September’s Society for Marking Professional Services (SMPS) Southeast Louisiana’s luncheon will feature speaker and Louisiana Senator, JP Morrell. His presentation will focus on the importance of advocacy by professionals, especially those in the AEC industry, and provide an update from the most recent legislative session and share details on specific bills that have impacted our industry. There will be a networking opportunity prior to the start of the presentation and an interactive Q&A following.

SMPS SeLA aims to empower our members and guests to better understand the Louisiana Legislature and how it affects our environment, community and the build industry as a whole.

JP was first elected to public office as a state representative in 2006, where he served until joining the Senate in 2008. He is a constant advocate for well-paying jobs, quality schools, safe streets, and accountable government. One of his top priorities has been the battle against sexual assault, and he has developed an entire package of legislation to address the issue.

As the son of a career educator and principal, JP spent more than the average share of time during his childhood at schools. During this influential period in his life, he learned the value of a quality education. He saw how hard work before, during, and after class paved the way for future rewards. However, he also noted the pivotal role that community plays in an individual’s life, observing that success depends on a network of supporters — from parents and teachers to administrators and lawmakers. JP’s commitment to education is so strong that he resigned his longstanding position on the Louisiana State Senate’s Natural Resources Committee to fill the vacant seat on the Senate Education Committee. This bold move in 2015 came at a contentious time for education in Louisiana.

JP’s own education includes graduating from Spring Hill College with a degree in Political Science. He later went on to Tulane University Law School, where he was elected as the first African-American President of the Tulane Graduate and Professional Studies Association (GaPSA), the governing student organization over all Tulane Graduate Programs. He graduated from Tulane Law School with a Juris Doctorate and Certification in Civil Law.

Throughout college, JP spent his summers working with the Art without a Roof Program, part of the New Orleans Public School Homeless Education Program, where he taught creative writing to homeless children.

JP began his law career at Morrell & Morrell, LLC, which he co-founded with his father, Arthur Morrell. During this time, he also worked as a member of the Orleans Parish Office of Indigent Public Defender Program (OIDP), serving as the Public Defender for Magistrate Court until his election to the Louisiana State Legislature. Today he is Of Counsel to the Middleberg Riddle Group, a New Orleans-based law firm.