Scott Ballard
Founder & Owner Ballard Brands, LLC,
Scott Ballard is the owner of Ballard Brands, LLC, a fast casual dining leader based in Covington, Louisiana, which he runs with his two brothers. He is also the founder of Ballard Hospitality, LLC, a logistics company providing lifestyle services, housing, and logistical support to remote sites and beyond. In 2018, Ballard Brands entered into a strategic partnership with Garces Group out of Philadelphia, PA, forming IdEATion Hospitality, which owns and operates fine dining and fast casual concepts in PA, NJ & NY.
Scott's career began as an owner/operator of Smoothie King franchises in Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiana. In 2007, he was recognized as one of Gambit's "40 Under 40" Businessmen to watch. His achievements include being named Louisiana Restaurant Association's Member of the Year in 2021 and Louisiana Cooking's Humanitarian of the Year in 2010.
Scott has served on the LSU Board of Supervisors, chairing the board from 2016-2017, and is currently serving again in 2024. He is also a member of the LSU Athletic Committee. He is an Executive Board member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO Louisiana), Secretary/Treasurer on the Committee of 100, and Secretary on the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) board. Scott is also a member of the Louisiana Economic Development Partnership Advisory Committee.
His community involvement extends to board memberships with Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Tammany ChamberPac, Louisiana Boys and Girls Club, ForeKids Foundation, LABI, Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, and Home Bank. Previously, he served on the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Board, the Louisiana Board of Regents, and the Louisiana Student Assistance Commission. Scott is also a member of the St. Tammany and Greater New Orleans Chambers of Commerce.
Ballard Brands has received numerous accolades, including recognition as a "Top 100 Private Company" by New Orleans City Business magazine for four consecutive years, "Best Business of the Year" by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, and the prestigious Tammany Award in 2020. The company was also recognized as a Louisiana Growth Leader by Louisiana Economic Development in 2020.
Scott has been named one of the Most Influential, Involved, and Inspiring Business Leaders in the New Orleans area by Biz New Orleans Magazine. Along with his brothers, Paul & Steven, he was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2020 Gulf Coast Area Award Finalist. The Ballard Brothers were also LABI Free Enterprise Award recipients in 2019.
In recognition of his support for employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve, Scott was honored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a Patriotic Employer. Most recently, Ballard Brands received the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Business of the Year Award from the New Orleans chapter of Junior Achievement.
Scott graduated from Tulane University with a degree in political science and economics. He is married to Kristi Ballard and is the father of three children.
Susan B. Bourgeois
Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development
Susan B. Bourgeois has three decades of experience in building, transforming and sustaining organizations through strategic planning, project development, fundraising and advocacy.
Prior to her appointment as LED Secretary, she served as President of SBB Consulting and President Emeritus of the Northshore Community Foundation, having served as the CEO for 17 years since its founding.
Before launching the Foundation, Bourgeois was President of Bonnett & Co., a governmental and public affairs consulting firm specializing in insurance interest and advocacy. Prior to her consulting, she held multiple roles in Louisiana Governor M. J. Foster’s Administration, including Director of Administrative Affairs and Special Assistant to the Governor.
Bourgeois is an active member of the International Women’s Forum and has served in leadership roles on several Boards, including past Chairman of GNO, Inc., and past Board member of the Northshore Business Council and Lakeview Regional Medical Center.
Known for her visionary acumen, Bourgeois emphasizes innovation, collaboration and meaningful alliances, all of which are critical components to creating thriving communities and a thriving state.
She and her husband, Mace Bourgeois, have four grown children and live in Covington.
Amanda Coates
Chief Commercial Officer, Port of New Orleans
Amanda Coates is the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at the Port of New Orleans where she brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the maritime and logistics sectors. In her role she is dedicated to driving new revenues through strategic initiatives, with a keen focus on stakeholder engagement and increasing cargo volumes and investment for development. Amanda plays a pivotal role in enhancing the alignment between trade and economic development by collaborating with state, regional, and local economic development organizations. This cohesive approach ultimately supports the port's mission to drive economic prosperity throughout its three-parish jurisdiction, through its maritime and industrial assets including the New Orleans Public Belt alignment for offering seamless supply chain solutions.
Joining the port in 2018, Amanda has been responsible for the execution of growth strategies across various areas, including real estate, trade development, economic development, marketing, planning and implementing both short- and long-range maritime marketing strategies to promote domestic and international trade.
Prior to her tenure at Port NOLA, Amanda spent over 15 years in operational and commercial roles at the world’s largest global ocean carrier, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). During this time, she developed a deep understanding of the transportation industry, container terminal operations, excelling in business development and strategic engagement.
A growth-focused professional and passionate advocate for the transportation sector, Amanda thrives on the challenges of identifying innovative business opportunities and deepening relationships with partners and clients. With a strong international mindset and a demonstrated ability to exceed expectations, she is leading efforts that are shaping the future of the Port of New Orleans and the region it serves.
Phillip R. May
President and CEO, Entergy Louisiana, LLC
Phillip May is President and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, an electric utility that serves more than 1.1 million customers in 58 Louisiana parishes. He is responsible for the company’s safe and reliable service, financial performance, customer service, regulatory and public affairs, resource planning, economic development programs and charitable contributions. May actively engaged in capturing Louisiana’s unprecedented economic growth opportunities. To achieve this, May strategically aligned the company to meet evolving customer expectations by transforming the grid towards greater resilience, reliability, and sustainability. This includes Louisiana’s first ever $1.9 billion comprehensive grid resilience plan along with the modernization of the generation fleet to meet our customers’ demand for low and no-carbon energy.
May led the successful effort to combine the Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana operating companies to form a single, stronger utility to serve Louisiana customers. In addition, he is implementing the company’s long-term strategy to modernize its generation fleet while helping meet Louisiana’s future energy needs. He oversaw the completion and startup of operations at Nine Mile Unit 6, the first new power plant added to the Louisiana fleet in nearly 30 years.
Under his leadership, Entergy Louisiana saw the construction and commercial operation of roughly 3,000 megawatts of modern, efficient generation units as well as adding solar and renewable resources. Since 2004, the company has replaced approximately half of its older, less efficient generation capacity with cleaner more modern units.
In 2024, May played a key role in Entergy Louisiana’s partnership with Meta to support the development of a major data center in Richland Parish. This project, which involves a significant investment in infrastructure, will provide reliable, clean energy to power Meta’s growing operations in the region. May’s leadership in facilitating this collaboration underscores his commitment to driving sustainable energy solutions while fostering continued economic growth in Louisiana.
May joined Entergy in 1986.
May serves on the Louisiana Board of Regents; GNO, Inc.; Council for a Better Louisiana, and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development.
May received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. He also completed the mergers and acquisitions program at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, PA.
Ryan McKinnon
Chief Operating Officer, Westfeldt Brothers, Inc.
Ryan McKinnon, born and raised in New Orleans, is a University of Alabama graduate who has built a successful career in the coffee and tea industry through commitment and hard work.
Over the past 15 years, Ryan has been a pivotal leader at Westfeldt Brothers Inc., a historic family-owned coffee company. Beginning in the cupping room, he developed expertise in green coffee through hands-on tasting and sourcing. His knowledge and leadership earned him the role of President of the Southern Coffee Association in 2015. Ryan, is a new member of the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Coffee Committee. Westfeldt Brothers Inc. is actively engaged in the Pacific Coast Coffee Association, Green Coffee Association of New York, and National Coffee Association, playing a key role in shaping industry trends, improving quality, and supporting sustainable practices.
Ryan also serves as a board member and manager for his family’s latest venture, Green Shutter Teas. He has been instrumental in expanding the company into premium teas and spices, collaborating with global suppliers to ensure exceptional quality. His leadership is helping Green Shutter Teas grow while honoring the family’s longstanding values.
Beyond his professional achievements, Ryan is dedicated to serving New Orleans through education and community involvement. He sits on the Board of Trustees at St. George’s Episcopal School, where he supports the Finance and Executive Committees to further the school’s educational mission. Additionally, he participates in local charities, with a focus on education and preserving New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage.
Ryan resides in New Orleans with his wife, Mary Scott Westfeldt McKinnon, and their three children.
Matthew C. Saurage
Chairman, Community Coffee Company
Matt Saurage, fourth-generation owner of Community Coffee Company, currently serves as the Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. Matt has been involved with the family business since 1995 in a variety of roles including coffee selection and roasting, brand marketing, coffeehouse operations, and new product development. Early in his career, he lived in Brazil to better understand the nuances of farming and trading green coffee and continues to travel abroad to visit coffee farming communities. He was elected President in 2005 and Chairman in 2012, becoming the fourth-generation Saurage to take the helm of America’s largest family-owned and operated retail coffee brand.
Matt helps guide the company’s philanthropic activities, including the Community Cash for Schools ® program benefiting education, Military Match program providing coffee for active-duty troops, and environmental and sustainability platforms. He has served on the board of several local, national and international organizations focused on public education, coffee health, and sustainable agriculture, including New Schools Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, National Coffee Association, and World Coffee Research. He and his wife, Catherine, enjoy time together raising five children and supporting local, non-profit organizations in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Adrienne C. Slack
Coordinating Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Adrienne C. Slack is the coordinating regional executive of the Bank's Regional Economic Information Network (REIN), serving as the Sixth District's lead regional executive, with responsibility for determining Sixth District REIN priorities. In addition to providing team guidance, she oversees team inputs to monetary policy deliberations, output products, and the talent pipeline.
She is responsible for the New Orleans Branch's board of directors and the District's Energy Advisory Council. Adrienne also provides regional input into the Atlanta Fed's monetary policy process. Additionally, she oversees the Atlanta Reserve Bank's Payment Forum.
She first joined the Federal Reserve System in the Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. During her tenure there, she served in several national leadership roles, including oversight for the Sixth District Cash Function Office and District Cash Operations. She also served at the Board of Governors in Washington, DC. Prior to assuming her current role, she was New Orleans branch manager, where she had responsibility for currency services, law enforcement, and facility and support services.
Adrienne is involved in activities including the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies Advisory Council, the Bayou District Foundation, and the University of Southern Mississippi College of Business Advisory Council. In 2006, she was honored by New Orleans CityBusiness at its Women of the Year event.
Raised in Mississippi, Adrienne received a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in economics from the University of Southern Mississippi. She also completed the executive development program at Dartmouth College.
Paula Tkac
Executive Vice President & Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Paula Tkac is an executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and is a member of the executive leadership committee. Tkac also serves as primary monetary policy adviser to Atlanta Fed president Bostic and is actively involved in strategic leadership at both the Division and organizational levels.
As an economist, Tkac has conducted research on various financial market topics including the asset management industry, financial regulation, the municipal bond market and policy responses to financial crises. Her research has won two William F. Sharpe Awards from the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
Tkac frequently speaks to private sector and community groups on issues related to monetary policy, financial regulation, and leadership. She has also appeared on C-SPAN and as an op-ed writer in the Wall Street Journal.
Before she joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in 2000, Tkac was on the faculty of the finance department at the University of Notre Dame. Tkac earned her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in economics from the University of Chicago.
as of 4/30/2025
