Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, will join three Southeast Louisiana port leaders at LSU New Orleans on Monday, Aug. 31, for a public discussion about global trade, infrastructure, workforce development and Louisiana’s economic future.
The roundtable, hosted by the LSU New Orleans Institute for Economic Development and Real Estate Research, will take place from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in the Geoghegan Grand Ballroom on the second floor of the Homer L. Hitt Alumni and Visitors Center. The event is open to the university community and the public.
Seroka leads the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America, overseeing major initiatives involving infrastructure, cargo technology, workforce development and zero-emission operations. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from what is now LSU New Orleans and serves on the University’s Alumni Board of Directors.
“Gene Seroka brings a combination of global industry experience and a deep connection to our university,” said Alí R. Bustamante, director of the Institute for Economic Development and Real Estate Research. “Bringing him together with the leaders of Southeast Louisiana’s major ports gives our students and the public a rare opportunity to hear how changes in global trade translate into decisions about infrastructure, investment and jobs that will shape the future of Louisiana’s economy.”
Joining Seroka for the moderated discussion will be Beth Ann Branch, president and CEO of Port NOLA and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad; Julia Fisher-Cormier, executive director of the Port of South Louisiana; and Bo Ethridge, executive director of Louisiana Gateway Port.
The conversation will explore changing trade routes, infrastructure investment, supply-chain technology, workforce needs, resilience and regional coordination, connecting the global perspective of the Port of Los Angeles with the opportunities and challenges facing Louisiana’s port system.
The event is hosted by the Institute for Economic Development and Real Estate Research, a public service division of the LSU New Orleans College of Business Administration. The Institute provides applied research and technical assistance to public, private and nonprofit organizations and convenes programs focused on economic development, real estate and regional growth.
Event Details
Date: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 Time: 3:30–4:45 p.m.
Location: Geoghegan Grand Ballroom, second floor, Homer L. Hitt Alumni and Visitors Center, LSU New Orleans
