Sarah McLaughlin Porteous

Sarah McLaughlin Porteous is an award-winning strategist with 25 years of experience in thought leadership, project management and communications, during which she has developed an ability to instill confidence in others, remain calm during crises and persuade with diplomacy.

She currently serves as the Vice President of Communications for Delta Utilities, a leading natural gas utility headquartered in New Orleans with territory across Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sarah is the former Chief of Staff of the Port of New Orleans, the nation's 10th largest port by general cargo tonnage and 17th largest container port where she oversaw the executive office and board relations, procurement, information technology, human resources as well as marketing, communications, and community engagement.

Porteous previously served as the City of New Orleans Chief of Staff for Infrastructure and Operations as well as Acting Director for the Department of Public Works, overseeing a $57 million operating budget and the multi-billion-dollar Joint Infrastructure Recovery Response (JIRR) roadwork program.

Sarah serves on the Board of Governors for Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans, a non-profit centered around empowering young people through entrepreneurship and financial literacy education as well as the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. She holds a B.A. with concentrations in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of Miami and is a certified Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute.