Members and guests packed Ralph’s on the Park for the CREW View 2009 luncheon to hear honored guest speaker Dubravka Gilic, Director of Strategic Planning for the Office of Recovery and Development Administration (Office of Recovery) for the City of New Orleans, speak on the topic of “Deconstructing the Reconstruction of New Orleans: Where We Are, What's Next.” After fifteen years with the City Planning Commission, Ms. Gilic moved to the Office of Recovery after it's creation following the levee failure. Her presentation, “Our Recovery Making Progress,” outlined the Office of Recovery's mission and operations, and shed light on the complex processes of planning and procuring funds for recovery projects, a welcome explanation for the perceived delay in getting "cranes in the sky.”

Ms. Gilic also provided detailed numbers for the Office of Recovery’s extensive list of projects -- where the funding is coming from and who are the players. With over $528,000,000 in recovery goals, the Office of Recovery is involved in many projects that will require the public sector's participation. Potential business opportunities for CREW members can be gleaned from the presentation, which will be posted to the CREW website and downloadable for more extensive review.