Robert Bories
Chief Financial Officer, Gulf South Holding, Inc
Education: Isidore Newman High School; Bachelors in Business Administration and Accounting, Vanderbilt University.
Family: Wife, Bridget; son, Robert Jr., 24; daughters, Carrie, 21, Evelyn, 17.
Mentors: Jack R. Aron; William B. Burkenroad Jr.; and my father, Alan V. Bories.
Robert Bories is a fourth-generation New Orleans business owner, continuing a long line of entrepreneurs. In 1898, his great-grandfather, Jacob Aron, started J. Aron and Company, a green coffee importing company that became one of the largest coffee importers in the United States. The business added a sugar refinery and moved into oil and gas exploration in the late 1950s. Bories joined the company in 1980 to help with accounting and finances.
Bories served as President of J. Aron and Company until its liquidation. In 1997 Bories joined Gulf South Operators, Inc. He currently serves as CFO, and partner in Gulf South Holding, Inc., the parent company.
Bories also continues the family tradition of giving back to the community. He sits on the Greater New Orleans Foundation board, the board of WYES public television and the Touro Infirmary Foundation.
Every morning before work, Bories swims, runs or bicycles in Uptown New Orleans.
Why is it important to give back to the community? Every generation uses what prior generations have built up for them. You need to provide for future generations. My dad taught me that. That’s community building…and making it better.
Any advice for the next generation? It’s so important for young people to get involved in community activities. If you can work with a specific organization and get on their board, you get so much business experience. It’s a great way to network and meet people.
How did the coffee business change from when your family started it? Years ago, every town had three or four roasters. Now you have these big guys like Maxwell and Folgers. Coffee is now going into another cycle, like the beer industry. We’re getting all these mico-roasters and micro-brewers.
iBERIABANK is proud to present a series of profiles featuring entrepreneurs, volunteer activists and artists whose work is making a difference. As iBERIABANK continues to make significant investments in our community, this special feature focuses on a few individuals who are doing the same.
While we can not include everyone who is inspiring change and worthy of recognition, we are proud to highlight a select few who give tirelessly to our community with their time, energy and passion.
What do you do in your free time? We have a cottage in Pass Christian on the Mississippi Sound that we visit. It’s just about one of my favorite things to do.
Any other hobbies? I’m fascinated with astronomy. I have the Google Sky smartphone app. I can hold up my smartphone at the sky and it will tell me where constellations and planets are. I like looking for planets; you can always predict where they are going to be.
