LED Public Relations

Louisiana Economic Development’s (LED’s) public relations program secured coverage for Louisiana in a number of ways across the globe, including working with various publications to increase the state’s presence in their materials.

Program highlights (2008-2016) include:

  • Launched international PR outreach initiative to support international representative of ces and staff

  • Developed press distribution list of over 500 global journalists for LED press releases and announcements

  • Secured Trade & Industry Magazine special section for Louisiana

  • Secured award for FastStart® in Workforce Magazine – “Young Trainer of the Year”

  • Secured multiple stories in economic development trade media; Site Selection Magazine, Business Facilities Magazine, Business Xpansion Journal Magazine, Area Development Magazine, fDi Magazine, Trade & Industry; Southern Business Development Magazine, and Global Xpansion Magazine

Hemispheres Magazine

In 2013, LED worked with United Airlines to feature Louisiana in the November 2013 issue of Dossier, a supplement of its in-flight magazine Hemispheres. At no cost to LED, the publication featured case studies, features on key industries, a spotlight on the revitalization of New Orleans and more. Ads were places by regional economic development organizations and Louisiana businesses, as well as LED.

In state outreach tours

The Marketing and Communications team led the efforts to schedule, in coordination with the Secretary’s Administrative Assistant and members of the LED staff, statewide tours for the LED Secretary. On these tours, the Secretary visited all eight regions of the state, and participated in various meetings and visits, including:

These visits allowed the Secretary to provide insights into economic growth efforts for each particular region and better share the story of LED’s efforts in communities across the state with a broad audience. 

Project announcements

The Communications team collaborated with the Governor’s office to provide support for new project announcements and events, including the development of news releases, brie ng documents, talking points, and coordination of local and regional partners at events. Since 2008, the Communications team has assisted with hundreds of major project announcements, including:

  • 2008: 34 major project announcements

  • 2009: 33 major project announcements

  • 2010: 53 major project announcements

  • 2011: 40 major project announcements

  • 2012: 65 major project announcements

  • 2013: 67 major project announcements

  • 2014: 71 major project announcements

  • 2015: 36 major project announcements

TOTAL: 399 major project announcements

From 2008 through 2015, I played a role in all of LED's public relations efforts. In my role with Peter Mayer Advertising, I placed stories for LED, tracked media, drafted press releases and briefings for Governor Bobby Jindal, managed all aspects of project announcements and coordinated and attended in-state outreach tours. After assuming the role of Director of Marketing and Communications at LED, I continued to attend the in-state outreach tours and some project announcements. I pitched the Hemispheres insert and coordinated the content development. 

Agency Partners: Peter Mayer Advertising, The Pont Group

Internal Team Members: Gary Perilloux, Joe Coussan, Jennifer Berthelot, Chelsea Harris, Natalie Mault Mead, Lauren Fournerat