The Year of Ochsner

01/02/2018

Kim Singletary,

Last year it was all about real estate: How could we not choose the Domain Companies’ Matt Schwartz and Chris Papamichael as our first CEOs of the year with New Orleans experiencing an urban development boom the likes of which had not been seen in more than a decade? There’s no argument that the South Market District project has transformed Downtown New Orleans, and Domain projects like the Ace Hotel and The Shop at CAC continue to bring the city into the future.

For this year, however, the big prize belongs in the healthcare field. In 2017 New Orleans was officially crowned No. 1 in the nation for healthcare job growth, and when it comes to healthcare jobs, there’s one name that stands above the rest — Ochsner Health System.

Employing more than 18,000 people, Ochsner has been led by President and CEO, Warner Thomas since 2012. This year has been an especially big one for Ochsner — something I realized as I was researching the timeline of openings and news on pages 74 and 75. Included in it are a $100 million expansion in Baton Rouge that includes the Ochsner Baton Rouge Cancer Center opened this past June, a $30 million investment in St. John the Baptist Parish and a $20 million expansion of the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center at Ochsner Medical Center.

If you think you’re seeing the Ochsner name popping up everywhere, it’s because you are.

This year’s eight Business People of the Year are all Biz New Orleans favorites — Erik Frank, Marty Mayer, and Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney were all featured in 2017. Leviton has long been a friend of Biz — they actually hosted our first Biz Night — and District Donuts?

So far it’s just been about me deeply enjoying their Croque Madame Croquenuts, but I look forward to sharing their story further as the company continues to expand.

Cheers to the start of an exciting new year! May it be one filled with health, love and prosperity for all.

Happy Reading and a Happy New Year!