7:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8 – 8:15 a.m.
Welcome Remarks & Program Overview
Taylor Gilbert
President, Tulane Association of Business Alumni
New Orleans, LA
James B. Cook
President & CEO, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, LA
8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
Grounded in Commerce, Brewing Growth: A Look at Louisiana’s Coffee Industry and Global Trade
Moderator:
Amanda K. Coates
Vice President Cargo Development, The Port of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Panelists:
- Scott Ballard
Founder & Owner, Ballard Brands, LLC
Mandeville, LA - Ryan McKinnon
COO, Westfeldt Brothers, Inc.
New Orleans, LA - Matthew C. Saurage
Chairman, Community Coffee Company
Baton Rouge, LA
9:15 – 9:30 a.m.
University Update and Introduction of Morning Keynote Presentation
Michael A. Fitts
President, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Morning Keynote Presentation
Louisiana Opportunity
Susan B. Bourgeois
Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development
Baton Rouge, LA
Phillip R. May
President & CEO, Entergy Louisiana, LLC
New Orleans, LA
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Networking Break
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
AI Boom or Doom? How Innovation is Reshaping Industries—and Risk Profiles
Christopher K. Ralston
Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP
New Orleans, LA
Brian Stempel
Head of Customer Advocacy, Lineal Services
New York, NY
Sponsored by Our Raising the Bar Partner, Phelps Dunbar, LLP
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
A Conversation on the Economy – A View from the Federal Reserve
Shelby E. Russ, Jr.
Board Member, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta — New Orleans Branch
President & CEO, AOS Interior Environments
New Orleans, LA
Paula Tkac
Executive Vice President & Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
Luncheon
12:45 – 1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Welcome Remarks & Introduction of Paul J. Friedman
Paulo Goes
Dean, Debra and Rick Rees Professor A. B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon Keynote Presentation
Studio Music Affairs: The Intersection of Business & Law
Paul J. Friedman
Executive Vice President, Music Affairs Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA
1:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks
as of 8/19/2025
