BioDistrict New Orleans
(The Greater New Orleans Biosciences Economic Development District)
1515 Poydras Street, Suite 150
New Orleans, LA 70112
Telephone: 504-593-6454
Our Staff:
James P. McNamara
President and CEO
Email: jamesp@biodistrictneworleans.org
Direct: 504-593-6442
Bonita A. Robertson
Special Counsel to the President
Email: brobertson@biodistrictneworleans.org
Direct: 504-593-6454
Please share your feedback, comments and questions with us, and we will respond to you promptly.
Our Board of Commissioners:
The BioDistrict has a 15-member board with representatives from Tulane University, Louisiana State University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Delgado Community College, the Mayor of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans, Inc., the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the Governor of Louisiana, and two members of the community who reside within the District and are appointed by the representatives and senators of the BioDistrict. One fundamentally unique aspect of this Board is the agreement among the appointing agencies that no one major educational cornerstone institution should hold the seat of Chairperson, believing that it should instead be held by a member of the business or civic community. Though Xavier University appointee Dr. Gene D’Amour is temporarily serving as Interim Chairman, he will step down as soon as the official chairman is appointed.
Meet the BioDistrict Board of Commissioners:
Dr. Gene D’Amour, Interim Chairman of the BioDistrict Board of Commissioners, is Senior Vice President for Resource Development at Xavier University of Louisiana. The designee of Dr. Norman Francis, Dr. D’Amour is serving a six-year term under the appointing agency of Xavier University.
Ms. Yvette Jones, Vice Chairwoman of the BioDistrict Board of Commissioners, is Executive Vice President for University Relations and Development at Tulane University. She is serving a six-year term as the designee of Dr. Scott Cowan, under the appointing agency of Tulane University.
Mr. Nolan Marshall, Secretary/Treasurer of the BioDistrict board, is the Associate Director of Common Good. He is serving a six-year term under the appointing agency of the Governor of Louisiana.
Mr. Harold Gaspard, a member of the BioDistrict board and of the Finance Committee, is the Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs of Delgado Community College. He is serving a six-year term under the appointing agency of the Delgado Community College.
Dr. Robert Savoie is a member of the BioDistrict board and of the Finance Committee. He is the President of Geocent, LLC. He is serving a two-year term under the appointing agency of the Governor of Louisiana.
Mr. Hal Brown is a member of the BioDistrict board and of the Finance Committee. He is the President of Fortune Development, LLC. He is serving a six-year term, following an initial two-year term, under the appointing agency of the Mayor of New Orleans representing GNO, Inc.
Dr. Larry Hollier is Chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. He is currently serving a six-year term as a Commissioner of the BioDistrict under the appointing agency of Louisiana State University.
Mr. Roger Ogden, owner of Ogden Consulting, LLC, is a BioDistrict Commissioner serving a four-year term under the appointing agency of the Governor of Louisiana.
Mr. Henry Hays is a Commissioner of the BioDistrict board serving a six-year term under the appointing agency of the Governor of Louisiana.
Dr. Wayne Riley is President and CEO of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. He is serving a four-year term under the appointing agency of the Mayor of New Orleans, representing the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Patrick Quinlin is CEO of Ochsher Health System. He is currently serving at the pleasure of the Governor of Louisiana in a four-year term, under the appointing agency of Louisiana Economic Development (LED).
Mr. Andrew Kopplin, the First Deputy Mayor of the City of New Orleans. He is serving a four-year term, representing the Mayor of New Orleans at large.
Mr. John C. Hope III, formerly the President and Chief Operating Officer of Whitney Holding Corporation and Whitney National Bank, is the most recent addition to the BioDistrict Board of Commissioners. He is serving a six-year term, following an initial two-year term, under the appointing agency of the Mayor of New Orleans representing the New Orleans Business Council.
