Issuu

PLUS: Title Insurance: It Pays to Think Ahead // Fox 8’s New Digs // Is Your Biz Invisible to ChatGPT?

TOP REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

10 AREA LEADERS SHARE WHAT EXCITES — AND CONCERNS THEM — MOST ABOUT THEIR INDUSTRY

OCTOBER EVERY ISSUE

PERSPECTIVES

06 PUBLISHER’S NOTE

EDUCATION

While AI threatens some careers, demand and opportunities in construction continue to grow

12 NONPROFIT GNOF and its partners are working to meet the construction industry’s workforce needs.

14 ENTREPRENEUR Entrepreneurs can learn a valuable lesson from our animal neighbors.

FROM THE LENS

58 GREAT WORKSPACES How Fox 8 took a former office building on the Pontchartrain Expressway and transformed it into a modern broadcast headquarters

04 EDITOR’S NOTE

10 SPORTS Tyler Shough is ready to lead, win.

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 01

62 NEIGHBORHOOD GEM French Quarter Gem & Lapidary

64 NEW ORLEANS 500 Ryan Gootee, CEO of Ryan Gootee General Contractors

20 INSURANCE Louisiana’s insurance market is heading in the right direction, but there is still more to be done.

22 LAW Title insurance shouldn’t be a lastminute conversation. 26 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Algiers’ annual holiday bonfire provides the fuel for city growth yearround.

28 GUEST Is your business invisible to ChatGPT?

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

From one musician to another, this shop owner serves as a valuable resource for local artists.

Top Real Estate Influencers

10 area leaders share what excites — and concerns them — most about their industry

EDITOR’S NOTE

Biz Talks

Each week, “Biz Talks” reaches beyond the pages of Biz New Orleans’ magazine to bring you in-depth conversations with leaders in our community.

Checking In

very year, we take a deeper dive into the real estate and construction industry on the same month as the annual NOMAR CID Economic & Real Estate Forecast Symposium. This year, for the 16th iteration of the symposium, the event will be held on Thursday, October 8, at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. The theme is “Building Market Momentum & Opportunity.” Both “momentum” and “opportunity” are terms we saw repeated frequently in this year’s group of Real Estate Influencers. There is a momentum that we are seeing as a region — a sense of positivity and hope that is being paired with the announcement of many new commercial projects. And then there’s AI…technology that — like every other industry — is changing the way that the real estate and construction industries operate. Looking at multiple data sources for the past year, the news points toward a market that is largely stabilizing. According to the most recent (August 2026) New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR) Local Market Update for the 10 parish New Orleans metropolitan area, the residential market has remained stable over the past year. From August 2025 to 2026, for example, new listings remained about the same (1,636 in 2025 and 1,629 in 2026). Average days on market went down a bit — 67 to 64 — but both median and average sales prices increased over the past year — median up 5.5% to $290,000 and average up 8.7% to $369,344. The number of closed sales also went up 6.1% to 8,544. Inventory, however, remains an issue — one that worsened by 3.7% over the past year. On the commercial side, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Commercial Real Estate Market

Metro Dashboard reported that market rents in the New Orleans/Metairie metro area between the second quarter of 2025 and 2026 remained steady — from $23 per square-foot to $22. The vacancy rate also saw little change — 7.8% to 7.7%. Some change was reported, interestingly, on retail vacancy rates, which rose from 3.9% to 4.5%, while sales prices on retail spaces from 2025 to 2026 rose from $149 per square-foot to $171. As we head into fall (yay!) I wanted to share a fun bit of news. Keith Twitchell has been an instrumental part of the editorial team at Biz New Orleans since its inception. He authors our monthly Entrepreneur column, our Neighborhood Gem pieces, and many features every year. This year, one of his wonderful pieces was celebrated as the best business feature of the year by the Press Club of New Orleans. I long ago recognized his talent with the written word, so I’m excited to report that his first feature novel is being published on October 27 by Simon & Schuster. “The Strangest Life” is a magical tale centered on a rare pink river dolphin from the Amazon that “blends environmental fiction, myth and quiet suspense.” I can’t wait to read it! Happy Fall Y’all and thanks for reading,

KIMBERLEY SINGLETARY

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For our 300th episode, we brought back one of our most popular contributors — in print and on Biz Talks — Frank Rabalais, who has spent years pushing back against New Orleans’ notorious “attitude problem.” Now, as optimism and confidence are taking hold, Frank argues that it’s time to stop simply hoping for growth and start thinking strategically about how to make it happen. His idea: Take advantage of a powerful national trend, combine it with what makes New Orleans uniquely attractive, and turn that opportunity into the population growth the region needs. Episode 299 What Do Small Businesses Need to Know About Working with Content Creators?

Digital content creators wield influential power in the marketplace — power that local businesses, understandably, are looking to harness. But how do you find the right creator? What’s the difference between an influencer and a content creator? And what are some common mistakes and misconceptions to avoid? How much should you expect to pay? Bianca Cook, founder of The Nola Collective, shares everything businesses need to know.

Editor Kimberley@BizNewOrleans.com

THE ALLIANCE OF AREA BUSINESS PUBLISHERS AWARDS 2026 Silver Best Overall Design Silver Best Feature Layout 2025 Silver Best Overall Design Silver Best Feature Layout 2024 Silver Best Daily Newsletter Silver Best Feature Layout Silver Best Beat Reporting, Real Estate 2023 Gold Best Feature Layout Gold Best Beat Reporting, Real Estate Silver Best Feature Series Silver Best Personality Profile Silver Best Cover Silver Best use of Photography/Illustrations Bronze Best Overall Design 2022 Gold Best Feature Gold Best Recurring Feature Silver Best Feature Layout 2021 Gold Magazine Design Gold Best Explanatory Journalism Gold Feature Design Silver Best Feature Bronze Best Use of Multimedia 2020 Silver Best Recurring Feature 2019 Gold Best Recurring Feature Gold Best Explanatory Journalism 2018 Gold Most Improved Publication Silver Best Recurring Feature 2017 Silver Best Recurring Feature Bronze Best Daily Email 2016 Bronze Best Feature Layout

Episode 300 How Does New Orleans Capitalize on Positive Momentum to Grow Its Population?

AVAILABLE ON: Spotify, Apple, Audible, Amazon Music, Anchor, Overcast, Pocket Casts

Publisher Todd Matherne EDITORIAL Editor Kimberley Singletary Art Director Sarah E.G. Majeste

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Contributors Danielle Yuratich Dauzat, Ashley McLellan, Misty Milioto, William L. Mizell, Chris Price, Allison Schmidt, LaVerne Toombs, Keith Twitchell ADVERTISING

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B I Z N E WORLE AN S.C O M

PUBLISHER’S NOTE SALES TEAM

Autumn Arrives

ctober is always one of my favorite months — it’s my birthday month, and the weather is finally changing. This year, Biz New Orleans is proud to publish the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory and, for the first time, the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory. Look for them in your mailboxes soon. These partnerships reflect what Biz New Orleans is all about — connecting the people, businesses and organizations that drive our region forward. We are honored to publish numerous custom publications for business organizations throughout the region that trust us to tell their stories and showcase their organizations. There is also a major milestone within the Renaissance Publishing family. Our sister publication, New Orleans Magazine, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. For six decades, the magazine has chronicled the people, food, culture, traditions and unmistakable character that make New Orleans unlike anywhere else. I encourage you to visit MyNewOrleans.com and check out the October anniversary issue. October also gives us plenty to celebrate in sports. Congratulations to the Romig and Ehrhardt families, who will be honored by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation at its October 15 honors luncheon. Their families have made remarkable contributions to the sports history and traditions of our community.

And, of course, congratulations to Drew Brees, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer and will join the New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor on October 11 during the Saints-Vikings game. Brees will also receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence that day. Fans can commemorate the occasion by ordering the October 11 Saints Gameday Magazine from MyNewOrleans.com. Finally, mark your calendars for several important business events this month: the Bureau of Governmental Research Annual Luncheon on October 19, the Jefferson Chamber State of Jefferson Luncheon on October 21, and the Tulane Business Forum on October 30. All are excellent opportunities to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas and learn more about the issues and opportunities shaping our region. Here’s to a busy — and exciting — October in Greater New Orleans.

KATE HENRY

VP of Sales and Marketing 504- 830-7216 kate@bizneworleans.com

MEGHAN SCHMITT

Senior Account Executive 504- 830-7246 meghan@bizneworleans.com

TODD MATHERNE CEO and Publisher Renaissance Publishing

LAUREN MCCANSE

CELEBRATE FALL WITH A FESTIVE DISCOUNT! GET $5 OFF A NEW SUBSCRIPTION. *Must order online, new subscribers only expires October 31, 2026.

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Senior Account Executive 504-830-7249 Lauren@BizNewOrleans.com

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IN THE BIZ

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Tyler Shough is ready to lead, win

GNOF and its partners are working to meet the construction industry’s workforce needs

SPORTS

NONPROFIT

ENTREPRENEUR

Entrepreneurs can learn a valuable lesson from our animal neighbors

IN THE BIZ SPORTS

CHRIS PRICE is an award-winning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football.

Meeting the Moment Tyler Shough is ready to lead, win BY CHRIS PRICE

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Dart and the first Saints quarterback drafted before the third round since Archie Manning was selected second overall in 1971. As a rookie, Shough lost the battle to be the Saints starting QB to Rattler. But after the team opened with a 1-7 start, head coach Kellen Moore turned to Shough as the starter in Week 9. The Saints went 5-4 to finish the 2025 season, including a four-game win streak in December, and Shough was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month. In nine games as the starter, he completed 221 of 327 passes (69%) for 2,384 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, he also rushed 45 times for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns. While a 6-11 overall record wasn’t anything to get excited about, Shough’s play provided hope that he could become the franchise quar-

I L LU S T R AT I O N BY PADDY MILLS

ive seasons after, arguably, their greatest player retired, the New Orleans Saints have visions of again becoming one of the NFL’s elite teams. Replacing Drew Brees — who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August — was never going to be easy. Eight quarterbacks tried to fill the void: Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, Ian Book, Andy Dalton, Derek Carr, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler, but none of them had what it took to become the long-term starter in the Big Easy. In the 2025 NFL draft, the Saints somewhat surprisingly, selected 25-year-old Tyler Shough in the second round with the 40th overall pick. He was the third quarterback off the board behind first-round picks Cam Ward and Jaxon

terback the Saints’ brass expected when they drafted him. He wasn’t surrounded by the best supporting cast last year, and the Saints drastically improved once he was under center. Over the offseason, Shough was focused on further integrating himself into the team and the city. He stayed in New Orleans to better learn its culture and remain close to the team’s facility. Through free agency and the draft, the team bolstered the roster that already featured running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave with a new running back, two new tight ends, and three new wide receivers. There is belief both in the locker room and the Superdome stands that Shough is in position to return the Saints to the top of their division, their conference, and, perhaps, the NFL. The Saints don’t have too far to go to realize their playoff dreams. No team in the NFC South had a winning record last season. The Carolina Panthers barely won the division with an 8-9 record over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) and Atlanta Falcons (8-9). With a full offseason and training camp of being the Saints’ “guy,” Shough is ready to meet the moment. Last month, before the season kicked off, he was elected team captain by his teammates, an accomplishment that he named as the biggest of his career. In a press conference before Week 1, Shough said, “I feel like every day, every week, I feel like I got a little bit better at something I was trying to work on.” In the same press conference, he shared that he has become more comfortable working with Moore and within the offensive scheme. “We’ve definitely been communicating at a high level,” he said. “You watch the film from last year, it’s like, man, we got so much more to go. We got so much more to grow from, and that’s the fun part.” While Shough acknowledged there will be ups and downs through the 18-week NFL regular season, he said the team is ready to not only endure but prevail. “We feel really prepared to go,” he said. “Now, we’re just going to let it rip.” T

IN THE BIZ NONPROFIT

KRISTINA KENT is the senior director of workforce programs and economic mobility for the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

Building Careers Together

GNOF and its partners are working to meet the construction industry’s workforce needs BY KRISTINA KENT

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alongside other construction companies to strengthen the industry’s talent pipeline. That kind of involvement matters. A sector partnership works best when companies aren’t simply asked to hire at the end of the process but help shape the pathway from the beginning. And RCI’s investment continues once someone is hired. Tavorean has worked on different kinds of projects, traveled for jobs and built new skills, with opportunities to keep advancing. “There’s a lot of runway here,” RCI Project Executive John Tipton said. “If you can get the basics down and stick with it, there’s always an opportunity to move up.” That is ultimately what we want sector partnerships to create: more runway. As my colleague Jacob Robinson, who leads the foundation’s convening in construction, puts it, “Our job isn’t to create another workforce program. It’s to help employers, training providers and community partners work together differently — so that local companies can find the talent they need and more local people can build careers right here in our region.” Tavorean is already moving. He wants to continue building skills, earning certifications and potentially getting his commercial driver’s license to open the door to another promotion. He also talks proudly about seeing places he has helped improve around the city. “You just feel good about knowing that you’re helping out around the city,” he said. “You can say, ‘I’ve done this,’ or ‘I’ve done that.’” One successful hire will not solve our region’s workforce challenges. But it shows us what is possible. A talented young person. A training organization committed to preparing and supporting him. An employer willing to invest in local talent, and a table where they can find one another. That is the promise of sector partnerships — and it is a model we are excited to keep building across Greater New Orleans. T

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efore Tavorean Johnson came to Louisiana Green Corps, he was working at a chain store and, in his words, “didn’t have [a] career plan.” Today, he works for Rotolo Consultants, Inc. (RCI), where his days have included everything from irrigation and landscaping to traveling across Louisiana and neighboring states for projects. He is learning new skills, taking on more responsibility and already thinking about what comes next. “I made so much progress in life,” Johnson told me. “I’m a whole new person now. I leveled up.”

His journey is a great example of what can happen when the right people and organizations work together — and why the Greater New Orleans Foundation launched the Construction Sector Partnership. At its simplest, a sector partnership brings companies in the same industry together with the organizations preparing people for those jobs. Employers identify shared workforce challenges, training providers bring their expertise and understanding of local talent, and together they build practical solutions that neither could create as effectively alone. For Louisiana Green Corps, that connection addresses a challenge Executive Director Ryan Mattingly knows well. Louisiana Green Corps prepares young adults for careers in construction, infrastructure and related fields while helping participants overcome barriers that can stand between training and employment. But even strong training does not automatically lead to the right job. “We have great employer partnerships,” Mattingly explained, “but we needed a more reliable and systematic way to place our graduates with those employers.” In May, GNOF and its partners helped open that door, bringing six construction companies together with job seekers from nine education and training providers for an interview and hiring day. Nearly 60% of participants moved forward in the interview process, leading to at least 12 hires. One of them was Tavorean. He remembers interviewing with RCI’s Division Manager Ethan Oddo. “I crushed the interview,” he recalled with a laugh. RCI wanted to hire him on the spot. “He gave me the hat and everything. I was just so excited.” But RCI’s role began well before the interview and hiring day. The company has consistently shown up as an employer partner — helping Louisiana Green Corps participants prepare through mock interviews, sharing what employers are looking for and working

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IN THE BIZ ENTREPRENEUR

KEITH TWITCHELL spent 16 years running his own business before serving as president of the Committee for a Better New Orleans from 2004 through 2020. He has observed, supported and participated in entrepreneurial ventures at the street, neighborhood, nonprofit, micro- and macro-business levels.

Strength in Numbers Entrepreneurs can learn a valuable lesson from our animal neighbors BY KEITH TWITCHELL

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colony can devour an entire tree – seriously ambitious entrepreneurism! Near the opposite end of the spectrum are wolves. While we all know the phrase “lone wolf,” in the real world those that choose to go it alone rarely survive. Wolves hunt larger prey in packs, with assigned roles ranging from identifying the weakest animals to herding their prey in ways that both maximize those animals’ fear and fatigue and give the wolves their greatest terrain advantages. Wolves also defend against larger predators by working as a pack. Perhaps no animal is more enterprising than a beaver. Beaver dams are constructed through a carefully designed process that begins with diverting some of the stream where the dam is being constructed to reduce water flow and make the job easier. Using nearby materials ranging from branches and logs to rocks and mud, dams are built to contain the right amount of water to create the perfect pond: large enough to provide protection and store food for the winter, but not so big as to seriously impede the estuary’s water flow. Individual animal entrepreneurism is typified by the spider. Different types of spiders build as many as a dozen different types of webs, using

I L LU S T R AT I O N BY PADDY MILLS

sk anyone to name some of the world’s great entrepreneurs, and the answers will almost certainly be various humans past and present. Yet this homocentric view overlooks some of our planet’s most extraordinary examples on land, in the water, and in the skies — animal entrepreneurs. Interestingly, most entrepreneurism in the animal kingdom is collaborative. While individualists such as spiders or anglerfish do exist, collective approaches are much more common, from bees to beavers to dolphins. One exceptional example of collaborative entrepreneurism can be found in ant colonies. Ants are tiny, typically weighing no more than 5 milligrams. Yet some species build colony mounds close to 100 feet wide. Responsibilities within a colony are carefully defined, including gathering food, tending to the larvae, and removing waste – even manipulating the waste so that it decomposes more efficiently. One particular subspecies, leafcutter ants, is truly astounding. They can carry up to 50 times their weight, and bite with a force equivalent to 2,500 times their weight. A large leafcutter

silk they generate themselves that, gram for gram, can be stronger than steel. While their primary purpose is to capture dinner, webs are also used for self-protection and even communication and attracting mates. The ocean is home to another remarkable individualist, the anglerfish. These mostly bottom-dwelling creatures occur worldwide, but all species share one defining characteristic: They have evolved their own fishing poles. These “poles” are actually filaments that grow from the middle of their heads which they then droop over the fishes’ mouths, with a lure at the end to attract prey. Some species have even developed lures that glow or emit odors to further entice their future meals. Entrepreneurial innovation at its finest! Another aquatic entrepreneur is the dolphin. These highly intelligent mammals frequently hunt collaboratively, but their varied diets have led to some very inventive approaches. Some dolphin species use sponges, which they pull up from reefs, to cover their snouts while foraging, protecting these tender areas from sharp corals or abrasive sand. Dolphins teach and even babysit their young collaboratively, which has been demonstrated to benefit the health of both juveniles and adults, and can collectively repel shark attacks. From honeybees to lion prides, innovation and entrepreneurism can be found everywhere in the animal kingdom. While much of this centers around how to eat or not be eaten, many species go beyond simple survival methods to using ingenious ways to enhance what we might call their quality of life. For human entrepreneurs, observing the high levels of animal collaboration may be particularly instructive. Some entrepreneurial support organizations have begun advocating for a “dolphin tank” collective approach over the individualist, competitive “shark tank” model. Ultimately very few successful entrepreneurs truly go it alone, and considering these extraordinary examples of teamwork can be genuinely inspirational. T

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PERSPECTIVES

Louisiana’s insurance market is heading in the right direction, but there is still more to be done.

Title insurance shouldn’t be a last-minute conversation.

INSURANCE

LAW

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Algiers’ annual holiday bonfire provides the fuel for city growth year-round.

GUEST

Is your business invisible to ChatGPT?

EDUCATION

While AI threatens some careers, demand and opportunities in construction continue to grow.

PERSPECTIVES INSURANCE

DANIELLE YURATICH DAUZAT is the owner of Accessible Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency in New Orleans that serves Louisiana and Mississippi. She has 18 years of experience in the Louisiana property and casualty market. She may be reached via email at danielle@accessibleins.com.

Cautiously Optimistic Louisiana’s insurance market is heading in the right direction, but there is still more to be done. BY DANIELLE YURATICH DAUZAT

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One of the greatest advantages of working with an independent insurance agency is choice. Unlike captive agents who represent a single insurance company, independent agencies can compare multiple carriers to find coverage that best fits each client’s needs and budget. In today’s Louisiana market, that flexibility is more valuable than ever. While agents cannot change rates, there are several ways consumers can improve their insurance profile. Maintaining a newer roof, completing wind mitigation improvements, installing monitored security systems, bundling home and auto insurance, maintaining good credit where applicable, and reviewing deductibles can all help reduce premiums. The hot topic in the industry right now is the Fortified Roof program. It is the wave of the future. Whether it be fortifying the structure from the ground up for gold level status or simply fortifying the roof system for bronze level status, mitigation measures are proven to not only help on insurance premiums but also lessen the likelihood of higher claims in the midst of a storm. Most importantly, shop your insurance regularly. Call your agent! I tell my clients every year that loyalty should be earned, not assumed. Markets change. Companies change. Underwriting guidelines change. The policy that was your best option three years ago or even last year may no longer be the best fit today. After almost 20 years in this business, I’ve learned predicting the market is difficult. Louisiana will always face hurricanes. We will always face flood risk. Reinsurance costs will continue to influence our marketplace, and catastrophic weather events remain impossible to predict. Insurance isn’t exciting until you need it. The Louisiana insurance market is improving, but there is still work ahead. Continued competition, responsible underwriting, thoughtful legislative action, stronger mitigation efforts, and informed consumers will all play an important role in creating a healthier insurance marketplace. I remain optimistic. Because while storms will always come to Louisiana, so will our determination to rebuild, recover, and move forward together. T

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ouisiana has never been an easy state for property and casualty insurance. Our unique geography, coastal exposure, aging infrastructure and unpredictable weather make us one of the highest-risk states in America. Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, our industry has experienced significant changes, but the events of 2020 and 2021 — including Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida—created one of the most difficult insurance environments I have witnessed in my career. Several insurance companies became insolvent, many national carriers reduced their appetite for Louisiana business, and homeowners saw premiums increase dramatically. At the same time, rising inflation, increasing construction costs, supply chain disruptions and skyrocketing reinsurance costs placed additional financial pressure on insurance companies. Those costs inevitably reached consumers. After several difficult years, I am cautiously optimistic about where Louisiana’s insurance market is heading. Throughout 2025 and into

2026, we’ve begun seeing encouraging signs. More insurance companies have entered Louisiana’s homeowners’ market, increasing competition, while several existing carriers have filed rate decreases rather than increases. The Louisiana Department of Insurance has reported that multiple new homeowners’ insurers have been licensed since 2024, and some companies have reduced premiums as reinsurance costs stabilized. Competition is healthy. When more companies compete for business, consumers have more options, underwriting becomes more competitive, and independent agencies have additional solutions for clients who may have struggled to obtain coverage just a few years ago. This doesn’t mean every homeowner will see lower premiums overnight. Insurance remains highly individualized. Location, construction type, roof age, claims history, credit-based insurance score where permitted and many other factors continue to influence pricing. Insurance pricing is influenced by much more than building characteristics and weather. Louisiana lawmakers have enacted several reforms intended to strengthen the insurance marketplace, improve transparency, encourage competition, and reduce unnecessary costs associated with claims and litigation. These changes are designed to create a more stable environment that attracts insurers back into the state while improving long-term affordability for consumers. And we are certainly seeing the impact of this in the state. While reforms rarely produce immediate results, stability is built over time. Insurance companies need confidence that Louisiana will remain a predictable place to do business before committing significant capital to our market. No two insurance companies evaluate risk the same way. One carrier may decline a risk because of roof age, while another may accept it. One company may specialize in historic homes in New Orleans, while another focuses on newer construction. Our job as an independent insurance agent isn’t simply finding the lowest premium. It’s finding the best combination of price, financial stability, coverage and claims service.

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PERSPECTIVES LAW

WILL MIZELL, a real estate attorney with Stone Pigman, represents clients in various commercial real estate transactions, including sales, acquisitions and secured financing transactions. He may be reached via email at wmizell@stonepigman.com.

Think Ahead or Pay the Price Title insurance shouldn’t be a last-minute conversation. BY WILLIAM L. MIZELL

subcontractors and suppliers may acquire mechanic’s lien rights while lenders continue advancing funds. Protecting the lender’s priority can require ongoing title work throughout construction. Construction loans are not the only financing arrangements involving future advances. Revolving facilities and loans funding later improvements may also involve money advanced after the title policy’s original date. Legal counsel can be particularly important here. Language required to secure future advances can vary under state law, and the title insurer may closely review loan documents before providing coverage. Addressing those requirements while financing documents are being drafted can prevent a title issue from becoming a funding issue later. IS THE OWNERSHIP OR FINANCING STRUCTURE CHANGING?

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PROPER ZONING? ENCROACHMENTS? ACCESS?

Often, a survey and zoning report will be necessary to insure zoning, access and the lack of encroachments, among other matters. For zoning, ensuring the project aligns with the zoning classification is only one part of the equation. A property’s zoning may permit a particular use while the plans might show that the development does not align with setbacks, building height, parking or other restrictions. To get the full picture, the zoning report and the survey should be coordinated early. These items can have significant lead time. LOAN PRIORITY?

If you are a lender, you will want coverage as to the priority of your security interest. This can become complicated when money is advanced after the closing. For instance, in construction projects, closing can mark the beginning of the title-risk conversation, not the end. As work progresses, contractors,

MAKE TITLE PART OF THE DEAL STRATEGY

These are just some of the issues and questions that can arise in a complex real estate transaction. There is no universal list of title endorsements every commercial real estate transaction needs. The appropriate coverage depends on the property, development plan, financing, and ownership structure. Experienced real estate counsel can help connect those pieces before they become closing problems by identifying important title protections and engaging the title insurer early enough to understand what will be required. The goal is not to purchase maximum coverage; it’s to make sure the coverage matches the risks the business is actually taking. Engaging with these questions early can make title insurance part of the transaction’s due diligence and risk-management strategy rather than just another document in the closing binder. T

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or commercial real estate developers and lenders, title insurance can easily become another item on the closing checklist: review the title commitment, resolve exceptions, select endorsements and move toward closing. But on a complex project, it can be costly not to have these matters addressed well in advance of closing. Whether you are a lender, a developer or an investor, having an experienced real estate attorney involved early in the process will ensure that the proper steps are taken to avoid issues that could unnecessarily delay closing or increase title insurance costs. Title insurance often goes beyond insuring clear title and can form part of the due diligence for the project: Does the zoning fit the use? Are there any encroachments? Is there access to a public street? Will my security interest remain in first position?

Real estate transactions do not always involve a change in the record owner. A new investor may purchase an interest in the entity holding the property, or a mezzanine lender may take equity interests in the fee owner as collateral. Those changes can create title insurance considerations even when no new deed is recorded.

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PERSPECTIVES EDUCATION

TALENT WANTED While AI threatens some careers, demand and opportunities in construction continue to grow. BY KELLY HITE

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BUILDING THE PIPELINE

Interest in construction training at the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) has grown significantly since its Building Trades pathways launched in fall 2023. The program began with 48 trainees from 11 high schools and 30 trainees over age 18. This year, enrollment has reached 218 trainees from 16 high schools and another 58 adults. “This isn’t the only indicator of demand,” said CEO Claire Jecklin. “The level of engage-

ment from industry has increased too. More employers are hiring NOCC grads, more professionals want to be mentors or offer site visits to their organizations, and more are investing in what we do.” Trainees learn carpentry, electrical work, HVAC and welding, and enjoy employer site visits, job shadowing and other work-based experiences. Since 2018, NOCC has trained more than 3,000 New Orleanians across career

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nside classrooms, workshops and training centers across Greater New Orleans, a new generation of workers is preparing to build, manage and develop the region. Construction employment is growing: The Greater New Orleans region had 26,500 construction jobs in July, up 10% from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission projections call for employment in construction of buildings in the New Orleans regional labor market to grow nearly 20% from 2022 to 2032. “Construction employers are always looking for new hires, but especially with the volume of work underway, they are looking for project managers and skilled trade professionals,” explained Daphine Barnes, executive director of workforce at GNO, Inc. “These two areas are where everyone is feeling the push for more talent.” There is no single route into the region’s construction and real estate workforce. The path can begin with career exposure or trade training and continue through apprenticeships, college degrees and programs in construction management and real estate development.

KELLY HITE is the associate news editor for Biz New Orleans, responsible for delivering daily business news on BizNewOrleans.com, focusing on developments that impact the greater New Orleans area and southeast Louisiana. She may be reached via email at KellyH@BizNewOrleans.com.

programs that also include engineering, health care and culinary arts. “What these employers tell us they need most is an appetite for learning the industry and the work, and the ability to meet day one workplace expectations,” Jecklin said. This summer, Son of a Saint and GNO, Inc., launched a four-week Career Launchpad Pre-Internship Program, bringing participants to NOCC for construction and engineering instruction and employer visits, followed by technical training at Nunez Community College. TRAINING FOR THE TRADES

“The region is doing a great job of educating workers in trades like electrical, HVAC and carpentry,” Barnes said. Among the institutions doing the heavy lifting is Delgado Community College, whose programs span residential construction, electrical, HVAC and refrigeration, welding and drafting, and design technologies, with options from shortterm credentials to associate degrees. Another is the former BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans, located in Kenner, which has trained more than 700 students since 2022. This summer the academy changed its name to Team Rubicon’s Trades Academy through a partnership with the Home Builders Institute. Its tuition-free, nine-week program focuses on carpentry, roofing and resilient construction techniques and includes industry credentials and employment assistance. Apprenticeships combine classroom instruction with paid, on-the-job experience in trades including electrical, plumbing and pipefitting, carpentry, and operating engineering. At its St. Rose campus, Associated Builders and Contractors New Orleans/Bayou offers apprenticeships and craft training in carpentry, electrical, instrumentation, pipefitting and welding, serving about 400 students across its programs and satellite locations in Southeast Louisiana. New Orleans-based unCommon Construction offers another model, employing high school apprentices on real construction projects while they earn wages and scholarship awards and develop technical and workplace skills.

Construction employers are always looking for new hires, but especially with the volume of work underway, they are looking for project managers and skilled trade professionals.

Daphine Barnes, ED of workforce at GNO, Inc.

MOVING UP THE LADDER

For those looking to get into construction leadership, Nunez Community College in Chalmette launched two construction degree programs this fall. “During our industry advisory board meetings, local employers consistently emphasized the need to build clear pipelines into leadership for entry-level workers,” said Adam Bourne, chair of construction sciences and building trades and senior chair of career and technical education. “These programs were directly built to answer that call.” Nunez’s Associate of Science in Construction Leadership is designed for students planning to continue to a four-year institution. “It lets them complete general education requirements while diving into core construction management coursework early,” explained Bourne. The Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management and Technology combines trade skills with management training. “It’s designed for hands-on students combining trade skills with management training,” added Barnes. “Graduates can enter the workforce

immediately as skilled tradespeople, like carpenters or electricians, or move directly into assistant project management roles.” Students train in carpentry, electrical and HVAC and study budgeting, scheduling, safety and materials, with stackable credentials in carpentry and construction management. Formerly the University of New Orleans, LSU New Orleans offers a bachelor’s degree in urban construction management that combines construction, engineering and management coursework. The 120-credit program includes construction estimating and scheduling, finance and feasibility, safety, construction law and contracts, project management and an internship. BUILDING DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE

Thinking outside the jobsite, construction careers include professionals who plan, finance and develop real estate projects. Here, Tulane University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment offers a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and a Master of Sustainable Real Estate Development. Its real estate classes have more than 520 course enrollments this semester. “Understanding both construction and finance is essential for anyone entering real estate development,” noted John Renne, professor of real estate and urban planning and program director of the university’s Real Estate Development program. “Developers must be able to evaluate whether a project is financially feasible while also understanding how design and construction decisions affect costs, schedules, risk and ultimately the project’s success.” “Employers increasingly expect new hires to combine strong technical capabilities with the ability to think broadly across these disciplines,” he added. Tulane students study finance, urban planning, design and architecture, law and public policy, with graduates entering development, capital markets, brokerage, architecture, property management and related fields. The university’s new hybrid, 36-credit Masters of Sustainable Real Estate Development combines online evening classes with field experiences and can be completed in one year full time or two to three years part time. T

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PERSPECTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

LAVERNE TOOMBS is the executive director of Algiers Economic Development Foundation. She may be reached via email at ltoombs@algierseconomic.com.

Lighting the Fire

Algiers’ annual holiday bonfire provides the fuel for city growth year-round. BY LAVERNE TOOMBS

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This year’s free, family-friendly event, on Sat. Dec. 5, will feature live entertainment from Royal Essence and Robin Barnes, the “Songbird of New Orleans,” along with children’s activities under a dedicated kids’ tent. It promises to be an evening filled with outstanding music, great food and memorable experiences for the entire family. The impact of the Algiers Bonfire, however, extends far beyond the festivities. Proceeds help AEDF continue providing essential

DID YOU KNOW? Established in 1719, Algiers is the second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans

Ferry service between Algiers Point and the French Quarter has been continuously running since 1827

The city boasts a population of over 57,000 residents. In the News: After years of waiting, this past June, Algiers residents celebrated the start of demolition of what was formerly known

as the DeGaule Manor Apartments. The blighted property — which spans 25 acres — was shuttered in 2012. The $3 million demolition is expected to be completed by June 2027.

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ach year, thousands of residents and visitors gather along the Algiers Batture for one of New Orleans’ most treasured holiday traditions: the annual Algiers Bonfire. Hosted by the Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF), this beloved celebration is the only event of its kind in the city. For more than 30 years, it has brought families, friends and neighbors together to welcome the holiday season. Drawing about 5,000 to 6,000 attendees annually, the bonfire has become a signature event that celebrates Algiers’ culture, history and community spirit. The celebration also generates a meaningful economic boost for the West Bank. As thousands of attendees travel to Algiers, they support local restaurants, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and other small businesses. Vendors gain valuable opportunities to increase sales, reach new customers, and showcase their products and services to a large and diverse audience.

programs, resources and tools to small businesses throughout Algiers, supporting entrepreneurs as they strengthen their operations, expand their visibility, and create greater economic opportunities within the community. Bonfire support also advances AEDF’s youth initiative, the Algiers Career Educational Development (ACED) Program. Through this sixmonth program, high school juniors and seniors receive career preparation, softskills training, professional development, and exposure to educational and employment pathways. ACED equips young people with the confidence and practical skills needed to prepare for college, careers and longterm success. AEDF extends its sincere appreciation to the presenting sponsor, Ochsner West Bank Campus, along with all sponsors, community partners, vendors, and volunteers whose support makes this cherished celebration possible. Our goal is to make this year’s bonfire bigger and better each year, expanding its economic impact and creating even more opportunities for our businesses and young people. Achieving that vision requires the continued support of our community. We invite everyone to bring their family and friends, enjoy the entertainment, support our vendors, and experience this unique New Orleans tradition. By supporting the Algiers Bonfire, you are also investing in Algiers, its businesses, its young people and its future. T

PERSPECTIVE GUEST

ALLISON SCHMIDT is the marketing manager at Get Online NOLA, a company that helps small businesses and nonprofits utilize their digital presence to gain visibility and ultimately grow their bottom line. She may be reached via email at allison@getonlinenola.com.

Is Your Business Invisible to ChatGPT? Here’s how to fix that BY ALLISON SCHMIDT

orty-nine percent of Americans use AI chatbots regularly. For small businesses looking to compete with large enterprises, this opens significant opportunities, but only if your business shows up in the results. Now is the time to optimize your online presence to show up in Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overview. This process is called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). LLMs look for two things — reliable answers to user questions, and the ability to easily “read” the source material. GEO is how you refine your online presence to be referenced as a top resource for AI. SEO VS GEO CONTENT

GEO has an extremely high overlap with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). If you are familiar with SEO-focused writing, there’s one main shift you need to make to write with GEO in mind — answer questions immediately. SEO writing can require hitting certain word counts that GEO doesn’t prioritize. Instead, focus on using a natural conversational tone and answering user queries concisely. Using bullet points, simple charts and FAQs further strengthens your text.

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YOU GOTTA E-E-A-T.

Experience, expertise, authority and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) signals prove that you and your website are a reliable source of information for LLMs to reference. Your website needs to make each E-E-A-T component clear. This can be done in several ways, including: • Link blog posts to author pages that share industry credentials, degrees, awards and metrics like number of years of experience or clients served, as well as firsthand life experience. This demonstrates experience and expertise. • Signal trust by gaining a positive reputation on major review platforms. You also want to ensure your business information is accurate across the web and keep your technical SEO up to date. • Share content widely on social media and gain backlinks or mentions on other credible websites. This builds your authority. GEO UPDATES YOU SHOULD MAKE ASAP:

• Build FAQs onto every relevant page on your website plus add a general FAQs page. LLMs love FAQs — a direct question with a direct answer from an authoritative source is exactly what it wants to see. Try Googling the topic of your page and check out the “people also ask” and “people also search

for” sections of the results for inspiration. When you’re writing answers make sure to use a conversational tone as though you’re answering an actual question from a potential customer. • Check your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) Score. Displaying consistent information across the web helps with trustworthiness. You can manually make updates or use a software program to update your NAP details wherever they’re found online. • Ask for Reviews. The best way to improve your Google Reviews is to ask people to leave a good review. Depending on your business type, size and customer base you may need to send a couple of emails to happy clients or set up review reminder software that sends emails or text messages after they do business with you. • Showcase your Expertise. Building E-E-A-T signals is not the time to be bashful. Build up your “about” page with all of your accolades and accomplishments to help prove that you are a reliable source of information. HELP MAY BE REQUIRED.

Even fantastic content doesn’t matter if LLMs can’t crawl it, and to this point, there are some technical aspects of optimization that cannot be avoided and that usually require coding expertise from a trusted web developer. Specifically, the technical side of GEO requires fast load speeds, semantic HTML, indexing and Schema markup — all of which work together to allow the crawlers that gather information to “read” your website and understand the context of what they are reading. It’s no longer a question of if people are using AI to find businesses like yours. The question is will you be able to show up in those AI results and increase your potential customer base in the process? Widespread use of LLMs is relatively new, and the models themselves are everchanging, so keeping ahead of the trends is key to staying competitive online. T

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TOP REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS 10 area leaders share what’s excites — and concerns them — most about their industry PORTRAITS BY THERESA CASSAGNE

better reflects the communities we serve. I’m also excited about the continued growth of Best Title & Co., particularly in the New O rl e a n s a n d B a t o n R o u g e markets. Expanding our presence in these communities will allow us to deepen our work creating homeownership opportunities and providing resources to underserved communities, while continuing to make the closing process more accessible and inclusive.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it?

STEPHANIE BEST FOUNDER AND CEO BEST TITLE & CO.

This year, Best Title & Co. celebrates five years of making the title and closing experience more modern, convenient and inclusive across South Louisiana. As founder and CEO, Best leads a growing team focused on creating a closing experience that meets clients where they are, whether through easy-to-use technology, flexible closing locations or personalized service. Her background in residential real estate gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges buyers and real estate professionals can face, and she founded Best Title & Co. to make one of life’s biggest

financial transactions feel less intimidating and more accessible.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? I’m especially excited to serve as the 2027 president-elect of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and prepare to serve as Louisiana State President in 2028. I’m looking forward to connecting with real estate professionals across the state, creating opportunities for women to grow as leaders and business owners, and helping build an industry that

One of the biggest challenges facing our industry is ensuring that the opportunity to own a home and build the generational wealth that can come with it, is accessible to everyone. For many families, particularly in historically underserved communities, there are still significant barriers to homeownership, from a lack of financial education and representation to the rising costs associated with buying and maintaining a home. We also need greater representation and resources for Black professionals across the real estate industry, including Realtors, lenders, appraisers and inspectors. At Best Title & Co., we work with community partners to provide education around financial literacy, homeownership and protecting generational wealth, while creating a more supportive and representative experience for clients and professionals alike. There is still much more work to do, but expanding access, education and representation can help create a stronger and more inclusive real estate industry. I believe the real estate industry has a responsibility to be part of the solution.

MICHAEL MERIDETH CEO AND CO-FOUNDER VPG HOLDINGS

Along with sister companies VPG Constr uction and VPG Management, VPG Holdings is a vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment and investment platform headquartered in New Orleans. The platform owns and operates more than 1,300 apartment units across the Gulf South — with a pipeline approaching 2,000 — and is focused on preserving and recapitalizing affordable and mixed-income housing. Recent milestones include acquiring 200 Carondelet, a 189-unit downtown high-rise, and advancing Rivana at River

District, a 220-unit ground-up development. On the construction side, the team is delivering the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? I think we all can feel a new energy and momentum in the state and city around development and attracting new opportunities. Rivana at River District — 220 units of new housing in a district that will define New

Orleans — is a great example of one of those opportunities. Taking place over the next decade, this project provides a chance to prove that new development here can be both ambitious and attainable. Another project, 200 Carondelet, is an example of exactly the work I built this company to do. We recently acquired this 189-unit downtown high-rise and are reinvesting in it, unit by unit. On the construction side, VPG Construction is completing the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, the latest HBCU to establish a medical school, which will train physicians for our communities that have long gone underserved.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? Operating costs are outrunning what residents can pay. Insurance premiums, property taxes and utilities have climbed far faster than rents in market, and that gap is where housing deals die. A property can be full and well-run and still not pencil. I think there is effort, however, to turn this around. Louisiana’s insurance reforms and fortification incentives are beginning to bring capacity back to the market. Locally, tools like PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) and ad valorem exemptions (reductions or eliminations of property taxes based on the assessed value of a property) can make workforce housing viable, and the city is actively examining how to apply them. Public capital through the Louisiana OCD (offices of community development) and the state have kept deals alive that private markets alone would have passed on. But the tools are still applied case by case. What the industry needs is a predictable framework developers can underwrite to years in advance.

MIGNON RICHARD DIAZ COMMERCIAL SALES AND LEASING N A I R A M PA R T PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMAR CID (COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT DIVISION)

NAI Rampart — formerly NAI Latter & Blum — is Louisiana’s leading locally owned commercial real estate firm, with roots dating to 1916. With five offices across the state, NAI Rampart serves clients throughout the Gulf South with brokerage, consulting, research, marketing and financial analysis powered by advanced technology. Outside of NAI Rampart, Diaz is a three-time past chair of the annual Economic and Real Estate Forecast Symposium and serves on the Louisiana REALTORS® executive committee as the 2026 commercial division director and on the Louisiana Commercial Database (LACDB) board of directors.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? Over the next year, I’m most excited to continue serving as real estate advisor for two public school boards and a portfolio of properties for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Repositioning underutilized properties and

returning them to productive use creates opportunities for housing, economic development and adaptive reuse, which is exactly the kind of community impact I find most meaningful in my career. I’m also grateful to do this work alongside my father, Paul Richard. In Louisiana, legacy matters, and learning from his experience while helping shape the next generation of our communities is incredibly rewarding. With major investments like SpaceX, Venture Global and the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) gaining momentum, I’m looking forward to seeing how these transformational projects create new oppor-

tunities for investment, population growth and redevelopment across our city and region.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? The biggest challenges facing our industry are housing supply, attainability, and talent attraction and retention. In our region, where land and water constrain development, solving the “rooftop” problem must come first. As we often say, retail follows rooftops. Commercial real estate development follows population

and household growth, making attainable housing critical to investment and economic activity. Through organizations like the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS®, advocacy is helping recalibrate outdated policies and regulations and reduce barriers to housing and development. In tandem, we also must address the “brain drain” that occurs when young people leave our region for more competitive career opportunities. After working in Atlanta after college, I chose to come home and build my career in Louisiana because I wanted help improve the future of my home state.

industry peers. The coming year will bring even more strategic support to our agents, and it’s going to be fun!

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? The biggest challenge and biggest opportunity are the same: AI. The agents who learn to make AI work for them will be the agents who are in business three to five years from now. Our goal is to keep our agents on the cutting-edge so they aren’t “catching up;” rather, leading the way and providing the best service for their clients. The job of our leadership team is to stay on the forefront of ways to work smarter, not harder, and continue to elevate the areas where the human element will remain essential. It is often said that your network is your net worth, and for this reason, we are proud to be a company where our agents own their data.

JEFFREY R. DOUSSAN, JR. O P E R AT I N G P R I N C I PA L KW NEW ORLEANS

KW New Orleans is a family-owned brokerage that has served the region for nearly three decades. The company’s 140+ agents are experts in residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality, leasing, investment property, bankruptcy and property management.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? The New Orleans rebound is real, and it’s compounding. Crime rates are down to levels we haven’t

seen since the 1960s. School rankings are trending upward. The city is showing more fiscal discipline. Developments like the NSA project in the Bywater and the River District are proof that New Orleans is worth investing in and worth raising a family in, no matter what neighborhood you start from. The residential real estate market here is up 5% this year while KW New Orleans is up over 30% in closed sales, and that jump is primarily due to our leadership team training our agents to strategically use AI before their

PETER SPERA III AND COLIN VANWINGEN P R I N C I PA L S A N D C O - F O U N D E R S G O AT

Founded in 2016, GOAT — Global Office of Architecture + Taste — is a New Orleans-based design practice that offers clients creative, bespoke

solutions in architecture, interiors and branding. “We believe that thoughtful design should do more than just serve a functional need or meet an ascribed set of parameters; the spaces we create should reflect the lifestyles that happen inside them, foster community and connection, and bring genuine joy to those that use them.”

What are you most excited about in the coming year? We are celebrating GOAT’s 10th anniversary this October and

currently have several projects that we are excited about and that reflect the breadth of what we do. We will soon be celebrating the grand opening for a project that is a collaboration with Tulane University for College Track, an incredible organization that provides academic support to local students from high school through college graduation. Our reimagining of the Gretna Marketplace pavilion is under construction and it will have a tremendous positive impact on downtown Gretna’s streetscape. We are also currently working on the design for the restoration of

the Aldrich-Genella House on St. Charles Avenue, which has generated a lot of public interest and creative excitement in our studio.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? We face many of the same challenges as the regional construction and real estate industry at large. The high costs of materials, labor, borrowing and insurance have made projects very expensive, and that adds significantly to

the burden on architects to meet client expectations. However, we pride ourselves in being relentlessly optimistic and endlessly creative when it comes to finding solutions to hard problems. One strategy that has proven successful is helping our clients to re-frame their focus from the most immediate challenges to a project’s long-term viability and legacy. In a city like New Orleans with such a rich history and an uncertain future, most clients care deeply about how their project fits within the city’s story and how it can contribute to reinforcing our future.

LORI WARD PRESIDENT AND CEO MARRERO LAND AND IMPROVEMENT A S S O C I AT I O N LT D .

A family-owned real estate development company founded in 1904, Marrero Land and Improvement Association leases and develops industrial, commercial, and residential properties, including shopping centers, industrial buildings, garden offices, and office warehouse buildings on both banks of Jefferson Parish. Its industrial interests include Marrero Industrial Park, Fairfield Business Park, and various stand-alone developments throughout the parish and state. The company has also developed numerous residential subdivisions for the residents of Jefferson Parish, including Louis Park, Plantation Estates, Barkley Estates and Segnette Estates.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? With Washington promoting the return of manufacturing to the United States, and Baton Rouge changing Louisiana’s stor y worldwide, it sets the stage for Jefferson Parish to revitalize local economies for the benefit of its residents. The exciting part is that the brewing momentum for new local manufacturing is already knocking on Jef ferson Par ish’s do or, stoking optimism for the future West Bank economy. If word is relayed nationally and world-

wide to more CEOs of potential manufacturing interests that Jefferson Parish is open for business and has large swaths of land available for development, we may have the opportunity to participate in any unfolding renaissance. I’m personally thrilled that my son and his family were able

to relocate to Jefferson Parish earlier this year from a neighboring state and I want to see many more young families able to do the same. Manufacturing and industry provide careers that lead to strong communities with vibrant economies that enable our children and grandchildren to stay in the parish they love.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today and is anything being done about it? Misleading or inaccurate weather predictions and stereotypes are sensationalized and promoted by the national media to our detriment. Jefferson Parish celebrated its 200th anniversary in

2025, and its West Bank, where Marrero Land was formed 122 years ago, is fortified against storms by sector gates, walls and levees providing superior protection to our region. The parish also has an excellent sheriff’s department providing exceptional service to its residents and keeping crime rates low. Jefferson Parish is a great place to live and work. Let’s make certain CEOs and their employees considering new locations know the true story about Jefferson Parish.

DONNA CHANDLER A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R R E / M A X A F F I L I AT E S I N M E TA I R I E 2026 PRESIDENT N E W O R L E A N S M E T R O P O L I TA N A S S O C I AT I O N O F R E A LT O R S ( N O M A R )

A licensed Realtor since 1997, Chandler’s service to and leadership in the Greater New Orleans real estate community extends well beyond her brokerage. She served as president of the Gulf South Real Estate Information Network (GSREIN) in 2019 and on the ROAM MLS Board of Managers in 2023 and 2024. As NOMAR president, Chandler continues her long-standing commitment to advocacy, education and elevating the real estate profession throughout the region.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? I’m excited to lead NOMAR at a time when our industr y is evolving so quickly, especially with AI reshaping how Realtors do business, from marketing to transaction management. This year, I am focusing on strengthening the resources and education we provide our members so they can navigate a changing market with confidence, including helping them understand how to use these new tools effectively. I’m also looking forward to deepening the relationship between NOMAR

and our regional MLS partners, building on the work that has been done with ROAM, to make sure our members have the best tools and data available. And honestly, after nearly 30 years in this business, I’m just excited to give back to a community and profession that’s given me so much.

What’s the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? Affordability and inventor y remain the biggest challenges in our market, as well as across the

country. Rising insurance costs here in Louisiana add another layer of pressure on both buyers and sellers, making transactions more complicated than ever. NOMAR is actively engaging with local and state policymakers to advocate for solutions on the insurance front, and we’re working to equip our Realtors with better data and market insights so they can guide clients through these challenges. We’re also focused on protecting the value Realtors provide, making sure consumers understand what they’re getting when they work with a licensed, ethical professional in an increasingly complex market.

LAUREN GIBBS OWNER AND CEO GIBBS CONSTRUCTION

A commercial general contractor headquartered in Jefferson Parish, Gibbs Construction is celebrating 50 years of building in Greater New Orleans this year. Family-owned and 100% woman-owned, the firm is licensed across the Gulf South, where it performs bid, negotiated, and CM-at-risk work for commercial, institutional and public clients. Notable projects include the new terminal at the Louis Armstrong International Airport, 930 Poydras, and Cool Zoo at the Audubon Zoo, along with many schools, hotels and historic renovations.

What are you excited about in the coming year? Our 50th anniversary. Fifty years is worth celebrating, but what interests me more is what 50 demands of us: connecting our team to the stories of how this company was built before that memory fades. The people who lived our founding are still here to tell it, and we intend to capture it. I’m also excited to see our people keep learning and growing. A thriving team means thriving families. The impact on the

personal lives of our people matters as much as our professional success — without one, the other isn’t really a success. As CEO and owner, I lead the company with a simple conviction: We become the builder of choice by being the employer of choice. We are also excited to have current work with Xavier University, Brother Martin High School, The Clearview City Center and Jefferson Parish Schools.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? The skilled workforce pipeline. We are asking fewer craftspeople to build more, and the gap widens every time a young person is told college is the only respectable path. The industry is responding with apprenticeship programs, workforce initiatives and earlier engagement in schools, but the more durable answer is cultural: treating construction careers with dignity and respect. This shift starts inside our own companies. When folks feel seen, heard, respected and valued, they thrive, they stay, and they bring others with them.

OJI ALEXANDER CEO PEOPLE’S HOUSING+

People’s Housing+ was established to provide greater scale and impact with a focus on advancing racial equity in community development through the strategic merger of three New Orleans-based community development corporations: Crescent City Community Land Trust, Home By Hand and Tulane Canal Neighborhood Development Corporation. The organization has completed more than 270 homes, including the adaptive reuse of the 100-year-old historic firehouse on Louisiana Avenue in Central City. The project created seven permanently affordable rental housing units upstairs and a 65-seat early childhood development center downstairs.

What are you most excited about in the coming year? There is a lot on the horizon to be excited about. We have been developing a new housing model called “Double-Down,” which we view as the return of the affordable owner-occupied double in New Orleans. The model takes advantage of the city’s small multi-family affordable zoning ordinance, which allows for the development of up to four units of housing, in two buildings on a single parcel. Utilizing the Community Land Trust structure, “Double-Down” will create two affordable ownership opportunities, each with affordable rental units, providing a secondar y income source for the owners. We are also excited for the launch of the city’s housing trust fund. The trust will dedicate 2% of the annual budget to the preservation of existing housing and the creation of new affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. The importance of this perpetual funding source for an organization like ours cannot be overstated. Lastly, I am very excited about the expanding suite

of stewardship resources we can provide our community. Over the past 18 months, we have provided more than 200 free wills and completed 19 successions and retrofitted 110 homes with new FORTIFIED Roofs. We have served thousands of residents through our financial literacy programming, and we are preparing to roll out an emergency micro-loan fund for our homeowners.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today, and is anything being done about it? Access to consistent, reliable funding is a persistent issue. As development costs continue to rise, so does the affordability gap. Stagnant inflation, rising interest rates and insurance costs make it harder for working-class New Orleanians to afford quality housing. Para-

mount to our industry is the importance of building to the highest energy efficiency and storm mitigation standards. The recent adoption by municipalities and developers of the FORTIFIED® standards has been providing immediate relief to both homeowners and renters by way of decreased insurance costs. We work every day to find innovative ways to mitigate costs while continuing to build to the highest standards.

COMING SOON

RESERVE YOUR AD IN THE 2027 EDITION

The New Orleans 500, an annual publication from Biz New Orleans magazine, profiles the business leaders who are driving the greater New Orleans economy today and making decisions that will shape the region’s future.

CONTACT

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FROM THE LENS

How Fox 8 took a former office building on the Pontchartrain Expressway and transformed it into a modern broadcast headquarters

French Quarter Gem & Lapidary

Ryan Gootee, CEO of Ryan Gootee General Contractors

GREAT WORKSPACES

NEIGHBORHOOD GEM

NEW ORLEANS 500

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT

From one musician to another, this shop owner serves as a valuable resource for local artists.

FROM THE LENS GREAT WORKSPACES

WVUE FOX 8 3900 Howard Avenue // New Orleans 504-486-6161// fox8live.com // @fox8nola

ON AIR, ON BRAND

How Fox 8 took a former office building on the Pontchartrain Expressway and transformed it into a modern broadcast headquarters BY MISTY MILIOTO

PH OTOS BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

or more than 50 years, WVUE-TV station broadcast the news from a building near Xavier University on South Norman C. Francis Parkway. In December 2023, what is now known as Fox 8 WVUE-TV announced it was ready to make a move with the acquisition of 3900 Howard Avenue. which previously served as headquarters to the Pontchartrain Housing Corporation. Only 17 months later, in May 2025, the station moved in to a reimagined 37,000-squarefoot building at the intersection of the Pontchartrain Expressway and Broad Street. In a linked deal, Xavier University acquired the station’s former property. “It was the right situation at the right time,” noted Mikel Schaefer, WVUE-TV’s vice president and general manager. “The building had the right amount of space as well as sizable production studio space, which we felt could fit all of the elements we needed for a new, modern television station.” Schaefer said bringing in Donahue Favret Contractors as general contractor was a natural choice since the firm was responsible for the building’s original construction in 2014. For the architecture, Gray Media (owner of WVUE-TV) turned to Chicago-based Partners by Design,

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which has designed Gray stations nationwide since 2016. The guiding vision for what would house two studios, two control rooms and fully digital infrastructure was modern, functional and flexible. “We are on for 12 hours or more a day,” noted Schaefer, “so you really need a number of different spaces for presenting all of our different content.” Converting the former office headquarters required substantial upgrades, with the biggest additions being the newsroom and the studio space. According to Buzz Leffelman, a principal with Partners by Design and the project’s architect of record, the building’s first floor’s high ceilings allowed for “a dramatic, tech-forward newsroom and voluminous, flexible studios.” Floors two through four had previously served as office space, but they required finish and technology upgrades. Acoustics posed a particular challenge project as the building sits next to a freeway and features a large on-site generator. False ceilings and acoustic panels were used to buffer outside noise throughout the renovated spaces. Built after Hurricane Katrina, the building already met strict FEMA standards — including a higher first-floor elevation and robust glazing. New mechanical systems control humidity in technologically sensitive areas, while finishes

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Formerly the offices of the Pontchartrain Housing Corporation, the building’s second, third and fourth floors still serve as office and meeting space, but now for the station’s 125 employees.

balance “a high-tech, future-focused aesthetic with rich colors and character from the New Orleans region,” explained Leffelman. On the exterior, a new steel structure — adapted from a Gray Media station in St. Louis — supports Fox 8’s satellite dishes and covered parking for news vehicles and is accentuated with LED lights.

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Inside the two studios, Broadcast Design International handled the scenic design, using brick accents for a classic, local look. “Set builds are generational, and what we tried to achieve is something that will be relevant a decade from now,” explained Schaefer. LED screens replaced older LCD technology, and both studios were built to be multifunctional. For Leffelman, the newsroom is “the crown jewel of the project.” Partners by Design designed the newsroom, control rooms and support spaces, plus the studios’ lighting, acoustics and power, data and mechanical coordination. Monitors built into a surrounding soffit provide staff with real-time visibility into what other outlets are reporting.

“Ringing the entirety of the newsroom is a band of slanted TVs with soft backlighting,” added Leffelman. “There is a constant buzz of activity in the newsroom, which brings great energy.” Borrowed light from adjoining hallways keeps the windowless newsroom feeling open. For materials and finishes, the design team drew on local references, including visits to the French Quarter and Garden District, as well as photography by a WVUE Fox 8 staff member. In the foyer, a bead-art piece by local artist Tama Distler, built around the Gray Media logo, has become a favorite detail among staff. Fox 8 also added digital signage on the building’s fourth floor, visible to Pontchartrain Expressway traffic. It serves, said Schaefer, as

QUICK LOOK Square footage about 37,000 Number of Employees 125

Persons in Charge Mikel Schaefer - GM WVUE Fox 8

Architect Partners By Design Buzz Leffelman General Contractor Donahue Favret Interior Décor Office Revolution Art Some John Snell photographs

“a signature piece that thousands of drivers recognize coming into the city.” That feature, however, was also among the project’s trickiest to pull off, with Leffelman explaining that the LED screen and facade modifications on the fourth floor overlooking I-10 required “close coordination, mockups and an all-hands-ondeck effort to meet a demanding schedule.” Schaefer said that managing a live news operation through the move was one of the most challenging undertakings of his career, as Fox 8 briefly operated two facilities at once. “It is a testament to those employees who were working at least 12 hours a day for weeks that the transition was as seamless as it was,” he said. More than a year in, he said he is still struck by how much natural light changes the space, even on cloudy days, and points to the new Five O Fore Golf development next door as part of a broader investment in the area. The full process — from learning the building was available to broadcasting the station’s first newscast — took about three and a half years. “It’s really been a dream to work in such a beautiful space, said Schaefer, “and we certainly couldn’t thank our Gray management team, especially our COO Sandy Breland, enough for the support to make it all happen.” T

Furnishings Broadcast Design International designed and installed the studio sets. Office furnishings by Office Revolution

(top left) The building’s voluminous firstfloor ceilings help create a welcoming first impression. (top right) Monitors displaying coverage from various outlets ring the newsroom.

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FROM THE LENS WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

WEBB’S BYWATER MUSIC STORE 3217 Burgundy Street // 504-304-5965 @webbsbywatermusicneworleans @webbamplification

PLUGGED IN From one musician to another, this shop owner serves as a valuable resource for local artists BY ASHLEY MCLELLAN

PH OTOS BY EDMUND D. FOUNTAIN

aul Webb has been making music and performance magic happen for local artists for nearly 20 years. Since it opened in June 2009, Webb’s Bywater Music Store has been more of a dream than a job for Webb. It is where he engages in his love of restoring vintage amplifiers, while also buoying local professional and part-time musicians with the nuts and bolts of performing. “The main focus lately has been tube amplifier repair and building as well as guitar setups and electronic repair,” he said, adding that the store also sells guitars and amplifiers, along with a selection of supplies for gigging musicians, band students and hobbyists like strings, picks, cables, effects, drumsticks, heads, tuners and stands.

While becoming a business owner wasn’t his initial goal, the musician-turned-shop-owner started out working at notable New Orleans music stores prior to opening his own brickand-mortar in the Bywater. “I worked for Jimmy Glickman at the New Orleans Music Exchange for nine years and that in itself was a masterclass in being a merchant,” he said. “I learned everything from watching him. RIP Jimmy! I also worked at Werlein’s for Music before that, so I have plenty of music store experience and have been a local and touring musician for years.” Walk into the store any day and you’ll run into a wide range of customers, mostly professional performers, looking for supplies for their next gig, replacement items or repairs, or just to connect with Webb and fellow musicians.

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“None of my customers are typical,” he said. “I have a wide range of people in and out every day — street musicians, pro touring musicians, hobbyists, students, marching band, brass band, friends, tourists…. If I had to say, though, the main client would be the local working musician — the people that just like to grab their weekly strings, cable, amp and/or tune-up.” For New Orleans, keeping the music going is an essential part of the local economy. A 2024

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music census released by the City of New Orleans reported, “New Orleans music industry generate[s] $26 million annually, and contribute[s] $12 million through career-related expenses, 54% of which stays within the local economy.” Webb’s Bywater Music Store is chock full of refurbished instruments and accessories for local musicians, both professional and part time, but Webb’s true passion is vintage amplifiers, which he said he acquires “any way I can get them.

“Sometimes people gift me old, broken amps that they don’t feel like messing with,” he explained. “Sometimes I get lucky and find them in thrift stores, and I’ve even found a couple on the curb. My favorite is when someone brings in something that has just been a basket case for years sitting in a shed. Then I get to pour some love in it and make it work.” However they make their way to the store, Webb dedicates a little elbow grease, a lot of

practical know-how and some skilled tinkering to get each one back in working order. Restored Webb amps range in price based on the condition, type, size and time taken to restore each one, typically from $1,500 to $2,000. “My amps are really all over the place in price, depending on the size and amount of time it takes,” he said. “A good example is a Fender ‘Princeton’ clone would run around $1,700, and a 100-watt Marshall style clone in the $2,000 range. I ask for half up front and half on completion with a three- to six-month lead time.” Webb’s favorite amps to work on include some of the rarest on the market. “I’ve been lucky enough to be trusted with some very expensive and rare amplifiers so there’s not many vintage amps I haven’t worked on,” he said. “Except, of course, a ‘Dumble’ amp. Dumbles are the holy grail of tube amps. They can go for $250,000-plus. And I guess the only reason I’d really like to work on a Dumble amp is because that would mean I’m being flown out to work on some MAJOR rock star’s gear. My favorite amp to work on, however, is any vintage Marshall. Best tone, best layout. They’re kinda [like] working on muscle cars.” T

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FROM THE LENS NEIGHBORHOOD GEM

FRENCH QUARTER GEM & LAPIDARY 527 Philip Street // New Orleans // 504-524-9596 @FrenchQuarterGemandLapidary

A (Literal) French Quarter Gem

“This store is a cultural experience.” BY KEITH TWITCHELL

rench Quarter Gem & Lapidary may boast more retail items per square foot than any other store in New Orleans. The minute you opens the door at 527 St. Philip Street, you are dazzled by an astonishing array of jewelry, gems, minerals, fossils and other artifacts of the natural world. “Everything is very special here,” noted owner Alan Hobden, who engages with suppliers from all over the world. “It’s not computer sourced. It’s looked at, it’s touched, it’s felt. This store is a cultural experience.” A true French Quarter institution, Gem & Lapidary originally opened across St. Philip Street back in 1980. In the late 1990s, rent increases led the owners to buy the present building. Hobden began working in the store around the same time, and as the current proprietor, lives on the premises. This allows him to keep some of the hundreds of thousands of inventory items anywhere spare space can be found. The variety is truly astonishing. From brilliant butterflies to Swarovski crystal beads, museum-quality mineral specimens to hand-carved stone figures, fossil shark teeth to fierce Indonesian wooden masks, the walls and cases are treasure troves of natural wonder and world culture.

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About 60% of the shop’s total sales are jewelry related. A large part of one wall displays rock chip necklaces of every imaginable color, and gold and silver rings, bracelets and necklaces fill many of the cases. Gem & Lapidary also offers jewelry repairs, resizing and even custom-made items. Most of the pieces are made on-site. Several members of the eight-person staff contribute to this work. “Everybody here is creative, everyone has their special niche,” noted Hobden. This can range from knotting the gemstone necklaces to soldering the jewelry to organizing the display cases. Then there’s the matter of keeping everything clean and gleaming in the old, dusty Quarter …. Managing inventory of this scope and variety is an ongoing challenge, requiring a good bit of flexibility on Hobden’s part. “You get what you can get when you can get it,” he explained, noting for example that items from Russia and many Islamic nations are largely unavailable right now. “Metals prices and tariffs mean everything costs us more. You have to be savvy enough to know the value of

the commodity and savvy enough to buy when it’s at a good price.” While the fluctuations mean that certain items are unavailable at certain times, the upside is that each visit to the store is likely to introduce patrons to new treasures. This and the sheer variety keep people coming back. “People come in here with their kids who came in when they were kids,” Hobden recounted. “Locals bring their guests here. There’s something for everybody here, across all price points.” While plenty of visitors buy items for themselves, Hobden noted that many are there to purchase gifts. “October to Easter is the gift-giving season here,” he said. “In New Orleans, we even give Halloween presents.” French Quarter Gem & Lapidary is indeed a unique intersection of New Orleans culture and world culture, which keeps a sparkle in Hobden’s eye to match the glitter of his inventory. “I love culture, I have an appreciation for where these pieces come from,” he said, “and New Orleans is such a melting pot of cultures.” T

FROM THE LENS NEW ORLEANS 500

BUCKET LIST

CURRENTLY READING

Go see Normandy

Listening to the book “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman

Ryan Gootee

CEO of Ryan Gootee General Contractors PH OTO BY JEFFERY JOHNSTON

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FIRST JOB

I worked for my Dad all summer counting copper pipe fittings in a very hot warehouse at Grimaldi Construction when I was 14 years old.

PASSION

Hunting and fishing…a lot

FAVORITE CONCERT

I happened to be at a hunting lodge at the same time as Riley Green and Drake White and the two of them did an acoustic show for 30 people.

Building on a legacy that has spanned four generations, Ryan Gootee continued the construction path that began with his greatgrandfather in 1909. At an early age, he began his career working on projects during the summers at his father’s company. In 2004, he founded Ryan Gootee General Contractors, which has since delivered multiple educational facilities, athletic complexes, restaurants, condominiums, apartments, offices, retail developments, historical renovations and restorations to the Greater New Orleans area.

ADDITIONAL Q+A ONLINE AT BIZNEWORLEANS.COM