In the fall of 2016, the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) commenced a work stream dedicated to growth and inclusion in New Orleans’ small business ecosystem. We obtained input from small business owners and entrepreneurs. We heard from local small business technical assistance and business finance professionals, and have sought best practices and strategies from around the country that would have a high probability of impacting growth in our local small businesses, as well as new development in disinvested commercial districts. This symposium will discuss diverse strategies implemented in Chicago and Memphis as well as existing and proposed local programs. Smart public and private investment can facilitate critical incentives that build solid infrastructure for emerging businesses. Complementing those incentives with inclusive economic opportunity for small business owners fosters a more robust economy for the entire city. Thank you for joining us for this powerful day of sagacious dialogue and insightful information. NOLABA would like to thank the impressive group of speakers and panelists, generous donors and its staff and volunteers for making this event possible.
AGENDA 9:30–10:00
Registration
10:00–10:10
Welcome
10:10–10:15
NOLABA Small Business Ecosystem Development
10:15–10:35
Investing in Inclusive Clusters for a Strong New Orleans Economy Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC)
Quentin Messer CEO, New Orleans Business Alliance Lynnette White-Colin, Director
Kathleen O’Shea Kim Zeuli
10:35-10:45
Liberty Bank - Partnership with U.S. Black Chamber Association
10:45 – 11:55
PANEL I Investment Strategies for Small Business Growth
12 Noon
Lunch
Ann Duplessis
Facilitator: Rebecca Conwell, City of New Orleans John Lawrence, Memphis EDGE Leslie Smith, EPICenter (Memphis) Damon Burns, Finance Authority N.O. Brenda Breaux, N.O. Redevelopment Authority
12:20 – 12:50 State of the New Orleans Economy Quentin Messer
1:00-1:30 1:45-3:00
Local Bank Executives: Joe Exnicios, Whitney Bank Hunter Hill, Iberia Bank Graham Ralston, Regions Bank
Key Note Speaker William Towns, Executive Director, Benefit Chicago PANEL II Innovations in Equity, Opportunity & Capital (Fireside Chat) Facilitator: William Towns, Benefit Chicago
3:10-4:00
Roxanne V. Franklin, City of N.O
PANEL III Economic Inclusion Success: New Orleans
Facilitator: Lynnette White-Colin Kevin Ferguson, Jacobs/CSRS Kyle Culverhouse, CORE Construction
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WILLIAM TOWNS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
William Towns is a scholar, activist and practitioner dedicated to helping solve civic and urban issues at the structural level. William is the inaugural executive director of Benefit Chicago, a collaboration between The Chicago Community Trust, The MacArthur Foundation and the Calvert Foundation to create a $100 million impact investment fund targeting the social enterprise sector in Chicago. His responsibilities include, among other things, strategy development, investor relations, and deal sourcing. He came to Benefit Chicago from the University of Chicago, where he was an Assistant Vice President and led the Office of Civic Engagement’s Anchor Strategy. He is alum of Loyola University Chicago, University of Wisconsin, the University of Notre Dame and the Harvard Kennedy School. Currently, he is enrolled in MIT’s Sloan School of Management’s Advance Management Program, focusing on strategy and innovation, and is a Ph.D. Candidate at Benedictine University where his research looks at the managing of expectations between anchor institutions, their cities and communities.
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DR. ROXANNE FRANKLIN
Dr. Roxanne V. Franklin serves as the Director of Equity Strategy in the Office of the Mayor at the City of New Orleans, leading a team tasked with the design and implementation of a strategy for equitable city government. Prior to serving in this capacity, Roxanne was the Senior Project Manager on the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team, leading a team of project managers focused on the development and ongoing implementation of two mayoral priority areas: NOLA FOR LIFE, the City’s comprehensive murder reduction strategy and the Mayor’s Economic Opportunity Strategy; established to connect disadvantaged job seekers and businesses to the City’s economic growth through public-private partnerships. Roxanne has worked in both the non-profit and government sectors, where she has acquired experience in Project Management, Compliance, Program Administration and Strategy Design. Roxanne obtained a Bachelor of Arts in World Arts and Cultures from the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture, a Juris Doctor from Western New England University, School of Law, and both a Master of Social Work and a Doctor of Social Work from Tulane University. She also recently served as a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow.
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KIM ZEULI
Kim Zeuli, Ph.D. is a Senior Vice President and Director of Research and Advisory Practice with the Institute for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). She defines and implements ICIC’s research agenda and directs the advisory services practice that works with clients across the U.S. Kim received her Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota and has over 15 years of experience researching and advising on economic development issues. She has published dozens of academic and professional articles and is co-editor of the book Revitalizing American Cities (2013). Kim has held academic positions at the College of William and Mary, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Kentucky
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KATHLEEN O’SHEA
Kathleen O’Shea is a Senior Research Analyst with the Institute for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). She is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of engagements directed at inner city economic growth. She is the lead on ICIC’s partnership with JPMorgan Chase on their Small Business Forward initiative, which includes evaluating entrepreneurial support organizations across the country. Kathleen also directly supports all of ICIC’s anchor initiatives by managing advisory projects and tracking urban anchor strategies nationally. Prior to joining ICIC, Kathleen worked at The American City Coalition, a Boston nonprofit working to revitalize distressed urban neighborhoods, and Boston College’s Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action, where she helped to develop the initial proposal for an anchor strategy at Boston College. Kathleen holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
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REID DULBERGER
Reid Dulberger is President/CEO of Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) and serves as Chief Economic Development Officer for the City of Memphis and Shelby County. Since EDGE’s launch in 2011, Mr. Dulberger has overseen the coordination of public resources to help drive economic development for Memphis and Shelby County through targeted financial assistance and strategic partnerships. These efforts have resulted in both large and small-scale projects anticipated to create more than $2.3 billion in new capital investment, more than $930 million in new tax revenue, and more than 12,800 jobs in Memphis/Shelby County. Prior to joining EDGE, Mr. Dulberger served as Vice President for MemphisED Administration for the Greater Memphis Chamber and Executive Vice President of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber in Youngstown, OH. Mr. Dulberger received his Master of Science in Public Management and Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University, and his Bachelor of Arts from Florida International University.
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LESLIE SMITH
Leslie Lynn Smith, a nationally recognized entrepreneurial and business development leader, joined EPIcenter, the hub of the Greater Memphis entrepreneurship movement in 2015 as its CEO. With its network of partners, EPIcenter is the enabler of unified strategies to increase support to new and existing entrepreneurs for business growth. Serving as the broader voice of the partner network and a single point of accountability, EPIcenter measures and celebrates the impact of entrepreneurial support to create a just, inclusive, and growing economy that accrues to all Memphians. Smith’s role in Memphis comes after five years of successful entrepreneurial leadership as president and CEO of TechTown, Detroit’s most established business incubator and accelerator. Previously, she was director of business acceleration for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, overseeing the state’s $300 million start-up investment portfolio and managing the statewide innovation economy and its network of ecosystem partners, including 15 research universities, incubators, accelerators and the philanthropic and private sectors.
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REBECCA CONWELL
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BRENDA BREAUX
Brenda M. Breaux is the Executive Director for the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA); she is responsible for providing strategic leadership, stability and growth opportunities for the Authority and the community it serves. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, Brenda served as the Chief Operating Officer of NORA for four (4) years where she was responsible for overseeing and managing Human Resources, Land Management, Land Stewardship, Real Estate Development and the day to day operations of the Authority. She also directed legal strategies and participated in dispute resolution. Brenda served as Senior Chief Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans where she was responsible was administration of housing, development and finance matters, the Mayor’s Blight Initiative, DCDBG and CDBG projects, liaison between City, State and Federal entities for the downtown medical complex project and negotiations between the City and State regarding the former Road Home properties. She also served as the Deputy Executive Director for the Housing Authority of New Orleans. Biloxi, MS. Breaux earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Spelman College, her Juris Doctor from Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law and has been practicing law for 23 years.
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DAMON BURNS
Damon Burns is a New Orleans native and public finance professional with more than 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship, investment banking, corporate banking and economic development. He is currently the Executive Director of the Finance Authority of New Orleans. The Finance Authority is a housing and economic development finance agency that has financed over $600 million in affordable housing and economic development projects in New Orleans. Prior to joining The Finance Authority of New Orleans, he founded Munivestor, a financial data and technology company focused on the municipal bond industry using $200K in private investor capital. Munivestor was selected to participate in some of the nation’s premier startup programs including Techstars’ Risingstars Bootcamp, Morgan Stanley’s FinTech Investor Showcase and PowerMoves NOLA. Other technology experience includes being an Investment Committee member of the New Orleans Startup Fund, which provides early stage capital to New Orleans based companies with high-growth potential. Burns earned a Marketing degree from Texas Southern University and an MBA with a finance concentration from the University of New Orleans. He also earned a professional certificate in Urban Redevelopment from the University of Pennsylvania.
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QUENTIN L. MESSER, JR.
Quentin L. Messer Jr., President and CEO, New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) leads initiatives and programs related to business intelligence, economic competitiveness, small business services, business attraction and retention, including the Bioinnovation and Health Sciences cluster, and has overall responsibility for executing NOLABA’s ProsperityNOLA strategy. Prior to joining NOLABA, Quentin was the Assistant Secretary for Louisiana Economic Development (LED.) Quentin managed initiatives and programs related to business intelligence, community competitiveness, small business services and state economic competitiveness. Named to New Orleans Magazine’s “People to Watch Class of 2015,” Quentin was selected as a 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award recipient of the Fannie Lou Hamer Community Service and Leadership Award by Grambling State University. He is member of the Council for a Better Louisiana’s (CABL) Leadership Louisiana 2014. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of the Lake College and a member of the Board of Directors of Nexus Louisiana (f/k/a Research Park Corporation). Messer holds an AB, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs from Princeton University and JD/MBA from Columbia University’s Law and Business Schools, respectively.
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HUNTER HILL
Hunter Hill joined IBERIABANK in New Orleans as Market President and Executive Vice President in February 2014. Hunter manages all aspects of a $2.0B market, including Commercial Banking, Private Banking, Business Banking and Retail. He currently serves on the Executive Committee for Bureau of Governmental Research, is a Board member of Greater New Orleans, Inc., is on the Jefferson Business Council, is a Board member of The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute Class of 2015 as well as is the Treasurer of Young Presidents Organization. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Hunter was the Commercial Banking Manager and Senior Vice President for IBERIABANK’s Birmingham office where he also served on the United Way of Central Alabama committee and was a past committee member of the Boy Scouts of America. Before joining IBERIABANK, Hunter was with Regions Bank in Birmingham. Hunter holds a Masters of Business Administration from Auburn University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. In 2015, Hunter completed an Executive Education Program at Harvard University.
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JOE EXNICIOS
Joe Exnicios began his Whitney Bank career in 1978. After several management positions in the branch system, he joined the corporate banking division, rising to Chief Corporate Banking Officer. He later served three years as Chief Risk Officer before becoming the president of Whitney Bank in 2011. He is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a law degree from Loyola Law School, and is a member of the Louisiana State Bar. Exnicios is a longtime leader of many organizations throughout the New Orleans area. He has been chairman of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana and the Southeast Louisiana Council of Boy Scouts. He is former chairman of the board for the University of New Orleans Foundation, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation WYES-TV12, and the U.S. Navy League. The New Orleans native also serves on the boards for the St. Aloysius Century Foundation and the Louisiana State University Medical Center Foundation, is Board chair for St. Michael’s Special School and is a member of the Bureau of Governmental Research and the New Orleans Business Council.
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GRAHAM RALSTON
Graham M. Ralston, CFA, a native of New Orleans, joined Regions Bank in 2013 as Commercial Banking Executive for the South Louisiana Market and was also named New Orleans Market President in early 2016. Prior to joining Regions Bank, he led a commercial banking group at Whitney Bank in New Orleans, where he began his career in 1997. Mr. Ralston earned a BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Tulane University. He also earned a CFA Charter in 2006 and is a past President of the CFA Society of Louisiana. Mr. Ralston is a member of the Business Council of Greater New Orleans and is currently serving on the boards of GNO, Inc., the Regional Loan Corporation, Academy of the Sacred Heart and is current Board President of the Preservation Resource Center.
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ANN DAVIS DUPLESSIS
Ann Davis Duplessis is Senior Vice President of Retail Banking, Marketing & Sales, and Strategic Planning for Liberty Bank and Trust Company, a $600M retail bank with offices in 8 states across the United States. She oversees growth and profitability of Liberty Insurance, Inc. Ann holds a Louisiana State Notary Public Commission; Producer’s License for Title, Property and Casualty insurance; and a Louisiana Real Estate Sales Licensee. Duplessis currently serves on the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors; Delgado Community College Foundation; Eastern New Orleans Service District Hospital Board of Directors; New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter; and she serves as President of the Louisiana Federation For Children, a project of the American Federation For Children. In 2002, Duplessis was elected to the Louisiana legislature as Senator for District, serving New Orleans East, Holy Cross, and the Lower Ninth Ward communities. While in office Senator Duplessis held many leadership roles including Chairman of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee. Nationally she served as Vice Chair of the Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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