More than 500 local infrastructure projects and repairs were completed in the leadup to Super Bowl LIX, eclipsing a cost of more than $70 million. BGR’s March 26 Breakfast Briefing dove into how this was accomplished, and what lessons New Orleans can learn for future infrastructure and economic development projects.
The discussion featured Greater New Orleans, Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht, who guided the city’s preparations for the 2025 Super Bowl. Last spring, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry appointed Hecht as the state’s infrastructure and economic development coordinator. Hecht worked with local and state officials to carry out infrastructure repairs, beautification projects and other enhancements.
The event was free to the public thanks to the generous sponsorship of First Horizon Bank.
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About Our Speaker
Michael Hecht is President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the economic development nonprofit organization for Southeast Louisiana. The mission of GNO, Inc. is to create a region with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life, for everyone. Under Michael’s leadership, GNO, Inc. was named “Economic Development Organization of the Year” and a “Top Ten Economic Development Organization in America.”
Michael was recently appointed by Governor Jeff Landry as State Coordinator for Infrastructure and Economic Development for Super Bowl LIX, tasked with overseeing over 500 of projects in preparation for the big game.
Before coming to GNO, Inc. Michael led the quarter-billion-dollar Katrina Small Business Recovery Program for the State. Before coming home to Louisiana, Michael worked for Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York City, running the post-9/11 small business program.
Michael’s entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding a conglomerate of restaurant ventures, including “Foreign Cinema,” named Restaurant of the Year 2000 in San Francisco. He began his career as a strategic management consultant in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Michael holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an undergraduate degree from Yale.
Michael was recognized as New Orleans “CEO of the Year” in 2018 and has received honors for his leadership locally and nationally as “One of the Ten People Who Made a Difference in the South,” “One of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America,” and “One of 20 Economic Icons of the New Orleans Tricentennial.” In 2022, Michael was named Honorary Consul of the Republic of Finland.