2026 GNOu Summit
Description
The 5th Annual GNOu Workforce Summit convenes 400+ leaders from across industry, higher education, workforce development, K-12 education, and economic development to explore the partnerships and strategies shaping the future of Greater New Orleans' workforce.
"GNOu" is GNO, Inc.'s signature workforce development initiative, which works to align partners around current and future talent needs to build a stronger, more coordinated workforce ecosystem for the region.
This year's GNOu Summit will feature a refined program with a special emphasis on pathways aligned to the region's highest-demand industries and occupations. Participants can look forward to actionable keynote presentations and engaging breakout sessions designed to foster meaningful discussion, practical learning, and collaboration.
The 2026 GNOu Summit is sponsored by:
Presenting Sponsor
Greater New Orleans Higher Education Consortium
Lead Sponsor
Chevron
Louisiana Works
Supporting Sponsor
Boeing
Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges (LCTC)
Louisiana Economic Development
Lynne Burkart
New Orleans & Company
U.S. Department of Labor
YouthForce NOLA
Partner Sponsor
Delta Regional Authority
Laitram
Urban League of Louisiana
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Sponsorship makes the GNOu Summit accessible to nonprofits and education partners. As a sponsor, your company will be recognized by 400+ workforce leaders and industry stakeholders, positioning your organization as a champion of a strong, coordinated workforce system and a leader in shaping Louisiana’s talent future. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Mary Lachapelle (mlachapelle@gnoinc.org).
Agenda
- 8:00 am - 8:30 am
Arrival & Breakfast
- 8:40 am - 9:20 am
Opening Keynote - State of the Region: The Moment is Now
Speaker: Michael Hecht, President & CEO, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
- 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Breakout Sessions
Built Here: Talent for the Next Industrial Era - Dr. Tina Tinney, Chancellor, Nunez Community College - Byron Williams, Technical Management, Supervisory AST, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) - Moderator: Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce, Greater New Orleans, Inc. H2theFuture: A Case Study in Regional Collaboration - Dr. Igwe Udeh, Dean, College of Business & Public Administration, Southern University at New Orleans - Cherie Duckworth, Vice President of Workforce Development, Urban League of Louisiana - Ashleigh Dowden, Project Coordinator, Parole Project - Moderator: Dr. Donovan Thompson, Associate Vice Chancellor of Innovation & Energy Sciences, River Parishes Community College Cracking the Code on Workforce Readiness: Infusing Soft Skills in Any Classroom - Lori Ivory, Soft Skills Program Manager, YouthForce NOLA - Rahmel Fuller, Director of Learning Design, YouthForce NOLA The Price of Possibility: Navigating Postsecondary Choices - Emanuel Lain III, Workforce & Higher Ed Policy Analyst, Invest in Louisiana - Steven Procopio, President, PAR Louisiana - Moderator: Dr. James Carlson, Chancellor, Northshore Technical Community College
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Networking Break
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Made to Move: Talent for the Future of Trade & Logistics - Loren Marino, Chief of Staff and External Affairs, Port of New Orleans - Drew Tessier, Sr. Director of Public Affairs, Union Pacific Railroad - Moderator: Harrison Crabtree, Executive Director, World Trade Center New Orleans Attracting and Retaining Defense & Military Talent - Ben Armstrong, CEO, The Boot - Latonya Perossier, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Ochsner Health - Moderator: Evie Poitevent Sanders, Vice President of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Greater New Orleans, Inc. Recruiting and Enlisting Employers to be Strong Internship Partners - Jon Cosper, Director of Employer Partnerships, YouthForce NOLA Pathways with Purpose: Jobs, Demand & the Future of Work - Vincent Rossmeier, Policy Director, The Cowen Institute - Jake Polansky, Executive Director of Workforce Intelligence, Louisiana Works - Courtney Guidry, Director of Employer Partnerships, New Orleans Career Center - Moderator: Jessica Vallelungo, Assistant Secretary of Workforce Development, Louisiana Works
- 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Lunch Buffet
- 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch Keynote
What Changed: Louisiana’s 2026 Workforce Policy Update - Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce, Greater New Orleans, Inc. From Policy to Practice: Louisiana’s New Workforce Landscape - Rep. Stephanie Berault, District 76, State of Louisiana - Dr. Larissa Littleton-Steib, Chancellor, Delgado Community College - Moderator: Peter Waggonner, Vice President of Policy & Sustainability, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
- 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
Bridging the Infrastructure Talent Gap - Dr. Larissa Littleton-Steib, Chancellor, Delgado Community College - Tanya Freeman, Vice President of Administration, RNGD - Claire Jecklin, CEO, New Orleans Career Center - Moderator: Katie Donahue, Business Engagement Director, Greater New Orleans, Inc. Preparing Talent for the AI Economy - Nicole Pelengaris Patel, Chief People Officer at Copado - Dr. Vicki Covin, Dean of the College of Engineering, LSU - Moderator: Mary Lachapelle, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Greater New Orleans, Inc. Justice-Impacted Talent: The Pipeline You May Be Missing - Andrew Hundley, Executive Director, Parole Project - Syrita Steib, CEO, Operation Restoration - Moderator: Jessica Strange, Community Liaison, Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office GNOu Launch: Fast-Tracking the Future of Talent - Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
- 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Closing Reception
Gallery
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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