Rachel G Shields

Rachel G. Shields serves as Chief of Staff for GreaterNew Orleans, Inc. [GNO, Inc.], the regional economic development agency for the 10 parishes of southeast Louisiana. GNO, Inc. serves as the catalyst for wealth creation by pursuing an aggressive agenda of business development—marketing the region—and product development—improving regional business conditions through policy, workforce, and research initiatives. 

At GNO, Inc., Rachel is a member of the executive strategy team. She coordinates the organization's special events including international business summits and business conferences. She also manages the activities of the organization’s Boards and Committees including the executive committee, Board of Directors, NextGen Council, New Orleans Music Economy Initiative, and the SoLA Super Region Committee, which is a collaboration of business members from Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Bayou Region. 

Rachel is a life-long resident of the Algiers neighborhood in New Orleans. She holds multiple program certificates from a number of institutions including the International Economic Development Council [IEDC] and University of Notre Dame-Mendoza College of Business. She is a graduate of The New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute [NORLI] and Jefferson Leadership, and Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy Fellow. She currently serves as board president of Algiers Economic Development Foundation, Board Member of United Way Southeast Louisiana, Advisory Board Member of Ansardi Group, and Member of the Industrial Development Board of the City of New Orleans.