Louisiana’s innovation and economic development scene has a few new faces to know this month.
At the Tulane University Innovation Institute, a new permanent executive director of industry partnerships is now in place as the go-to person to help students turn big ideas into potential startups. In St. Bernard, the local economic development organization has a new CEO, after convincing an industry veteran to leave her home parish farther north.
And, because no Louisiana business roundup these days would be complete without a data center update, Amazon is investing another $6 billion in its campuses across Caddo and Bossier parishes.
Here’s details on those happenings, plus more Louisiana power moves to know.
Tulane Innovation promotes interim director to permanent role
Tulane’s hub and accelerator for collaborative startup development has made Casey Candebat its permanent executive director of industry partnerships, after he served in the role on an interim basis.
“The mission hasn’t changed: Connect Tulane’s research and technology to the people who can actually get it out into the world,” Candebat told Technical.ly.
Looking ahead to the upcoming semester, Candebat said his focus will be on growing the sponsored research and licensing pipeline, as well as deepening relationships in the biotech, energy and advanced materials sectors.
Candebat serves as a bridge between Tulane’s roughly $200 million research enterprise and the corporate world, helping move university research toward licensing agreements, industry partnerships and funded spinouts, according to the press release. His work also extends into the broader innovation ecosystem, with regular engagement with community partners including GNO, Inc., Louisiana Economic Development and the nearby NSF FUEL Engine.
“Louisiana’s got more going on in innovation than people give it credit for,” Candebat said. “My job is making sure the rest of the country notices, and that when companies come looking to grow here, the Tulane Innovation Institute is one of the first calls they make.”
The appointment comes as the Innovation Institute undergoes a major expansion. Tulane is leading a $500 million redevelopment of the Charity Hospital building that will become home to the Innovation Institute, alongside space for several of the university’s medical schools.
St. Bernard economic dev org hires CEO
Ginger Cangelosi is taking the helm at the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) as CEO, bringing nearly a decade of economic development experience in her home parish to the role.
Cangelosi previously worked as executive director of economic development in Tangipahoa Parish, about 80 miles from St. Bernard. During her tenure, the parish landed more than $1.4 billion in new capital investment and supported the creation of roughly 4,400 full-time jobs, according to a press release.
At SBEDF, Cangelosi will also oversee the public-private partnership’s mission to keep building up the local workforce and its business appeal.
“St. Bernard Parish has all the ingredients for continued success, from its strategic location and skilled workforce to the resilience of its business community,” Cangelosi said in the release. “I’m looking forward to working alongside our partners to build on that momentum, attract new investment and help create opportunities that benefit the entire parish.”
The organization hosts Startup St. Bernard, an annual parish-wide pitch competition at Nunez Community College. Last year’s competition offered a prize package worth more than $100,000 — including $59,500 in cash and $41,370 in in-kind support. It went to Limpiar, a platform connecting freelance cleaners with customers.
This year’s program was postponed. SBEDF previously told Technical.ly it was still working out the details and anticipated bringing Startup St. Bernard back in March 2027.
The CEO role was previously held by Meaghan McCormack. At time of publication, McCormack’s LinkedIn profile had not been updated to reflect the change.
SBEDF did not immediately respond to Technical.ly’s request for comment.
AWS confirms third data center campus
Data center giant Amazon Web Services (AWS), provider of much of the backbone of the internet infrastructure many rely on every day, is expanding its footprint in Louisiana.
AWS now plans to invest $18 billion in its Shreveport-area data center campuses, up from the $12 billion investment announced in February. The additional $6 billion will fund a third facility, appearing to fill a slot of land purchased as part of Amazon’s initial acquisition. The total square footage of the expanded campus has not been disclosed.
“We focus on developing data centers in places where we can be a strong, long-term partner and deliver meaningful local benefits,” an Amazon spokesperson told Technical.ly. “Amazon carefully chooses our data center locations based on electric grid reliability and its renewable power generation, to mitigate environmental risk (including extreme weather and seismic activity), access to robust networks, and the overall economics.”
Louisiana Economic Development expects the expansion to add 210 jobs, on top of the 540 jobs originally projected for the campus, according to a press release.
Amazon pledged to cover 100% of the costs associated with developing the new campuses, including infrastructure construction and related upgrades. The company also plans to engage with the community through educational efforts.
“Amazon will soon launch new workforce development programs designed to build a pipeline of skilled local talent for the high-paying roles created by this planned investment,” an Amazon spokesperson said. “We’re exploring modular training centers, hands-on training programs, paid trade apprenticeships, middle school STEAM curriculum and more.”
More power moves:
- The Port of New Orleans — which earlier this summer announced plans for AI upgrades — appointed a new vice president of finance and innovative delivery, Brad Guilmino. His new role will include leading the Louisiana International Terminal development, a proposal for a new shipping terminal.
- The Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation (CURRENT) Authority named its inaugural leader. Austin Vaughn takes the helm as executive director, charged with leading CURRENT’s mission to address flood control and water resource management.
- Market research firm Rep Data promoted three members of senior leadership to the C-suite after acquiring OWL Solutions earlier this year. Ashley Burkardt will serve as chief operating officer, Ricky Odello as chief revenue officer and Ryan Rothe as chief growth officer.
- Education nonprofit STEM NOLA hired Shaq Cossé as business client manager in charge of strategic partnerships, and Mia Augillard, communications director, to oversee its messaging.
- Clint Wilson is the new associate vice chancellor of water and coast at Louisiana State University’s Office of Research and Economic Development, charged with guiding the school’s related research.
