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Adam Knapp
President & CEO
The following is an excerpt from BRAC's press release dated March 27, 2008.
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) announced today that Adam Knapp has been named President & CEO. Knapp replaces Stephen Moret, who left BRAC in January to become Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED). The President & CEO is responsible for administering the organization’s operations, crafting its long-term vision, and executing the principles of The Campaign for a Greater Baton Rouge, BRAC’s five-year economic development initiative.Currently, Knapp is the Deputy Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA). He was a key figure in the creation of the entity, which is designed to facilitate the State’s recovery efforts in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In his role, Knapp directs recovery policy and research functions including infrastructure, housing, education, and economic recovery, administrative operations, and is responsible for the establishment and oversight of the State’s strategic plan for recovery.
Prior to his LRA tenure, Knapp was Economic Development Advisor to two Governors and the Policy Director for LED. At LED, he managed the department’s economic policy initiatives, such as workforce development reform, entrepreneurial development, and spurring greater access to risk capital. He directed the development and advancement of state legislative priorities, such as the creation and refinement of important economic incentives, such as the Angel Investor Incentive, the Research and Development Tax Credit, the Film Investor Tax Credits, and the Quality Jobs Program. Under Governors Foster and Blanco, Knapp worked on economic policy and was also a vital part of the team that successfully recruited or retained such companies as Union Tank Car, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, and Albemarle Corporation, among others. Prior to State government, he worked for Accenture, one of the world’s premier technology and management consultancy firms, as an emerging technology consultant.
“We are very excited and proud to have Adam joining BRAC as our new President and CEO,” said Jim Ellis, BRAC’s Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the CEO Search Committee. Ellis continued by saying that “we had an extraordinary caliber of applicants from around the country, but Adam Knapp stood out due to his economic development background, his public and private sector experience, and his vision for maintaining BRAC’s position as the leading economic development organization in the Gulf South region. The fact that Adam was born and raised in Louisiana, coupled with his significant experience with economic policy and collaboration with multiple stakeholders, were important considerations for the Board. Adam is the story we all talk about -- the bright young Louisiana native who leaves the state to go to college and an exciting job, and then returns home to Louisiana to make a meaningful contribution. Adam has all of the skill sets, knowledge, and enthusiasm that will be required to be successful in this challenging job. The BRAC Board will make sure that he has all of the resources necessary to continue our success.”
“I am extremely excited about joining the BRAC team,” said Knapp. “I look forward to continuing to build on the strong foundation that is already in place, and working with the tremendous staff, Board, membership, and our great regional partners. We have a rare moment today to achieve great progress for our region’s economic development and growth, and an amazing team that is making it happen. All the attributes needed for a positive, productive future.”
A native of Lake Charles, Knapp graduated from Davidson College in 1996, and also studied at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Julius-Maximilians Universität in Würzburg, Germany. His official starting date will be Monday, April 21st.
