Louisiana Entertainment Summit

Governor John Bel Edwards

On January 11, 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards was sworn in as the 56th Governor of Louisiana.

The governor grew up in Amite, Louisiana as one of eight children. With four Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs in his lineage, he learned the importance of public service at an early age.

Governor Edwards graduated in 1988 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. The governor served eight years as an Airborne Ranger on active duty with the United States Army and commanded a rifle company in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He went on to graduate Order of the Coif from Louisiana State University Law Center and set up a civil law practice in his home town of Amite.

In 2008, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 72, where he served for eight years until the voters of Louisiana elected him governor in November 2015.

Governor Edwards and his wife, First Lady Donna Edwards, have three children: Samantha Bel, Sarah Ellen, and John Miller.

Secretary Don Pierson, CEcD

January 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards appointed Don Pierson to serve as Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development (LED). Secretary Pierson is Governor Edwards’ primary representative to Regional Economic Development Organizations, elected officials, local communities, and site selection consultants on all economic issues. He served as Assistant Secretary and Senior Director of Business Development at LED since 2005. Before coming to LED, Secretary Pierson served for 17 years as Executive Director of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an Airborne and Ranger-Qualified Infantry Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division for five years. Secretary Pierson has over 28 years of economic development experience and is a Certified Economic Development Professional.

Jerry S. Brandt, CBS Studios Inc.

Jerry Brandt is a veteran entertainment executive with 39 years of network, production and distribution experience at CBS. He is currently responsible for the financial reporting and business administration functions of eighty-plus productions worldwide. Mr. Brandt is a member of CBS Studios’ senior management team and manages a staff of over 250 employees. His team’s responsibilities include production budgeting and cost reporting, revenue collection, residuals administration, health insurance administration, litigation support, and tax incentive administration. He is also a CBS liaison to the MPAA. Mr. Brandt has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University Northridge.

Sam Voisin, SMG

Sam Voisin currently serves as the Regional General Manager for SMG, the largest entertainment and meetings public facility management company in the world.

In his current capacity, Mr. Voisin oversees 7 General Managers and the operations of 17 entertainment and meeting facilities, 9 of which are in Louisiana. Mr. Voisin is responsible for $1 billion in facility assets and $20 million in revenue within his region.

Mr. Voisin has more than 25 years of experience specializing in management of public facilities and has assisted in project development stages from conception to day to day operational aspects of multi-million dollar public facility projects.

He is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He was named Honorary State Senator of Louisiana as well as one of Louisiana’s Top Business Leaders. He is a current member of the International Association of Assembly Managers and Past President of the International Public Facility Management School.

Reid Wick, Recording Academy

Reid Wick has served the New Orleans music community in various capacities for many years. He currently works as Sr. Membership and Project Manager for the Recording Academy™(GRAMMY® organization), creating professional development programs, networking opportunities and engaging in meaningful advocacy efforts at the federal, state and city level, as well as recruiting and retaining qualified members for the Academy. For the first two years post-Hurricane Katrina, Wick served MusiCares (one of the Academy’s affiliate foundations) as administrator of the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund and the Music Rising instrument replacement program. Through these efforts, over 3,750 musicians from across the Gulf Coast received nearly $4 million in assistance to rebuild their lives and careers.

Prior to joining the Recording Academy, Wick worked for the College of Music at Loyola University New Orleans, where he served as marketing communications manager, concert series producer, feature writer, special events producer, and instructor for the Music Industry Studies Program.

Wick has served on several community/industry boards and committees, including Sweet Home New Orleans, The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter, Louisiana Vocal Arts Chorale, [New Orleans] Mayor’s Overall Economic Development Subcommittee for Music, Loyola University New Orleans Staff Senate, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (Marketing Committee), New Orleans Music Industry Foundation, New Orleans International Music Colloquium and LMNOP Music Industry Conference.

Wick remains active in the area of music-related economic development, where he has servedon The State of Louisiana’s Entertainment Industry Development Advisory Commission and the New Orleans Business Alliance’s Creative Digital Media Industry Council. In 2017, Wick led the Recording Academy’s advocacy efforts in Louisiana to enhance the state’s existing sound recording incentives to include new payroll tax incentives for quality music companies to grow the state’s music industry, as well as hosting Louisiana Music Industry Day at the state capitol to recognize the importance of developing our industry as an economic driver in the state.

Additionally, Wick was co-owner of STR Digital Records, which has produced over 25 critically-acclaimed releases. As a local musician, he has performed with numerous musical groups over the years, including the award-winning jazz fusion ensemble, Entourage. He continues to perform regularly as guitarist with New Orleans favorite local party band, the Bucktown All-Stars.

Scott Niemeyer, Gold Circle Entertainment

A native of New Orleans and a graduate of Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business, Scott Niemeyer is the Chief Operating Officer and a principal partner in Gold Circle Entertainment. Gold Circle is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading independent production companies having produced dozens of films including Oscar Nominated “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” which is still recognized as the most successful romantic comedy of all time having grossed more than $375m on a $5m dollar budget. 

Throughout the course of his 30-year career, Scott has produced and executive produced more than 45 films with major studio partners that include Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Lions Gate Entertainment, MGM, New Line Cinema and HBO amongst others. Scott recently produced “Pitch Perfect 3” as the latest in the Pitch Perfect 3-picture franchise which has grossed more than half a billion of world-wide box office. The project marks the 10th release alongside longtime distribution partner Universal Studios. Both “Pitch Perfect 1” and “Pitch Perfect 2” were shot in Louisiana making them the sixth and seventh films that Gold Circle has shot on location in Louisiana in recent years. Along with HBO Films and Tom Hank’s Playtone Company, Gold Circle also recently produced on the long-awaited sequel to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.

As the driving force behind Gold Circle on a day-to-day basis Scott is widely recognized by his peers as a leading financier, producer and distributor in the global filmed entertainment marketplace. During his seventeen-year tenure with Gold Circle, the company’s films have grossed more than $1.4b at the global box office in addition to hundreds of millions in ancillary revenues. 

Prior to joining Gold Circle, Scott oversaw all of the finance and operations for Motion Picture Corporation of America whose notable projects included “Kingpin”, “Beverly Hills Ninja” and “Dumb and Dumber” which grossed more than $246m. Scott is a long time member of the Producer’s Guild of America. Scott also routinely participates in all of the major international film markets including Cannes, Sundance, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the American Film Market (AFM) and the Berlin International Film Festival. 

Jake Fitch, High Voltage

Jake Fitch joined High Voltage in 2012 as the VP of Finance and Operations and became CFO in 2015. Jake had worked the previous 15+ years for GCI, a family funded private equity firm. Early in his career, Jake worked at a number of the portfolio companies in both Finance and Operations roles. At GCI, he collaborated with portfolio company management teams in reviewing accounting processes, financial reporting, budget and operational improvements. Jake’s experience is valuable in leading the finance and operations of High Voltage as the company continues to grow while continuing to deliver products that embody the high standards clients expect. Jake is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a CPA.