Evie Poitevent Sanders
Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.)
Evie strengthens Southeast Louisiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by building connections across startups, talent pipelines, and workforce programs. She guides initiatives like Startup NOLA and ecosystem meetups, helping new ventures access resources and scale in impactful, community-driven ways.
Andy Quick
Vice President & Retired Chief AI Officer, Entergy
Andy brings AI into real-world utility operations, developing strategies that use predictive analytics, automation, and advanced solutions to improve performance. His work ensures innovation in energy remains cutting-edge, responsibly applied, and grounded in practical results for businesses and communities.
Tim Tumminello
Sr. Director of People Services and Innovation, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Tim empowers workforce development, business process optimization, and innovation practices. With deep experience in HR and culture building, he helps teams thrive by fostering environments where people perform at their best while embracing new approaches to work.
Josh Fleig
Chief Innovation Officer, Louisiana Economic Development
Josh accelerates technology-driven growth across Louisiana by designing and leading statewide innovation initiatives. His work connects startups to capital, strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem through programs like LA.IO and the Louisiana Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and drives long-term economic impact.
Dr. Djuana Stoakley
Senior Staff Ethnographic Researcher, Entergy
Djuana translates deep research into strategies that drive inclusion, innovation, and measurable impact. She applies systems thinking, journey mapping, and design methods to ensure that human insights and lived experiences are built into new solutions from the start. Her work bridges corporate and community settings with a strong focus on human-centered innovation.
Kendall Gow
Deputy Director of Human Resources, City of Altamonte Springs, Florida
Kendall modernizes public sector HR by integrating AI-powered tools that improve access to information and services. She leads workforce transformation by blending technology with people-centered leadership, helping government organizations adopt more responsible and effective practices. Her focus is on training leaders and teams to deliver better outcomes for communities.
Elizabeth Maxwell
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, The Idea Village
Elizabeth designs and leads accelerator programs that connect founders, investors, and communities at the intersection of culture, climate, and technology. She fosters collaboration that helps startups grow while tackling complex social and environmental challenges. Her work ensures that entrepreneurial energy translates into real-world impact and long-term opportunity.
Diego Llaneza
Innovation Manager, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Diego drives innovation where public service, emerging technologies, and human-centered design meet. He builds and leads cross-functional teams applying design thinking, agile methods, and AI to solve civic and organizational challenges. His focus is on embedding inclusive, practical, and scalable innovative solutions into institutional culture and processes.
Humanities & Culture
City & Society
Technology & Infrastructure
