GNO, Inc. Sunday Night Highlight – Party with a Purpose: Washington Mardi Gras 🏛️🤝🎉
To the uninitiated, Washington Mardi Gras can be difficult to explain. Part political conclave, part cultural celebration – it is uniquely Louisianian. Every year, thousands of Pelican-state leaders brave the arctic blast to make it to our nation’s capital, for an exhaustive series of meetings that build relationships, drive deals, and set the agenda for the coming year.
For GNO, Inc., 2026 Washington Mardi Gras highlights included:
Innovation with Meta and Saronic– On Thursday, GNO, Inc. and <LA.IO> hosted an Innovation Brunch, featuring a fireside chat with Meta and drone shipbuilder Saronic, joined by Louisiana Economic Development’s Josh Fleig and moderated by GNO, Inc.’s Jasmine Brown DeRousselle.
Economic Development Luncheon– Chaired by Majority Leader Scalise, special guest speaker U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that Louisiana has the assets to be an economic powerhouse, not only in energy, but across the broader industrial economy. Governor Jeff Landry reinforced that message with a clear throughline: reliable energy and industrial capacity are now decisive advantages in winning major projects.
Louisiana Storyteller – Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois launched Louisiana Storyteller, an initiative to build a statewide network of diverse voices, equipped with verified facts, shared language, and ready-to-use tools, so that Louisiana’s economic renaissance can be broadly and accurately told. You can sign up to be a Louisiana Storyteller at louisiananow.biz.
International Relations – GNO, Inc., the World Trade Center of New Orleans, and partners met with Ambassador-level delegations from Australia, Canada, and Finland to discuss opportunities in energy, defense, maritime, and cross-border investment. (Louisiana is typically #1 or #2 in America for foreign investment per capita.)
The President – New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno used her time in D.C. to press key priorities, including a meeting with President Donald Trump, where she raised the need for federal infrastructure support. Moreno also highlighted public safety progress, noting homicide rates at a 50-year low, and emphasized the importance of working across party lines to deliver results for the city.
