Regional Director, Business Development - Acadiana

Reports To: SVP, Communications, Broadcast, and Government Relations

Direct Reports: None

FLSA Status: Full-time salaried exempt

Final date to receive applications: Rolling application

Work Location: In territory [Lafayette/Acadiana]

As businesses grow, new projects take shape, and professionals put down roots across Louisiana, opportunities emerge to connect them with Gayle Benson’s business portfolio. The Regional Director, Business Development turns those connections into meaningful business opportunities for the Gayle Benson Team of Businesses:
New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, Laketown Squadron, Benson Capital, Corporate Realty, other affiliated businesses and real estate holdings. Based within the Acadiana region, this senior individual contributor brings established relationships, local credibility, and the curiosity to recognize where an organization’s needs or ambitions align with the portfolio’s capabilities. The Director builds trust with regional decision-makers, stays close to market activity, and develops qualified opportunities from initial conversation through introduction and ongoing follow-through.

Success means translating regional knowledge and relationships into measurable results, working alongside business-line specialists who lead technical evaluation, due diligence, pricing, negotiations, and final decisions.

• Saints, Pelicans, Squadron: Develop opportunities for premium tickets, suites, corporate sponsor ships, and hospitality by understanding how prospects want to entertain clients, engage employees, build brand visibility, or enjoy the teams personally. Cultivate relationships with business owners, executives, project leaders, contractors, and suppliers whose interests align with the teams’ offerings.
• Benson Capital: Build connections with founders, owners, and management teams to identify prospective investments and strategic relationships aligned with Benson Capital’s investment criteria. Introduce qualified opportunities for evaluation and uncover potential customers, commercial partnerships, and real estate development opportunities for existing portfolio companies.
• Corporate Realty: Engage property owners, developers, and companies whose expansion, relocation, or operating needs may create opportunities for brokerage, leasing, or property management services. Identify potential acquisitions, development projects, and other real estate opportunities for review by Corporate Realty and the appropriate affiliated ownership entities.
• Strategic Growth Initiatives: Support evaluation of potential expansion opportunities for Benson-affiliated businesses as market conditions evolve. Identify emerging sectors, geographic markets, and strategic acquisitions that align with the portfolio's long-term growth objectives. Build relationships with owners, operators, and advisers who may facilitate future investments or affiliate development.

For the entirety of the business portfolio, you will be responsible for building a trusted regional presence, and turning market insight into qualified opportunities:

• Develop and sustain relationships with business owners, executives, economic development organizations, chambers, lenders, utilities, civic leaders, professional advisers, and industry leaders. Become a credible, accessible connection to the portfolio within the assigned region.
• Stay ahead of regional activity. Track business expansions, relocations, major projects, and contractor activity to understand what is happening, who is involved, and when opportunities may emerge. Identify both local decision-makers and corporate contacts outside the region who influence purchasing and investment decisions.
• Initiate…