Editor’s Letter

I AM PROUD TO PRESENT the second edition

of the New Orleans 500, a collection of profiles of the city’s most influential, involved and inspiring business leaders.

Congratulations to everyone who made the list. A lot of thought and hard work went into creating it.

Two years ago, before the publication of the first New Orleans 500, the Biz New Orleans editorial team identified the most important categories of the region’s economy and made lists of leaders in those fields. Writers and editors conducted hundreds of interviews, gathering recommendations from economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, professional associations, business incubators/accelerators and trusted industry veterans. We scoured the boards of important civic and business organizations to find candidates. And we collected reader suggestions. We also found a treasure trove of leads in each issue of Biz New Orleans.

Next, we reached out to everyone on the lists. We needed to confirm biographical details and ask business questions, of course, but we also wanted to ask them about their favorite restaurants, festivals, hobbies and other details that help reveal the real people behind the job titles.

It was a year-long task, but the result was a vivid snapshot of the business community filled with indispensable information. Everyone at Biz New Orleans has been delighted by the positive reaction to the book, which can be found in C-suite offices citywide.

WHO MADE THE LIST?

Life moves quickly, and things change fast in the business world, so the second edition of the New Orleans 500 required a lot of updates.

Some execs retired. Others took big jobs out of town. And, of course, promising new enterprises debuted or moved to the area. To capture the changing landscape, the editorial team wrote approximately 150 new profiles for the second edition of the book.

This edition features CEOs, managing partners, founders, entrepreneurs, presidents, mentors, philanthropists, community leaders and others who are successful at work and dedicated to civic affairs.

It’s a diverse group that includes third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation owners of family businesses that have been active for more than a century. But it also contains young, social media-savvy entrepreneurs who are using technology to build their brands one follower at a time.

We’ve included small business owners, restaurateurs and tech entrepreneurs — as well as the lawyers, accountants, marketers and other professional service providers who help local businesses operate smoothly. Hidden Gem: “Kingpin, In an era when all busiwhere I’m lucky enough to play music about once a month. I love how the regulars visit in lawn chairs ness owners are working hard to address questions of social justice and racial beneath the oak tree on the equity, the New Orleans oversized neutral ground 500 also includes many — and some local notable always drops by.” leaders working to bring about positive changes. Best Fest: Jazz Fest These folks will be the first Hobby: “Playing Frisbee to tell you that there’s a with my kids on the Latter long way to go. Library lawn” Of course, no matter how much time and energy was spent making this book, we know we weren’t able to include everyone who deserves mention, so we look forward to correcting those oversights the third time around. If you know someone who should be included, please fill out a nomination form on bizneworleans.com. Ultimately, this book is a picture of the New Orleans business community as it looks at the end of 2022. Things will change fast, so that’s why we’ll publish new editions every year. But that’s a task for another day. For now, please sit back, relax and enjoy … the New Orleans 500! Note: If you were included in the first edition, but not this time around, please know that we consider you a “lifetime member” of the 500, so you may very well appear in a future publication — and we’ll continue to contact you to get your thoughts on issues that affect the business community. RICH COLLINS

Editor

New Orleans 500

Rich Collins is an Emmy Award-winning writer, musician and actor known for co-creating and starring in the Disney+ TV series “Imagination Movers.” He is the former managing editor of Gambit Weekly newspaper and former president of the Press Club of New Orleans. His music has been used on “Ellen,” “Good Morning America,” “Wipeout” and other shows. He has performed live on “The View,” “LIVE with Regis and Kelly” and “Good Morning America.” He developed and taught a songwriting curriculum at Loyola University New Orleans. He performs at locations throughout New Orleans including at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Raised in the Washington, D.C. area and educated at the Catholic University of America, Collins moved to New Orleans in the 1990s and lives here with his wife (a New Orleans native) and five children. You can reach him at (504) 830-7257 or rich@bizneworleans.com.