Honoring the legacy of Bill Oliver, GNO, Inc. 2008 Chairman

Bill Oliver was an inspiration to the Board and staff of Greater New Orleans, Inc., providing leadership and mentorship during the critical years that followed Hurricane Katrina in Southeast Louisiana. Moreover, Bill was the first Chairman for President & CEO Michael Hecht, helping to set the governance structure and results-driven tone that would characterize the revitalized GNO, Inc. Simply put, the economic recovery of the region would not have been possible without Bill and fellow business leaders stepping up to provide guidance, financial support, and unwavering encouragement.

To honor Bill’s legacy, GNO, Inc. has built a formal program — the William A. Oliver “Economic Developer in Training” Fellowship — to develop and mentor aspiring economic development professionals and community leaders.

Fellowship Structure

Modeled after regional and national best practices, key elements of the fellowship include:

• Specific Project Focus: While fellows will have the opportunity for exposure to a broad range of GNO, Inc. work, each fellow will focus on a key effort or initiative with clearly outlined benchmarks and deliverables. For Summer 2026, the Fellowship projects will focus on one of two areas:
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • International Trade
• Networking & Mentorship: In addition to an assigned GNO, Inc. supervisor, the fellow will have opportunities to engage with regional business and community leaders, as well as other mentorship opportunities
• Timing & Location: This is an in-person opportunity, based at GNO, Inc.’s office in downtown New Orleans for approximately 20 hours per week for up to 12 weeks during Summer 2026
• Compensation: Fellows will receive a competitive hourly wage
• Eligible Candidates: Senior level undergraduate students (2 and 4-year students), graduate students, and/or recent graduates are eligible to apply
• Application & Interview Process: Applicants are asked to apply through WorkNOLA.com; the interview process will be two rounds