THE FASTEST GROWING CHAPTER IN THE GLOBAL EO NETWORK IN 2019 EO Louisiana is a chapter in the Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a high-quality support network of 14,000+ like-minded leaders across 61 countries. We help entrepreneurs achieve their full potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences and collaborative learning.
MISSION To engage leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow. VISION To build the world’s most influential community of entrepreneurs. CORE VALUES · Trust and Respect · Thirst for Learning · Boldly Go! · Make a Mark · Cool
To learn more about EO Louisiana visit us at EOLouisiana.org
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT EO MEMBERS
EOLOUISIANA.ORG
2
REGION Q1 2021
GNOINC.ORG
3
Contents
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, INC. Q1 2021/VOLUME 2/NUMBER 1
Greater New Orleans, Inc. President & CEO Michael Hecht Senior Vice President of Business Development Grady Fitzpatrick Chief of Staff Rachel Shields Vice President of Brand & Marketing Matt Wolfe Research Manager Harrison Crabtree Vice President of Advancement Sara Bradford Renaissance Publishing
6 Letter from the President Prospering as one region
8 About Greater New Orleans, Inc. 10 By the Numbers 12 The Destination is GNO
A look at the online resource reshaping perception of Greater New Orleans
16 The Once & Future Workforce
22 Pressing Play
Microsoft’s Game Camp engages local talent in the growing entertainment tech industry
24 In Conversation with Sabrina Short
The Founder & CEO of NOLAvate Black shares her mission and vision for Greater New Orleans
GNO, Inc.’s plan to increase wealth and opportunity for the Black community
28 Photo Gallery
18 Wind-Powered Progress
32 Newsflash
20 Building Better Batteries
Meet Advano, the local company revolutionizing lithium-ion batteries
Art Director Ali Sullivan Account Executive Meggie Schmidt Production Manager Emily Andras Production Designer Rosa Balaguer Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne
26 Economic Mobility
Inside GNOu’s mission to grow, train and diversify workers and opportunities
Making offshore wind power an economic driver in the region
Editor Topher Balfer
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3475 New Orleans, LA 70163 (504) 527-6900 gnoinc.org
Jefferson Capital Partners invest in Louisiana Pepper Exchange Region is produced for Greater New Orleans, Inc. by Renaissance Publishing, LLC 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 | Fax (504) 828-1385 myneworleans.com | bizneworleans.com
TO ADVERTISE
Contact Meggie Schmidt at (504) 830-7220 or email Meggie@myneworleans.com Copyright 2021 Region, GNO, Inc., and Renaissance Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without consent of the publisher.
4
REGION Q1 2021
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
W
elcome to the second issue of REGION, the official publication of Greater New Orleans, Inc.! We are pleased to present an update of GNOfuture, the strategic plan for the next ten years of Greater New Orleans. GNOfuture is the road map for GNO, Inc.’s resource allocation and key tactics for 2020 - 2030. The goal is expressed in GNO, Inc.’s mission statement: To create a region with a thriving economy, and an excellent quality of life, for everyone. As I stated in my end-of-the-year message, the world will not be the same post-COVID, but there is hope and real opportunity for the Greater New Orleans region on the other side. COVID-19 did not change the economy, as much as accelerate preexisting trends – and Greater New Orleans is naturally well positioned to benefit from these changes, which include: • Rising dominance of logistics – New Orleans was founded on logistics, and no one else can offer our river, rail, airport and road multi-modal combination • Reshoring of technology – The low cost / high culture business case of Greater New Orleans is extremely attractive to tech companies looking to bring jobs back to the US • Onshoring of manufacturing – A similar trend, over a longer time horizon, will happen with manufacturing. Our logistics, workforce, and low utility rates make GNO a natural location • Healthcare trends – Our regional institutions are national leaders in these areas like telemedicine and infectious disease; we also have great opportunity in neurodegenerative diseases •
Lifestyle trends – Greater New Orleans is already seeing remote workers, Louisiana ex-pats, and others, leaving dense, expensive places like NYC and San Francisco, for the more hospitable clime of the New Orleans market
Yes, there is a lot of work ahead of us, but we will prosper once again in 2021, as one region. Let us begin 2021 with a heartfelt “Thank you!” to the staff, board, investors and partners of GNO, Inc. and the region. We truly appreciate your extraordinary collaboration
IN A RUSH?
MICHAEL HECHT GNO, Inc. President & CEO
6
REGION Q1 2021
WE KNOW: we’ve got a lot to say. Skim through the big concepts by looking out for our GNO Highlights.
ABOUT GREATER NEW ORLEANS, INC.
RELATIONSHIPS. RELEVANCE. RESULTS.
G
reater 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.
10
PARISHES OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
JEFFERSON ORLEANS PLAQUEMINES ST. BERNARD ST. CHARLES ST. JAMES
LOUISIANA STATE GOVERNMENT Louisiana Economic Development
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ST. TAMMANY
PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS
STAKEHOLDERS
Our Investors Parish Government
Jefferson Orleans
Colleges/ Universities
Plaquemines St. Bernard
Legislators
St. Charles
Business Community
St. James
Nonprofits
St. John the Baptist
Influencers
St. Tammany Tangipahoa Washington
8
REGION Q1 2021
MEDIA
PUBLIC
PROSPECTS
TANGIPAHOA WASHINGTON
BY THE NUMBERS
Greater New Orleans BY THE NUMBERS Q4 2020
An economic snapshot of Greater New Orleans’ 10-parish market EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMY STATISTICS
POPULATION
1,451,482
31% of Louisiana’s population resides in Greater New Orleans
EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
$57,460
Metro Average Annual Wages SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, Q2 2020
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, 2020
SECTOR OVERVIEW HEALTH SCIENCES JOBS
81,579 AVERAGE SALARY
ECONOMY
44,598
657,222
SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS,
SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS,
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, Q2 2020
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED 10/20
Private Establishments
Civilian Labor Force
11.2%
Regional Unemployment
206,923
Unique Job Postings 23% year-over-year growth SOURCE: EMSI 2020 DATA
10
REGION Q1 2021
$56,743
6.9%
National Unemployment SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, 10/20
GDP
$6.9B SOURCE: EMSI
FAST FACTS: TRANSPORTATION & TRADE
TRADE
$7.4B
Value of Exports from the New Orleans Metro Area
ANNOUNCEMENTS RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS Louisiana Pepper Exchange Jefferson Capital Partners announces its financing of growth capital for expansion of Louisiana Pepper Exchange Keyword Studios Acquires High Voltage Software for $50M; Commits to New Orleans Development Office SCI 115 new direct jobs created in Jefferson Parish
#8
largest U.S. metro measured by value of exports SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU;
COST OF LIVING & REAL ESTATE
OVERALL COST OF LIVING GNO Region: 98.9 U.S. Average: 100 SOURCE: EMSI
REAL ESTATE OFFICE Local Vacancy: 7.2% National Vacancy: 11.4% Local Rent: $20.06/ft2 National Rent: $37.98/ft2
U.S. EXPORTS BY METROPOLITAN AREA, Q2 2020
Local Inventory: 52.6M ft2 TRAFFIC
INDUSTRIAL Local Vacancy: 4.6% National Vacancy: 5.6%
Hours each year spent per person in traffic congestion
Local Rent: $7.80/ft2 National Rent: $8.77/ft2
That’s 20 hours less than the national average
Local Inventory: 81.1M ft2
SOURCE: INRIX TRAFFIC SCORE CARD, 2019
SOURCE: COSTAR, Q1 2021
79
RANKINGS RECENT RANKINGS Louisiana is #5 in USA for Growth in Digital Entrepreneurs —Amazon New Orleans is ranked #1 for Logistics and FTZ Imports —Business Facilities #1 State for Workforce Development/Talent Attraction (FastStart, 11th consecutive year) —Business Facilities Louisiana Earns “State of the Year” —Southern Business and Development New Orleans Has Youngest Entrepreneurs in USA —LendingTree New Orleans is the #4 Most Entrepreneurial Metro in USA —Cloud Kitchens
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 Crabtree Senior Associate, Research and Policy hcrabtree@gnoinc.org • 504.527.6987
Grady Fitzpatrick Senior Vice President of Business Development gfitzpatrick@gnoinc.org • 504.239.3525
*Due to data collection methods, previous GNO By the Numbers are not directly comparable
GNOINC.ORG
11
DESTINATION GNO
The Destination is GNO An online resource is changing the way people see and experience Greater New Orleans
A
sk anyone what they imagine when they think of New Orleans, and whether they’ve been here or not, the answer will likely include one of the following: live music, delicious food, vibrant nightlife and can’t-miss festivals that encapsulate the heart and spirit of the south. Sure, all those descriptions would be true, but how many people would describe the Greater New Orleans region as one of the country’s most family-friendly areas, a top destination for outdoor activities, or as one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in the nation? The reality is that Greater New Orleans is all that and more, and in order for the region to realize its maximum potential, people have to start seeing it that way. Consider it a matter of perception, one that DestinationGNO is actively working to change. Created by GNO, Inc. and sponsored by Chevron, DestinationGNO is an online resource that shows not only what it might be like to play in New Orleans, but to live
12
REGION Q1 2021
and work, or to spread roots and raise a family. Because behind the lights, colors and sounds, this region holds unlimited possibilities for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to define the ways in which their careers and lifestyles intersect. “One of the biggest hurdles we face in our line of work is that a lot of people have an impression of New Orleans from Mardi Gras or a bachelor party they attended here once, so they don’t think of Greater New Orleans as a place where they can have a generally normal existence,” says Evie Poitevent, Human Capital Manager at GNO, Inc. and one of the key players in the redevelopment of DestinationGNO. Originally launched several years ago, the site was recently the subject of a complete overhaul to both refine and revitalize its messaging. Featuring abundant imagery, at-a-glance statistics, a neighborhood finder and an ever-expanding list of companies that call GNO home, the site holds the potential to change perception with one visit.
“With DestinationGNO, we’re hoping to debunk a lot of those myths, stereotypes and caricatures of New Orleans, and present the wider region through a more family-focused lens,” Poitevent says. “That means repeatedly driving home the family-friendly messaging, along with visuals of outdoors and
our abundant recreational and green spaces. We’re certainly talking up the culture and everything that makes this area unique, but we’re hoping the site conveys that you can choose the type of career and lifestyle you want in the Greater New Orleans area.”
GNOINC.ORG
13
FINDING YOUR DREAM JOB
Diversifying and expanding career offerings has always been a critical mission for GNO, Inc., and DestinationGNO shows how far the region has already come in establishing a business-friendly market. From manufacturing and health sciences to entrepreneurship and professional services, DestinationGNO users can explore their chosen industry’s existing presence and meet anchor companies that are driving those sectors forward. The comprehensive hub highlights hundreds of available positions with companies like DXC Technology and Accruent, which are creating thousands of technology jobs, and Advano, a sector leader in renewable and sustainable energy (see page 20 for a company profile). Still, these industries are poised to stimulate even more economic growth and to widen the breadth of opportunity if more businesses choose Greater New Orleans as their home, making it more important than ever to attract professionals who can continue pushing the region to new heights. Local research technology company Lucid is one of many employers hoping that tools like DestinationGNO will help to cultivate a more robust—and even more competitive— business environment. Established in 2010, Lucid bridges the gap between organizational needs and public opinion by conducting marketplace studies and surveys. Nicole Patel, Lucid’s Chief People Officer, says that while finding entry-level talent has been made easier
14
REGION Q1 2021
by partnerships with local educators like the University of New Orleans and Tulane, finding experienced mid- to senior-level employees can still be a challenge when there are so many misconceptions about what the region has to offer. “New Orleans is a place people want to live, and they need to find a professional opportunity that gives them the ability to stay,” Patel says. “We’ve been able to find people who have enough experience to be competitive and are seeking opportunities here in New Orleans, and a lot of the time, we hear that they didn’t know companies like this existed in the area.” Patel says that for Lucid, which has several locations worldwide, attracting skilled workers is just one challenge that tools like DestinationGNO can help to solve. The other is attracting competitor businesses. It might seem counterintuitive, but Patel says that giving professionals more options is better for everyone in the long run because it increases the level of talent and ultimately promotes workforce retention. “As new businesses come, we should start trading off employees. People are going to look for their next opportunities, and what we need is that other company they can go to in New Orleans,” she says. “We don’t want them to have that moment of, ‘Now what? Do I have to relocate again?’” Considering this stance, DestinationGNO’s mission to change how people think about Greater New Orleans not only bodes well for relocating businesses and professionals, but for enriching the options and quality of life for workers who are already here.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
BEHIND-THE-SCENES BENEFITS
Attracting new businesses, entrepreneurs or skilled workers doesn’t always mean relocating an individual. Significant others (often referred to as a trailing spouse) and children can play a major role in a professional’s decision to either pursue or decline opportunities in a new area—meaning that changing perception about professional opportunities isn’t enough on its own. Questions will still remain: Where will their children go to school? Where can their spouse find employment? Where are they going to live? DestinationGNO empowers users with knowledge, helping them find the area that’s right for their families based on factors that would influence their day-to-day lives, including commute times to and from the airport and Downtown New Orleans, walkability and average cost of homes. From there, they can discover nearby public, private and charter schools, available healthcare options, and can even familiarize themselves with emergency preparedness protocols in their area. The goal is to not only answer any questions a relocating family wants to know, but to also answer the questions they haven’t even thought of yet. That’s no accident. In fact, the curation of the site was influenced by responses the GNO, Inc. team has observed over a decade of introducing transplant businesses and professionals to the area. “We regularly conduct quality of life tours for companies that we’re bringing into the market, who are either on the verge of making a decision or who have just committed to coming to New Orleans,” says Poitevent. “It’s important for them to figure out not only where they’re going to live, but also where their employees and the teams they’re building will live. Time and time again, they’ll say, ‘I can’t believe New Orleans has normal neighborhoods, normal houses, normal schools.’ It all comes back to normalizing the Greater New Orleans area to the outside market.” Leah Brown, Public Affairs Manager for Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit, says that answering those questions is one of the main reasons Chevron was motivated to sponsor and support the development of the DestinationGNO site. “I grew up in Baton Rouge and my family would often make trips into the Crescent City. Like many people, with each visit I fell more and more in love with Greater New Orleans,” Brown says. “DestinationGNO lets people from around the world discover what we locals already know: our area is special, from our unique neighborhoods, to our arts, culture, cuisine and character. These are critical qualities people look for when making their next career move. With a few mouse clicks, prospective employees can tour almost 50 neighborhoods and see why this is a great place to live and do business.”
Apart from attraction and retention, DestinationGNO is also designed to be a valuable tool for HR professionals in the area. A password-protected portal allows HR directors and talent-acquisition leaders to connect with each other, make referrals and even find professional opportunities for other members of a relocating family. “The HR Portal is intended for verified businesses to either share information about talent they find exceptional, like some amazing candidate they interviewed but just didn’t have
the opening for, or even a trailing spouse,” says Poitevent. “They’re essentially able to make those high-quality talent referrals and to encourage communication and partnership within the HR community.” The Portal also hosts a resource library with materials that HR professionals can download and distribute to help acclimate transplant or incoming workers. The library includes a schools matrix for the three most populous parishes in Greater New Orleans—St. Tammany, Orleans and Jefferson—as well as a master quality-of-life document, which is regularly updated with new information. “We want all people to see that the sky really is the limit here,” Poitevent says. “You can create whatever type of lifestyle you want, with lots of choices and options, in a very welcoming and friendly place. Some of the most common feedback we get from prospects is how warm and friendly the people of Greater New Orleans are, and we want to make sure we share that with the world.”
GNOINC.ORG
15
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
The Once & Future Workforce
How GNOu is Helping to Grow, Train & Diversify Workers and Opportunities
E
conomic and business development leaders in Greater New Orleans have long understood that bridging the gap between education and industry is one of the most critical needs in our region. It’s a concept universally known as workforce development—put simply, ensuring that workers are equipped with skills that match the immediate needs of businesses in their area. When working efficiently, a workforce pipeline will consistently train and prepare workers for jobs that not only exist now, but also for jobs that will exist in the future, effectively raising the overall wealth of the workforce, promoting business development and creating even more opportunities in a wider range of industries. However, when the pipeline is broken, an area will see an overproduction of workers in industries with few opportunities, while underproducing workers in industries with high demand. Identifying and repairing any such gaps in the Greater New Orleans talent pipeline is what led GNO, Inc. to establish its own demand-driven workforce development program, GNOu. “GNOu exists to convene, connect and facilitate high-demand, high-wage career pathways between higher-education institutions
16
REGION Q1 2021
and our industries,” says Josh Tatum, GNOu Program Manager. “We know that Greater New Orleans is a higher-education destination. We’re one of few metropolitan areas in the country with more than a dozen higher-education institutions, encompassing everything from medical schools to law schools and HBCUs. “Our goal is to get education and industry leaders in the same room to create partnerships that ensure students are receiving a market relevant curriculum, which will lead graduates to actually obtaining a job.” GNOu takes its cues from industry, subverting the typical supply-driven approach which requires businesses to create jobs—a fine concept in theory, but not the most effective way to meet a region’s immediate needs or to quickly put graduates to work. Instead, GNOu’s demand-driven model is designed to synchronize industry needs and educational output. Local educators are already putting this approach to work: after consultation with GNO, Inc., Dillard University launched its Urban Water Management Certificate Program to train workers who will be equipped to handle problems like flooding, stormwater surge and sinking land. Meanwhile, GNOu’s mecha-
tronics apprenticeship program is in its second cohort, training apprentices at Delgado, Our goal is to get education Nunez and Northshore and industry leaders in Technical Communithe same room to create ty College in an “earn partnerships that ensure students are receiving a while you learn” formarket relevant curriculum, mat that will see them which will lead graduates to immediately placed actually obtaining a job.” into jobs with partners Elmer Chocolate, Laitram and Zatarain’s upon graduation. GNOu’s demand-driven approach is also matched by the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) FastStart Workforce Development Program, which takes the initiative to a state-wide level. Susana Schowen, Director of Workforce Initiatives for LED FastStart, says her mission is twofold: both to promote the development of highwage, high-opportunity jobs and to ensure that Louisiana’s workers have equitable access to those career pipelines. “Workforce development is future-oriented, and it’s about making sure it’s our own people who are going to get those jobs by addressing issues of inequity, both within the workforce and in quality of access,” Schowen says. “We work with our counterparts and make sure that, in addition to the economic development perspective, we’re all pushing toward this goal of a more resilient and equitable economy that does not depend on where or to whom a person was born.” Combining the expertise and perspective of partners like LED, industry leaders and higher-education institutions allows GNOu to facilitate action and innovation that both address gaps in the workforce pipeline and promote a more equitable workforce ecosystem. Much of that collaboration has led to a focus on technology and STEM-intensive fields, which Schowen says are consistently undersupplied with workers despite their tremendous potential. “Computer science, engineering, data science and analytics are fast-growing fields that are undersupplied across several industries, even though they are typically the types of jobs that are being hired for by the economic drivers,” Schowen says. “These drivers are motivated to grow as fast as they can, and they’re motivated to get and retain a workforce to help them do that. So they understand the need to diversify and address inequities within the workforce. They have every interest and incentive to do that.” Enter the New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC), a not-forprofit business incubator dedicated to furthering bioscience innovation in the state. In partnership with GNOu and higher-education institutions in the region, NOBIC is soon to be the home of the TechHub—a place where students can collaborate and train in specialized technologies regardless of university affiliation.
GNOu – A Triple Win
1
Companies get the workers they need
“The beauty of the TechHub is that we’re maximizing resources across our higher education system,” Tatum says. “We know these schools serve and are able to engage many different communities, so why not maximize our assets as a whole? We can bring experts and resources together to create a curriculum that aligns with industry and business, and we can provide technology training through an equity lens to make sure all people can access these opportunities they might not have even known about. That’s what the Hub does.” Tatum says the TechHub will also give workers from other industries—such as tourism and hospitality—the opportunity to “upscale” their existing skills to begin seeking higher-paying jobs in the tech field. The term “tech,” he says, can often be misleading, as many professionals might discount themselves from technology jobs if they aren’t pursuing STEM-intensive careers like computer science or engineering. “The truth is that if you take the skills someone already knows and are using every day—for instance, project management or communications and marketing—and stack it with another tech skill like Java, they’re prepared to go into a client-facing tech field,” Tatum says. “That’s how we’re structuring the TechHub: Not only will there be students at an expertise level, but we also want to engage individuals who can use their skills from other industries to get a really great new job. We see this as an opportunity to build a pipeline that hits those high skills but also meets those middle skills and rapid-response opportunities.” That’s not to say that technology is the only focus area for GNOu or LED: ultimately, the goal is to create such a robust business ecosystem that jobs are available for any skill level in any industry. But Schowen says it’s important to remember that in order to see maximized development in fields that are currently oversupplied—like the arts and humanities—the first step is to harness the potential of undersupplied industries. “This is how we’ll be able to address poverty in Louisiana: by getting people into these undersupplied jobs where pay is better, and therefore employers are more motivated to keep them there. It gives people a really great fallback,” Schowen says. “If we don’t supply enough people in those fields to our employers, they will not be able to grow to their maximum potential. But when they are able, that’s when we’ll see growth in the larger economy, an increase in wealth and more revenue to reinvest into our communities. It’s a positive cycle of growth, where you can then open opportunities for people outside those STEM fields, but unless we focus on these things now, we don’t achieve the vibrant economy and culture we want in the future.” The good news is that GNOu, LED, NOBIC and educational partners across the Greater New Orleans region share a unified vision and are actively building a foundation to both repair and expand the workforce pipeline. The process might take some time, but on the other side, workers in Louisiana can look forward to a region where wealth and prosperity are accessible to all people from all industries—and that’s a vision worth waiting for.
2
Schools get a market-relevant curriculum
3
Residents are better trained for high-demand jobs
GNOINC.ORG
17
WHAT’S NEW
Wind-Powered Progress How Offshore Wind Can Become an Economic Driver in Greater New Orleans
L
ouisiana’s existing infrastructures in the offshore energy and advanced manufacturing sectors have positioned the region to become a prime asset in another rapidly growing and increasingly important industry: wind power. National industry forecasts predict that wind energy in the U.S. will grow from 30 megawatts in 2020 to 20 gigawatts by 2035, resulting in $70 billion in new capital investments and approximately 45,000 new jobs. Considering Louisiana’s geographical advantages and thriving marine infrastructure, there is perhaps no greater place for much of this development to occur, and both government officials and public and private stakeholders are mobilizing to ensure that the region’s potential is maximized. In November 2020, Governor John Bel Edwards formally requested that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) form a task force across federal, state and local levels of government to harness the Gulf of
18
REGION Q1 2021
Mexico’s strengths and to chart a course for developing the offshore wind sector in Louisiana. Many of the existing anchors that will play a key role in achieving this are already located within Greater New Orleans, which could further centralize the region as a hub of innovation and advancement. At the NASA facility in Michoud is LM Wind Power’s Technology Center Americas (TCA), which has established itself as one of the most reliable and trusted manufacturers of wind turbine blades worldwide. In fact, one in five wind turbines globally are outfitted with LM’s blades, some spanning 107 meters—roughly the equivalent of the Saints pitch, post-to-post. “Wind power is a clean, abundant, reliable and affordable form of renewable energy,” says James Martin, TCA Director. “Our team in New Orleans has designed and developed the world’s most innovative and powerful rotors in the world and have helped lower the cost of wind power to the point where it can compete
with traditional forms of power generation.” In addition to the manufacturing expertise offered by LM Wind Power, the prominent maritime and port industries in Greater New Orleans stand to further extend the region’s capabilities to export materials for offshore wind projects along the U.S. eastern seaboard. Virginia-based company T. Parker Host is currently overseeing the redevelopment of Avondale Marine, a global logistics hub in Jefferson Parish where the convergence of rail, road and river will help to facilitate the global supply chain of offshore wind assets. There is no shortage of expertise there, too, as Jeff Keever, Host’s Government Affairs Representative, has spent several years overseeing offshore wind development and building an adjacent workforce in Virginia. With the favorable alignment of all these circumstances and experts, Brad Lambert, Deputy Secretary at Louisiana Economic Development (LED), says wind power could soon bring an economic boon to the region. “The energy market seems to be organically pulling several of the renewable energy options along, and Louisiana is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities,” Lambert says. “Studies have shown offshore wind has the potential to produce considerable amounts of renewable energy and provide extensive economic development benefits. For instance, a single 600-megawatt wind farm in the Gulf of Mexico would produce an estimated 4,400 jobs and $445 million in economic output during the construction phase, based upon modeling by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.” While the task force requested by Gov. Edwards would only include elected officials and federal and state agency representatives, GNO, Inc. has formed a complementary entity to engage private and public stakeholders who are committed to capturing the maximum economic impact from the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind industry in coastal Louisiana. Called the GNOwind Alliance, this task force convenes industry experts including LM Wind Power, T. Parker Host and local higher-education institutions, who will be critical agents in workforce development. Anthony Bodin, Director of Business Development at GNO, Inc., says jobs and investment related to offshore wind will materialize twofold: externally, by attracting offshore wind manufacturers and marine
service companies who will expand the region’s export capabilities; and Top: Students internally, by creating a in Greater New Orleans learn local supply chain that about wind power with a hands-on both assists BOEM in activity. issuing wind leases in Middle & Bottom: the Gulf and develops An LM Wind Power turbine blade is a specialized worktransported to its force. The GNOwind Alnext destination. liance will accordingly focus on both avenues. “Our aim with the GNOwind Alliance is to really understand what the workforce needs are going to be in the future and to be proactive about fulfilling those needs,” Bodin says. “By facilitating clear coordination between all involved entities, we can foster a conducive business climate for the offshore wind industry and promote greater industry awareness of the major advantages coastal Louisiana provides.” Bodin says that because the region is already equipped with skilled maritime workers and valuable real estate, there is perhaps no better place for advancements in offshore wind energy to take place. “We should be the first region to really develop that workforce. There will be a lot of transferable skills between what the offshore wind sector needs and what the offshore gas sector currently needs and has needed,” Bodin says. “This is a primarily marine industry, and there are very few regions that have the capabilities and expertise that we do, and there are few ports that have that much available land as we do here.” If it sounds like the stars are aligning, it’s because they are, and the results could mean not only a more resilient and protected environment, but also an increased pool of opportunity for workers in Greater New Orleans to find high-paying jobs in a sector that is quickly building momentum. “We have a unique opportunity in New Orleans to take advantage of a world class manufacturing and technology facility, located at the heart of a city that is fast becoming a technology hub,” says James Martin. “This, combined with the logistics and staging opportunities presented by the Mississippi River, means that New Orleans could be the nucleus of the wind power industry that can bring sustainable growth for years to come.”
GNOINC.ORG
19
COMPANY PROFILE
Building Better Batteries Local tech company Advano is leading the region’s renewable revolution
A
New Orleans-based company’s revolutionary technology stands to make lasting impacts not only on renewable energy, but also in the ways consumers travel and engage with their everyday devices. Meet Advano, a nanotechnology company that is providing scalable and sustainable solutions for lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries. Originally developed at Tulane and now advanced at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, Advano’s technology replaces the graphite typically found in battery anodes with silicon. By result, Advano boasts up to 40 percent improvement in energy density in their li-ion batteries. It might sound simple, but it’s anything but: improvements in liion batteries have tapered off across the industry as a result of the complex issues that arise when incorporating silicon into a battery. “Silicon has 10 times more energy capacity than graphite,” says Alexander Girau, Advano Founder and CEO. “The challenge with working with silicon is the swelling caused during charging: silicon expands 400 percent more than graphite. Advano’s material is not only engineered to accommodate silicon swelling, but it is also economically efficient. Tech companies and automotive manufacturers are all too familiar with the limitations of lithium-ion batteries, and battery manufacturers have made very little advancement in their
20
REGION Q1 2021
technology. As a result, we are barely able to get one day of battery life out of the smart devices that we use to power our daily lives.” Not only does Advano’s technology promise longer battery life, but it does so with a focus on scalability. The silicon used in their li-ion batteries is upcycled from scraps left over from the manufacturing of semiconductors and solar panels, helping to maintain the affordability of their products. Girau says this further encourages “the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and ultimately reducing carbon emissions worldwide.” Traditionally, gas powered vehicles have been more affordable for the average consumer because they yield a higher range at lower cost. Without changing that relationship and making electric vehicles competitive by increasing their range between charges, it will be near impossible to reduce the automotive sector’s environmental footprint. However, Advano’s li-ion batteries could change that. “The automotive industry would benefit greatly from Advano’s silicon anode material, A-SiFx™,” Girau says. “Higher energy density means EVs will not just be able to drive from New Orleans to Pensacola on one charge: they’ll be able to drive back to New Orleans on that same charge. Range anxiety will be a thing of the past. It also means a Ford Focus Electric will be less expensive than a gas-powered Ford Focus. That will change everything.”
As for everyday tech like smart phones, adopting Advano’s methods could both lengthen average battery life and enable further innovation in size and design, matching the needs and interests of both users and manufacturers. “Proven li-Ion batteries work great for our smart devices, but these devices continue to be manufactured smaller and lighter,” Girau says. “An A-SiFx™-powered battery lets designers get smaller, while product managers can add more functionality and still get more lifetime in between charges. Cell phones, smart watches, drones, power tools—all of these products will get a much-needed power boost.” Girau says that because scalability is a key priority for Advano, there is no greater location for the company than Greater New Orleans, where existing industries like oil and gas can both enable and benefit from revolutions
in chemical manufacturing. Grady Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President of Business Development at GNO, Inc., says Advano is exactly the kind of business the region needs, as it demonstrates the scope of talent emerging from local universities and the potential in the rapidly-growing technology sector. “Tech commercialization at our universities is a key component in growing and diversifying our economy,” Fitzpatrick says. “Advano has attracted influential outside investment, which shines a positive spotlight on New Orleans and the talented founders we have in our community, and they are creating true cutting-edge technology that has applications across many sectors, such as energy, bio, and electronics. Advano is a proof point for other technology companies that you can incubate, fundraise and scale while remaining in Greater New Orleans.”
TECHNOLOGY
Pressing Play
Microsoft’s Game Camp Engages Local Talent in a Growing Industry
C
reatives in New Orleans were issued a unique challenge this year, presenting them an opportunity to maximize their skills, to realize their potential and to connect with some of the nation’s biggest technology studios. In partnership with Unity Technologies and GNO, Inc., Microsoft selected New Orleans as the location for its Xbox Game Studios Game Camp, an interactive, hands-on experience that brought together software developers, musicians, storytellers, artists and creators of all disciplines and skill levels. Participants in the 6-month long Game Camp were challenged to form teams and, using Unity’s industry-leading 3D development tools, to oversee the full scope of planning, designing and creating their own games. The Camp served to not only further illustrate the Greater New Orleans region’s growing investment in software engineering and game development, but also created opportunities and career pathways in an industry that can sometimes seem inaccessible. “Game Camp highlights the opportunities that exist for careers in the tech and video game industry,” says Grady Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President of Business Development at GNO, Inc. “The industry has a reputation for being insular and tough to break into, and one of
22
REGION Q1 2021
the main goals of the Camp is to break down those barriers. Campers are provided mentorship, education and skill development to help them start their careers.” The rise in interest and profitability of entertainment gaming is indicative of a worldwide trend: Fitzpatrick says the video game business represents a $150 billion global market, as compared to the $40 billion and $20 billion industry revenues generated by film and music, respectively. Locally, growth in the gaming sector is evidenced by the expanding presence of companies like inXile Entertainment (which was recently purchased by Xbox Studios), the opening of the Testronic game-testing facility in 2019 and the establishment of High Voltage Software in downtown New Orleans. “We want our local talent to understand the scale of this industry and the numerous opportunities that exist here for a lucrative career,” Fitzpatrick says. And locals were quick to seize the opportunity: when the registration portal for Game Camp opened, more than 400 applicants signed up for the immersive educational experience, which was offered at no cost to Louisianians 18 years and older. The applicants broke into teams based on their main interests, and the Game Camp officially
kicked off in September 2020. Each team worked collaboratively to develop their games, using complimentary Unity software licenses and consulting with Unity experts along the way. “As a professor of computer science and game design who cares deeply about having as many voices heard in the industry as possible, the Camp’s goal to provide a platform for budding game developers from regions not necessarily known for game development was particularly salient for me,” says Benjamin Samuel, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of New Orleans. “Moreover, the opportunity to learn from industry professionals seemed too good to pass up; I knew it would both make me a better game developer personally, as well as give me new insights to teach to future students in the classroom.” Samuel’s team, which was composed of a range of skill levels, developed an adventure game set in what he describes as a “dystopian Australian Outback starring a cybernetic koala.” The enthusiasm within the team quickly became apparent, as the Campers began to build out a vast world rich with narratives and challenges. Samuel says they even produced their own music and created renderings of the game’s heroes, based on initial clay models, to bring the experience to life. “Greater New Orleans is full of developers who are overflowing with creativity and talent, but who normally might not have an opportunity to have their voices be heard unless they leave the region,” Samuel says. “By bringing opportunities to Greater New Orleans, it affords an opportunity for the games made here to preserve the unique voices offered by the eclectic and spirited folks that have chosen to make New Orleans their home. This is a huge win not only for Greater New Orleans, but for the gaming industry as a whole, which will only benefit from a broader diversity of thought, voice and people.” Another Camp team was helmed by local non-profit Operation Spark, which seeks to provide accessible software literacy training
This is a huge win
not only for Greater New Orleans, but for the gaming industry as a whole, which will only benefit from a broader diversity of thought, voice and people.”
to youth throughout the state. Founder and CEO John Fraboni says that harnessing the momentum created by the Camp, even after its conclusion, will allow Operation Spark to help more students find high-paying jobs with national leaders in entertainment technology. “Unity is the real industry standard in terms of the toolset used in this industry,” Fraboni says. “This is a great opportunity for students to get their feet in the mud, have some fun and learn. The gaming industry in Greater New Orleans is growing, and I want to make sure that after Game Camp, we continue to study and teach Unity development and help to rapidly build the talent pipeline.” Fraboni says that plan includes creating Unity education programs for both high school-aged students and for adults, which will quickly allow students to reach intermediate skill levels. In addition, the Camp has helped to illustrate the diversity of skills required within the gaming and software industries—a point Fraboni emphasizes to all Operation Spark students. “There’s a career out here for everyone in the software industry,” Fraboni says. “Maybe only 30 to 40 percent of what you do on a project is engineering; the rest is project management, financing, design and sometimes even law. It’s a wide industry, and these jobs pay well. Plus, there’s lifelong learning because the industry is always in flux.” Though Camp will conclude in late March 2021, the experience stands to have lasting effects. Fitzpatrick says GNO, Inc. hopes that some participants will eventually see their games officially published and distributed, and in the long term, this could lead to more software and gaming companies relocating or starting up within the Greater New Orleans area. Ultimately, the Xbox Game Studios Game Camp has shown that the talent and imagination these industries need to grow and advance is available right here, right now.
GNOINC.ORG
23
PERSONAL PROFILE
inspirations, key observations she’s made through NOLAvate Black, and what every New Orleanian can do to ensure that no talented professionals—including themselves—are left out of the conversation. Q: What inspired you to create NOLAvate Black?
A Conversation with Sabrina Short
The Mind and Mission of NOLAvate Black’s Founder & CEO
W
e talk a lot about tech—the expanding presence of tech businesses in Greater New Orleans, the industry’s growing impact on both the regional and state economies, and an ever-increasing slate of initiatives to develop and train tech’s next-gen workforce. Still, there are critical conversations to be had about how tech can become a powerful engine for inclusive opportunity creation in our community, and who the drivers of that change can
24
REGION Q1 2021
and should be. So just how inclusive is tech? That very question is what motivated Sabrina Short—a native New Orleanian thinker, speaker, author and advocate—to identify and bridge existing disparities within the Greater New Orleans tech community. Short’s response is NOLAvate Black, a community and forum of Black professionals in tech who are combining education, advocacy and collective capacity to create a more equitable and sustainable tech ecosystem for our region. Short spoke with REGION to discuss her
As a community organizer and digital media creative, I wanted to offer a space where people of color could gather to network, learn from one another and explore opportunities to collaborate. At the time, New Orleans was getting national recognition as an emerging tech hub, but I just didn’t see many Black professionals in the spaces where techies were convening. After speaking with a few tech creatives like myself, they shared that they didn’t feel that they were represented in this emerging industry. I strongly felt that we couldn’t invest in industry growth without strategically exploring how to include the people who represent the majority of the New Orleans population. In response to the many followup conversations I had about access within the ecosystem, a group of us hosted the first ever Inclusive Innovation conference, Black Tech NOLA, during the 2018 Essence Festival. It was the perfect time to have a discussion about inclusion in tech at the largest gathering of Black professionals and influencers in the country. Q: How did you end up dreaming up and leading this organization?
I am a convener. My personal mission, my purpose, is centered around bringing people together to strengthen our communities. When I organized the first Black Tech NOLA, I didn’t really think that NOLAvate Black would grow to be the respected organization it is today, having reached over 2,000 professionals in the Gulf Coast Region. I am honored the tech community chose me to carry the torch of addressing equity for people of color in the industry. I have always been committed to the work of social justice and undoing racism. Now, I am advocating in the tech sector. We are moving beyond advocacy, toward taking an active role in building an accessible and sustainable pipeline from entry to exit. There are so many organizations focused on non-traditional pathways into the industry
CHERYL GERBER PHOTO
by exposing our youth to STEM, preparing our high school students for high demand, high wage jobs in tech and organizations teaching adults to code. NOLAvate Black wants to ensure that our community knows about these resources and organizations to get the training needed for the hundreds of jobs available in our region. Q: What’s the biggest thing you wish people knew about Black tech in New Orleans?
I want people to know three things about Black tech in New Orleans: First, there are already qualified and experienced tech professionals in this region. When companies say they have challenges finding qualified candidates, I say they aren’t looking hard enough. Silicon Valley isn’t the only place where innovation is happening. New Orleans is filled with tech founders, professionals and educators of color, all working to bridge the gap in tech. Second, you don’t have to be technical to be in tech. Software developers and engineers aren’t the only roles in the industry. We have companies right here in the city looking for project managers, sales managers, account representatives, marketers, artists and content creators. Don’t be intimidated by the word “tech.” Technology companies are just like any other business. They have roles that need to be filled across departments and skill levels. Don’t count yourself out! Finally, inclusion is not just a Black people issue. We need everyone working together to find solutions to not only make the industry more equitable, but also fostering a culture within the companies where everyone is valued. That means policies that match DEI statements, authentic community engagement and financial investment.
Q: Where do you see Black participation within tech in New Orleans going in the next five years?
I envision New Orleans becoming the epicenter of Black tech creatives in the world. Our city is the perfect place for leaders from across the globe to gather around the intersection of tech, art and culture within the Black community. NOLAvate Black’s mission is about building the collective capacity of the Black tech community. We are stronger when we come together to leverage our resources and increase our economic impact, not just as consumers, but also as innovators, founders, investors and policymakers. Q: Living or deceased, who are two people you’d want to have dinner with and why?
I would love to have a sit down with Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. Both women are so powerful! Ms. Winfrey, for her ability to build a multimedia conglomerate while being able to identify talent and invest in their goals, and Ms. Angelou, for her ability to inspire and uplift with her eloquent words. Oh, the conversations we would have about life, people, leadership and the world! Q: How would your friends and family describe you?
I am known as the great connector. When I say that I believe it is my personal mission to bring people together, I mean it. I love people! My friends and family say I stay busy and am always up to something. I am blessed to be able to do what truly brings me joy. Q: What do you do in your downtime?
What’s downtime? I am getting better about taking time to relax and unplug. I love to travel and am a foodie. When the world opens back up, I can’t wait to get on the plane to anywhere with my husband and son!
GNOINC.ORG
25
PROGRAMS + INITIATIVES
Economic Mobility The ability of an individual, family or group to improve their wealth and social status, either within an individual lifetime or between generations. By now, you’ve probably noticed some emerging trends across many of GNO, Inc.’s key initiatives, and that’s by design. Communication, education, research and workforce development are necessary components to wealth creation and business development; in turn, the synchronicity of those parts across all focus areas remains critical to fulfilling GNO, Inc.’s mission of fostering long-term prosperity. But GNO, Inc. also believes that without economic mobility, the maximum potential for economic development in our region can never be realized. Both current and future generations
will require equitable access to high-paying jobs and opportunities in our fastest-growing sectors to position Greater New Orleans as a hub of innovation and wealth creation. To that end, GNO, Inc. has developed a series of initiatives focused on wealth creation for the Black community in our region, illustrated here in our economic mobility matrix. With active policy reform, community partnerships and professional advancement strategies, we strive to remove roadblocks that minority populations disproportionately encounter. Together, we can create a greater Greater New Orleans.
Economic Mobility Policy Agenda
Education + Family
Increase early childcare and education for working families; Expand paid family leave benefits
26
REGION Q1 2021
Generational Wealth Building
Identify, address, and remove hurdles to home ownership, asset accumulation, and other means of creating intergenerational wealth
Tax Reform
Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit; Remove deductibility of federal taxes and lower the individual income tax rate
Criminal Justice
Transportation
Identify reform targets within the criminal justice system that is both community driven and fiscally responsible
Lower auto insurance rates; Improve infrastructure in urban and non-urban areas of GNO/ Louisiana; Improve connectivity and reliability of GNO public transit
GNOINC.ORG
27
PHOTO GALLERY
Top: Staff members from GNO, Inc. during a tour of Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East Bottom Left: Business Development ManagerGary Silbert was the recipient of the Entergy Spark Award, given for his commitment to Southeast Louisiana to attract and retain businesses that will build a flourishing economy. Right: GNO, Inc. was honored to receive the Community Crisis Leadership Award from the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.
28
REGION Q1 2021
PHOTO GALLERY
A signing ceremony for participants in the second cohort of the GNO Mechatronics Apprenticeship Program, held at Nunez Community College.
Educators and participants of the GNO Mechatronics Apprenticeship Program outside of the Mechatronics Mobile Lab, which will allow for remote education of these high-demand skills
On November 12, 2020, GNO, Inc. hosted a joint meeting of their Board of Directors and NextGen Council at Stirling Properties’ Conference Centre on 11, located in the Pan American Life building.
30
REGION Q1 2021
NEWSFLASH In December 2020, Jefferson Capital Partners announced their investment of growth capital in Louisiana Pepper Exchange, a New Orleans-based producer of pepper mash which is then supplied to kitchens, co-packers and hot sauce manufacturers globally. Not only will JCP’s investment allow LPE to expand operations and personnel, but it will help to further establish Greater New Orleans as a food manufacturing hub in the Southeastern United States—an industry that is already responsible for an estimated $800 million impact to the regional economy.
32
REGION Q1 2021