Focus Groups
Large-scale coastal protection and restoration will affect businesses and industry in south Louisiana. In order to integrate the perspectives of those in key business sectors, we created three focus groups: one dealing with ports and navigation, one dealing with fisheries, and one dealing with oil and gas. Leaders in each sector met multiple times to discuss the issues facing their industries and to explore productive options for the coast.
Navigation Focus Group
| Name | Organization |
| Pat Gallwey – FDT Rep | Port of New Orleans |
| Channing Hayden | Port of Lake Charles |
| Roy Pontiff | Port of Iberia |
| Jim Stark | Gulf Intercoastal Canal Association |
| Sean Duffy | Louisiana Maritime Users Ass. |
| Mike Lorino | Associated Branch Pilots |
| Merrit Lane – FDT Rep | Canal Barge Company |
| Spencer Murphy – FDT Rep | Canal Barge Company |
| Chett Chaisson | Greater Lafourche Port Commission |
| Jerry Hoffpauir | Port of Morgan City |
| David Allain | Port of West St. Mary |
| Lynn Hohensee | Port of West Calcasieu |
| Joe Accardo | Ports Association of Louisiana |
| A.J. Gibbs | Crescent Port Pilots |
| Chris Accardo | USACE MVN |
| Z. David Deloach | Louisiana Association of Waterways and Shipyards |
| Karl Gonzales | Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assn. |
| Sharon Balfour | DOTD Port Program |
Oil and Gas Focus Group
| Name | Organization |
| Locke Loeb | Chevron |
| Dave Cagnolatti | Conoco Phillips |
| Brian Farenthold | Spectra |
| Gifford Briggs | LOGA |
| Mike Lyons – FDT Rep | LMOGA |
| Tim Croxdale | Strategic Petroleum Reserves |
| Kurt Cheramie | El Paso |
| Neil Buckingham | Shell |
Fisheries Focus Group
| Name | Organization |
| Dan Coulon | Oyster Task Force |
| Borden Wallace | Menhaden Industry |
| Allen Dugas | Wild Caught Crawfish Industry |
| Daniel Edgar | Wild Caught Crawfish Industry |
| Earl Melancon | Nicholls State University – FDT Rep |
| Heather Finley | LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries – FDT Rep |
| Robert Bourgeois | LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries – FDT Rep |
| Richard Hartman | NMFS – FDT Rep |
| John Tesvich | Oyster Task Force |
| Buddy Daisy | Oyster Task Force |
| Danny Babin | Shrimp Processor Task Force |
| Clint Guidry | Shrimp Harvest Task Force – FDT Rep |
| Gary Bauer | Blue Crab Task Force |
| Daryl Carpenter | Recreational Saltwater Fishing Task Force |
| Ryan Lambert | LA Charter Boat Association – FDT Rep |
| George Barisich | United Commercial Fisherman’s Association |
(Image Credits: Top to bottom – Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority; Coastal Sustainability Studio; Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority)