COALITION MEMBERS

Al Gourrier was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Educated at Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Al holds a BA in Finance, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), is a graduate from ABA’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University, and holds a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. Al started a banking career in 1993. In November of 2005, Al organized a new State-Chartered FDIC Institution (De novo), 1st Commerce Bank, which he opened in October 2006. Dr. Gourrier considers the development, organization and his regulatory approval of 1st Commerce Bank one of his greatest professional achievements in his young professional career. Al was the first African American Bank President in the State of Nevada and was one of the youngest bank presidents in the country at the time. After a successful 19-year career, Al Gourrier left banking in January of 2012 to peruse a career in academia.
 

Dr. Gourrier’s scholarship in academia focuses on banking, social equity, and community development through financial and economic representation by exploring decisions and structures impacting the economic health, development, entrepreneurship, and well-being of urban communities. Locally he services as a member of the University of Maryland Medical Center Community Advisory Council, Upton Community Development Corporation and is a member of Kappa Alpha Phi Fraternity Incorporated (’98). Al is also a member of the Urban Affairs Association and the American Society for Public Administration. Al and his wife Marla Gourrier have been married for twenty-four years, have four children together