Before being tapped by the area’s business leadership to lead GNO, Inc., Michael served as the Director of Business Recovery Services with Louisiana Economic Development, where he lead the $232M Business Recovery Program, designed to revitalize the independent business sector of Louisiana devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Working in partnership with the Louisiana Recovery Authority, Michael implemented a broad program to offer businesses grants, loans and management assistance, helping over 5,000 Louisiana firms. While at LED, Michael also established the $90M Louisiana Revolving Capital Fund, the first of its kind in the nation, offering an on-going source of capital for businesses and start-ups.
Prior to repatriating to Louisiana in 2006, Michael served in the Bloomberg administration in New York City, as Assistant Commissioner in the Department of Small Business Services. Michael developed and managed NYC Business Solutions, an award-winning initiative designed to help the 200,000+ small employers of New York City prosper and grow. Michael’s other work for Mayor Bloomberg included managing an emergency no-interest loan program, and spearheading an online permitting system for local businesses.
Michael also brings with him the experience of starting and managing his own business, having founded a conglomerate of restaurant venues in San Francisco, including the “Foreign Cinema,” named “Restaurant of the Year 2000.” Starting with a business plan and no equity, he raised over $2M and built a $9M, 125-staff company that continues to operate today.
In addition to his public and private ventures, Michael has spent time in the non-profit sector, where he was the first Director of Business Development for the Food Bank in New York City, the largest of its kind in the country. While at the Food Bank, Michael developed nationally-recognized collaborations to raise funds and awareness, particularly with the financial sector.
Michael began his career as a strategic management consultant to large multinationals, working for Marakon Associates. Basing out of North America, Australia and Europe, Michael advised companies including IBM, Kellogg’s and Coca-Cola, helping them model their markets and businesses, in order to increase shareholder value.
Michael holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was a member of the Public Management Program, and an undergraduate degree in Race Relations from Yale University, magna cum laude. He was a member of Coro Leadership New York, and has lectured nationally and internationally on entrepreneurship and economic development.
Michael’s family roots In Louisiana go back to the 1830’s. He currently resides in New Orleans with his wife, an ESL professor, and two small children.
Astor Crowne PARKING LOTS AND PRICING.doc 28.672 KB (28672 bytes)
