Quentin Messer

Messer comes to the MEDC from the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) where he has served as President and CEO since 2015. He led efforts around business attraction, small business growth, talent development, branding and market responsive, equitable economic growth while also cultivating robust partner relationships and leading efforts to secure significant private sector investment. Under Messer's leadership, NOLABA became one of fewer than 90 economic development organizations globally to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Prior to his role at NOLABA, Messer served as the assistant secretary at Louisiana Economic Development, the lead agency for economic development for the state of Louisiana. In that role he was designated President of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, helping to provide financial assistance to small and medium-size businesses in partnership with the private sector and federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Messer brings to his new role private sector experience at The Boston Consulting Group and O'Melveny & Myers LLP, as well as work at a variety of start-up ventures, including as a principal at Foster Chamberlain, LLC - a start-up venture accelerator and corporate venturing consultancy.

An IEDC certified economic developer, Messer received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from Columbia University's Law and Business Schools, respectively, and serves on board of directors of the International Economic Development Council, where he serves on the board's Committee for Public Conduct and also is the incoming Co-Chair, Racism in Economic Development Committee.