Ashleigh Gardere serves as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA), responsible for implementation of a new business model for economic development.
In partnership with NOLABA President & CEO Quentin Messer, Gardere is demonstrating the power of a holistic economic development strategy that fully maximizes opportunity for the people and businesses of New Orleans.
Gardere most recently served as a Senior Advisor to Mayor Mitch Landrieu. In this role, she managed the Mayor’s Economic Opportunity Strategy and supported the revitalization of the Claiborne Corridor through a cross-sector initiative called The Network for Economic Opportunity. The Network was responsible for the start-up, development, implementation and management of productive partnerships among local industries, small businesses, residents, non-profits and city agencies to drive long-term revitalization. By integrating The Network’s portfolio within NOLABA, Gardere expects to prove that an inclusive economy best ensures a thriving, sustainable economy for New Orleans.
Gardere previously served as Vice President of Community Relations at Chase Bank for Louisiana. During her tenure, she piloted the firm’s place-based neighborhood revitalization strategy.
Gardere began her career working in various strategic planning and policy development roles supporting the work of local and national nonprofit organizations with community development-oriented missions.
A New Orleans native, Gardere earned a B.A. in metropolitan studies from New York University and a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is the proud wife of Lamar and mother to Jayden and Justin Gardere.
Ashleigh Gardere was recognized in September 2016 as one of Living Cities’ 25 Disruptive Leaders working to close racial opportunity gaps.
