See Who's Coming

Join us for an engaging hybrid presentation and moderated discussion about the New Orleans BioDistrict and beyond! Alejandra Guzmán from LSU Health Foundation and Davon Barbour from Downtown Development District will share insights into their respective initiatives and upcoming projects. Following their presentations, we'll dive into a dynamic conversation moderated by Andy Kopplin, President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and current Chair of the BioDistrict Board of Directors.

This discussion will explore downtown's pivotal role in fostering an inclusive and innovative economy, alongside the concurrent efforts of the DDD and LSUHF in advancing upcoming real estate projects and economic development initiatives.

Be sure to come prepared with your questions and ready to engage with our speakers!

Speakers

Alejandra Guzmán
Chief Business Development Officer at LSU Health Foundation New Orleans

Alejandra Guzman is an internationally recognized executive with 18 years of experience driving positive social and economic outcomes through business and philanthropy. She has successfully led multimillion-dollar programs, impacting over 52,000 people annually across the United States, Mexico, and Latin America. As Vice President of Real Estate and Capital Investments at NOLABA, she spearheaded strategies to revitalize communities with over $200 million in real estate projects. 

In her current role as Chief Business Development Officer with the LSU Health Foundation, she is responsible for the development, execution, and management of business ventures that promote the advancement of the LSU Health Science Center community by way of securing unrestricted income and providing valuable infrastructure. Her portfolio includes a leadership role in multimillion real estate projects, the management of 180,400 square feet of real estate property, management of lease contracts valued at $9.4 million dollars, and the development and execution of operating businesses, including LA Student WORKS, a solution to connect students to part time opportunities in the healthcare industry. On an ongoing basis, she is tasked with the evaluation of new business venture opportunities and connecting them to the Foundation’s philanthropic strategy.
Alejandra's board leadership includes roles with organizations such as the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL), where she manages operating budgets exceeding $200 million. She has been honored with prestigious awards, including the IEDC Young Economic Development Professional of the Year and CityBusiness Women of the Year.
Alejandra earned her MBA from Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business in 2012.

Davon Barbour
President & CEO at Downtown Development District

Davon Barbour has served President & CEO of the Downtown Development District of the City of New Orleans since December 2021. He has worked for the private sector, public sector, and non-profit organizations revitalizing urban communities across the nation including Baltimore, Miami, Orlando, and Los Angeles. 

Previously, as head of the Community & Economic Development Division at the Los Angeles County Development Authority, Davon managed initiatives totaling over $150 million in COVID-19 economic recovery programs such as business microgrants, loans and childcare. Additionally, Davon led the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore to win an Award of Excellence in economic development for “TechConnect,” a business attraction program, from the International Downtown Association (IDA).

Passionate about the impact of "Eds & Meds" on economies, Davon oversaw a $2 billion mixed-use redevelopment project in Baltimore, including the Life Sciences + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins. He is also leading efforts to activate DDD’s portion of the BioDistrict into a vibrant area where the private sector and academia innovate. Recently, Davon served as Chair for an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Advisory Panel in support of Sankofa CDC in the Lower Ninth Ward.

Nationally, Davon serves on the Board of the International Downtown Association and the Board of Trustees for ICSC. He has contributed to advisory/technical panels for ULI and IDA and has had his writings published by ICSC, IDA, and ULI.

Moderator

Andy Kopplin, Greater New Orleans Foundation & the BioDistrict and current Chair of the BioDistrict Board of Directors

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