Welcome to the Q1 2025 issue of REGION Magazine! As we enter a new year, we are energized by the momentum of 2024 and the incredible strides made across international trade, economic development, workforce training, and innovation in Greater New Orleans. This issue reflects the region’s drive to position itself as a leader in global commerce, infrastructure development, and emerging industries.
We begin with a 2024 Year in Review from the World Trade Center New Orleans (WTCNO), which had a banner year fostering international relationships, hosting trade missions, and solidifying Louisiana’s role as a hub for foreign direct investment. With more than 100 foreign civic and business leaders visiting from 23 countries, two multilayered European trade missions, and the launch of an unprecedented maritime cargo report in collaboration with the five lower-Mississippi River deep-draft ports, WTCNO has reinforced its position as a strategic thought leader in Louisiana’s trade community.
Looking ahead, workforce development remains a critical focus, and H2Workforce is leading the charge in training Louisiana’s energy professionals for the future. With support from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, this initiative is helping to create pathways to careers in hydrogen production, carbon capture, solar, and wind energy, ensuring that Louisiana remains at the forefront of the clean energy transition.
Meanwhile, Super Bowl LIX preparations have provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance New Orleans’ infrastructure and showcase the city’s ability to execute major projects on a global stage. Under the leadership of GNO, Inc. President & CEO Michael Hecht, more than 550 infrastructure projects were completed in partnership with state and local agencies, ensuring that New Orleans is not just ready for the big game, but for long-term investment, tourism, and economic growth.
In this issue, we also profile Todd James, whose journey from a young boy fascinated by construction to his current role as Director of External Affairs at Broadmoor, LLC is a testament to the power of mentorship, community engagement, and a passion for building the future of New Orleans. His work on the River District and countless other key development projects is shaping the city in ways that honor his family legacy while paving the way for new opportunities.
Additionally, we feature Ingest, a local tech company that is transforming how restaurants leverage data to improve operations, customer engagement, and financial sustainability. By democratizing data analytics, Ingest
is empowering independent restaurants with tools traditionally reserved for large corporations—helping to preserve and grow the unique culinary culture that defines the Greater New Orleans region.
Each of these stories showcases the innovation and drive that fuel Greater New Orleans’ economic growth. As we step into 2025, we remain committed to driving investment, fostering talent, and strengthening the industries that make Southeast Louisiana a world-class destination for business and opportunity.
Thank you for your continued support of GNO, Inc. and the work being done to elevate the region’s economy.
Sincerely,
MICHAEL HECHT
Greater New Orleans, Inc. President & CEO
RELATIONSHIPS . RELEVANCE. RESULTS .
Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) is the economic development nonprofit for the 10-parish region of southeast Louisiana.
GNO, Inc. is built on a simple but broad mission: To create a region with a thriving economy and excellent quality of life for everyone.
The key is GNO, Inc.’s two-pronged approach to economic growth: by focusing on business development, the alliance aims to attract, retain and develop businesses that will employ our future workforce, propelling our economy forward and upward. This initiative is coupled with a concurrent nurturing of the business environment: by proposing, promoting and facilitating policies that improve conditions for business operations, GNO, Inc. ensures that businesses and corporate leaders are
positioned for long-lasting success.
For GNO, Inc., it is not enough to simply serve the community: we must also be a part of it. Real influence and significant change starts from within, and the alliance’s presence in the community is evident and expanding. Working together with the business community, regional stakeholders and all levels of government allows GNO, Inc. to coordinate, consolidate and catalyze action on key issues and opportunities, effectively maximizing job and wealth creation and creating systemic impact.
From workforce development and coastal stabilization to fiscal and criminal justice reform, GNO, Inc. is driven by results. It’s helping to create a robust and growing middle class and, in the process, ensuring our region’s continued prosperity.
Greater New Orleans
BY THE NUMBERS Q1 2025
An economic snapshot of Greater New Orleans’ 10-parish market
EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMY STATISTICS
POPULATION
1,411,751
31% of Louisiana’s population resides in Greater New Orleans
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST
EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
$73,300
Regional Average Earnings
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST; ECONOMY OVERVIEW
ECONOMY
53,274 Private Establishments
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST; INDUSTRY TABLE – PAYROLLED BUSINESS LOCATIONS
656,359 Civilian Labor Force
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST; ECONOMY OVERVIEW
HEALTHCARE JOBS
85,654 10.6% above National average
AVERAGE EARNINGS $82,985 GDP $9.1B
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST
29,889
Unique Job Postings in Q4
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST; ECONOMY OVERVIEW
4.68%
Regional Unemployment
SOURCE: LIGHTCAST; ECONOMY OVERVIEW
FAST FACTS: HEALTHCARE
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The healthcare industry in greater New Orleans representing the largest employment cluster in the area
Since 2019, the healthcare industry in the Greater New Orleans region has experienced over 7% growth, reflecting its expanding role in the local economy and workforce
Greater New Orleans is currently home to two medical schools, with an anticipated third soon to open its doors
• LSU Health New Olreans School of Medicine
• Tulane University School of Medicine
• Xavier-Oschner College of Medicine
Will be the 5th HBCU medical school in the nation, with an aim to increase the representation of Black health care professionals in the region
NeroNOLA aims to foster the development of Greater New Orleans as a destination for neurological research and care. With significant neuroscience research and care assets, the Greater New Orleans region is poised to be the “M.D. Anderson” of research in and care for neurodegenerative diseases
SOURCE: AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT ECONOMY (ACEEE); U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
RANKINGS
RECENT RANKINGS
New Orleans ranked # 6 on “The 50 Best Cities in the World,” according to Time Out
New Orleans ranked #7 on U.S. News Best Cities to Visit for 2025, according to U.S. News Travel
January 2025 showed lowest crime rates in New Orleans for January since 2015
GNO, Inc.’s mission is to create a Greater New Orleans with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life, for everyone. For more information about the market, or help with your business, please contact our Research and Business Development team:
Harrison Gitz Policy and Research Manager hgitz@gnoinc.org
Grady Fitzpatrick Chief Business Development Officer gfitzpatrick@gnoinc.org
*Due to data collection methods, previous GNO By the Numbers are not directly comparable
2024 WTC Year In Review
Utilizing a strategic, local approach toward international engagements and initiatives, the World Trade Center of New Orleans continues to properly serve its membership in an ever-expanding and ever-evolving global marketplace.
BY WILLIAM KALEC
By the numbers, 2024 was a banner campaign for the World Trade Center of New Orleans. In the span of 12 months, the WTCNO opened its doors to more than 100 foreign civic and businesses leaders from 23 countries, including seven ambassadors and five Consul Generals; orchestrated two successful, multi-layered European trade missions focused on future energy development and maritime commerce logistics; hosted 100-plus attendees at the second annual Louisiana International Trade Conference; and worked in harmony with the five lower-Mississippi River deep-draft ports to author a first-of-its-kind, extensive maritime cargo report that will serve as an economic roadmap for the region in the years ahead.
But, as organizational leaders are quick to point out, the
true impact of WTCNO shouldn’t be measured in the sheer quantity of engagements and initiatives offered to members, but rather in the collaborative, thoroughly-planned efforts the collective put forth to ensure the quality of connections made.
“By far, the biggest accomplishment for the World Trade Center in 2024 was the way in which the organization reinforced itself as trusted ‘Thought Leader’ in Louisiana,” WTCNO Director Harrison Crabtree said. “If you look at our initiatives this year, especially our trade policy initiatives in conjunction with the trade community, we’re really working together with our partners to create an environment where trade and foreign direct investment can thrive.”
Crabtree said that none of these initiatives are enacted in a silo — the local trade community is stron -
ger when they work together. Perhaps the best example of the symbiotic partnership between the WTCNO and its membership was the selection and implementation of this past year’s two international trade missions to Belgium and the Netherlands, respectively. While organizing exploratory overseas trips has been a hallmark of the WTCNO since it's existence, Crabtree complimented membership for selecting destinations directly correlated to either South Louisiana’s traditional, long-standing economic pillars or burgeoning new-age industries.
“Many times, these oversea trips (depending on who you travel with) can be a bit of a boondoggle, but that wasn’t the case here,” said J.W. Allen & Co. Chief Operating Officer Kristi App, who traveled with the WTC to the Port of Rotterdam in October 2024. “It was strategic. It was diverse. We touched on everything from innovation, investment, day-to-day operational best practices in running ports, start-ups. It was really just a fantastic trade mission.”
Early in 2024, a local contingent associated with various alternative energy efforts, met face-to-face with hydrogen development leaders in Belgium and toured multiple facilities to observe operational practices and infrastructure. The selection of this particular WTCNO/GNO Incsponsored trade mission correlated directly with the region’s concerted effort to position itself as a hydrogen energy hub — through progressive initiatives like LED’s HALO Hub and ‘H2TheFuture’ — thus decarbonizing the industrial corridor throughout South Louisiana.
Months later, the WTCNO’s trade mission to the Port of Rotterdam allowed regional maritime officials to witness how this vital, expansive, key cog in international trade tackled many of the same obstacles and challenges facing lower Mississippi River ports and the industries located within those port districts. For instance, the hosts from Rotterdam showcased various innovations put to use designed to increase efficiency and encourage expansion and growth within the port’s finite land footprint.
Further emphasizing the importance of investing in future industry trends from a production and operational standpoint, Rotterdam organizers made sure the visiting Louisiana contingent was able to meet and network with diverse group of maritime commerce influencers — from port executives, government representatives, educational leaders, and cutting-edge innovators.
“When it comes to building relationships — especially solid, foundational business relationships – you still need that in-person connectivity,” App said. “Yes, it’s an old school approach, but there is no shortcut for it.
But, to forge those relationships, App said it takes
time, energy and resources, which is why the World Trade Center has been so strategic in staging these trips. “Because what you want are ‘actionable outcomes’ from them and that’s what we’ve seen from Rotterdam,” App said. “That was makes these trips a ‘WIN.’”
While seeking to strengthen networking ties abroad, the WTCNO also paused and assisted in an introspective examination of the regional maritime commerce/intramodal commerce that should serve as an industry compass for the next quarter-century.
In conjunction with all 5 deep-draft ports (Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, Port of Plaquemines, Port of St. Bernard, and the Port of Baton Rouge) the WTCNO initiated the ‘Lower Mississippi Global Commodities Analysis – an unprecedented overarching report documenting commodities trends and demands. The report is scheduled to be published in Q2 2025.
“It goes without saying that the Mississippi River is our state’s livelihood,” Crabtree said. “Therefore, it’s important for us to maximize that livelihood – for us to collectively understand not only the opportunities the river affords us for economic growth but also what are those challenges that we need to address to ensure the river can continue to be our livelihood.
“Each of the ports have their own market studies, master plans, but we’ve never looked at the river collectively...outline the demand for global commodities so that we can better understand as trade authorities and economic development businesses,” Crabtree continued. “‘What are the opportunities left to capture?’ and ‘What challenges to our livelihood loom on the horizon, short and long term?’”
In the past, Crabtree said, the five ports had worked collaboratively on security measures, but never an economic development project of this magnitude. Not only should the results of the report yield avenues for growth through innovation and expansion, it will also ID potential blind spots that could threaten South Louisiana’s standing as a global maritime power
“There is a rare and exciting opportunity for us to harness the momentum from 2024 and build upon it in fostering innovation while supporting career development amongst emerging professionals,” Crabtree said of the WTCNO. “This year will also mark Year 3 of our partnership with GNO Inc., so through what we’ve learned working together, we look forward to continuing to grow the trade sector, continuing to support foreign direct investment, but most importantly, continuing to support our members.
“We have nearly 100 members across Louisiana. I don’t think anything we’ve accomplished as an organization would be possible without them.”
In the Spotlight
Super Bowl LIX spurs a flurry of infrastructure improvements and beautification projects across New Orleans.
BY MISTY MILIOTO
Last spring, Governor Jeff Landry appointed Michael Hecht, CEO of GNO, Inc., to oversee infrastructure improvements across the Crescent City in preparation for Super Bowl LIX. With nearly 20 years of building relationships with leaders at the state and local level, plus experience with coalition management, Hecht was perfectly suited for this role. In addition to overseeing roadwork, sidewalk repairs, lighting upgrades and installation and drainage system repairs, he also guided beautification efforts including decorative wraps on Plaza Tower and 21 new murals across the city.
GNO, Inc., collaborated with a number of partners — including the City of New Orleans, the Downtown Development District, the French Quarter Management District and the Regional Transit Authority — to undertake more than 550 infrastructure projects.
GNO, Inc. worked with the Department of Public Works and the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans to repair a main water line and fill a pothole at Poydras Street and Claiborne Avenue that had been a persistent problem since Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, roadwork was completed along more than 100 roadway blocks including Poydras Street, Girod Street, Julia Street, Carondelet Street and St. Charles Avenue. 40 blocks of sidewalks also were repaired, including those surrounding the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site at Canal and South Rampart streets, and a new decorative sidewalk can now be found in the alleyways around St. Louis Cathedral.
Lighting upgrades and installations included a more than $20 million renovation of decorative lighting on the Crescent City Connection and a $1.8 million light -
ing repair project in the French Quarter, a project managed by The Tobler Company. Many broken lights also were repaired across the city.
SWBNO drainage system repairs included replacing 99 pumps. Overall, SWBNO completed more than 200 work orders.
GNO, Inc., and Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation also codeveloped a Park and Ride System to enhance
access to downtown. This project included input from the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, and research and outreach conducted by a private contractor. Meanwhile, beautification projects sprouted up all across New Orleans.
GNO, Inc. partnered with the DDD and Arts New Orleans on Project French Doors, which included beautification of the 100 blocks of Dauphine, Bourbon,
Royal, Chartres and Decatur streets. This project provides an elevated entrance to the French Quarter with repaired lighting, newly added curb extensions, murals and decorative lighting.
Another project, the Fleur-de-Lis NOLA Iconographic Sign was a collaboration between GNO, Inc., and the DDD. The decorative sign is now temporarily installed next to the new Delacroix Fish Camp & Bar in Spanish
Plaza using the trademarked Desire NOLA font. The DDD contracted Downtown FabWorks, and collaborated with New Orleans Building Corporation and Rockstep Capital, to fabricate and place the sign, which will remain in place through the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Also in preparation for Super Bowl LIX, GNO, Inc., collaborated with Arts New Orleans and building owners to complete more than a dozen new murals.
“Arts New Orleans served as the primary facilitator, ensuring that artists had access to needed supplies, that organizations looking to sponsor murals had access to artists and locations, and that the Percent for Arts program [a public art collection that includes commissioning and acquiring artwork for the city] was executed for certain projects,” Hecht said.
The murals can be found in locations such as the HEAL Garage (by Brandan “BMike“ Odums), the Civil Court House (by Carl Joe Williams), the Hyatt Garage (by Eternal Seeds and Brandan “BMike“ Odums), the Girod overpass (by Annie Moran), the WDSU Building (by Keith Duncan), the Marriott New Orleans (by Shepard Fairey) and New Orleans East roadside sign (by Egypt).
“For Super Bowl LIX, we had partnerships with The Helis Foundation, Plaquemines Parish Tourism, Entergy, Downtown Development District and GNO, Inc., who worked to commission murals across the city,” said Lindsay Glatz, creative director at Arts New Orleans. “New Orleans is known worldwide for its culture. Art is the medium in which we communicate that message.”
Glatz said many of the Super Bowl activations supported by the corporate sponsors could be produced in any city, but it’s the culture of New Orleans that sets them apart and makes the city special.
“It’s been great to see the NFL leaning into that with projects like commissioning Tahj Williams [a queen of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians] to design this year’s Super Bowl logo and providing opportunities for connecting sponsors with local artists,” Glatz said.
Other beautification efforts included the rehabilitation of Duncan Plaza, Cancer Survivors Plaza and Armstrong Park; the completion of the Earhart food truck lot; the deconstruction of Simon Bolivar Plaza (returning it to neutral ground); the reconstruction of Latrobes Park; the abatement of more than 1,000 lots in the Lower 9th Ward; and filling more than 80 tree wells.
New Orleans is known worldwide for its culture. Art is the medium in which we communicate that message.”
– Lindsay Glatz, Creative Director Arts New Orleans
NOLA Beautiful also conducted four cleanup efforts (litter abatement and tree planting) in the Desire neighborhood, New Orleans East, the Lower 9th Ward and the Central Business District.
“The transformation of our city’s infrastructure ahead of Super Bowl LIX is more than just a facelift—it’s a statement about our state and city leadership’s longterm commitment to New Orleans,” Hecht said. “These improvements demonstrate our ability to execute major projects efficiently and collaboratively, reinforcing confidence in our ability to attract investment, retain talent and elevate our global brand. The psychological impact of seeing our city at its best—cleaner, safer, and more beautiful—cannot be overstated. It sends a message to residents and visitors alike that New Orleans is not only a great place to celebrate but also a great place to build a future.”
GNO, Inc., also chairs the Economic Development Subcommittee of the New Orleans Host Committee. This work, which includes regular meetings and the development of capstone economic development projects, helps to shape the New Orleans brand.
“An anticipated 150,000 individuals visited the city during
the week and weekend of Super Bowl LIX,” Hecht said. “Many of these visitors are high net-worth individuals— presidents, CEOs and C-suite executives from across the nation and world — with the capacity to potentially invest in Greater New Orleans or Louisiana. It’s critical to leverage this opportunity—and leave a lasting positive impression, which can be achieved in part by the infrastructure and beautification improvements — in order to correct the narrative of New Orleans in the long-term.”
To amplify this initiative, GNO, Inc., requested and confirmed the use of portions of buildings as a platform to showcase Louisiana’s economic strengths during the week of the big game. Locations included River District, Dutch Alley and other high-visibility areas in the entertainment district.
Executives also took part in activities like engaging with businesses and elected leaders from the region and state; tours of key assets that drive Louisiana’s economy, including manufacturing, shipping and entertainment assets; and attending the launch of Louisiana Economic Development’s new innovation brand, la.io, which has a dual focus on attracting tech companies into the state and nurturing startups.
H2Workforce Opens New Doors For Louisiana Workers
The future of energy is in Louisiana
BY FRITZ ESKER
H2Workforce, an exciting new collaboration featuring GNO Inc., is paving the way for a future that will be good for both Louisiana’s economy and its environment.
H2Workforce is a project led by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. The goal is to create the new generation of energy workers in Louisiana. The project provides industry-driven training, equitable access and outreach, and career development services. The Louisiana Technical College System reported 1,458 finishers of programs associated with H2theFuture initiatives.
The project is one component of H2TheFuture, a coa -
lition of 25 partners from across Louisiana aimed at assisting the state in decarbonizing South Louisiana’s industrial corridor while preserving high-quality jobs. Louisiana is well-positioned for this transition because it has the highest per-capita use of hydrogen in the country. It also has other advantages such as the densest pipeline system in America, the second-largest port complex in the Western Hemisphere, and is ranked fourth in the country for offshore wind energy potential.
Salem Habte, Workforce and Entrepreneurship manager at GNO Inc., said Louisiana has lost more jobs than any other state in the traditional oil and gas industry. In the past twenty years, Louisiana has lost over 20,000
It’s in the state’s best interest to diversify its energy economy for the sake of our economic independence as well as the environment.”
jobs in oil and gas due to a combination of automation and boom-and-bust cycles in the industry.
“It’s in the state’s best interest to diversify its energy economy for the sake of our economic independence as well as the environment,” Habte said.
Eight different community colleges received funding from H2TheFuture to fund new and exciting career training opportunities for clean energy jobs. The training is for careers for jobs in hydrogen production, carbon capture, solar panel manufacturing and maintenance, and wind turbine manufacturing and maintenance.
“That’s an economic development goldmine,” Habte said.
The program also emphasizes equity. Only 29% of jobs in the energy industry are held by minorities, compared to more than half in the hospitality sector. Habte said H2Workforce is also partnering with the Urban League to provide these career opportunities to members of underserved Black, Indigenous, and rural communities. They will also work with the Louisiana Parole Project to help recent parolees get jobs in the energy industry.
“The more we don’t make careers and education accessible for parolees, the more likely they are to reoffend,” Habte said.
And at the university level, over 100 students at HBCUs have taken courses about clean and renewable energy. Southern University and A&M College recently announced a new energy concentration that they developed in collaboration with H2theFuture. The classes will be offered within the Bachelor of Science track in the management and marketing degree program. The program was approved in spring 2023 and the first course was offered in fall 2023.
“This program is designed to provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of energy economics, applications of technology in society, and the project development process as well as technical introduction in areas related to renewable energy,” said Luftu
Sagbansua, associate professor of decision sciences and supply chain at Southern.
Sagbansua added that student interest in the concentration is growing. The first offered course had six students, but the average enrollment now is over thirteen students per course. To help attract interest to the concentration, Southern created “The Energy Speaker” series featuring industry experts.
“Students find new energy management courses highly relevant due to the growing focus on sustainability and the transition to clean energy,” Sagbansua said. “Students appreciate the alignment of the course content with career opportunities in this rapidly growing industry.”
Southern is also partnering with GNO Inc. on the GNO Inc. Innovation Internship Program (GIIP). This will be a paid internship program that will provide students with work experience with some of region’s most dynamic business and energy partners, in addition to innovative startups.
Nunez Community College offers a wind energy technology program and a coastal studies and GIS program.
Jacqueline Richard is the coastal studies and GIS tech program manager at Nunez. She said the program took a few years to develop but is now in its second semester of having students. She said one challenge the program faced was not having national standards for the curriculum, so they used the Denmark-based Global Wind Organization (GWO) standards.
The program’s eleven current students are completely supported by a grant. Students learn about hydraulics, mechanics, motors, and blade repair. Safety is also emphasized because much of the work is done 200-600 feet in the air.
Richard said the median pay for wind turbine technicians is $62,000 a year and the median pay for all Louisiana workers is $52,000 a year. Anyone is welcome to apply to the program.
“You don’t need any academic prerequisites,” Richard said. “You can come straight from a high school or another industry.”
Nunez Community College student Donald Lofton expressed enthusiasm for the program.
“It’s a new opportunity for me to get a better job,” Lofton said.
Lofton first became interested in wind turbines when he saw one while visiting California. But he initially did not pursue a career as a wind turbine technician because the only training courses offered were out of state and he did not want to be away from his children for months.
“When the classes opened up down here, I jumped at the opportunity,” Lofton said. “I like being outdoors. The job is very physical and mental at the same time and as long as you’re not afraid of heights, it can be a good fit for anyone.”
River Parishes Community College is offering an emerging energy course and an alternative energy
course in fall 2025. The community college has also collaborated with the University of Louisiana and Louisiana State University for grant submissions for biofuel and green hydrogen projects.
River Parishes Community College has also started two after-school programs for third-graders in Ascension Parish schools. The program will teach students about energy, but also teach vital literacy and numeracy skills to help them pass the LEAP test. It will also give students mentorship opportunities that will expose them to jobs they otherwise never would have learned about.
“These collaborations are important for exposure,” said Donovan Thompson, executive director and dean of the energy sciences division at River Parishes Community College. “Students don’t know what they don’t know. A lack of exposure can prevent them from finding opportunities.”
Constructing Community
Todd James’ Commitment to Building a Better New Orleans
BY BELLA ANGELOS
Todd James, Director of External Affairs at Broadmoor, LLC and a New Orleans native, knew as a six-year-old that he wanted a career in the construction industry. His earliest inspiration came from his grandfather, Chuck Mercadel, the first Black construction superintendent in Louisiana who also went on to start his own family construction business.
“Ever since that age, I was always curious about architecture,” James said. “It was a big part of propelling how I invested my time in drawing, something that was fun to do as a kid and stuck with me as I got to high school.”
Architecture always seemed to be James’ main point of interest throughout his time attending St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. He then went on to pursue this passion in college where he received a degree in architecture at Tuskegee University. During his college years, he’d maintained involvement with St. Augustine and was invited back by Father Doyle to help learn about how the school would undergo its first expansion in 1999. This is when James was introduced to Billes Manning Architects.
Building community isn’t just what James’ job entails, it’s also the core of his character. Going from the sixyear-old who was obsessed with drawing maps to where he is today has been a journey of making connections. People who know him like to say, “Todd knows everyone.” It seems this statement is true.
James also spent the interim interning with HRI Properties where he had his first opportunity to work
with contractors and architects together. This experience is what ultimately inspired him to focus on planning and design professionally. Following graduation, he moved back to New Orleans for his first full-time position with Billes Manning Architects working on various projects across town before Hurricane Katrina.
Each step James takes in this industry are driven by lessons his mother, Demeritc Mercadel, instilled in him.
“She helped me to really understand the importance of civic engagement and how important it is to really make sure that you serve your community above all,” James said.
This profession is a revolving door of opportunity to give back to the community. One major example was his involvement in the city’s recovery program following Hurricane Katrina.
“It kind of came second nature,” James began. “Largely because even as a kid, I felt as if though I studied the city from a map standpoint.” His knowledge of the New Orleans allowed him to contribute to rebuilding efforts. I always wanted to figure out what I could do along the lines and help to start the next big investment opportunity,” James said.
The next big opportunity lies within his current role at Broadmoor. As Director of External Affairs, James gives guidance to development projects and helps to support the regulatory process for all their partners and clients. He has also been able to spend time helping manage the infrastructure and planning process for the River District, a project that resonates with him personally.
“I remember as a kid walking the World’s Fair job site with my grandfather and seeing how big that was for the New Orleans Riverfront,” James said. “I always wanted to come back and do my contribution in his footsteps. That’s a big part of why I have so much commitment to this development project.”
Being part of the Broadmoor team has allowed him to fulfill his own purpose in a professional setting. Of the five “Core Purposes,” that drive Broadmoor as a company, James’ said he specifically connects to two of them: “Perpetuate The Legacy By Being Part Of Something Special,” and “We Treat Our People Like Family.”
“These are not just a series of core values that we put on the board for sales,” James began. “Everybody on our team lives and breathes them every day. Once I saw that our work family really lived them, it helped me echo that same movement and start to see how I can live them in my day-to-day life too.”
‘Leave the space better than the way you found it.’ If I don’t provide some level of growth for the community as a whole, then I don’t know if I’ve really achieved my core value.”
James is actively involved in various civic and economic development organizations, including GNO, Inc., Public Belt Railroad, City of New Orleans Board of Zoning Adjustments and Young Leadership Council.
“My time spent with every last one of those organizations actually helped me to learn how to be a better steward for business and for future economic growth, not just for New Orleans but for the entire state,” James said.
This goes hand in hand with one of his personal core values: “Leave the space better than the way you found it.”
“If I don’t provide some level of growth for the community as a whole, then I don’t know if I’ve really achieved my core value,” James said.
Each project he peruses, perpetuates not only the legacy of being part of something special, but also the legacy of his grandfather. However, it’s his own footsteps that leave his community walking on a better path this time. Six-year-old James would be proud.
Todd James, Director of External Affairs at Broadmoor, LLC
Turning Numbers into Meaning
Ingest is Transforming Data into Answers for
BY BELLA ANGELOS
Business Success
Running a restaurant is about more than just serving great food. It’s about fostering strong customer relationships and building a thriving in-house culture. But behind the scenes, the financial health of the business depends on a constant flow of data, from sales trends and inventory levels to customer preferences and operational costs. Without a clear understanding of how each data point influences the bigger picture, information overload can quickly turn into missed opportunities.
Ingest turns every click, swipe and scroll into actionable insights that provide businesses with the information they need to understand exactly what their business is doing right and wrong. Their daily mission is to increase the viability, sustainability, and profitability of businesses that will not only keep their doors open but help them grow beyond that.
MAKING SENSE OF DATA
Knowing how a business is performing isn’t as simple as looking at the bank account and seeing whether the number is going up or down. Every business is made up of disparate tools and systems. From everything related to revenue, labor, inventory, reservation, accounting and purchasing tools, the list goes on and on.
Co-founder and CEO Daniel Meth, explains that all these factors serve as data entry points, but the problem many owners face is that none of them speak to each other.
“Ingest was developed to consolidate or aggregate all of that data, bring it into one centralized location, clean it up, enrich it, then transform and normalize it to provide all stakeholders within an organization the ability to understand what’s working and what’s not,” Meth said.
Ingest’s data analysis process is divided into three questions: What happened?, Why or how did it happen? and, What would happen if?
Initially, Ingest planned to focus on the third question, which involves predictive and prescriptive analysis. However, they soon realized that the industry lacked a solid understanding of the first two questions.
“It doesn’t matter how smart or sophisticated your algorithms or models may be if the quality of the input driving those is subpar,” Meth said. “Garbage in, garbage out.”
As a result, Ingest shifted its focus to becoming proficient at answering, “What happened” and “How or why it happened.” They recognized that even the smartest algorithms would produce unreliable results if the input data was poor.
“For the last several years, we’ve really become the best and bred at answering what, how and why it happened,” Meth said.
They answer the questions for business owners that would otherwise remain unknown. Now, Ingest is excited to dedicate more attention to the predictive and prescriptive aspects, aligning with New Orleans’ growing interest in AI initiatives.
THE MOTIVATION
Food brings communities together, especially in a city with such a strong food culture, like the rich Cajun flavors of New Orleans. Few things are more disheartening than seeing a beloved local business — one filled with family memories and community ties — suddenly close its doors. Ingest’s product serves to prevent this from happening.
Meth shared a story about his mother who had always talked about a restaurant that she and his father used to go to before he was born. It was a tiny little Italian restaurant in Jersey City called Laico’s. After searching for it and calling the restaurant, he found it was still open. 42 years later, for his mother’s 70th birthday, he was able to throw her a surprise party at the same Laico’s she used to tell him stories about and bring his own children to experience it as well.
It’s moments like these that allow small businesses to play a magical part in the lives of the people in their community. Ingest offers a product backed by numbers that can bring longevity to more local businesses in New Orleans.
“As believers in the democratization of data, one of our biggest motivators have been taking the competitive advantages that have otherwise been reserved for the most sophisticated, biggest capitalized brands and making them available and accessible to the backbone of the industry, which is your mom and pop, Italian red sauce joints,” Meth said.
Whether it’s a beloved hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant or another family-run business passed down through generations, these places mean just as much to the owners as they do to the customers who hold them close to their hearts.
Ingest is committed to playing an important role in giving back to the city, the people, and the community. By employing local lives and paying wages that have otherwise been reserved for tier one coastal markets, Meth says his company has, “The opportunity to play a small part in shaping the future of the city we live in, knowing full well that those dollars are then going to be injected directly into the local economy.”
“New Orleans it special, there’s a real magic to this place,” Meth said. He plans to keep it that way.
WASHINGTON MARDI GRAS
A historic snowstorm couldn’t stop Louisiana from showing up at Washington Mardi Gras! Despite flight cancellations, the GNO, Inc. team made it to D.C. and hosted discussions on energy, insurance, and economic development. At the Louisiana Future Energy Lunch, leaders from ExxonMobil, Heirloom, and Port Fourchon discussed how Louisiana can create jobs while lowering carbon intensity. GNO, Inc. also met with experts to explore an all-perils insurance program for Louisiana and beyond.
NOLA BEAUTIFUL
GNO, Inc. & HandsOn New Orleans hosted our 3rd NOLA Beautiful cleanup with special guest Juvenile! Volunteers from GNO, Inc., the City of New Orleans, & the community helped collect everything from small pieces of litter to larger dumped items in the Lower 9th Ward.
SBLIX BREAKFAST
GNO, Inc. hosted a special Superbowl LIX Investor Breakfast at the Louisiana NOW Pavilion in the week leading up to the Superbowl.
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
GNO, Inc. was thrilled to honor our Director of Economic Mobility, Daphine Barnes, as a 2025 Women in STEM honoree by the American Heart Association. Her leadership in the Women in the STEM Economy initiative & the GNO, Inc. Innovation Internship Program makes this recognition well earned.
STARTUP NOLA / STARTUP NOIR
Startup NOLA and Startup Noir NOLA hosted our quarterly Access to Capital series: SSBCI Funding – 2025 & Beyond. The event featured a presentation by Louisiana Economic Development, engaging panels with SSBCI funders and founders, and wrapped up with our signature monthly meetup happy hour.
After Super Bowl LIX, the consensus is clear — New Orleans and Louisiana emerged as the real winners. The city delivered an unforgettable experience, earning praise from sports figures, journalists, and visitors alike. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called it a “first-class experience,” while Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer declared, “No city comes close.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell summed it up: “We realize that this is a place that is sorta perfect for the Super Bowl.” From dazzling pre-game festivities to the spectacle of the renovated Superdome, New Orleans once again proved why it belongs on the biggest stage.
Louisiana students are making some of the most significant academic strides post-pandemic, with top-five math growth in 4th grade and notable gains in 8th-grade math. The state is one of only two where 4th graders exceeded pre-pandemic scores in both subjects. Students with disabilities and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds also outperformed the national average in both achievement and growth. Overall, Louisiana has climbed from 49th to 32nd in combined NAEP performance over the past five years.
