serves as chairman on the board of directors for St. Tammany Parish Waterworks District 3, is a member of the board of Directors for St. Tammany Parish Sewer District 4 and was recently appointed by the St. Tammany Parish Council to the St. Tammany Parish Board of Zoning Adjustments.
The best opportunity for collaboration with others will be in the new/improved technology in raw material storage and handling, spice/blend processing, and packaging. Technologies that focus on improving our global footprint (reducing waste and energy usage), food safety and quality, employee safety and employee training are all of particular interest
Participants can help advance our objectives by a.) fostering introductions and relationships with companies or institutions from their area(s) that specialize in one or more of the items listed, or b.) providing avenues for development of creative solutions to help achieve our site’s long-term objectives.
Evie Poitevent Sanders
Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.)
epoitevent@gnoinc.org
As the newly appointed Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Greater New Orleans, Inc. – the regional economic
development organization for the 10 parishes of Southeast Louisiana – Evie Poitevent Sanders serves as the regional startup ecosystem “advocate” focused on positioning Greater New Orleans as a place to both establish and relocate your high-growth startup. While connecting, facilitating, and resource sharing across local and national stakeholder groups, over time, Evie also
will implement strategic initiatives to increase ecosystem growth and capacity while addressing known gaps in the space. Previously, she held the role of GNO, Inc.’s Human Capital Manager, overseeing various talent attraction and retention
initiatives and supporting new business attraction and local business retention and expansion projects. Prior to joining GNO, Inc., Evie enjoyed a decade-long career in journalism followed by an equally long tenure in family small business ownership. Currently, Evie is a member of cohort three of the Women’s Leadership Academy housed at Loyola University, New Orleans
(2021-2022). She also is a graduate of New Orleans’ inaugural cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program (2011), and recently concluded her volunteer service to the Junior League of New Orleans, where she served on the
board of directors (2019-2020) and as co-chair of the League’s inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit (2020). Evie also served for four years on the board of the Magazine Street Merchants Association, and for eight years on the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholars Foundation Selection Committee for the State of Louisiana, in addition to chairing various charitable projects over the years. She is a graduate of both the New Orleans Business Alliance’s Economic Development Ambassadors Program and the City of New Orleans’s Civic Leadership Academy (2018). Evie lives with her husband, toddler daughter, newborn son, and beloved dog in New Orleans.
Greater New Orleans, Inc. is the regional economic development organization for the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana.
The organization can facilitate a wide variety of connections and introductions to visiting participants, be they for new
partnerships for technological development, business and investment opportunities, potential tax credits to be accessed,
workforce development and talent recruiting support, quality of life assistance and “concierge services” for new businesses
entering the market, etc. Their goal is to attract new international and domestic businesses to the region as well as support the
retention and expansion of our existing companies.
GNO, Inc is always open to discussing collaboration on new projects and welcome the opportunity to forge new mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships for tech development, business and investment opportunities, and to expand regional and global networks. The organization is here to connect, assist, support, and “do business” for the Greater New Orleans region.
Jason Slinkard
Vice President and General Manager
Cornerstone Energy Park
Jason.Slinkard@cornerstonechemco.com
Jason is Vice President and General Manager of Cornerstone Energy Park with more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing. He is an accomplished operations professional skilled in continuous improvement, process optimization, process safety, quality assurance and manufacturing. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Jason was the site director for BASF’s McIntosh, Alabama site. He has led both U.S. and European-based manufacturing organizations through growth and
transformation. Jason received his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Participants will be made aware of the co-location opportunities at Cornerstone Energy Park (land, services, raw materials, etc.) and the current job opportunities. Participants will learn more about the types of jobs available in the chemical industry, and be encouraged to support additional local STEM educational efforts. Participants will hear of the economic and strategic importance of the chemical industry in the U.S. They will hear how their lives are shaped by chemicals and how important chemicals have been and continue to be in the improvements to quality of life.
Cornerstone Energy Park is participating to promote site marketing and site selection, recruit, explore joint-venture opportunities, display finished products and expand regional and global networks. Cornerstone Energy Park promotes and supports STEM educational opportunities. We strive to hire locally, and we will benefit strongly from increase STEM-focused efforts in our community
Lacey Bordelon
Vice President & COO
JEDCO - Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission
lbordelon@jedco.org
Lacey Bordelon serves as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO). JEDCO, an Accredited Economic Development Organization, is the economic development arm of Jefferson Parish charged with attracting, growing and creating new businesses within the parish. Lacey is responsible for directing JEDCO’s internationally award-winning business retention & expansion program designed to link existing
businesses with resources and assistance needed to overcome obstacles and attain their growth objectives. She is also responsible for all business attraction efforts of the organization, including the preparation of competitive proposals to recruit
companies to the parish. Lacey oversees the continued development and growth of the Churchill Technology & Business Park as well as the JEDCO’s strategic planning initiative, the Jefferson EDGE 2020, which is Jefferson Parish’s overall economic development strategic plan. Lacey has fifteen years of experience in economic development. Prior to her start in economic
development, she was employed by Jefferson Parish as an urban planner. She received the Government Merit Award from the Bureau of Governmental Research, is a Leadership Jefferson graduate, and a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers. She received her Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans and has received professional training in courses focused on business retention & expansion, real estate reuse and development,
credit analysis, exporting and strategic planning sponsored by the International Economic Development Council and National Development Council.
JEDCO can offer in-depth assistance for any international business development opportunities, including foreign direct investment, importing/exporting, site selection for expanding businesses, tax incentive guidance, business financing, workforce development offerings, research & development collaborations, and other cooperative endeavours.
JEDCO is specifically interested in hearing about foreign direct investment interest and businesses that are looking to locate in the metro New Orleans region. JEDCO is also interested in business development opportunities for Jefferson Parish-based companies seeking to export to other countries, as well as facilitating partnerships between countries and companies.
ACE Louisiana Speakers
Avondale Marine
Anne Duncan
Vice President USA Processing Operations
Syrah Technologies LLC
a.duncan@syrahresources.com.au
Dr. Anne Duncan has more than 30 years of Global Operations experience. Anne is currently the VP of USA Processing Operations at Syrah Technologies in Vidalia Louisiana. In this role she has led the site through the product qualification, detailed design and regulatory framework to support Syrah’s Financial Investment Decision to establish a commercial Battery Anode Material Manufacturing site Vidalia. Anne joined Syrah in June 2021 from HATCH, where for 3 years she was the Global Director for Bauxite & Alumina leading their business for bauxite and alumina clients worldwide. A Louisiana resident for over 7 years, Anne relocated from her native Australia in 2015 to lead the Almatis Premium Alumina in Burnside, Louisiana, USA. Anne has a wealth of experience in all aspects of mining, refining and chemical processing, technology, and operations. She has held senior operations, operational excellence, and technology leadership positions for refineries in Queensland, Jamaica, and Rio Tinto Alcan including Chief Advisor – Technology for Rio Tinto Bauxite and Alumina. A nuclear engineer by
training, Anne has a Masters of Applied Science in Metallurgy and a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Anne has a Black Belt in Lean 6 sigma and has written numerous technical publications presented keynote addresses globally.
The multiple steps in our journey to establish an international specialty chemical business in rural Louisiana with the intent of a greener US future is a story to tell to potential investors. The intent is to communicate how the opportunities in Louisiana by LED and the local municipalities impacted favorably our investment decision, and understand if there may be synergies with other industries that we can both help and benefit from co-location and scaling services.
Partners for synergistic development, business opportunities
Anthony Bodin
Director, Business Development
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
abodin@gnoinc.org
Anthony Bodin manages corporate attraction and lead generation initiatives for Greater New Orleans, Inc. As Director of Business Development, he is responsible for identifying new opportunities for Greater New Orleans by proactively marketing
the region to domestic and international prospects. He works closely with regional partners on executing economic development projects across strategic industry sectors. Prior to his role with GNO, Inc., Anthony served as Assistant Director for International Commerce for Louisiana Economic Development, the state agency for economic development. In this role, Anthony coordinated a network of global representatives and managed Louisiana’s international business development efforts. His responsibilities included uncovering new foreign investment projects with high job-growth potential for Louisiana and monitoring global economic trends. Before moving to Louisiana, Anthony worked as a Research Analyst for the International Crisis Group’s Africa field office. As part of his advocacy role, he helped prepare policy briefs and regional
situation reports with a particular focus on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Anthony started his career with the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, D.C. where he specialized in 16th century Ottoman history and helped research and author publications on the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Anthony holds an MBA from
Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business where he currently serves as an elected member of the Freeman50 alumni advisory board. Anthony also holds a B.A. in International Affairs from American University’s School of International Service and an International Diploma, cum laude, from the Institut d’études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po); he speaks English, native French and German. Anthony was appointed to Louisiana’s Multimodal Commerce Advisory Commission in 2014. Additionally, he serves as a Steering Committee member for the FDI Frontlines Coalition, a non-profit advisory body.
Business and academic introductions.
I would be interested in learning about other national models to spur the development of renewable energy.
Bob Fudickar
Executive Director
National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM)
rfudickar@lsu.edu
Experienced Director Of Business Development with a demonstrated history of working in the Defense & Space industry. Strong business development professional skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Budgeting, Analytical Skills, Government, and Entrepreneurship. Will be discussing NCAM and Governor Jon Bel Edwards NASA Space Campus project at Michoud.
Insight on the development project, and its connections with workforce development across the aerospace sector.
Forge new partnerships for technological development, find partners for research exchanges, expand regional and global
networks, and business and investment opportunities
James Martin
CEO
Gulf Wind Technology
James.Martin@GulfWindTechnology.com
James Martin is CEO of Gulf Wind Technology, specializing in solving the technology challenges associated with offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico and implementing advanced ‘manufacturing led design’ solutions in the industry to both reduce the cost of wind energy and expedite the workforce transition.
Gulf Wind Technology has established the framework for industrial collaboration in offshore wind in the region by setting clear targets for technology challenges as well as the infrastructure for proving solutions. By piloting an offshore wind framework capable of setting scalable reductions in the cost of energy for extreme wind environments, as well as workforce transition
centers, Louisiana has the potential to be a global leader for collaboration in the renewable energy space.
Collaborations with universities and technology centers, as well as exploration opportunities for piloting our technology. The sharing of data and information from countries that have similar infrastructure or unique environmental challenges.
Joseph Jefferson Keever
Government Affairs Representative
Avondale Marine/T. Parker Host
jeff.keever@tparkerhost.com
Jefferson Keever joined HOST in 2016 to focus on business development and special projects. He now works as HOST’s Government Affairs Representative, most recently as part of HOST’s Avondale Marine facility in New Orleans, LA. Prior to joining Host full-time, he served the company in a consulting capacity for many years. Jefferson has over 35 years of experience in the maritime industry, including a role at the Virginia Port Authority, where he was the Senior Deputy Executive Director, responsible for government relations, port security, environmental matters, and business development. Jefferson was
formerly on the Board of the Greater New Orleans, Inc. and is currently a member of the GNO Wind Alliance. He also serves as a member of the Jefferson Business Council, the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, and the Westbank Business & Industry Association. He holds a bachelor’s in political science from University of Richmond. He has been an advocate for Offshore Wind since 2008 when he became involved in the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition and served as chairman.
Specific business and investment opportunities for location of manufacturing processing or value added services on site.
Expand global networks and business investment in Louisiana on the Avondale site.
Julio Costa
Chief Operating Officer
Syrah Resources
j.costa@syrahresources.com.au
Julio has over 30 years mining, operations and technical experience gained from senior leadership roles for Alcoa Corporation, Rio Tinto Limited and Vale S.A, in Australia, Brazil, Mozambique and North America. Julio brings significant expertise in mining operation design, commissioning and optimisation. He has a strong track record in community and stakeholder management and developing strong operating teams through people, process and technology. Julio holds a Bachelor of Chemistry from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Julio has led multiple bauxite mining and Alumina
refining processing facilities in Rio Tinto and Alcoa.
The multiple steps in our journey to establish an international specialty chemical business in rural Louisiana with the intent of a greener US future is a story to tell to potential investors. The intent is to communicate how the opportunities in Louisiana by LED and the local municipalities impacted favorably our investment decision, and understand if there may be synergies with other industries that we can both help and benefit from co-location and scaling services.
Partners for synergistic development, business opportunities
Meaghan McCormack
Chief Executive Officer
St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation
mmccormack@sbedf.org
Meaghan McCormack is the Chief Executive Officer for the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation. Her efforts center on business retention, expansion, and attraction, strategic neighborhood development, workforce development and marketing the parish as a great place to live, work and play. She has previous experience working for the World Trade Center New Orleans and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Meaghan is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Management Marketing and minors in Sociology and Mass Communication.
Perspectives in resiliency, which is a particularly notable characteristic of St. Bernard Parish, it’s businesses, and citizens.
We are always looking to forge new partnerships for commerical development, find partners for research exchanges, expand regional and global networks, and business and investment opportunities.
Shiva Adireddy
CEO
Advano
cambre.chauvin@advano.io
Over 13 years of experience in energy materials design to solve existing problems 15 issued patents on battery-grade Silicon and 40+ publications on nanomaterials design & manufacturing Ph.D. – Advanced Materials Research, University of New
Orleans
Job creation – both direct & indirect over the next year with the expansion of our manufacturing capabilities. Some of Advano’s positions will provide a way for oil & gas employees to transition to a new industry as we expand our manufacturing capabilities with a pilot facility and beyond.
Find support on both the state and federal level with ways to secure incentives, grants available, and other programs Advano can put in place as the company continues to expand manufacturing capabilities & grow in New Orleans.
Tom Outlaw
Foreign Commercial Office
International Trade Administration
tom.outlaw@trade.gov
Tom Outlaw is a Foreign Commercial Officer with the U.S. Commercial Service New Orleans, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Tom is part of a team of international trade specialists who help Louisiana
companies sell their products and services globally. U.S. Commercial Service New Orleans is part of the Commerce Department’s worldwide network, which helps US companies to compete and win in international markets. Tom was formerly with the US Agency for International Development, where he supported entrepreneurs in emerging markets across Africa, Asia
and the Middle East. He earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from the George Washington University, and completed undergraduate studies in English Literature at Georgetown University.
1) The ability to connect ACE delegates to US Export Assistance Centers, both in Louisiana and in cities across the United States; 2) The ability to connect ACE delegates to companies in both Louisiana and other states that operate in markets or sectors of interest to ACE delegates for investment or other partnering opportunities; 3) The ability to connect ACE delegates to technology incubators in Louisiana of interest to ACE delegates for investment or other partnering opportunities.
The Commercial Service New Orleans is interested in learning from ACE delegates about potential export opportunities in Latin America for Louisiana companies, sources of possible Foreign Direct Investment in Louisiana; and other opportunities to develop global networks, business and investment opportunities for Louisiana companies in foreign markets.