Hecht and Carter to address Southeastern commencements

Southeastern Louisiana University will celebrate graduating students at two separate commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 13. Two commencement speakers will address the graduates – President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. Michael Hecht will give the commencement address at the 10 a.m. ceremony, while Chief Business Development Officer for Louisiana Economic Development Paige M. Carter will deliver the address at the 3 p.m. ceremony.

“Both Michael Hecht and Paige Carter have a wealth of experience in leadership, business, and economic development,” said Southeastern President William S. Wainwright. “As our graduates enter a dynamic job market, each speaker will share insights into Louisiana’s expanding economy and the value of competitive edge.”

Under Hecht’s leadership, Greater New Orleans, Inc. was named “Economic Development Organization of the Year” and a “Top Ten Economic Development Organization in America.”

Hecht was appointed by Governor Jeff Landry as State Coordinator for Infrastructure and Economic Development for Super Bowl LIX, tasked with overseeing more than 500 projects in preparation for the big game. The Governor also had Hecht lead delivery of the Louisiana International Terminal, a critical project for the state. 

Prior to working for GNO, Inc., Hecht led the quarter-billion-dollar Katrina Small Business Recovery Program for the state. Before coming home to Louisiana, he worked for Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York City, running the post-9/11 small business program.

Carter is responsible for leading and expanding LED’s business development operations, inclusive of new business attraction, business expansion and retention, international commerce, and lead development to drive economic growth and prosperity across Louisiana. Since rejoining LED in 2024, the business development operations in LED have more than tripled its active project pipeline to support capital investment and job creation in every economic region of the state.

Having previously served as the Executive Director of Industry Engagement at the LSU Foundation, Carter brings a wealth of experience to LED. In this role, she established the Office of Industry Engagement, driving LSU to national prominence in industry research and philanthropic investments through innovative partnerships and strategic alignments of talent, research, and industry needs.

Prior to her tenure at LSU, Carter served as Director of Business Development at LED, where she successfully cultivated relationships with global consulting firms, corporate leaders, and statewide partners. Her work led to the creation of over 11,000 jobs and substantial capital investments throughout Louisiana.

As Southeastern nears the conclusion of its centennial anniversary, guests are welcome for this year’s commencement celebrations. Important information for commencement guests to remember includes the following:

• The University Center has a clear bag policy.
•  The list of prohibited items includes all food and drink.
• Standard security measures will be in place prior to guests entering the facility.
• Lion Traxx shuttles will be in use before and after each ceremony.
• Approximate duration of each ceremony is one and a half hours.

Further event details can be found on the FAQ commencement page at https://www.southeastern.edu/commencement/faqs/#guest.
For more information, email [email protected].