Seth Knudsen is the President & CEO of the Downtown Development District where he leads the delivery of enhanced services to make Downtown New Orleans cleaner, safer, and stronger.
Knudsen, a native New Orleanian, began his career in local government more than 20 years ago. During that time, he has held various positions in local government, including planning and project management roles at the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), City Planning Commission, Office of Recovery Management, and the Chief Administrative Office. He also worked for the local nonprofit City-Works.
Most recently, he served as Chief of Strategy, Programs, and Projects at the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), where he led the development and implementation of the agency’s first strategic plan, supported the disposition of thousands of properties, and oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in combined public and private investment in housing, economic development, and infrastructure projects across the city.
During his tenure at DDD, Knudsen has focused on strengthening delivery of the organization’s core services, improving Downtown infrastructure, stabilizing agency finances, and building stronger relationships with stakeholders. Under his leadership, the DDD has improved clean and safe performance, completed infrastructure improvements along Canal Street, secured new funding sources for district improvements, and launched strategic initiatives to raise Downtown’s profile and enhance public awareness of DDD’s work.
Knudsen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Tulane University, a Master’s degree in City Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Redevelopment from the University of Pennsylvania. He recently completed the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Vibrant Communities Fellowship.