The Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region is a collaborative effort of engaged business leaders who believe New Orleans is a rewarding place in which to live and work. The Business Council focuses on public policy issues that affect New Orleans’ quality of life and prospects for the future.

The Council maintains task forces on a variety of issues. These task forces are chaired by Business Council leaders and other members, who are frequently assisted by managers from within our member companies and/or consultants acting in supporting roles. The Council’s efforts are listed on this website.

Our leadership team is listed below.

Chairman

Gregory R. Rusovich is the Chief Executive Officer of Transoceanic Trading and Development Company, LLC. Rusovich has a distinguished record as a community leader, which includes service on the Board of Directors for Greater New Orleans Inc., Young Leadership Council, Metropolitan Crime Commission,  New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau,  New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation and World Trade Center. As chairman of the New Orleans Crime Coalition from 2007 until January 2009, he led this diverse group of community organizations in the effort to increase collaboration and efficiency within all parts of the criminal justice system – police, district attorney, judges and the criminal sheriff.  Mr. Rusovich is the recipient of the Ernst & Young ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR award and was chosen by Family Service of Greater New Orleans for the TEN OUTSTANDING PERSONS (TOPS) award.  An engaged and active husband and father, he is married to the former Suzanne Walther and have two sons, Nicholas and Colin, who are students at Metairie Park Country Day School. Mr. Rusovich joined the Board of Trustees for Country Day in January 2008. He also holds an ambassadorial appointment as Honorary Consul-General of the Republic of Serbia. Rusovich is a 1981 graduate of Tulane University.

Immediate Past Chairman

James M. Lapeyre
President & CEO, The Laitram Corporation

Vice Chairmen

Arnold B. Baker
President & CEO, Baker Ready Mix & Building Materials

Leslie R. Jacobs
President & CEO, Strategic Comp

John J. Kallenborn
President, Louisiana – JP Morgan Chase

Secretary

Suzanne T. Mestayer
President, Advisean Partners

Treasurer

Lee Anne Sciambra
Office Managing Partner, KPMG, LLP

Executive Committee

James Farwell
President, The Farwell Group

L. Ronald Forman
President & CEO, Audubon Nature Institute

Paul H. Flower
President & CEO, Carl E. Woodward, LLC

John C. Hope, III
Chairman & CEO, Whitney National Bank

H. Merritt Lane
President & CEO, Canal Barge Company

Mark A. Mayer
President, Peter A. Mayer Advertising

John H. Peper
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Energy Partners, Ltd.

Gary N. Solomon
Chairman of the Board, Crescent Bank & Trust

Roderick K. West
President & CEO, Entergy – New Orleans

George H. Wilson
President, Barriere Construction, LLC