2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 172
BY SENATOR FOIL
A RESOLUTION
To commend Michael J. Olivier of Baton Rouge on the occasion of his retirement from the
Committee of 100 for Economic Development.
WHEREAS, Michael Olivier is a native of St. Mary Parish and has dedicated more
than four decades of his life to service in the field of economic development, devoting most
of his career to encouraging national and international companies to invest in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Michael graduated from Centerville High School in 1968, earned his
undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) in 1972, and
completed his master's degree at ULL in 1974; and
WHEREAS, he began his career in economic development as the Executive Director
of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and then served as the head of the
Harrison County Development Commission in Mississippi for eighteen years; and
WHEREAS, Michael was the recipient of the American Economic Development
Council's Distinguished Service Award in 1995, 1996, and 1997; and
WHEREAS, Businessweek named Michael "Mississippi's Economic Developer of
the Year" in 1999, and in 2002, Southern Business and Development magazine named him
one of the "Top 10 Economic Developers of the Decade"; and
WHEREAS, Michael returned to Louisiana to serve as Secretary of the Louisiana
Economic Development Department under Governor Kathleen Blanco from 2004 to 2008,
helping lead the state's business recovery effort following the devastation caused by
hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, Michael led the Louisiana Economic Development Department
to achieve International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 certification and
International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Accredited Economic Development
Organization designation, both "firsts in the nation" for a state economic development
agency; and
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WHEREAS, Michael was named the 2006 winner of the Lifetime Achievement
Award for Excellence in Economic Development by the International Economic
Development Council; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, Michael was named by Southern Business and Development
magazine as one of the "Top 10 in the U.S. to Make a Difference in Economic
Development" and his work led Louisiana to be named the magazine's "State of the Year"
for the first time; and
WHEREAS, during Michael's tenure, the Louisiana Economic Development
Department was awarded the 2007 Economic Development Leadership Award in Strategies
and Innovation by CORENET Global for the business recovery work accomplished after
hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
WHEREAS, Michael has served as past president of the Southern Economic
Development Council and as a ten-year board member and officer of the American
Economic Development Council; and
WHEREAS, with the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Michael
spearheaded a highly-successful and unique partnership with the Council for a Better
Louisiana and the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana to create the nonpartisan
RESET Louisiana initiative to inform candidates for the Legislature on issues critical to the
future of Louisiana, and worked with the Tax Foundation in 2015 to develop what has
become one of the key frameworks for tax reform in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, since 2019, Michael has served with distinction as the Chief Executive
Officer of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development and he was named the Eugene
Schreiber Award winner for 2009 by the World Trade Center of New Orleans in recognition
of his many years of international economic development work; and
WHEREAS, Michael currently serves on the Louisiana Board of International
Commerce and the Restore Louisiana Task Force, appointed by Louisiana Governor John
Bel Edwards; and
WHEREAS, Michael has been married for forty-five years to his wife, Penelope, and
they have two daughters, Emily Patterson (spouse, Adam) and Mallory Olivier, and two
grandchildren, Gray, age fifteen, and Hayes, age thirteen; and
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WHEREAS, his jovial personality, love of travel, pursuit of "foodie" adventures, and
commitment to the betterment of Louisiana are known and appreciated by many.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Michael J. Olivier on the occasion of his retirement from the
Committee of 100 for Economic Development and does hereby extend sincerest wishes for
continued success as he begins a new and productive phase in his life.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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