Nell Nolan: BGR Luncheon, BK House 2024, Cancer Crusaders Survivors

By Nell Nolan

Source: The Times-Picayune | Nola.com

November 10, 2024

Held at the New Orleans Marriott, the annual Bureau of Governmental Research Luncheon showcased, as the keynote speaker, David Osborne, author of “Reinventing America’s Schools: Creating a 21st Century Education System,” and executive producer of a new documentary, “Turnaround: The Reinvention of New Orleans’ Education System.” His presentation was part of the Janet Howard Speaker Series in Governmental Research and explored “what it takes for public institutions to achieve high performance and deliver effective results for citizens.” Questions and answers followed.

Prior to the talk and luncheon, which began with spinach salad and concluded with a delicious Rocky Road Cheesecake, IMTT sponsored a brief Speaker Reception (with thanks to BGR board member Carlin Connor). The luncheon sponsors were French Market Coffee, Hancock Whitney and Ochsner Health (represented by David Mueller), while the Promotional Sponsors were BIZ New Orleans; The Times-Picayune | Nola.com; and WWNO (and general manager Paul Maassen).

Rebecca Mowbray, BGR President and CEO and Samuel Zemurray Chair in Research Leadership, welcomed the hundreds of attendees and later closed the program. The next principal was BGR board chair H. Merritt Lane III for remarks and the introduction of the speaker, who was accompanied at the event by his wife, Christyne J. Vachon.

Notables were numerous and included BGR vice chair Steven Usdin, secretary Anne P. Baños, treasurer Louis M. Freeman Jr., and past chair Norma Grace. Nathalie Simon and Vanessa Claiborne answer, respectively, to assistant secretary and assistant treasurer. Almost all members of the 22-person board were noted, especially Carlin Connor, Melanie Bronfin, Ben Dupuy, Jessie S. Haynes, Ron McClain, Lamar G. Villere and Elizabeth “Liz” Hefler. She, along with John Hairston, represented Hancock Whitney. As president and CEO, Hairston and New Orleans Market President Hefler, as well as many others, extended a welcoming hand at the gala Hancock Whitney’s 125th Anniversary Celebration in the Audubon Tea Room.

The BGR has a distinguished honorary board consisting of Harry J. Blumenthal Jr., J. Kelly Duncan, Ludovico Feoli, Hardy B. Fowler, Louis M. Freeman, Richard W. Freeman Jr., Ronald J. French, David Guidry, Hans B. Jonassen, Diana M. Lewis, Mark A. Mayer, Anne M. Milling, R. King Milling, Lynes R. Sloss and Sterling Scott Willis. That board was well represented.

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