NEW ORLEANS, LA — Entrepreneurs’ Organization Louisiana (EO Louisiana) named Marc Ehrhardt, president of New Orleans- and Baton Rouge-based public relations firm The Ehrhardt Group, the recipient of its 2026 Marshall Klein Entrepreneur of the Year Award. EO Louisiana presented the award, the chapter’s highest individual honor, on Aug. 29 at its Annual Meeting. Attendees and participants included more than 100 members of the Louisiana business community, past honorees, and Ehrhardt’s family.
The Marshall Klein Award has been presented annually since 2006, when the chapter established it in memory of Marshall Klein, a longtime EO member and president and CEO of Mandeville-based iBusiness.com, who died of acute liver failure in September 2004. In the months before his death, Klein credited his EO Forum experience with pushing him toward major personal breakthroughs. The chapter says it created the award in his name to honor a member who reflects the same three qualities Klein lived by: living life to the fullest, a thirst for learning, and making a mark by giving back. Ehrhardt is its 21st recipient.
Ehrhardt has led The Ehrhardt Group for nearly 30 years, building it into one of Louisiana’s most recognized public relations firms and directing communications campaigns for major events including WrestleMania XXX and multiple Super Bowls and NCAA Final Fours held in New Orleans. Earlier this year, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation named Ehrhardt to its 2026 Hall of Fame class, citing his role in elevating the city’s national profile as a host for marquee sporting events. He also serves on the board of the Young Leadership Council and previously served on the board of the Press Club of New Orleans.
“EO has changed my life in so many ways. I am a better husband, dad, brother and friend, not to mention becoming the kind of business owner that I never really envisioned for myself,” Ehrhardt said. “To see my name added to a list of people I’ve admired for twenty years is one of the great honors of my career. I’m grateful to be a part of EO Louisiana and the incredible people who make up this chapter and organization. I’m especially grateful that Chris Reade and my forummates are the ones standing up there with me Saturday night, those friendships are the whole point of Forum.”
“Marc Ehrhardt has spent nearly three decades building other people’s stories into national moments, and this year we get to build one for him,” said Marie Powell, president of EO Louisiana and founder of Brew Agency. “He shows up for his clients, his city, and his fellow members with the same energy every time. The Marshall Klein Award was created for entrepreneurs who live big, stay curious, and give back, and Marc has done all three since the day he joined this chapter.”
Longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur Chris Reade, president of LookFar Ventures and himself a past president of EO Louisiana, introduced Ehrhardt before he received the award.
“I’ve watched Marc build The Ehrhardt Group into one of the most trusted PR firms in Louisiana, and as he’s made the transition from operator to CEO the business has flourished.,” Reade said. “As his friend and Forum-mate for 15 years I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
