Norman E. Barnum IV is a finance executive with over 30 years in community and economic development leadership experience in cities in the Northeast and Gulf South. Barnum currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA), an economic development organization that partners with City government to attract and support businesses, develop talent and workforce, and strengthen sense of place.

Internally, Barnum develops the overall financial strategy and implementation of data systems at NOLABA. He manages the finance team, treasury, shareholder relations, accounting, tax, external audit, and risk management. Barnum also leads the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that increase the organization’s self- sustainability and minimize dependence on public funding. To do so, he serves as a liaison between leaders in the public and private sectors and community members to generate outcomes that drive prosperity for all citizens of New Orleans.

Prior to joining NOLABA, Barnum held previous CFO roles with WYBE Public Television and the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation in Philadelphia, PA. He also served in several senior financial roles at the Delaware River Port Authority in Camden, NJ. Throughout his nearly 30-year career in nonprofit finance, Barnum has established a reputation for building self-sustaining revenue streams and aligning financial and business metrics to support organizational growth. Barnum has developed multiple real estate projects and raised in excess of $90 million in financing. For his achievements, he was nominated by the Philadelphia Business Journal for 2009 CFO of the Year in the Nonprofit Category. Barnum holds a B.S. in Accounting from Xavier University in New Orleans, LA and an MBA in Finance and Management from Eastern College in St. Davids, PA.

Randy Philipson, Treasurer - Vice President for Facilities Management and Campus Development, Tulane University

An LSU graduate, he launched his career in 1998 as the first Event Coordinator at the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Prior to 1998, the PMAC, in its 25 years of existence, had not had an Event Coordinator. During his tenure at the PMAC, Philipson coordinated the Inaugural Ball for Gov. Mike Foster, LSU Basketball Games, NCAA Women's Basketball Regional Tournaments and LSU Gymnastics. 

In 2005 Philipson was named the Director of Event Services at the SMG Managed Baton Rouge River Center. There, he oversaw the Event Services department as well as coordinating events including the Miss Teen USA Beauty Pageant, Hollydays and the Baton Rouge Business Report Biz Tech Expo. 

In 2006, Philipson once again returned to the Superdome and New Orleans Arena as Director of Engineering & Operations. In this position, he supervised the Operations, Engineering, Housekeeping, Production, and Technical Services Departments. These departments are responsible for the set-up, tear down, cleanliness, and technical aspects of every event in the facilities. He was also responsible for the safety program, emergency/severe weather planning. FF & E procurement, pest control, preventive maintenance programs, annual inspections, and union negotiations relations. 

In 2011, Philipson was named the Regional Director of Operations for SMG, covering the southern region. In this capacity, he oversaw and served as a resource for the Directors of Operations in 30 facilities, Further, he determined the course of the corporate operations initiatives in conjunction with the three other Regional Directors and the Vice President of Operations for SMG. 

In July of 2013, Philipson was named Director of Facilities for SMG New Orleans. In this role he worked with the various state owned properties under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District as well as on various ŞMG development projects around the country. 

In July of 2015, Philipson was hired at Tulane University as the Vice President of Facilities, Campus Development and Services. As Vice President, Randy Philipson oversees the University Planning Office in its mission to support and implement the University's Strategic and Master Plans and its goals for institutional development through the physical environment and building resources of the University. The University Planning Office coordinates and directs campus planning activities for major university construction and campus improvement projects and assists departments and divisions with space and physical facilities planning. This includes oversight of Capital Projects, Real Estate, University Services (Auxiliaries), and Facilities Services. 

Annie Phillips, Secretary - Civic Leader

Anne Sarpy Phillips was born and raised in New Orleans.  She graduated from Newman High School and the University of Georgia, B.A with a major in History and a minor in Spanish.  She received her JD from Loyola New Orleans University School of Law. Admitted to the bar in Georgia and Louisiana, she has practiced in Atlanta and New Orleans in the areas of corporate, securities, real estate, and public utility law as well as matters of commercial litigation.  

Her passion for education and the children of New Orleans began when she worked as a teacher and administrator for Summerbridge (now Breakthrough New Orleans) in high school and in college.  Since then she has worked extensively for her children’s schools as well as Samuel J. Green Charter School and Lafayette Academy Charter School.

Annie is committed to the New Orleans community and has been active in numerous civic, educational and philanthropic organizations including the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Preservation Resource Center, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Audubon Nature Institute, the Herman-Grima and Gallier Historic Houses and the Junior League of New Orleans. 

Annie and her husband Nat, also a lifelong New Orleanian, have three children.