Patrick Beard

Adjunct Assistant Professor in Real Estate Development

Patrick Beard is the Director of Economic Development for St. Charles Parish Government, where he leads efforts to attract new investment and support the growth of existing businesses. In this role, he works closely with major industry partners, small and mid-sized businesses, landowners, and developers to advance projects across the parish. He collaborates with state, regional, and local public and private organizations to facilitate project financing, site selection, and infrastructure development initiatives that strengthen the local economy.

Prior to his current role, Patrick was an Associate Vice President with Colliers, specializing in industrial real estate brokerage across the Gulf Coast, with a focus on maritime, rail-served, and riverfront properties. He also served as a Maritime-Industrial Asset Manager for the Port of New Orleans, where he managed a large industrial real estate portfolio and executed complex lease and development transactions .

Patrick is an adjunct assistant professor at Tulane University, where he teaches real estate finance and development. His instruction emphasizes practical application, including financial modeling and real-world investment analysis.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans.