Our Organization

What is Horizon Initiative?

The Horizon Initiative is a group of over 400 culturally, racially and socially diverse business and civic leaders dedicated to increasing prosperity and the quality of life for all New Orleanians through economic development.

We have reviewed the trends in New Orleans over the past twenty years, and by all objective standards they have been negative. It makes no difference which areas one reviews – education, crime, race relations, tax base, jobs, infrastructure – all areas have experienced negative trends. Katrina merely exposed pre-existing deeply entrenched problems, and presented an opportunity for change.

We have also reviewed the trends in other cities, such as Houston, Miami, San Antonio, Charlotte, Jacksonville, and Orlando. We looked for answers as to why these other urban areas have experienced prosperity and increased quality of life while New Orleans has drifted downward. It became clear that each of the cities has something that New Orleans does not – a strong organization of business and civic leaders working in a private-public partnership with the local government. We realized that this type of organization, developed and pursued over the long term, would produce the well thought out plan for economic development that New Orleans needs.

Because Miami in the mid-1980's was up against many of the same problems faced by New Orleans today, we reached out to meet members of Miami's economic development private/public partnership – the Beacon Council. The similarities are uncanny; in the late 1970’s through the early 1980’s, Miami faced severe racial tension that resulted in several riots. They also faced the “cocaine cowboy” drug-related crime problems, which resulted in reduced tourism and a declining economy. Their population and tax base also decreased during that time period. On top of that, Miami had a corrupt local government, a broken education system, and threats of hurricanes. To us in New Orleans, this all sounds very familiar.

The Beacon Council was formed in Miami in response to these problems, and was successful in developing and implementing a plan to turn Miami around. The Beacon Council partnered with Miami Dade County and, by contract, was made responsible for economic development activities; from developing the twenty-year vision to taking the steps needed to implement the exciting vision that has become a reality.

Instead of pursuing a well-thought-out economic development plan New Orleans has drifted. The Horizon Initiative wants to change that by following a similar model that worked so well in Miami and the other cities noted earlier.

We are currently working with the Rand Corporation to develop the best possible economic development model, specifically tailored for New Orleans. We are also working with members of the city council to put this model into place. The problems that New Orleans faces can only be overcome through a partnership between business and civic leaders and the local government that combines resources to attack the problems we face. This has been done successfully elsewhere, and it can be done here as well.

Arthur Pulitzer, Co-Founder

George Wentz, Co-Founder

Jeanne Duhe, Treasurer

Pamela Senatore, Vice President

Steering Committee

Cultural Continuity Committee Leaders:

Economic Development Committee Leaders:

Education Committee Leaders:

Energy/Oil/Gas Committee Leaders:

Entertainment Committee Leaders:

Fund Raising Committee Leaders:

Governmental Outreach Committee Leaders:

Housing and Real Estate Committee Leaders:

Infrastructure Committee Leaders:

Port/Trade/Shipping Committee Leaders:

Public Relations Committee Leaders:

Race Relations Committee Leaders:

Research Committee Leaders:

Restaurant/Food Service Committee Leaders:

Young Civic Leaders: