Full Name
Michael Hecht
Job Title
President & CEO
Company
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Speaking At
Speaker Bio
Michael Hecht is President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the economic development agency for southeast Louisiana. GNO, Inc.'s mission is to create a region with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life, for everyone. Under Michael's leadership, GNO, Inc. has been named “Economic Development Organization
of the Year” in the USA by the International Economic Development Council.
Recently, Michael led the effort for New Orleans to prepare for Super Bowl LIX, subsequently called “the best Super Bowl ever” by NFL Commissioner Goodell. Currently, he is leading Louisiana’s effort to build a new $2B port, the only greenfield deepwater facility in America.
Mayor-elect Helena Moreno has now tapped Michael to lead implementation of an “Infrastructure Coordinating Council” for New Orleans, to deliver “Super Bowl-level” services, to everyone.
Before coming to GNO, Inc., Michael led the quarter-billion-dollar Katrina Small Business Recovery Program for the State. Previous to 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 has been recognized as “One of the Ten People Who Made a Difference in the South,” “One of the 20 Business ‘Icons’ of the Tricentennial,” and “2018 CEO of the Year.” He serves as the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Finland, and is on the national board of the International Economic Development Council.
With family roots in Louisiana back to the 1830s, Michael now lives in New Orleans with his wife, Marlene, who is pursuing a Ph.D. at Tulane. They have two young adult sons.
of the Year” in the USA by the International Economic Development Council.
Recently, Michael led the effort for New Orleans to prepare for Super Bowl LIX, subsequently called “the best Super Bowl ever” by NFL Commissioner Goodell. Currently, he is leading Louisiana’s effort to build a new $2B port, the only greenfield deepwater facility in America.
Mayor-elect Helena Moreno has now tapped Michael to lead implementation of an “Infrastructure Coordinating Council” for New Orleans, to deliver “Super Bowl-level” services, to everyone.
Before coming to GNO, Inc., Michael led the quarter-billion-dollar Katrina Small Business Recovery Program for the State. Previous to 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 has been recognized as “One of the Ten People Who Made a Difference in the South,” “One of the 20 Business ‘Icons’ of the Tricentennial,” and “2018 CEO of the Year.” He serves as the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Finland, and is on the national board of the International Economic Development Council.
With family roots in Louisiana back to the 1830s, Michael now lives in New Orleans with his wife, Marlene, who is pursuing a Ph.D. at Tulane. They have two young adult sons.
