Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/17/98

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Kevin P. Reilly, Sr., secretary of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, will be the speaker at Northwestern State University's spring commencement exercises May 8.

Reilly has been secretary of economic development since January 1992.

As secretary, he directs the state agency responsible for attracting American and foreign business and industrial development to the state and with helping Louisiana companies sell their good and services overseas. The department is also responsible for programs to assist resident industry and to spur the growth of small businesses, women-owned businesses and minority-owned businesses. Reilly is also responsible for coordinating the economic developments of both the public and private sector.

Prior to his appointment, Reilly had a long career in private business and also served as an elected state official. Before becoming secretary of economic development, Reilly was chairman and chief executive officer of Lamar Advertising Company, one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the country. In 1972 he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from Baton Rouge and served there for 16 years, including 13 years as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Reilly has also been active in community affairs and cited for his work by the Salvation Army, the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, the Baton Rouge Advertising Club and the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as chairman of the board of the National Volunteers of America, chairman of the Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, and president of the Cancer Society of Greater Baton Rouge, and chairman of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center Foundation.

A graduate of Harvard University, Reilly attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

Main Menu