Chamber
FIRST QUARTER 2022
CONNECTION
Meet the Greater Shreveport Leadership Class of 2022 (Cover) - pg. 5 -
Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings - pg. 7 -
Chamber Membership Milestones and History - pg. 17 -
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Inside your
Chamber Connection Young Professionals Initiative Meet the Greater Shreveport Leadership Class of 2022 (Cover) Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings Chamber News Membership Renewals: Q1 and Chamber History PTAC Industry Highlight: Tax Professionals
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FROM THE
My name is Allyson Walker, and I was recently appointed as the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations for the Greater Shreveport Chamber. I am a Shreveport native (and a proud graduate of Captain Shreve High School) and was most recently the Marketing Manager for the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, a division of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. Growing up in Shreveport, I thought I knew all the ins and outs of this town. I moved away for many years, looking for adventure and growth in bigger, bustling cities across the world. I found everything I was looking for and more, but no matter how many years I lived in a new city, no matter how much I loved a new city’s culture, I always called Shreveport, Louisiana home. And now I’m back to help share the best of our hometown with you and the world. It takes people who care and who love Shreveport and Bossier City, to invest in our community, participate in improving it, and be engaged in all manner of city progress and life. This passion translates to a better quality of life, and that’s what smarter and sustainable communities are all about! Our Shreveport-Bossier region has so much to offer families wanting to plant roots, businesses looking for a bustling economy to grow in, or tourists planning a weekend get-away, but it takes people like you and me to keep that momentum going! The Greater Shreveport Chamber’s mission is to promote economic prosperity, serve as a business advocate, and celebrate the achievements of our region. Although our mission is clear, one question I received when I told people I was joining the Chamber team, was “What does the Chamber do”? I hope this digital magazine will help answer that question and also “keep you in the know” on the great things we have going on at the Chamber, and in the local community with our members! So, we hope you enjoy this magazine, and we encourage you to share the link with friends, families and coworkers, to help them appreciate what’s happening with the Chamber and our community.
Allyson Walker Director of Marketing, Communications, and PR
Greater Shreveport Chamber SHREVEPORTCHAMBER.ORG
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Service
Young Professionals Initiative had their first Community Outreach project for 2022 in February! The Community Outreach Committee put together a donation drive for Christian Services where YPI members gathered water, paper goods, and canned food to benefit Christian Service’s "Feeding the Hungry" campaign.
Lunch & Learn
The first quarterly Lunch & Learn of the year took place on February 16th via zoom! Attendees listened to local business professionals who took their career from corporate employee to full-time entrepreneur. Guest speakers included Kathy Levingston, owner of Bea Destined Designs; LLC, Peter Lyons, owner of Lyons Pride Coffee; and Kim Stephens, owner of Basic Batches Bakery!
Social Young professionals across Shreveport-Bossier were able to sip on king cake coffee and snack on beignets at the February networking social! PJ’s Coffee in Bossier City hosted this fun, free networking opportunity. In March, the networking social was sponsored by Flying Heart Brewery where young professionals sipped on locally made drinks, won fun door prizes, and ate brick-oven made pizza in the repurposed Historic Fire Station No. 6! We hope you will join us in April ! Follow us on Facebook to stay connected and be the first to know the April Social location.
Upcoming Events: Networking Social
April 26th
5:30pm-7:30pm Location TBD
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Executive Board 2022 – Chair – Carly Keon United Way
– Chair Elect – Liz Crews Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourism Bureau
– 40 Under 40 Chair – Liz Crews Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourism Bureau
- 40 Under 40 Co-Chair – Dellanee Wade Southern University at Shreveport
– Communications Chair – Alex Einerson North Louisiana Economic Partnership
– Communications Co-Chair – Victor Thomas Southern University at Shreveport
– Community Outreach Chair – Marie Johnson Elle Foundation HVRP
– Community Outreach Co-Chair – Logan Lewis Red River Revel
- Professional Development Chair – Dr. Kenya Roberts Caddo Parish Schools
- Professional Development Co-Chair – Renisha Sanders Cardinaux Wealth Advisors
– Social Chair – Craig McCloud Gallagher
– Social Co-Chair – Taryn Chandler Gallagher
– Secretary – Lovee Pinson HealthCare Express
- Secretary Co-Chair – Dollie Ogletree First Guaranty Bank – Members at Large –
Brittany Pike, Cyber Innovation Center Dezerra Wesley, Young Pros Entertainment Sara Aymond Nelms, Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission
Johnathan Wall, BOM Sophia Herron, Gingerbread House Ryan Best, Townsquare Media Shreveport Toye Moseley, Harper Law Firm
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Meet the
Greater Shreveport Leadership Class of 2022 This 45th anniversary class was selected by the Leadership Advisory Council after a rigorous application process. Founded in 1977, the Greater Shreveport Leadership Program is an engaging, indepth program of the Greater Shreveport Chamber that develops communityminded business and civic leaders of tomorrow. This year-long interactive program provides a behind-the-scenes view of the issues that impact the region’s economy. Members of the Greater Shreveport Leadership Class of 2022 include: • Emily Antony, Heard, McElroy & Vestal • Crystal Blow, LaVanna Properties • Olivia Broussard, Progressive Bank • Rand Cathey, Eagle Distributing, Inc. • Danielle Cooper, BancorpSouth • Corey Craft, Home Federal Bank • Brandi Falting, Red River Credit Union • Walt Gaskins, Community Bank of Louisiana • Kevin Gullatt, U.L. Coleman Companies • Lauren Hannon, Heard, McElroy, & Vestal • Casey Harvill, Bossier Parish Community College • Von Jennings, Goodwill Industries • RJ Johnson, PFH, Inc. • Chris Jones, Eagle Distributing, Inc.
• Kendra Joseph, Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts • Jarrett Lofton, Legal Weapon LLC/First District Court • Carrie Loridans, Caddo Parish Schools- Captain Shreve • Michelle Marcotte, SWEPCO • Shelly Marshall, The Providence House • Ann Maxey, U.L. Coleman Companies • Suzanne McDonald, Cintas • David Pratt, Brown Builders • Laurie Priftis, Williams Creative Group • Tori Smith, Providence House • Graeme Weinland, jweinland Group Benefits • Regan Wooten, Origin Bank • Allison Youngblood, Seeds in Action Community Health
Over the next nine months, the Greater Shreveport Leadership Class of 2022 will participate in a broad range of sessions that will focus on a variety of topics such as community history, education, economic development and transportation, healthcare and welfare, legislative affairs, local government and community development, and media and communications. The class will also work collectively to select and complete a community service project to benefit a nonprofit organization project or cause. Following the nine-month program, the Greater Shreveport Leadership Class of 2022 will graduate during a ceremony in November. For information on the Greater Shreveport Leadership Program Class of 2023, contact the Chamber office at 318-677-2500 or visit the Chamber's website.
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Greater Shreveport Leadership
Community History
Shreveport was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company, a corporation established to develop a town at the juncture of the newly navigable Red River and the Texas Tail, an overland route into the newly independent Republic of Texas, and before that into Mexico. Shreveport is a city that has experienced more than its share of change. From a frontier town it quickly became and important inland port. With the advent of oil and gas discoveries in the area, Shreveport grew and was even the home of Standard Oil of Louisiana. Not many years later, Barksdale Field was built. On the heels of that, Shreveport was known as the “Pipeline Capital of the World.” Today, our city is a center for manufacturing, medical education, research and services, agriculture, oil and gas production, film production, and, coming full circle, is an important port on the Red River. Understanding Shreveport’s extensive history will help the Greater Shreveport Leaders of tomorrow shape a bright and successful future. The Greater Leadership Class of 2022 was able to dive into Shreveport’s history on the rainiest and coldest day in February, however, the weather was no match for the sunshine emitting from their tour guides. The Greater Shreveport Chamber is proud to partner with Liz Swaine, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority and Mr. Mardi Gras himself, Robert Trudeau, to make the brick-and-mortar bones of Shreveport come to life! Students were given a bus tour of downtown from Liz Swaine, and visited many historic sights such as the Strand, the Waterworks museum, the Robinson Film Center, the Municipal Auditorium, the Oakland Cemetery, and the Spring Street Museum. Lunch was held at Abby Singer’s Bistro on the second floor of the Robinson Film Center, managed by award winning Chef Tootie Morrison.
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RIBBON CUTTINGS & G
Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings are member-only services which milestones and celebrate the accomplishments of our region. For mor please contact Tracy Whittington at tracy@s
January 2022
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Shreveport Rehabilitation Hospital January 12th
Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino for FanDuel Sportsbook site January 14th
Louisiana Workforce Commission new Mobile Workforce Center January 20th
CHRISTUS Cardiovascular Center of Excellence January 27th
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GROUND BREAKINGS
h provide exposure in the marketplace, highlight your company e information or to schedule a ribbon cutting or groundbreaking, hreveportchamber.org or 318-677-2547
February 2022
Eagles Nest Development Center February 1st
Girl Scouts Cookie Kick Off February 2nd
“We focus on these five skills to teach young women how to run their own business, but they will learn so much more, especially with the digital cookie platform” -Franchesca Posey, COO for the Girl Scout Council.
Some businesses send press releases ahead of their ribbon cutting! You can read them in the news section of our website!
https://web.shreveportchamber.org/news
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RIBBON CUTTINGS & G
Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings are member-only services which milestones and celebrate the accomplishments of our region. For mor please contact Tracy Whittington at tracy@s
March
Brookshire’s Grocery Store #140 March 17th
Southern Heart Gift Shop & Boutique March 28th
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DATCS March 15th
Red River Credit Union March 31th
GROUND BREAKINGS
h provide exposure in the marketplace, highlight your company e information or to schedule a ribbon cutting or groundbreaking, hreveportchamber.org or 318-677-2547
2022
Catholic Charities of North Louisiana March 24th
AT&T Fiber March 25th
Interested in being a Chamber Diplomat? The Diplomats serve as the Membership Retention Committee of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. The Diplomats volunteer their time and resources to sustain a year-round retention program that involves making personal visits and follow-up telephone calls to Chamber Members in order to establish strong relations between the Chamber and the Member. The Diplomats promote membership retention by identifying member concerns and relaying that information to the Chamber and garnering support for the Chamber’s program of work. The Diplomats serve at the pleasure of their employer and are required to follow guidelines and meet the expectations as outlined here to remain in good standing as a Diplomat. Volunteers must be Chamber members. There is a limit of 20 participants; others interested are placed on a waiting list. For more information contact Tracy Whittington at 318-677-2547.
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Annual Banquet Glenn and Chris Kinsey Recognized for Business and Philanthropic Leadership at Annual Banquet The Greater Shreveport Chamber on Wednesday honored long standing businessmen and philanthropists Glenn and Chris Kinsey as the Chamber’s Business Leaders of the Year for 2021 at its 112th Annual Banquet, presented by Willis Knighton Health System. Each year since 1978, the Chamber has recognized local business leaders who bring together superior business acumen with significant contributions to the development of the greater Shreveport community. For the first time ever, the prestigious award for 2021 was presented to brothers Glenn and Chris Kinsey. Born and raised in Shreveport, Glenn and Chris are both graduates of Culver Military Academy in Northern Indiana. Glenn holds a BA and BFA from Southern Methodist University and Chris holds a BA from Trinity University and an MBA from LSU. Together with their siblings, they own and manage Kinsey Interests, a family office active in oil and gas, real estate, timber, and public and private equity, based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Kinsey Interests employs almost 500 individuals in North Louisiana and over 5000 individuals across the globe through their direct investments in more than 35 companies. “The Chamber is delighted to honor Glenn and Chris Kinsey as our 2021 Business Leaders of the Year”, said Dr. Timothy Magner, President of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. “Glenn and Chris are the third generation of the Kinsey family to take up the mantle of business leadership here in Shreveport. Their business acumen, strategic focus and global investments have developed businesses and enhanced communities both here and abroad.” In addition to their extensive business portfolio, the Kinsey’s have also continued their family’s practice of enlightened and engaged philanthropic giving. In addition to their charitable contributions, Chris and Glenn’s personal involvement as a Board member and officer in a host of organizations including the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, Committee of 100, Holy Angels, LSU Health Sciences Foundation, the United Way and the Community Foundation of Northwest Louisiana as well as LABI, CABL, PAR and the Nature Conservancy speaks to the tradition of service that is one of the hallmarks of the Kinsey family. “To have individuals with the kind of national and global reputations such as the Kinseys based in our community, and active in our community, is to be recognized and celebrated,” said Francesca Benten Moreland, 2022 Chair of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. “That their father was honored with this award almost 30 years ago speaks to the lasting impact the Kinsey family continues to have in Shreveport-Bossier.”
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Shreveport-Bossier Business Alliance Higher Education Summit
On March 3, the Greater Shreveport Chamber was delighted to host the SBBA Higher Education Summit. We heard from our Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, as well as our LSU, UL, Southern and LCTCS system offices. We are continuously inspired by the collaboration and engagement from the 9 institutions of higher education who serve our region: LSU Health Sciences Center, LA Tech, Grambling, SUSLA, BPCC, NSU, NWLCT, LSUS and Centenary. The first panel included Barry Busada, Supervisor, University of Louisiana System; Ashely Arceneaux, Chief of Staff, LSU System, Office of the President; Dr. Vladimir Appeaning, Chancellor, Southern University Shreveport Louisiana; and Dr. Rick Bateman, Chancellor, Bossier Parish Community College. The second panel included Dr. Markey Pierre’, Vice Chancellor of External Affairs and Chief of Staff, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; Dr. Terry McConathy, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Louisiana Tech University; Dr. Sumeet Dua, Executive Associate Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Louisiana Tech University, Adarian D. Williams, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Grambling; Dr. Vladimir Appeaning, Chancellor, Southern University Shreveport Louisiana; Dr. Rick Bateman, Chancellor, Bossier Parish Community College, Drake Owens, Assistance Vice President of External Affairs, Northwestern State University; Larry Clark, Chancellor, Louisiana State University Shreveport; Dr. Chris Holoman, President, Centenary College. Thank you to all of our educators who are working to enhance and strengthen our workforce pipeline!
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“GSC to DC” Fly-in
The Greater Shreveport Chamber and regional representatives travel to Washington D.C. GSC to DC” Fly-in is an acronym for “Greater Shreveport Chamber to Washington DC”. The Washington DC fly-in has been sponsored by the Greater Shreveport Chamber for more than forty-two (42) years. Twenty-seven (27) years ago the Greater Shreveport Chamber expanded the participation to include a more regional representation consisting of the Greater Shreveport Chamber, Bossier Chamber of Commerce, Committee of 100, Barksdale Forward and the North Louisiana Council of Governments, and local industry executives. Our purpose is to connect with members of Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to update them on issues of importance to Northwest Louisiana and to explore issues of concern to them. The Bossier Chamber leads a similar trip each fall where we expand our discussions to include Committee Staff and federal agencies. Each trip also includes a briefing at the US Chamber of Commerce headquarters to hear the latest update on issues and policies affecting the business community. Fly-In delegations receive a front-row seat at a program tailored specifically to their top business priorities from U.S. Chamber policy and advocacy experts. The last week of March, our group of seven flew to Washington, DC to participate in a series of meetings with the Louisiana Congressional Delegation and with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They began with the briefing at the US Chamber of Commerce where they received updates on Energy Policy, Transportation and Infrastructure, Military Defense Budget, and Broadband. On Capitol Hill, participants met with: Senator Bill Cassidy, Senator John Kennedy, Representative Mike Johnson, and Representative Julia Letlow. We believe it is important to meet with the entire Louisiana Delegation and so our participants met with senior staff from Representative Steve Scalise, Representative Troy Carter, Representative Garret Graves, and Representative Clay Higgins. A week prior to the meetings, the Chamber staff provided the Louisiana Delegation, and their staff, with issues affecting our area. This allowed them to be fully aware of the issues that were slated to be discussed during the meetings. Each legislative office provided good feedback on the topics and answered questions that were raised by our group.
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2022 Board of Directors
FRANCESCA BENTEN MORELAND
ROY PRESTWOOD
Williams Creative Group
Heard, McElroy & Vestal
Immediate Past Chair
Vice Chair Education
MARK SNOW
Fire Tech Systems, Inc.
Aillet, Fenner, Jolly & McClelland, Inc.
DAVID ALEXANDER Vintage Realty Company
SUYI GEORGEWILL Cintas Corp.
RICKEY HALL Hall Builders, Inc.
CARLY KOEN United Way of Northwest Louisiana
E. CONNOR PETERSON Keith D. Peterson & Company Inc.
ROBERT POU Romph & Pou Agency
GEORGE SIRVEN KTBS, LLC
LINDA BIERNACKI
Vice Chair Marketing/Investor Relations
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BRIAN MCNEW
Chair-Elect
Chair of the Board
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mcnew Architecture
TOM
Tre
Carr, Rigg
MELISS Barksdale Fed
SUSA Porsch
DAVID BRF Entrepreneuri
SIMMS
asurer
gs & Ingram
SA COUCH eral Credit Union
AN MOFFITT e Shreveport
D R. SMITH al Accelerator Program
MICHAEL CORBIN
Vice Chair of Public Policy AEP/SWEPCO
ANDREW CRAIG Mohr and Associates, Inc.
JEREMY K. MOORE Capital One Bank
SCOTT WARD Southern Components, Inc.
WILLIAM C. BRADFORD JR.
Vice Chair Economic Development
Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts, PLC
BRIAN CRAWFORD Willis-Knighton Health System
KENNETH MORROW Metro Aviation
TERRY MOORE
Vice Chair Membership Merrill Lynch
ROBERT CRAWFORD ATCO Investment Co.
GRANT NUCKOLLS Twisted Root Burger
KENDRA WHEELER Red River Bank
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Membership Ren
Chamber Highlights 2006: The Chamber starts the Young Professionals Initiative, targeting professionals under the age of 40. 2008: The Chamber becomes the first chamber in Louisiana to earn a five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
First Qua Members for over 1 Year! • • • • • • •
2010: Funding secured to complete the Interstate 49 corridor to the Arkansas border.
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2010: Chamber celebrates 100 years.
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2012: Founding member of the Shreveport-Bossier Business Alliance.
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Pizza Hut, 1 year Institute for Nonprofit Training, Certification and Services, 1 year Edward Jones - Wil Adams, 1 year Uniti Fiber, 1 year CeJay Enterprises of Louisiana, 1 year The Alta and John Franks Foundation, 2 years Ayres, Shelton, Williams, Benson & Paine, 2 years The Salvation Army Shreveport, 2 years Sentinel Security Group, Inc., 3 years Litton Mortgage, Inc, 3 years Peoples Health, 3 years Real Estate Southeast, 3 years Hancock Whitney Bank, 3 years Scooter Anderson Communications, 3 years Red River Federal Credit Union, 3 years NWLA Society for Human Resource Mgmt., 4 years Abernathy LA, 4 years
Members for over 5 Years! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Always Best Care, 5 years United Title of Louisiana, Inc, 5 years HUB International Insurance Services, 5 years Life Air Rescue Louisiana, 5 years Matthews, Beaty, & Co, 6 years Shreveport Security Systems, 6 years Lube – Tech, 6 years House of Carpets and Lighting, LLC, 7 years LSU Health Shreveport, 7 years LSU Health Sciences Foundation, 7 years Southern AgCredit, 7 years Caring Hands Pediatric Day Health Center, LLC, 8 years Vintage Title of Louisiana, 8 years AARP Louisiana, 8 years Red River Revel, Inc., 11 years Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., 12 years Hunt, Guillot & Associates, LLC (HGA), 13 years Downtown Development Authority, 14 years Northwestern State University, 14 years
2017: Chamber takes on Alliance for Education. 2018: I-49 North to Arkansas opens. 2018: Chamber hosts three Mayoral Forums. 2019: Chamber hosts delegation from Czech Republic. 2020: Chamber assists with COVID-19 response,
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newal Milestones rter 2022 Members for over 15 Years!
Members for over 20 Years!
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• University Church of Christ, 20 years • High Lifter Products, 21 years • Brock's Collision Centers, Inc.-South, 21 years • Origin Bank, 21 years • Ivan Smith Furniture Company, Inc, 22 years • RCG Network Engineering, 23 years • Brooks Heating & Air Conditioning, 23 years • Innovative Office Systems, 23 years • Power & Grace School of Performing Arts, 23 years • Vernon B. Chance Jr., 24 years • Citizens National Bank, 24 years • Advanced Air Conditioning & Heating, 24 years • Affiliated Clinical Services, 24 years • Boyett Printing & Graphics, Inc., 26 years • The Purple Guys, 26 years • McClure, Bomar & Harris, LLC, 26 years • 318 Forum, 26 Years • Bayou State Oil Corp., 27 years • Magee Resource Group, LLC, 27 years • Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, 28 years • Sugar Creek Producing Co., 29 years • Ryerson, 29 years • Retail Merchants Association, Inc., 29 years
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Delta Controls Corporation, 15 years Red River Trailways, 15 years Prevot Design Services A Professional Architectural Corporation, 15 years Franks Management Company LLC, 16 years Red River Bank, 16 years Glass Services, LLC, 17 years Kevin Bryan Architect, LLC, 17 years DMR Mechanical, LLC, 17 years Stephenson Floors, 17 years First Guaranty Bank-Benton, 18 years
1986: The Chamber started the Government Procurement Center and the Biomedical Research Center. 1990: Chamber begins the Athena Award to honor an individual for professional accomplishments, community service and creating leadership opportunities for women. 1991: Opening of Interstate 49 though the Inner Loop. By 1996, I-49 and Interstate 20 were connected, creating a route from downtown Shreveport to Lafayette in south Louisiana, providing a main route to Interstate 10. 1993: Chamber buys land for Shreve Park Industrial Campus, which encompasses 500 acres. In 2022, the campus is occupied by six tenants. The campus has on-site rail access and is within 3 miles or less of interstates 20, 220, and 49. 1993: The Chamber helped pass two local tax initiatives for the CaddoBossier Port and Biomedical Research Center. 1995: The fifth lock and dam was completed to open the Red River for navigation for barge traffic. The project was first authorized by congress in 1968 and had been a priority for the Chamber at least as early as 1940.
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1976: Chamber of Commerce’s Housing Task Force releases report on city’s substandard housing to give the public a look at the city’s housing problem. This prompted attention to the problem, including the city producing programs to programs to provide grants and low-interest loans to homeowners. Other efforts were made to revitalize neighborhoods and the city enforced housing codes. 1977: Through urging of the Chamber, the city establishes Downtown Development Authority; Chamber gives seed money to organization. 1978: Chamber and community come together to institute new form of government for Shreveport; Chamber helps encourage voter participation by partnering with Red River Motor Company through “Operation Vote,” a drawing for a car for those who voted. 1980: Shreveport wins second All-America City Designation. 1982: The Chamber signs a lease on the old Shreve Memorial Library building at the corner of Edwards and Travis streets. The Chamber remodeled the facility and moved in 1983. The building will be 100 years old this year (2022).
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Members for over 30 Years! • Max's Pawn Shop South, Inc., 30 years • Viser Investments, 30 years • Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc., 31 years • Down Home Meats, Inc., 31 years • Hill Wholesale Distributing Co., 31 years • Northwest LA Medical Society, 31 years • Ditch Witch of Louisiana, 31 years • McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc.-Minden, 31 years • Argent Trust Company, 31 years • Integrated Power Services, LLC, 31 years • Morgan Buick GMC Shreveport, Inc., 31 years • Foxborough Cove Apartments, 31 years • The Lazer's Edge, LLC, 32 years • Shreveport Airport Authority, 32 years • Universal Plumbing & Mechanical, 32 years • Furniture Rental Service and Mattress Plus, 33 years • Louisiana Association for the Blind, 33 years • United Engines, L.L.C., 33 years • BRF, 33 years • IMA, Inc., 34 years • ANECA Federal Credit Union-Youree Dr., 34 years • Palmer and O'Brien Family Dentistry, 34 years • Shriners Hospitals for Children, 34 years • Beaird Operating Companies, LLC, 34 years • Capital One Bank, 35 years • Campus Federal Credit Union, 35 years • Petroleum Club, 35 years • O.R.'s Auto Repair, Inc., 36 years • Service Steel & Pipe, Inc., 36 years • Brent Roberts Landscape & Design, Inc., 36 years • Career Adventures, Inc., 37 years • Etheredge Industrial Services, 37 years • Manpower Staffing Agency, 37 years • Paragon Press, 37 years • My Friend's Place, Inc., 38 years • Barksdale Federal Credit Union, 38 Years • Republic Services Company, 38 years • Splash Kingdom Waterpark, 38 years • Southern Hills Animal Hospital, 38 years • Hope Medical Group for Women, 39 years • Pioneer Comfort Systems, 39 years • Shreveport Club, Inc., 39 years • BNB Systems, 39 years • Superior Bar & Grill, Inc., 39 years • Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, 39 years • Long Petroleum, LLC, 39 years • Shirley Insulation & Acoustics L.L.C., 39 years
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Members for over 40 Years! • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Johnny's Pizza House, 40 years BancorpSouth, 40 years Hummingbird King & Butler, CPAs, 40 years Weems, Schimpf, Haines, Shemwell & Moore (APLC), 40 years Rinchuso's Plumbing & Heating, Inc., 41 years Coyle Engineering Co., Inc., 41 years Hand Construction, LLC, 41 years Romph & Pou Agency, 41 years TSE International, Inc., 41 years Cook & Morehart, 42 years Air Systems, LLC, 42 years Diocese of Shreveport, 45 years Edmonson, Waddell & Touchstone, LLP, 45 years Squires Formalwear, 45 years
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U.L. Colemand Co., Ltd., 45 years LifeShare Blood Center, 46 years B & J Floor Service, Inc., 46 years Jean Simpson Personnel Services, Inc., 46 years Plumbing Warehouse LCR-M, 46 years Southern Automotive Service, Inc., 47 years Acme Brick & Tile Co., 47 years Brown Builders, Inc., 48 years Worrell Bros., Promotional Products, L.L.C., 48 years Hebert's Town & Country Dodge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 48 years Coutret & Associates, Inc., 48 years Aeropres Corporation, 49 years Brammer Engineering, Inc., 49 years Pediatric Dental Partners, 49 years Scott Equipment Co. LLC, 49 years United Built Homes, Inc., 49 years
1960: Women’s committee formed “to encourage women members to take an active part in Chamber activities.” 1963: Chamber helped secure Jet Flight Service to Shreveport. 1964: Chamber led campaign for new and modern Convention Center. 1964: Chamber helped secure passage of legislation creating Red River Waterway District. 1965: Chamber forms Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. 1965: Chamber helped bring LSUS to area. 1965: Chamber started campaign to bring LSU Medical School to Shreveport. 1969: Chamber gets commitment from American Rose Society to locate national headquarters in Shreveport. 1971: Chamber adds full-time lobbyist to go to Baton Rouge for the legislative sessions to lobby for businesses. 1972: Chamber successfully lobbies for four-year status for LSUS. 1973: First contract awarded and construction began for Red River Navigation, culminating decades of effort on the project by Chamber and other officials as a part of the Red River Valley Association.
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1946: Chamber starts its own magazine, Shreveport Magazine, that will be a community-wide civic and business publication. 1947: Greater Shreveport Improvement program first introduced at Chamber meeting. 1948: Chamber sponsored a constitutional amendment, which was approved in election, for creation of a charter commission to draft a new city charter. 1949: Contract awarded for initial stages of construction of new airport, to be the Greater Shreveport Regional Airport. 1949: Chamber and other agencies perform survey of black community, and as a result of the findings, worked to provide better housing, schooling, and hospital facilities. 1949: Founding and organization of Holiday in Dixie, later operated as a separate civic corporation. 1954: Shreveport wins AllAmerica City Award; Chamber one of two agencies to put in nomination for Shreveport. 1958: New expressway moves from planning stage to bidding stage. 1958: Chamber helped in selection of Natchitoches to film “The Horse Soldiers,” directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and William Holden. The world premiere was held at the Strand Theatre in 1959. Founding and perpetuating: The Retail Merchants Division, Wholesale Committee, Shreveport Beautification Foundation.
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John Wayne and a mint julep as the Strand Theatre hosts world premiere of “The Horse Soldiers” in Shreveport in 1
s the 959.
Membership Renewal
Milestones First Quarter 2022
Members for over 50 Years! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, 50 years Barteet Plastic Pipe Co., Inc., 50 years Caddo Paint Co., Inc.-Bert Kouns, 50 years Clarkes Jewelers, Inc., 50 years Harrison Paint Co., 50 years RBM LLP - Certified Public Accountants, 50 years Shreve Land Constructors, LLC, 50 years Yokem Toyota, 50 years Southern Components, Inc., 51 years Custom-Bilt Cabinet and Supply, Inc, 51 years McCary's Jewelers, 54 years Southfield School, 55 years Fairfield Property Management, 55 years Storer Services, 55 years Martin Specialty Coatings, Inc., 56 years Bobby L. Greene Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc., 56 years Republic National Distributing Company, 56 years Acme Steel Buildings, Inc., 57 years Roberts Cigar & Tobacco, 57 years Medic Pharmacy, Inc., 58 years Deep South Equipment Co., 59 years Thrifty Liquor Stores Office, 59 years
Members for over 60 Years! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Red River Sanitors, Inc., 60 years Grigsby Petroleum Inc., 60 years Gordon, Inc., 61 years Anderson Feazel Management, Inc., 61 years Cole, Evans & Peterson, CPAs, 62 years KTAL-TV, 63 years First United Methodist Church, 64 years Reed Mechanical Equipment, Inc., 64 years Standard Mortgage Corp., 65 years Marlin Exploration, LLC, 65 years KSLA News 12, 67 years Risk Services of Louisiana, Inc., 69 years KPMG LLP, 71 years United Way of Northwest Louisiana, 71 years King's Telemessaging Services, 73 years
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Membership Renewal
Milestones First Quarter 2022
Members for over 75 Years! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, 75 years Heard, McElroy & Vestal, 75 years Muslow Oil & Gas, Inc., 75 years Dealers Truck Equipment, 76 years Dethloff & Associates, Inc., 76 years Keith D. Peterson & Company, Inc., 76 years Wiener, Weiss & Madison, A Professional Corporation, 76 years Highland Clinic, A Professional Medical Corp., 78 years Snell's Limbs & Braces, Inc., 80 years C.W. Lane Co., Inc., 82 years Centenary College of Louisiana, 82 years Rose-Neath Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Inc., 87 years KTBS, LLC, 89 years CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System, 91 years The Lamar Companies, 91 years Wilkinson, Carmody & Gilliam, 91 years Willis-Knighton Health System-Corporate, 91 years FitzGerald Contractors, LLC, 92 years Regions Bank, 94 years AT&T, 97 years Blanchard, Walker, O'Quin & Roberts, PLC, 97 years Osborn Funeral Home, 97 years Querbes & Nelson, 97 years Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), 97 years CenterPoint Energy, 98 years JPMorgan Chase Bank, 98 years
Members for over 100 Years! • State Fair of Louisiana, 108 years • Wray Ford, Inc., 112 years • ATCO Investment Co., 112 years
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SHREVEPORTCHAMBER.ORG
On March 24, 1910, 500 businessmen of the community gathered in the Caddo Parish Courthouse to form an organization that would last for generations to come- the Chamber of Commerce. 1910: Chamber of Commerce started 1910: Chamber establishes Good Roads Committee for system of highways. 1931: Modern municipal airport constructed. 1933: Barksdale Field dedicated, the largest aviation facility in the world at the time. 1934: Since its inception in 1910, the chamber had been instrumental in promoting Shreveport, helping to bring in more than 500 conventions in the 24-year timeframe. Lobbying: The Chamber worked to negotiate lower freight rates and tariffs as well as being involved in adjusting rates on refinery products.
SHREVEPORTCHAMBER.ORG
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New Members First Quarter 2022
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Girl Scouts of Louisiana-Pines to the Gulf PFH, Inc/R.I.S.E Community Services LLC The Eagles Nest Development Center Sweat with Jess LLC TITLE Boxing Club Legal Weapon, LLC Locals Love Us Mischa Farrell Architect, LLC Southern Heart Gift Shop & Boutique Waterview Court Senior Living • • • • •
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Gastrointestinal Specialists, AMC Angela Myles, Realtor (Coldwell Banker Gosslee) Glovis America la Madeleine Ohwowkreationz
SHREVEPORTCHAMBER.ORG
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Sudds Heating and Cooling Witten Roofing LLC Shreveport Rehabilitation Hospital Intensive Specialty Hospital The Sunbelt Brokers Verizon Red River Credit Union Direct Auto DRI-CON Nelson and Hammons, APLC COW Architecture International Sweet Kiss Events & Rentals The Ultimate Financial Boutique
Upcoming Events Breakfast of Champions
April 6th
8:15am-9:15am • • • •
BPCC Moran Room in Bldg H 6220 East Texas St Bossier City, LA. 71111
Get a Chamber Update Hear from some of our new members See who is named VIVA of the Quarter Plus networking and breakfast!
Shoot Happens
April 30th 7:30am-1:30pm
Shreveport Gun Club 4435 Meriwether Rd Shreveport, LA. 71109
Do you enjoy the great outdoors? Particularly when combined with a little fun and friendly competition? If so, make plans to join us for our family-friendly clay shooting tournament held at the Shreveport Gun Club. Providing a fun, professional, and safe shoot on their covered 10-station sporting clays course.
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INTERESTED IN WINNING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP GUIDE YOU. The Northwest Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center provides one on one technical assistance and offers a variety of services to help businesses identify potential federal, military, state, and local government markets for their products or services and help create professional bid proposals. A nd t he best part is: it ’s all FREE A N D CON FIDEN TIA L!
Identify Your Market
We can identify potential government markets for your goods and services and review and assist with your proposal bid packages.
Certification and Registration
Need a SAM or other registrations for that bid? We can get you setup with the right certifications and register you in the relevant systems.
LINCOLN
Training
In addition to the services provided above, we also educate our clients on contract administration procedures and provide training on how to sell to the government.
Bid Match
The Bid Match Service electronically searches over 2,500 government procurement websites each day, pulling open bid information that matches our clients capabilities.
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA PTAC SERVES Businesses in Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster Parishes. Not only will you find committed, experienced staff members, you’ll also get one-on-one, custom counseling solutions to bolster your bottom line and classes geared to your specific contracting needs.
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https://nwlaptac.org/
By the numbers… $128,327,066 In 2021, Northwest Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center clients we awarded a cumulative $128,327,066 in contract dollars. As of February 2022, NWLA PTAC clients were awarded a combined total of $13,691,552 in contract dollars. Brokendown, $254,393 were veteran-owned businesses, $259,355 to minority-owned businesses, $4,463,180 to woman-owned businesses, $7,973,727 to small businesses, $5,717,825 to large businesses, and $1,921,856 to Greater Shreveport Chamber members! Our local businesses were awarded over $13 million dollars in government contracts so far in 2022, equating to the creation or retention of about 260 area jobs!
Upcoming Events: Never Leave a Question in the Government Evaluator’s Mind
April 20th 12pm-1:30pm
The information presented in a proposal must be clear and compelling to ensure its success. George Cornwell, an evaluator for the government for 35 years, knows this better than anyone else. He has read too many proposals that fell short because they lacked one or more necessary elements. The way you present your ideas can make all of the difference between whether people are interested enough to read all the way through to what it is that you’re offering them, as well as being able to easily understand exactly why YOUR services would solve a problem or issue at hand effectively without any additional explanation. https://nwlaptac.org/events/
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Industry Highlight CPA’s and Tax Professionals
These businesses are valued members of the Greater Shreveport Chamber and can help you file your taxes by the April 18th deadline!
333 Texas Street, Suite 1900 Shreveport LA 71101
330 Marshall St. Ste 600 Shreveport LA 71101
(318) 227-8800
(318) 221-1803
333 Texas St., 15th Fl., Suite 1525 Shreveport LA 71101 (318) 429-1525
Edmonson, Waddell & Touchstone, LLP 1545 Line Ave, Suite 175 Shreveport LA 71101
624 Travis Street, #500 Shreveport LA 71101
416 Travis St., #900 Shreveport LA 71101
(318) 317-3232
(318) 222-8367
(318) 459-2977
PO Box 345 Keithville, LA 71047 (318) 745-9780
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SHREVEPORTCHAMBER.ORG
Click Here!
Did you know the Greater Shreveport Chamber has an online directory of our valued member investors? Next time you need a service or product, we encourage you to visit our directory to find a business that fits your needs!
1000 E Preston Avenue, Ste 200 Shreveport LA 71105
2640 Youree Dr, Suite 100 Shreveport LA 71104
8585 Business Park Place Shreveport LA 71105
(318) 222-2222
(318) 221-3615
(318) 798-1880
Cook & Morehart 7951 Fern Ave., Ste. 1601 Shreveport LA 71105
6105 Line Ave #200 Shreveport LA 71106
1215 Hawn Ave Shreveport LA 71101
(318) 465-3674
(318) 868-1115
(318) 222-5415
4700 Line Ave., Ste 109 Shreveport LA 71106 (318) 868-1115
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