NEW ORLEANS - Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the Sewerage & Water Board (S&WB) announced an Interim Emergency Management and Support team, which will provide administrative, financial and technical capacity to the S&WB through November 30, 2017, the end of Hurricane Season.

The team will include:

• Paul Rainwater
• Terrence Ginn
• Renee Lapeyrolerie
• Ehab Meselhe, Ph.D., P.E.
• Owen Monconduit
• Robert Turner, P.E.

Additionally, S&WB Executive Director Cedric Grant announced his retirement effective today, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017.

"I want to thank Cedric Grant for his four decades of service and dedication to the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana," said Mayor Landrieu. "He has played a pivotal role in our city's post-Katrina recovery. His service has been invaluable throughout the years."

"The new Interim Emergency Management and Support team will supplement the leadership already at Sewerage & Water Board as we fix the infrastructure and stabilize the organization," Landrieu continued. "Our administration has worked aggressively to recruit a team that consists of the top professionals in their respective industries who understand the issues currently facing Sewerage & Water Board and have a proven track record for success. They will work closely with Sewerage & Water Board's executive leadership team to add support and capacity during this transitional period."

"The state stands ready to further assist the City of New Orleans as this interim emergency management and support team comes online to fix the serious issues with sewerage and water management facing the city," said Governor John Bel Edwards.

"The Water Institute is proud to be a part of the Emergency Management and Support team, working with our partners to better define the problems facing the city's drainage system and set out solutions," said Justin Ehrenwerth, President and CEO of The Water Institute of the Gulf. "We look forward to delivering actionable recommendations for immediate, near-term, and long-term steps that not only address emergency flood issues, but also inform future planning for long-term resilience that incorporate the most innovative practices of living with water."

"We recognize the leadership of the Mayor and City Council in implementing steps to reform and bolster the Sewerage and Water Board's capabilities and we will do our part to help," said Joe Hassinger, President of the Flood Protection Authority. "In the meantime, the Flood Protection Authority is fortunate to have a depth of experience and capability that allows it to remain fully able and ready to perform its duties in advance of and during tropical storm systems. When the storm comes, every component of your flood defense system will perform to protect against the destruction of lives and property."

The Interim Emergency Management and Support team will report to S&WB's Board of Directors and assist S&WB's executive leadership in managing and providing increased capacity to the organization during this emergency. The establishment of this temporary, vastly experienced team allows for a laser focus on improving S&WB's power, pumps and manpower and provides the Board with the space they need to focus on recruiting a new executive director.

The Interim Emergency Management and Support team will include the following individuals:

	Paul Rainwater

Paul Rainwater will provide administrative and managerial support to the S&WB. Rainwater played a key role in helping Louisiana recover from hurricanes under multiple governors and has served in senior positions in local and state government during critical periods of man-made and natural disasters. In addition to his public service in government, Rainwater also serves as a colonel with the Louisiana Army National Guard in the Joint Director of Military Support for Disaster Response Unit. He previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Congressional Liaison Office of the Louisiana Army National Guard and as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves and served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. For his military service, Rainwater has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

	Terrence Ginn

Terrence Ginn serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Finance & Administration with the Louisiana Board of Regents, where he oversees the allocation of the state's $1 billion appropriation to public post-secondary education and serves as the Board's chief financial officer.  With 17 years of experience, Ginn has worked in both the executive and legislative branches of government, which has provided him a unique prospective of governmental operations and financial management.  Previously, Ginn served as Director of Finance & Administration with the Louisiana Governor's Office and has also held the posts of Fiscal Analyst and Budget Manager with the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Division of Administration.  Ginn actively participates in and holds leadership roles in several state and non-profit boards and commissions, including the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School, The Emerge Center and the Louisiana Arts & Science Museum.  He previously served on the state board of March of Dimes, Louisiana Human Rights Commission, State Parks & Recreation Commission and was an executive board member and treasurer of Forum 35. Ginn was recognized in 2014 by the Baton Rouge Business Report as a "Top Forty under Forty"' in the greater Baton Rouge community, and he is a graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Baton Rouge. 

	Renee Lapeyrolerie

Renee Lapeyrolerie will work to strengthen S&WB relations with governmental entities and improve communications efforts, including the distribution of timely and accurate public information. Lapeyrolerie is a Client Service Leader at the engineering firm, CDM Smith, which provides lasting and integrated solutions in water, environment, transportation, energy and facilities to public and private clients worldwide. Lapeyrolerie is a current board member for the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District and past member of the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System.

	Ehab Meselhe, Ph.D.,P.E.

Ehab Meselhe, Ph.D., P.E., will provide scientific and engineering support to the S&WB. Meselhe currently serves as Vice President for Science and Engineering at the Water Institute. His multi-layered background includes work as an educator, researcher, and practitioner with extensive experience working with academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. Prior to joining The Water Institute of the Gulf, Dr. Meselhe directed the Institute of Coastal Ecology and Engineering at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he also served as distinguished professor for the Department of Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the sates of Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. He also served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Hydrology (Elsevier), and the Journal of Hydraulic Research (International Association of Hydraulic Research).

	Owen Monconduit

Owen Monconduit will provide engineering, contracting and procurement support for the emergency repairs at the S&WB.  Monconduit retired as a Brigadier General from the Louisiana National Guard and currently serves in the Louisiana Military Department as the Deputy Director for Contracting and Purchasing.  During his service to the Louisiana National Guard, Monconduit held numerous leadership positions within the organization to include Environmental Manager and the Construction Management & Facilities Officer.  Monconduit has multiple overseas deployments in support of the Global War on Terror.  In addition to his deployments, Monconduit has substantial experience in working state emergency response operations.

	Robert "Bob"Turner, P.E.

Robert 'Bob' Turner, P.E., will provide technical expertise on stormwater management and drainage operations to the Sewerage and Water Board as well as the coordination with local levee authorities to ensure continuity of operations for hurricane season. He is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer with more than thirty-five years of experience. He serves as Director of Engineering and Operations at the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East (Flood Protection Authority). The Flood Protection Authority sets policy and manages flood protection operations in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard Parishes on the east bank of the Mississippi River. Mr. Turner has an extensive background in flood protection and public works, including serving as the Executive Director of the Lake Borgne Basin Levee District and as the Director of Public Works for St. Bernard Parish. He also served as the Louisiana State representative on the National Committee on Levee Safety.

About Cedric Grant's Service
As part of Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration, Grant's leadership has been instrumental in jumpstarting New Orleans' stalled recovery from Hurricane Katrina, resulting in billions of dollars in new recovery funds to rebuild and repair public facilities and critical infrastructure. This work resulted in the development of the New Orleans East Hospital, Saenger Theatre, Crescent Park, St. Roch Market, Lafitte Greenway and more. Under his direction, the City and S&WB successfully negotiated and secured over $2 billion in new FEMA recovery funds to repair important facilities and interior neighborhood streets. This work also includes more than 200 individual projects that will result in 400 miles of new streets and touch every neighborhood in the city. He also improved coordination between S&WB and the City's Department of Public Works (DPW) on the FEMA-funded Recovery Roads Program which includes a new project management unit created to better facilitate design review and coordination on joint capital improvement projects.

"I appreciate the honor of having been able to lead the rebuilding of New Orleans," said Cedric Grant. "We successfully completed over 400 projects valued at $1 billion. I'm proud to have played a leading role in beginning the redevelopment of the World Trade Center, as well as securing $2 billion in FEMA funds for road and subsurface utilities, along with $200 million for major upgrades to the Sewerage & Water Board water and power system. I'm confident that the Interim Emergency Management and Support Team, along with Sewerage & Water Board leadership can carry the organization forward to fix what is broken and create an environment for a proper transition while working to restore public confidence."

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NEW ORLEANS - Liberty Bank and Trust Company is proud to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors.

Joining the bank's Board are Kim M. Boyle, David Francis and. Todd O. McDonald. "All three of our newest Board members embody the spirit of community and bring talent, expertise and energy to the table," said Alden J. McDonald, President and CEO. "As the industry continues to evolve, their expertise and insights will be a tremendous asset as we continue to develop
innovative services for all of our customers across the country."

	Kim M. Boyle

Kim M. Boyle is a Partner at Phelps Dunbar, LLP where she practices in the areas of labor and employment, civil rights, constitutional law, commercial, tort and general litigation. Her employment practice includes representing employers in employment related claims, such as retaliation and discrimination claims as well as workplace harassment. Her practice also includes the representation of public and private clients in a variety of commercial disputes, including breach of contract, business torts, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair trade practices and class actions, as well as the representation of several governmental entities on an array of legal issues. Ms. Boyle is known for her persuasive oral argument skills in both trial and appellate courts, and for her ability to take a matter from inception through verdict at trial by jury or judge. Many of the matters Ms. Boyle handles have been resolved through trial, and she has completed many oral arguments before state and federal appellate courts. She speaks often on employment related topics, litigation and issues of procedure, as well as ethics and professionalism issues.

 
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Boyle served as Judge Pro Tempore, Division I, for the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish. She is also a former assistant professor of law at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans.

Ms. Boyle is also very active in community organizations and initiatives, as well as local, state and national bar activities. She currently serves as Chair/President of the Amistad Research Center, as well as serving on the Executive Committee of Tulane University's board of trustees, and on the boards of trustees for Dillard University and Touro Infirmary.  She also serves on the board of directors for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under
the Law. Ms. Boyle served as the first African American female president of the Louisiana State Bar Association, as well as the first African American president of the New Orleans Bar Association.

Ms. Boyle received an A.B. degree from Princeton University in 1984, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1987.

	David Francis

David Francis is the Executive Vice President of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He has worked for NOLA Media Group and its predecessor, The Times-Picayune, for more than 22 years. During his tenure, the paper has won four Pulitzer Prizes, the first in its 178-year history, a national Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the national Peabody and Headliner Awards, as well as three regional Murrow Awards. His areas of responsibilities have been wide ranging covering human resources, marketing, intrastate commercial truck transportation, product distribution, 401(k) and pension plan administrator, governmental relations and various financial duties.

Francis previously served as a Business Planner with the Pepsi Cola Company, based in Denver, CO, where he developed strategic and annual operating plans for manufacturing facilities in Colorado and Utah. Before that he was the region's Manager of Financial Operations and Services, responsible for the Rocky Mountain area's accounting and auditing departments. Francis came to Pepsi from Deloitte & Touche, where he worked as an audit manager. He is an inactive CPA in Louisiana.

In addition to the board membership of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation where he serves as secretary, he is the treasurer of the Institute of Mental Hygiene for the City of New Orleans, board member of United Way, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana Press Association and a member of the New Orleans Museum of Arts Director's Council.

Francis earned his Undergraduate and Master's Degrees in Business Administration at Tulane University.

	Todd O. McDonald

Todd O. McDonald began his career at Liberty Bank and Trust Company 14 years ago, with most of his experience concentrated in Commercial Lending. He now serves in the role as Vice President of Strategy. In this role, McDonald is responsible for uncovering, evaluating, and developing business plans for growth and performance improvement opportunities; leading high impact initiatives; and, providing overall management for special projects initiated by the CEO and Board. Todd is intimately involved in the company's high-level
corporate strategy decisions that ultimately affect the long-term growth and sustainability of the bank.

McDonald's civic activities include but are not limited to the New Orleans Industrial Development (Board Member), Bureau of Governmental Research (Board Member), Louisiana Workforce Investment Council (Council Member), National Bankers Association (Board Member), Independent Community Bankers Association/ICBA (Committee Member), Liberty's Kitchen (Board Member).

McDonald received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from Morehouse College and a Master's in Business Administration from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.

About Liberty Bank and Trust Company: Liberty Bank, headquartered in New Orleans, LA, was founded in 1972. Liberty has grown from an initial asset base of two million dollars ($2 million) to more than six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($625 million). Liberty Bank is among the top 3 largest African-American owned financial institutions with an eight (8) state footprint in the United States.

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