Region Q3 2022 by Renaissance Publishing

Chief of Staff Rachel Shields Vice President of Brand & Marketing Matt Wolfe Business Development & Research Manager Harrison Crabtree Vice President of Advancement Sara Bradford Renaissance Publishing Editor Topher Danial Art Director Ali Sullivan Account Director Meggie Schmidt Production Manager Rosa Balaguer Production Designer Meghan Rooney Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne

Greater New Orleans, Inc.

President & CEO Michael Hecht Vice President of Business Development Josh Fleig

By10 the Numbers Wise12 Women

Profile Meet Susco, the company providing cutting edge software development solutions in New Orleans and beyond.

About8

Photo28 Gallery Newsflash30 Calucem Newsflash32

Letter6

Web320 How local industries are preparing New Orleans to meet and lead the next evolution of the Internet.

USL NOLA

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3475 New Orleans, LA 70163 (504) 527-6900 gnoinc.org Q3 2022/VOLUME 3/NUMBER 3

Meet the coalition establishing the region as a hub of neurological research and advancement.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, INC.

Greater New Orleans, Inc.

from the President

GNO, Inc.’s mission to diversify one of the most rapidly growing industry sectors in Greater New Orleans.

Business24

In26 Conversation Don Drucker, founder of Pyramid Audio, talks bringing cultural experiences to life with immersive audio and visuals.

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Contents

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

NeuroNOLA16

6 REGION Q3 2022 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT W

MICHAEL HECHT GNO, Inc. President & CEO disease in New Orleans. We are going to make Greater New Orleans the “MD Anderson of Alzheimer’s.” The result will be thousands of lives improved, and jobs created.

Finally, we are looking ahead to the impact of “Web3” on our culture bearers and artists, and how these new technologies will allow the creativity generated from our community to take advantage of new income and distribution streams. Thank you for your support,

elcome to the Q3 issue of REGION Magazine! Greater New Orleans has never looked so promising for young people seeking a highwage, high-demand career. It is a great time to be a job seeker. But the flip-side is that businesses need qualified workers. With this mind, GNO, Inc. has developed a range of demand-driven workforce programs. One of the programs that has had the most impact is our WISE Women (Women in the STEM Economy) initiative, that exposes some of the best and brightest female students in the region to the companies that hire STEM workers and to ensure they have the right training for these jobs. In a continued focus on planning for the future, GNO, Inc. is happy to unveil NeuroNOLA, a group of over a dozen healthcare providers, education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private companies who are united in a commitment to creating a hub for the research and treatment of neurodegenerative

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.

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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.

PLAQUEMINESJEFFERSONORLEANSST.BERNARDST.CHARLESST.JAMESST.JOHNTHEBAPTISTST.TAMMANYTANGIPAHOAWASHINGTON 10 PARISHES SOUTHEASTOFLOUISIANA RELATIONSHIPS . RELEVANCE. RESULTS . ABOUT GREATER NEW ORLEANS, INC. LOUISIANA STATE GOVERNMENT Louisiana Economic Development GOVERNMENTFEDERAL MEDIA PUBLIC PROSPECTS PARISH ORGANIZATIONSDEVELOPMENTECONOMIC WashingtonTangipahoaSt.theSt.St.St.St.PlaqueminesOrleansJeffersonBernardCharlesJamesJohnBaptistTammany STAKEHOLDERS OurGovernmentInvestorsParishColleges/UniversitiesLegislatorsBusinessCommunityNonprofitsInfluencers

10 REGION Q3 2022 BY THE NUMBERS Greater New Orleans BY THE NUMBERS Q3 2022 An economic snapshot of Greater New Orleans’ 10-parish market EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMY STATISTICS 1,442,076POPULATION 31% of Louisiana’s population resides in Greater New Orleans SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, 2021 48,338ECONOMY Private Establishments SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, Q4 2021 53,485 Unique Job Postings SOURCE: LIGHTCAST, JULY 2022 DATA SECTOR $2.7BGDP$65,595AVERAGE27,029JOBS&TRANSPORTATIONOVERVIEW:LOGISTICSSALARY SOURCE: LIGHTCAST EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS $65,780 Metro Average Annual Wages SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, Q4 2021 666,043 Civilian Labor Force SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED 5/22 4.1% Regional Unemployment SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED 5/22

RECENT RANKINGS

GNOINC.ORG 11 FAST FACTS: TRANSPORTATION & TRADE GNO, Inc.’s mission is to create a Greater New Orleans with a thriving economy and an ex cellent quality of life, for everyone. For more information about the market, or help with your business, please contact our Research and Business Development team: *Due to data collection methods, previous GNO By the Numbers are not directly comparable

OVERALL COST OF LIVING GNO Region: 99.3 U.S. Average: 100

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has been named one of three Best Airports in North America (5-15M passengers) —Airports Council International Louisiana is #5 in USA for Growth in Digital Entrepreneurs —Amazon New Orleans is ranked #1 for Logistics and FTZ Imports —Business Facilities New Orleans is the #4 Most Entrepreneurial Metro in USA —Cloud Kitchens Harrison Crabtree Business Development & Research hcrabtree@gnoinc.orgManager

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COST OF LIVING & REAL ESTATE

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Greater New Orleans ranks #8 in the USA in number of entrepreneurs per capita Louisiana’s—Commodity.comfour-year public and private colleges and universities are #4 in the USA for providing social mobility to students —2022 Social Mobility Index

SOURCE: COSTAR TRADE $11.8B Value of Exports from the New Orleans Metro Area #6 largest U.S. metro measured by value of exports

RANKINGS

Josh Fleig Vice President of Business Development jfleig@gnoinc.org

Youth DonationProjectEmpowermentReceivesMajor

In July, The FoundationRusovichannounced a direct $100,000 donation to the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), as part of The NOLA Coalition’s pledge to raise five million per year for youth services, over three years, for a total of fifteen million invested in high-impact New Orleans nonprofits. This generous support is in response to the Coalition’s pledge to in vest in positive generation al change for young people in New Orleans. The funds were provided directly to YEP, and will immediately be used to support the organization’s activities and services in the local community.

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU; U.S. EXPORTS BY METROPOLITAN AREA, Q1 2022

SOURCE: LIGHTCAST REAL OFFICEESTATE Local Vacancy: 6.9% National Vacancy: 12.4% Local Rent: $20.30/ft2 National Rent: $34.98/ft2 Local Inventory: 53.6M ft2 INDUSTRIAL Local Vacancy: 1.7% National Vacancy: 4.0% Local Rent: $9.11/ft2 National Rent: $10.72/ft2 Local Inventory: 81.3M ft2

BY DREW HAWKINS

“I used to be embarrassed to say, ‘I don’t know,’” Ernest says. “I used to feel like I had to know.” That began to change after an ordinary afternoon at the hair salon, where she heard about the program that would change her life. Her hairdresser told her about a mentorship program called the Women in the STEM Economy (WISE Women) ini tiative. Ernest applied to the program and got accepted. She said that in just a few weeks, her entire worldview—and the

hat’s your major? Liyah Ernest used to fear that ques tion. Even though she’s a brilliant and confident student—she took advanced physics her freshman year of high school and was accepted into Stanford University with a full scholar ship—she still wasn’t sure what to focus her college studies on or which career path she wanted to pursue.

The Wise Women of STEM GNO, Inc.’s mission to diversify one of the most rapidly growing industry sectors in Greater New Orleans.

12 REGION Q3 2022 WOMEN IN WSTEM

A native of New Orleans, Maneau was displaced by Hurricane Katrina and briefly moved to Alabama with her family. While she was there, she attend ed a NASA Explorer School, which she says piqued her interest in STEM.

Women who have these types of careers have a multiplier effect throughout the community that is stronger than those of men— especially women of color. If we increase the number of young women who have these high wage, high-growth careers, we can decrease poverty and increase generational wealth.” “ verse range of STEM occupations, in cluding trade professionals, educators, engineers, computer scientists, doc tors and more. These mentors taught and advised their mentees about op portunities that might align with their individual interests.

“I knew I wanted to be a part of that world,” she says. Maneau returned to New Orleans, got an internship at the NASA facility, and later accepted a full-time position. She credits her exposure to STEM jobs at a formative time in her life with sparking her pro fessional journey, and she hopes she can help guide the next generation of

WOMEN IN STEM

One of those mentors was Kelsey Maneau, the first woman to ever work on the space launch system team at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East. As a young woman of color herself, Maneau says she wel comed the opportunity to share her in sights and what she’s learned through her own personal experiences navigat ing the STEM industry. “I didn’t have a representation of what a woman in STEM looks like,” Maneau says. “As a mentor with WISE Women, I hope to build positive and ef fective connections to support, empow er, and inspire the other young women in STEM academically and personally.”

GNOINC.ORG 13 way she saw her hometown of New Or leans—was different. While the Crescent City is known across the world for its unique culture, food and music, it’s also rapidly estab lishing its reputation as a hub for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries. Through the WISE Women program, Ernest was able to explore and experience some of the STEM opportunities right here in the Greater New Orleans region. Ernest says that she, like many of her peers, just wasn’t aware of what was possible–and which industries were creating jobs–in her own backyard. Er nest graduated from Ben Franklin High School in early 2022 and took dual-en rollment classes at the University of New Orleans. But it wasn’t until she participated in the WISE Women pro gram that she learned a biotech compa ny, Obatala Sciences, was also operat ing on UNO’s campus, just steps away from her classroom. “WISE Women has shown me that New Orleans, my home, does offer suc cessful and cool–like very, very cool–careers,” Ernest says.

Louisiana has historically lagged behind the rest of the country when it comes to STEM jobs and education. A 2014 study from Georgetown Universi ty found the state was nine percentage points behind the national average for STEM job opportunities for new grad uates. Additionally, a majority of STEM workers are white and men, who are paid more than women for the same or similar roles. But Louisiana is trying to change that, and initiatives like the WISE Wom en program will help close the gap and boost STEM learning in the region. That includes closing the opportunity gap for underrepresented and underserved populations, such as women and peo ple of color, to engage in Louisiana’s STEM workforce and economy. ACT 392 of the 2017 legislative session created and funded nine regional STEM centers throughout the state to help communi ties, parishes, multi-parish regions, and the state improve access to STEM edu cation, participation and advancement. Daphine Barnes, Director of STEM and Economic Mobility at GNO, Inc., is the Region 1 STEM Director for Loui siana, as well as founder of the WISE Women initiative. “Historically, there has been a significant gap in women, especially those representing racial mi norities or have socioeconomic dispar ities, in science, technology, engineer ing, and mathematics careers,” Barnes says. “The program was created to ex pose, engage and inspire young women to pursue STEM careers where they are typicallyBarnesunrepresented.”sayshergoal is to increase the number of young women selecting, matriculating through, and becoming employed by STEM companies—hope fully within the region. She said that the program is currently engaging these young women at a transformative point in their lives–such as high school graduation–and giving them insight on lucrative careers that can change their entire life trajectory, positively impact future generations, attract and retain businesses, and improve the communi ty as a whole. “If I can encourage just one young woman to pursue a STEM career, or help her discover her capaci ty for STEM, I have done my job.” Since its formation this year, more than 200 young women throughout the Greater New Orleans region have applied for the WISE Women program. Twenty-two mentees were selected for the first cohort and were guided by 25 mentors representing a wide and di

14 REGION Q3 2022 STEM leaders in the same way. Maneau says what she loves most about being a mentor is watching the reactions of mentees when they visit an excit ing new place, like Obtala Sciences, Ranch Movie Studios, NASA, or the New Orleans International Airport, and realize they could work there someday. She says it’s “priceless” to see their faces light up when they are inspired and empow ered. “Sometimes, hearing a reminder from another woman on the same mission is all one needs to get through,” Maneau says. “It does a lot of good.” In fact, the positive effects of representation and diversity can span generations, as STEM careers are often lucrative, high-wage, high-growth opportunities. Barnes says the statis tics don’t lie. “Women who have these types of careers have a multiplier effect throughout the community that is stronger than those of men—especially women of color,” she says. “If we increase the number of young women who have these highwage, high-growth careers, we can decrease poverty and in crease generational wealth.” Barnes says that’s why it’s crucial that education, com munity, business and industry work together to increase the number of students who pursue STEM careers. They have the potential to improve entire communities by increase tax bases that can create better schools and infrastructure and increase community investment—especially through home ownership and small business ideation and creation. WOMEN IN STEM

GNOINC.ORG 15 WOMEN IN STEM

“Most importantly,” she says, “WISE Women has taught me to embrace my answer of ‘I’m not sure what I am going to major in… yet .’”

In addition, when companies are determining where they will headquarter or expand their business footprint, a pipe line of talented workers is crucial to their decision making. If New Orleans has a highly skilled, employable workforce, the region can attract and retain even more businesses. “We want and need businesses within our region,” Barnes says, “so it is incumbent upon us to make sure that we can support them.”

Of course, that all starts by inspiring the next generation of

STEM movers and shakers–like Liyah Ernest–and introducing them to the opportunities available right here in Greater New Orleans. On the other side of her WISE Women experience, Er nest says she has the knowledge and confidence to open new doors before deciding on a path to follow.

Dr. David Houghton, Chief of Movement and Memory Disorders at Ochsner, says that all stakeholders in the NeuroNOLA initiative have deep experience in the neurosciences and bring unique points of view and exper tise to the group. That includes clinic cen “NeuroNOLA is a collaborative that brings together the region’s significant base of neurological research and clini cal expertise to catalyze true cooperation within neurosciences,” says Harrison Crabtree, Business Development and Re search Manager at GNO, Inc. Crabtree says there are several condi tions that support Greater New Orleans becoming a national neurosciences des tination. First is a growth in the number of people dealing with neurodegenerative diseases, both nationally and globally. Five million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, one million from Parkinson’s, 400,000 from multiple sclerosis (MS), and 30,000 from amyo trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to name a few. As the number of diagnoses rises, so too does the demand for an accessible hub of care in the Gulf South.

Next, there’s the wealth of local exper tise that has already laid the groundwork for regional expansion. Crabtree says Greater New Orleans benefits from a wide range of organizations that are currently leading the fight against neurodegenera tive diseases, while the region’s concen tration of higher-education institutions–such as Xavier, Loyola and Tulane–could yield even more local talent to usher in the next generation of innovation.

Ochsner Health announced that the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute was designated as a “Comprehensive Care Center” by the Parkin son’s Foundation, making it the only health system in Louisiana to hold this distinction.

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On the patient front, hospital systems like LCMC Health, Tulane and Ochsner are providing high-quality clinical and hospital care to patients diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases, serving as a critical bridge between research and treat ment. These industry leaders are already being recognized for their efforts: this year,

The Neural Network GNO, Inc.’s NeuroNOLA Initiative Is a True Meeting of the Minds BY DREW HAWKINS

t might be strange to think about, but everything you know–about yourself, about others and about the world around you–is perceived, processed and controlled by a roughly three-pound cluster of cells that sits inside your head.

The human brain–the central compo nent of the nervous system–is composed of blood, stem cells, neurons and glial cells that work together to transmit and receive chemical and electrical signals, which are then sent throughout the body. These signals control every thought, ev ery action, every sensation—everything ranging from excitement, fear, hunger, pain and euphoria. Every breath you take, whether you notice it or not, was signaled by your brain. But sometimes, these processes can be disrupted. As the name implies, a neu rodegenerative disease attacks, breaks down or impairs neurological function, and highly specialized treatment for neu rological conditions can be required for the rest of a person’s life. In New Orleans, several healthcare pro viders, universities, private companies and nonprofit organizations have dedicated their expertise and resources to the re search and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as overall neurological science. And while they’re all doing criti cally important work on their own, they together form a collective that can not only make a substantial impact on research and treatments, but which can establish Great er New Orleans as a hub of neurological expertise. That collective, pioneered by GNO, Inc., is known as NeuroNOLA.

NEURONOLA

In the same building, another organization called Pine Biotech op erates a data analysis platform used by various research groups to an

GNOINC.ORG 17 ters at Ochsner, which have been recognized as Centers of Excel lence for treatment of epilepsy, MS, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, as well as the Bazan Laboratory at LSU and the Tulane Brain“EachInstitute.brings unique gifts to this collective,” Houghton says. “And important university partners like Xavier and UNO with their lab expertise will provide cross-institutional seeding of new proj ects with unique new funding streams for growth.”

AxoSim, located in the New Orleans BioInnovation Center on Canal Street, is a biotechnology company that helps facilitate breakthroughs in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with cutting edge technology. Its NerveSim and BrainSim plat forms, colloquially known as “organ-on-a-chip” technologies, de liver clinically relevant data to assist drug discovery and devel opmental efforts by mimicking the structure and function of the human nervous system.

But NeuroNOLA also brings in thought leaders from outside the doctor’s office and university labs, and Houghton emphasizes the equally critical role of companies that are developing new technol ogies to assist in diagnosis and treatment.

“For me, I’m most excited about how technology weaves its way into our care and research models in neurodegenera tive diseases,” Houghton says. “I spend a good portion of my time at Ochsner working on new care models using dig ital connections to help diagnose and treat neurological disease.” Advancing the fight against neurode generative disease also requires public awareness and advocacy, which is where local nonprofit organizations are leading their own charge. Houghton says that partnerships with nonprofits “allow us to stretch the halo effects of these programs into new cutting-edge projects—with greater national recognition and further economic support.”

Steve Gleason, who famously blocked an Atlanta Falcons punt that was recov ered for a touchdown when he played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. From the moment he was diagnosed, Gleason vowed that he would never give up and would fight for himself, his family and everyone living with the disease. He and his wife, Michel, founded Team Gleason, a nonprofit with the mission of bringing more attention to the disease and em powering people with ALS to live purposeful lives.

The research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like PD, ALS and others–as well as the care required by those affected by them–require a multi-faceted community ap proach. Partnership, collaboration and a pooling of resources and information can advance our understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and with NeuroNOLA functioning as the glial cells of this neural network, the breakthrough that current and fu ture patients need could be discovered right here in the Crescent City.

18 REGION Q3 2022 NEURONOLA alyze, manage and integrate data for more effective and comprehensive research.

Because of companies and organizations like these, Crabtree says there’s a strong “oppor tunity for ownership” for the Greater New Orleans region.

Durrett says Team Gleason is excited and proud to play a role in NeuroNOLA and to help make the Greater New Orleans region a destination where patients can receive unparalleled options for their neuro-related health care. “It has been Steve’s and our mission to help foster expanded services and solutions for not only ALS, but for all associated neurodegen erative diseases in the New Orleans area,” she says.

“For the past decade, Steve and Team Gleason have been leading in bringing innovative solutions and unprecedented research to ALS from our home base right here in New Orle ans,” says Clare Durrett, strategic advisor at Team Gleason and managing coordinator at Answer ALS, a nonprofit that’s working to build the most comprehensive clinical, genetic molecular and biomedical study of ALS.

Through a diverse and broad portfolio of programming, Team Gleason “brings assistive technology, equipment and robust support services into the hands of ALS patients” with the goal of helping those living with ALS not just survive, but thrive.

“The ‘competition’ is concentrated on the coasts and in the north,” he says. “That pres ents Greater New Orleans with the opportunity become the ‘destination center’ for neurode generative research and clinical treatment in the Gulf South.”

Not only would this bode well for patients in the south, but establishing New Orleans as a hub for the treatment and research of neurodegenerative disease could yield a substantial economic impact that elevates the quality of life and opportunity for all residents. A suc cessful destination for neurodegenerative disease treatment–even one with just a tenth of the number of direct jobs at other institutions such as MD Anderson–would generate jobs, income and tax revenue, creating a stronger economic appeal for more companies and orga nizations to focus their work in the region.

20 REGION Q3 2022 WEB3

THE

This concept, articulated by 19th century French writer Jean-Bap tiste Alphonse Karr, was illustrated in real time on Twitter in early August, when The Nieux Society – a collection of New Orleans area entrepreneurs, artists and creators bound together by their willingness and enthusiasm to explore the promise of Web3 tech nology – posted a pair of clips from NBC’s Today Show.

A New Frontier for Crescent City Creators

The Web3 Movement – a natural, next evolutionary stage for the Internet – is alive and well in Greater New Orleans.

BY WILL KALEC

“ MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.”

The first clip was old and iconic, a time capsule in its own right. In it, for mer Today co-hosts Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel asked their producer: What, exactly, is the Internet? The oth er clip was new, yet eerily similar to the 1994 Couric-Gumbel clip, as pres ent-day hosts wondered aloud what the Metaverse is and will become. The point illustrated in all this is that what may seem foreign and strange in the present often becomes com monplace in the future. That’s exact ly why several New Orleans firms like The Nieux Society, Gilded, Gripnr and Iconic Moments have made concerted first steps toward embracing the Web3 Movement and readying South Louisi ana to embrace and take full advantage of this oncoming technological shift. “I think there’s a responsibility to explore new things, new technolo gies,” says Tim Williamson, one of the co-founders of The Nieux Society. “And as we do, there’s a huge opportunity be cause it’s still early. It’s not new, but it is growing. Web3 is an industry that’s emerging, and we think there’s a re sponsibility and opportunity to position New Orleans for the future.” That’s all great, of course, but the $64,000 question remains: Just what is Web3?Tooversimplify, Web3 is simply the next evolutionary stage of how the public uses the Internet. Initially, Web1 marked the creation of the Internet and the ability to connect people from across the globe. Web2 dealt with the monetization of the Internet and the struggle for Big Tech companies to grasp a powerful and influential share of the market through platforms like Twitter, Meta (Facebook), YouTube, Spotify and beyond. Web3 seeks to de centralize the Internet, shifting power away from the Big Tech platforms and thus transforming content creators from mere “participants” to true owners of their work and how it’s distributed.

WEB3

“It’s a natural progression…and one of the bigger beneficiaries of this pro gression toward Web3 are the content producers,” Williamson says. “Musi cians. Artists. Creators. Now, all of them have not only the opportunity to take ownership of their content, but also cre ate new revenue streams into perpetu ity. So that’s what’s exciting: We think there’s going to be a new Golden Age of creativity emerging out of Web3.” Another major pillar of the Web3 movement deals with how creators are compensated for their works and how consumers pay for that content, good or service—mainly, the proliferation

22 REGION Q3 2022 of blockchain technology and digital to ken-based currency. In present day 2022, roughly 80-million people use some form of a digital wallet to spend and trade var ious cryptocurrencies or Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). In less than a decade, industry forecasters predict that number will balloon to nearly 1 billion digital wal lets. Therefore, it’s imperative that New Orleans businesses are fully prepared to embrace this transactional shift in how we facilitate transactions. That’s why, at this stage, the main goal for many of the local entities waving the Web3 banner is to first educate New Or leans creators about this whole digital ecosystem. From there, it’s simple match making – linking individuals or teams of certain skillsets that can complement those with a different skillset.

WEB3

“Our culture—food, music, art, experi ences—that’s value that the world wants to What’saccess.”interesting (and perhaps sur prising) is that the connections The Nieux Society hopes to facilitate will be Face-to-Face, in-person connections. To make that a reality, The Nieux Society plans to open a centralized, communal hub on St. Charles Avenue for creators and those with the skills to support those creators to learn, exchange ideas and“Associalize.apeople, we’re not going to do anything different. We’re going to do the things that made New Orleans unique and desirable for 300 years,” Williamson says. “What we are going to do, though, is change the distribution channel, which will inspire new creativity and new revenue.”

“If you can build a diversified network of folks that can connect around Web3, then you have a real opportunity here,” Williamson says. “Because you have the Web3 technologists…but they might not know art, they might not know real es tate, they might not know cuisine. So you bring those people together with the connective tissue being the city of New Orleans itself.

24 REGION Q3 2022 BUSINESS WPROFILE

Software Solutions

How Susco, a Metairie-based technology firm, became one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country.

hen Neel Sus started Susco in 2006, he was a man with a simple mission: he wanted to make a positive impact on the end-users of new software development. Sus had fallen in love with the develop ment process while working at Avondale Shipyards, where he creat ed the first electronic work-order system and was captivated by the

BY MISTY MILIOTO way thoughtful and effective software could transform a company’s efficiency. He took that spark of an idea—and the potential it con tained—and ran with it through several periods of rapid growth.

Sus started hiring full-time employees for Susco in 2009, and in 2010, the company became one of the first three firms in Louisiana to develop an iPhone app. The ElectionHub app, as it was named, allowed voters to research New Orleans mayoral candidates, cam

GNOINC.ORG 25

If all goes according to Sus’s plan—and so far, it has—the word “Susco” will soon be synonymous with “solution.”

Susco’s portfolio is a testament to the promise of that mindset. The company cre ated the first iPad app for LSU football. They launched FQ Task Force, an app dedicated to stemming crime in the French Quarter. They designed national award-winning apps for the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court.

“By 2024, we plan to have an insur ance data product and a SAAS offer ing to market,” Sus says. “We also will have increased our annual donations to $120,000 per year for charities that as sist disadvantaged individuals, such as Junior Achievement and Son of a Saint.”

In 2020, Sus took the company fully re mote—thereby expanding his hiring base to candidates all over the United States, with the goal of growing his workforce to over 60 personnel in the next few years. And in 2021, Susco developed the award-winning Alacrity Connect App for the largest insur ance adjuster in the United States.

Currently, he and his team are working with multiple insurance services firms (forensic engineering, restoration and claims adjusting) to replace their legacy systems and integrate with their market ing claims estimating platforms. “This is further galvanizing our position as a mar ket leader for custom solutions for that sector,” Sus says. Susco is also developing software as a service (SAAS) and data services to scale insurance revenue beyond billable hours. And it’s not just for the sake of profit mar gins, either—it’s for the sake of the com munity, which Sus makes sure to give back to as his company grows.

“We only hire the top 1 percent of appli cants after extensive testing, and we pay them well,” Sus says. “Once they are hired, we continue to develop them professionally andSuspersonally.”saysthatdevelopment takes the form of monthly check-ins, leadership training, individual development planning to help employees set and meet personal goals, em ployee assistant programs and “wellness-re lated subsidies ranging from at-home fitness equipment to meditation training.”

And, seemingly with ease, Susco developed a purchasing system for a major Louisiana shipbuilder who had been struggling to find a software model that accelerated business, rather than hindering it. “They had tried replacing their 20-yearold system three times before, and we were able to deliver a high-quality product that they continue to build upon,” Sus says.

BUSINESS PROFILE

Sus says he sees his company as an as set to the Greater New Orleans region as a whole and that, by working in partnership, Susco can help other homegrown enter prises overcome logistical challenges so they can focus on their own growth.

Susco also develops mobile portals for clients to share key data and information with their customers and vendors in a safe, streamlined way. These applications run on a smartphone, providing vendors, cus tomers, contractors and employees with access to information they need on the go. “This reduces the cycle time of performing work, and it increases customer satisfac tion as people continue to favor self-service options,” Sus says. Since day one, the projects have grown steadily in size and difficulty, and Susco has grown to meet them every step of the way. In 2014, the company narrowed its focus to developing Microsoft-based solu tions for enterprise business software, mo bile workforce apps and systems integra tions. 2016 saw the company shift focus toward national marketing in the insurance sector, and Susco started marketing and securing national work in the property and casualty insurance space in 2019. In fact, the company’s growth has been so significant (scaling at a rate of 136 per cent between 2018 and 2020 alone) that Susco ranked at No. 2801 on Inc. Mag azine’s 2020 list of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. In 2021, Susco jumped 559 spots on that same list to rank at No. 2242, and in 2022, jumped 153 spots to rank at No. 2089 with a 287% growth rate. So, what is Sus’s secret to success? He says the answer is simple: he invests in people first. Sus explains that his compa ny’s core purpose is to enable staff mem bers to contribute in more meaningful ways, because when employees feel inspired and empowered, it shows in their work—and in the client’s reaction to the product.

Neel Sus, Founder/CEO of Susco paign donations, events and policy posi tions—all from their phones.

While Susco has worked with hun dreds of clients from various sectors, Sus is now focusing on forging larger, longterm relationships with fewer clients.

“Louisiana has many mid-market en terprises—most that have complex busi ness processes, legacy systems they need to replace, mobile workforce needs and third-party systems to integrate,” Sus says. “Due to this complexity, 40 percent of their software projects fail, and their entire IT project investment is lost.”

“I am proud that Susco has helped many employees not only grow professionally, but holistically,” Sus says. “Through peer learn ing and mentoring, many employees have leveled up in their relationships, personal hobbies, mental health and physical fitness. Also, our clients’ end-users consistently re port being able to focus on more meaning ful work once our software is deployed.”

Sus combats this problem with a com petent and motivated team that consis tently delivers successful, high-quality projects, and by constantly looking out for new ways to innovate their own ap proach to software development.

Although ElectionHub was just a fledg ling project for the company, it represented what would become Sus’s tried-and-true approach to software development: identi fy a problem or a need people didn’t even realize was holding them back, and deliver a streamlined, user-friendly tool to solve it.

Tell us about yourself. How did you get started on your career path?

REGION about how he came to establish such a successful business and build such a prolific portfolio, as well as where he’s taking Pyramid next.

I sat next to him in orientation, and as we were talking, he said he was starting a band. I said I was happy to join in. By the end of the school year, we had a band and booked our first show at the school’s Hop Sock Dance. Packing up the equipment to head to our show, I realized I didn’t know how to get the equipment there. I asked everyone what to do. My friend simply said, ‘Call a taxi!’ What a great day to remember, because as of now, it takes 53-ft. semis to do the same work.

26 REGION Q3 2022 PERSONAL PROFILE

I started as a freelancer. I literally worked everywhere for free. In my very early days, if I heard of a show or event taking place, I would just show up and work it. My path really started on the first day of high school, during the first hour, when I found my first friend.

More than 30 years have passed since Pyramid Audio put on its first live production, but even after that much time, the company remains an industry leader in sound and video innovation. Pyramid’s meticulously designed experiences are poised on the cutting edge, with many of its recurring clients—like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation and the Krewe of witheasythat’stoitproductionifOrleanssignificantEndymion—representingbenchmarksintheNewculturalzeitgeist.Evenyoudon’trecognizeaPyramidbyname,you’llknowwhenyoufeelit—andaccordingFounderandCEODonDrucker,neitheranaccidentnoranundertaking.Druckerspoke

What led you to launch Pyramid Audio? Did you always see yourself becoming a business owner?

Pyramid is behind several culturally significant events in our region. Can you tell us about some of your favorites? What is New Orleans without Mardi Gras and the Jazz Fest?! Pyramid’s very first real job ever was the Endymion Extravaganza. I had worked the event many times before, but not as a Pyramid event. I went to Mr. Ed Muniz, the captain of Endymion, and asked if he was interested booking my company. He said yes, and the event turn out great. At the end of it, Ed came over to say how brilliant it was and that he wanted to book me again next year. I was extremely ecstatic, but I told him, ‘We need to add lighting to the event,’ and he agreed due to the stages being completely in the dark. I am now in my 42nd year with them, handle all the production of the event, and I am proud to still be with them. I have the same relationship with the New Orleans Jazz Festival, which, fun nily enough, I started working with the exact same year. Now, I am their oldest produc tion vendor providing sound at several stages and LED video walls at all larger stages.

In Conversation with Don Drucker

Have you ever worked on a production you found exceptionally challenging? What was it, and what was the process for bringing it to life?

After playing in a couple of bands for a few years, I found myself starting to work audio engineering with many of them. As guitar players had their own guitars, I decided I should have my own mixing console, so I bought one. Only a few were even available back then. This led to buying more equipment and working with more and more bands.

Being the only engineer with a console, I stayed very busy. Eventually, I collected all my equipment from several bands and, with the help of a disaster loan, I created a large sound system that I was able to rent for large events. I did dream of doing this earlier in life, but it was really never a plan.

I consider most shows inspiring and in need of different kinds of planning; they are all unique, with different acts, different venues and certainly new people all the time. You have to love that. Touring for the Eagles from 2001 to 2007 as their stage manager and on to production manager was very, very challenging, and the Endymion Extravaganza is always a challenge. But a unique one that stands out is a private Queen performance that took place outside of Las Vegas in the middle of July for a very large corporation. What made this unique, besides being in the desert during the middle of summer, was it being Queen’s first private show ever. They were starting a new tour and analyzing what was needed That included: large invisible LED screens, a large-formatted sound system, pyro, remote control spotlights and wireless sensors to be placed on the artists. It was a challenge on every aspect. The planning of the event started 6 months out, but with little information as they were still sorting necessities. We did not have the full scope of what was required till 30 days before the event took place, which caused

Always. I have several shows/events coming up in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center, Champions Square, UNO Lake front Arena and The Fillmore, as well as at the Baton Rouge River Center and out of country in Monaco next month [Sep tember 2022] with Sting. We just finished a run in St. Barts for Sheryl Crow, B-52s, Train and Sugar Ray. We have systems out on tour in Nashville and at the Lollapalooza Festival. But one event in particular is the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which is always exciting. They are the largest fundraising event in New Orleans that helps children in many areas of need and education. Their event, Carnivale du Vin, has a silent auction, live auction for wine and trips, a 5-course dinner pairing and entertainment for folks from around the country. What makes this exciting for me is the ability to create stunning visuals using LED media and lighting. I try to create a new look every year, but still pull in a portion of an old look. It is a challenge to create a look that the audience has not seen before. But what makes this especially exciting is being able to work and be in sync with their creative staff. Between us, this event is always the best you will ever see.

PERSONAL PROFILE

Q: Are there any upcoming projects or changes you’re excited about right now?

What’s the best business lesson you’ve learned on your professional journey? Every day is a new lesson, but most important is staying cur rent with new developments in technology. The day a business stops acquiring new technology is the day that business starts to die. Another lesson we all need to learn is how to organize our efforts and talents into a group with a united goal in mind. I am very impressed with GNO, Inc. and their efforts to correlate and grow the local musical industry. They are supporting the local industry not just for economy expansions, but also to re capture national appreciation for our region’s musical heritage.

GNOINC.ORG 27

changes and challenges every day. From cutting large holes in a brand-new stage, to installing hydraulic lifts, runways, and invis ible LED walls, everything was multifaceted. Not to mention that adding 100 tons of air conditioning to an outdoor open-air stage was very interesting. The outcome was spectacular for the audi ence, the band and me. Everyone was happy and it was a perfect show. I will always remember this one. As we return to in-person events, how do you see the live production industry evolving? New Orleans is an entertainment city. Always has been, and always will be. We produce several events out of state, but the majority of events take place in New Orleans. Due to COVID affecting our industry so deeply, we went from two years of no shows to booking systems and technicians hourly. Our indus try is suffering from not being able to purchase new equipment due to electronic manufacturing shortages, hence backorders going into 2023. I was fortunate that months before COVID, Pyramid updated several large audio and video systems, so now we still have current technologies to serve the New Orleans and surrounding areas.

GNO,

KEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ST. TAMMANY PARISH

THE BLOCK

SOUTH

COMMUNITY AND THE ASSETS

OFFSHORE

FROM AROUND THE GREATER

BEST

CAN BE

BUSINESS LEADERS NEW ORLEANS REGION VISITED ISLAND WIND FARM IN RHODE ISLAND TO LEARN DETAILS AND PRACTICES IN WIND DEVELOPMENT THAT USED IN LOUISIANA.

THE INC. STAFF TOURED AROUND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS FOUND ON

28 REGION Q3 2022 PHOTO GALLERY

THE NORTHSHORE.

GNOINC.ORG 29 PHOTO GALLERY PARTICIPANTS IN THE HBCU STEM CONNECT PROGRAM GRADUATED FROM THEIR INTERNSHIPMONTH-LONGWITHLOCALSTEMCOMPANIES. GNO, INC. BOARD CHARI RICHARD CORTIZAS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH MANAGER HARRISON CRABTREE IN ISRAEL DURING THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS’ LOUISIANA TRADE & COMMUNITY MISSION. GNO, INC. VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT JOSH FLEIG PRESENTS TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS DURING A MEETING AT UNIVERSITY OF HOLY CROSS.

NEWSFLASH

Specialty cement manufacturer Calucem will enter the U.S. market by developing a $35 million manufacturing facility in eastern New Orleans. Calucem, a subsidiary of Spain-based Cementos Molins, is the world’s second-largest producer of calcium aluminate cement, a high-performance product popular in a variety of commercial and industrial uses. The project will create 70 direct jobs at an average annual salary of $51,700, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project also will result in 158 indirect jobs, for a total of 228 new jobs for Louisiana’s Southeast Region.

NEWSFLASH 32 REGION Q3 2022 In July, the United Soccer League announced it an exclusive partnership with USL NOLA, a group dedicated to bringing a professional soccer club to Greater New Orleans with the intent to launch a USL Championship men’s team by 2025 and a USL Super League women’s team. The United Soccer League is the largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organization in North America, possessing more than a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. GNO, Inc. is partnering with USL NOLA to build synergies with the local business community and market.