Obsidienne Consultants
Obsidienne Consultants
Norman E. Barnum IV is a seasoned business executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across public and private sectors. As Managing Partner of Barnum Group LLC, founded in 1991, he specializes in business acquisition, growth strategies, and exit planning, helping clients build sustainable, wealth-generating enterprises.
Barnum's career began as an IRS agent in New Orleans before transitioning into financial management and economic development in Philadelphia. He has driven major community revitalization efforts, including $140M in commercial reinvestment for Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane and securing $70M in revenue for WYBE Public Television.
Upon moving back to his home city of New Orleans, Barnum served as a business advisor for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program, then later as CFO and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance where he led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, securing over $10M in grants for the city.
A 2021 Leadership Louisiana graduate, Barnum remains active in real estate development and financial consulting. He holds a B.S. from Xavier University of Louisiana and an MBA in Finance from Eastern University. Based in Louisiana where he resides with his wife and close to his daughters and granddaughter, Barnum is dedicated to fostering economic growth and community impact while delivering savage ROI for clients.
Jeanette R. Weiland is a finance and investment strategist with extensive experience advising private clients, businesses, and institutions on growth, financial management, and economic development. Weiland serves as Chief Business Officer at Tulane University’s School of Science & Engineering where she is responsible for the school's $100m budget, including overseeing the finance, HR, and marketing teams. Jeanette started with the university as Investment Director for Tulane Ventures, overseeing the creation of the university's first venture capital fund and serving as the liaison to industry partners.
Previously, Weiland led economic development efforts as Senior Vice President at the New Orleans Business Alliance, securing $2M in federal and state funding to support biotech infrastructure and real estate investment. She oversaw the organization's business development and marketing teams, represented the organization with the New Orleans Bio District, and worked directly with private sector firms on growth strategies and business development efforts.
Weiland’s financial career includes leadership roles at Ochsner Health, where she managed financial growth strategy for a $167M revenue division that included multiple service lines, and CIC Wealth, where she co-managed $400M in client assets specializing in investment portfolio management, tax-advantaged strategies, and business succession planning. Jeanette was a Registered Representative (Series 7 and 66), a licensed insurance agent, and held a Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®) designation.
A 2022 Leadership Louisiana graduate, Weiland chairs Louisiana BIO and was instrumental in establishing the state’s first STEM Innovation Caucus. Jeanette is the author of three published children's books, and holds a B.S. in International Trade & Finance from LSU and dual master’s degrees in Arts Administration and Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. Based in Louisiana where she resides with her children, she remains dedicated to guiding clients toward financial success.