Sarah McLaughlin Porteous

Sarah McLaughlin Porteous, PMP, is the Vice President of External Affairs and Chief of Staff of the Port of New Orleans, the nation's 10th largest port by general cargo tonnage and the 17th largest container port. In this role, she oversees the executive office, board relations, marketing, communications, and community engagement.

Porteous is an award-winning strategist with more than 20 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. Most recently, Porteous 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 federally funded Joint Infrastructure Recovery Response (JIRR) roadwork program.

Porteous 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. Porteous is a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall Preparatory School, 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.