Ari Ferrand-Rodgers serves as the Director of Organizational Development at the Port of New Orleans and New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. Her primary responsibilities include improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, attracting new staff, and upskilling the current workforce, through training and development. She challenges traditional mindsets and strives to put in place initiatives aimed at retaining diverse talent.

Prior to joining NOPB Ari worked in the private sector where she addressed organizational issues and trained and guided team members on HR processes. Ari received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications, with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Nicholls State University. She also earned a MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management, from Capella University.

She holds a Human Resources certification through the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM-CP) and is a member of several professional organizations.