NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane Association of Business Alumni will host its 47th annual forum, “Game Changers: Infrastructure, Investments, and Innovation in Louisiana’s New Economy,” featuring a group of renowned industry leaders who will address various industries using new techniques and business practices to contribute to economic growth specifically in the areas of finance, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, sports and hospitality.
This year’s forum features keynote speakers Kevin Ferguson, deputy mayor, and chief of staff for the City of New Orleans, Dennis Lauscha, president of both the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, and Walter J. Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company. The moderated discussion will explore the city’s evolving sports infrastructure, major investment opportunities, future venue developments, and long-term vision driving economic growth.
The forum is generously hosted by the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, presented by Entergy Louisiana, underwritten by IMTT, and sponsored by the Tulane Association of Business Alumni. It will be held on Friday, October 30, 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at La Nouvelle Orléans Ballroom at the convention center.
Presenters will include Josh Fleig, chief innovation officer at Louisiana Economic Development (New Orleans, LA) and Rob Lalka, Albert R. Lepage Professor in Business and executive director of the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Freeman School of Business (New Orleans, LA) who will provide insights from Louisiana’s first statewide startup report, a collaboration between Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO) and the Albert Lepage Center that will examine funding trends, investment activity, industry growth, and emerging innovation hubs. They will also discuss how the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is evolving and where new opportunities for growth are emerging.
Erica J. Washington, data analytics program manager of the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health (Metairie, LA) will share perspectives on the current state of healthcare delivery and public health infrastructure across Louisiana’s regions and parishes while highlighting ongoing challenges and initiatives affecting access to medical services statewide.
Michael A. Fitts, president of Tulane University, (New Orleans) will give an update on the state of the university as well as future endeavors.
Kimberly Gramm, chief innovation and entrepreneurship officer of the Tulane Innovation Institute (New Orleans, LA) will moderate a panel discussion that will look at how AI, automation, and digital transformation are shaping the future of business in the Gulf South. Panelists will include Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer of First Solar, Inc. (Lafayette, LA); Curtis Blank, Jr., director of maintenance and engineering for Associated Terminals (Convent, LA); Carlin Conner, chairman and CEO of IMTT (New Orleans, LA); and Michael Perry, head of commercial strategy for Persona AI (Houston, TX).
A second panel, facilitated by David C. Rieveschl, member of Stone Pigman, will examine how venture capital and private equity are shaping Louisiana’s business landscape and share how investors evaluate opportunities, allocate capital, and support the growth of high-potential companies across the state. Panelists will include Kwamena Aidoo, co-founder and managing partner of Corridor Ventures; Tom Ambrose, partner of Black Bay Partners; Tyler Houin, managing director of Carr’s Hill Capital Partners Management, L.P.; and Evan Nicoll, co-founder and managing partner of 1834 Ventures; all local firms.
The Tulane Association of Business Alumni of the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University represents over 30,000 alumni worldwide, and the forum is its marquee event. Each year, the forum features speakers of national and international acclaim who address a variety of general business topics.
Forum registration, which includes continental breakfast, a networking hour, and lunch, is $300 for the public and $225 for Tulane alumni. Accountants can earn 5.0 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits; engineers can earn 5.0 Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits; and attorneys can earn 3.66 general Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits, by joining the forum.
For more information on how to register, visit https://freeman.tulane.edu/tulane-business-forum or email, jennifer@mccauslandeventmgt.com.