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Spotlight on our very own New Orleans District Manager, Andre Kelly, who was featured in The New Orleans CVB Local Line. "Andre Kelly says that the incredible commitment to rebuild New Orleans by leadership of the Louisiana Associated General Contractors following Hurricane Katrina, helped showcase our city as one of progress, innovation, rebirth and culture. This work certainly paid off as New Orleans was awarded the 2018 national meeting of the Associated General Contractors, a meeting which hasn’t taken place in our city in 20 years!" Full Article Local Spotlight Getting to N.O. Andre Kelly Q: Tell us how the Louisiana General Contractors Association works with the Associated General Contractors Association. How has the LGCA been able to make an impact with the AGC in terms of bringing the 2018 meeting to New Orleans? A: Our local chapter is blessed with a CEO whose love for the great state is only surpassed by his intimate knowledge of the needs of the construction industry. Our member-driven Board of Directors, alongside strong partnerships with State and municipal entities, allows Louisiana AGC to remain on the leading edge of shaping policy and practices that prove fair and beneficial to the industry. We assist and highlight, as a national model, how cities can endure disaster and rebuild better than ever. Q: Please explain the work that you have done over the years to get AGC to consider bringing their annual meeting back to New Orleans, and of course to eventually book their 2018 conference here! It’s been since 1998 that we’ve had the honor of hosting this group! A: The National Convention was slated to be held here more than 10 years ago in 2006. However, weather altered those plans. Since, we have worked with the Greater New Orleans parishes to ensure our members were engaged in work that would help the city recover as quickly as possible. Our construction efforts have touched all areas of life in this region and in New Orleans from parks and schools to multiple forms of housing, hospitals and recreation. AGC has implemented levee protection as a means to protect our investments. As the local construction association, we needed to make sure the narrative being told was one of progress, innovation, rebirth and culture. Once our members were able to put their expertise on full display, it wasn’t a hard sell to bring the convention here. Q: AGC will be celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2018, the same year that New Orleans celebrates its 300th birthday. Are there any centennial events planned for AGC that will coincide with the tricentennial happenings in New Orleans next year? A: As a part of our celebration, AGC will unveil one of its biggest charity contributions to a host city ever. It is important to AGC, both nationally and locally, to serve the communities where we work. We have identified a project that is fitting for a centennial celebration and will leave generations of New Orleanians a space to chart the course for their lives. This project could outlive all of us and serve as the backdrop when AGC celebrates the next 100 years. Q: Why is New Orleans a great place to hold meetings? A: I’d like to believe the unlimited possibility that resides in everything here is why this is such a great city for business, pleasure, residents and visitors. In New Orleans, it’s possible to lose your tie and switch from busy professional to leisure merrymaker in a matter of steps. It’s possible to have a weekend on a Tuesday, and be back at work the next morning. It’s possible to have your faith in people renewed just from engaging a stranger. More than anything, in New Orleans it’s possible to choose to take all of our woes, whether they be political, social, professional, or even atmospheric, and still les le bon temps rouler.