Michael Olivier
CEO
Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc.

Michael Olivier is the CEO of the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc. The Committee of 100 is a private sector non-profit business advocacy group intent on building coalitions and partnerships to bring business and economic development to Louisiana. The membership is comprised of the CEOs of the top private sector companies statewide as well as University Presidents in Louisiana. Michael was recruited to serve as the CEO of the Louisiana Committee of 100 in October of 2009. Olivier most recently served as Regional President for the Americas for Future Pipe Industries, Inc.

Prior to joining the Group Mr. Olivier served as Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development to Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco from 2004 to 2008. Olivier’s expertise in business development, recruiting, site selection, project management and a reputation for deal-closing are hallmarks of his career.

Prior to his serving on the Cabinet of Louisiana State Government, Olivier served over 17 years as the Executive Director and Chief Executive of the Harrison County Development Commission in the casino and industrial region of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
 
Involved in all aspects of regional economic development he has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally. He is a Certified Economic Developer, Honorary Life Member and Fellow Member of the International Economic Development Council.

Paul Rainwater
Louisiana Commissioner of Administration

In June 2010, Paul W. Rainwater was selected by Gov. Bobby Jindal to serve as Commissioner of Administration, the chief financial advisor to the Governor and chief administrative officer for the state.

Paul Rainwater most recently served as Governor Bobby Jindal's Deputy Chief of Staff. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. Previously, Rainwater served as legislative director and chief of operations for U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. From June 2006 to January 2007, he served as director of hazard mitigation and intergovernmental affairs at the LRA, where he managed program policies, served as team leader and coordinated with state and federal agencies to set mitigation priorities. From July 2000 to June 2006, Rainwater served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the city of Lake Charles.

Rainwater also formerly served as manager of governmental affairs for Conoco, Inc., Gulf Coast Business Unit in Baton Rouge from 1998 to July 2000; as manager of public affairs for ARCO Chemical in Lake Charles from 1995 to May 1998; and as administrative aide to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in Lake Charles from 1988 to 1996.

In addition to his public service duties, Rainwater also serves as a colonel with the Louisiana Army National Guard in the Joint Director of Military Support for Disaster Response Unit. He previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Congressional Liaison Office of the Louisiana Army National Guard and as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves' 336th Finance Command. For his military service, Rainwater has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

Rainwater earned a bachelor's degree in government from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, a master's degree in international relations from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, and is certified as a local government manager by Louisiana State University.

Brian Andrews
Principal
Andrews Commercial Real Estate Services

Brian Andrews is the principal of Andrews Commercial Real Estate Services and
- Arranges short term and long term financing for commercial real estate projects throughout the country.
- Provides consulting services for investors including analysis of investment opportunities, review of appraisals and feasibility studies, and preparation of decision making financial models.
- Consults on real estate loan workout strategies and assists with bank negotiations.
- Has been engaged as an expert witness in banking and commercial real estate cases in Louisiana and Texas by law firms representing the borrower as well as the lender.

Brian is currently on the board of the Greater Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and has moderated panel discussions on Community Development Districts and GO Zone legislation for the Growth Coalition membership.  He has been the Master of Ceremonies for the Good Growth Awards Banquet for the past several years.

He is a regular columnist for Real Estate Weekly, the weekly enewsletter published by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. He was a contributing author of the “Louisiana Gulf Opportunity Zone Business Guide” presented by Louisiana Economic Development and published by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. 

Brian is an adjunct instructor in the Finance Department at LSU and teaches the Commercial Bank Management and Principles of Real Estate classes.  He has also been a speaker at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center at the Center for Continuing Professional Development concerning commercial real estate lending.

He is a past member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and holds their coveted Commercial Mortgage Banker designation. In 2008 and 2009 he was an instructor for the MBA’s Commercial Mortgage Banker continuing education program focusing on commercial lending practices.

Brian is a past board member of the Commercial Investment Division of the Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors and was recognized as the Affiliate Member of the Year in 2000 and again in 2002.  He has been the commercial real estate finance speaker at the TRENDS seminar since 1999.

Brian has been involved with the Louisiana Realtors Association as a speaker at the 2008 “REAL Issues” Spring Conference and at the 2009 and 2010 Commercial Development Conferences addressing commercial real estate financing trends. He has also written guest columns for the LRA newsletter.

In addition to his participation on boards and panels within the real estate community, Brian’s other civic endeavors have included the United Way, Baton Rouge Area Ballet Theater (board member and Treasurer), and Baton Rouge Zoo (board member and President).

James "Jim" Purgerson, Jr. CCIM
Senior VP & Senior Lending Officer
Citizens Bank & Trust Company

James R. “Jim” Purgerson, Jr., CCIM is Senior Vice President & Senior Lending Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust Company, a community bank founded in 1916 in Plaquemine, Louisiana, with a major presence in Baton Rouge. Mr. Purgerson’s main responsibility is business development and management of the bank’s $150,000,000 loan portfolio.  Jim serves on the bank’s Senior Management and Strategic Planning teams. Prior to joining Citizens Bank in 1999, he spent two years at Wells Fargo & Co.

Mr. Purgerson holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation conferred by the CCIM Institute of the National Association of REALTORS, recognized internationally in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate. In 2003, he completed Leadership Louisiana sponsored by a Council for a Better Louisiana. Jim was recognized as a Top Forty under 40 by the Baton Rouge Business Report in 2003. He is on the Baton Rouge committee for the Coastal Conservation Association, Immediate Past President of Baton Rouge Green, and on the Finance Council of Our Lady of Mercy Church.  He is a 2002 MBA graduate of the E. J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University.

2011 REALTOR Action Spring Conference - May 24-26, 2011 - Baton Rouge, LA

Info & Schedule | Speakers | Board Materials | Driving Directions | Hotel Information | Fees & Online Registration