GNOROCS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of STEM and Economic Mobility
- Region 1 STEM Director
Daphine Barnes is the Region 1 STEM Center Director at GNO, Inc., serving the 10 parishes of the Greater New Orleans area. Ms. Barnes is responsible for creating and implementing STEM initiatives to advance and create a strong STEM ecosystem, facilitating partnerships between education and industry partners to develop and support a sustainable talent pipeline, and serving as the "voice" of STEM throughout the region and state. Additionally, Ms. Barnes collaborates with the business and workforce development teams to bridge the gap between education and workforce preparedness.
Before joining GNO, Inc., Daphine spent 14 years in secondary science education in Greater New Orleans schools and served in various leadership capacities- ranging from district science curriculum coordinator to assistant principal. She also worked in the Norman C. Francis Teacher Residency Master's level teacher preparation program at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Ms. Barnes is a graduate of Nicholls State University and received her Master's in Educational Leadership degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. She enjoys traveling to foreign countries, is an avid reader, lover of all things science fiction, and cherishes spending time with her family and friends. She has an amazing son, Kingston, and a gregarious Great Dane named Lexi.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Initiatives for Greater New Orleans, Inc
Josh Tatum serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Greater New Orleans, Inc. and oversees initiatives that ensure the GNO region has a business-friendly environment for business attraction and retention efforts. Tatum is responsible for managing GNO Inc.'s signature workforce development program, GNOu, and additional workforce development initiatives that will provide sustainable pipelines for jobs of today, and of tomorrow. Through the GNOu model, Tatum works directly with existing and new industry leaders to create customized solutions that stimulate a thriving business environment for continued growth. In addition, Tatum works closely with the business development team to create commercialization of research pipelines and partnerships between higher education and industry partners to ensure research and development spurs the growth of jobs and investment in the region.
Tatum is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.A. in Political Science and received his M.P.A. from East Carolina University. Before joining GNO Inc., Tatum began his career in economic development with the Carolinas Gateway Partnership located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Tatum served as the Director of Research and Special Projects and was responsible for generating opportunities for existing and new industries to bring long-term investment and jobs to the region.