BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Louisiana Innovation Council.  This Council, in many respects can significantly impact the future of technology, economic development and growth in Louisiana.  Here is the balance of the press release from the Jindal Administration:

The mission of the council is to shape an innovation-based vision for Louisiana and coordinate activities for the statewide innovation agenda.

According to statute, the council shall be composed of thirty-one members, including:

• The governor or the governor’s designee;
• The secretary of economic development;
• The commissioner of higher education;
• The executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission;
• The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System;
• The state superintendent of education;
• The chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, or their designee;
• The chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, or their designee;
• Two statewide representatives, appointed by the president of the Senate, of which one shall be an entrepreneur;
• Two statewide representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, of which one shall be an entrepreneur;
• Eight entrepreneurs in the state, appointed by the governor;
• Four statewide representatives, appointed by the governor;
• The chief executive officer of the Council for A Better Louisiana, or their designee;
• The chair of Blueprint Louisiana, or their designee;
• The chair of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, or their designee;
• The president of the Southern University System, or their designee;
• The president of the University of Louisiana System, or their designee;
• The president of the Louisiana State University System, or their designee; and
• One representative appointed by the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Appointments to the Louisiana Innovation Council:

Nicholas Alterio, of New Orleans, is the Dean of Science and Engineering and a professor of Biomedical Engineering at Tulane University. Alterio will serve as a representative appointed by the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, according to statute.

Representative Jeff Arnold, of New Orleans, is the chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce. Arnold will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Jacqueline Beauchamp, of Baton Rouge, is the founder and CEO of Nerjzed Entertainment Inc., a digital entertainment media development and publishing company. Beauchamp will serve as an entrepreneur in the state, as required by statute.

Sally Clausen, of Baton Rouge, is the commissioner of higher education. Clausen will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Jim Clinton, of Alexandria, is the CEO of Cenla Advantage Partnership. Clinton will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as required by statute.

Sharon Cole, of Brusly, is the site director of Louisiana Operations for Dow Chemical and a member of the Louisiana Chemical Association and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Cole will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the Senate President, as required by statute.

Tom Cox, of Lafayette, is the president and CEO of Golfballs.com, Inc. and is the current vice chair of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and the Entrepreneurs Organization of Lafayette. Cox will serve as an entrepreneur in the state, as required by statute.

Senator Anne Duplessis, of New Orleans, is the chair of the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee. Duplessis will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Barry Erwin of Baton Rouge, is the president of the Council for a Better Louisiana. Erwin will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Randy Ewing, of Quitman, is the chair of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development. Ewing will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Curt Eysink, of Baton Rouge, is the executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Eysink will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Dr. Kassie Freeman, of Baton Rouge, is the president of the Southern University System. Freeman will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Chris Gillott, of Baton Rouge, is a policy advisor to the Governor for economic development issues. Gillott will serve as the designee of the governor, as required by statute.

Tony Giordano, of Shreveport, is the assistant dean of medical research and business development at LSU-Shreveport. Giordano will serve as an entrepreneur in the state, as required by statute.

Michael Khonsari, of Baton Rouge, is a professor of mechanical engineering at LSU and is the associate commissioner for sponsored programs for the Board of Regents. Khonsari will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the governor, as required by statute.

Adam Knapp, of Baton Rouge, is the president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Knapp will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the governor, as required by statute.

Representative Nancy Landry, of Lafayette, is a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing District 31. Landry will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as required by statute.

Kevin Langley, of Baton Rouge, is the co-owner of Ellis Construction and is the former president of the New Orleans chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization. Langley will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the governor, as required by statute.

Dr. John Lombardi, of Baton Rouge, is the president of the LSU System. Lombardi will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Joseph Lovett, of Baton Rouge, is the managing director of the Louisiana Fund I, a venture capitalist company. Lovett will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the Senate President, as required by statute.

Dr. Joe May, of Baton Rouge, is the president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. May will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Dr. Randy Moffett, of Baton Rouge, is the president of the University of Louisiana System. Moffett will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Stephen Moret, of Baton Rouge, is the secretary of the Department of Economic Development. Moret will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Paul Pastorek, of River Ridge, is the superintendent of the Louisiana Department of Education. Pastorek will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Brent Pearson, of Alexandria, is a partner in the law firm of Crowell and Owens, LLC. Pearson will serve as an entrepreneur in the state, as required by statute.

Nic Perkin, of New Orleans, is the president of Receivables Exchange, a financing company. Perkin will serve as an entrepreneur in the state, as required by statute.

Sean Reilly, of Baton Rouge, is the chairman of the board of trustees for Blueprint Louisiana. Reilly will serve as an ex-officio member, as required by statute.

Gray Stream, of Lake Charles, is the vice-president of the Gray Estate and Stream Companies. Stream will serve as an entrepreneur in the state, as required by statute.

James P. Treuting, of Mandeville, is the president of Strategic Consulting, LLC and is a member of the Idea Village Advisory Board. Treuting will serve as a statewide representative appointed by the governor, as required by statute.