Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s appointments to the newly formed 23-member Louisiana Board of International Commerce include three individuals with ties to the Port of New Orleans former Chairman John Fay, current Board Secretary-Treasurer Greg Rusovich, and President and CEO Gary LaGrange, PPM®. The International Commerce panel was created during the 2012 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature by State Senator Conrad Appel, a former member and chairman of the New Orleans port board.

The Louisiana Board of International Commerce was created within the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. It will act on behalf of the state to advance the international commerce sector by developing and enhancing Louisiana’s competitiveness, attracting foreign and domestic investment, developing manufacturing, warehousing and distribution activity, and building Louisiana’s trade-based economy.

Mr. Fay, a founding member of Fay, Nelson & Fay LLC, was nominated for the panel by the New Orleans Board of Trade. Mr. Rusovich, CEO of Transoceanic Trading and Development Company, was nominated by Greater New Orleans Inc. Mr. LaGrange was nominated by the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans. 

Other Louisiana port officials appointed to the International Commerce panel include:

• Jay Hardman, of Baton Rouge, executive director of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, nominated by the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.
• Robert Scafidel, of Chalmette, executive director of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor, and Terminal District, nominated by the St. Bernard Port, Harbor, and Terminal District.
• Joel T. Chaisson, of Destrehan, executive director of the Port of South Louisiana, nominated by the Port of South Louisiana.