Baton Rouge Business Report [November 2023]

NOVEMBER 2023 • BUSINESSREPORT.COM

2023

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UNDER

Honoring the Capital Region’s brightest young LEADERS, INNOVATORS and BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS.

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CONTENTS

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News 57 Balancing Act

Courts are being asked to weigh the need for companies to protect their trade secrets versus the risk to competition.

NOVEMBER 2023 • BUSINESSREPORT.COM

60 The road to sustainability

Across Louisiana, companies are increasingly investing in and collaborating on projects as part of the energy transition.

65 Cash pinch

23 Publisher

Uncertain project economics can put a contractor’s profitability at risk. Here’s how some are navigating it.

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Honoring the Capital Region’s brightest young LEADERS, INNOVATORS and BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS.

68 Litter warriors

How a local grassroots organization is working to improve Baton Rouge’s economic future by tackling trash.

74 Next gen founders

8 Torchbearers of tomorrow

2023

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The 2024 Young Entrepreneurs Academy cohort wants to rethink architectural design, grow fashion creativity and reimagine access to lawn care.

Intelligence 11 5 Things to Watch

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13 Jon Gordon: Struggle leads to strength 14 Whitney Johnson: Imagining the job that doesn’t exist—yet 15 Thought Leader: Recruiting top talent that aligns with your culture

$5.95

ON THE COVER Meet the 2023 Forty Under 40 Photography: Amy Martin Design: Hoa Vu

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

LEGAL TRENDS + INSIGHTS Page 77

17 Briefing: News, notes and charts to keep you in the know

Local experts help you navigate legal and regulatory issues that impact business.

18 Day in the Life: The Government Street ‘road diet’ 23 Entrepreneur: Cassie Bradford & Renee Cole 25 Networking: After-hours cocktails in the Capital Region 26 Design: Huey P. Long Field House 28 Tip Sheet: The Corporate Transparency Act

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CONNECT WITH US:

Viewpoint 85

Rolfe McCollister Jr.: 2024: Who runs for Baton Rouge mayor?

businessreport.com

facebook.com/businessreport

Your Business 89

Listmakers: Law Firms and Convention & Meeting Facilities

95

Company News

97

Moving Up

x.com/brbizreport

instagram.com/brbizreport

102 Recharge: Jordan Gleason | Bowhunting

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BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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YOU SEARCH. WE FIND. business skills business skills learning business skills training Free business skills online learning business plans

Your Library team is skilled at helping you find the tools and resources you need to keep your organization moving forward. You can search our Digital Library. You can call a librarian.

You can even text our team at (225) 361-8476 with your top challenges and questions.

Visit ebrpl.com/DigitalLibrary • Available 24/7 Online • ebrpl.com • Reference Service: (225) 231-3750

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PU B LI S H E R B R I E FI NG

Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Torchbearers of tomorrow ELECTRIC. It’s a word that best captures the anticipation leading up to our Forty Under 40 edition every year. This is the moment we shine a spotlight on Baton Rouge’s most promising young professionals.

Looking back on the engagements I’ve had with this generation of rising leaders—through our own Leadership Academy, Forum 225, or enriching events like Assembly Required and TEDx Baton Rouge—one undeniable truth resonates: Baton Rouge is loaded with talent, ambition, and a genuine desire to catalyze change.

But aspirations alone won’t retain these brilliant minds. It’s an imperatively shared responsibility of community leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers alike to create a Baton Rouge where young professionals don’t just work, but thrive and innovate.

How do we do that? The solution is multifaceted: Career opportunities The surge of startups and proliferation in technology, creative and other rising sectors beckons us. We need to invest, nurture and accelerate their growth.

Quality of life The soul yearns for more than just work.

Investing in parks, cultural hubs and recreational spaces isn’t just beautification—it’s a commitment to holistic well-being. We have to keep expanding and improving.

Vibrant neighborhoods The dream of owning a home should not be a distant one. Mixed-use developments can

In Memoriam

Abigail Hamilton Aaron

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reinvigorate neighborhoods, making them lively and accessible.

Networking and community A sense of belonging is vital. Through networking events, conferences and support for professional groups, we can foster connections that strengthen community ties. We were created for connection.

Cultural investments A city’s soul is its culture. Theaters, galleries and music venues are not luxuries, but rather essentials that feed creativity and camaraderie.

The paramount issue: Public safety A thriving city is a safe city. Through cohesive law enforcement strategies and community policing, we must address public safety concerns, assuring residents and visitors alike of a secure environment. Public safety is not only essential for economic growth, but when individuals feel secure, they’re more likely to connect with their neighbors and participate in communal activities.

As you read about the rising stars who comprise our 2023 Forty Under 40, know that they aren’t just award recipients—they are torchbearers for a brighter Baton Rouge!

The best is yet to come!

Julio Melara, Publisher

I WANT TO take a moment to remember and honor the remarkable life of a colleague who dedicated her life to making this community a better place.

Abby, as we knew her, played a vital role at Melara Enterprises, contributing her energy, passion and creativity to our mission. She was the driving force behind our community events, transforming them into memorable gatherings that brought people together and strengthened bonds. Beyond the workplace, she extended her generosity to numerous nonprofit organizations, tirelessly working to support causes close to her heart. Her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others was inspiring and experienced in so many ways. Her spirit will forever be a part of us, a reminder of the profound and lasting impact one person can make.

Chief Content Officer & Executive Editor: Penny Font Corporate Media Editor: Lisa Tramontana Managing Editor: Allan Schilling Online News Editor: Deanna B. Narveson Staff writers: Holly Duchmann, David Jacobs, Domenic Purdy Digital Content Editor: Dillon Lowe Multimedia News Producer: Oscar Tickle Contributing writers: Sam Barnes, Emily Hebert, Maggie Heyn Richardson Contributing photographers: Don Kadair, Tim Mueller, Collin Richie

ADVERTISING Sales Director: Kelly Lewis Account Executives: Emma Dubuc, Nancy Bombet Ellis, Meredith LaBorde, Ethan Shipp, Matt Wambles Digital Operations Manager: Devyn MacDonald Customer Success Manager: Paul Huval

STUDIO E Director: Taylor Gast Creative Director: Timothy Coles Content Strategist: Emily Hebert Account Executive: Judith LaDousa

MARKETING Marketing & Events Coordinator: Taylor Falgout Marketing & Events Assistant: Cadon Ardoin

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher Business Associate: Kirsten Milano Office Coordinator: Sara Hodge Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

CREATIVE SERVICES Director of Creative Services: Amy Vandiver Art Director: Hoa Vu Senior Graphic Designers: Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, Emily Witt Graphic Designer: Ashlee Digel Design Consultant: Carlin Mumphrey

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Audience Development Director and Digital Manager: James Hume Audience Development Coordinator: Ivana Oubre Audience Development Associate: Catherine Albano A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC Chairman: Julio Melara Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto Vice President-Sales: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert Chief Content Officer: Penny Font Chief Digital Officer: Erin Pou Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone Chairman Emeritus: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. Circulation/Reprints/Subscriptions/Customer Service 225-928-1700 • email: circulation@businessreport.com Volume 41 - Number 16 ©Copyright 2023 by Melara Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved by LBI. The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report (USPS 721-890 ISSN 0747-4652) is published monthly by Louisiana Business Inc. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Business address: 9029 Jefferson Hwy., Ste. 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Telephone (225) 928-1700.

Periodicals postage is paid at Baton Rouge, La. Subscription rate is $96.00 for 12 issues, with 2 additional issues published annually in April and December.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, 9029 Jefferson Hwy. Ste. 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material— manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed return envelope.

Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. No information expressed here constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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BEYOND CANCER

RESEARCH WITH A NATIONAL IMPACT BUT A FOCUS ON YOU

At Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, treating cancer goes beyond just treating cancer. It also means treating everything that comes with cancer, including the complications and side effects. Cancer takes everything. We’ll stop at nothing to care for you. Which is why we’ve been the region’s leading cancer treatment destination for decades. And we won’t stop there.

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OLOLRMC.COM/CANCER

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Congratulations

Rachael

o n b e i n g na m e d a 2 0 2 3 For t y Under 40 Honoree!

Rachael Slaughter President, Orion Laboratories

9331 Bluebonnet Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70810 225.769.2676 consultssa.com

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6949 Commerce Cir, Ste C Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225.923.6070 orion.healthcare

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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I NTE LLIG E NCE I N S IG HT

5 THINGS

to watch this month 1 WHAT IS THE future of doing business in Louisiana? Business Report’s Strictly Business sits down with Jeff Koonce, a partner with Bernhard Capital Partners and board chair for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Koonce is a leader and advocate in the CPA and legal fields and is involved in all areas of BCP’s investment activities. Koonce will share his insights on leadership, entrepreneurship and what he sees as the future of private equity and investment in the Capital Region. Register at strictlybusiness.businessreport.com and get more information at businessreport.com/events.

2 THE BATON ROUGE Area Chamber’s Morning Happy Hour event for investors and non-investors on Nov. 8 is a chance to network with other Baton Rouge professionals, grab breakfast and check out the terrace at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Cary Saurage Community Arts Center. The event starts at 8 a.m. and will wrap up by 10 a.m.

Get the details at BRAC.org/events.

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THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION of

WHILE THE NEXT governor was

BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN

Business and Industry hosts its annual Free Enterprise Awards at its Main Street headquarters on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. LABI members who demonstrate commitment and contribute to the state’s business climate and their communities will be honored and LABI will unveil its 2023 Legislative Scorecard ranking Louisiana lawmakers for their pro-business policies and voting records. Baton Rouge country music favorite Parish County Line will perform. Get details at LABI.org/events.

decided on election day in October, several legislative and statewide candidates are heading to a runoff election on Nov. 18. Early voting in the runoff election runs through Nov. 11, with no voting on Friday, Nov. 10, due to the Veterans Day holiday. Get more information about your voting location and sample ballot at SOS.La.Gov.

Airport is hosting its 18th annual Business Opportunities Workshop at the Raising Cane’s River Center on Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon. Leslie Ricard Chambers, Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s assistant chief administrative officer, will provide a business overview for the city of Baton Rouge and talk about programs available for small businesses. Ted James, regional administrator with the Small Business Administration, will be the keynote speaker.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING HONORED AS

Baton Rouge Business Report’s

2023 FORTY UNDER 40

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BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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I NTE LLIG E NCE LEAD E R S H I P

Struggle leads to strength

JON GORDON is a top speaker and bestselling author of multiple books including The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership and The Power of a Positive Team. His clients include Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Snapchat and Truist Bank as well sports teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Rams. Connect with him at JonGordon.com.

MY WIFE CALLS me ChatJG because whenever she asks me for the right words for one of her social media posts, I can spit out exactly what she needs like the AI tool ChatGPT. I realized the other day that I can do this because I wrestled with words for years and spent thousands of hours in the past writing books, newsletters and social media posts that made me a better writer. Sometimes it took me hours to decide what I wanted to say the way I wanted to say it.

My struggle with words led to my strength as a writer.

During the pandemic my daughter earned a living delivering food via Postmates. She had to provide for herself and the struggle made her stronger. I also see the same thing happening to her as a speaker. She’s on the road dealing with all the same challenges I’ve had over the years and I can see it building her resilience and character.

My son just graduated college and is working in his first sales job selling door to door. I’m watching him grind and experience both success and failure. There are days he struggles and I smile because I know in the long run the struggle will lead to strength and skills for his life and career in the future.

If we are honest with ourselves, we want things to be easy. But we must remember that easy won’t make us stronger. You have to struggle if you want strength.

Anything worthwhile takes time and struggle to create. That’s why meals that are made, not microwaved, are much better.

Just as lifting weights makes your muscles grow and getting sick builds your immune system, adversity, challenges and struggles are woven into the fabric of our existence and are part of our growth and refining process.

So, the next time you are struggling, don’t run from it. Don’t wish it was easier. Instead, choose to embrace it knowing it will make you stronger.

I told my wife the other day that instead of asking me (ChatJG) for input when she’s stuck writing something, she should wrestle with the words on her own in order to become a better writer. She agreed and decided she was going to do that from now on.

Struggling will make her stronger and it will do the same for you.

“Adversity, challenges and struggles are woven into the fabric of our existence and are part of our growth and refining process.”

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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I NTE LLIG E NCE LEAD E R S H I P

Imagining the job that doesn’t exist—yet OVER THE YEARS, I’ve talked to many

WHITNEY JOHNSON is CEO of leadership development company Disruption Advisors and has 1.8 million followers on LinkedIn. You can reach her at whitney@ thedisruptionavisors.com.

people who landed a job that didn’t exist until they imagined it into being.

My first guest when I launched my podcast was Michelle McKenna, who was chief information officer for the NFL at the time.

But when she applied for that job, it was advertised as something else. McKenna recognized that a CIO was what the NFL really needed and sold Commissioner Roger Goodell and other stakeholders on that role and herself to fill it. It was her dream job.

Sarah Feingold was another early podcast guest; she did the same thing with Etsy, which wasn’t advertising a job at all when she presented herself at the doorstep to claim the then nonexistent role of chief counsel.

One of the fascinating challenges—and opportunities—of the contemporary workplace is rapid change. Rapid turnover of employees and clients; rapidly evolving technology. One of the cumulative effects of constant change is the eruption not just of new available jobs, but of entirely different roles, unknown to us just a few years, or even months, ago. Virtually none of the jobs on the lists of most-in-demand positions for the next decade existed when I was in college and contemplating a career path. It has been that way for a while now and it’s a trend with no end in sight.

If you want to imagine a job that’s right for you, even when the opportunity doesn’t yet exist, here’s the to-do list: Identify distinctive strengths. These are not just things that you are good at, but what you are uniquely good at that others don’t do well. Here are some questions to ask: • When you were younger, what made you weird? Our superpowers often set us apart from our peers when we were school-age.

• Where do disparate interests intersect?

For Sarah Feingold it was art and law;

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for Michelle McKenna it was technology and sports. Most of us are good at and/or interested in more than one thing and may do our most innovative and productive work where those interests overlap.

• What do other people do that irritates you? Almost nothing casts more light on what we do really well than how we are annoyed by other people’s inability to do those things as effectively.

Identify an unoccupied niche—a problem to solve, a product or service to innovate—that needs to be filled. Again, this is what McKenna and Feingold did. They saw a niche that needed to be filled, one that was ideally suited to their strengths and interests.

Step back or sideways to grow.

Sometimes the opportunity that will help slingshot us forward—both as individuals and as businesses—requires the backward, or lateral, move to open the path to an objective. Multiply the possible moves that are available to you. Evaluate the value that a seemingly counterintuitive role change might add to your career in terms of longterm opportunities. Additional training, team leadership, challenging projects and other expertise-oriented experiences may offer greater long-term advantages than a short-term bump in your compensation bottom line.

What will the world look like in a decade?

How do current products and services available to consumers affect their expectations for the future? What will they demand in the next year, five years, 10 and beyond?

What are the jobs, what is the expertise, and who are the people that will meet those expectations?

Being able to imagine those changes and not only prepare for them but be part of making them happen, is the key to evolving tomorrow’s possibility into today’s success.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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I NTE LLIG E NCE THOUG HT LEAD E R

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Recruiting top 3 talent that aligns with your culture 4 When your firm has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies as well as one of Baton Rouge’s Best Places to Work for 10 years running, it’s critical that new hires are a perfect fit for your commitment to ethical behavior and integrity as well as collaboration and innovation. Arthur J. Gallagher is a leading global insurance brokerage and risk management firm with a strong presence in Baton Rouge. Area President AMANDA HAMILTON shares some of the company’s insights for recruiting top talent that aligns with what matters most.

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GALLAGHER TAKES SEVERAL steps to ensure a good fit for our company culture. Behavioral interviews evaluate how well candidates align with Gallagher’s values and desired behaviors. Cultural fit assessments evaluate their alignment with collaborative mindset, commitment to ethical behavior and The Gallagher Way. EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT IS an important aspect of

Gallagher’s hiring process. We include current employees in the interview process or seek their feedback on potential hires. This ensures that the perspectives of those already immersed in the company’s culture are considered when evaluating candidates.

COMPREHENSIVE ONBOARDING AND orientation

programs familiarize new employees with the company’s culture and expectations and emphasize how their roles contribute to the organization’s success. This reinforces the importance of cultural alignment.

WE INVEST IN ongoing training and development. By providing continuous learning opportunities, we ensure that employees continue to align with the company’s culture as they grow and build their career within Gallagher. Programs like G3 Growing Gallagher Greats are designed to grow key talent into tomorrow’s leaders in part by facilitating relationships with leaders within the organization, enabling visibility and exposure.

TALENT ACQUISITION EXTENDS to high school and

college internship programs, which provide platforms for nurturing talent and opportunities for young professionals to gain real-world experience in the insurance industry.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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I NTE LLIG E NCE B R I E FI NG

B IG STORY

ISTOCK

All aboard!

AFTER 15 YEARS of hopes, dreams and conversations, a deal to bring intercity passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans was swiftly finalized last month.

While state officials still await an announcement for a $200 million federal grant for infrastructure upgrades, Gov. John Bel Edwards has expressed confidence that Amtrak passenger trains will be traveling between Baton Rouge and New Orleans by 2027.

The proposed route is scheduled to take 75 to 90 minutes. Schedules and fares will be announced closer to the launch of the new service, but stops will include downtown Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge South, Gonzales, LaPlace, New Orleans International Airport, Jefferson Parish and the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal.

So what would that look like for the business traveler? Final decisions are a ways away, but comparisons to other routes offer clues.

While coach travel consists of two seats on either side of the aisle, business class is two on one and one on the other, providing extra room for the traveler, says Marc Magliari, a spokesperson for Amtrak. Power outlets, Wi-Fi and drop-down

tables also are available, along with a snack bar with food as well as hot and cold beverages.

But since this would be a state-sponsored route, decisions about capacity and menus will be made by state officials. The state could decide to only offer coach, he adds.

Another open question is ticket prices. Costs could be higher by 2027, though the price for coach tickets for comparable routes today can range from $19 to $25, with a $15 to $25 upcharge for business class.

Sometimes with a new route, the public has a chance to offer suggestions for a name, Magliari says, noting that he has a lot more experience with frequency changes than with new routes.

“New routes are a fairly new opportunity for us, basically because of the money in the [federal] infrastructure bill,” he adds.

Amtrak is also working to reestablish service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, which ended after Hurricane Katrina. Magliari says trains could originate in Baton Rouge, then head to New Orleans and continue to Mobile, or they might just bounce back and forth between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

D IG IT

Joe Dean Sr. once told me, ‘[There is] no fertilizer like the farmer’s footsteps.’

Matt McKay, chair, president and CEO of All Star Automotive Group

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TH EY SAI D IT

2,000

Number of name, image and likeness, or NIL, endorsement deals with LSU athletes that have been disclosed since the NCAA began to allow them a little more than two years ago. Some high-profile brands that have partnered with Tiger athletes: Nike, Puma, Raising Cane’s and Taco Bell.

M UST R EAD

The Outsiders is a Harvard Business Review bestseller that profiles eight iconoclastic leaders who led firms to returns that were more than 20 times higher on average than the S&P 500. Their names are far from celeb status— Henry Singleton, Bill Anders, Tom Murphy—but their companies are familiar: General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway. Learn what traits helped these select leaders become such high performers. “Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these ‘outsiders’ shunned Wall Street and the press and shied away from popular management trends,” Harvard Business Review notes. Author Will Thorndike tells many of these leaders’ stories for the first time—and extracts lessons for those hoping to lead their companies to exceptional returns.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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I NTE LLIG E NCE B R I E FI NG

DAY I N TH E LI FE

The Government Street

‘road diet’ PHOTOGRAPHY BY DON KADAIR

PLENTY OF MID CITY residents weren’t happy when Government Street was put on a “road diet.” Many feared the plan would worsen traffic and deter customers from patronizing the shops and restaurants lining the corridor.

But as BRAC’s Jake Polansky wrote in an October commentary, those fears could not have been further from the truth.

The transformation to a “complete streets” design began in 2018. It involved turning four lanes into three while adding bike lanes and medians and improving sidewalks.

Since its 2021 completion, data shows that, despite higher traffic counts, the average number of monthly reported traffic incidents on Government Street has fallen 50%, and, with new businesses popping up, tax revenue along the stretch has outpaced the city’s overall growth rate by 26%.

To capture life along this svelte roadway, Business Report sent Baton Rouge photographer Don Kadair.

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BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

1. A couple enjoy food from Curbside Burgers, which founder Nick Hufft took from a food truck with a cult following to a thriving brick-and-mortar operation in November 2016, before Government Street embarked on its road diet.

2. Known for its tufted leather seating, marble accents and locally sourced ingredients, Rocca Pizzeria brought a taste of Naples to Mid City in 2018, just as the road diet was getting underway.

3. Since taking ownership in 2016, Garrett Kemp has transformed what is now known as The Market at Circa 1857.

4. In June, the Fleurty Girl brand opened a boutique storefront in the former home of Mid City Mercantile.

5. The new brunch and lunch spot Leola’s Cafe and Coffee House opened in January in the Circa 1857 complex.

6. Brothers Paul and Michael Mladenka, owners of Cou-Yon’s BBQ, opened the fast-casual fried seafood concept Cork’s Fish & Shrimp in January.

7.

Baton Rouge florist Heroman’s has seen plenty of evolution on Government Street. The company has been in business since 1878, and the original Heroman’s shop has been on Government Street since the 1960s.

8. Calandro’s got its start on Government Street in 1941, when Brazil and Vennera opened a small corner store there known as Plee-zing Food Store. Like Government Street, it has gone through many an evolution and is now a landmark known as Calandro’s Mid-City.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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I NTE LLIG E NCE B R I E FI NG

$268,500

ECONOM IC I N D ICATOR S

$18.7 MILLION

Median home sale price in East Baton Rouge Parish for September 2023

2022

J

280 275 270 265 260 255 250 245 240 235 230 225

Unemployment percentage

SALES TAX TRACKER J A S O N D J F M A M J

East Baton Rouge Parish unemployment rate for August 2023

REAL ESTATE TRACKER

Sales price (thousands)

Tax dollars (millions)

Sales tax collections in East Baton Rouge Parish for July 2023 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12

3.2%

S O N D J F M A M J

2023

UNEMPLOYMENT TRACKER

4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0

J A S

S O N D J F M A M J 2022

2023

2022

5.0

J A

2023

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Labor, East Baton Rouge Parish Finance Department, Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, Louisiana Workforce Commission.

13-month comparison

FOLLOW TH E MON EY

COR R ECTION S

PREPPING FOR 2024

$3,530,641

Baton Rouge-area Congressmen Troy Carter and Garret Graves both face reelection bids in 2024. Here’s a look at their cash on hand thus far. Figures are from the latest Federal Election Commission data released electronically in September and October, and reflects individuals and PACs combined.

Garret Graves

$485,580 Troy Carter

TOP 2 CONTRIBUTING INDUSTRIES Air Transport – $127,000 Real Estate – $93,050

Lobbyists – $34,600 Retired – $28,420

In the October edition of Business Report, the name of John Couvillon was misspelled. Also in the November edition, Gallagher was omitted from the list of companies that were named Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge all 10 years. Business Report regrets these errors.

Congratulates

K risty K aiser

on being named one of Baton Rouge Business Report’s 2023 Forty Under 40.

Investar Bank is most proud of your collaborative attitude and outstanding quality work. Thank you for making our team better and brighter each day!

Director of Internal Audit

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LOUISIANA • ALABAMA • TEXAS | InvestarBank.com |

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

M E ET TH E 500

YOU R AI COLLEAG U E

Mary Olive Pierson

The video summarizer

Attorney at Law

WIDELY KNOWN AS Ollie or MOP, this high-profile defense attorney has made a name for herself as a frequently sassy and sometimes salty lawyer who has never been one to bite her tongue or practice political correctness. Once notably referred to by a plaintiff as a “red-headed barracuda,” her searing one-line media sound bites, her nobody-talkseverybody-walks legal strategy and her loyalty are legendary. She has represented some of the biggest names in the Capital Region, most recently fighting the St. George incorporation on behalf of the city of Baton Rouge. She was one of just seven women in her LSU Law School class.

NAME: Eightify SKILL SET: Watching videos for you and serving up the highlights

FUN FACT: From 1978 to 1980, Pierson had a side gig as a meat pie entrepreneur, opening MOP’s Great American Meat Pie Co. on Government Street. She fell in love with the Louisiana delicacy on her frequent trips to Natchitoches.

“Have a good work ethic and be open to change, because that is what has steered me in unseeingly different directions but given me a fulfilling professional life.”

Renee Chatelain, executive director, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge

BRIAN BAIAMONTE

ADVICE

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For busy business owners who want to have it all by running a company and keeping up with the latest trends and getting a little inspiration now and then, this AI colleague might be just the thing. Without a subscription, users can get one free summary per day. For a monthly fee, this Chrome extension can provide unlimited summaries for any video length and translate videos from other languages.

Get the details at eightify.app.

LIFE IS music

01MK7923 08/23

For life’s moments, big and small.

We’re here with the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield.

The Right Card. The Right Care.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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Hess Crockett General Sales Manager

Charge into the Future with Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge

2024 AMG EQE SUV

Congratulations to the 2023 Forty Under 40 Nominees!

10949 Airline Highway • Baton Rouge (225) 424-2277 • www.mbobr.com

22

Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge

@MBOBR

@MBOBR

@mercedesbenzbatonrouge

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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I NTE LLIG E NCE E NTR E PR E N E U R

1 Key

to Success

DON KADAIR

“Opening a business will humble you.

Being a boss and being a leader are very different roles. You have to learn how to be a leader.”

—RENEE COLE (right)

Cassie Bradford & Renee Cole FOUNDERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION GROUP What they do: Applied behavior analysis therapy Website: Big-br.com

CASSIE BRADFORD AND Renee Cole grew up on the same street in the Shenandoah neighborhood of Baton Rouge. Both women had aspirations of teaching but instead decided to become applied behavior analysis therapists specializing in working with children with autism.

“It was a newer field at the time. We got into the field in 1999—there was no Autism [Awareness] Day or anything like that at the time,” Cole says The pair began working with families who needed assistance in their homes, and in 2007 formed the Behavioral Intervention Group. The following year, Louisiana passed legislation allowing ABA therapy to be covered by insurance, helping families access affordable treatment.

“Before, we were driving all over the state going into homes. We were training families to basically be therapists,” Bradford says.

In the summer of 2010, they opened their first BIG brick-and-mortar clinic, on Bluebonnet Boulevard. Over the next four years, Bradford and Cole’s business grew to serve 35 children. That’s when they moved their clinic to a facility on Siegen Lane with land for a playground and space to expand. By 2020, they were servicing 75 children at BIG and had plans to move, until pandemic restrictions temporarily shut the clinic down.

The pandemic led Bradford and Cole to restructure the clinic and focus on children under 8 years old, an area where they feel they do their best work. Today, they assist 59 children and employ a team of nearly 80. They acquired ownership of their Siegen Lane location earlier this year and have plans to renovate the property as well as expand with a satellite clinic in Livingston Parish within the next two years.

—By Holly Duchmann • Photography by Don Kadair Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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P E L I C A N

P R O S

I founded Pelican Advisory Group to deliver a superior class of financial and insurance advice.

“Over my 42 years working with high net worth individuals and business owners, I have come to understand they seek not just competent product advice, but also effective strategies to address their unique concerns. As fiduciaries, we know our clients’ trust and confidence in our ability to deliver is the most critical part of the relationship. Helping our clients’ plans come to life is my focus.”

R AN D AL L B . R I C H AR DSON , CLU ® President

LOOKING FOR SMART, COMPREHENSIVE RISK & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST? CONTACT RANDALL | 225 293 9283

|

pelicanadvisory.com

Investment advice through Pelican Investment Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Pelican Investment Advisors, LLC is not a Broker/Dealer.

REV Nov 2023 BRBR ad FINAL .indd 1

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I NTE LLI G E N CE N ETWOR K I N G

After-hours cocktails

in the Capital Region SO MUCH BUSINESS in the Capital Region is done after hours. Business

acquisitions, real estate deals and brokered connections—they’re occasionally considered over cocktails. Whether it’s a smoky mixed drink, a fruity blend or a spin on an old classic, sharing a tonic—alcoholic or not—is one way for business leaders to spark lasting connections with their clients and colleagues.

Here’s a look at some of the Capital Region’s bestselling libations.

—Domenic Purdy

MARGARITA DE POMME Tallulah at The Renaissance

SPEAK EASY

A local play on a classic margarita, this cocktail (top left) brings together pomegranate, lime, botanical liqueur Amaro Montenegro and the orange-flavored triple sec Cointreau with tequila from the Donaldsonville-based Noel Family Distillery, all served in a sugarrimmed glass.

The Gregory at The Watermark

Sweet and spicy, this cocktail (far right) combines añejo tequila—the bourbon of tequila with a bit of a kick—with cucumber jalapeño simple syrup, ancho chili powder, lime juice and satsuma liqueur. It’s topped off with a fresh radish for a pop of color.

SMOKED OLD-FASHIONED Proverbial Wine Bistro

THE HIDEAWAY Beausoleil

Served high in a coop glass, this cocktail is a refreshing and sweet mix of overproof Pinhook rye, lime and Drambuie, a scotch liquor made with hints of herbs and honey.

A new twist on an old classic, this oldfashioned with Bulleit bourbon and orange bitters is immersed in a smoke chamber with hints of your choice of cherry, applewood, hickory, oak, pecan, mesquite or bourbon barrel wood.

GOLDEN GATSBY

The Tunnel at Hilton Capitol Center Keeping with the hotel and bar’s art deco and speakeasy themes, this cocktail of vodka and lillet blanc conjures feelings of roaring ‘20s opulence. The cocktail, topped with a frozen mango, is exclusive to The Tunnel’s speakeasy nights and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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I NTE LLIG E NCE D E S IG N

Huey P. Long Field House restoration Field House Drive, LSU Campus

BY PENNY FONT PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM MUELLER

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Cost: $24 million Architects: Tipton Associates, Remson Haley Herpin Architecture Contractor: Arkel Constructors Interior Designer: Tipton Associates, Remson Haley Herpin Architecture Date completed: May 15, 2023 Use: The Huey P. Long Field House was the epicenter of student life when it opened in 1932 and served as the first student union. The newly renovated structure houses the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education.

“Along with its storied history, the Huey P. Long Field House is one of the most iconic buildings on our campus; it is a vital and enduring piece of the LSU landscape.

Restoring its grandeur and adapting it to current needs will fill a void on campus and allow future generations of our LSU family to forge new traditions within its walls.”

—Tom Galligan, LSU interim president at the time the project was launched

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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Sacred Heart of Jesus School Congratulates Fr. Josh Johnson!

Schedule a tour today!

2251 Main Street I

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Baton Rouge, LA 70802

I

225.383.7481

I

www.sacredheartbr.com

11/2/23 3:34 PM

I NTE LLIG E NCE B R I E FI NG

WHO IS IMPACTED?

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, existing and newly formed corporations, limited liability companies, and similar entities will be required to file a report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury, or FinCEN, identifying the beneficial ownership of the reporting company. There are some exceptions. Reporting entities formed after that date will need to include similar identifying information for their applicant.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO REPORT? • The full legal name, any trade name or “doing business as” designation; the business street address, the state or American Indian tribal jurisdiction of formation, and an IRS TIN or other identifying number of the reporting company.

• The identity of each beneficial owner and, if applicable, applicant, by full legal name, date of birth, current residential address for an individual or business address for an entity, and unique identifying number and image from an approved identification document. By filing this information, beneficial owners and applicants may also obtain a unique FinCEN identifier that may then be submitted in lieu of the information listed above.

TI P S H E ET

The new Corporate Transparency Act What small businesses and others need to know IN 2021, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act to combat the facilitation of illicit activities—including money laundering, financing of terrorism, and various acts of financial fraud—by malicious actors concealing their ownership of corporations, limited liability companies, or other similar entities in the U.S. Trevor Haynes (right), a business and finance attorney at Phelps with a focus on real estate, banking and commercial transactions, shares what entrepreneurs and executives need to know.

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Each reporting company is ultimately responsible for its filing and must certify that it is true, correct and complete.

AM I A BENEFICIAL OWNER OR APPLICANT? You are a “beneficial owner” of a reporting company if you exercise substantial control over the entity or own or control 25% or more of the ownership interests in the entity.

There are exceptions, including for minor children (if the information of the parent or guardian is reported), an inheritor of ownership interests in the entity, and certain creditors. You exercise substantial control if: • You serve as a senior officer.

• You have authority over the appointment or removal of directors, officers and persons holding similar offices.

• You have discretion, determination or decision-making authority over (or substantial influence over) important matters of the reporting company.

An “applicant” is an individual who registers or files an application to form a reporting company. If you do so, your identifying information will need to be reported.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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I NTE LLIG E NCE B R I E FI NG

ANY CHANCE I’M EXEMPT?

It appears most small businesses will be required to comply with the act, but there are exceptions: • Issuers of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act • Governmental authorities • Banks, bank holding companies, credit unions and money transmitting businesses • Broker-dealers • Investment companies and advisers

ALL DAY COMFORT OUR STAFF WILL HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT CHAIR TO FIT YOUR BODY, STYLE AND BUDGET.

• Insurance companies • Tax-exempt entities • Large operating companies that employ more than 20 employees in the U.S., filed federal income tax returns evidencing more than $5 million in gross receipts or sales in the previous year, and have a physical office in the U.S. • Subsidiaries of certain exempt entities

WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION?

FinCEN is required to maintain the confidentiality of reported information but is authorized to make disclosures for specific purposes to certain government authorities and to financial institutions.

WHAT IF I JUST IGNORE IT?

You may be subject to civil and criminal penalties, including fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to two years.

OK, SO WHAT’S MY DEADLINE? Reporting companies existing prior to the effective date must submit an initial report no later than Jan. 1, 2025. A reporting company created on or after the effective date must file its initial report within 30 days of the effective date of its creation or registration.

Updated and corrected reports must be filed within 30 days after the date of a change to any required information previously submitted or after the date an inaccuracy is discovered, respectively.

TEST DRIVES AVAILABLE IN OUR STORE Louisiana Office Furniture Co. A division of Louisiana Office Solutions Co. 7643 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225 927-1110 www.losco.com M-F 8-5

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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BUSINESS REPORT’S EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATES 2023 FA L L CL A S S

Adam Woods

Anthony Nelson

Mortgage Loan Officer, GMFS Mortgage

Christian Bernard

Human Resources Manager, Hannis T. Bourgeois LLP

Gwendolyn Longmire

Hartley Daigle

Director of Federal Programs & Data Management, Zachary Community School District

Kayla Brown

Designer/Project Manager, AOS

Retail Relationship Manager, First Horizon Bank

Ryan Espey

Eastern Regional Manager, Turner Industries

Chief Business Officer, Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge

Claire Harrell

General Manager, Pinnacle Exterior Construction

Matt Buuck

April Gautreaux

Sr. Environmental Engineer, Huntsman Corporation

Colin Daigle

Project Administrator, R.J. Daigle & Sons Contractors, Inc

Jacob Gwin

Owner/Broker, HCD Real Estate

Director of Business Services, Louisiana Federal Credit Union

Kelsey Amato

Kendra Clark

Marketing & PR Director, Performance Contractors, Inc.

Max Lauro

Digital Marketing Manager, APTIM

Ryan Faulk

CEO, Holly & Smith Architects, APAC

Daniel Honore

Director of Field Operations, D. Honore Construction

Jason Rosen

VP of Sales, Corporate Services

Kevin Hussey

General Manager, Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine

President, United Fire & Water Damage of LA, LLC

Melissa Samuel

Michael Kingston

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, Bernhard, LLC

Steven Brooksher

Owner, Steven Brooksher State Farm

LEARN

Bobby Smith

Owner, Precise Design Construction LLC

|

V.P. of Operations, BUILD Commercial Construction

Travis Gautreau

Retail Market Manager, Investar Bank

CON N ECT

|

Brittany Boudreaux

Production / Branch Manager, Team 225 First Option

Chance McNeely

Partner, The Delta Resource Group

Erin Pou

Evan Scroggs

Chief Digital Officer, Melara Enterprises

Kathleen Krohn

Controller, Bearing Point Properties

Lacey Weimer

Retirement Benefits Administrator, Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Louisiana

Mike Veisor

Director of Sales and Marketing, Kleinpeter Farms Dairy

Triff Doming

Project Executive, Arkel Constructors

Managing Principal, Lee & Associates

Kati Hodges

Director of Operations, Premier Geotech and Testing

Marjorianna Willman

Chief Operating and Legal Officer, Louisiana Housing Corporation

Roland Gaudet

Business Development Officer, Citizens Bank and Trust

Yolanda Williams

Director of Human Resources, Zachary Community School District

GROW

VISIT B R LEADE RSH I PACADE MY.COM TO APPLY FOR SPR I NG 2024 TODAY

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S

up

r,

ct

THIRTY-SIX LOCAL BUSINESS EXECUTIVES concluded the Fall 2023 session of Business Report’s Executive Leadership Academy on October 27. The five-session executive training program focused on personal development, professional growth, leadership exposure and insight from guest CEO speakers. Featured speakers for the Fall 2023 cohort included Dr. Craig Greene, board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon; Stephen Toups, president and CEO of Turner Industries; and Chris Meyer, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

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They spoke on topics ranging from servant leadership, creating and maintaining high performing cultures, what inspires them and building successful teams.

The Business Report Leadership Academy has become a sought-after, energizing and career-enhancing program.

Offered twice yearly, in the spring and the fall, the program is presented in five sessions on Fridays. Class size is limited to ensure a personalized experience.

To apply for the Spring 2024 session, visit brleadershipacademy.com, scan the QR code or email brooke@brleadershipacademy.com.

11/2/23 3:35 PM

BREAKTHROUGHS IN MEDICINE AND ON THE FIELD.

TOGETHER WE ROAR. Our researchers are leading the charge with the latest innovations to ensure every Tiger gets the care that sets them up for greatness.

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C O V E R S T O RY

2023

F

RTY

4

UNDER

Honoring the Capital Region’s brightest young LEADERS, INNOVATORS and BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS.

T

hey are the next generation of Baton Rouge leaders, and they are driving transformation in business and the community.

Among their ranks is a Public Service Commission member devoted to economic and racial justice and consumer protections. A national stuttering advocate. An entrepreneur providing community acts of kindness through a laundry service. And one of the architects of LSU’s booming NIL program.

Meet Business Report’s 2023 Forty Under 40.

In the business sector, these honorees are trailblazers, driving innovation and shaping the local economy. They represent a diverse range of industries, from startups to established corporations, and are redefining success.

In the community, our honorees are passionate advocates for social causes, education, health care, and more. They are committed to making a positive difference through initiatives to uplift communities and champion causes.

In the public sector, they are shaping policies and tackling the complex

challenges facing our city—all with the goal of building a better Baton Rouge for all its residents.

Our team worked with a panel of community leaders to carefully review more than 500 nominations for 253 individuals to make the difficult decisions in choosing this year’s class. As you read about these 40 honorees, you will discover the diverse talents and backgrounds that make up the fabric of our community.

They are leaders who inspire, challenge conventions, and contribute to a brighter future for Baton Rouge.

photography by amy martin Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

Congratulations Hayden on being selected as one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 honorees We are thankful for your humility, leadership, and commitment to building fitness communities that change lives. We are so proud of you Hayden!

- Your Tribe

PERKINS 8220 Perkins Rd 225.427.0632 MID-CITY 1176 S Acadian Thruway 225.960.2540

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C O V E R S T O RY

LEIGH ADAMS | 38

SINELLA AGHASI | 31

JULIE GERDES BECNEL | 38

JASON BROHA | 38

Realtor, RE/MAX Professional

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Kids’ Orchestra

Founder and Head Hen, Little Rouge Hen

Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Turner Industries

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Most Cooperative Realtor, through the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors • RE/MAX, Chairman’s Club • Consistently ranks in the top 1% of Realtors in the Greater Baton Rouge and New Orleans markets, and this year was ranked No. 40 of more than 14,000 Realtors in those regions

COMMUNITY

• Active in the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Network • Mentor to other Realtors • Board of directors, College Town Civic Association

TYPICAL WORKDAY IN FIVE WORDS

Coffee, contracts, problem-solving, inspections, closings

IF I HAD TO SWITCH CAREERS

I would love to be an author of children’s books. Before real estate, I enjoyed my years as an early childhood educator immensely.

BEST ADVICE

Don’t quit on a bad day.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Established and led innovative community programs for more than 5,000 Capital Region students to date at Kids’ Orchestra

• Starting Little Rouge Hen, which helps leaders develop marketing and communications strategies while identifying and cultivating talent

• Received a doctoral degree from LSU at age 26

• Leading the marketing team for National Geographic Society

• Performed as an award-winning violinist in more than 1,000 national and international events

• Winning the American University Best Capstone Award for my master’s thesis

COMMUNITY

• Vice president of corporate partnerships at Forum 225 • Leadership Baton Rouge Class of 2023 • Baton Rouge Alliance for Students’ Changemakers Class of 2021

WOULD-BE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Harmonizing Dreams: From Iran to Louisiana, A Life of Music, Advocacy and Growth

BEST ADVICE

My dad urged me to embrace the well-being of those around me and understand the potential of my personal impact on the world. He taught me that the suffering of one affects the harmony of all.

COMMUNITY

• Co-founder and co-leader of a group for solopreneur women in Baton Rouge (and beyond) • Served as WHAM PTO’s communications chair and is a member of the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students’ Changemakers program • Member of the Perkins Road underpass initiative volunteer group

INNOVATION I HOPE TO SEE IN MY INDUSTRY

AI is going to be a game changer.

There’s a lot that needs to be figured out, but I’m embracing its potential to be a huge resource for the talented nonprofit and small business teams that I have the privilege of working with.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• One of the youngest executives at Turner Industries • Significantly expanded the marketing department, both in terms of personnel and responsibilities • Graduate of BRAC’s Leadership Baton Rouge

COMMUNITY

• American Advertising Federation – Baton Rouge, past president • Young Entrepreneurs Academy, student mentor • 2023 Boys and Girls Clubs, Great Futures Gala honoree

TYPICAL WORKDAY IN FIVE WORDS Starts one way, ends another.

INNOVATION I HOPE TO SEE IN MY INDUSTRY

The sustainable solutions journey will drive a wave of innovation that benefits energy and chemical production along with end products for the next generation.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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Issue Date: NOV 2023 Ad 1 proof #3 • Please respond by e-mail or phone with your approval or minor revisions.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

BUILDING TODAY for a better tomorrow

Build your legacy.

Inspire with vision.

Deliver with excellence.

Terence Hill

terence@hillconstructionbr.com

Travis Hill

travis@hillconstructionbr.com

11616 Industriplex Blvd, Suite 22 | Baton Rouge, LA 70809 | 225-268-1079 | 225-315-2468 | hillconstructionbr.com

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BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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11/2/23 3:27 PM

Issue Date: Nov 2023 Ad proof #2 • Please respond by e-mail or phone with your approval or minor revisions.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

C O V E R S T O RY

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

Congratulates Jordan Gleason on being named a Top Forty Under 40

STOKKA BROWN | 37

DAVID CAVELL | 34

Principal & Water Resources Practice Lead, CSRS

Director of Government Affairs, Dow

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• District director for U.S. Rep. Garret Graves

• Developing a team of quality stormwater engineers and providing flood risk identification and reduction measures throughout Greater Baton Rouge

• Helped State Rep. Candace Newell shepherd the passage of the Crown Act in Louisiana that prohibits discrimination in workplaces and schools based on natural hair and texture

• Becoming a partial owner of CSRS

• Developing Stormwater Master Plans for the city of Central and East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes following the August 2016 flood.

COMMUNITY

• Louisiana Art and Science Museum volunteer • Shares knowledge with next wave of engineers at LSU • Coaches sons’ soccer teams

MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR

Michael Songy. He taught me to believe in my abilities and trust my gut.

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

Seeing the power of nature during a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew in Jeanerette, Louisiana, as a 6-year-old boy in 1992.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• At 22, successfully managed and oversaw the statewide reelection campaign for then-Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne

COMMUNITY

• Represents Dow on the Capital Region Industry for Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions, or CRISIS, board of directors • Serves on the Super Bowl LIX Host Committee • Led the GOLD Council (Graduates of the Last Decade) of Southeastern Louisiana University’s Alumni Association

FAVORITE HIDDEN GEM

A Dearman’s chocolate milkshake to go—every time

WALK-UP SONG

“Beautiful Day,” by U2

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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C O V E R S T O RY

Gordon Ramsay Steakhouse Horseshoe Lake Charles Lake Charles, Louisiana

WWW.RGGC.COM

JOE CEFALU | 36

WILL CHADWICK | 32

Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson

Partner – Retail Sales and Leasing, Elifin Realty

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Making partner

• In 2023, Elifin Realty was named Business Report’s 2023 Company of the Year • Partnering with developments like Perkins Rowe, Highland Park Marketplace, The Water Campus and Willow Grove to bring new businesses to Baton Rouge

Founded on TRUST. Driven by PASSION.

• Co-founded Club Blue in 2014, a young professional group affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs

COMMUNITY

• Worked to open, expand, or relocate 148 businesses since joining Elifin

SERVICES

• Held multiple positions in the local bar association, most recently as editor-in-chief of The Baton Rouge Lawyer

• Participated in Hogs for a Cause and helped raise $43,000 in 2022 for pediatric brain cancer and the Baton Rouge Hogs House

IF I COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER Audit + Assurance | Tax Planning + Preparation Employee Benefit Plan Audits Business Valuations | Mergers + Acquisitions

I would fly, so I don’t have to sit in Baton Rouge traffic.

W W W. H T B C PA . C O M | 2 2 5 . 9 2 8 . 4 7 7 0 Baton Rouge | New Orleans | Denham Springs | Hammond

COMMUNITY

• BREC Foundation volunteer • St. George Acts Retreat Team

FAVORITE HIDDEN GEM

QUESTION I WISH PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME MORE OFTEN

Mango’s. We have a tiki bar surrounded by sand volleyball courts hidden a block off of Sherwood Forest.

MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

Do you want to watch Harry Potter?

38

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Receiving professional awards and honors, including the Baton Rouge Bar Association President’s Award; the Judge Joseph Keogh Memorial Award; Ones to Watch, by Best Lawyers; and Rising Star, by Louisiana Super Lawyers

My dad. He told me it’s OK to get Cs on your report card in conduct; it means you have personality.

I was living in Houston during the 2016 flood. After spending a week in Baton Rouge helping friends clean up, I realized how much I missed the community and relationships of this city. I moved back to Baton Rouge shortly thereafter.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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C O V E R S T O RY

DR. NEIL CHAPPELL | 39

KIRAN CHAWLA | 39

HAYDEN JACOB CLARK | 32

LAUREN C. CRUMP | 35

Physician Partner, Fertility Answers

Owner/Founder, Unfiltered with Kiran

Founder and CEO, Iron Tribe Fitness – Baton Rouge

Vice President of Nonprofit Excellence, Baton Rouge Area Foundation

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Multiple awards for research with three ongoing trials, 16 peerreviewed publications and dozens of lectures and presentations across the country • Numerous awards in residency and fellowship and served as chief in both training programs • Along with an MD, earned a master’s degree in scientific clinical investigation to better conduct and interpret evidence-based medicine for the best delivery of care to patients

COMMUNITY

• Active in developing and passing state legislation to increase access to fertility preservation for cancer patients • Volunteered with Woman’s Hospital on six committees as well as local nonprofits such as Maddie’s Footprints and Sarah’s Laughter to support women in need • Developed and curated dozens of podcasts to provide education for those struggling to conceive

WOULD-BE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The Question is More Important Than the Answer

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Launched a news organization from scratch • Won three national Edward R. Murrow Awards in two years • Earned an Emmy Award for Community Service in 2022

COMMUNITY

• Coordinated Big Rig Relief to collect and deliver donations to south Louisiana after Hurricane Ida • Board member of the Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation, which provides all-day rifle protection and other safety equipment to local law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel • Supported fundraisers for Nick Tullier Strong

TYPICAL WORKDAY IN FIVE WORDS The never-ending 24/7 shift

TRAVEL THAT WOULD INSPIRE ME

I want to do Iceland for the northern lights. I truly feel being able to separate from all electronics—and even people—to take in Mother Nature gives us the opportunity to relax our minds. When you do return to work, you’re there with a fresh mind and ready to go at it at 100 mph.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Leading a thriving fitness community in my hometown that now serves hundreds of residents • Creating career opportunities for fitness professionals to thrive, develop and do what they love in an often unstable industry • Promoting positive life changes

COMMUNITY

• Hosts the Blessed to Bless Holiday Challenge benefitting the Baton Rouge Food Bank • Partner of NeverThirst and host of Workout for Water to build water wells in Third World countries • Ally to Steadfast Ministries, which helps former inmates find career opportunities and community

IF I HAD TO SWITCH CAREERS

I would be a real estate developer.

Overseeing, designing and seeing our two gyms go from dirt to aesthetically pleasing facilities that serve a greater purpose was rewarding. Being able to do this on a grander scale to enhance what Baton Rouge has to offer new residents, as well as keep existing ones from leaving, would be amazing.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Co-founding and serving as a board member of the Bridge Center for Hope • Co-founding the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence • Creating a work culture that inspires colleagues to continue their careers with the foundation through retirement

COMMUNITY

• Serves as a volunteer facilitator for MetroMorphosis • Serves as a volunteer facilitator for Dialogue on Race Louisiana • Mentors local high school students both formally and informally

BEST ADVICE

Rosehill Church Pastor Danny M. Donaldson once said, “Everyone isn’t worried about the same issue; and that’s OK. Focus on the problem you’re called to solve.”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED

I’d like to be remembered for being the person who made our community realize it is limitless.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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C O V E R S T O RY

DR. AARON DE WITT | 37

SHANE DANTIN | 36

SABRINA E. GALLOWAY | 31

SHERIN DAWUD | 34

Chief Medical Officer, Baton Rouge General Mid City

President/Owner, Pinnacle Exterior Construction and Dantin Builders

CEO, Nura Co.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Principal Strategist of The Galloway Group; COO and Co-founder of Ethics

• Named CMO of Baton Rouge General Mid City

• Part of the team that reopened acute care services and the ER at Baton Rouge General Mid City

• Built Pinnacle Exterior Construction into one of the largest and fastest growing pool and exterior construction companies in southeast Louisiana

• Core faculty for Baton Rouge General internal medicine residency program

• Earned the top three awards in the 2023 HBA Parade of Homes, including Best Overall Home

COMMUNITY

• Owns and operates a variety of other successful companies involved in homebuilding

• Serving on the Institutional Review Board for Baton Rouge General • Providing medical education to resident physicians and medical students • Providing care to patients in the hospital, nursing homes and Baton Rouge Clinic Mid City location

IF I COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER X-ray vision would be very handy in my profession.

MOST FULFILLING CAREER MOMENT

Baton Rouge General Mid City being named one of the top 20 hospitals in the nation for outcomes in COVID-19 care only a few months after reopening acute care services on that campus.

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COMMUNITY

• Board member for the Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge Foundation, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and other organizations • Active supporter/donor for the American Cancer Society, Heritage Ranch Children’s Home, Maddie’s Footprints and other organizations • Member of The Thirty, a membership/ recruitment committee for the Homebuilders Association of Greater Baton Rouge

GUILTY PLEASURE

I’m a collector. I collect vinyl records, bourbon, trading cards, guns, art and bonsais.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Initiated a community court restoration project in 2022 for stateof-the-art outdoor basketball facilities at Longfellow and Gus Young parks • Launched The Galloway Group • Earned an MBA from Tulane University Freeman School of Business

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• One of 100 nationwide Black women entrepreneurs by American Express 100 for 100 • Graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program • Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, She Leads Community Activist Fellowship

COMMUNITY

• Co-founder of the Langston Galloway Foundation

• Nura partnered with the city of Baton Rouge on the summer campaign The Peace Pitstop to lower crime and listen to communities most impacted

• President of the National Basketball Wives Association

• Started nonprofit Power Pump Girls and its program, Secured

• Arts Council of Baton Rouge board member, Thrive Academy Foundation board member, Baton Rouge Alliance for Students’ Changemaker for 2020-2021

• Helped promote and educate community on House Bill 117, proposed legislation that would require public schools to provide free menstrual products in easily accessible locations

COMMUNITY

WOULD-BE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Embracing an Unconventional Career Journey While Balancing Having It All

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED

As a strategic woman in business who impacted this next generation of leaders through innovation, collaboration and sports.

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

The pandemic really impacted my life in a positive way. Everyone was afraid of what the future might bring, so I decided to turn that fear into inspiration and launch a new company.

It gave me the audacity to believe in myself and my partner in ways I’d never thought possible.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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C O V E R S T O RY

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWNER AND CEO

ANDRE SMITH ON HIS FORTY UNDER 40 HONOR.

JORDAN GLEASON | 34

CAMI DINKEL GEISMAN | 37

Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Vice President for External Affairs and Chief of Staff, University of Louisiana System

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Legislative floor leader for former Gov. Bobby Jindal

• Organized political operations of large industry associations including the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and the Louisiana Chemical Association • Leads energy sector lobbying efforts for multistate and multinational companies

COMMUNITY

• Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Baton Rouge Class of 2023 • Youth Ministry at Chapel on the Campus • First Tee EBR

FAVORITE HIDDEN GEM

My house during the St. Patrick’s Day parade

BEST ADVICE

“We all wash the dishes.” That was from Gifford Briggs, a good friend, mentor and former boss. What I took from that is no matter your title, compensation level, or background, no task is beneath you.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Being on the team that conceptualized and developed Compete LA

• Working with the Louisiana Legislature to pass a bill designating a state maritime academy as part of the University of Louisiana System • Promoting the Reginald F. Lewis Scholars, a curated educational experience for Black male students throughout the UL System

COMMUNITY

• Serves the community with Purpose Church • Volunteers at U-High • Partners with Baton Rouge Alliance for Students

PASSION OUTSIDE OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Cooking. Our rich food culture in south Louisiana is one of the most accessible ways to connect with others both socially and professionally.

I love nothing more than unwinding after a long day by cooking for my family, neighbors and friends.

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Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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We’re reinforcing the grid And reducing outages in Baton Rouge Entergy Louisiana is strengthening the power grid in Baton Rouge and across the state. Our blueprint includes nearly 10,000 infrastructure projects. This work will reduce outages and prepare the grid for stronger storm seasons – as well as enable Entergy crews to respond quicker when you do need us. We’re committed to Baton Rouge.

See projects at entergy.com/future

A message from Entergy Louisiana, LLC ©2023 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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C O V E R S T O RY

CONGRATULATIONS Shane Dantin

on your Forty Under 40 recognition.

We're proud to partner with you and Pinnacle Exterior Construction.

jrconstructionsolution.com

JENNIFER GOMEZ | 37

ANNABETH GUILLORY | 38

Executive Residence Director, Louisiana Governor’s Mansion; Executive Director, Governor’s Mansion Preservation Foundation; Director, Beautycounter

Vice President of Clinic Operations, Ochsner Health

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Being appointed to the first lady’s staff in 2019, overseeing all operations at the Governor’s Mansion • Through Beautycounter, helped to educate the Baton Rouge community on the benefits of knowing about the ingredients in everyday products and advocating for real change in the U.S. personal care industry • At the LSU Olinde Career Center, worked with the team to create events for every college on campus to engage students and employers in more nuanced fields

COMMUNITY

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Contributed to the creation of a partnership between Ochsner and MD Anderson while leading her team through challenges and constant changes associated with COVID-19 • Graduate of BRAC’s 2019 Leadership Baton Rouge Class • Co-founded Blush Beauty and Blowdry Bar

COMMUNITY

• Tastemaker for Fork Cancer • Partnered with Ochsner community health team and Southern University’s “Jag Mobile” health unit to host 18 breast cancer screening events in 2022 and hosted inaugural Massages and Mammos event

• Chair of the Junior League’s 2023 Touch a Truck competition

• Junior League of Baton Rouge sustaining member

• President and board member of the Baton Rouge Events Association

• Medical Group Management Association Louisiana board member and currently president-elect

• Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Changemaker in 2023

PASSION OUTSIDE OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Hosting arties, dinners, birthdays, seminars, wellness events— anything where I get to gather a group of people and spark joy.

We believe the heart of our solutions are our people.

IF I HAD TO SWITCH CAREERS

I would travel the world with my family as a vlogger and open my own agency where I help people start their own business.

Congratulations David Cavell for being recognized by the Baton Rouge Business Report as a 2023 40 Under 40 honoree.

WHAT OTHERS DON’T KNOW

I swam in the Amazon River.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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C O V E R S T O RY

SHERRETA R. HARRISON | 39

CHRIS HILLIARD | 33

BRAD HOLLEMAN | 38

TAYLOR JACOBS | 33

Chief Executive Catalyst and IG Co-Lead, MetroMorphosis

Co-founder/CEO, Suds Laundry Service

Senior Vice President, Forte and Tablada Inc.

Associate Athletic Director of NIL & Strategic Initiatives, LSU

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Developed and implemented the Intergenerational Co-Leadership Model for organizational leadership in MetroMorphosis • Led the development of more than 20 programs, initiatives and strategies to address adult literacy, high school equivalency rates and workforce development in Baton Rouge • Provided mental health counseling to adjudicated and disconnected youth and incarcerated parents

COMMUNITY

• Urban Leadership Development Initiative alumni fellow • CoGenerate Innovation alumni fellow • Louisiana HelpHer Inc. board of directors

MOST FULFILLING CAREER MOMENT

The first time one of my students read an entire sentence by himself. He was in his 60s. After a year or so, he could read simple sentences, and the first time he made it through without my help, he cried. And, I cried.

BEST ADVICE

Don’t ever be so busy mopping the floor that you forget to turn off the faucet.

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PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Winning Nexus Louisiana’s Ignition 2.0 pitch competition and receiving a $10,000 investment prize

• Obtaining a professional land surveying license to practice in Louisiana

• Teaching as an adjunct professor at the Southern University College of Business in spring 2023.

• Obtaining a professional engineering license

• Semifinalist for Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize

COMMUNITY

• Shares his experiences to positively impact lives through unpaid speaking engagements for entrepreneurs, young African American men, or at church-led events • Partnered with Claiborne Elementary School to provide wash-and-fold services as an anti-bullying initiative.

• Worked with partners to provide the north Baton Rouge community with a free laundry day.

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

It happened earlier this year while I was caring for my late grandfather who was battling pancreatic cancer.

After taking leave from my job to be by his side, I realized that our days are truly numbered and that while here, my focus should be on pursuing my purpose and leaving a legacy.

• Principal and shareholder at Forte and Tablada

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Creating and implementing NIL department within LSU athletics and keeping LSU athletics at the forefront of the name, image and likeness era • Launched a customized app for LSU student-athletes to enhance NIL opportunities

COMMUNITY

• Created the Build Your Board program to teach student-athletes the importance of networking

• Baton Rouge Area Chamber board of directors

• Networking events for studentathletes and business professionals in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas

• Involved with Forte and Tablada’s organized community outreach events

• Past leadership positions in the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors

COMMUNITY

• Helps to educate the Capital Region about NIL

• Leads a connect group and helps with projects through First Baptist Church of Denham Springs

• Speaker on panels for LSU studentathletes, New York Law School and ESPNW

IF I COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER

TYPICAL WORKDAY IN FIVE WORDS

We discuss this question a lot over dinner with my family. My superpower would be to never get tired. My schedule stays pretty packed, so it would be great to get everything done and still have time left in the day.

WHAT OTHERS DON’T KNOW

I am a beekeeper and avid gardener.

Exciting, unpredictable, creative, stressful, rewarding

FIVE-YEAR GOAL

My professional goal: Setting the bar high, but I hope to be a senior associate athletic director in the next five years. Personal goal: Design our forever home. Maybe even be in the building stage.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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C O V E R S T O RY

THE REV. JOSH JOHNSON | 35

KRISTY KAISER | 39

W. CHANDLER LEBOEUF | 34

DAVANTE LEWIS | 31

Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Internal Audit Director, Investar Bank

Governmental and Public Affairs Officer, Louisiana Community and Technical College System; Executive Director, LCTCS Foundation

Commissioner, Louisiana Public Service Commission

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Graduated magna cum laude from Notre Dame Seminary Graduate School of Theology; ordained as a Catholic priest • Published four books with Ascension Press and hosted the Ask Father Josh podcast, which has garnered almost 10 million downloads • Installed as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Also serves as director of vocations for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

COMMUNITY

• Opened the Full of Grace Cafe in St. Amant—a coffee shop and food pantry, with a free barbershop, diaper bank, and free meals—in partnership with Holy Rosary Catholic Church • Board member and national chaplain for Vagabond Missions; established a Vagabond Mission in Mid City Baton Rouge in 2022

FAVORITE HIDDEN GEM

A small restaurant called Cafe Express in Mid City. It’s walking distance from Sacred Heart and they have some of the best breakfasts in the Capital Region.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Becoming internal audit director and leading a department • Earning an MBA at night from LSU while managing a restaurant during the day • Obtaining the designations of certified internal auditor and certified in risk management assurance

COMMUNITY

• Violinist and treasurer for the Civic Orchestra of Baton Rouge • Served on the board of governors for the Baton Rouge Institute of Internal Auditors • Served as president of the Baton Rouge Institute of Internal Auditors

A CAREER SETBACK THAT LED TO GROWTH

In a prior organization, the decision was made to outsource our audit function. That unexpected change really forced me to evaluate what I wanted to do next. I considered consulting and switching careers, but, ultimately, I decided that I wanted to be in internal audit for a publicly traded company that would support me and give me the ability to add real value.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Raising over $10 million for students and community colleges in Louisiana • Earning a doctor of education degree • Advocating for funding and scholarships for workforce training at the state and federal levels

COMMUNITY

• Member of the board of directors for a local food bank, connecting the resources to assist with food insecurity on college campuses • Chair for an education foundation that raises funds to support K-12 teachers and classrooms • President of the alumni association of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, giving back through career mentorship

FIVE-YEAR GOAL

Become a community college president.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH

President Lyndon B. Johnson, on The Great Society program that initiated a “war on poverty.”

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Youngest elected commissioner in Louisiana history and currently youngest-serving commissioner in the U.S. • First nonexecutive director to serve as steering committee chair for the 43 state policy organizations comprising the State Priorities Partnership; chief strategy officer at the Louisiana Budget Project

COMMUNITY

• Board member, Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault • Board member, Friends of the Capitol Park Museum • Tutor and volunteer, Baton Rouge Youth Coalition

MOST FULFILLING CAREER MOMENT

Winning the election for public service commissioner by beating an 18-year incumbent by 19 percentage points.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH Fannie Lou Hamer. She was a tell-it-like-it-is, stand-up-forwhat-is-right civil rights leader who fought the system.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS WILL Minimize Damage & Maximize Restoration Keep Costs to a Minimum Prevent Further Damage to Property Deliver a Seamless Experience Help with Insurance Claims

SCAN TO SEE OUR FULL LINE OF SERVICES

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C O V E R S T O RY

RE/MAX PROFESSIONAL WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE

LEIGH ADAMS

BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREE TOP PRODUCING AGENT IN LOUISIANA

Independently owned and operated

TYLER LITT | 33

LUKE LOGNION | 29

Senior Associate Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund

Co-owner, Circa 1857 and BRASS by Circa 1857

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Led NewSchools Venture Fund team through selection and diligence, funding $14 million toward district innovation and innovative education entrepreneurs across the U.S.

• Opening BRASS in downtown Baton Rouge so local artists can showcase their work

• Completed the Georgetown Business for Impact Program

• Circa 1857 winning Best Antique Shop in [ 225 ] magazine three years in a row

• Spearheaded and expanded the community investments strategy at New Schools for Baton Rouge

COMMUNITY

• Led Forum 225 and the Urban League of Louisiana Young Professionals from 2023 to 2024 • Has served on BRAF’s Civic Leadership Council, Ochsner Health board of trustees, Urban League of Louisiana board and others • Created a national network of support for leaders of color

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH

Oprah, Issa Rae, or Beyonce.

They’re phenomenal black women.

IF I COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER

It would be the ability to heal others.

There is so much pain in the world and it would be beautiful to mitigate that.

8556 Jefferson Hwy., Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 www.professionalbr.com 225-615-7755

• Being an art consultant for the Hotel Indigo renovation

COMMUNITY

• Board of directors for the Downtown Business Association (Live After 5)

Affordable, quality office furniture and unmatched service.

• Board of directors for the Baton Rouge Blues Festival and Foundation • Creator and director of Work Downtown, Play Downtown

WOULD-BE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I’m Gonna Go for It Anyway

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

When I left teaching in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System to open BRASS by Circa 1857 with my entire savings account.

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH

I would talk to Jimmy Carter about unexpected ways to create a legacy.

Providing one of the largest selections of office furniture ideal for a small home office or an entire corporate building.

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED FOR OVER 30 YEARS! 12944 Coursey Blvd • (225) 751-4024 • ofwbr.com Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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C O V E R S T O RY

LEAH MARCHAND | 37

WESLEE MEADOR | 39

DR. JULIE NEUMANN | 38

MELISSA O’BANION | 34

Director of Production, WBRZ; Artist, Leah Marchand Art

Facility Manager, LWCC

Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge

Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Climbed the corporate ladder while pregnant • Rose through the ranks to lead WAFB’s marketing department in five years’ time • Winner of multiple Telly and Suncoast Emmy awards

COMMUNITY

• Instrumental in launching WAFB’s Love, 225 show to celebrate the color and culture of Baton Rouge • Helped create many of WAFB’s community service projects • Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge board of directors

TYPICAL WORKDAY IN FIVE WORDS Where is my to-do list?

A CAREER SETBACK THAT LED TO GROWTH

During COVID, I was terminated from my dream job after working there for 12 years. It threw me into an identity crisis and depression. The experience has made me more compassionate to people navigating unemployment.

It is an amazing reminder about who I am and how I find balance in my career, following my passions, and what fills up my cup.

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PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Managed sustainable building renovation of LWCC

• Oversaw the removal of adjacent blighted hotel properties and transformation to green space • Earned LSU post-baccalaureate certification in facility management

COMMUNITY

• National Stuttering Advocate of the Year

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Being selected by an NFL player to be his surgeon • Earning a residency position at Duke University • Getting the opportunity to practice medicine in hometown of Baton Rouge

COMMUNITY

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Being named vice president of marketing and communications after joining the Mary Bird Perkins team as a marketing coordinator eight years ago • Graduating from and remaining an active alum of BRAC’s Leadership Baton Rouge

• Leadership Baton Rouge alumni and board member

• Mentor future physicians, physician assistants and nurses through the Bone and Joint Clinic

• Taking part in Adweek’s executive mentor program

• Motivational guest speaker/volunteer at multiple elementary schools

• Host high school students for career day

MOST FULFILLING CAREER MOMENT

• Volunteer through the St. Aloysius School/Church

• Mary Bird Perkins’ Echo Alliance group

Seeing years of work culminate in the completion of the LWCC building renovation and getting our Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification—the crowning achievement of the work to make our company and building more environmentally sustainable.

PASSION OUTSIDE OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE

I’ve been a three-time competitor on the show American Ninja Warrior. The sport of ninja itself is a great way to get in shape. The people I’ve met along the way have been the best part.

MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR My mom, who told me that “life is hard.”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED Like a boss.

GUILTY PLEASURE

I’m a sucker for Crumbl Cookies.

TYICAL WORKDAY IN FIVE WORDS Go. Go. Go. Go. Go.

COMMUNITY

• Board member, American Cancer Society’s Fork Cancer event • Mentor, Tri Delta Sorority

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

BRAC’s Leadership Baton Rouge.

As a Shreveport native, I was really trying to find my place here and this experience solidified my desire to put down roots and commit to getting involved. I met so many people from local organizations who hold an unmatched dedication to propelling Baton Rouge’s success, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED BY:

CATS succeeding in safety and sustainability

T

he Capital Area Transit System is continuing to make progress toward its goals of improving safety for riders and drivers and achieving sustainability for its fleet. The transit system’s efforts earned national attention recently. Here’s how CATS, which provides more than a million rides a year for Baton Rouge area residents, is going the extra mile for you.

SAFETY FIRST Several members of CATS’ Safety Department were recently certified as United States Department of Transportation Trainers. This exemplifies CATS’ commitment to safety first.

Personnel from CATS’ Safety Department attended intensive training with the Transportation Safety Institute, an institution recognized for its comprehensive courses in vehicle operations, emergency management and customer relations. This achievement positions CATS as an industry leader, as these

certified trainers will now be equipped to educate and empower their colleagues in these crucial areas.

CATS’ newly certified trainers will also complete an additional online course, which will qualify them to instruct on Distracted Driving and Fatigue & Sleep Apnea Awareness.

SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE FUTURE Creating a more sustainable public transit system is something CATS has been working on for several years now, and the organization’s position as a frontrunner in the clean transportation industry was recently solidified.

CATS was recognized with the “Alternative Fuel Vehicle Leadership” award at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 Clean Cities Stakeholder Summit in Washington, D.C. Its investment in electric buses and recent expansions of its green fleet underscore the organization’s dedication to reducing emissions and improving air quality in the Baton Rouge area.

As a testament to CATS’ commitment to sustainability, the transit agency recently added six BYD|RIDE zero-emissions buses to its existing fleet. These state-of-the-art electric buses are not only environmentally friendly, but they also provide a quiet, comfortable and efficient mode of transportation.

Looking ahead to 2024 and 2025, CATS plans to incorporate nine more electric buses into its fleet. These buses will play a crucial role in the BRapid Plank-Nicholson Bus Rapid Transit corridor project. With buses expected at stops every 15 minutes, this BTR corridor project aims to provide residents and visitors with a rapid, reliable and eco-conscious transportation option through downtown Baton Rouge along the Plank-Nicholson corridor.

More information about CATS’ commitment to safety and sustainability can be found online at brcats.com. The agency also has a Customer Care Line to help customers during CATS service hours. Call 225.389.8282 for assistance.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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C O V E R S T O RY

JORDAN PIAZZA | 35 Entrepreneur and Founder, ReBirth Brands

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Partnered with his brother, Anthony, to bring back their father’s longtime restaurant, Phil’s Oyster Bar • Revitalized and grew Uncle Earl’s Bar • Founded Rebirth Brands, a company dedicated to quality PR, promotion, marketing and media services

COMMUNITY

• Fundraisers for organizations including Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Big Buddy Program, and Children’s Advocacy Center • Supports more than 30 local organizations annually with charitable donations through ReBirth Brands

EXPERIENCE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED ME

The death of my father at such a young age has had a profound impact on my life and my commitment to my career and family.

MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR

Wallace Heck, a close family friend, has always been a calm, supportive mentor in my life. He’s shown me what success looks like both professionally and by having a strong devotion to family, and he’s has taught me the importance of taking the high road in all situations.

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ROBERT WILLIAMS SCHEFFY III | 39 Owner, Scheffy Construction

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Company ranked on the LSU 100 in 2018 and 2019, including ranking in the top 10 in 2019 • Top 20 construction company by Business Report in 2018 • Good Growth Award in 2018 from the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition

COMMUNITY

• Consistently employs interns from the LSU construction management program • Donated playhouses to the St. Aloysius auction and Junior League Hollydays • Building project guidance for Sacred Heart Church and School

MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR

I’ve had a few mentors that made a huge impact on my career, but one in particular is Brian Dantin, or T Boy as I like to call him. Anytime I had a question or needed advice, Brian was always there to guide me through it.

Construction is a risk business and he would always stress, “You won’t get anywhere sitting on the sidelines and sometimes you have to take a risk. If you do take a risk, take a good, calculated risk.”

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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C O V E R S T O RY

RACHAEL SLAUGHTER | 39

ANDRÉ SMITH | 37

JONATHAN STARNS | 40

THERESE WALKER | 28

President, Orion Laboratories

President, Five-S Group

CEO/Partner, Berkshire Hathaway United Properties, Lynn Levy Land Company, Louisiana Turf Company

Managing Director, Emergent Method

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Founded Orion Laboratories in 2019, elevating it to the leading clinical laboratory in the region • Pioneered a valuable internship program at Orion, offering hands-on experience to pre-med and nursing interns • Established Orion Therapeutics as Louisiana’s first medical marijuana and hemp testing laboratory

COMMUNITY

• Spearheaded efforts to improve COVID-19 testing accessibility across the state • Sponsored two full college scholarships for students in East Baton Rouge Parish public schools • Sponsored many community events for local foundations

GUILTY PLEASURE

I have a unique skill for successfully hosting estate sales. I can easily spot valuable treasures in someone’s discarded junk.

BEST ADVICE

“This too shall pass.” My dad gave me this advice. It applies in every situation whether it be positive or negative. It also serves as a reminder to be humble.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Best Contractors to Work For in Construction Award

• Recipient of an engineering, procurement, and construction supply chain excellence award, ranking in the top 20 out of 10,000 • 10 years in business

COMMUNITY

• Junior League of Batron Rouge Touch a Truck event • Christmas Toys for Tots • Sheriff Sid Gautreaux’s Christmas Crusade • Rolling for Recovery, hosted by Five-S Group and benefitting The O’Brien House

WOULD-BE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Made from Dirt – Myself and My Dreams

FIVE-YEAR GOAL

To be a better version of myself than I am today, for my family, my employees, my community and myself.

WHAT OTHERS DON’T KNOW

I am a certified private pilot who loves to spend time in the air.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Launching and growing Berkshire Hathaway United Properties throughout Louisiana and Mississippi • Becoming one of the fastest growing offices in the Berkshire Hathaway network

COMMUNITY

• Serves on numerous public and private boards and committees • Involved in Men’s Ministry to grow and encourage men to be better husbands, fathers, mentors and stewards of our community • Hosts charitable events benefitting children, special needs and cancer awareness

HISTORICAL FIGURE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH

John D. Rockefeller. I believe that Rockefeller was a business pioneer in our country that paved the way for businesses to follow and flourish. His creativity mindset entrenched him into a find-a-way mentality that allowed him to identify opportunities, assess risks and take action. He never let a hurdle in the road block the path.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Leading communication efforts for one of the largest and most significant environmental infrastructure projects in U.S. history • Serving as the youngest member of Emergent Method’s leadership team • Receiving national recognition from Consulting magazine as a Rising Star in the management consulting profession in 2021

COMMUNITY

• Founding member of the Public Affairs Research Council’s Emerging Leaders Council • Selected by Council for A Better Louisiana for the 2022 Leadership Louisiana cohort • 2023 Great Futures Gala honoree supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana

WALK-UP SONG

“Can’t Stop,” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED

By my favorite quote, from Douglas MacArthur, “You will be remembered for the rules you break.”

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Inspiring Reads

12 books our Forty Under 40 honorees recommend BEING MORTAL, by Atul Gawande The book changed the way I practice, and helped me to understand what my patients experience as they get older and are faced with their own mortality.

—Dr. Aaron De Witt LINCHPIN, by Seth Godin It’s a short book with a simple message. It underscores the value of standing out and being indispensable in a rapidly changing professional landscape.

—Jason Broha EAT THAT FROG, by Brian Tracy This book was an influence on my sales career, enhancing my time management abilities and urging me to tackle crucial tasks to achieve daily productivity.

—Rachael Slaughter ANIMAL FARM, by George Orwell I read it in high school and then again as an adult following several years working professionally. It opened my eyes to start paying attention not only to political issues, but getting involved where possible to make a difference. Reading it again as a taxpaying adult is great motivation to start looking deeper at all levels of government on all sides of the aisle, left, right and center, and really trying to make impactful choices in who you vote for and why.

—Weslee Meador UNTAMED, by Glennon Doyle When I was terrified of the idea of launching my company, this book made me realize that it’s OK to take a chance on yourself. You simply have to be confident enough in yourself.

—Kiran Chawla THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, by Rick Warren It has taught me to never confuse activity with productivity. Purpose always produces passion and nothing motivates you like a clear purpose. On the other hand, passion fades when you lack a purpose. It is usually meaningless work, not hard work, that wears us down, drains our strength and steals our joy.

—André Smith EXTREME OWNERSHIP,

by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin This book not only reinforced the importance of taking responsibility, something I feel that is lacking in today’s culture, but to also view shortcomings and failures as an area for growth.

—Jordan Gleason THE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE ROOM IS YOU, by Lydia Fenet This book proves that moms have superpowers but sometimes we don’t quite realize it. Once we claim our confidence and realize that we have the ability to be the most powerful—but still humble—woman in the room, anything is possible.

—Jennifer Gomez

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DARING GREATLY,

by Brené Brown It gave me insight and the courage to be vulnerable in the way I live, love and lead.

—W. Chandler LeBoeuf SIDDHARTHA,

by Herman Hesse This book had a huge impact on me when I first read it maybe 25 years ago and the novel’s message— that there are no shortcuts—still resonates with me. Like so many things in life, Siddhartha’s enlightenment is not an instant achievement but a lifelong pursuit. As a younger person, it was hard for me to understand the value of the journey itself, but embracing the journey (as opposed to the destination alone) has been key to so much of my success and growth.

—Julie Gerdes Becnel WHO NOT HOW,

by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy While I have read numerous books on business, life, social skills, mentorship, success, surrounding yourself with the right people, etc., Who Not How was the instruction to empower those around me in order to reach new levels. In order to lead and grow, sometimes we must let go of the reins.

—Jonathan Starns THE COLOR PURPLE,

by Alice Walker What starts out as the story of the tragic life and limitations of a poor Black woman becomes the most beautiful story of self: love, strength and family.

—Sherreta R. Harrison

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We catch up with five Forty Under 40 alums.

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Bobby Jindal

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot

THEN: Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

THEN: Partner-In-Charge, Adams and Reese

In 2015, then-presidential candidate and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was an opponent of Donald Trump, at the time referring to the now-former president as “unstable” and a “carnival act.” Today, he’s working for the America First Policy Institute, formed in 2021 to promote Trump’s public policy agenda.

Twenty-six years after being named a Forty Under 40, he’s back to advocating for health care, as chair of AFPI’s Center for a Healthy America. He is an occasional contributor to Fox News, Washington Examiner and The Wall Street Journal.

From Adams and Reese, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot climbed the executive ladder at Walmart, becoming executive vice president and global treasurer. Today, she is CEO of Feeding America, overseeing the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization and second-largest U.S. charity, according to Forbes. The agency helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year while supporting programs that prevent food waste and improve food security in communities.

Forty Under 40 Class of 1997

Forty Under 40 Class of 2001

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Sevetri Wilson

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Jamie Glas

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Jake Manship

Forty Under 40 Class of 2013

Forty Under 40 Class of 2019

Forty Under 40 Class of 2021

THEN: CEO, Solid Ground Innovations

THEN: Founder, HauteWork; co-founder, Sparkle City

THEN: COO, Manship Media

Three years after being honored as a Forty Under 40, Sevetri Wilson went all-in on nonprofit work, starting a company now known as Resilia. The SaaS technology platform helps nonprofit organizations increase capacity, and enables funders to scale impact and provide on-demand technical assistance to their partners. In the years since, she has been recognized numerous times for her work: as a rising star on the Forbes Cloud 100 list, as Inc. magazine’s 100 Female Founders, one of PitchBook’s 27 leading Black founders and investors, and one of Goldman Sachs’ Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2022.

Her second book, Resilient: How to Overcome Anything and Build a Million Dollar Business With or Without Capital, became an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller, and in 2022, Resilia announced its Series B raise, making Sevetri one of few Black women in history to have raised $50 million in venture funding.

Otherwise known as The Queen of Sparkles, Glas is now the owner of a clothing and accessory brand that goes by the same moniker. Attend a parade, holiday party or sporting event, and it’s easy to spot the Baton Rouge-based brand’s outfits in the crowd.

Local boutiques carve out corners of their stores and dedicate verticals of their websites to Queen of Sparkles drops. LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey has become a fashion icon in her own right after sporting the brand’s sequined butterfly blazers and glittering tiger sweat shirts. And it’s not just Baton Rouge. The line is stocked in more than 1,200 stores, from St. Louis to Las Vegas. In June, Diamonds Direct partnered with the company to create a statement collection. “I’m happy to make people happy,” Glas says. “Clothes are supposed to make you happy.”

In September, Jake Manship was named CEO and president of WBRZ, along with KRGV-TV in Weslaco, Texas. He’s taking over for his uncle, Richard Manship, who will remain board chair for Manship Media, the firm that owns the Baton Rouge ABC affiliate. “My family’s commitment to telling stories of the people in our communities dates back a century,” he says of his ascent. “I am excited to lead our businesses into the next generation of broadcasting and streaming.”

CampusFederal.org | 888.769.8841 | email@CampusFederal.org Branch locations available in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport

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MONTHLY WEBCAST EPISODE 10 NOVEMBER 15 11 AM SPECIAL GUEST

JEFFERY KOONCE PARTNER BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS

TOPIC OF DISCUSSION

BUSINESS GROWTH & INVESTMENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATING POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS

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Balancing act

BY DAVID JACOBS

DON KADAIR

“In today’s competitive marketplace, Louisiana businesses should use whatever the law allows to protect their business. They spend a lot of money developing their business. You don’t want to see it walk out the door.”

JUDE BURSAVICH, partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson

Courts are being asked to weigh the need for companies to protect their trade secrets versus the risk to competition.

BATON ROUGE ATTORNEY Jude Bursavich recalls a case that involved an employee who took company books home for the weekend, quit the job on Monday, and started a new business that immediately had 75 customers, 72 of whom had been customers of Bursavich’s client.

Sounds like an open-and-shut case of stealing trade secrets, right? Apparently not, because the court ruled that because the books weren’t locked away in a safe, the company didn’t protect its secrets. Even though only top salespeople had access, and they all signed confidentiality agreements, Bursavich says.

He thought the decision was ridiculous, but there’s a lesson here: The law won’t defend your trade secrets on the back end if you don’t do the work up front.

“Courts have said, ‘If your company won’t protect a trade secret, then why should a court protect it?’” says Bursavich, a partner with Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson who has been practicing in the areas of trade secrets law and noncompete agreements for 35 years.

In an increasingly information-based economy, protecting a company’s secret sauce, whatever that might be, is paramount. There are many ways to do so, and the legal system may have your back if someone breeches your defenses, though the federal government may take one of those tools away.

“In today’s competitive marketplace, Louisiana businesses should use whatever the law allows to protect their business,” Bursavich says.

“They spend a lot of money developing their business. You don’t want to see it walk out the door.”

NEED TO KNOW Obviously, you can’t claim something is a trade secret if you broadcast it to the world. But indiscriminately sharing the information with your own employees also could cut off your legal remedies, which can include significant monetary damages.

Only employees who need the information should have access, Bursavich says, and they should sign confidentiality agreements. He tells clients who leave a job to ask company leaders what they need from them before they go, and not to take so much as a pen with them, to avoid being accused of skullduggery later.

For something to count as a trade secret—beyond just being a secret—it has to derive financial benefit at least in part from its secrecy, notes William Corbett, a

labor and employment law professor at LSU’s law school. Coca-Cola’s secret formula wouldn’t be worth much if everyone had it, which is why it was locked away in a literal vault for much of the company’s history.

You have to be able to show that you put effort into creating the information that someone else could not easily replicate. Customer lists have been considered trade secrets, but again, don’t share the list with your customers.

COMPETING INTERESTS While not strictly necessary, contractual agreements that bar someone from competing with a former employer can also help to protect trade secrets. Early this year, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a ban on noncompete agreements, which suppress wages,

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PLAYING DEFENSE

Unsure if you’re doing enough to protect your trade secrets? You might want to call a lawyer, but, in the meantime, here are some basic tips: • Identify what needs protection. This could include manufacturing processes, customer lists, formulas; basically any intellectual property worth money that would lose value if it became public.

• Label confidential documents as such, which puts your employees on notice.

• Create written policies about protecting confidential information.

• Provide adequate security. Keep physical documents locked up.

• Secure electronic documents through encryption and multifactor authentication.

• Limit internal access to “need to know” employees.

• Limit public access to the company.

• Limit external access. Be careful what you share with customers, in sales pitches, or at trade shows.

• Have employees with access to sensitive information sign nondisclosure agreements. Limited use agreements can restrict the use of sensitive information by employees and contractors to specific purposes.

hamper innovation and block entrepreneurs from starting new businesses, the commission’s majority argues.

Business groups, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, slammed the proposal, saying the agreements help protect trade secrets and customer data and arguing that the FTC lacks the authority to override states’ noncompete laws. A final rule is expected in April, and it will surely be challenged in court.

Bursavich hopes a ban is not enacted. While Louisiana is not one of the states in which noncompetes are mostly or entirely unenforceable, they’re tougher to enforce here than in many states, Bursavich says.

In some states, courts consider whether the terms of the noncompete are reasonable, Bursavich says, and he has seen agreements upheld for as long as five years. In Louisiana, noncompetes are presumed invalid unless they meet specific statutory rules.

State law limits agreements to

MAKE IT COUNT: For something to count as a trade secret—beyond just being a secret—it has to derive financial benefit at least in part from its secrecy, notes William Corbett, a labor and employment law professor at LSU’s law school.

two years and requires naming specific parishes, municipalities or parts thereof. An attempt to ban competition within a 25-mile radius of Baton Rouge, which might be fine under another state’s rules, wouldn’t fly here.

Corbett, on the other hand, opposes noncompetes. We have other laws to protect trade secrets and defend against unfair trade practices, so why restrict competition?

And if you can fire someone at

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BATTLE LINES A look at three legal fights over trade secrets involving prominent Capital Region companies.

COURTESY LSU LAW

BROWN & ROOT VERSUS CSRS Plaintiff: Brown & Root Industrial Services says former employees who joined Fides Consulting, a CSRS subsidiary, violated contracts by recruiting other BRIS employees to the new firm. BRIS claims they took thousands of documents with them, many containing proprietary information.

Defendants: Fides says the employees left BRIS because they were unhappy, not because they were solicited, and the documents in question were of little consequence.

will—which is generally the case here—why can’t the fired employee go to work at will?

Even unenforceable agreements can have a chilling effect, he adds, because most people don’t know the law. But Corbett doesn’t expect the proposed ban to withstand the legal challenges it will face. And as long as they’re legal, if Corbett was advising a business, he would probably advise company leaders to use them.

H&E VERSUS A FORMER EMPLOYEE Plaintiff: H&E Equipment Services says former employee Matthew Jeppson breached his noncompete agreement after his termination by providing confidential trade secret information to EquipmentShare, his new Utah-based employer, directly competing with H&E and soliciting H&E employees.

Defendants: Jeppson’s noncompete agreement was vague and overly broad and should be considered unenforceable under Louisiana or Utah law.

MMR VERSUS ISG Plaintiff: MMR Constructors says Infrastructure Solutions Group poached MMR employees, who took trade secrets with them to their new employer started by another former MMR employee. One plugged in at least 14 external storage devices and transferred almost 1,500 files, and then tried to hide his tracks by returning four of the devices with much of the evidence deleted, MMR claims.

Defendants: ISG says the former employees were not subject to noncompete agreements and blames MMR for not doing enough to “keep its alleged confidential business information secret.”

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LEROY TADEMY

COLLABORATION STATION: Sasol is seeking out partners in its sustainability journey through a newly designated “Sustainability Hub” in Lake Charles. Andre Bonton (left), Sasol’s vice president of technical services, and senior production manager Glenn Duhon inspect a shovel-ready area that Sasol is promoting as space for new investments.

The road to sustainability

BY SAM BARNES

Across Louisiana, companies are increasingly investing in and collaborating on projects as part of the energy transition.

FOR SOME COMPANIES, sustainability is no longer simply a buzzword intended to pacify the masses. They’re proactively investing real dollars in real projects to tap into the potential of a new and growing market. In the process, they’re collaborating with other companies, institutions and state agencies to gain a competitive edge even as they lower emissions.

Case in point: Sasol is actively seeking out partners in its sustainability journey through a newly designated “Sustainability Hub” in Lake Charles, promoting its 1,000 acres of “shovel-ready” property as available space for new investments. And in Baton Rouge, ExxonMobil is lobbying to become the site of one of the first advanced

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recycling plants, which in turn could be utilized by other industry owners to meet their own plastics recycling goals.

Brad Ives hopes to catalyze more such initiatives as the new director of the fledgling LSU Institute for Energy Innovation. Launched in June 2022 and funded by a $25 million gift from Shell, the institute serves as a national model for energy-related collaboration.

Ives says one of the institute’s primary goals will be to eliminate the hesitancy, and perhaps resistance, to the energy transition in both the public and private sectors, while also assisting industrial owners by identifying and implementing needed research.

“The transition will happen

whether we want it to or not, so being prepared for it is the key,” he adds. “We’re making sure LSU is a trusted voice that can help bring the facts to the table.”

Outgoing interim director Rhoman Hardy, founder of Hardline Consulting in Baton Rouge, says the institute will introduce new technologies and innovative ways of doing business in Louisiana through a collaborative approach with industry. Half of the institute’s board of directors, in fact, is made up of industry owner representatives.

The institute is currently receiving study proposals “and we expect the first set of outputs from those studies early next year,” Hardy says. There are plans as well to

modify LSU’s PERTT (Petroleum Engineering Research, Training and Testing) Lab to incorporate the study of hydrogen applications.

Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program is tackling another piece of the puzzle: giving workers the skill set they’ll need as the market transitions. FastStart provides recruitment, training and worker pipeline services when a company’s capital investment creates more than 15 net new jobs.

Paul Helton, executive director of the program, says the organization will soon offer training assistance for certain blue/green hydrogen and renewable energy projects. LED recently assisted Chalmette Refining, which last

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spring completed a new 306 million-gallon-per-year renewable diesel production unit at a cost of $600 million.

“Louisiana has been a petrochemical, oil and gas powerhouse for so long, but this doesn’t really change that,” Helton says. “It actually puts us in a good position. Our workforce has the skills that they need to go ahead and do this. They already know the processes.”

“The transition will happen whether we want it to or not, so being prepared for it is the key.”

BRAD IVES, director, LSU Institute for Energy Innovation DON KADAIR

ROOM TO GROW Eric Walker, Sasol vice president of operations, says half of Sasol’s 2,000 acres in Lake Charles are shovel ready, and that makes it an attractive location for sustainability partnerships.

In 2021, Sasol announced that it planned to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, with a shorter-term goal of a 30% reduction by 2030. Out of that vision came the Sustainability Hub, an effort to extract further value from the site and explore potential opportunities for co-location and growth. “It’s land that has been prepared for future growth opportunities,” Walker says. “It’s vacant and shovel ready for development.”.

Working collaboratively, Sasol Chemicals and Mission Possible Partnership are evaluating potential projects for the hub. In its role, MPP advises Sasol on a host of opportunities such as the use of hydrogen as an energy source, CCUS, and sustainable aviation fuel production, with the goal of advancing one or more projects to a final investment decision.

Sasol will provide subject matter experts to collaborate with MPP to determine the best paths forward.

Most recently, MPP secured funding from the Bezos Earth Fund to support up to 10 industrial decarbonization projects, and identified Sasol’s Lake Charles facility as a location.

“We’re looking for strategic partners who have similar goals and who can build manufacturing complexes on our site through a partnership,” Walker says. “In turn, we’ll produce products that protect the environment and meet the growing demand for more efficient, sustainable products.”

Economic and COVID-induced slowdowns have given Sasol more

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time to be strategic in selecting potential partners. “We don’t think that’s necessarily a terrible thing,” he adds. “It gives us a little more time to evaluate different opportunities and to work on things that are going to be key for the partnership to be successful, such as workforce development.”

Walker hopes that the initiative will lead to multiple assets being located on Sasol’s Lake Charles property. “It might be joint venture opportunities where we form an entity that operates a facility together,” he says, “or we might have feedstock and property available that someone needs, where we provide feedstock or some other synergistic benefit.”

The Sustainability Hub offers unlimited potential, says Sarah Hughes, Sasol’s stakeholder relations manager. “We hope to utilize our expertise, as well as the expertise of other companies,” she notes.

“Our peers have similar sustainability goals and ambitions, so why not tackle them together?”

CIRCULAR POLYPROPYLENE Jennifer Purpera, head of the

Planning and Energy Department at ExxonMobil, says her team is campaigning hard to land a new advanced recycling plant in Baton Rouge. As the project development lead, it’s her job to bring those types of investments to the local plant.

“We’re trying to convince our management that the Baton Rouge facility is the right place for it,” Purpera says. “We present to our corporate headquarters director and management committee the value of certain investments and what they can bring for the company by using Baton Rouge.”

ExxonMobil plans to build advanced recycling facilities at many of its other manufacturing sites around the world, which would give it the capacity to process up to 1 billion pounds of plastic waste annually by the end of 2026. The company is considering building one such facility in Baton Rouge.

By breaking down plastics to the molecular level, the technology for advanced recycling creates the building blocks that can then be used to produce new virgin-quality plastic and other valuable

Congratulations

STOKKA BROWN

2023 FORT Y UNDER 40 HONOREE STOKKA BROWN, PE, CFM CSRS Principal

Thank you for your continued commitment to making CSRS stronger and more effective for the benefit of our community.

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“If we were able to bring a recycling facility to the Baton Rouge area, that would allow us to amplify our ability to make circular polypropylene for some of our customers.”

Issue Date: OCT 2023 Ad proof #1 • Please respond by e-mail or phone with your approval or minor revisions.

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DON KADAIR

JENNIFER PURPERA, head of the Planning and Energy Department, ExxonMobil

products that can be put back into the value chain. It also results in lower greenhouse gas emissions when processing plastic waste than when processing the same amount of fossil-based feedstocks.

Having the advanced recycling plant built in Baton Rouge would be a huge win, Purpera says. Should the local facility land the project, it could potentially generate a significant amount of additional business from other companies looking for ways to recycle their own plastic waste.

It all fits into ExxonMobil’s goal of 1 billion pounds of recycled plastics by the end of 2026. In late 2022, an advanced recycling plant began operating on a limited scale in Baytown, Texas.

“The plant in Baytown was our beta test,” she says. “We’ve learned a lot as we developed the technology and used proprietary catalysts in this process. We’ve made some adjustments to the kit that’s required and to the types of plastic that we are capable of processing.”

The plant has now ramped up to commercial scale, using a process

that can be replicated around the world.

Purpera says that Baton Rouge holds a lot of potential as the next site.

“We’ve doubled the capacity of our polyolefins plant in Baker, which makes polypropylene,” she says. “If we were able to bring a recycling facility to the Baton Rouge area, that would allow us to amplify our ability to make circular polypropylene for some of our customers.

That fills a need, as some of our customers are asking for plastics that are fully circular and made from 100 percent recycled content. Some of those plastics are difficult for mechanical recyclers to recycle.”

It all melds nicely with ExxonMobil’s 2050 net-zero emissions goals. Purpera says every operational site is tasked with proposing ideas for lowering emissions.

“We’ve been working throughout the year to determine what technology and new equipment will be required,” she adds. “My team is in the early stages of that work now, in hopes of bringing those types of investments to the area.”

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

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Cash pinch

BY SAM BARNES

Uncertain project economics can put a contractor’s profitability at risk. Here’s how some are navigating it. during contract negotiations, says Jay Montalbano, managing partner of accounting and consulting firm Hannis T. Bourgeois in Baton Rouge. One thing is for certain: Given the wildly fluctuating material prices of the last couple of years, contractors should ensure that their contracts don’t lock in prices for more than 90 days.

“In markets where Fortunately, “contractors we’re growing our have a bit of an edge right now,” Montalbano says, operation, we’re because of the current consuming more construction boom and cash and therefore ongoing labor shortages. cash flow becomes “They’re in a better posimore important.” tion to negotiate. In one instance, a plant owner DANE BAILEY, CFO, went to the contractor and Performance Contractors asked what it would take to keep their people on site.

They’re recognizing that they need to pay more.”

Owners are also negotiating over increased benefits, such as insurance and time off, particularly with those “nested” industrial contractors who have had a presence in the plant for years.

INTEREST RATES AND CASH FLOW Managing cash flow is another critical piece of the profitability puzzle, but it can be a tricky proposition in today’s high interest rate environment. That’s because many

SEVEN ways to make your projects more profitable 1. Negotiate favorable contract terms that don’t lock in material prices for more than 90 days.

2. Work on improving cash flow.

3. Effectively manage change orders in the field.

4. Bill promptly.

5. Efficiently manage collections and make it a regular part of site discussions.

6. Look for and suggest value engineered cost savings to the owner.

7. Eliminate organizational silos to improve information sharing.

DON KADAIR

AN INDUSTRIAL contractor’s ability to maintain a healthy profit margin can be tenuous, at best, in an age of fluctuating material prices, rising wages and escalating interest rates.

Material prices continued to rise in the latest monthly data available at press time, increasing by 1.5% in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index. That continues a trend that shows no sign of stopping.

“Anyone who thought that excess inflation would simply go away later this year has been rudely awakened,” ABC chief economist Anirban Basu noted in a press release. “Price growth continues to be problematic. While energy prices will grab headlines, items like concrete and switchgear have also exhibited inflationary tendencies.”

Escalating interest rates are bringing their own challenges, particularly for contractors that depend heavily on loans to fund their projects. For many, the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes have led to organizational changes and an increased focus on cash management.

The rising interest rates pose a specific threat to a contractor’s profitability, since their performance is profoundly affected by the management of cash flow.

No matter the business environment, though, laying the groundwork for a profitable project begins

contractors need credit to finance working capital.

It was a different scenario just two years ago. “You almost didn’t need cash flow management

because interest rates were so low,” Montalbano says. “Now, rates are creeping up and cash flow management is huge because that interest expense will kill you.” That, in turn, can negatively impact a contractor’s ability to price projects competitively.

The situation is prompting many contractors to reexamine their contracts.

“Those contractors that are heavy into ‘cost-plus’ contracts [whereby they are reimbursed for expenses plus a pre-determined profit], experience more of a cash flow drain,” he adds. “They are billing the customer monthly and the plant might pay 60 days later, so they’re floating two to three months’ worth of payroll at any given time. That’s difficult from a cash flow perspective.”

On the other hand, contractors

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N EWS FI NANCE S

“Contractors have a bit of an edge right now.

They’re in a better position to negotiate.”

DON KADAIR

JAY MONTALBANO, managing partner, Hannis T. Bourgeois

66

who predominately enter into lump sum (fixed price) contracts have the ability to “front-load” billings.

“Lump sum contracts have risks, but you have more flexibility,” Montalbano says. “You can bill by milestones, by percentage of completion or put clauses in the contracts to allow for upfront mobilization or material purchases. It allows the contractors to be cash heavy at the front end of the contracts.”

For Performance Contractors in Baton Rouge, the importance of cash flow depends upon the situation. “In markets where we’re growing our operation, we’re consuming more cash and therefore cash flow becomes more important,” says Performance Chief Financial Officer Dane Bailey. “And if it’s going to be an aggressively scheduled project, we push a little harder on the payment terms … even if we must make concessions in other parts of the contract.”

That has led to some rather innovative approaches to generating cash flow. One area of recent success for Performance? Getting a

cash advance from the owner before a project begins.

The idea originated when the contractor needed a “cash positive” situation to execute a project. “We partner with a surety to bond the advance, thereby giving the owner a level of comfort that their advance payment is not at risk,” Bailey says.

“In the process, it gives us the working capital to go out and staff those aggressively scheduled projects.”

THE COST OF CHANGE ORDERS For industrial contractors, money can be made or lost based upon how well they manage change orders. Mismanaged change orders—a failure to recognize or communicate when a change in scope has occurred—can lead to disputes with project owners and increased project costs.

Contractors should therefore ensure that they are not overexposed to unapproved scopes of work.

That’s a difficult proposition at the job site, as supervisors executing a fast-paced project might be tempted to delay documenting changes to

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NEWS FINANCES

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

COST PLUS: Material prices continued to rise in the latest monthly data available at press time, increasing by 1.5% in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index. That maintains a trend that shows no sign of stopping.

ISTOCK

avoid slowing the project.

“It can be a challenge, but we preach to our folks that they should have a disciplined and established procedure at the front end of the project,” Bailey says. “As part of the project kickoff with the owner, we lay out the expectations around change management, including the process for getting changes approved prior to the execution of the work.

“There’s a temptation sometimes to get the job done and let the dust settle at the end,” he adds. “It’s about fighting against that urge, to make sure we’re taking care of our “We’re making sure that we’re getbusiness along the way.” ting the data that’s being collected To facilitate the process, out in the field in a format where Performance uses tools that prowe can report on it, meet about it vide more transparency and visand monitor it on a weekly basis,” ibility into the status of change he adds. orders and change order requests.

“That way, there’s visibility at OTHER STRATEGIES a higher level into the pending It seems simple, perhaps, but change orders on a particular projefficiently managing the billing ect,” he says. and collections process throughThe company also2023 made a Ad proof Issue Date: has Nov #2 the entire cash cycle can have significant push to remove “infor• Please respond by e-mail or phone with your approval orout minor revisions.

• AD WILLsilos” RUN ASin IS the unless approval or final revisions are receivedimpact within 24on hrs cash flow and a huge mation organization to from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. profitability. facilitate the cross sharing of data.

“When you get busy you do have those issues,” Bailey says. “You have to stay on top of the billing and stay on top of purchase orders from clients so that there are no nasty surprises. Then make sure that collections is a regular part of the site discussions and weekly updates, and keep that in front of the owner to make sure that they’re aware of where every invoice is in the payment cycle.”

Hannis T. Bourgeois’ Montalbano says value engineering

input can also provide a significant boost to project profitability. In that case, the contractor finds ways to introduce cost effective alternatives before a project begins.

“The owner can benefit from that when it’s a time and materials contract [which sets prices for materials and an hourly rate],” he adds. “And if we’re talking about a significant amount of savings, that’s going to change the output.

The owner can then share the savings.”

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BS, Louisiana State University

Practice Areas include: Business Structure and Transactions, Commercial & Corporate Litigation, Design & Construction, Estate Planning and Successions, Insurance Defense, Louisiana Condominium Law, Procurement and Administrative Law and Professional Liability

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NEWS LITTE R

TAKE IT ON: When real estate agent Jennifer Richardson felt the city was not doing enough to combat the proliferation of trash on its streets, she resolved to take matters into her own hands.

That’s when she started Keep Tiger Town Beautiful.

Litter warriors How a local grassroots organization is working to improve Baton Rouge’s economic future by tackling trash.

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY

BY DILLON LOWE

68

FIREARMS. BAGS OF ammunition. Hundreds upon hundreds of used needles.

These are just a few of the more concerning items that have been recovered from the streets of Baton Rouge by the “litter warriors” of Keep Tiger Town Beautiful, a local group of activists that hosts community cleanups each day with a shared goal of creating a trash-free Capital City.

The grassroots organization was launched in January 2021 by Jennifer Richardson, a local real

estate agent who was appalled by the conditions of an overgrown median on Essen Lane that harbored an exorbitant amount of litter— beer cans, cigarette butts, water bottles and the like. Because she felt the city was not doing enough to combat the proliferation of trash on its streets, she resolved to take matters into her own hands, and, soon after, the Keep Tiger Town Beautiful Facebook group was born.

What began as a relatively small group of concerned residents has since exploded, with more than 5,300 Facebook members and a dedicated team of roughly 100 volunteers.

“People came out from all walks of life,” Richardson says, recalling the first cleanup she organized.

“Every race, every religion, every

political affiliation. As a community, we all came together for one thing, and we all got along. After it was over with, we became fast friends, and now we’ve been doing it for almost three years.”

To date, the group has set up 150 public trash cans throughout Baton Rouge, cleaned out hundreds of clogged drains, and filled roughly 13,200 contractor-sized trash bags of litter. While a portion of the garbage recovered by Richardson and her team comes from “disrespectful” drivers and pedestrians, she says that the majority of what they retrieve is linked to the city’s homeless population—which appears to be growing.. On a single night in January 2023, the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care in its point in time census counted

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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NEWS LITTER

IT’S A COLLABORATION: A pair of Keep Tiger Town Beautiful volunteers tote a heavy bag of garbage along Siegen Lane near Airline Highway.

435 self-identifying homeless people in Baton Rouge.

Michael Acaldo, president and CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Greater Baton Rouge, has witnessed that growth firsthand. In 2022, his organization’s four emergency shelters provided approximately 26,000 guest nights of service. This year, he expects that total to surpass 30,000, driven largely by the drying up of COVIDera assistance resources and an increase in the cost of living.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Acaldo says. “The numbers are greatly increasing.”

Indeed, some of Keep Tiger Town Beautiful’s most daunting projects have involved clearing out abandoned homeless encampments and sprawling “drug hubs.” And as a real estate agent, Richardson says she has witnessed how these problems are affecting the city’s economic future.

“When people are thinking about moving to Baton Rouge or

accepting jobs here, they want to know why we live in such filth,” she says. “I lose buyers. I lose people who are going to open up a business here and employ people here.

It’s just terrible.”

THE BUSINESS IMPACT While it is safe to say that many in Baton Rouge are upset with the current state of litter and homelessness in the city, the challenges that these issues present to local businesses are often overlooked.

One such affected business is Clegg’s Nursery on Siegen Lane.

Beneath a bridge that runs over a canal behind the business, Keep Tiger Town Beautiful volunteers discovered an encampment that contained, among other things, stolen merchandise from the garden center.

Butch Drewes, the nursery’s manager, was not aware of the encampment until Richardson and her team brought it to his attention. Shortly thereafter, the group

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N EWS LITTE R

AMONG THE TRASH

COMING SOON RESIDENTIAL’S ROUGH SEAS

TAX TIPS FOR BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2022 • BUSINESSREPORT.COM

LIGHTS, CAMERA …

If you haven’t noticed, the film production industry is growing sneaky fast here, spending $81.9M in Baton Rouge this year alone.

Photographs from the Keep Tiger Town Beautiful team document some of the discarded items and abandoned encampments discovered during cleanup outings. Found items include guns, hypodermic needles, cellphones and trash-filled shopping carts.

BROOME TURNS TO A MILITARY MAN

DECEMBER 2023 LISTS: Banks Credit Unions SBA Lenders SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Your Money

Local filmmaker Jency Hogan and her husband and cinematographer, Aaron Hogan, at their Baton Rouge studio.

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cleaned out the area and returned the pilfered merchandise.

“Ever since they came in and cleaned it out, we haven’t had any more issues,” Drewes says. “I can’t sing their praises enough. They’ve made a difference in Baton Rouge, and they’re just a total and complete benefit to businesses along Siegen Lane.”

Another local business, Drivin’ Ms. Daizey’s Drivin’ Academy, has

faced similar challenges—so much so that it opted to relocate from its original location on Sherwood Forest Boulevard. According to Dana Helmes, the driving academy’s owner, a sizable homeless encampment behind the business’s original building became too great a burden to bear.

“Every day when we pulled up they were walking back and forth in our parking lot, and every day they

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Issue Date: March 2023 Ad proof #1

N EWS LITTE R

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• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

COURTESY

KE EP TIG ER

TOWN BEAU TIF

UL

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THE SMART MOVE IS LIVINGSTON PARISH

CONVENIENT LOCATION GREAT SCHOOLS COMPETITIVE LAND & INCENTIVES BUILD, MOVE, GROW OR EXPAND

would leave their trash and shopping carts everywhere,” Helmes says.

“There was litter everywhere. They just throw it down and walk on by.”

The encampment’s occupants were also plugging into the driving academy’s outdoor power sources to charge their electronics, Helmes says, as well as panhandling from employees and customers on a daily basis, prompting safety concerns.

“I have children and women who

work here,” Helmes says, “so now we’ve had to find another place to have the business.”

Though some local businesses may continue to face issues with litter for the foreseeable future, Richardson believes her group’s work has already made an impact by showing local business owners that proactive community engagement can and will bring about positive change.

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POWER BOOK

YOUR GUIDE TO NAVIGATING BUSINESS IN THE CAPITAL REGION

HARNESS THIS POWERFUL TOOL

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NEWS LITTER

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLIENT AND 2023 FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREE, Melissa O’Banion VP, Marketing & Communications

“When people are thinking about moving to Baton Rouge or accepting jobs here, they want to know why we live in such filth. I lose buyers. I lose people who are going to open up a business here and employ people here. It’s just terrible.”

2023

FORT Y

40

under

JENNIFER RICHARDSON, founder, Keep Tiger Town Beautiful

“When people look at us picking up litter, they see how much better the area looks in a matter of seconds,” Richardson says. “This isn’t something that takes very long to accomplish. We’ve motivated people. When one business looks good, it makes the one next door look terrible, and it inspires them to clean up.”

Though city officials launched the litter initiative Brighten Up Baton Rouge in October 2022, the long-term efficacy of that initiative remains to be seen, and Richardson says the city still needs to do more to address the root causes of the

problem and foster sustainable solutions for a cleaner, more livable environment.

Meanwhile, Keep Tiger Town Beautiful’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In October, the organization was honored with a Community Impact Award by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, a statewide program focused on education, beautification and litter removal.

“We’re doing everything we can think of to make a difference,” Richardson says. “So many people have lost pride in the city they grew up in. We want to have pride in our city again.”

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TAKE IT AWAY: A volunteer drags away an abandoned item near a gas station on Siegen Lane.

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N EWS YEAB R

Next gen founders The 2024 Young Entrepreneurs Academy cohort wants to rethink architectural design, grow fashion creativity and reimagine access to lawn care.

COURTESY YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY

THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Academy of Baton Rouge’s 2024 class features 24 teens aspiring to turn their interests and ideas into startup businesses. The students—who hail from 14 high schools within the Capital Region—attend weekly courses at LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business, where they’re instructed by professors and members of the business community about how to go from developing a formal business plan to getting their fledgling company off the ground by registering as an LLC with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office. The program concludes with a Shark Tank-style competition in which student CEOs pitch their business plans to a panel of potential investors for seed funding, with judges selecting the best presentation to advance to a national competition in New York City. Now in its sixth year, YEA BR has mentored more than 125 students from the Capital Region, leading to the launch of 85 startups.

A BUSINESS PLAN: Students in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge attend weekly classes at LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business. This year’s instructors are Kevin Lyle (pictured), James Davis and Christopher Toombs.

Zoe Clark | 17 Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Grade 12 Entrepreneurial Dream: To make women feel safer and alleviate stress

Taliyah Dupaty | 16 Thrive Academy, Grade 11 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help people with their hair coloring needs

Andrew Grissom | 16 Catholic High School, Grade 10 Entrepreneurial Dream: To rethink the architectural design process

Rhianna Hilliard | 17 Walker High School, Grade 12 Entrepreneurial Dream: To provide marketing and media services

Marvin Hunter | 15 Woodlawn High School, Grade 10 Entrepreneurial Dream: To offer gamers a way to engage

Madison Jarvis | 17 West Feliciana High School, Grade 12 Entrepreneurial Dream: To provide resources for studentathletes and their families

Inara Johnson | 16 Woodlawn High School, Grade 11 Entrepreneurial Dream: To spread knowledge and positivity through pastries and other desserts

Diya Kankar | 14 Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Grade 9 Entrepreneurial Dream: To increase awareness and knowledge of one’s natural surroundings

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Annie Leotta | 17 LSU Laboratory School, Grade 11 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help people increase their fashion creativity

Miniya Malone | 16 Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Grade 11 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help high school students with their college aspirations

Logan McCarthy | 17 Zachary High School, Grade 12 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help athletes and everyone better their health

Jack McKearn | 15 The Dunham School, Grade 9 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help restaurants maintain safe operations

Malaya Morris | 15 Dutchtown High School, Grade 10 Entrepreneurial Dream: To provide students with resources to improve their educational experience

Mae Munson | 15 Dutchtown High School, Grade 9 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help people create efficient and pleasing workspaces

Amiya Osborne | 16 East Ascension High School, Grade 11 Entrepreneurial Dream: To expand people’s knowledge about their impact on pollution and the environment

Addison Reynolds | 16 Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Grade 11 Entrepreneurial Dream: To make serving the less fortunate easy and accessible

Luke Robert | 15 Dutchtown High School, Grade 9 Entrepreneurial Dream: To reimagine access to lawn care services

Brian Robichaux | 17 Dutchtown High School, Grade 12 Entrepreneurial Dream: To provide clothing in a stylistic and different way

Kaitlyn Rodriguez | 14 Dutchtown High School, Grade 9 Entrepreneurial Dream: To broaden people’s palates by serving delicious, unique desserts

Sophie Segraves | 14 University View Academy, Grade 9 Entrepreneurial Dream: To reimagine hunting gear for women

Amelia Sindelar | 16 University View Academy, Grade 10 Entrepreneurial Dream: To revolutionize access to medical information

Porter Tanner | 18 Catholic High School, Grade 12 Entrepreneurial Dream: To serve other aspiring entrepreneurs in their marketing efforts

Mohamed Turay | 16 Liberty Magnet High School, Grade 10 Entrepreneurial Dream: To make affordable clothing, using less to provide more

Randall Wilson | 15 LSU Laboratory School, Grade 10 Entrepreneurial Dream: To help connect hunters to key information

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LEGAL TRENDS + INSIGHTS FOR BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE LEAVES OF ABSENCE FOR WORKERS WHO NEED MEDICALLY NECESSARY GENETIC TESTING OR CANCER SCREENINGS

I

n the 2023 Regular Session, Louisiana lawmakers passed Act No. 210 (the Act), which provided protections for employees who are absent from work to obtain genetic testing or a medically necessary cancer screening. The Act became effective August 1, 2023.

Louisiana law now provides that when “medically necessary … an employer shall grant an employee a day’s leave of absence from work to obtain genetic testing or preventive cancer screening.” La. R.S. 23:370(A).

For an employee to avail himself of this provision, he must “provide the employer with at least 15 days notice and make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.” The employee must also furnish documentation confirming the performance of genetic testing or cancer screening if requested by the employer.

The Act also amended Louisiana law to provide a definition for “medically necessary” healthcare services. See La. R.S. 23:302(7). To be considered “medically necessary,” the services shall be reasonably necessary “to diagnose, correct, cure, alleviate, or prevent the worsening of a condition or conditions that endanger life, cause suffering or pain, or have resulted or will result in a handicap, physical deformity, or malfunction, and those for which no equally effective and less costly course of treatment is available or suitable for the recipient.”

Additionally, Louisiana law now defines the term “preventive cancer screening” as “healthcare services necessary for the detection of cancer in an individual, including but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, or some combination of tests.” La. R.S. 23:302(10).

Though an employer is not required to provide paid time off to an employee receiving these services, the employee may substitute accrued vacation time or other appropriate paid leave under the Act. See La. R.S. § 23:370(B). The Act provides that employers post a notice prepared by the Louisiana Workforce Commission outlining this provision for its employees. La. R.S. 23:370(C). Louisiana employers should become familiar with these new provisions to ensure appropriate compliance and update their employee policies and procedures to reflect this recent legislative change.

Butler Snow LLP represents private and public sector employers across Louisiana and throughout the United States in every aspect of the employment relationship. At the core of the firm’s employment practice is a philosophy that preventive advice and action are the most efficient means for resolving and preventing workplace disputes.

Keith Fernandez

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Keith Fernandez is a member of Butler Snow’s Commercial Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on appellate and written advocacy, data security and privacy, insurance, professional liability, intellectual property and technology, and class actions.

He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch for his appellate practice, insurance law and technology law work. Keith completed his undergraduate education at Louisiana State University and earned his Juris Doctor, DCL from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WHO IS A ‘LEGAL’ PARENT ENTITLED TO CUSTODY UNDER LOUISIANA LAW WHEN THE SPOUSES ARE A SAME-SEX COUPLE?

A

s of today, the law is unclear. There are a number of ways that a person can become a parent of a child in Louisiana.

One can adopt a child, be father of the child, be mother of the child, or acknowledge the child formally to become the parent. Lastly, one can be presumed to be a parent by law.

In the Myers v. Myers (Docket No. 232396) case in the 19th JDC, the court found that a in female-female marriage, the non-biological spouse was to be presumed to be a “legal parent.” In the Foret v. Serrano (Docket No. 195388) case in the 32nd JDC, the court found that in a male-male marriage, the non-biological spouse was not presumed to be a “legal parent.” Both cases were decided by analyzing Civil Code article 185, the only statute dealing with the legal presumption of a parent who is a non-biological or “legal” parent.

La. C.C. art. 185 reads: “The husband of mother is presumed to be the father of a child born during the marriage . . .” The 19th JDC has ruled that the court can redefine the term “husband” to “spouse” to ensure that a same-sex female spouse has parental custody rights— while the 32nd JDC has ruled that the court cannot redefine the term “mother” to “spouse” eliminating a same-sex male spouse from asserting parental custody rights.

The Baton Rouge Court favors marital relationships and expands the presumption of paternity to any spouse where a child is born during a marriage. The Terrebonne Court held that the presumption specifically addresses a biological situation, not a situation where it is biologically impossible for two people to have been the biological parents of a child.

The legislature has failed to remedy custody disputes concerning children in same-sex marriages. The courts have now created conflicting rights to parental custody between same-sex male-male couples and same-sex female-female couples. Stay tuned as the presumption of paternity of a husband in Article 185 will ultimately be decided as to whether the putative parent is a biological issue regarding the paternity of a child, or a custody issue resulting from a contract of marriage.

(Caveat: The Louisiana Family Law Firm represents the biological mother in the Myers case.)

(From left) Yazan Rantisi and Charles Blaize

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Charles Blaize is a founding and managing partner of Fondren Blaize in the Baton Rouge office, and primarily works on community property and constitutional issues for clients of the firm. Blaize also practices oil and gas title examination, complex property and rightof-way litigation, and commercial and residential real estate.

Yazan “Yaz” Rantisi founded The Louisiana Family Law Firm in May 2019. Born and raised in the Greater New Orleans area, he has a passion for family and fairness, and making a difference in his clients’ lives. He handles divorce and child custody disputes, and has earned a reputation within the CASA organization and courtroom as someone who can help find solutions among even the most adversarial parties.

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LEGAL TRENDS + INSIGHTS FOR BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WHAT DO RECENT DOL OPINIONS ON FMLA MEAN FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS?

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he Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows an employee to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid and job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons. The FMLA also requires employers to maintain health benefits while an employee is on FMLA leave and to restore the employee to the same or equivalent job upon return.

The FMLA was enacted for well-intended reasons and has benefitted many employees. But complying with its complex regulations is often a difficult task for employees who may struggle with determining (1) how long intermittent leave can be used, and (2) the impact of a company approved holiday on FMLA leave. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which administers and enforces the FMLA, recently issued opinion letters on both issues.

In the first opinion letter, issued on February 9, 2023, the DOL was asked if an employee could use intermittent leave to indefinitely reduce his work day. The employee at issue was required to work 10-hour shifts each day; however, a chronic medial issue prohibited him from working more than eight hours per shift. The DOL concluded that the employee could use FMLA leave intermittently to work a reduced number of hours per day (or week). The DOL also noted that the intermittent leave could be used until it was exhausted. Thus, if the employee never exhausted his FMLA leave, the DOL concluded that he could work the reduced schedule indefinitely.

In the second opinion letter, issued on May 30, 2023, the DOL was asked to clarify if and how holidays impact the calculation of FMLA leave.

The DOL responded by clarifying its long-standing rule that holidays have no impact if the employee was on FMLA leave the entire week. Thus, for example, an employee who works Monday through Friday and takes leave for a week that includes the Fourth of July on Thursday would use one week of leave. However, when a holiday falls during a week that the employee took less than a full workweek of FMLA leave, the holiday is not counted as FMLA leave. In that instance, the leave used would be calculated by dividing the amount of FMLA leave taken (which would not include the holiday) by the total work week (which would include the holiday).

The FMLA regulations are extremely technical and require nuanced analysis on the part of employers and managers. These recent opinion letters serve as important reminders that employers must stay updated on these evolving regulatory opinions, regardless of their complexity, to remain in compliance with the FMLA.

Courtney T. Joiner

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Based in Baton Rouge, Courtney T. Joiner is a labor and employment attorney, litigator, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the DOJ. With a particular focus on Louisiana education law, he has worked on numerous significant cases, including one which required the Louisiana Supreme Court to clarify the scope of the school immunity law.

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301 Main St., Suite 1400 • Baton Rouge, LA 70801 225.383.9000 • mcglinchey.com

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LEGAL TRENDS + INSIGHTS FOR BUSINESS

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A LAWYER hen it comes to hiring the right attorney to handle your personal injury case, there are multiple vital points to consider.

EXPERIENCED AND SPECIALIZED IN THE FIELD

(From left) Frank Tomeny III and Riley Tomeny

Work with a lawyer who specializes in the legal practice area your case falls into and has a broad range of experience defending claims similar to yours. For example, if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, select an attorney with an extensive background handling these cases in both negotiation as well as courtroom settings. Many cases can be settled without the need for the time and expense of trial, while others will proceed to the litigation stage.

SKILLED AT NEGOTIATIONS AND LITIGATIONS The lawyer you hire should have an established history of handling all phases of a personal injury claim and achieving successful results for clients. Ensuring you have competent, knowledgeable legal representation on your side will give you peace of mind. Your attorney should not only be an accomplished negotiator and litigator, but an excellent communicator who will keep you regularly informed with developments about your case.

CONTINGENCY-BASED PAYMENT When considering a lawyer, you should ensure that all billing and fee policies are clearly outlined and understood from the beginning. Most personal injury firms work on a contingency fee basis, which means that if the case does not lead to recovery of compensation, the client is not financially obligated to cover the cost of additional legal fees.

HISTORY OF SUCCESS Another element to consider when hiring an attorney is a firm’s track record.

Your lawyer should not only be able to demonstrate a proven background of winning cases for clients in settlement negotiations or at trial, but also have the case reviews to back that up.

Insurance companies are notorious for working every angle to avoid paying out claims to personal injury plaintiffs. Work with an attorney who has the expertise and experience required to cut through these tactics and present a clear, compelling case for the recovery of financial damages owed.

Whether investigating sources of liability for your injuries, collecting evidence from law enforcement and other parties involved, speaking with witnesses, or compiling a settlement demand that reflects the full extent of your harm and damage, a skilled personal injury lawyer could manage all aspects of your claim.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS The lawyers at Tomeny|Best have over four decades of experience advocating for clients’ rights and interests. Since his admission to the Louisiana Bar in 1987, Frank Tomeny III has recovered millions for his clients. Tomeny is a board-certified attorney and one of the Top 100 lawyers in the state annually, achieving regular recognition by Super Lawyers. Riley Tomeny, Frank’s daughter, is an associate attorney at Tomeny|Best. After completing her education at Southern Methodist University in 2017, she worked worldwide. Upon graduating from LSU Law School with her juris doctor degree in 2021, Riley joined the Tomeny|Best team.

CALL OUR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR CASE If you have questions about filing a personal injury claim after suffering injuries in a serious accident, you should pursue your legal options as soon as possible. The attorneys at Tomeny|Best can evaluate your prospective case in a free no-obligation evaluation. During your phone consultation, we can help you better understand your legal rights and explain what legal recourse may be available for your accident. Call today to schedule a free initial meeting.

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LEGAL TRENDS + INSIGHTS FOR BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE LOOMING THREAT OF DIGITAL TAXATION IN LOUISIANA

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axing the digital economy is the latest, expanding frontier in state and local taxation. With digital goods and services making up an ever-larger share of the economy, the move to tax was inevitable; but what is considered taxable greatly impacts businesses’ bottom lines. The most infamous tax is Maryland’s first-of-its-kind Digital Advertising Gross Receipts Tax, widely understood to target the tech giants. But states have recently begun (more broadly) to tax digital goods and services that businesses consume every day, often casting a wide net for what qualifies.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue was out front in this arena, issuing in 2010 Revenue Ruling 10-001 which purported to “examine the taxability of transactions involving the purchase or use of software, stored data, and other tangible personal property, located in-state and out-of-state.” The ruling addressed “whether Louisiana (sales/use) tax is due on the purchase or use of products, computer software and applications, or stored media and/or other materials electronically delivered into Louisiana …”

Relying on an expansive reading of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s 1994 decision in South Central Bell Telephone Co. v. Barthelemy, the agency reasoned that digital materials—intangible lines of code—are taxable as “tangible personal property” because they must be accessed via tangible media (monitors, tablets, phones). It attempted to fit the square peg of digital goods and services into the round hole of “tangible personal property,” but importantly, without legislation expanding the definition. The Department suspended the ruling quickly, due largely to an outcry from the business and taxpayer representative communities. But the lay of the land has changed.

Recent legislation in many states expands the definition of “tangible personal property” to include identified digital products and services. In Louisiana’s last legislative session, two bills (HB 257 and 423) sought to expand the definition, too, to include numerous digital goods and services, some defined narrowly but others broadly. The bills did not pass, but there is little doubt expanded taxation is on the horizon in the next fiscal session (2025). While the bills only applied to state taxes, there is little doubt local jurisdictions will seek expansion, too. The potential for taxing many of the digital goods and services businesses purchase to increase efficiency and growth, often at great expense, looms large; and taxes will soon make up a greater share of businesses’ expenses, even without a change in rates.

Managing Partner Jason Brown

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Brown is Managing Partner of Advantous Law, LLC and heads the firm’s Tax Controversy, Appeals and Disputes practice. He has more than 20 years of experience representing business taxpayers of all sizes in tax planning and controversy matters, including complex litigation. His work extends to all taxes imposed and administered by the state of Louisiana and its local governments, including corporate income/franchise; sales/use; property; severance; and excise taxes. He has particular and significant experience in the thorny area of tax procedural law and is a frequent writer and presenter on state and local tax topics.

LA-23-16040

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504 Spanish Town Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.246.2069 • advantouslaw.com

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LEGAL TRENDS + INSIGHTS FOR BUSINESS

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT ongress passed the Corporate Transparency Act in 2021 to combat the facilitation of illicit activities by malicious actors concealing their ownership of corporate entities in the United States.

SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME? Effective January 1, 2024, and subject to certain exceptions, existing and newly formed corporations, limited liability companies, and similar entities must file a report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury (FinCEN) identifying the beneficial ownership of the reporting company. Reporting entities formed after the effective date will need to include similar identifying information for their applicant.

AM I A BENEFICIAL OWNER OR AN APPLICANT? You are a “beneficial owner” of a reporting company if you exercise substantial control over the entity or own or control 25% or more of the ownership interests in the entity. An “applicant” is an individual who registers or files an application to form a reporting company under the laws of a state or American Indian tribe. If you file or otherwise form a reporting company on or after the effective date, your identifying information must be reported.

SO WHAT GOES IN THE REPORT? The report must provide the full legal name, any trade name or “doing business as” designation, the business street address, the state or American Indian tribal jurisdiction of formation, and an IRS TIN or other identifying number of the reporting company.

It must also identify each beneficial owner and, if applicable, applicant, by full legal name, date of birth, current residential address for an individual or business address for an entity, and unique identifying number and image from an approved identification.

Beneficial owners and applicants may also obtain a unique FinCEN identifier that may be submitted in lieu of the information listed above.

DO ALL REPORTING COMPANIES NEED TO ACT? It appears most small businesses will be required to comply with the Act, but there are specific exceptions including banks, investment companies and advisers, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, large operating companies with more than 20 employees filing federal income tax returns evidencing more than $5,000,000 in gross receipts or sales, and subsidiaries of certain exempt entities.

Trevor Haynes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Trevor Haynes practices in the area of business and finance with a focus on real estate, banking, and commercial transactions. His experience includes public finance transactions, publicprivate partnerships, and economic development incentives.

SO WHEN DO I HAVE TO ACT? Reporting companies existing prior to the effective date must submit an initial report no later than January 1, 2025. A reporting company created on or after the effective date must file its initial report within 30 days of the effective date of its creation or registration, although FinCEN has proposed an amendment to this rule to extend the filing deadline for certain entities.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS? Reporting companies should be proactive to ensure they comply with the Act, either by determining they are exempt from the reporting requirements or ensuring the required reporting information is easily accessible and up to date. We strongly suggest reporting companies begin this exercise well in advance of the effective date and requisite reporting deadlines.

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400 Convention St., Suite 1100 • Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.346.0285 • phelps.com

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VI EWPOI NT ROLFE MCCOLLI STE R J R.

WITH THE GOVERNOR’S race over, all East Baton Rouge Parish eyes now turn to 2024 and the race for mayor-president. (Oh, and that national election for the White House.) There is plenty of chatter about the looming mayor’s election.

Sharon Weston Broome, the incumbent, has declared she is again running and has already held her first fundraiser. The primary issue for voters should be her performance: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Eight years ago?

Has Baton Rouge become a better, more economically vibrant place to live, work and play?

Is crime better or worse? Are roads and traffic better or worse?

Are services such as litter removal, garbage collection and stormwater drainage, better or worse?

2024: Who runs for Baton Rouge mayor?

Editor’s Note: This is the opinion of the author only and does not constitute an endorsement by Business Report. Business Report does not endorse candidates for political office.

Rolfe McCollister Jr. is chairman emeritus of Business Report and a contributing columnist.

to turn potential into reality?

If Baton Rouge were LSU or Southern football, would you want Broome as head coach?

Broome seems determined to go for a third term. That’s a mistake.

Not only should she retire, but also the Metro Council should put a twoterm limit on the fall ballot, crafting it so that, if passed by voters, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2024, meaning it applies to the newly elected mayor-president. Frankly, I would like to see the same for Metro Council members and other parish officials, too. Let the voters decide on their plan of government.

So who will challenge Mayor Broome? Many believe a white, nonincumbent Republican can’t win a parishwide election, given the demographics of East Baton Rouge. President Joe Biden got 56% of the EBR vote and Gov. John Bel Edwards received 66%.

I hear that former state Rep. Ted James, a Black Democrat who was appointed by Biden to serve as regional director of the Small Business Administration, is telling folks he will be a candidate. The name of state Sen. Cleo Fields has also circulated; I’m told he is waiting to see what happens with Louisiana congressional district maps.

Another name that’s popular with many is that of District Attorney Hillar Moore, who won in 2008 with 74% of the vote and ran unopposed in 2014 and 2020. As a white Democrat with a parishwide base, strong name recognition and cross-party appeal, he would likely lead any poll. I suspect he already

Broome ran on a platform of uniting and bringing equality to all corners of the city and parish. Is Baton Rouge more inclusive and economically diverse by any significant measure? Are we more united as a community?

The mayor lost the trust and confidence of many in this community over the stormwater fee fiasco and her spinning of blame-everyone-but-me tales.

Perhaps most alarming is the continuing decision by so many of our young people to leave for cities like Dallas, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa and Washington, D.C. These young, talented people are our future, and the exodus makes it obvious that we lack the economic opportunities and quality-of-life offerings they desire. What has the mayor done—and what is BROOME she doing—to address this brain drain?

Baton Rouge is a place with incredible potential, but it also has work to do. Is a mayor who can’t synchronize traffic lights and needs seven years to get parking meters installed downtown, the right person to cast a JAMES bold vision and then inspire us

MOORE

?

has the money in his DA campaign fund to run. Moore was mentioned as a potential candidate for the recent governor’s race but opted not to run.

Regardless, Moore hasn’t indicated any interest in the mayor’s race, and his current term runs until 2026.

The big question: Could a wellfunded Republican not simply make the runoff, but win head-tohead against Broome or another Democrat? Voter demographics in this parish—and the split between moderate and staunch conservative Republicans we’ve seen play out the past two mayoral elections—make it tough.

This race will be a referendum on Broome and her eight years as mayor. Are voters happy with where we are and where the Capital City is headed?

I am not. Yet, I’m also not naive about the power of incumbency and the easy ability to raise large sums of campaign cash from those entities doing business with the city-parish and want nothing more than to protect their turf and keep the contract cash flowing.

That reality aside, let’s make this election about choosing a leader willing to embrace new ideas and bold approaches, like hiring a professional city manager. I thought Broome would do this when first elected but she refused to pay the salary to recruit a pro, opting instead for hiring two Ph.D.s who knew nothing about running a city.

We need someone who can build a strong team and develop best practice solutions, create innovative policy and execute with speed and precision for residents.

Voters want to be inspired and have confidence that our next mayor-president will raise the bar and move Baton Rouge forward over the four-year term.

Early in the new year, the field will likely take shape and the race to choose Baton Rouge’s CEO for the next four years will get underway. I encourage you to stop complaining and get involved in 2024.

VOTER APATHY A WARNING FOR TEAM LOUISIANA We should all be concerned by the 35.77% voter turnout for

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the governor’s election. It is sad.

A key to Best Places to Work companies is that such businesses create an atmosphere and have policies that result in employees wanting to work for those entities. A more engaged and satisfied workforce is more active within the organization.

Louisiana residents loudly demonstrated their disinterest in the state they call home.

Sadly, all indications are the vast majority of residents accept this state’s mediocrity—at best—and have little belief that the governor and other state officials have the ability or interest to set the state on a better course.

While Gov.-elect Jeff Landry got 52% to win, let’s put that in perspective: According to the census, there are 3,529,710 adults in Louisiana 18 and older. Of those, 2,970,167 are registered to vote. On Oct. 14, 1,062,498 votes were cast, with Landry getting 547,827.

Yet that only represents 18.44% of all Louisiana registered voters and 15.52% of all adults. This means, if you have 19 adults at your

86

Thanksgiving dinner table representing our population, only three of those eating turkey represent the votes officially cast to elect Landry the governor.

In sports, an organization or team is in deep trouble once public apathy sets in. When fans are excited or angry, you know they care. Once apathetic, care is gone. The stadiums no longer fill and folks move on to other more fulfilling interests. Or, in the case of Louisiana, disillusioned folks move to states where they believe the grass is indeed greener. (Our state’s population has declined for seven years in a row.)

Other than those whose game is politics or earn a living off government contracts, who is exactly engaged and passionate about the team we call Louisiana?

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS There are four more on the Nov. 18 ballot and here are my recommendations: AMENDMENT NO. 1: YES This amendment simply clears

up confusion on rules for deadlines for a governor’s veto and the subsequent legislative override session.

The Public Affairs Research Council notes, “Writers of the Louisiana Constitution didn’t anticipate a governor or lawmakers would call so many special sessions in a term, so they didn’t properly account for how to apply bill veto rules across multiple sessions when they fall close together.”

AMENDMENT NO. 2: YES Finally, we can eliminate some dedicated funds in the state constitution, though five of the six proposed have no money (and the sixth only had $604). PAR, who supports this move, states, “When the constitution was enacted in 1974, it contained only two special funds.

In the nearly 50 years since then, lawmakers and voters have added more than two dozen constitutional funds. No funds have been eliminated from the constitution since they were created. Some funds have longstanding zero balances or haven’t been used in years, if ever.” The amendment would do away with six

defunct funds that aren’t being used and no longer fulfill the purposes for which they were created. This is a no-brainer.

AMENDMENT NO. 3: YES This amendment would not grant any additional tax exemption, but simply give local governments the ability to do so. I support it because it gives greater local control. PAR explains, “The amendment would let a parish governing authority, such as a parish council or police jury, approve an additional exemption from property taxes for up to $25,000 of the value of the home to qualified first responders who live in the parish.”

Eligible first responders would include sheriffs, police officers and others deputized as peace officers; firefighters, including volunteer firefighters who meet specific criteria; certified emergency medical services workers; emergency operators and dispatchers; and other full-time public employees involved with rapid emergency response.

Tax assessors in the parish where the additional property tax

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exemption is authorized for first responders would have to create an annual application process that includes documentation from an employer confirming the person is eligible for the tax break.

Voters would have to realize that approving this may seem like a good gesture for their first responders, but if some are not property owners, there is no benefit and could cause friction. It could be a benefit to attract employees from other parishes—which could put pressure on those parishes who don’t approve.

And if a parish approves, it will mean less revenue for the current budgets of parish agencies. But I do support

letting each parish decide this one since the first responders serve them.

AMENDMENT NO. 4: YES PAR explains, “Louisiana deposits higher-than-usual business tax collections and certain dollars from oil and gas exploration into the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to lessen the overreliance on volatile income sources for the state budget.

The savings account, created by lawmakers and voters in 2016, quickly amassed more than $2.2 billion and is expected to grow larger. Most of the money comes from corporate income and franchise tax collections.

The savings account aims to lessen

REFLECTIONS

ARMOR OF GOD NO. 2: BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS This feature is a tribute in honor of Business Report founders, Rolfe McCollister Sr. & Rolfe McCollister Jr.

boom-and-bust budget cycles in Louisiana.”

Once the fund reaches $5 billion, lawmakers can spend up to 10% of the money on projects in the state construction budget and transportation infrastructure. But, with a twothirds vote of the Legislature, they can change the threshold and drain the entire amount if they choose.

This fund is not the “Rainy Day Fund.” This amendment would add restrictions to the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund as well as require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to spend all of the Rainy Day Fund dollars in a deficit year first. It then would require another

THE SECOND PIECE of armor speaks to our core identity, and goes over our hearts. Our hearts are our core passion and God makes them righteous.

Ephesians 6:14b reads, “And having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” The heart of the gospel is that God takes our self-righteousness and exchanges it with his righteousness. This is called justification by faith in Christ finished work of the cross. This sets one identity and settles that we are not only right with God, but as 2 Corinthians

two-thirds vote to spend up to $250 million in the RSTF to fill any remaining gap in the budget.

Politicians love spending money way more than cutting budgets.

While there can be emergency needs, there must be some constraints. This still allows access but adds limits. I favor that.

CONGRATULATIONS I want to congratulate and salute all the Forty Under 40 honorees in this issue. Your accomplishments are impressive, and your leadership and community service are greatly appreciated. Baton Rouge and Louisiana need your talent. Thank you.

5:21 states, “We become the righteousness of god in Christ Jesus.” The breastplate is the shield over our hearts when the enemy hurls fiery darts at it, accusing us at the level of identity when we do actions of unrighteousness that are not consistent with our core. At that juncture we confess it and receive forgiveness and get filled again with our true self which is righteousness. Read Romans 3:19-26 concerning this matter.

—Jeff Mitchell, Retired COL and Army Chaplain

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GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS That’s Law Elevated

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AL | CO | D.C. | FL | GA | LA | MA | MS | NC | NM | NY | PA | SC | TN | TX | VA | UK | SG

F o r l e g a l s e r v i c e s t h a t go a b o v e a n d b e y o n d t h e o rd i n a r y, v i s i t b u t l e r s n o w.c o m

11/2/23 3:13 PM

LISTMAKERS

Law firms

UPCOMING LISTS: Dec. Banks; Credit Unions; SBA Lenders

Ranked by number of attorneys in the Capital Region PREV. RANK

NAME ADDRESS PHONE | WEBSITE

1

1

2

LOCAL PARTNERS STAFF

YEAR FOUNDED LOCALLY MARKET AREA

MAJOR AREA(S) OF PRACTICE

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

LOCAL ATTORNEYS

Kean Miller LLP 400 Convention St., Suite 700, P.O. Box 3513, Baton Rouge 70802 225-387-0999 | keanmiller.com

Linda Perez Clark Managing partner

111

48 221

1983 National

Litigation, business, corporate, real estate, employment, regulatory, intellectual property, tax, construction, commercial/business disputes

2

Taylor Porter Brooks & Phillips 450 Laurel St., Suite 800, Baton Rouge 70801 225-387-3221 | taylorporter.com

Robert W. Barton Managing partner

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36 144

1912 National

Commercial and complex litigation, business, transactions, employment, education, health care, environmental, real estate, insurance

3

3

Breazeale Sachse & Wilson LLP 301 Main St., 23rd Floor, Baton Rouge 70801-1919 225-387-4000 | bswllp.com

Scott N. Hensgens Managing partner

61

45 115

1928 National

Litigation, corporate, tax, and health care law

4

4

Phelps 400 Convention St., Suite 1100, Baton Rouge 70802 225-346-0285 | phelps.com

P. Ragan Richard Managing partner

56

25 94

1984 Gulf Coast and Southeast U.S.

5

6

Jones Walker LLP 445 North Blvd., Suite 800, Baton Rouge 70802 225-248-2000 | joneswalker.com

Brandon K. Black Baton Rouge office head

35

23 74

1980 Business litigation, intellectual property, corporate Southern U.S. and and real estate, tax and estate planning, public Washington, D.C. finance and economic development

6

5

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys 5656 Hilton Ave., Baton Rouge 70808 225-888-8888 | getgordon.com

Gordon J. McKernan Owner

32

1 145

1992 Louisiana

Automobile accidents, big truck wrecks, workers' compensation, maritime, immigration

7

7

Taylor Wellons Politz & Duhe 4041 Essen Lane, Suite 500, Baton Rouge 70809 225-387-9888 | twpdlaw.com

Charles J. Duhe, B. Scott Cowart, D. Scott Rainwater Managing partners

31

15 38

2001 National

Insurance coverage and defense, employment and workers' compensation, professional liability

8

8

Butler Snow LLP 445 North Blvd., Suite 300, Baton Rouge 70802 225-325-8700 | butlersnow.com

Jennifer Hataway Attorney, executive committee member

23

17 35

2010 National

Public finance, historic and new market tax credits, bank finance, health law

9

9

Keogh Cox & Wilson Ltd. 701 Main St., Baton Rouge 70802 225-383-3796 | keoghcox.com

Andrew Blanchfield Managing partner

22

20 59

1969 Louisiana

Civil, business and complex litigation

10

10

McGlinchey Stafford PLLC 301 Main St., Suite 1400, Baton Rouge 70801 225-383-9000 | mcglinchey.com

Zelma Murray-Frederick Managing member

20

16 42

1993 National

Litigation, business and transactional, intellectual property, real estate and environmental

11

11

Hammonds, Sills, Adkins, Guice, Noah & Perkins, LLP 2431 S. Acadian Thruway, Suite 600, Baton Rouge 70808 225-923-3462 | 800-960-5297 | hamsil.com

Alejandro R. Perkins Managing partner

19

5 DNR

1989 Louisiana

Insurance and workers' compensation defense; represents elementary and secondary school boards, governmental affairs and construction

12

13

Bienvenu Bonnecaze Foco & Viator LLC 4210 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge 70809-9630 225-388-5600 | bblawla.com

DNR

16

10 24

2011 National

Complex, mass tort, class action, commercial and general litigation, commercial transactions and corporate law, estate planning and probate

13

12

Baker Donelson 450 Laurel St., 21st Floor, Baton Rouge 70801-1828 225-381-7000 | bakerdonelson.com

Gregory E. Bodin Managing shareholder

15

10 28

2005 National

Business litigation, health care, product liability and mass tort, L&E, real estate, tax, construction, cybersecurity, disaster recovery

14

17

Long Law Firm 1800 City Farm Drive, Bldg. 6, Baton Rouge 70806 225-452-2905 | www.longlaw.com

Jamie Hurst Watts, Adrian G. Nadeau Partners

14

7 DNR

1988 National

Regulatory governmental and regulatory commercial litigation and banking

21

Manasseh Gill Knipe & Belanger 8075 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge 70809 225-383-9703 | manassehandgill.com

James P. Manasseh Managing partner

14

4 27

1996 Louisiana

Criminal, personal injury, family

15

Roedel Parsons 8440 Jefferson Highway, Suite 301, Baton Rouge 70809 225-929-7033 | roedelparsons.com

Luke F. Piontek Managing shareholder

14

7 DNR

1988 Louisiana

Governmental relations, civil litigation, administrative regulatory

17

22

Adams and Reese LLP 450 Laurel St., Suite 1900, Baton Rouge 70801-1820 225-336-5200 | adamsandreese.com

Susan Eccles Partner in charge

13

4 24

18

14

Watson Blanche Wilson & Posner 505 North Blvd., P.O. Box 2995, Baton Rouge 70821-2995 225-387-5511 | wbwplaw.com

Michael M. Remson Partner

12

10 24

Business, real estate, tax, litigation, employment, IP, construction, environmental, regulatory, cyber

1984 relations, litigation, insurance defense, South Central U.S. Government education, transportation, commercial real and Washington, appellate, estate, labor and employment D.C. 1945 Louisiana

DNR-did not respond NR-not ranked To be featured in the Business Report's Listmakers, law firms must have at least one location in the nine-parish Capital Region and respond to our requests for information. The Business Report presumes supplied information is accurate. Information about all 30 firms that responded will be available to subscribers on our website. To be considered for next year's list, please contact Alaine Keisling at research@businessreport.com. Published in the November issue.

Medical malpractice and insurance defense, health care law, corporate and business litigation Researched by Alaine Keisling

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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Sean Kirkland 225-928-8229

Audrey Schmolke 225-928-8205

Robbie Shadoin 225-928-8257

David Thompson 225-928-8209

Private Banking designed just for you.

At a certain level, your career and assets require one-ofa-kind solutions. Our Private Banking team offers unique products and services to meet your individual challenges and opportunities. We bring those answers to you when and where it’s most convenient, and constantly anticipate what you might need next. It’s the best of everything Red River Bank offers, built just for you.

We’re your people.

redriverbank.net 225-928-8200

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Alexandria Baton Rouge Lafayette Lake Charles New Orleans Northshore Shreveport

11/2/23 3:13 PM

LISTMAKERS

Convention and meeting facilities

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

6

7

7

8

8

9

FOOD SERVICE

14,840

Drew Altavilla Assistant director, operations

1,200 4,587

5 55,000

Off-site

n n

n

n

10,400

Vince Piquette Director of booking

3,200 4,000

17 125,000

In-house

n n

n

n

3,500

DNR DNR

3,200 6,200

10 125,000

In-house

n n

n

n

3,000

DNR DNR

500 1,200

18 9,000

In-house, off-site

n n

n

2,500

Scott Michelet General manager

2,000 1,500

17 32,000

In-house

n n n n

n

1,600

Kimberly Ginn General manager

720 1,600

5 13,000

In-house

n n n n

n

1,300

Nathaniel Tannehill General manager

600 881

13 12,685

In-house, off-site

n n n n

n

1,232

DNR DNR

300 400

8 16,673

In-house

n n

n n

DBA-doing business as DNR-did not respond NR-not ranked To be featured in Business Report's Listmakers, convention and meeting facilities must have at least one location in the nine-parish Capital Region. The Business Report presumes the provided information is accurate. Information about 20 venues will be available to subscribers on our website. To be considered for next year's list, please contact Alaine Keisling at research@businessreport.com. Published in the November issue.

n

Secretarial

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS EXHIBIT SPACE (SQ. FEET)

Computers

BANQUET/ THEATER CAPACITY

Office equip.

1

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

Internet

1

Pete Maravich Assembly Center North Stadium Drive, Baton Rouge 70803 lsusports.com Raising Cane's River Center 275 S. River Road, Baton Rouge 70802 225-389-3030 | raisingcanesrivercenter.com Lamar-Dixon Expo Center 9039 St. Landry Road, Gonzales 70737 225-450-1009 | lamardixonexpocenter.com LSU Student Union LSU Student Union, Baton Rouge 70803 225-578-5959 | lsu.edu/as Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge 4728 Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge 70808 225-925-2244 | crownebaton.com L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge 777 L'Auberge Ave., Baton Rouge 70820 225-215-7777 | lbatonrouge.com Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge 70810 225-215-7000 | marriott.com/btrbb Nottoway Plantation & Resort 31025 Louisiana 1, White Castle 70788 225-545-2730 | nottoway.com

TOTAL CAPACITY

Audio/visual

PREV. RANK

COMPANY ADDRESS PHONE | WEBSITE

Executive center

Ranked by total capacity of all meeting rooms

Researched by Alaine Keisling

Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. congratulates Joseph J. Cefalu, III for being named by Baton Rouge Business Report to the Forty Under 40 Class of 2023.

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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LISTMAKERS

Convention and meeting facilities

9

11

10

13

11

14 NR

13

15

14

NR

15

16

16

NR

Baton Rouge Marriott 5500 Hilton Ave., Baton Rouge 70808 225-924-5000 | marriott.com/btrmc Manship Theatre 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge 70801 225-389-7222 | manshiptheatre.org Boudreaux's Catering 2647 Government St., Baton Rouge 70806 225-383-5886 | boudreauxscateringbr.com The River Terrace at Shaw Center for the Arts 100 Lafayette St., Fourth Floor, Baton Rouge 70801 225-389-7171 | shawcenter.org Louisiana's Old State Capitol 100 North Blvd., Baton Rouge 70801 225-342-0500 | louisianaoldstatecapitol.org Old Governor's Mansion 502 North Blvd., Baton Rouge 70802 225-342-9778 The Executive Center 250 S. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge 70806 225-377-4400 | theexecutivecenterbr.com WATERMARK Baton Rouge Hotel 150 Third St., Baton Rouge 70801 225-408-3200 | watermarkbr.com

FOOD SERVICE

1,000

Ralph Ney General manager

600 900

25 29,979

In-house

n n n n

825

Melanie Couvillon Executive director

DNR 325

4 5,400

Off-site

n

n

400

Irvin A. Boudreaux Owner and president

400 400

3 8,600

In-house

n

n

400

DNR DNR

DNR DNR

1 6,000

In-house, off-site

350

Mary Durusau Director

200 200

2 7,300

Off-site

300

Sondra C. Mott Director

200 0

3 2,183

Off-site

250

Amber Harrell General manager

120 150

3 6,400

Off-site

150

David Johnson General manager

60 100

4 1,582

In-house, off-site

DBA-doing business as DNR-did not respond NR-not ranked To be featured in Business Report's Listmakers, convention and meeting facilities must have at least one location in the nine-parish Capital Region. The Business Report presumes the provided information is accurate. Information about 20 venues will be available to subscribers on our website. To be considered for next year's list, please contact Alaine Keisling at research@businessreport.com. Published in the November issue.

Secretarial

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS EXHIBIT SPACE (SQ. FEET)

Office equip.

BANQUET/ THEATER CAPACITY

Internet

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

Computers

TOTAL CAPACITY

Audio/visual

PREV. RANK

COMPANY ADDRESS PHONE | WEBSITE

Executive center

Ranked by total capacity of all meeting rooms

n n

n n n

n n

n n n

n n n

n

Researched by Alaine Keisling

Congratulations

DR. CHANDLER LEBOEUF ON BEING A 2023 FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREE!

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BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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Four From Forte Under 40!

Brad joins previous Forte and Tablada honorees:

CONGRATULATIONS

Ann Forte Trappey (1995 honoree) CEO 1993-2020

Joey Coco (2011 honoree)

BRAD HOLLEMAN Senior Vice President - Survey / AMM

CEO

Patrick Downs (2021 honoree) Director of Client Services, Marketing, and Strategy

Brad, your dedication to your community and your profession are an asset to our clients and a model for our people.

Forte and Tablada is honored to have four recognized employees for Forty Under 40 with the Baton Rouge Business Report.

FORTEANDTABLADA.COM 225.927.9321

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BATON ROUGE | DENHAM SPRINGS | SHREVEPORT

11/2/23 3:14 PM

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2023. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

A DV E RT I S E M E N T

COMPANY INSIGHTS

ClowdCover creates comprehensive IT solutions

I

n the fast-paced world of business, where every moment counts, having a reliable IT partner can make all the difference. In 2013, Chuck Smith, a seasoned expert in the IT industry, decided to take matters into his own hands and start the company ClowdCover.

What started as a one-man venture has grown into a dedicated team that’s committed to excellence in managed IT services, hosted voice, and cloud solutions.

ClowdCover offers fully managed or co-managed IT support, tailoring their services to fit unique needs. Whether a business has minimal or no existing IT staff, or they already have an internal IT team, ClowdCover has the perfect solution.

ClowdCover works collaboratively with a business’s IT team and alongside other vendors to ensure that client’s needs are met effectively.

ClowdCover partners with local vendors such as REV Business, Smartcomm, and Modiphy, as well as many industry-recognized national vendors such as Microsoft, Cisco, Palo Alto, and Aruba.

CONNECT WITH US 94

At ClowdCover, everything you need is under one roof. They offer a wide range of services, including managing endpoints, server backup and disaster recovery, network infrastructure, security, wireless solutions, hosted voice, collaboration tools, cloud services, and professional services.

Managed IT services by ClowdCover ensure that your IT infrastructure and systems operate seamlessly, maximizing connectivity and productivity regardless of geographic location. ClowdCover acts as the Managed Services Provider, offering expert IT support at a fraction of the cost of employing internal resources.

With the help of ClowdCover, teams can focus on their business, leaving the technical complexities to the experts.

In an industry where downtime can translate to significant losses, ClowdCover stands out because of their unwavering commitment to responsiveness. Their dedication to client satisfaction makes ClowdCover the leaders in managed IT and public cloud solutions.

ClowdCover’s success isn’t just from their services, it’s also from the people. With a team led by passionate professionals like Brandon Manual, VP of Sales, and Joe Miller, Chief Technology Officer, ClowdCover fosters a supportive working environment. Their commitment to supporting each other at all levels creates a thriving company culture where everyone is valued and encouraged to excel.

As ClowdCover continues to grow, they’re expanding their horizons. A new location is set to launch in February that will accommodate their growing team, allowing them to serve even more clients. Furthermore, the company plans to extend its reach by hiring talented individuals in other cities, ensuring that their top-notch services are accessible to businesses far and wide.

ClowdCover partners with businesses all over the United States in industries like healthcare, finance, law, insurance, industrial, and more. The team welcomes the opportunity to work closely with businesses, designing IT solutions that seamlessly integrate into their operations, support mobile and remote collaboration, and ensure reliable communication with their teams and clients, all scalable with their business’s growth.

ClowdCover isn’t just another IT service provider. It’s a trusted ally with an iron clad formula dedicated to making businesses’ IT robust, secure, and user-friendly.

2933 Brakley Drive, Suite A | Baton Rouge | (225) 755-9422 | clowdcover.com |

SCAN FOR MORE INFO

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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YO U R B U S I N E S S C O M PA N Y N E W S

BANKING & FINANCE Fidelity Bank is expanding with new branches across south Louisiana. The 115-year-old institution is opening its first location in Lafayette, in the River Ranch neighborhood, with a targeted completion date of fall 2024. Additionally, Fidelity will open a second Baton Rouge branch, 6920 Bluebonnet Boulevard, with a grand opening planned for Dec. 1. Fidelity Bank recently became the official financial institution of the Baton Rouge Zydeco hockey team.

AWARDS HONORS Baton Rouge General has been honored with 2023-2024 WebMD Choice Awards in the areas of oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology and orthopedics.

The awards recognize those hospitals in the top 30 percent of patient or provider preferences in their region.

Entergy Corporation has been recognized by Site Selection magazine as a top utility for economic growth for the 16th consecutive

year. The company provides power to some of the largest and most power-intensive U.S. industries.

In 2022, Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana helped secure approximately $16.2 billion in capital investments and created nearly 18,000 new jobs within Louisiana.

a nonprofit gumbo cook-off fundraiser in Houma, was awarded the Louis D. Curet Memorial Volunteer Fundraiser Award. Ellen Sessions, a longtime Mary Bird Perkins supporter, was awarded the D. Jensen Holliday Memorial Community Service Award.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has announced the recipients of three awards given to local leaders and organizations who have Favre gone above and beyond to support the cancer through philanthropy. They were celebrated at the cancer center’s Our Community event. Art Favre, cofounder and CEO of Performance Contractors and former Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center board chair, was awarded the Hillar C. Moore Jr. Memorial Outstanding Leadership Award.

Sessions Roux for a Reason,

Dr. Miranda Mitchell, associate professor of clinical medicine at LSU Health New Orleans’ Baton Rouge Regional Campus, is Mitchell the only Louisiana recipient of the American Medical Women’s Association’s 2023 INSPIRE Award. Mitchell instructs resident physicians and medical students in inpatient and ambulatory settings at Our Lady of the Lake. She also is the lead physician for the OLOL Sickle Cell Clinic and is the director of the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement at the LSU Health New Orleans Baton Rouge Regional Campus.

LCTCS Chief Education and

Training Officer Wendi Palermo was recognized and honored as an inductee into the Nursing Foundation Hall of Fame at the annual Louisiana Nurses Foundation Nightingale Awards ceremony. As chief education and training officer for LCTCS, Palermo has played a pivotal role in shaping nursing education programs and ensuring that students receive the highest quality education and training.

WHLC Architecture and Schwartz Silver won an Honor Award in the American Institute of Architects Louisiana 2023 Design Awards. The award was for the design of the River Center Branch Library in downtown Baton Rouge and was a joint venture between the firms. Designed as a stacked arrangement of unequally sized floors for children, adults, teens and events, the River Center Branch Library provides both a shaded public plaza at street level and a large public roof terrace offering sweeping views of the Mississippi River and downtown. The judges noted its unique identity as a

LOUISIANA AGC

CONGRATULATES TWO LAGC MEMBERS ON BEING TOP FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES!

Andre Smith

666 North St. | Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Joseph J. Cefalu, III

(225) 344-0432 | www.lagc.org Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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YO U R B U S I N E S S C O M PA N Y N E W S

communal and publicly accessible facility in an urban setting.

voluntary donations to higher education during licensing renewal.

APPOINTMENTS MEMBERSHIPS Volunteer Louisiana Executive Director Judd Jeansonne has been named to a second term as board chair of America’s Service Commissions. ASC is a national organization dedicated to leading and advancing the network of 52 state and territorial service commissions across the U.S. Jeansonne brings more than 20 years of national service experience to ASC. He served for 12 years as the AmeriCorps program director at UL Lafayette and has spent the last 10 years as executive director of the Volunteer Louisiana commission.

of state, local and tribal governments along with nonprofit leaders who advise FEMA on emergency management issues.

Neighbors Federal Credit Union recently celebrated its seventh annual Neighbors Day. Team members volunteered at the following 11 area nonprofits: Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center, Brave Heart, Cara’s House, Companion Animal Alliance of Baton Rouge, The Fellowship Center Thrift Store, Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge, The Family Village, Keep Tiger Town Beautiful, Kids’ Orchestras, The Millennium Harvest Revival Project, and Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Mike Manning, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, will join the Regional Advisory Council for the Federal Manning Emergency Management Agency Region 6. The council comprises representatives

PHILANTHROPY GRANTS Air Products has announced the launch of the Lake Maurepas Community Fund. The fund will commit $1 million annually to communities bordering Lake Maurepas starting in 2023 and running through the operation of its Louisiana Clean Energy Complex project, which is currently

96

Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management

anticipated to last at least 25 years.

The fund will award grants to eligible nonprofits supporting ecological, educational and recreational improvements for the area.

LSU President William Tate and Charles Berryman, chair of the Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management, have received a $730,731.94 voluntary donation from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

This donation is a result of state legislation passed to allow for

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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YO U R B U S I N E S S M O V I N G U P

RUSSELL ZUSI Regions Financial Corp.

HANNAH MICHEL HANKS Top Drawer Strategies

BANKING & FINANCE Russell Zusi will be the next chief risk officer of Regions Financial Corp. effective Jan. 2. Zusi joins Regions from Bank of America, where he has spent nearly 20 years in risk management and finance roles, leading to his most recent position as co-head of global compliance and operational risk and global technology and operations chief risk officer.

COMMUNICATIONS Hannah Michel Hanks is the new director of strategic communications for Top Drawer Strategies. Her previous experience includes running an award-winning awareness campaign, consulting with a top Fortune

JAKE MANSHIP WBRZ

TODD WOODWARD LSU

500 company and interning at a prominent full-service communications firm in Baton Rouge. This experience underscores her ability to successfully navigate Louisiana’s complex political landscape and effectively convey messages that change behavior and drive action.

Jake Manship has been appointed chief executive officer and president of WBRZ, KRGV TV Texas and his family’s businesses headquartered in Baton Rouge. He takes over the long-term management of the firm from his uncle, Richard Manship, who remains board chair overseeing the family’s outlets. Richard Manship has guided the Louisiana and Texas broadcasting channels for more than 40

SUSAN FORET Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute

CHRIS PORCELLI Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

years. For the last 10 years, the pair have worked together at WBRZ. Previously, the younger Manship helped manage the family’s print portfolio before the publications were sold.

Todd Woodward has been chosen by LSU to serve as vice president of marketing and communications.

Woodward brings an extensive array of marketing and communications experience across higher education, corporate and consumer brands. He is currently vice president of strategy, marketing and communications at Colorado College.

EDUCATION Brandon Common has been named vice president for student

JENNIFER PECORARO-STRIEPLING Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

MICHAEL ELLIS Bonton Associates

affairs for LSU. Common began his career at LSU as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students in December 2020, and has served as interim vice president for student affairs since January 2023.

HEALTH CARE Susan Foret has been named vice president of operations for Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute. In this role, Foret will oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the institute, which is accredited by the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer, and is the only ACS national accreditation program for rectal cancer in the state. Foret is a national oncology certified nurse with more than

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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31 years of experience in the health care industry.

HOSPITALITY Chris Porcelli and Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling have joined the executive team of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Porcelli joins the company as chief financial officer, while Pecoraro-Striepling takes on the role of chief development officer.

Porcelli will lead finance, accounting, analytics, supply chain and human resources for the brand. He has more than 15 years of extensive accounting and operations experience.

Pecoraro-Striepling is a high-performing global development leader renowned for her diverse expertise in design, construction, facilities, real estate and franchising. Prior to joining Walk-On’s, she worked for such brands as Papa Johns, Bloomin Brands and Darden Restaurants.

ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION Michael Ellis has joined Bonton Associates as a partner, serving as principal engineer for water resources and environmental projects and services. Ellis joins Bonton with

98

more than 25 years of professional experience, most recently as vice president of strategic environmental affairs at U.S. Sugar. Immediately prior, he served as executive director of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

LAW Brittanee Baer has joined the law firm of Fishman Haygood as its chief operating officer. Baer brings more than a decade of experience to Fishman Haygood, having overseen all aspects of finance and operations across her career. Her most recent role was chief financial and operating officer at Louise S. McGehee School. Fishman Haygood also recently promoted marketing director Callie Kamath to chief marketing officer.

MARKETING Rachel Jeandron Caluda has been named director of development for the Pelican Institute for Public Policy. She previously worked as an attorney within the federal government, where she received numerous awards, trained thousands

BRITTANEE BAER Fishman Haygood

RACHEL JEANDRON CALUDA Pelican Institute for Public Policy

of employees and was named a Rising Star in 2023.

Avery Hebert has joined the Louisiana Travel Association as business development manager.

Hebert’s extensive experience as Louisiana Queen Sugar LXXIX will make her an asset to the organization and the tourism industry. She will be responsible for identifying and pursuing new business opportunities and working closely with the vice president of marketing to develop and refine new markets and achieve company growth targets.

Adam Knapp is the new CEO for the Committee of 100 for Economic Development Inc. Knapp has served as president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber since 2008 and

AVERY HEBERT Louisiana Travel Association

ADAM KNAPP Committee of 100 for Economic Development Inc.

was selected for his new role following an extensive nationwide search.

Founded in 1992, C100 is the state’s business roundtable, serving as a catalyst for positive change in government, education and the economy to improve the quality of life for all Louisiana residents.

NONPROFITS Brian Hightower has been named chief development officer and general counsel for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Upon graduation from LSU Law School in 2004, Hightower entered a private civil litigation practice with a focus on workers’ compensation, construction law, education law and insurance defense. In 2009, he left

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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YO U R B U S I N E S S M O V I N G U P

BRIAN HIGHTOWER Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank

DR. REBECCA HOOK Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

the full-time practice of law to teach at Catholic High School, where he served as a teacher, assistant principal and director of alumni relations during his 14 years there.

Molly Sanchez has been hired

by Girl Scouts Louisiana East as its chief development officer. Sanchez will oversee the implementation of the council’s fundraising initiatives, including the recently launched capital campaign for the council’s two camp properties, Marydale and Covington. Since 2022, Sanchez has served as director of development for Lighthouse Louisiana.

Ann Trappey will serve as the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s interim president and CEO while its board of directors conducts a

MUTHUKUMAR “MUTHU” NARAYANASWAMY The Water Institute

KATYA WOWK The Water Institute

national search for a permanent leader. Trappey was BRAC board chair in 2016. She is the current vice president of outreach and the former CEO and president of Forte and Tablada, a consulting engineering and land surveying firm.

PUBLIC SECTOR Dr. Rebecca Hook, a pediatric emergency room physician, has been appointed by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services as its first director of medical services in the agency’s child welfare division. In addition to serving as an in-house clinical resource for caseworkers and other staff responding to cases of child abuse and neglect, Hook will create medical

standards and health care guidelines for children and youth involved in child welfare. Hook has been a pediatric emergency room physician at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System’s Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center since 2015 and has been at OLOL Children’s Hospital since it opened in 2019. In 2020, she led the charge to open the S.A.F.E. Clinic within Children’s Hospital, which provides follow-up forensic exams for pediatric victims of sexual assault.

RESEARCH Muthukumar “Muthu” Narayanaswamy has joined The Water Institute as director of coastal and compound flood risk.

Narayanaswamy brings years of experience to The Water Institute with a focus on quantification of flood risk. Prior to joining The Water Institute, Narayanaswamy was director of modeling and data solutions at Michael Baker International.

Katya Wowk has joined The Water Institute as senior social scientist. An expert in using inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to

strengthen community resilience to disasters and environmental change, Wowk focuses on local resilience helping communities determine their specialized paths forward as well as larger policy reform. Wowk previously served as chair for community resilience at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi. She also co-founded the Texas Coastal Bend Regional Resilience Partnership.

TECHNOLOGY James Olson, executive director of the LSU Stephenson Security Programs Institute and a retired Navy captain, has been appointed president and CEO of Stephenson Technologies Corporation. Tiffany Galasso, senior program manager at STC, was named chief operating officer. In support of his new role, Olson has resigned from his previous position with Stephenson Security Programs Institute, which he has held since 2022. Galasso is an LSU graduate and former assistant dean at her alma mater.

Is your bank focused on your business?

It’s our standard at Home.

home24bank.com | Member FDIC

Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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2023 Louisiana Business Symposium celebrates Baton Rouge’s best companies and top CEOs BUSINESS REPORT AND the Louisiana Business Symposium sponsors hosted the 2023 Best Places to Work Breakfast and Top 100 Luncheon to record-breaking crowds on October 3 at The Crowne Plaza Executive Center.

The day started with the Best Places to Work Awards breakfast, where the top 75 companies in the Baton Rouge area were revealed. The top

two companies in each small, medium and large category were recognized with a special award.

The program concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Peter Burke of Workforce Research Group, with the top winner from each category and three 10-time winners. The Top 100 Luncheon followed with a sold-out crowd gathered to honor the CEOs of the Top 100 private companies in the

Capital Region. In a keynote address, Economist Loren Scott revealed his economic trends forecast for Louisiana and Baton Rouge in 20242025. The Louisiana Business Symposium was presented by Business Report and sponsored by REV Business, LWCC, b1BANK, Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge and WAFB.

Over 800 people gathered to celebrate the 2023 Best Places to Work honorees.

Dr. Jonas Fontenot and Deanna Narveson

Josh Descant, Hess Crockett, Dr. Loren Scott and Joe Sciortino

Peter Burke moderated an insightful panel with the top three companies and three 10-time winners.

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Large company winners: Gresham Smith, second place; Benny’s Car Wash, first place

BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023 | BusinessReport.com

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Small company winners: DAA Media + Marketing, second place; hubley, first place

Medium company winners: MAPP, second place; Baton Rouge Physical Therapy - Lake, first place

David Slaughter, Dr. Sito Narcisse and Dr. Curtis Chastain

Brian Haymon and Vanessa Graham

A sold-out crowd enjoyed the Top 100 Luncheon

Meagan West and Julio Melara

Paul Sawyer and Greg Bowser

Dr. Loren Scott revealed his exclusive economic forecast for 2024 and 2025.

Julio Melara, Kristin Wall and Mike Nizzo Daily-Report.com | BUSINESS REPORT, November 2023

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R E CHAR G E B OW H U NTI N G

Jordan Gleason

Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

DON KADAIR

“I grew up outside of New Roads, in a rural community. I found bowhunting more challenging than hunting white-tailed deer with a rifle.”

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