New Orleans

David Bilbe has been hired as general manager of The Royal Sonesta New Orleans.

He replaces Al Groos, who recently retired.

Bilbe has more than two decades of experience managing and operating hotels. He spent the past seven years as general manager of the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. He also oversaw operations at Westin New Orleans Canal Place Hotel, Loews New Orleans Hotel, Historic Courtyard by Marriott Downtown and International House New Orleans.

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Leroy Nix has been named vice president of regulatory and public affairs for Entergy New Orleans.

Nix joined Entergy in October 2022 as vice president of federal strategic policy and stakeholder engagement. Before that, he was director of federal government affairs and, later, director of market strategy for the Southern Co.

He replaces Courtney Nicholson, who is now an assistant general counsel in Entergy’s corporate legal department.

He earned a bachelor's in political science from the University of Montevallo and a law degree from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.

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Ronald M. Carrere Jr. has been named associate vice president of government and community relations for Xavier University of Louisiana.

Carrere serves as the interim executive director of the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute. He formerly was vice president of development for Liberty Bank & Trust. Before that, he spent seven years with the city of New Orleans in the workforce development and economic development departments.

He earned a bachelor's in business administration and real estate finance from the University of New Orleans and a master's in sustainable real estate development from Tulane University.

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Sarah Bigelow has joined the Tulane Cancer Center as executive director of the clinical trials office.

Bigelow spent the past 10 years with the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University. Most recently, she served as vice president of the clinical trials office. She began her career in clinical research in 2008 at the Perinatology Research Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

She earned a bachelor’s in health services administration from Baker College for online and graduate studies.

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Dr. Eric Lorio has joined Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates.

Lorio will see patients from Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates-Westbank Endoscopy in Marrero.

He earned his undergraduate degree from LSU and a medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport. Lorio completed his residency at University of Texas Health San Antonio and a fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine.

Baton Rouge

Karen Profita has been hired by the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge as executive officer.

Profita has held a number of leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, including serving as CEO of the Capital Area United Way, vice president/executive director of the Audubon Society/Audubon Louisiana, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board and senior vice president with International Children’s Miracle Network. She has spent the past three years as a real estate agent with Latter & Blum.

She earned a bachelor's in business/marketing from LSU and a master's in health services administration from the University of St. Francis.