Mike is the founder and Chairman of the NO/LA Angel Network, a group of 112 high net worth individuals who work together to evaluate, fund and nurture early-stage companies. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Mike was part of the team that launched The Weather Channel and Weather.com, for which he served as CEO for 14 years, served as Chairman of The Atlanta Technology Angels and as a Fellow in Georgia Tech’s Venture Lab. Mike also served as Chairman and CEO of Pathfire, which grew into a leading digital asset management and distribution provider to media companies. Mike currently is actively engaged in various facets of the early stage business and investing eco-system: in addition to serving as Chairman of the NO/LA Angel Network, as Chairman of the Investment Committee of The Pelican Angel Fund, a member of the Investment Committee of the New Orleans Start-Up Fund, and a member of the Limited Partner Advisory Council of the Louisiana VC Fund.

Mr. Babb is a Managing Director of Louisiana Funds, two Early Stage Venture Capital Funds since 2004.

Mr. Babb served as CFO for Medical Science Partners three venture capital funds. He was the CFO and Chief Compliance Officer for Apeiron Partners a boutique investment bank in the Life Sciences sector. He established the NASD broker dealer and obtained Series 7, NASD General Securities Representative Examination, Series 24, NASD General Securities Principal Examination, Series 28, NASD Financial Operations Principal Examination, Series 63, NASD Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination.

Mr. Babb has a diverse business and accounting background, having been a Manger with Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Services Group handling various venture capital clients and their portfolio companies. His general business acumen developed having owned and operated his own business for 13 years.

Mr. Babb earned a BS in Business Administration from American International College and is a Certified Public Accountant. 

Max is Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of Corporate Governance and Transactions at Lumen Technologies, a global communications and technology company. At Lumen, he oversees the corporate governance, corporate transactions, legal operations and aviation teams. Specifically, Max supports Lumen’s board of directors and committees, leads the company’s ESG programs, and provides legal support for all mergers and acquisitions, investments, and divestitures. In his 17 year tenure at the company, he has supported mergers, acquisitions and divestitures totaling over $30 Billion.

Max is also a board director for CyberReef Solutions, a Louisiana-based early stage technology company that offers cloud-based SaaS mobile data bandwidth management and secure private networking for mobile devices, Internet of Things (IOT) and Machine to Machine (M2M) communications.

As a resident of North Louisiana and an advocate for the state’s arts, culture and creative economy, Max has served on multiple non-profit boards and in leadership roles such as New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), Advocates for Poverty Point, and the Arts Council of Northeast Louisiana.

Max’s professional endeavors keep him plenty busy, but he is most passionate about his family, including his wife and three young children. Currently living in Ruston, Louisiana, you may be able to spot him driving carpool between soccer, guitar, tennis and community theatre. Otherwise, he is typically enjoying a great book or steering a boatload of family and friends at Lake Bruin.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Aleicia Donald is an alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana. After graduating from the University of Miami School of Medicine, she returned to New Orleans to complete her training in anesthesiology at Tulane University and Ochsner Clinic Foundation. Dr. Donald then served as faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology at Tulane University before moving into a busy private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana. Prior to returning to New Orleans, she served as adjunct faculty for the Louisiana State University at Lafayette General Hospital and University Hospital in Lafayette.

Dr. Donald’s support, energy and passion for service and education within the Acadiana community resulted in an appointment as a Trustee on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal School of Acadiana. This passion has also lead her to routinely mentor undergraduate and medical students. She has established scholarships at Xavier University and is the recipient of the university’s 40 Under 40 Award. Additionally, in her home state of Florida, the University of Miami School of Medicine has recognized her philanthropy and work by granting her membership to the McLamore Society and an appointment to the Medical Alumni Board of Directors.

Since returning to New Orleans, Aleicia and her husband, Dr. Chancellor Donald, have been pleased to see their two daughters settle into the community at the Isidore Newman School where she currently serves on the Board of Governors and volunteers with several committees.

Given Aleicia’s insight into patient needs and the delivery of care, she has participated in investment opportunities in medical equipment and facilities. This piqued an interest to then pursue investing in early innovative medical devices. Her passion for vetting the science, potential impact and path to market for novel products and services ultimately led her to become an active member of the New Orleans Louisiana Angel Network.

Alison is principal of The Hartman Group, a management consulting practice focused on organization effectiveness. She has a unique combination of cross-functional expertise in business, human resources, and information technology.

Originally from New York City, Alison earned a B.S. from Rutgers University and moved to New Orleans in 1979 to pursue graduate studies at Tulane University. After receiving a Ph.D. in psychology, Alison worked as Tulane’s director of academic information technology before joining Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). In 1996, she was recruited by Freeport-McMoRan, a global resources company, where she held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility both domestically and overseas. In 2007, Alison formed The Hartman Group, which advises startups and established enterprises.

Alison serves on the volunteer boards of FirstLine Schools, New Pathways New Orleans, The Data Center, New Orleans Ballet Theater, and HeartGift New Orleans.

Ted Jones is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and chairs the private equity steering committee of the mergers and acquisitions and private equity team. He counsels companies, pooled investment vehicles and other funds, investment banks and underwriters, and individual and institutional investors on a range of securities transactions and regulatory matters. Ted advises public and private companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment banks and underwriters, and individual and other institutional investors in connection with securities offerings, other financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and recapitalizations, corporate governance, and public finance matters. Ted also advises private fund managers, other investment advisors, investment bankers, and other broker-dealers with respect to compliance under federal and state securities laws and regulations.

Byron has served as president of LeBlanc & Schuster Public Relations, Inc., a highly respected, full service public relations and marketing firm handling a wide variety of regional and local accounts since 1976. In addition to his business accomplishments, Mr. LeBlanc is very active in civic and community affairs. He was a charter member of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and served as Chairman in 2014. He has also chaired and served on numerous charitable boards. At Tulane University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He is a fellow of the Loyola Institute of Politics. A native of Abbeville, Byron lives in Metairie with his wife Pat. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

Ms. LeBreton heads the Mergers & Acquisitions group for Chaffe & Associates, Inc., with emphasis in services to privately held companies. She has extensive experience in the structuring and negotiation of transactions, the valuation of companies, and the development and execution of competitive processes for the sale or purchase of businesses. Ms. LeBreton also has experience in the areas of capital planning for corporate expansion and private placements of debt and equity.

Ms. LeBreton began her career at Bankers Trust Company in New York. She returned to New Orleans in 1980 to join First National Bank of Commerce in commercial lending, and was then involved in the negotiation of several bank acquisitions. She joined Chaffe in 1987. Ms. LeBreton is qualified as an expert witness in U.S. District Court on matters relating to bank and corporate valuation and merger and acquisition process, and has appeared as a speaker on these subjects. She is active in community affairs and serves on a number of civic boards, including GNO, Inc. and the Advisory Council of the A.B. Freeman School.

Ms. LeBreton holds a B.A. from Newcomb College and an M.B.A. from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. She is licensed with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as a registered representative and general securities principal.

Vyoone is principal of Professional Network Consulting Services, LLC which provides management consulting to small startup biotech companies. Her expertise is in FDA regulatory , medical information systems, funding and management. She is also co owner of Vyoone’s Restaurant . Vyoone is a fourth generation New Orleanian, born to a French Canadian father and African American and Choctow Indian mother. She is a Pediatric Geneticists and trained at Tulane University where she earned a Masters in Public Health , Epidemiology and Health Economics, and a PhD in Medical Genetics. Vyoone is a classical musician (clarinet and contrabass) who trained with Pete Fountain at New Orleans Center of Creative Arts. She has strong ties to the community and the city of New Orleans. Dr. Lewis has been awarded several times as a civic leader from New Orleans City Business Power Generation and YWCA Mentoring and Role Model program for “outstanding service and sacrifices to inspire younger women of our society and the larger community of New Orleans”. Her board memberships include: NOLA Angel Network, Women in Genetics and Cardiology, New Orleans Health Corporation, Sickle Cell Foundation and Women in Science and Medicine. Vyoone is a “diehard’ member of the “Who Dat Nation” and enjoys all things Saints with her family and friends

Jeff O’Hara began his hospitality career in 1985, working part time while a student at Florida State University. His career has taken him to every corner of the hospitality industry – he has worked in luxury boutique hotels and 1,000 plus room “supertankers.” He has managed small restaurants and developed B&B’s. Jeff moved to New Orleans in 1992, and has made it his home ever since. Since leaving a corporate career, he has started 10 companies in hospitality and real estate. He is the owner of PRA Business Events New Orleans, a company that provides services to the Corporate Meeting and Incentive Travel sectors. His company has been named three times to the Inc.5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America and twice to the Seminole 100 list of fastest growing companies owned by Florida State University alumni.

He has backed numerous start ups as an Angel Investor, including firms in the fields of technology, biotech, hospitality, medical devices, consumer staples and alternative energy. He is an active member of the NOLA Angel Network and Lagniappe Angels, and has also backed start ups through the Rockies Venture Club.

Jeff’s book “Have Fun, Fight Back and Keep the Party Going: Lessons from a New Orleans Entrepreneur’s Journey to the Inc. 5000” was released under Inc. magazine’s “An Inc. Original” label in December 2018.

A native of Kingston, NY, he received a BS in Hospitality Administration from Florida State University and an MBA from Tulane University.

Graham M. Ralston, a native of New Orleans, joined Regions Bank in 2013 as Commercial Banking Executive for the South Louisiana Market and was also named New Orleans Market President in early 2016. Prior to joining Regions Bank, he led a commercial banking group at Whitney Bank in New Orleans, where he began his career in 1997. Mr. Ralston earned a BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Tulane University. He also earned a CFA Charter in 2006 and is a past President of the CFA Society of Louisiana.

Mr. Ralston is a member of the Business Council of Greater New Orleans and is currently serving on the boards of GNO, Inc., the Bureau of Governmental Research, the Regional Loan Corporation, University of Holy Cross and the Academy of the Sacred Heart and is also a past Board President of the Preservation Resource Center.

Daryl grew up in Iowa and is an Engineering graduate from Iowa State. Daryl retired from John Deere after enjoying 38 years in a wide variety of responsibilities at 7 Deere factories as well as at Corporate. His experiences have been in Engineering, Manufacturing, HR, Reliability and General Management and have taken him to over 40 countries around the world. His last Deere assignment was General Manager for Deere’s Worldwide Sugarcane Harvesting Equipment business, which brought him to Louisiana in 2002. Since retiring from Deere, Daryl has done a significant amount of business and management consulting. In 2014, Daryl and several others started up a custom metal fabrication company, Fabricari, LLC, for which Daryl is the President.

Dann is a successful, serial entrepreneur. He has started and grown companies into successful enterprises for 20+ years. These companies include medical devices, e-commerce, manufacturing and distributorships. In the medical device field with RaintreeEssix, he invented technologies for orthodontic retainers and tooth move appliances without using orthodontic brackets. In May 2005, RaintreeEssix was acquired by DENTSPLY (Nasdaq: XRAY). Since 2005, Dann does consulting utilizing his knowledge in manufacturing, distribution, patents/trademarks, medical devices and quality management standards such as ISO 13485 & CE. Dann is a Senior Advisor with Kidron Corporate Advisors (www.kidronllc.com), a full service boutique investment bank.

Corey Tisdale was the technical co-founder of BBQGuys.com and a partner in Blaze Outdoor Products. Over the course of 20 years, he performed every job function from phone sales to warehousing, programing to marketing, supplier negotiations to supply chain management, culture building to systems architecting. He served the roles of COO, CTO, and CEO, and currently serves as a board member and outside consultant.

Corey believes that when small businesses combine knowledge and technology with a devotion to enriching the lives of both employees and customers, they can change the world for the better. Since the beginning, BBQGuys has used this formula to evolve from a brick-and-mortar store into a national brand while fostering a positive company culture. Corey now strives to share the lessons learned from each stage of the building process through partnerships with universities and mentorship programs with local and national entrepreneurship groups. He’s also part of the angel investment community in South Louisiana, where he has lived his whole life.

Corey now lives in New Orleans, and is tolerated by a wife, two young boys, and a dog (sometimes).

David recently retired from IBM, where he spent 42 years as a Sales Executive with local, regional, and international level assignments, including three years in Vienna, Austria, where he managed key segments of the IBM business in Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and South Africa.

David was also IBM’s Senior Location Executive in New Orleans, representing IBM’s policy concerns to local, state and Federal legislators and agencies. He has been active in many civic organizations, including the Business Council of New Orleans, Junior Achievement, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation. He is currently Treasurer of the City Park Board of Commissioners.

New Orleans native and Chairman of the Business Section of the Stone Pigman law firm. A 30 year veteran corporate lawyer, he has handled hundreds of M&A and corporate finance transactions, including representing many companies from start-up through capital raising, expansion and exit. He has offices in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and is a member of the Southeast Super-Region Committee, the Committee formed by GNO, Inc. and BRAC to promote cooperative economic development for GNO, GBR, Houma-Thibodaux super-region. Current board member and former President of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Louisiana Chapter. Active in leadership of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the American Bar Association. Author and frequent speaker about many aspects of M&A law and practice. Named by Best Lawyers® as New Orleans Lawyer of the Year for 2013 in the field of mergers and acquisitions, and for 2014 in the field of venture capital law. Chairman of the Board of St. Mary’s Dominican High School. He has also personally invested in several startups.