BIZ. BUSINESS JOURNAL FOR NWLA JANUARY 2020
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From the editor
Questions linger for Shreveport in 2020 SEAN GREEN SEAN@BIZMAGSB.COM
BIZ. TEAM Editor & Publisher Sean Green sean@bizmagsb.com Chief Financial Officer Kelly May Account Representatives Randy Brown Chris Sepeda Production Dennis Philebar Special Contributors Dr. Les Guice, Lisa Johnson, LA New Product Development Team Dr. Tim Magner, Rocky Rockett, David Specht, Liz Swaine Contact Website: bizmagsb.com Phone: 318-747-7900 Address: 6346 Venecia Dr. Bossier City, LA 71111 Social Media: Follow @bizmagsb on Twitter, Facebook, & LinkedIn Subscribe Online:$48 Print: $24 Combo: $36 Sign up: bizmagsb.com subscribe/ *Chamber members get 1 free sub Daily Report Sign up for free at bizmagsb.com/dailyreport/
As we move into a new decade, there are more questions than answers for Shreveport. The past decade could arguably be defined by stagnation as the Haynesville Shale declined, a mini-oil crash, and effects from the Great Recession all slapped northwest Louisiana throughout the 2010s. To say there was no progress would be shortsighted — new companies such as Glovis American moving into the area, success at the Port of Caddo/Bossier, an uptick in the Haynesville Shale, and a recovering oil industry all contributed to see the area essentially break even from losses earlier in the decade. Plus, the City of Shreveport elected its first African American female mayor in Ollie Tyler and then took another progressive step in electing Adrian Perkins, a young mayor with big ideas on how to improve the city. But looking ahead, there is still a hangover from the past decade. We don’t have to look very far to see some highstakes issues that could start a new era for, or alternatively cripple, Shreveport depending on how they are resolved. First up is the development of the Cross Bayou area. Gateway Development Consortium popped up in 2018 with a $1 billion plan to redevelop the area along the riverfront, creating a live/work/play district complete with a state office building and criminal justice complex. You can read more about the latest with this in this very issue. Since it was first announced, the project has been under the microscope and questions abound about the development’s feasibility. GDC wants the city to assemble 88 acres in the Cross Bayou corridor — classified as a Brownfield site, meaning it will need to be remediated before any work can begin — and then donate the land to the project. But there are concerns about what the city’s financial responsibility would be with the development regarding maintenance and remediation of the land. The land is divided among more than a dozen owners. So, how can the city get the land, or get the money for the land? Can the city then legally donate the property? Can Brownfield site moneys be utilized by a private venture? GDC partners say that Gov. John Bel Edwards has expressed interest in locating a state office building in the development, but there has been no commitment. Likewise, Caddo DA James Stewart has not committed to a criminal justice complex. Positive news is that GDC has a partner for their planned STEM school and the USL would bring a soccer team to anchor the proposed sports complex in the development. But, how and when these questions are answered will either propel the Cross Bayou Point project, which is Shreveport’s chance for a major win, forward or kill it altogether. Quality of life issues also linger on with no solution after voters rejected three proposed bond issues in November. The $186 million 2019 general obligation bond proposal would have been used for water and sewer upgrades, repairs to the Shreveport Police Department headquarters, and streets and drainage improvements. Although the bonds would not have meant more taxes, it was a renewal, voters narrowly voted them down, with only a margin of 4% being the largest and a mere 50 votes as the smallest. Despite numerous community presentations by the city and support from numerous organizations such as the Greater Shreveport and Shreveport-Bossier African American Chambers of Commerce, the Committee of One Hundred, and the Strategic Action Council, the voters had their say. The Shreveport Police Officers Association did not support the bond, saying pay increases are more important. Some political observers believe that the failure was due to $36 million being removed for economic development, while others think the proposal was too sudden. This means the aging SPD HQ on Texas Avenue will still have poor air conditioning, mold, and faulty plumbing. And, the streets I see being ridiculed by locals on Facebook will remain scarred with potholes. How will the city go about getting the revenue to solve these issues? What about other necessary upgrades and improvements to infrastructure? There’s also uncertainty over the mandated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consent decree for the repair of aging water and sewer lines. The city is unhappy with $400M worth of work done by the current contractor to meet the hard deadline set by the consent decree. The Perkins Administration is also making it a priority to get a handle on the spiraling costs caused by the consent decree. These are just a few of the issues I see as most pressing. As is the case with most things in life, the solutions to them are not easy. They’re not quick. And, they’re probably not going to win people over or make a lot of friends. But they have to be resolved. Citizens have made their position known on where they stand when it comes to paying for solutions. Developers have big ideas, but nothing to show for it. Mayor Perkins has a host of problems to wrangle. If the business community organizations’ public support of the bond issue was any indication, hopefully they can be allowed to sit at the table and give input. The ones I know personally are eager to do so. We need them. We need all of us. Because how we answer these questions may determine the next decade for our area.
SEAN GREEN | EDITOR & PUBLISHER OF BIZ. MAGAZINE
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briefs BPCC Foundation establishes new endowed scholarships
BIZ. BITS q North Louisiana among top three largest coordinated ACT Work Ready Communities efforts in the nation
Courtesy of BPCC Pictured left to right: BPCC Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman, Jr., Elizabeth Jordan, and Ted Hayes.
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he BPCC Foundation has established two new endowed scholarships with the receipt of a generous donor gift. The WoodmenLife Chapter 54 of Louisiana donated $60,000 to the BPCC Foundation to establish the WoodmenLife Chapter 54 of Louisiana Endowed Scholarship in Allied Health and the WoodmenLife Chapter 54 of Louisiana Endowed Scholarship in Business. Both scholarships will support students at Bossier Parish Community College in the Division of Science, Nursing, and Allied Health and the Division of Business. With the generosity of these gifts, the BPCC Foundation plans to request matching funds from the State of Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund in the spring of 2020 and permanently endow the new scholarships. The Board of Regents Support Fund was established in 1986 pursuant to an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution to maintain a source of state dollars for higher education grant opportunities for 2- and 4-year colleges in Louisiana. Bossier Parish Community College and the WoodmenLife Chapter 54 of Louisiana are excited to begin this partnership to benefit BPCC students for many years to come. On hand to present the gift to BPCC Chancellor Rick Bateman were Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan, Secretary, and Mr. Ted Hayes, Trustee, of the local chapter. The WoodmenLife Chapter 54 of Louisiana is one of nearly 1,300 locally chartered units nationwide who are members of WoodmenLife
Insurance Company, a not-forprofit insurance company. Through community-focused, family-oriented chapters, members aspire to achieve fraternal ideals through social, civic, charitable, educational, patriotic, and voluntary service activities.
BPCC, PROVIDENCE HOUSE PARTNER TO EXPAND WORKFORCE/JOB SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM
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he Providence House and Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) have formed a new partnership to expand its Workforce Development/Job Skills Training Program. The expanded program, a collaboration between the two organizations that began nearly two years ago, will provide tuition fees for industry-based certifications for both Providence House clients as well as community individuals. The BPCC instructional site at The Providence House will provide classes at Providence House’s Education Center. The Providence House’s 4-star Childcare Center will provide childcare for participants. The Providence House Executive Director Verni Howard says the organization is excited to be collaborating with Bossier Parish Community College to expand this unique program. “This expanded workforce development partnership levels the playing field not just for homelessness families, but for the unemployed or underemployed,” she said. “Education and workforce development/ job skills training are the only tools
that will permanently break the bonds of homelessness and poverty, and this program, which will be open to the community, will lift our entire community and change the economic landscape.” BPCC Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development Dr. Gayle Flowers says the College looks forward to continuing its mission of providing workforce development and job skills training for workers in specific high-demand industry jobs. “We change the landscape of our community when we empower through employment by teaching the talent and skills needed to secure living-wage jobs, and we grow the economy when northwest Louisiana employers have workready individuals available to fill their open positions. What lifts up one individual, lifts and unites us all,” said Dr. Flowers. In January 2018, after considering the state of the educational outcomes in the Shreveport-Bossier metropolitan area and the need for skilled workers in specific high-demand industry jobs, The Providence House and BPCC embarked on a training and job skills effort investing in a community segment with the greatest needs – homeless, poor, and unskilled adults. After identifying specific market-driven opportunities, the first cohort of students began coursework in April of 2018. To date, 28 adults entered the program and 21 completed the required courses. Of those who completed coursework, all received certifications and 14 are working with local employers earning $14 or more per hour.
North Louisiana ranks in the top three for the largest ACT Work Ready Communities (WRC) coordinated initiative in the nation. Twelve North Louisiana parishes launched their ACT WRC certification campaigns and branded this combined effort North Louisiana Ready2Work. North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP), an Accredited Economic Development Organization, has been facilitating individual parish efforts with financial support, guidance and the coordination of a June 2019 ACT WRC Bootcamp in Ruston for five of the parishes. “This validates that North Louisiana is successfully developing a workforce pipeline to help individuals meet their educational and career goals, as well as demonstrating they are developing an awareness in the business community of the benefits to hiring an individual armed with an ACT WorkKeys NCRC,” said Cheri Tune, regional manager, ACT Work Ready Communities. ACT WRC certification is part of a larger workforce development system, designed to assist a community, region or state in developing its workforce pipeline to provide skilled workers for employers. The workforce system allows communities to quantify and improve the skill levels of its workforce through a standardized three-part exam called ACT WorkKeys®. Students and workers passing the WorkKeys® exam receive a workforce credential—the ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate™ (NCRC). Currently, there are 16,942 students and workers who have earned an ACT WorkKeys® NCRC in the twelve participating parishes in North Louisiana, and 142,740 throughout Louisiana as a whole.
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Economic agencies CALENDAR
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Your social media posts affect economic growth
From Broke to Boss 3-6 p.m. Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino 315 Clyde Fant Pkwy., Shreveport $85-$125 Get tickets at eventbrite.com
JAN. 21
Bossier Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala Shreveport Convention Center 6 p.m. CenturyLink Center 2000 CenturyLink Center Dr., Bossier City $75 Get tickets at bossierchamber.com/shop/
JAN. 28
Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet 6:30 p.m. Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino 315 Clyde Fant Pkwy., Shreveport $75-$85 Get tickets at shreveportchamber.org
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NLEP’s Top Event 5:30 p.m. Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino 315 Clyde Fant Pkwy., Shreveport Mike Grella, who led Amazon’s global economic development team during a period of unprecedented growth for the Fortune 100 company’s e-commerce fulfillment business, will present “Economic Development 4.0: Next Generation Partnerships and Policies” as the keynote speaker. Considered the architect of Amazon’s economic development program, Grella built and led the tech giant’s global economic development team from the ground up in Seattle. Over his seven year tenure at Amazon, his team created public private partnerships representing over $10 billion of capital investment and over 100,000 new jobs spanning over two dozen U.S. states and 15 countries. His presentation will identify ways to strengthen education and training, public health and multimodal transportation infrastructure to support diversified industries from advanced manufacturing to cybersecurity to logistics. Through partnerships, we can create a concrete foundation for resilient economic growth, where future generations will have ample opportunities to thrive in North Louisiana
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Change within our community looks different for every person, just as being a catalyst for that change can be a unique calling for everyone. Some choose to spend their JOHNSON time volunteering for causes they feel worthwhile to make their community better. Others have the ability to affect change with their pocketbooks and willingly open them for the betterment of our region. Some run for elected offices to have power and influence over decisions. Still, others might work within the community by utilizing their resources, talents, knowledge, or connections. Maybe as you are reading this, you don’t seen yourself in any of those avenues for making a difference in this community. Keep reading, because I have one idea that EVERYONE could and should be doing to affect change in Bossier, Caddo, Northwest Louisiana and the state as a whole: Speak positively. If that seems simple, perhaps too simple, of an approach to be worthy of your time or energy, then I’m exactly talking to YOU! It seems easier these days – both locally, statewide, and nationally – to be a naysayer. Somehow our society has turned into this bandwagon for negativity and people are jumping on in droves. What did your momma always teach you (or at least this is what my momma taught me)? If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Well, I’m going to implore you to use this technique about 90% of the time. Especially on social media. Why? Because it actually DOES MATTER. As businesses look to move and relocate, they absolutely do online research. Obviously they look at things like tax credits, available land, utility costs, proximity to infrastructure needs, etc. But, they also look at the available workforce and the quality of life. We have some great training opportunities within our region to bolster our workforce, even if the skilled labor isn’t currently here. And, we have good weather, lots of recreational activities, and good proximity to larger cities while being tucked away with less of the traffic and other headaches that come with a large city. But what about the people? Do they like to live there? If all the company sees is people wanting to leave, trash talking the city and being generally disgruntled, then
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Somehow our society has turned into this bandwagon for negativity and people are jumping on in droves. What did your momma always teach you? If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Well, I’m going to implore you to use this technique about 90% of the time. Especially on social media. Why? Because it actually DOES MATTER. — Lisa Johnson President & CEO Bossier Chamber of Commerce
why would they want to come there? They don’t want to live somewhere the residents don’t even like. They don’t want to recruit employees to a place that has a negative site of mind. Consider this scenario: Your business has just given you a promotion opportunity to move from one part of the country to Northwest Louisiana. You’re keen to get that promotion and, frankly, a little tired of your cold weather climate. But, you want to make sure this is a place you could live. What’s the first thing you do to research the area? You get on Google or Facebook. And if you find the RESIDENTS of the community you are thinking of moving to only speaking negatively about where they live, would you want to move there? I think the answer is no. You have a power you probably don’t even realize you have. YOU are an expert on the town or city in which you live, as well as the parish, the region, and the state. Why? Because you live there. And, that means that when you say something about where you live, people believe it, generally, to be true. Particularly if they do not live there. You have power just by the words you choose to speak publicly or the thoughts you choose to give credence to — this includes memes, photos and videos, not just negative words. So, what will you do with that power? Make them count. Be the change you want to see in the world or, even better, say what kind of world you want to live in. Then get other people to say it, and let’s all work to make the world the version we want it to be. It only takes one match to start a fire and that fire can spread quickly. Does this mean you can’t ever hold elected officials or organizations or businesses accountable?
Absolutely not. It means taking any problems directly to the source instead of airing your dirty laundry on social media. Being negative on social media isn’t affecting change, it’s giving more power to negative behaviors and combating negative with negative. Going to the source to seek an actual solution is demanding change. You could be hindering economic growth with your social media posts. And, the rate at which you share, comment or like any negative posts about our area as well. And without the economic growth, how can our area ever grow to improve available jobs and, in turn, quality of life? Did you know you have that power? What else could you do with it? I challenge you to illuminate the positive because it can change your own disposition when you find positive things to talk about. You won’t hate where you live and your situation as much, meaning you’ll be a more pleasant person around town. You’ll notice your new state of mind has you dealing with problems in a much more positive way. You’ll notice new opportunities. You’ll get your friends and followers thinking about those things they like as well. You could shed some light on something a fellow resident didn’t even know about or think about. So, what will you shine a positive light on in 2020? Let’s illuminate our positives to make the vision for this region clear.
LISA JOHNSON | PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE BOSSIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Op/ed LOUISIANA TECH q
MBA an option for professional, personal growth For those looking to advance their careers, a Master of Business Administration is a great option for both professional and personal growth. At Louisiana Tech, GUICE we understand that return on investment is one of the biggest factors when selecting an MBA, so we’re proud our programs are consistently recognized for both value and quality. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranks the College of Business in the Top 230 of graduate schools and the Professional Online MBA is ranked No. 2 in the Nation and No. 1 in Louisiana for Best Value by Online MBA Today. That value can be seen in the excellent jobs our alumni are getting. For 2017-18 MBA grads, 96 percent were hired within six months of graduation at notable companies across the globe — CenturyLink, Ernst and Young, ExxonMobil, the FDIC, IBM, GDIT, JP Morgan, and Merrill Lynch, to name only a few. These companies know that our students understand how to lead innovation in an organization and utilize technology to its fullest. Starting next year, the MBA curriculum — from finance to marketing — will
integrate a living case study focused on strategic decision making in a specific organization. This integrative case study will be woven throughout each course and give our students the unique opportunity to engage directly with a Fortune 500 leadership team. While each course will incorporate this common study and the themes of technology and innovation, our programs are tailored to fit any student’s goals. They can choose from the 30-hour Professional Online MBA that provides a solid foundation in all business disciplines or the Traditional MBA with classes held on our Ruston campus. The Traditional MBA allows students to specialize in a specific area of business by adding an additional six hours to their curriculum. Concentrations are available in Finance, Marketing, Information Assurance, Innovation, and Six Sigma. We continue to expand our program offerings in Shreveport-Bossier. The popular Executive MBA program is specifically designed for students who already have management experience and thus relies heavily on integrating each individual’s experience to enhance the overall learning of the entire cohort. Structured to provide minimal disruption to busy work schedules and personal lives, the Executive MBA program allows students to meet for classes every other weekend at Tech’s Academic
t ABOUT DR. LES GUICE A native of Bastrop, Dr. Leslie K. Guice became the 14th President of Louisiana Tech University in 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in architecture and a master’s degree in civil engineering at Louisiana Tech. He earned his Ph.D. in civil engineering at Texas A&M University and soon took on leadership of the Department of Civil Engineering at Tech and then the College of Engineering and Science. In 2004, his performance and accomplishments as dean led to his appointment as Tech’s vice president for research and development.
Success Center in the National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City. The Hybrid MBA is another option for students wishing to study in Bossier, and is particularly appealing as the need for an expanded workforce in information assurance and cyber security continues to grow in our region. The Hybrid format is a 24-month, 36-hour MBA program with concentrated coursework in Computer Information Systems and Information Assurance. Louisiana Tech strives to meet the needs of our region’s workforce, and these graduate programs help students deepen their knowledge base and develop highly sought-after skills to fill those needs.
LA NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TEAM q
Networking Pt. 1: Why I network & its value I am a strong believer in the value of networking. Meeting new people. Learning new cultures and perspectives. Hearing stories. It helps one to develop and grow ULANOVA into the better person. And, I think, networking does the same for everyone. Networking most of the time is associated with business. However, I do networking not only for that, but quite the opposite actually. I seriously enjoy meeting new people, exploring ideas and opportunities. Learning something I would never learn if not for that person. Coming up and developing ideas which might not be born any other way. Some might think that networking for either personal or professional reasons could be a waste of time. So, to prove myself either right or wrong,
I decided to do some research, the results of which you can read below. So, join me in this journey involving the cumulative experience of hundreds of people who realized the value and joy of meeting new people. We are all interconnected: people, animals, nature, technology. We support and benefit one another for the greater (better or worse) progress and future. That is why the concept of networks and networking is hugely important to understand and for people to be part of networks, to feel comfortable there and be successful. As humans, we crave connection. We seek out friendships and romantic relationships as a way to validate our existence, our ideas, or our way of life. Business relationships are no different. Being successful is as much about whom you know as what you know, and while that fact can be a little frustrating for some, accepting it and ultimately using it to your advantage can open up a completely
different level of success. Despite this fact, many people view networking negatively – a necessary evil to get ahead in a career – which is a hugely wrong mindset. With such a mindset, folks will force relationships and they will feel inauthentic and exploitative, and as a result, the not-believer will undoubtedly make fewer and weaker connections. Most people have a dominant motivational focus — what psychologists refer to as either a “promotion” or a “prevention” mindset. Those in the former category think primarily about the growth, advancement, and accomplishments that networking can bring them, while those in the latter see it as something they are obligated to take part in for professional reasons. In laboratory experiments conducted in the United States and Italy with college students and working adults, and in an additional sample of 174 lawyers at the firm studied, the
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BIZ. BITS q GBEDF launches tool for investors & developers in NWLA’s Qualified Opportunity Zones The Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation (GBEDF) has developed a website to promote opportunity zones in Northwest Louisiana. The site, www.InvestNWLA.com, provides detailed information on the area’s qualified opportunity zones, including a regional overview with information on transportation and infrastructure assets unique to the area and critical to economic development. Northwest Louisiana features seven qualified opportunity zones between the two neighboring parishes of Caddo and Bossier. The Opportunity Zone program was established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to spur long-term private sector investments in low-income urban and rural communities. The program offers federal capital gains tax benefits to investors who re-invest their capital gains into Qualified Opportunity Funds. Through this interactive resource, the user can explore the parishes in the region as they relate to each of the qualified opportunity zones and determine specific demographic information within each census tract in order to assist in their decision-making. The site also provides information on how to navigate the Opportunity Fund investment process. The www.InvestNWLA.com initiative is led by the GBEDF in partnership with the Coordinating and Development Corporation (CDC) and the Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments (NLCOG) who serve as the federal and regional planning agencies for the area. Partnering with these like-minded organizations will provide streamlined services for interested investors and developers looking to participate in the Opportunity Zone program.
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cover story
Will Cross Bayou project get Shreveport’s approval?
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he developers of the billion-plus dollar, multi-faceted overhaul of Cross Bayou on the Red River are pushing for a commitment from the City of Shreveport in order to move forward. A presentation was made to the Shreveport City Council Task Force on Small and Emerging Businesses on Nov. 25, and the council is due to talk further about a firm commitment later this month. Larry English, GDC partner, began the presentation by explaining the city, Caddo Parish, and Downtown Development Authority have spent millions of dollars studying Cross Bayou. English said the group has tried to “religiously” follow the citizen input included in the 2030 Masterplan passed in 2010. “The citizens have spoken. They want Cross Bayou developed,” he said. “On a public vote, they voted to set aside taxpayer dollars in order to buy the land and develop Cross Bayou into a walkable, livable neighborhood.” The group has envisioned a $1.5 billion public-private project to turn a polluted, empty, carved-up piece of land along the Red River into a transformative live/work/play development called Cross Bayou Point. GDC plans to develop 5,000 homes over 10-to-15 years. That
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housing would be 30% affordable, 30% luxury and 40% market rate. Plans also include a STEM school, state office building, new criminal justice complex, sports complex, and retail/entertainment locations. Shreveport City Councilman Willie Bradford said that he plans to propose a cooperative endeavor agreement, a binding memorandum of understanding to the council between the city and Gateway Development Consortium regarding the Cross Bayou Point project. Bradford plans to bring the legislation to the council this month. “We are at a crossroads. We really are,” Bradford said after the presentation. “Don’t be discouraged. Be hopeful that we can work together to make this happen.” If the request is granted, GDC will then seek additional private/ public partnerships with the Caddo Commission, Red River Waterway Commission, and state and federal government. English told the task force that the group has tried to honor their non-binding MOU the council passed in May 2018, but they now want to get a full, binding agreement and commitment from the city. The group has also made appeals to the Caddo Parish Commission with members agreeing to discuss it further, but making no binding
You can view the entire Powerpoint presentation to the Shreveport City council’s Task Force on Small and Emerging Businesses. Visit crossbayoupointproject.com & click Project overview, then presentation to city council task force, request access.
t See GDC’s presentation for yourself
commitment. “We’re here to make a deal. We have approached this as a business deal,” he said. “Shreveport is competing across the world for capital…It is looking for places that are stable and where there is return on investment. The biggest investor is the City of Shreveport. We’re not looking for anyone to give us anything, any donations.” Councilwoman LeVette Fuller took exception to the presentation. She said GDC was asking to use the city’s low-value property and, rather than the city increasing the value to recover more money for that land, Shreveport would be giving them property and then leasing it back from them. Fuller also argued putting government buildings on the land would not bring in tax revenue for the city. Marty Berger, managing member of Saber Real Estate Advisors, said the city is getting the taxes in the future, saying, “We’re not using all of the taxes to retire the improvement
money. We’re using a portion of it. The net windfall is huge.” He then challenged the city, saying, ”Just say the word and we’ll go on to another town. If you have the money, the resources, the time, the dedication, $5-$15 million in pre-development money to pay these 24 firms between now and when the shovel goes in the ground, then certainly that might be something you would like to do. If not, we’re an option.” Committee Member and Director of Economic Development for Shreveport Brandon Fail said he was concerned that local companies were not at the forefront of the development, hoping they would be considered to contribute to drive employment in the future. English answered that local companies were invited to take part and they declined. “Once we get the project moving, there won’t be a door closed on this project, other individuals will come
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CLOSER LOOK q Ahead of the United Soccer League (USL) joining Gateway Development Consortium for their presentation to the Shreveport City Council in November, USL COO Justin Papadakis spoke with BIZ. Magazine about the league’s interest and commitment to Shreveport. Q: Just for clarity, what commitment, if any, is there by USL to Shreveport? A: We want to bring a team to the city as soon as possible. It’s a market that’s been high on my list after seeing the success of the Rafters, especially in their first year. [We] strongly believe Shreveport can be an amazing soccer city. It is incumbent on the team to provide a first class fan experience. It’s the stadium and surrounding development, team and developers job to make sure they have a great experience in an intimate venue. On the league side, we put a lot of emphasis on fan centric access. Q: What do you envision placing in the Cross Bayou Point sports complex? A: USL League One team. That will feature 20 regular season games and international friendlies, plus U.S. Open Cup games. This is a multiuse venue, it needs to be used as much as possible to drive economic activity for the surrounding area. It’s a community asset that will drive people there with events such as football, lacrosse, soccer, and even things such as concerts. Q: Why does USL see Shreveport as a fit for its league?
in,” he said. “There’s some cynicism about a project this size. We have got to go back to them again. Committee Member and Director of Community Development Bonnie Moore was more positive on the project, noting Shreveport’s lagging population suffering from poverty, low education attainment, and economic divide needs something to give citizens opportunity. “if we don’t strategically invest in our community and in a development like yours, then we’re going to die on the vine,” she said. Saber Fund Real Estate Advisors, GDC’s partner, along with the United Soccer League (USL) and Municap, Inc. will were part of the presentation to the committee. Saber is helmed by Martin Berger, who has conceived, negotiated and implemented development plans representing nearly $2 billion in completed value and developed more than a dozen shopping centers, two Ritz Carlton resort hotels, a Ritz Carlton condominium tower and a health care operation employing upward of 500 professionals and caring for hundreds of people annually. “We’re not asking a lot from the city. We want them to donate 88 acres of land that hasn’t been utilized ever, a portion of which requires remediation, that will be converted into a beautiful area,” he said. “We are also asking for TIF (tax increment financing), that means that only to the extent we’re successful and get projects built, that a portion
of the incremental tax revenues go to retire debt of public infrastructure improvements we make.” Based in Tampa, the USL is the largest professional soccer league in North America with a decade-long track record. Justin Papadakis. COO for the USL, discussed plans to bring a local franchise to Shreveport. “We hope to gain a partnership with the city, GDC, and Saber that is a win-win-win. Most importantly is that this project is a transformational development for Shreveport,” he said. “If we can accomplish that, the soccer stadium and USL team will be a platform to showcase the project and the city around the country.” MuniCap is a public finance consulting firm specializing in developing and implementing creative approaches to funding public infrastructure, facilities, and services for real estate development. Keenan Rice, the company’s president, will relay its economic impact findings on the Cross Bayou Point development. MuniCap Inc. said the proposed Cross Bayou Point would have an economic impact of more than $208 million over 30 years. The firm also projected permanent job creation to be more than 1,500 and indirect jobs to be north of 1,000. Direct temporary job creation 30 years after beginning construction would be be 8,604 and indirect temporary job creation is expected to be almost 3,000.
A: There are a lot of open markets and, for us, we prioritize the ones that can be successful and sustainable long-term. We’ve seen across the country, a high correlation between success of the club and a soccer-specific stadium surrounded by amenities for fans. Because soccer is conducive for families and millennials, we want an area where they can eat and drink before the game, march to the game, and then go out afterwards. That drives overall economic activity. Q: What do you hope to gain out of this agreement? A: We hope to gain a partnership with the city, GDC, and Saber that is a win-win-win. Most importantly is that this project is a transformational development for Shreveport. If we can accomplish that, the soccer stadium and USL team will be a platform to showcase the project and the city around the country. Every match is a 2-hour showcase for the city. Q: What’s your timeline, best case scenario? And, are you committed to working with GDC throughout this process regardless of what happens at the city council presentation today? A: This is a large project, it will be several years until it comes to fruition. The near-term timeline, we are confident in. GDC and Saber and the many companies working to make this project a reality have put together something that makes economic sense for the city. We’re committed to working with them to make this a reality. The USL is excited about the opportunity to bring a team here. We hope to have a pro soccer team is a way to attract and retain millennials. It’s a vehicle to showcase the city around the country.
PAPADAKIS
- Sean Green | BIZ. Magazine
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cover story SHREVEPORT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY q
Explaining our opposition to Cross Bayou Point The boards of directors of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Downtown Shreveport Development SWAINE Corporation (DSDC) have voted to oppose the current Cross Bayou Point plan proposed by Gateway Development Consortium (GDC). These votes are significant in that both of these organizations were created to help develop, improve and beautify our historic downtown, and both work daily in a variety of ways to create positive change there. We are seeing success. When you drive down Texas Street you can point to significant investment over the past five years, and even more in the past 10. Investors from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Atlanta, New Orleans and others who live in Shreveport and surrounding towns, have rehabbed historic buildings for apartments, restaurants and commercial spaces and have opened a movie theater, art galleries, coffee shops, cafes, and offices. When you move off the main street, you find other property and business owners creating urban farms, condos, a microbrewery, art marketplaces, a bakery, barber shops, a distillery, co-working spaces, an artist and entrepreneurial center, single family residential, event spaces, an aquarium, museums and spaces for non-profits. Do we wish change came faster? Of course. Would we love to discover a magic wand or a cache of pirate gold that could assist? We would. The problem is that the magic wand, a knight coming to the rescue on a white stallion is a myth. There are important reasons why the boards of the DDA and DSDC believe the GDC plan as proposed is far more damaging than helpful to our community and to our downtown. Developers and property and business owners that have already invested in our downtown stand to be hurt severely.
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These include locals and those from outside Shreveport that we have asked to come and welcomed here as partners in our downtown’s revitalization. These are the businesses that tell us they would have to close their doors if GDC is successful in moving the Caddo Parish Courthouse, with its nearly 400 employees and 15,000-plus visitors a month, away from the Central Business District; removing that foot traffic from their restaurants and venues. These are the developers who have spent private dollars creating apartments and condos who would have to compete with GDC’s ‘‘5,000’’ residential units that would be supported in various ways by public monies. Could you imagine, even for a moment, that a developer would choose to compete on such an uneven playing field? We cannot, nor do we believe any realistic market study would show the need for so many residential units. Also hurtful to downtown and our community as a whole is the money the City of Shreveport will be asked to spend on the purchase of property, environmental remediation assurances, streets and sidewalks and other infrastructure needs for the Cross Bayou project. The city, Caddo Parish and the State of Louisiana will be asked to sign longterm leases for new buildings, and to turn over to the developer tax dollars from a special taxing district that will be created to help the project. What are the real numbers on the amount of this support, and what will the city, parish and other governments be obligated to if things do not go as planned? Governmental dollars are finite; those dollars spent on one thing cannot be spent on another, so what will go wanting? Our lack of support for the current GDC project has -- and will continue to -- draw negative comments from GDC and their affiliates. Based on experience, we expect many creative derogatory barbs will be lobbed our way. We can live with that. What is harder to live with is the negative and damaging narra-
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Do we wish change came faster? Of course. Would we love to discover a magic wand or a cache of pirate gold that could assist? We would. The problem is that the magic wand, a knight coming to the rescue on a white stallion is a myth. — Liz Swaine Executive Director Shreveport Downtown Development Authority
tive GDC is working hard to spin about downtown, a place they regularly call ‘’dead’’, ‘‘dying’’ and ‘‘desolate.’’ They seek to show downtown as blighted, on its last leg or already deceased. From a purely positioning standpoint, this is a brilliant tactic. The worse GDC can make our city feel about our situation, our efforts, our successes, the more we will believe that we need to be saved, and Cross Bayou Point will be that savior. Downtown certainly has challenges as all places do, but downtown is populated by hard-working people who are expending blood, sweat, tears and money from their own pockets to create things that did not exist before, to create jobs and to improve both quality of life and options for those who live, work and come to play here. These include people who have lived here for years, have recently moved here and investors from afar. To a person, they appreciate the history, architecture, beauty, resiliency and opportunities in our downtown. These are the people the Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation assist, support and work daily to find others like. Any magic wand that we would find we would use for more community discussions about plans of action for business and job creation. We have too many buildings downtown that are creating no economic impact for many complicated reasons, too many buildings that are empty or nearly so. We could use help in the form of business incentives, assistance
in cutting through red tape of federal tax liens on properties, and of more ‘‘bite’’ in laws that seem to do little to prevent deferred maintenance on buildings. What we do not need are additional new buildings that do not create new opportunities; they simply move around the pieces on the playing board. The DDA and DSDC support common sense development of Cross Bayou. Shreveport is one of the few cities with undeveloped waterfront property and we believe that this property is valuable, a community resource. The DDA in particular has long supported city acquisition of the property in order to position it for a future project that makes sense for the city, our downtown and our citizens. There are portions of the GDC project – hardscaping of the banks of Cross Bayou, walking paths and additional greenspacethat would work to complement and enhance downtown. Above all, we support smart growth and development that is fiscally sound, especially if such growth is to be supported by public dollars. Because the current Cross Bayou project as described is not, we feel strongly that we must oppose it.
LIZ SWAINE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHREVEPORT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
cover story GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM q
Response to DDA’s Cross Bayou Point opposition DDA announced in an editorial its opposition to GDC’s proposed $1 Billion Cross Bayou Point Development. However, it is important to acknowledge the DDA did not dispute our consultants’ Financial Analysis that CBP will create 14,000 permanent and temporary jobs and over $208 million in new tax revenue over the next 30 years. Nor did DDA challenge GDC/Saber’ financial and technical ability to execute our proposed project including bringing private dollars to remediate the site. And, it is important to keep in context GDC/Saber is asking the city to finish assembling and donate an 88 acre brownfield that has been largely vacant since the civil war. DDA’s main objections seem to be GDC/Saber’ proposal to build 5000 apartments over the next 10 years would hurt existing developments in the CBD and moving the Caddo Parish Courthouse from Texas Street will leave a hole in downtown. To support that premise you would have to believe thousands of new residents living in CBP will not walk three blocks to the CDB to eat, shop, attend the Robinson or Strand or just take an evening stroll or that thousands of sports fans coming
into downtown to attend USL soccer games, high school athletics and concerts will not walk three blocks and do the same. Additionally, GDC/Saber has made it clear, both publicly and privately, that CBP cannot be successful without the CBD on a parallel revitalization track and we are prepared to bring our financial and technical prowess to assist the city in this effort. After all, CBP is a part of the existing CBD. Moreover, we believe a dynamic waterfront will entice more people from across the region of over one million to move into the CBD. Every study commissioned by the city the last 20 years supports, including the 2030 Shreveport/Caddo Master Plan, that contention. The problem for existing property owners is not competition from thousands of new apartments. It is that the downtown, as it presently exists, does not entice more citizens to move there. That is bad for the CBD and CBP. I urge you to look at Chattanooga, a city of similar size, that has built over 6000 apartments in and around downtown since 2015 (https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2019/aug/01/ more-riverfront-apartments-com-
ing-early-2020/500314/). Shreveport has built 800 over the last 10 years. Chattanooga’s downtown development authority is a cheerleader for growth ((https://www.rivercitycompany. com/), Our DDA’s mission, as stated in its opposition, is to stifle competition and protect a small group of property owners. Chattanooga is in the top 10 in job growth nationwide and Shreveport is ranked 152 out of 152 for cities in economic growth. Furthermore, DDA’s argument that moving the Caddo Parish Court house a mere three blocks will leave a hole in downtown is not supported by any data. GDC/ Saber has made it clear it would love to purchase the court house and repurpose it into a residential building with retail and restaurants. Where is the evidence, the existing court house is a magnet for development? I invite you after your next council meeting to take a walk around the court house. There is not one fast food restaurant in the CBD. The last two nights I have visited downtown and taken the attached pictures. DDA believes we should take incremental steps to solve what those photos dramatically show is the state of down-
town. GDC is convinced a majority of citizens and downtown property owners do not believe building another 800 apartments over the next 10 years is acceptable. (DDA’s assertion it speaks for all of the downtown property owners is simply not true as some of the largest property owners in downtown have encouraged us to move forward) As we stated in our presentation to the Small and Emerging Business Committee, our proposal will get redefined. The council passing a binding memorandum of understanding is just the first step. The city, GDC and the Citizens will then have to negotiate a master development agreement that will in great detail lay out each parties responsibilities including claw back provisions if GDC does not perform. We are disappointed the DDA chose to walk away before the real negotiations have even begun. However, as a city we cannot allow that to deter us from moving forward.
LARRY ENGLISH | PARTNER, GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM
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op/ed
What’s not to like about networking? Continued from page 7 group of researchers documented the effects of both types of thinking. Promotion-focused people networked because they wanted to and approached the activity with excitement, curiosity, and an open mind about all the possibilities that might unfold. Prevention-focused people saw networking as a necessary evil and felt inauthentic while engaged in it, so they did it less often and, as a result, underperformed in aspects of their jobs. Thankfully, as Stanford University’s Carol Dweck has documented in her research, it’s possible to shift your mindset from prevention to promotion, so that you see networking as an opportunity for discovery and learning rather than a chore. Consider a work-related social function you feel obliged to attend. You can tell yourself, “I hate these kinds of events. I’m going to have to put on a show and schmooze and pretend to like it.” Or you can tell yourself, “Who knows — it could be interesting. Sometimes when you least expect it, you have a conversation that brings up new ideas and leads to new experiences and opportunities.” If you are an introvert, you can’t simply will yourself to be extroverted, of course. But everyone can choose which motivational focus to bring to networking. Concentrate on the positives — how it’s going to help you boost the knowledge and skills that are needed in your job — and the activity will begin to seem much more worthwhile. In the business world, networking refers to the formation and maintenance of relationships that can be used to further your career. The idea of using people to fulfill professional ambition strikes at the heart of why some people find networking to be distasteful. It all feels a bit too calculated, too Machiavellian. In my world, though, I see networking as a way to increase the likelihood of an advantageous connection. The story of one such fortuitous connection follows: United Way Worldwide has done great things for humanity, and the most caring and influential people sit on its board to make a huge difference in so many lives. But little do we know that, once upon a time, Mary Gates sat on the board of United Way with John Akers, a high-level IBM executive. At the time, Akers was helping to lead IBM into the desktop computer business. Mary Gates talked to Akers about the new breed of small companies in the computer industry, which she felt were underappreciated by the larger firms with which IBM traditionally partnered. Maybe she changed Akers’s vision of who to go to for the new IBM
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Courtesy of LANPDT Onega Ulanova, foreground, networks during the October 2019 Tech to Market event.
PC’s DOS, or maybe her comments confirmed what he already knew. In either case, after their conversation, Akers took proposals from small companies, one of which was Microsoft. The rest is history: Microsoft won the DOS contract and eventually eclipsed IBM as the world’s most powerful computer company. Without Gates’s potent network, a sensational new operating system might have faded into obscurity. THE VALUE OF NETWORKING Have you ever asked yourself about the real value of networking and why you should be involved with it? A mountain of research shows that professional networks lead to more job and business opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, improved capacity to innovate, faster advancement, and greater status and authority. Building and nurturing professional relationships also improves the quality of work and increases job satisfaction. To put all the above in a few words, networks deliver three unique advantages: private information, access to diverse skill sets, and power. Networking is an extremely important part of career development; it also reflects a natural affinity for connection that is common among most people. Not only that, networking well can help you feel more fulfilled in your professional life and happier in general. Good relationships make one’s life better, and that is as true in your business connections as it is in the closer relationships that you clearly view as meaningful and valuable. Highly diverse network ties, therefore, can help you develop more complete, creative, and unbiased views of issues. And when you trade information or skills with people whose experiences differ from your
own, you provide one another with unique, exceptionally valuable resources. Research shows that if you design and create your networks with trust, diversity, and brokerage, you can raise your level of information from what you know to whom you know and translate your dreams into reality faster. (For an example of how brokerage can work in a job-search situation, notice the accompanying story.) The story also reveals one of networking’s three key advantages — power. The extension of connections that networks enable, when leveraged intelligently, can be a powerful tool for career advancement. Any work activity becomes more attractive when it’s linked to a higher goal. So frame your networking in those terms. Researchers found that attorneys who focused on the collective benefits of making connections (“support my firm” and “help my clients”) rather than on personal ones (“support or help my career”) felt more authentic and less dirty while networking, were more likely to network, and had more billable hours as a result. We’ve seen this approach help female executives overcome their discomfort about pursuing relationships with journalists and publicists. When we remind them that women’s voices are underrepresented in business and that the media attention that would result from their building stronger networks might help counter gender bias, their deep-seated reluctance often subsides. Andrea Stairs, managing director of ebay Canada, had just such a change in perspective. “I had to get over the feeling that it would be self-centered and unseemly to put myself out there in the media,” she told us. “I realized that my visibility is actually good for my company and for the image of women in the
business world in general. Seeing my media presence as a way to support my colleagues and other professional women freed me to take action and embrace connections I didn’t formerly cultivate.” Networks and the people with whom we spend our time have a tremendous effect on who we are and where we will go. Even our childhood connections make a difference in our lives. A study from researchers at Penn State and Duke universities looked at more than 700 kids in the United States over 20 years and found that social interactions in kindergarten affected career success later in life. Likewise, research has demonstrated that children who experience secure attachment early in life are more likely to be self-confident, better working in groups, and, ultimately, more likely to be good managers. Seeing the broad impact of relationships across an entire lifetime shows that networking is not simply a matter of grossly promoting yourself for financial gains or upward career mobility. Instead, it represents a valid and integral part of interpersonal and professional development that needs to be exercised in order to maximize potential success. Remember, good networking is about succeeding by being yourself, and connecting with people you actually like. Say you work in Payroll and Accounts Payable for 10 years. Your company is not doing so well and, unfortunately, you get laid off. As you search for a job, you see that a local gym has an opening in its payroll department. You happen to have a friend who has been a member of that gym for 15 years. That friend serves as a broker by talking to some of the employees with whom he has developed a relationship over the years, and puts in a good word for you. You score an interview and, in the end, the job, and the hiring manager feels satisfied that the company was able to find someone who came highly recommended from a valued client. In that scenario, the role that networking played may seem like luck. You just happened to know someone who worked at that gym, and that’s how you got the job. But this is where it gets interesting. The more connections you make, the more people with whom you foster a positive relationship, the more likely you are to benefit from one of these “coincidences.”
ONEGA ULANOVA | CO-FOUNDER, LA NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TEAM
awards & honors Agee honored for 30 years of service to Port of Caddo-Bossier Hettie Agee, executive secretary at the Port of Caddo-Bossier, was honored for 30 years of service. Agee was given a plaque by the Port Commission marking her three decade achievement. She was hired in 1989 to handle Port Commission communications and activities. Port Commissioners at the time included Sinclair Kouns, Aaron Selber, Jerry Harris, Mickey Prestridge, Robert Harris, Wayne Davis and John Turner.
Caddo Middle Magnet wins NSU robotics competition A team from Caddo Middle Magnet won first place at Northwestern State University’s fifth annual Robotics Competition. NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology hosted the fifth annual Robotics Competition for middle school students Dec. 4, drawing 16 teams from regional schools who participated in several competitions. Teams competed in a speed challenge, strength challenge, accuracy, maze and tug of war with robots that measured 12 x 12 x 12 inches. Winning teams received trophies and cash prizes to purchase technology. pLEADERBOARD BIZMAGSB.COM
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Awards & HONORS LLTCF awards scholarships to area long term care employees The Louisiana Long Term Care Foundation awarded nursing scholarships to two employees of NWLA long-term care facilities. RIGHT: Sarah Maroney Meshell and Jennifer Peters of Garden Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Shreveport. BOTTOM: Tammy Winn and Cliff Hatcher of Southern Oaks Nursing and Rehab in Shreveport.
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new hires & promotions BUSINESS NEWS q truly felt like I was standing among giants. I strive to bring opportunities for our community members through education, volunteerism, and philanthropy, and I believe this award highlights the efforts I have put forth to overcome obstacles while seeking to serve others and grow personally. The fact that our class members are all embedded in diverse settings throughout Shreveport/Bossier offers encouragement for the positive future for Shreveport/Bossier,” said Johnson.
YPI names Donna Johnson as 2019 Young Professional of the Year The Young Professionals Initiative of Northwest Louisiana, a program of the Greater Shreveport Chamber, named Dr. Donna Johnson as the recipient of the 2019 Young Professional of the Year Award. The award was presented at the 13th Annual 40 Under Forty Awards and Gala held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at the Shreveport Convention Center. Jana Freeman Forest, Chair of YPI, said, “Dr. Donna Johnson’s advocacy in technology expansion in Northwest Louisiana along with her commitment to the betterment of our community made her an outstanding selection for Young Professional of the year.” Dr. Johnson is the assistant vice president for academic advancement and partnerships at Louisiana Tech University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in occupational education from Wayland Baptist University, a Master of Education from Wayland Baptist University, a Master of Arts (English) from Northwestern State and a Doctor of Education from Louisiana Tech. She is president of Open Arms Adoptions, serves on the State Taskforce for Adult Learners, and on numerous committees with the Shreveport and Bossier Chambers of Commerce. She is a mom to two amazing teenagers: Jacob and Anna. “Being selected as the 2019 Young Professional of the Year is an honor. The scope of impact for our 2019 class members is broad-reaching and hearing the accomplishments of all our class members makes me proud to have been among them. I
“With her combination of professional excellence, civic engagement and a passion for our community, Dr. Johnson exemplifies this year’s class of young leaders,” said Dr. Timothy Magner, president of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. “She is playing a critical role in expanding Shreveport-Bossier’s workforce pipeline through her leadership role at Louisiana Tech’s Academic Success Center located on the BPCC Campus.”
Jewelry store closes after 35plus years
of an exhibit about America’s First Ladies, so Miller went there and took pictures. “It was the most complicated necklace I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. It was pearl wrapped around pearls, wrapped around pearls, and so on. We had to build plates in 14-karat gold, and I had to find these tiny micro-pearls, which are extremely hard to find. But in the end, it turned out beautifully.” He said he never takes for granted the tremendous community support from his adopted hometown of Shreveport over the years. “Several years ago, I wrote letters to all the people that originally took a chance on me and helped me get established,” he said. “I’ve always been so grateful for that. It’s allowed me to practice my passion.” Miller and his wife Mary, a registered nurse who also worked at the store for 17 years, have donated thousands of dollars a year to a variety of charities, including donating jewelry pieces to be used as fundraisers. The local symphony and opera are some of their favorite causes.
rowing up, Stephen Miller was fascinated by rocks. “I collected rocks and always thought I’d be a geologist or at least be involved in something to do with rocks because I just loved them,” Miller said, who grew up in Iowa. He started out working with metals at a young age, following the footsteps of his father and grandfather – who worked in the steel industry. But Miller would eventually embark on a career in the jewelry business after receiving a Master of Fine Arts degree in metalsmithing. He decided Shreveport is where we wanted to launch his business and put down some roots. After more than 35 years as owner of Stephen Miller Fine Jewelry, he’s deciding to close the store at the end of 2019 so he can retire. Miller, who opened the store with a partner in 1982 before taking it over about seven years later, described the atmosphere as laid back. “I consider all of my customers friends and family,” he said. “No pressure. I want them to trust me enough that if they’ve got a question or found something somewhere else, they can ask me about it, and I’ll give them a truthful answer.” He’ll also go above and beyond, even if the request can be a bit challenging. Miller recalled a couple who wanted to replicate a necklace worn by President Andrew Jackson’s wife since they were descendants of the president. The original necklace is housed at the Smithsonian as part
BIZEYE q
Shreveport’s UVH makes LSU 100 University Veterinary Hospital (UVH) in Shreveport was the only business in northwest Louisiana that was named to the LSU 100. The list recognizes the fastest-growing LSU alumni-owned and led businesses in the world. UVH has been named for the first time to the ninth annual list, and ranked in the top half at No. 49.
Dr. Christopher Kevil
JanOne Inc., a company focused on reducing opioid addiction by finding treatments for conditions accompanied by pain and bringing to market drugs and therapies with nonaddictive pain-relieving properties, recently announced a licensing agreement for TV1001SR, a treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). The TV1001SR treatment was invented by Christopher Kevil, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and Cell Biology and Anatomy at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Kevil will continue working with JanOne to further develop this critical medication for people who are suffering from PAD-associated pain.
Stacey Goff Origin Bancorp, Inc. has appointment of Stacey Goff to the Boards of Directors of Origin and Origin Bank. Mr. Goff currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for CenturyLink, Inc. where he is responsible for CenturyLink’s legal, corporate strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, internal and external communications and public policy functions.
Drs. Adam Foret and Catherine Foret, owners of UVH, are graduates of The School of Veterinary Medicine at LSU. “Our purpose has always been to improve the quality of lives of pets and their human families. Our local community has welcomed our purpose and we have led our business with the mindset of always staying positive, transparent, and being on the cutting edge of medicine for animals. We are honored to be among this impressive group of LSU led companies.”
Warner Thomas Ochsner Health System President and CEO Warner Thomas was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2019’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. This recognition program acknowledges and honors individuals who are deemed by their peers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare to be the most influential individuals in the industry, in terms of leadership and impact.
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