Matt Gresham, Chief of Governmental Relations, joined the Port of New Orleans in August of 2005, just three weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. Mr. Gresham worked as a communications specialist and legislative liaison during the Port’s recovery and rebuilding. He was later appointed Director of External Affairs and now serves as Chief Governmental Relations Officer overseeing Port NOLA’s government relations at both the State and federal level.

A native of New Orleans and graduate of Nicholls State University, Mr. Gresham has more than 25 years of communications and government affairs experience. He began his career as a sports reporter covering the New Orleans Saints and college and high school athletics in south Louisiana, followed by an award-winning stint covering state and local government for the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. Mr. Gresham later worked as a political consultant for local, state and federal political campaigns.

Mr. Gresham has successfully advocated for state and federal funds for maritime and transportation infrastructure for Port NOLA and the Greater New Orleans region throughout his career, including a $300 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2024 for the Louisiana International Terminal, the largest federal grant in history to be awarded to a maritime terminal project.

Mr. Gresham is actively involved in the maritime industry on both local and international levels. He is a member of the Public Relations-Government Relations Committee of the American Association of Port Authorities and serves on the boards of the World Trade Center of Greater New Orleans, National Waterways Conference, Gulf Ports Association, Ports Association of Louisiana and Big River Coalition. He is an active member of the Waterways Council Inc., Inland Rivers Ports and Terminals Inc., Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads, Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors, and Louisiana Maritime Association. He also serves on the Board of the I-49 South Coalition. When away from the office, Mr. Gresham can typically be found fishing, sailing or participating in one of the many music and cultural festivals in south Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast