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2025 GNOu Schedule

Event Schedule

Wednesday, November 19

8:00 – 8:45 AM
REGISTRATION, NETWORKING, BREAKFAST
Gravier Ballroom (A & B)

8:45 – 9:45 AM
MORNING KEYNOTE – A Seat at the Table: Workforce Policy and Regional Readiness
Moderator: Jasmine Brown (Greater New Orleans, Inc.)
Panelists: Tina Roper (Tangipahoa Parish Government), Kim Carver (State Representative), Osmar Padilla (Louisiana Workforce Commission), and Adam Knapp (Leaders for a Better Louisiana)
Gravier Ballroom (C-F)

9:45 – 10:00 AM
NETWORKING BREAK

10:00 – 11:00 AM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS

WORKFORCE
TRACK

From the Ground Up: Building the RAAMP Workforce Infrastructure
Julia Room

  • Moderator: Allison Thomas (Laitram)
  • Panelists: Chrystal Morgan (Boeing), Bruce Morris (Vivace), John Masaveg (Lockheed Martin)

Powering Possibility: Louisiana’s ‘All of the Above’ Energy Workforce
Fulton Room

  • Moderator: Salem Habte (GNO, Inc.)
  • Panelists: Stanley Bienemy (Air Products), Caitlin Cain (Heirloom Carbon), Lira Casborne (Chevron)
TALENT
TRACK

Come Home Louisiana – Talent Attraction & Retention
New Levee Room

  • Moderator: Josh Tatum (GNO, Inc.)
  • Panelists: Tedra Cheatham (LED FastStart), Teresa Lawrence (Delta Administrative Services), Charles Handler (Rocket-Hire), Allison Hotard (Young Leadership Council), Shelby Mounts (AOS)

The Talent Shift: Understanding Job Seeker Priorities
Tchoupitoulas Room

  • Moderator: Erin Pelliteri Howser (Baker Donelson)
  • Panelists: Ivonne Bermudez (Pan-American Life), Adam Bourne (Nunez Community College), Johnnie James (Operation Spark)
STEM
TRACK

From Internships to Impact: How LDOE’s work-based learning shifts student trajectories
Delta Queen Room

  • Moderator: E Dils (YouthForce NOLA)
  • Panelists: Quentin Bradley (Ochsner Health), Tara Means (Plaquemines Parish School Board), Carlin Jacobs (New Orleans Career Center), Story Baquet (YouthForce NOLA)

Moving Forward with Data-Driven Solutions
Natchez Room

  • Moderator: Dr. Jahquille Ross (New Schools for New Orleans)
  • Panelists: Holly Reid (New Schools for New Orleans), Arnel Cosey (Clover), Todd Battiste (United Way of Southeast Louisiana)

Critical Skills for Early Career Hires
Creole Queen Room

  • Moderator: Jake Gleghorn (New Orleans Career Center)
  • Panelists: Courtney Guidry (New Orleans Career Center), Rahmel Fuller (YouthForce NOLA), Brandi Perkins (Omni Hotels), Jeremy Atkinson (Landis Construction)

11:00 – 11:15 AM
NETWORKING BREAK

11:15AM – 12:15 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS

WORKFORCE
TRACK

Workforce, Training, and the Future of GNO Infrastructure
Julia Room

  • Moderator: Susanne Dietzel (Delgado Community College)
  • Panelists: Reggie Poche (Nunez Community College), Lisa Lacour (The Vault Collective), Chuck Morse (Thrive New Orleans)

Greater New Orleans Jobs Report
Fulton Room

  • Moderator: Jonathan Matessino (Bank of America)
  • Panelists: Marco Tejeda-Kemp (GNO, Inc.), James Carlson (Northhsore Technical Community College), Claire Jecklin (New Orleans Career Center), Dr. Darrell Kruger (University of New Orleans)
TALENT
TRACK

Collective Impact: Scaling Sectoral Talent Solutions That Work
New Levee Room

  • Moderator: Jacob Robinson (Greater New Orleans Foundation)
  • Panelists: Courtney Guidry (New Orleans Career Center), Angelique P. White-Miller (Job1), Mason Barney (A1 Electrical Contractors), Victoria Phipps (JP Morgan Chase), Jovanda Fields (Port of New Orleans)

From Policy to Practice: Scaling Work-Based Learning Across Louisiana
Tchoupitoulas Room

  • Moderator: Melissa Ehlinger (YouthForce NOLA)
  • Panelists: Quentin Bradley (Ochsner Health), Chandler LeBoeuf (Louisiana Community and Technical College System), Tonisha Ellis (Louisiana Department of Education)
STEM
TRACK

Future Energy: Inspiring the Next Generation of Energy Leaders
Delta Queen Room

  • Moderator: Salem Habte (GNO, Inc.)
  • Panelists: Brandon Smith (New Orleans Region Industry Alliance), Lacy McManus (LSU Energy), Troy Williams (Southeastern Louisiana University), Chris Montgomery (Northshore Technical Community College)

GNO Career Guide in the Classroom: Connecting Instruction to Regional Career Pathways
Natchez Room

  • Moderator: Kelly DiMarco (Plaquemines Parish Government)
  • Panelists: Daphine Barnes (GNO, Inc.), Andrew Vincent (Jefferson Parish Public School System), Brian Davis (Louisiana Department of Education)

Dual Enrollment: Pathways to Higher Education
Creole Queen Room

  • Moderator: Nathan Stockman (YouthForce NOLA) 
  • Panelists: Leslie Blanchard (Cain Center for STEM Literacy), Chuck Crabtree (Northshore Technical Community College), Misty Slayter (River Parishes Community College)

Justice-Involved Youth & STEM: Structured Pathways for Re-Entry and Growth
Mississippi Queen Room

  • Moderator: Elizabeth Ostberg (EQA Schools)
  • Panelists: Chaun Fleury (JCFA), Jessica Strange (New Orleans District Attorney’s Office), Kehri Billy (Cafe Reconcile), Renard Thomas (Re-Entry Alliance for Louisiana), Chabre Jones (Youth Empowerment Project)

12:15 – 1:00 PM
NETWORKING LUNCH BREAK
Cypress Ballroom & Gravier Ballroom (A & B)

1:00 – 2:00 PM
LUNCH KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Positioning Louisiana to Win
Gravier Ballroom (C-F)

Michael Hecht (Greater New Orleans, Inc.) and Paige Carter (Louisiana Economic Development)

2:00 – 2:15 PM
NETWORKING BREAK

2:15 – 3:00 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS

WORKFORCE
TRACK

Pixels, Playlists & Production: Talent at the Heart of Entertainment
Julia Room

  • Moderator: Grady Fitzpatrick (GNO, Inc.)
  • Panelists: Adriane Bennett (IATSE Local 478), Reid Martin (Mid Citizen Entertainment), Tim Hudson (DAQA), Jessa Carlson (High Voltage Software)

Workforce Strategies Fueling Trade and Transportation
Fulton Room

  • Moderator: Harrison Crabtree (World Trade Center New Orleans)
  • Panelists: Kylie Mills (Port of New Orleans), Kristi App (JW Allen), Dawn Lopez (Associated Terminals)
TALENT
TRACK

Re-Entry: Breaking Barriers: Talent Strategies for Justice-Involved Individuals
New Levee Room

  • Moderator: Kristina Kent (Greater New Orleans Foundation)
  • Panelists: Frank Morse (Thrive New Orleans), Maj. Byron Williams (Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office), Tim Wilkinson (Louisiana Parole Project), Cherie Duckworth (Urban League of Louisiana), Judge Arthur Hunter (Retired Judge)

Next is Now: Talent, Startups, and the Rise of Louisiana’s Innovation Economy
Tchoupitoulas Room

  • Moderator: Andrew Albert (Idea Village)
  • Panelists: Emily Parsons (Excella), Chris Reade (Lookfar), William Mcghee (Encore CO2), Anna deTiege (LA.IO)
STEM
TRACK

AI & Education Systems: Knows, Nos, and Grows
Mississippi Queen Room

  • Moderator: AJ Pethe (Jefferson Parish School)
  • Panelists: Paolo Goes (Tulane Business School), William Wainwright (Southeastern Louisiana University), Towana Pierre-Floyd (KIPP Schools), Dr. Kendall McManus (Ben Franklin High School)

Leveling Up STEM Partnerships: Connect Your School with the Region’s Most In-Demand Industries
Delta Queen Room

  • Moderator: Kelly DiMarco (Plaquemines Parish Government)
  • Panelists: Michelle Sanchez (Tulane University), Laura Roussel (Jefferson Parish Public School System), Ronny Seal (St. Charles Parish Public Schools), KC Alvarado (Ready for Industry), Brian Davis (Louisiana Department of Education)

Revolutionizing Classrooms with Manufacturing 4.0: How K-12 Can Lead the Next Industrial Wave
Natchez Room

  • Moderator: Dr. Fateama Fullmore (NOLA Public Schools)
  • Panelists: Aleen LeBouef (St. Bernard Parish Public School), Reggie Poche (Nunez Community College), Chuck Crabtree (Northshore Technical Community College), Brian Gough (St. Charles Parish Public Schools)

High-Wage High-Demand Pathways
Creole Queen Room

  • Moderator: Marco Tejeda-Kemp (GNO, Inc.)
  • Panelists: Melissa Ehlinger (YouthForce NOLA), Daphine Barnes (GNO, Inc.), Sarah Bell (YouthForce NOLA)

3:15 – 3:30 PM
NETWORKING & SNACK BREAK

3:30 – 4:30 PM
CLOSING KEYNOTE – Charting the Future: AI in Work and Education
Gravier Ballroom (C-F)

Moderator: Josh Fleig (Louisiana Economic Development)

Panelists: Barbara Pender (Accenture), Rob Lalka (Tulane University), Jill Adams (Copado)