Program Schedule

Game Changers: Infrastructure, Investments, and Innovation in Louisiana’s New Economy

7:30 a.m.

Registration & Continental Breakfast

7:55 – 8:10 a.m.

Welcome Remarks & Program Overview

  • Laura Beauchamp
    President, Tulane Association of Business Alumni
    New Orleans, LA
  • Jim Cook
    President & CEO
    New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

8:10 – 8:20 a.m.

President’s Remarks

Michael A. Fitts
President, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA

8:20 - 9:10 a.m.

Panel Presentation:
Rewired - Automation, Transformation, and AI in the Gulf South

Moderator:

Kimberly Gramm
Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer, Tulane Innovation Institute
New Orleans, LA

Panelists:

9:10 – 9:40 a.m.

Closing the Gap:
The State of Healthcare in Louisiana

Erica J. Washington
Data Analytics Program Manager, Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health
Metairie, LA

9:40 – 10:10 a.m.

Fireside Chat:
Building Influence, Impact, and Industry with LA.IO (Louisiana Innovation)

  • Josh Fleig
    Chief Innovation Officer, Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
    New Orleans, LA
  • Rob Lalka
    Albert R. Lepage Professor in Business & Executive Director, Freeman School of Business
    New Orleans, LA

10:10 – 11 a.m.

Panel Presentation:
From Seed to Scale – How Venture Capital Funds and Private Equity Partners Measure Success

Moderator:

David C. Rieveschl
Member, Stone Pigman
New Orleans, LA

Panelists:

  • Kwamena Aidoo
    Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures
    New Orleans, LA
  • Tom Ambrose
    Partner, Black Bay
    New Orleans, LA
  • Tyler Houin
    Managing Director, Carr's Hill Capital Partners Management, L.P.
    New Orleans, LA
  • Evan Nicoll
    Co-Founder and Managing Partner, 1834 Ventures
    New Orleans, LA

Sponsored by Our Raising the Bar Partner, Stone Pigman

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Networking Break

Featuring company activations and participants in the Freeman School pitch competition.

12 – 12:30 p.m.

Luncheon

12:30 – 12:45 p.m.

Luncheon Welcome Remarks & Introduction of the Keynote Moderated Discussion

Paulo Goes
Dean, Debra and Rick Rees Professor Freeman School of Business, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA

12:45 – 1:45 p.m.

Moderated Discussion:
New Orleans' Next Generation of Sports Infrastructure and Investment

Moderator:

Kevin Ferguson
Deputy Mayor & Chief of Staff, City of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA

Participants:

1:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Laura Beauchamp

as of 6/30/2026.