Biz New Orleans March 2019

Idea Village and Tulane University partner for

Entrepreneur Week

Rob Lalka, executive director of Tulane University’s Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Jon Atkinson, CEO of Idea Village

Cooking Up Success SOFAB caters to culinary startups P.60

march 2019

Improve Your Game New company offers customfitted clubs P.66

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Publisher Todd Matherne Editorial Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde Managing Editor Kimberley Singletary Art Director Sarah George Digital Media Editor Kelly Massicot Associate News Editor Suzanne P. Tafur Social Media Assistant Becca Miller Multimedia Blogger Leslie T. Snadowsky Contributors Julia Carcamo, Rebecca Friedman, Keith Loria, Pamela Marquis, Ashley McLellan, Chris Price, Jessica Rosgaard, James Sebastien, Jennifer Gibson Schecter, Poppy Tooker, Keith Twitchell, Melanie Warner Spencer Advertising Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan (504) 830-7215 Colleen@BizNewOrleans.com Sales Manager Caitlin Sistrunk (504) 830-7252 Caitlin@BizNewOrleans.com Senior Account Executive Brennan Manale (504) 830-7298 Brennan@BizNewOrleans.com Account Executive Jessica Jaycox (504) 830-7255 JessicaJ@BizNewOrleans.com Account Executive Sydney Steib (504) 830-7225 Sydney@BizNewOrleans.com

Marketing Director of Marketing & Events Cheryl Lemoine Event Coordinator Abbie Dugruise Digital Media Associate Mallary Matherne For event information, call (504) 830-7264 Production Traffic Coordinator Lane Brocato Production Manager Emily Andras Production Designers Rosa Balaguer, Meghan Rooney Administration Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President Errol Laborde Office Manager Mallary Matherne Distribution Manager John Holzer Subscription Manager Brittanie Bryant For subscriptions, call (504) 830-7231

AABP 2016 Bronze: Best Feature Layout AABP 2017 Bronze: Best Daily Email AABP 2017 Silver: Best Recurring Feature AABP 2018 Gold: Most Improved Publication AABP 2018 Silver: Best Recurring Feature

110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123 • Metairie, LA 70005 • (504) 828-1380 Biz New Orleans is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380.

Subscription rate: one year $24.95, two year $39.95, three year $49.95 — foreign rates vary call for pricing. Postage paid at Metairie, LA, and additional mailing entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Biz New Orleans, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright 2019 Biz New Orleans. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark Biz New Orleans is registered. Biz New Orleans is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork, even if accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Biz New Orleans are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or owner.

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march 2019 / Volume 5 / Issue 6

contents EVERY ISSUE 14 / 15 / 18 / 20 / 22 / 24 /

perspectives

Editor’s note publisher’s note Calendar industry news recent openings Events

in the biz 28 / dining

Entrepreneurs looking to break into the food business will find plenty of help in New Orleans.

30 / tourism

Voices in the Dark Repertory Theatre Company launches its 2019 season 32 / sports

Sean Payton must again overcome adversity to make the Saints a winner and the work starts now.

44 / healthcare

A growing population of the elderly are turning to their cell phones for more than just phoning friends and family.

48 / real estate & construction

Large developments, historic tax credits and the rise of shortterm rentals are all playing their part in the redevelopment of an iconic New Orleans thoroughfare.

34 / entertainment

FEATUREs

54

The New NOEW After years focused on helping entrepreneurs take their ideas to the next level, Idea Village and Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business are now collaborating to do the same with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.

By Kim SingletAry portraits by RomEr0 & Romero

60

Bringing Business to the Table The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is using its kitchen and connections to feed a growing appetite for entrepreneurship in New Orleans, while also looking at new ventures itself.

By Rebecca Friedman photos by cheryl gerber

from the lens

A new STEM Library Lab is providing local schools with equipment to prepare youth for in-demand careers.

74 / making a match:

36 / entrepreneurship

38 / etiquette

Showing gratitude often, and preferably in writing, is one key to success 40 / marketing

Crowdsourcing successes have proven that thousands, or even millions, of heads are better than one.

Club Champion in Metairie helps local golfers find their perfect club fit.

70 / why didn’t i think of that?

The New Orleans Music Economy initiative aims to finally create a true music industry in New Orleans.

A look at three current Venture for America fellows and what drove them to learn about entrepreneurship in New Orleans.

66 / great workspaces

businesses and nonprofits

52 / banking & finance

Local banking professionals weigh in on changes under the Trump administration.

New Orleanians are reaching out to provide clean water to the world through LearnToLive.

80 / on the job

Riverboat Louis Armstrong heads to New Orleans this spring.

on the cover Rob Lalka, executive director of Tulane University’s Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Jon Atkinson, CEO of Idea Village Photograph byRomero & Romero

Editor’s Note

City of Warmth As I sit writing this, we are four days away from the Saints vs. Rams

in the NFC Championship Game. The weather outside is dreary and cold, but the spirit in New Orleans is completely immune to any attempts to bring us down. Fingers, toes, every appendage in this city is crossed and you can be sure that this Sunday, every little game day superstition will be followed, no matter how ridiculous.

It’s the Saints. It’s the Super Bowl. It’s king cake hitting office breakrooms. It’s Mardi Gras plans being made. It’s Jazz Fest announcements. For the live theatre lovers (like me), it’s Hamilton arriving in March.

Basically, in Southeast Louisiana, we have plenty of good thoughts to keep us warm in these colder months.

This is a city of warmth, and not just the kind that keeps you firmly in flip flops and sno-balls six months out of the year. It’s a city where strangers will sometimes start talking to you as if you’re their close friend (something that definitely threw me off for a while). It’s a city with its own language, its own music, its own food, its own speed, and hospitality — both inside and outside our restaurants and hotels — that just can’t be touched.

When you come here, as millions do each year, all of those things either speak to your soul in a way that nowhere else does, or they don’t.

Ratings pop up all the time praising places like Minnesota and Iowa and Nebraska for low crime and ease of living, but having lived in the North for years, I can tell you that no matter how high the scores, it’s just not enough.

Happy Mardi Gras y’all and happy reading,

Kimberley Singletary Managing Editor Kimberley@BizNewOrleans.com

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Publisher’s Note

Work Season New Orleans has a lot of seasons, and I do not

mean the weather. We have crawfish, Mardi Gras, music with French Quarter and Jazz Fest, football, and the list goes on.

What I have learned in my career over the past 30 years is that you have to carve in your own working season between all of these great distractions. The next working season runs March 6 to April 24 — the time between Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. Yes, we do have a few distractions along the way, like French Quarter Fest and Easter, but for the most part people have partied a bit too much during Mardi Gras and need to settle in and focus on work until the next big stretch of fun, which happens to be eight days this year with the 50th anniversary of Jazz Fest.

So, you have six days this month to party, then let the work begin.

Happy Working Season. Let’s get something done.

Todd Matherne PS: Happy birthday this month Malayne and Jake.

May your deployment end soon and we look forward to seeing you back in the United States soon. Thank you for your service.

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Meet the Sales Team

Caitlin Sistrunk Sales Manager (504) 830-7252 Caitlin@BizNewOrleans.com

Brennan Manale Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7298 Brennan@BizNewOrleans.com

Jessica Jaycox Account Executive

(504) 830-7255 JessicaJ@BizNewOrleans.com

Sydney Steib Account Executive

(504) 830-7225 Sydney@BizNewOrleans.com

Colleen Monaghan Vice President of Sales (504) 830-7215 Colleen@BizNewOrleans.com 16 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

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Industry News

RANKINGS

Louisiana Cities with the Highest Percentage of People in the Labor Force 1. Lake Charles 64.9% 2. Metairie 64.5% 3. Baton Rouge 64.0% 4 Kenner 63.7% 5. Lafayette 62.6% 6. Bossier City 60.3% 7. New Orleans 60.1% 8. Shreveport 58.4% Source: HomeArea.com report based on the latest Census Bureau data for cities with a population of 60,000 or more.

EDUCATION

Tulane and Delgado Sign Transfer Agreement

MARITIME

Port Sets Another Record The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) moved more containers in 2018 than at any time in its history, totaling 591,253 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 12.3 percent compared to one year ago.

The record marks the fifth year in a row Port NOLA has surpassed the half million TEU-mark at its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which is operated by New Orleans Terminal and Ports America.

“The expansion of the Panama Canal and growth in containerized exports, namely resin and frozen poultry, have buoyed Port NOLA’s containerized cargo to record levels,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port NOLA president and CEO. “In addition, loaded imported containers rose 7 percent, which continues to be a focus of Port NOLA’s marketing efforts. We anticipate further growth, as direct all-water carrier services to Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean attract larger vessels.”

EDUCATION

Tulane University Launches Only MBA/Sustainable Real Estate Development Degree Program in the Nation In conjunction with Tulane’s School of Architecture, the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University has launched a two-year, full-time program called the MBA/MSRED — an MBA and a master’s degree in sustainable real estate development.

Classes start Aug. 9 and will be offered during the weekday from the historic Tulane University campus in Uptown New Orleans as well as the Freeman School’s new facility Downtown.

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Delgado Community College graduates now have a clear pathway to continue their studies for a bachelor’s degree at Tulane University thanks to an agreement that was signed by both institutions Jan. 31.

Delgado graduates who complete associate of arts degrees in business, criminal justice, humanities, social sciences or associate of sciences degrees in physical sciences or biological sciences may now transfer up to 60 credit hours toward the completion of a degree through Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement in applied computing, exercise science, general legal studies, digital design, public relations, health and wellness, homeland security studies, humanities or social sciences.

Students who complete Delgado degrees in fields other than those specified in the agreement will have their coursework individually evaluated for transferability.

“The rate at which we are displacing native New Orleanians who can no longer afford to live in their homes is extremely alarming and it affects each and every one of us. I look forward to continuing to work together with the council and administration to ensure the needs of the community are met through safe, equitable and affordable housing policies.”

Andreanecia Morris, executive director of HousingNOLA expressing the support of her organization for the New Orleans City Council’s passage of Resolution R-19-63 in early February. The resolution asks for Louisiana to study the feasibility of creating a tax exemption for homeowners whose assessed property value has increased by 100 percent or more in the course of one year. Co-authored by Councilmembers Banks, Palmer and Nguyen, the resolution supports the HousingNOLA 10 Year Strategy and Implementation Plan and acknowledges the need for provisions to mitigate costs associated with increasing property values.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative On April 2, classes begin for the SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative, a free federal training initiative that specifically focuses on executives of businesses poised for growth in historically challenged communities.

Classes will be held over the course of seven months at Herzing University in Kenner.

Participants are given the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend specialized workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders and the financial community. The initiative Includes more than 100 hours of professional specialized training and peer-to-peer counseling.

Pre-registration is required. For more information and online registration, visit: sba.gov/emergingleaders.

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Recent Openings

Hampton Inn Metairie-New Orleans Following a $4 million renovation, Expotel Hospitality’s Hampton Inn Metairie-New Orleans Hotel at 2730 North Causeway Blvd. in Metairie reopened for business Jan. 24. The hotel offers 111 guestrooms and meeting facilities, as well as a breakfast bar, outdoor pool and business center in the heart of the Causeway Boulevard corridor.

Zea Rotisserie & Bar — Denham Springs

Fidelity — South Market District

Restaurant chain Zea Rotisserie & Bar opened its first Denham Springs location in February. Zea Juban Crossing is the company’s 10th location to open in the Gulf South since 1997.

On Feb. 5, Fidelity bank officially celebrated the grand opening of its newest retail branch in Downtown New Orleans’ South Market district. The new, 1,600-square-foot branch replaces the bank’s downtown St. Charles location and offers both fully-automated solutions as well as full-service bankers.

Colonial Oaks Living Center

BioScrip Infusion Services

COMING SOON

US Foods National foodservice distributor US Foods broke ground on an expansion of its F. Christiana facility in Marrero in January. The expansion will increase the facility’s size from 70,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet and will include the addition of a state-of-the-art kitchen and training center for customer product demonstrations and recipe innovation, along with an interactive technology center where customers can learn about the company’s web-based business solutions. The expansion is expected to be fully operational by late 2020.

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On Jan. 29, BioScrip Infusion Services, formerly CarePoint Partners, celebrated the opening of its compounding pharmacy and ambulatory infusion suite at 5401 Jefferson Highway, Suite B. The 15,000-square-foot facility has 44 full-time employees and adds to the company’s nine locations already spread throughout Louisiana. The center offers innovative treatments including the Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC).

Located behind East Jefferson General Hospital at 4312 Ithaca Street in Metairie, Colonial Oaks Living Center recently celebrated the grand re-opening of its completely remodeled facility. A 24-hour skilled nursing facility, Colonial Oaks is a 95-bed facility that includes private and semiprivate rooms for long-term care residents.

MedCentris Wound Healing Institute Headquartered in Hammond, Louisiana, MedCentris’ wound healing specialists operate out of more than 70 locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. On Jan. 7, the company added yet another location with the opening of the MedCentris Wound Healing Institute of Slidell at 1310 Gause Blvd. The center provides specialized care to complex wound patients who have had difficulty healing.

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Events

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Tuesday, January 15

Thursday, January 17 | The Cannery

Thursday, January 24 | Fidelity Bank Algiers Branch

New Orleans Chamber 2019 Power Breakfast

ABWA Monthly Luncheon

P.O.W.E.R. Finance Seminar — Algiers

Providing a value space for networking, the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce’s monthly power breakfasts provide attendees with the opportunity to practice their one-minute elevator pitches while making contacts in the community.

The American Business Women’s Association welcomed entrepreneur Melissa R. Burbank, owner and publisher of Natural Awakenings Magazine and NOLA Fitness Magazine, as the speaker at their January luncheon.

Fidelity Bank P.O.W.E.R. held a financial education class at its branch in Algiers where Theresa Barnard, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial, shared financial strategies for women.

1. Aisha Faulkner, Ashley Page and Mignon Francois 2. Ginna Suarez, Chuck Muntz and Lisa Ochomogo 3.

Zach Smith, Christen Jones and Celeste Marshall

1. Allison and Melissa Burbank 2. Jess DeBold and Melissa Burbank 3. Kayana Bradley and Brianna Assavedo

1. Charlain Hubbard, Theresa Barnard and Ester Wensink 2. Liz Broekman, Cynthia Welcome and Leslie Green 3. Penny Hamilton, Thuy Pham and Marie Goodly

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photographs by cheryl gerber

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Biz columnists spe ak out

in the biz DINING / TOURISM / SPORTS / ENTERTAINMENT / ENTREPRENEURSHIP / ETIQUETTE / MARKETING

AP Images/Aaron M. Sprecher

No rest for the weary — work starts now on the Saints’ 2019-20 season.

In The Biz dining

All the Ingredients Are Here Entrepreneurs looking to break into the food business will find plenty of help in New Orleans.

Are you renowned for your salad

dressing? A backyard BBQ legend thanks to your sauce? If you love food, and have a bit of the entrepreneur in you, the food business just might be for you!

Culinary entrepreneurship is at an alltime high in the Crescent City. Whether it’s a certified kitchen for recipe testing or a food production facility you need, it’s all available for the asking.

A Museum that’s Fab for Entrepreneurs

by Poppy Tooker

Thanks to a gift from the estate of Paul C. P. McIlhenny, for a mere $25 per hour newcomers can have access to the Rouses Culinary Innovation Center housed within the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.

The museum’s kitchen is a certified commissary kitchen, where small-scale baking and other food production is possible. SoFab is also willing to sell an entrepreneur’s products from the museum’s gift shop.

Canadian Sara Levasseur has used SoFab’s kitchen since 2015. As a teenager in Ottawa, she learned the art of preserving raspberries from her grandmother, Beverly. After introducing her creations to locals at the Crescent City Farmers Market, Levasseur’s company, Jamboree Jams, is finding success with a broader audience online.

Edible Enterprises Provides the Next Step

28 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Chobani’s Incubator Program

In 1994, Hamdi Ulukaya arrived in the United States as a young, non-English speaking Turkish immigrant. Despite that, by 2002 he founded Chobani Yogurt, which is now the most successful brand of Greek yogurt in America. With a desire to pay it forward, Ulukaya created the Chobani incubator program, designed to nurture the next generation of food entrepreneurs.

On Jan. 16, Chobani hosted a happy hour in New Orleans to recruit locals for their 2019 incubator. Held at Big Easy Bucha, the event buzzed with excitement as local cupcake and kimchi makers mingled with jam and baby food businesses, a rare opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to mix.

To be considered, companies must already have a packaged food item with minimum annual sales ranging from $50,000 to $2 million dollars. Applications were accepted through January.

All winning participants receive an equityfree grant of $25,000 and four weeks in intensive workshops over four months.

Participants receive one-on-one mentoring from Chobani leadership on sales, operations, financial and legal considerations. There is a “demo day” when participants pitch a large network of investors for financial capital.

Chobani facilitates sales and marketing visits to top retailers like Walmart and Kroger.

It’s clear, the city where Creole cuisine was born is hard at work incubating future foods of the 21st century. n Catch Poppy Tooker on her radio show, Louisiana Eats! Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Mondays at 8 p.m. on WWNO 89.9 FM.

illustration by Tony H ealey

A native New Orleanian, Poppy Tooker has spent her life devoted to the cultural essence that food brings to Louisiana, a topic she explores weekly on her NPR-affiliated radio show, Louisiana Eats! From farmers markets to the homes and restaurants where our culinary traditions are revered and renewed, Poppy lends the voice of an insider to interested readers everywhere.

What happens when sales exceed the capacity of SoFab’s kitchen or when goods require shelf-stable packaging? That’s when Sanjay Kharod, executive director of New Orleans Food and Farm Network (NOFFN), comes into the picture.

In 2014, St. Charles Parish approached Kharod about his organization managing their food processing facility, which the parish originally built for Goodwill Enterprises.

The 10,000-square-foot facility in Norco is one of three in Louisiana where products can be bottled or packaged for grocery shelves and out-of-state distribution.

Kharod had long sought a way to help farmers make use of excess crops with added-value products and founded Edible Enterprises as a way to help make that happen. When NOFFN took possession of the facility, there were only three tenants.

Today’s number exceeds 30 – an indicator of the burst in culinary entrepreneurism taking place in New Orleans.

Making the jump onto grocery store shelves is often the acid test for food startups.

Kharod and the NOFFN team guide Edible Enterprise tenants from the start. First, the State Health Department requires a thorough, written processing plan. The application covers sourcing, handling, washing, storage, manufacturing and marketing – great experience for any first-time entrepreneur.

Also essential is the recall plan. From day one, tenants are asked to show all purchasing records to allow for full traceability. NOFFN also offers consulting tips.

“Having your label language USDAapproved before investing in logo design” is the sort of advice that Kharod says “allows you to try the idea you’ve had for years without going broke trying.”

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In The Biz to u r is m

Dreams Deferred and Realized Voices in the Dark Repertory Theatre Company launches its 2019 season

By Jennifer Gibson Schecter

30 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Myrick saw an opportunity to tell the story of the people of Louisiana through the medium of outdoor drama, citing our diversity and importance to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. This production will commemorate a particularly dark part of Louisiana’s history by opening on June 6 in Congo Square, marking the date when 300 years earlier, the first two ships brought enslaved Africans to Louisiana’s shores.

“Le Code Noir” begins during the Haitian Revolution and weaves the story of a young enslaved African women who is brought to Louisiana from Haiti by her master. The play tells how two families become one and follows them through decades that include pivotal historic events, including the Treaty of San IIdefonso – the Spanish cession of Louisiana to France in 1800 — the Louisiana Purchase, the Revolt of 1811, the Battle of New Orleans and New Orleans’ first Mardi Gras in 1837.

Myrick said a historic outdoor drama like “Le Code Noir” will draw visitors and help educate them about Louisiana. She wants to create an interaction that will spark curiosity in the audience.

“Our goal is to make this a Louisiana tourist attraction that is family-oriented, but is also a living history,” she said. “When people come to New Orleans they come to the French Quarter and they’re done, but by seeing this play maybe they’ll want to take a ride up to Cane River or want to know more about the 1811 Revolt and maybe take a march down River Road to see what that’s about.”

To complete the 2019 season, Voices will have the Southern U.S. premiere of “Trans Scripts” by Paul Lucas on November 7. The play features seven transgender women and has been purposely planned during the second week of November to honor International Transgender Week. Myrick is working directly with Lucas, who will be in New Orleans for the premiere, to create a week-long symposium on transgender topics during the play’s run. The symposium will include artwork, films, books, photography and readings. The location for “Trans Scripts” and the symposium is still being determined.

Ticket prices for all productions range from $20 to $35. Tickets will be available for purchase near their performance dates on Voices’ website at VoicesintheDarkRepertory.com. n

illustration by Tony H ealey

Jennifer Gibson Schecter was once a tourist in New Orleans herself and is now proud to call NOLA home. She also writes the Wednesday Tourism Blog on BizNewOrleans.com.

Visitors to New Orleans come here expecting

to see great live music, but they don’t think of us for incredible live theater performances.

One local production group is working to change that, however, one act at a time.

Voices in the Dark Repertory Theatre Company (Voices) returns for its 27th season this month with three plays that honor Langston Hughes’ “Dream Deferred (Harlem)” but resonate together as a lineup called “The DREAM — REALIZED.” The president and artistic director of Voices, Tommye Myrick, said the company places importance on the stories that don’t often get told, that challenge social norms and encourage audiences to practice introspection so they can consider how they treat others.

“We pride ourselves on doing shows that no one else will do and giving a voice to the voiceless — those whose voices are unheard or silenced in some form or fashion, either by society or by their own fear,” said Myrick.

“It’s an ambitious season, but we’re ready.

Somebody’s got to do it.”

The trio of plays for 2019 leads off with Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” which opens March 15 at the Ashé Power House Theater. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic play opening on Broadway. Myrick felt it was important to produce the play this year not just to mark the anniversary, but to remind people that it is more than a black drama. It’s an American classic.

“Many of the trials and tribulations that the family [in the play] deal with, we are dealing with today,” said Myrick. “Many of the racial tensions that they dealt with back then, we are dealing with today. I’m not sure whether things changed, or if it’s history repeating itself.”

To share the story of Hansberry’s Younger family, Voices is inviting area high school students to special performances of the play.

Local actor Carol Sutton, who has more than 100 film and television credits to her name, will star as Lena Younger.

The second play in the trilogy is a production Voices is hoping will become an outdoor historical drama performed eveyr year in the spring and fall. The new play, “Le Code Noir,” was written by Myrick and her longtime mentor, Mark R. Sumner. Sumner, who passed in 2017 at the age of 93, was the director of the Institute of Outdoor Drama at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and is considered an authority in outdoor theater.

bizneworleans.com / 31

In The Biz s p o r ts

Gold Mettle Sean Payton must again overcome adversity to make the Saints a winner and the work starts now. by chris price

32 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Did you know?

new orleans saints draft picks

The New Orleans Saints currently have only five picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, including just one in the first four rounds. They gave up their first-, thirdand fourth-round picks in previous deals.

Round

Pick No.

2

62

5

159

6

166

6

192

7

225

draft. In previous deals, the Saints gave up their first-, third- and fourth-round picks. Their first selection this year will be late in the second round (Pick No. 62 overall). They’ll have one choice in Round 5 (Pick 159), two in Round 6 (Picks 166 & 192), and one in round 7 (225).

Several recognizable contributors are free agents this year, including Mark Ingram, Teddy Bridgewater, Manti Te’o, Craig Robertson, P.J. Williams and Will Lutz.

It will be interesting to see if they make a move to keep Bridgewater. The 27-year-old backup quarterback made $6 million last season. With Brees, 40, in the last year of his deal, will the Saints try to hang on to Bridgewater, an unrestricted free agent who may test the market for a big payday and a chance to play, or invest more time and effort into developing Taysom Hill as the team’s future play caller? The team may prefer to splash that cash on another impact position of need rather than keep it locked up on the sideline.

The fate of Mark Ingram will also be interesting. He made $4 million last season. At 29, he is an older running back, but has proved himself as half of what may be the best running back duo in the NFL. I expect the team to work with Ingram to bring him back. n

illustration by Tony H ealey

Chris Price is an award-winning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football. Price also authors the Friday Sports Column at BizNewOrleans.com.

Entering his 13th season as head coach

of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton finds himself in a position he’s been in before – leading his shell-shocked team out of a morass. It’s a position that he, unfortunately, has been placed in too often. Fortunately, the master motivator always seems able to rebound and have his team primed to compete at the highest levels.

Regarding the latest no-call fiasco, Payton has said, “we’ll probably never get over it,” but on the 14th of this month, the 2018 league year closes and 2019 begins. As Payton also said in the NFC Championship post-game press conference, “So what do you do? You get back up, and you go to work.”

That work started almost immediately.

The team has agreed to a three-year deal with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, and, as of this writing, may pick up former Miami Dolphins assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. Allen re-signing is huge for the Saints. He built a defense that got stronger as the year progressed and provided a yin to the potent offense’s yang. Getting this deal done early is a great sign for the Saints’ mindset going forward. Keeping this coaching staff, and, possibly improving it, was a great sign to players, fans and opponents that the Saints are still coming.

While the 2018 team looked to be one of the best in the league, there are some obvious opportunities for improvement.

The Saints have a strong core but could use help at wide receiver, including finding a strong, consistent No. 2 pass catcher; a tight end, depth on the offensive line, and an additional defensive pass rusher or two.

The 2019 salary cap is expected to be around $190.8 million, and the Saints already have a little more than $183 million on their books in active contracts and dead money deals. That gives them somewhere in the ballpark of $7.8 million in cap space to make new deals.

With only five picks — including just one in the first four rounds — don’t expect too much of a splash in next month’s

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In The Biz en t er ta i n m en t

The Missing Piece The New Orleans Music Economy initiative aims to finally create a true music industry in New Orleans.

by Kim Singletary

34 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

creative and banking professionals all knowledgeable about the specific needs of this unique industry.

Among the early investors of the initiative is IBERIABANK. In a release announcing its support of NOME, bank CEO, Daryl G. Byrd, noted that the company’s sports and entertainment banking division specializes in the unique financial needs of musicians, athletes and actors. Other supporters include The Helis Foundation, New Orleans & Co., Loyola University, Louisiana Entertainment, the Downtown Development District, NOISE Fest, New Orleans Business Alliance and the City of New Orleans.

The first step in the initiative was to hire a consultant to develop an action plan. London, Berlin and Barcelona-based firm Sound Diplomacy will examine what opportunities exist in the region, quantify the economic impact of the music industry in the Greater New Orleans region and engage with city stakeholders.

The firm’s Music Strategy project is set to be completed by December of this year.

Once a plan is in place, work can begin to fill in the gaps that will hopefully ensure our incredible musicians don’t have to leave home to get things done.

“For example, PJ Morton [keyboardist with the band Maroon 5] is moving back home here and he still has to go to Atlanta to access some of the resources he needs,” adds Hernandez. “That shouldn’t be the case.

We need to have those resources here.” n

i l lust rat i o n by To n y H e a l e y

Kimberley Singletary is the managing editor of Biz New Orleans magazine. A 20-year Southern California veteran, she has been surrounded by the film industry for most of her life.

Charles “Buddy” Bolden, Louis Armstrong,

Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Prima, Sidney Bechet, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Trombone Shorty, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Lil Wayne, Mahalia Jackson, Harry Connick Jr.…the list of famous New Orleans musicians just goes on and on — stretching back to include the birth of jazz, a time when the city was known as “the opera capitol of North America,” and further forward to the birth of bounce music.

Festivals, second lines, jazz funerals, even just walking through the French Quarter on a random Wednesday, there’s no getting away from music in this city, and who would want to?

Music is the lifeblood of New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean it has a strong ecosystem here.

If you think of Nashville, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles — these are not just places where musicians live and work, they’re cities that have a strong infrastructure in place to help them make a living. They have agencies, labels, plenty of studios.

Essentially, they don’t just have music, they have a music business.

Considering the hundreds of years of rich musical history in New Orleans, the birthplace of multiple music genres, it seems absurd that we don’t have this kind of infrastructure in place, but it’s true, and it’s something a new initiative from GNO, Inc. is aiming to rectify.

Announced on Jan. 24, the New Orleans Music Economy (NOME) initiative aims to bring jobs, wealth and recognition to New Orleans in a way that’s long overdue, while offering artists the chance to profit from their work like they should “We have so many artists, so many big names that have created great works and didn’t benefit from that work because they didn’t have the proper intellectual property in place,” says Tara Hernandez, GNO, Inc. board lead on the NOME initiative.

More than just helping artists take advantage of their legal rights, NOME is focused on creating a true music ecosystem that includes marketing, legal,

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In The Biz en t r epr en eu r s h i p

Venturing Forward A look at three current Venture for America fellows and what drove them to learn about entrepreneurship in New Orleans. by keith twitchell

36 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

“People tell you relationships are so important,” said Steinhauer, “and you can see how greatness can come out of them.”

In turn, each feels they add value to their companies in several ways.

“Bringing a fresh, younger perspective to the conversation helps people see different potential solutions,” said Sohn.

As his company’s first staff member, Steinhauer said, “I make an impact simply by existing. My decisions have a real impact, pro or con.”

This real-world entrepreneurial experience has been motivational for all three, even as it opens their eyes to the challenges of this particular ecosystem.

“Entrepreneurship is inherently risky,” said Joyce. “The network that I am building here is inspiring, because I know that I now have people I can talk to when I face those risks in the future.”

“The entrepreneurial path is not necessarily stable,” added Steinhauer, “and it makes your entire existence unstable and super volatile.”

Sohn added, “Entrepreneurism is scary in a good way, because anything is possible.

Highly successful is scary; crumpling up any day is scary. Your decisions will impact other people’s lives, their investments, their paths.”

As they develop their entrepreneurial skill sets and networks, each is beginning to think about their own paths forward.

Steinhauer already has his sights set on another entrepreneurial opportunity.

“The hiring process is really fascinating,” he said. “The interview process for all startups seems very similar, but startups are so much more volatile than established companies. I want to work with startups to develop personalized hiring processes that will actually test for the specific skills each really needs.”

Sohn still sees her future in government work, but thinks she will be more successful by “bringing an entrepreneurial mindset into government.” Hard to argue with that! And Joyce is still considering his options, though he is “interested in creating more inclusive structures as a way to help businesses’ bottom lines.”

For more information on working with a VFA fellow, visit VentureForAmerica.org. n

illustration by Tony H ealey

Keith Twitchell spent 16 years running his own business before becoming president of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. He has observed, supported and participated in entrepreneurial ventures at the street, neighborhood, nonprofit, micro- and macro-business levels.

First the bad news: Current data suggest

that millennials are on track to produce the fewest entrepreneurs in several generations. A number of factors are behind this, among them the inherent limitations that come with huge amounts of student debt and also limited entrepreneurial training opportunities.

Now the good news: An organization called Venture for America is working to address the latter issue, boldly proclaiming that “America needs more entrepreneurs.”

VFA’s main focus is providing recent college graduates with opportunities to “learn about entrepreneurship while adding value to local startups and early stage companies.”

Venture for America operates in 15 cities, with a focus on moving away from the traditional, coastal hubs such as New York and San Francisco. New Orleans is one of the non-traditional cities the New York-based organization has turned its attention to, and I recently got to sit down with three of the 14 talented young people who are participating in the 2018-19 program in New Orleans. VFA calls them fellows.

Henry Joyce, who is working with local software company Align, explained that after joining a large financial services institution straight out of college, he “had a desire to be part of an early stage operation, where I could help shape the culture and direction of the company.”

In a similar vein, Grant Steinhauer, a 2018 college graduate is now the first full-time employee at Maverick VR, a virtual-reality event-experiences company launched in 2016. Steinhauer was driven to the VFA by his dissatisfaction with several finance and tech firm interships.

“I felt I couldn’t be as impactful in those corporate structures,” he said. “The VFA opportunity aligned much better with my interests.”

For Jin Sohn, working with global survey company Lucid is a step she sees toward eventually working in government.

“I thought it would be best to get some experience in other industries first,” she said.

All three note that they have been inspired from being part of the vibrant entrepreneurial environment in New Orleans.

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In The Biz e t i qu e tt e

Many Thanks Showing gratitude often, and preferably in writing, is one key to success

by Melanie Warner Spencer

38 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

interview? Think again. Almost 70 percent of hiring managers and recruiters said that receiving a thank-you note from a job applicant after an interview impacted their decision-making process, according to a 2017 survey by TopResume.com.

That same survey went on to say that, “in fact, nearly one in five interviewers have completely dismissed a candidate because they didn’t receive a thank-you email or note after an interview.”

Talk about an easy way to increase your chances of a callback!

Savvy business people know, however, that writing notes of appreciation — especially handwritten notes — shouldn’t stop after the interview process.

In an Oct. 17, 2017 Entrepreneur.com excerpt from his book, “The Emigrant Edge: How to Make it Big in America,” author and business coach Brian Buffini wrote about a practice he learned from listening to a 1992 interview with thenPresident George H.W. Bush. Buffini wrote that Bush was asked, What’s the one thing you’ve done in your life to make you so successful? Bush responded that for 25 years he had written at least 10 personal notes a day “to people he’d recently met, those who came to mind or correspondents who had written to him.” The insight inspired Buffini to begin writing thank-you notes.

It soon became an integral part of his professional and personal life.

“Make acknowledging and thanking people part of your daily routine,” Buffini advised. “Just like brushing your teeth or writing tomorrow’s to-do list, it will become automatic.”

In business, there are several reasons you might want to send a thank-you or appreciation note. Consider sending one to a colleague, client, networking contact, mentor or another professional any time they do something for you. This could include giving advice, making a referral, assisting on a project, doing a great job on some task or offering direct assistance with your career.

Like many business coaches, CEOs and etiquette writers, Buffini advocates for the handwritten note because it stands out among other paper mail and there-

fore makes you stand out among your peers (and competition). That said, it is important to consider your audience and their industry. If it seems antiquated to send a handwritten note to someone in the tech industry, maybe then it’s fine to stick with email.

Sales and success coach Brian Tracy writes and speaks frequently about the importance of showing appreciation to everyone around you at all times, noting that it’s both empowering for the “thank-ee” and a self-esteem builder for the “thank-er.”

“Always show appreciation,” he wrote on his blog at BrianTracy.com. “Every time you thank another person, you cause that person to like themselves better. You raise their self-esteem and improve their self-image. You cause them to feel more important. You make them feel that what they did was valuable and worthwhile.

You empower them.”

He goes on to say that when we thank others, we feel better inside, happier and more content with our own lives. It’s that “attitude of gratitude” we are always hearing so much about and, while it might sound a little cheesy or Pollyanna-ish, it works.

Buffini, and probably every other success coach out there, shares the philosophy.

My guess is they were all inspired by the godfather of success books himself, Napoleon Hill, whose “Think and Grow Rich,” written in 1937, is still an integral tome in the self-improvement and personal development realm.

I’ll leave you with a few words from Buffini that, in my mind, would be right at home in the Napoleon Hill playbook: “It’s fair to say that gratitude is good for business,” Buffini writes. “But, better than that, it’s good for you, it’s a great way to live and it’s the foundation for living the good life.”

I don’t know about you, but I have a few thank-you cards to write. n

illustration by Tony H ealey

Melanie Warner Spencer is editor of New Orleans Bride and New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles and managing editor of Louisiana Life and Acadiana Profile. Spencer’s ever-expanding library of etiquette books is rivaled only by her ever-ready stash of blank thank-you notes. Submit business etiquette questions to Melanie@MyNewOrleans.com.

Think gratitude doesn’t matter in an

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In The Biz marketing

The Power of Reaching Out Crowdsourcing successes have proven that thousands, or even millions, of heads are better than one.

by Julia carcamo

40 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

in 2006 by Wired writer Jeff Howe — is often confused with “crowdfunding” (think Kickstarter and GoFundMe which you see often). The two terms, however, have entirely different meanings.

Crowdsourcing is a method of obtaining information from a collective intellectual gathering of people (usually the public focused on one concept). That information is then used to complete a business-related task. In other words, decisions that are typically made by a department, employee or vendor are instead opened up to feedback and participation by a community of people. Crowdsourcing is one way businesses can tap into consumer insights, interests and preferences.

As consumers, we all like to know a company is listening, but when they ask for our ideas and feedback, that input creates a personal connection, which companies hope will translate into increased brand loyalty which nonprofits hope will lead to action.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently conducted a good example of successful crowdsourcing on the nonprofit front. To commemorate a hallmark anniversary in 2017 of Earth Hour, the WWF appealed to a global crowd to produce videos illustrating why people should act to #changeclimatechange. Thanks to videos created from Namibia to Siberia, the initiative doubled the typical reach of the organization, whose message was heard by a worldwide audience in unique and emotional ways.

On the business front, Starbucks famously jumped into crowdsourcing once the company realized its signature white cups served as a canvas for artists to doodle on.

The company launched a “White Cup Contest” where coffee lovers were encouraged to create an original design on their cups and post the picture on social media using the hashtag #WhiteCupContest. Four thousand photos were submitted in just a few months.

The winning design, along with the artist’s photo, was used on a limited-edition reusable cup for 2014.

Doritos’ Crash the Super Bowl, however, is probably the most commonly cited crowdsourcing effort. As one of the first companies to take advantage of crowdsourcing for advertising, Doritos challenged consumers to create their own Super Bowl ad for its product. The idea was a hit that played out for 10 years on one of the most-watched TV broadcasts. For its final campaign in

2016, Doritos upped the ante by giving contestants the chance to work with a box office director and the opportunity to work with Warner Brothers and DC Comics.

According to AdAge.com, ad-scoring firm Ace Metrix ranked Doritos No. 1 on its list of the most effective Super-Bowl advertised brands from 2010-2015, ahead of Pepsi, Coke and Budweiser and other brands that typically use big-name ad agencies.

So how can your business get in on crowdsourcing? A few tips: • Determine a specific project you want to crowdsource. This can be something that builds on existing business like creating a feature item for your restaurant or bar or a new variety of an existing product.

You should also have a specific timeline that you can communicate that includes timing for submissions, voting and announcement. At this stage, you should also set guidelines and restrictions.

• Set up a channel for fans and employees to submit ideas. This can be done with a simple website (or page on your existing site) or through your social channels, depending on your project and the type of information you will need to collect.

Online portals become a destination, allowing fans and employees to submit ideas for new products or services, view other submissions and vote for their favorites.

• Once you have reached the submission deadline, allow for voting even if the decision is going to be made internally.

Voting keeps your fans engaged with your brand.

• Finally, when the votes are counted, and executive opinions heard, make a big deal about announcing the winner.

Final Thoughts

In a recent Brand Quarterly article, the author declared that crowdsourcing is changing brand marketing forever. However, this time of year makes me realize that we have been crowdsourcing one of the brands ever known: Mardi Gras. From the themes of the krewes to the decorations of the truck floats, how throws become “signature” and the creation of seasonal families you can’t wait to see again along the route, there is no better or bigger crowdsourced brand than Mardi Gras. n

illustration by Tony H ealey

Julia Carcamo is president and chief brand strategist at J Carcamo & Associates, specializing in brand and marketing strategy. She is also the co-founder of espNOLA, a Hispanic marketing and engagement agency. Learn more at jcarcamoassociates.com and espnola.com.

The term “crowdsourcing” — introduced

bizneworleans.com / 41

hot topics in southe ast Louisiana industries

perspectives healthcare / real estate & construction / banking & Finance

Local banking professionals weigh in on some of the changes under the Trump administration

Perspectives h e a lt h c a r e

More Seniors Using Apps A growing population of the elderly are turning to their cell phones for more than just phoning friends and family.

By Keith Loria

Pop culture is quick to have a laugh

at seniors’ expense when it comes to technology, especially when it comes to cell phones. However, while seniors consistently have lower rates of tech adoption than younger generations, this segment of the population is actually more digitally connected than ever, with more seniors embracing mobile technology and utilizing apps on a regular basis.

According to recent data from Pew Research, four in 10 seniors are now using smartphones with apps — a number that has doubled in just the last five years.

About a third of these seniors are using social media sites.

“The biggest challenge seniors face to utilize apps is that they don’t know how to confidently navigate through it,” explained Sunny Deakle, markeing director of the John J. Hainkel, Jr. Home and Rehabilitation Center in New Orleans. “They are less confident and need help from others to learn. We find that our residents that have family support, such as kids or grandkids, tend to use apps more often since they have help from others.”

D. Scott Crabtree, CEO and president of Broadway Services, Inc., operator of Lambeth House in New Orleans, assists with shaping and executing technology initiatives for LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technology (CAST), which focuses on identifying barriers and opportunities to facilitate the use of technology in an aging society.

44 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Seniors are using FaceTime and Skype to have video chats with family.

The secret to getting seniors to use apps, he said, is making things relevant for them.

“What is the hook or why?” he said. “In most cases, it’s staying connected to friends and family — whether that means video chatting with family, taking an Uber to visit friends or viewing Instagram photos from their granddaughter.”

Top Apps

Recent research by AARP revealed that for adults 50 and older, 90 percent of those with smartphones use their device primarily for sending texts or emails, while 75 percent use apps for getting directions or to find traffic information.

bizneworleans.com / 45

The top apps for seniors, according to AARP, include email apps such as Apple mail and Gmail, weather apps and social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter “They are using Facebook and Instagram to see family photos,” Crabtree said. “They are not necessarily posting, but rather passively viewing content and photos. They are also using FaceTime and Skype to have video chats with family.”

Online dating apps for seniors are also popular.

A few of the top dating sites for seniors include Silver Singles, Zoosk Seniors and OurTime — all of which cater to the 50-plus age group.

“They know what they want and have more experience to go off of,” Deakle said of seniors in the dating scene. “In some cases, they are using [apps] to find a friend or companion. All three of these apps are user-friendly and offer many safety features.”

Amie Hood, community relations director with Avanti Senior Living in Covington, said she too has seen interest in technology increase among residents.

“I am definitely noticing an upswing of seniors as far as apps go, as more have realized how much they can do,” she said. “I see a lot of them using apps for games, as they like killing time on them.

I also see them using them for pulling up banking information and pharmacy information — things that impact them on a daily basis that they like having at their fingertips.”

One popular app utilized at the John J. Hainkel, Jr. Home & Rehabilitation Center is WebMD. “We are in a healthcare facility and people are curious about their ailments and how they are feeling and would prefer immediate answers,” Deakle said. “Some are too embarrassed to ask a doctor or nurse, maybe not thinking it’s a big deal — but everyone loves to self-diagnosis, regardless of age.”

Among the future must-have apps on the healthcare front may be “What’s Covered,” a new app that allows Medicare beneficiaries to research whether the program will pay for a given medical item or service. The app was launched in January by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Tech Help Options

There are a number of places for seniors to learn about using apps. Local senior centers may have computer labs, community libraries often hold classes and Apple stores host daily trainings for people of all ages. Many progressive senior service providers provide technology training to their residents or customer base as well.

“We are working on a class now, but I think regardless of where the person is, education is key,” Deakle said. “Once a person feels confident using something, the more they will take advantage of all of the apps that are offered. There are so many helpful apps, it’s just a matter of teaching people how to use them.” n

46 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

BIG HITS

Apps Popular with Seniors Now AARP (free): Provides a calendar of local events in the area, as well as retailers that offer discounts.

Lumosity (free but upgrade subscriptions available): A collection of word games, memory games and crossword puzzles Senior Savings ($.99): Offers coupons and information on places in one’s area that offer senior discounts Be my Eyes (free): Illuminates and magnifies newspapers, magazines, menus, etc. for those who have trouble reading small print Red Panic Button (free): A medical alert for the phone that sends out a message to a pre-designated list of people to let them know if help is needed Uber and Lyft (free): For those who cannot drive, ridesharing apps can be helpful.

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Perspectives r e a l e s tat e & co ns t ru c t i o n

The Regeneration of Canal Street Large developments, historic tax credits and the rise of short-term rentals are all playing their part in the redevelopment of an iconic New Orleans thoroughfare.

By James Sebastien

Once home of “ain’t dere no mores” such as

Maison Blanche and D.H. Holmes, Canal Street has long been a go-to shopping destination for tourists and locals alike. And while stores have come and gone over the years at a speed almost as quick as the streetcars that move along the iconic shopping avenue – local real estate professionals are hopeful that a resurgence is underway.

48 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

According to Snappy Jacobs, CCIM Real Estate Management, there are multiple factors that are contributing to a change on Canal Street, including the continued growth of tourism in New Orleans, an increased interest in Downtown living, historically low interest rates, historic tax credits and opportunity zone legislation, along with capital via private equity investment, he said.

“Being positioned between the French Quarter and Warehouse District, Canal Street is now attractive for the conversion of upper floors to residential and additional hospitality uses,” he said. “Recent and current redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, Jung Hotel, the Sonder project in the 1000 block and the Biomedical District, are all evidence of Canal Street finding its place in the local real estate market.”

Along with historic tax credits, the VA hospital, University Medical Center and Downtown Development District of New Orleans are all playing a role in the street’s revival.

“Federal dollars and authorities having jurisdiction have been pressuring building owners for occupancy of the upper floors,” said Terri Hogan Dreyer, managing partner and principal of NANO Architecture and Interiors. “Additionally, tourism, luxury apartment rentals and new entertainment venues have all helped to increase foot traffic on Canal Street and convince building owners to develop their properties and upper floors.”

Wesley J. Palmisano, president and CEO of general contracting firm Palmisano, added that current projects along Canal are larger in scale than past ventures, which has created a momentum for development.

“Prior to 2018, Palmisano’s downtown projects spanned the Warehouse District, CBD, French Quarter and Marigny,” Wesley Palmisano said. “We are just now beginning construction on several Canal Street properties and are happy to be a part of the corridor’s resurgence. We see great opportunity for Canal Street’s comeback because the neighboring projects and developments have created the momentum and a reason to catch up.”

Palmisano added that there is currently an effort to renovate upper floors in the historic buildings and put them back into commerce as short-term rentals.

“Many of the historic buildings cannot support the buildout and back-of-house services for a hotel, and the short-term rental model tackles multiple efforts,” he said, adding that short-term rentals, “complement the larger-scale projects, put historic structures back into commerce, and offer travelers and locals a new way to experience downtown New Orleans.”

Palmisano has recently completed the renovation of 500 rooms at the JW Marriott and is the design-builder for the properties at 1016 Canal and 623 Canal.

“The 20th-century commercial building at 1016 Canal caught fire in January 2016, leaving only the exterior façade behind,” Palmisano explained.

“The structure was shored to prevent further damage, and the burned remains were cleaned

bizneworleans.com / 49

out of the site. Prior to the fire, the first floor was occupied by retailers and the upper floors were used for storage.”

Palmisano’s company is partnering with Quarter Holdings to restore the remaining primary and secondary facades, as well as construct a new, fivestory mixed-use building behind the existing facades.

“The ground floor will be for commercial use, floors two through four will feature 47 units and the fifth floor will feature a new penthouse addition,” he said. “Preliminary shoring of the historic façade will be completed by March 2019, followed by construction and buildout. The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2020.”

Palmisano said the 623 Canal property will also be renovated to offer a similar model — ground level retail with short-term rentals available on the upper floors.

However, with major developments taking place along upper and lower Canal, and the surrounding neighborhoods, Palmisano said, “there is a need to make Canal Street a secure, approachable destination with amenities locals and visitors seek in a downtown environment.”

More to Come

What does the future look like for Canal Street?

“Overall, I see it as a multimodal, multifaceted corridor representing the different dialects of the city of New Orleans,” Dreyer said, adding that she views Canal Street as being composed of three definitive sections: the Mississippi River to Claiborne Avenue, Claiborne Avenue to Carrollton Avenue and Carrollton Avenue to City Park Avenue.

“The river to Claiborne will return to the international, large tourist and entertainment mecca, with a combination of luxury and affordable rentals,” she said. “Claiborne to Carrollton should strive to become a national medical corridor, serving the needs of the public and our service men and women. Through biomedical alliances, laboratories, pharmaceutical research and A.I., we can provide the basis for long-term employment and growth while complementing tourism and residential facilities.”

As for Carrollton Avenue to City Park Avenue, Dreyer believes it has the ability to become a corridor that provides “a backdrop for small businesses to establish themselves, continue neighborhood support and potential for residential units and small commercial to thrive. Perhaps an urban farm and a community market.”

Palmisano is steadfast in his belief that Canal Street could once again become more than a crossing point, returning to a true destination with upgraded retail options and an increased security presence.

“While much about New Orleans has changed, we could revisit the reasons Canal Street became popular in its heyday,” he said. “What did the area offer that we can adapt for a modern New Orleans that consistently references its past? The neighborhood needs options that are now traditionally only found in suburban environments.” n

50 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

LOoking back

First Experiences of Canal Street “Driving down Canal Street with my grandmother on Fridays to meet my grandfather for lunch at Betsy’s Pancake House, also going to Maison Blanche every year to see Mr. Bingle.”

Terri Hogan Dreyer “My first experiences with Canal Street were as a child, en route to family visits to my grandmother’s place on Royal Street and restaurants in the Quarter, as well as attending Mardi Gras parades. The impression that it made was of a wide-scale, busy, vibrant street full of neon signs, especially Canadian Club and Walgreens, and historic architecture.”

Snappy Jacobs

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Perspectives banking & finance

regarding the way doubling the standard deduction impacts personal tax filings have not been positive.

Interest Rates Raised

Rates and Regulations On the Move Local banking professionals weigh in on changes under the Trump administration.

By Jessica Rosgaard

Policies during the first two years

of the Trump administration have been a mixed bag when it comes to the banking and finance industries. While low unemployment and GDP growth have signaled a strong economy, they have also led the Federal Reserve to steadily increase interest rates

52 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

— affecting banks, borrowers and investors. Some banking professionals are reporting that President Trump’s fulfilled campaign promise to ease regulations on financial institutions has lessened the burden of what could otherwise amount to costly compliance practices, but early reports

The Federal Reserve — responsible for U.S. monetary policy — has been gradually increasing the federal funds rate since December 2015. Rate increases, or decreases, by the Fed impact the interest rate that banks offer on deposits and loans, as well as the rate that consumers pay on credit card balances.

A higher federal funds rate means credit unions and banks have to offer higher interest rates on deposits, like in savings accounts.

Janet Sanders, president and CEO of GNO Federal Credit Union, says the increasing federal funds rate is a double-edged sword.

“We have to pay a higher rate on our deposits, and members like that, but it costs the credit union more money,” Sanders says. “And you have to raise your rates on deposits pretty quickly, otherwise people will take their money and put it somewhere else.”

While interest paid on savings accounts increases, so does the interest that banks can charge on loans. But that doesn’t mean banks are poised to make money.

“When rates are higher, we get to increase our loan rates,” says Sanders, “but when loans are already on the books at the lower rate you don’t see the immediate impact on revenue.”

While it’s true lending rates have crept up, at 4 or 5 percent they’re still historically low. Consumers, however, don’t like to see loan rates increase, and that has an impact on credit unions from a lending standpoint.

“I think as rates continue to rise, individuals are going to say, ‘I might need to hang onto this car a little longer, or not get rid of this low rate on my mortgage,’” says Sanders.

Credit card rates and variable rate loans are impacted by changes to the prime rate, which is closely related to the federal funds rate.

“If you have a Visa card and you carry a balance, whenever there’s an increase in the prime rate it is passed

on almost immediately,” says Stephen Wessel, New Orleans regional president at Investar Bank. “Any floating rate credit cards, home equity lines of credit that are based on prime rates will increase at the next increase cycle, which is usually monthly.”

Regulations Eased

One of President Trump’s campaign promises was to ease banking regulations, specifically parts of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act — a banking industry reform bill passed in 2010 as a response to the Great Recession. Trump has mostly kept to his promise of cutting two existing regulations for every new one added.

Banking is a highly regulated industry, with about 11 federal agencies having some kind of regulatory oversight — everything from changes to software to documentation, reporting and disclosures.

“Currently, on average there are 24 to 48 regulatory actions per quarter,” says Wessel. “That compares to a 30-year average of 60 to 85 per quarter, so that is significantly less than in the past.”

Ultimately, Sanders says, easing up on regulations means small institutions don’t have to spend as much on compliance.

“In the last couple of years, we’ve had to ramp up our compliance department and spend more money on resources to comply with all the regulations,” says Sanders. “So, in terms of that being lessened I think it’s beneficial to us.”

Wessel says if the economy is strong, the banking and finance industry will continue to be strong.

“There’s been a surge in company profits across the country, there’s near-term optimism in the business community — across the country and locally — and consumers are more optimistic,” he says. “And from a community bank standpoint that’s all good for us because we participate in the local economy to help businesses and people.”n

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54 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

The

New NO EW

After years focused on helping entrepreneurs take their ideas to the next level, Idea Village and Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business are now collaborating to do the same with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.

By Kim Singleta ry portraits by Rom er0 & Romero bizneworleans.com / 55

si nce

2009, the last week of March in New Orleans has operated as the entrepreneurial equivalent of the Super Bowl and Olympics rolled into one. Packed with various events, workshops, networking opportunities, speakers and pitch competitions offering up between $15,000 and $100,000 at a time, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), presented by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., was created by the nonprofit Idea Village as a premier event that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of New Orleans and showcases emerging trends in innovations designed to help strengthen our region’s ties to the global community. This year the event runs from March 25-29 at locations throughout the city.

In those 10 years, NOEW has engaged over 760 startups and Jon Atkinson, who took over as CEO of Idea Village last June, notes that Idea Village alumni now generate over $250 million a year in annual economic impact for the region.

After running the event since its inception, Idea Village announced this past December that it was taking on a partner — this year’s 11th NOEW will be the first result of a collaboration between Idea Village and Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Rob Lalka, executive director of Freeman’s Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation since February 2017, will be leading this initiative on the university’s side.

This is not Atkinson and Lalka’s first collaboration. The two met co-teaching a class on Lead Launchpad at Loyola in 2015, a national best practice on how to build early-stage startups. Through the class, they formed a partnership in which patents developed by NASA were put into students’ hands. Students were then challenged to build a business that brought that technology to domestic commercial use.

“Jon and I were working with the business community throughout this class, and that flipped classroom approach that we used throughout it is still so incorporated into what we both do now,” said Lalka.

“So, once Jon started at Idea Village we started talking about, OK, how do we make sure we work together?”

Recently, Biz New Orleans got to sit down with both Lalka and Atkinson to talk about what people can expect from the new NOEW.

56 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Jon, after a decade of running NOEW, why partner with Tulane, and why now?

Jon Atkinson: I think we started, from the get-go, with an idea that this change in leadership, in a lot of ways, was a real opportunity to bring some greater alignment around the ecosystem and to really get the resources aligned around a funnel that creates new economic activity — new startups, new innovations and sort of puts the pieces of the puzzle together.

Rob Lalka: Yeah, that’s right. One key point is that Tulane helped to fund Idea Village in the very earliest of days, before Katrina.

Tulane was sort of an angel investor in Idea Village so to speak. It was a small grant, but I think it was a meaningful one at that point. Tulanians have been involved in the ecosystem, and especially in Idea Village, all throughout. Now we get to do that in a way that’s much more strategic and intentional.

For instance, I’m aligning all of the entrepreneurial classes that I’m teaching in all of our student venture creations toward this week. The Tulane Business Model Competition, now in its 19th year, will be happening during the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and will be completely aligned with the programming.

Our students will be mentored by angel investors locally and then venture capitalists that are coming from the outside, in one-on-one sessions that we’ll be setting up.

And what’s really profound is that the average Tulane undergraduate comes from over 900 miles away. They’re coming to New Orleans because they see it as a destination city, where they want a great education, but they also really believe in what the city is all about. And so, the tag line of “Connect in a city like no other” truly is the reason why they’re here and it’s part of the education that we want to give them. Having the business community and the educational community completely aligned and around entrepreneurship, it’s a really beautiful thing.

What are we going to see in year one of this new partnership?

Rob Lalka: There are two key themes that we’re hoping to weave throughout all of the work that we’re discussing this year, and, if it works, we’re going to have themes in future years that continue to keep New Orleans at the front edge of trends that are happening nationally and internationally.

This year’s themes are around big data and entrepreneurial hospitality — two key areas that Freeman’s invested a lot of resources in.

Jon Atkinson CEO of Idea Village

Native of Los Angeles Holds a degree in economics from Davidson College and an MBA from Tulane University Freeman School of Business Background in finance — started in commercial banking Previously served as the first director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development at Loyola University Co-founder of the Changemaker Institute at Tulane University.

Currently serves as co-founder of local angel investment fund Lagniappe Angels Volunteer member of the Investment Committee of the New Orleans Startup Fund

So, hospitality’s a no-brainer, but can you talk a little bit about the big data focus?

Rob Lalka: Sure. If you look at Lucid and Zlien, just to name two, these companies are built off the fact that they’re working in a data-fueled economy. Some people say that data is the new oil, and I think that’s an interesting analogy for this region. We’ve seen companies that have been able to grow from zero to millions and millions of dollars of revenue with data as the source of their growth. Block chain, artificial intelligence, augmented reality — all of those new technologies that are emerging rely on a keen understanding of data. And even if you’re not going to be a data company first, you do need to be conversant in how data is going to affect your business.

Jon Atkinson: Yeah, I think the idea behind the focus areas is to explore a frontier, right?

We see opportunities in these frontiers.

We see opportunities in entrepreneurial hospitality. We see opportunities in big data and we feel like we can connect those opportunities to our core assets as a region, whether those be at Tulane or out in the business community. And so, we’re trying to actively catalyze activity in those areas.

New Orleans is also good at building and has opportunities to build companies that are really in unsexy areas, right? So, if you look at our areas where we have startup density, they tend to be businessto-business focused companies. They tend to be innovating stodgy processes and things like civic technology, industrials, health, education. They’re solving core technology problems. If we can bring those companies in and be a leader as a community in these emerging areas, I think that’s a real opportunity for our region.

So, the goal with these focus areas is to look at some our strengths as a region and take them into the future, to the next level.

Jon Atkinson: That’s exactly right.

Rob Lalka: Yeah, and the key is to jump at it really well by saying these are frontier areas. Our goal is not to talk about what we’re already doing, but what’s next. And to help inform the conversation with real depth of research and rigor that comes with an academic institution like Tulane.

It’s about being able to bring that level of thought and not just the faculty, as important as the faculty will be to this conversation, but the alumni and the students who have gone off and been successful, as well as the students who are researching this work right now. All of

Favorite book? “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

Who do you look up to?

Steve Blank

Pet peeve(s)?

Inefficiency.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year? Seeing the companies in our 2019 cohort take their game to the next level.

Daily habits?

Do one thing that scares you every day.

Biggest life lesson learned?

Never stop learning.

Hobbies? I am a former collegiate rower and proud member of New Orleans Rowing Club.

Best advice ever received?

Bring two facts for every one of their opinions.

Favorite TV Show? “Star Trek the Next Generation”

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that will come together in a way which is going to be tangibly different. And that’s exciting for us.

Jon Atkinson: What we’re focused on the rest of the year is really how do we support companies through those critical stages in their growth, through our accelerator program, to get them off the ground and set them up for rapid growth. With the wind at their back, so to speak, by solving problems that are unsolved in areas of opportunity. We’re really excited about being able to explore those topics at NOEW. And we’re excited about being able to catalyze activity in those areas year-round.

Tim Williamson, the founder and past CEO of Idea Village, has spoken about how New Orleans is great for startup ventures but has struggled when it comes to taking those companies to the next level. What are those challenges that we’re facing here, and how do we conquer them? Is it a financing issue? A mentorship issue? Both?

Jon Atkinson: I think it’s all of the above.

It’s finding the people that have done this, through our local networks, the Tulane networks, other connections outside of the city. It’s getting those folks engaged in working with startups here locally, year-round. It’s addressing the serious gap from a capital perspective. Our capital ecosystem has matured a lot in the last five to 10 years. We have a much more robust angel investment community than we used to. I tell entrepreneurs if you’ve got traction, if you’ve got a great idea, if you’ve got a built team, you can more than likely finance seeder or early series up to a million dollars.

But, beyond that, we don’t have a ton of infrastructure in the venture capital community and you’re going to have to find that money from the outside. And so, you know, how do we address that?

How do we build those resources locally?

Rob Lalka: I think the key piece is the great Wayne Gretzky quote about skating not to where the puck is, but where it’s going.

Where I see the puck going is, you have a company like Chris Meaux’s WAITR, that exits for well over $300 million — he’s speaking at NOEW this year —and that’s going to be exciting for people to hear what success really looks like and what that journey has meant to him.

Patrick Comer, with Lucid, who is Jon’s board chair and who was our Entrepreneur of the Year last year at Tulane, is someone else who has done it — has built a company that is truly leading a growing market, which is phenomenal for New Orleans to be able to say. Especially because his investor, and his most recent investor in the B round, were from Boston.

58 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Capital will always be a concern, but these folks who have done it are role models that we can look to. And then, frankly, that also helps to solve our problem longer term, because as they exit and as they continue to have success upon success, that does bring more capital from people who are used to early stage B venture-building and risk-taking. When we look ahead five, 10, 15 years from now, that capital should be at work in our ecosystem.

Jon Atkinson: NOEW is an opportunity to showcase those success stories, and to keep ourselves as a community on the radar of folks nationally, that are interested in this space. And that can bring resources into our ecosystem, and it gives us a really valuable engagement point to bring those folks back here, year after year. To get them excited about what’s happening in New Orleans. And to really build meaningful ties with the broader global community.

What would you say to those that haven’t been to NOEW before?

Jon Atkinson: I would say this is the starting point. If you’re interested in getting involved in startups and entrepreneurship and innovation in New Orleans, NOEW is where you start. It’s a place to connect with all the people in New Orleans that care about helping startups, that care about innovation, and it’s an opportunity to learn what that process is like. It’s also an opportunity to be inspired.

Rob Lalka: And this year, for the first time, NOEW will be hosted at the Ace Hotel, so we’re not worried about it being a fun event. We know that it’s going to be an absolute blast.

The events are Monday through Wednesday and then Thursday and Friday are a two-day summit, and all of this is free, right?

Rob Lalka:Yes. The fact that NOEW is free is a tremendous asset for our entrepreneurial community. When you look at other conferences across the country that are focused around innovation, it’s something that people are willing to pay for and they do pay for, quite a bit. We put this on for free because we want to make sure that that front door to innovation is wide open.

Jon Atkinson: And I would say we are able to make that free because of the generosity of our sponsors. Title sponsor J.P. Morgan Chase has really stepped up to help keep this critical front door open to our community. And, you know, from a personal perspective, both Rob and I in a lot of ways got our start at NOEW, so we really feel a critical obligation to pay this forward, not just this year, but into the future.

Rob Lalka professor of practice and executive director of the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University

Native of Roanoke, Virginia Undergraduate degree from Yale and a master’s degree in global public policy from Duke University Served in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships and was on the Secretary of State’s policy planning staff Worked as a director at a venture capital firm called Village Capital Was a senior advisor at the Howard G. Buffett Foundation Moved to New Orleans with AmeriCorps after Hurricane Katrina Worked on Mitch Landrieu’s campaign against Ray Nagin Former director of strategy and partnership with Propeller.

Former adjunct professor at Loyola

So, how do we compare nationally with, like you said Rob, other events like NOEW? Rob Lalka: I think that having Tulane involved in the partnership will help us to have a unique flavor to what we’re going to be doing. Some of these other events have just simply not designed themselves around that orientation. If you look at other conferences, like South By Southwest and a number of conferences in the Bay Area and up and down the East Coast in financial technology and early-stage venture capital, I would say that the key for us is we want to make sure that we are building around the themes where we know we can add value.

Jon Atkinson: I think the other critical differentiating factor for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is the New Orleans part, right?

Rob Lalka: Right.

Jon Atkinson: We are not purely a tech conference, which is what some of the other examples that Rob just mentioned are about. This is an event that is fundamentally about New Orleans and our region, our ecosystem and bringing the people in our ecosystem and our community together. This is something that has to be uniquely New Orleans. You talk about connecting in a city like no other, that’s a mission statement, in a lot of ways, for what we can be.

So, ultimate big picture. What are you guys seeing?

Jon Atkinson: $500 million companies built in New Orleans.

Rob Lalka: Yeah, and Jon and I talk about this often. I won’t rest, and I’m sure you won’t rest until we have not just a few success stories that we can point to and put on the stage at NOEW, but so many of them that we can’t put them all on the stage. That’s our goal. Net new jobs come from brand new companies and that is important for our economy. It’s important to keep students who come here, who want to stay here, get jobs here. It’s important for people who have moved away and want to come back home, to have that chance.

Jon Atkinson: And to have a new model for inclusive entrepreneurship that really leverages all of the assets across our community.

Rob Lalka: That’s right.

Jon Atkinson: I think we have a really unique opportunity to build that in New Orleans, and it starts at NOEW, so we want everybody to come. We want them to be educated. We want them to learn something new. We want them to be inspired. And we want them to say, “Wow, this is a really amazing experience.

And something that could only happen in New Orleans.”

Favorite book?

My favorite book of all-time is Robert Penn Warren’s “All The King’s Men;” a great recent read was Ben Sasse’s “Them: Why We Hate Each Other and How to Heal.”

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

The first time Tice hits that big plastic ball with that big plastic bat without also clobbering the tee.

Daily habits?

An early morning run with my Boykin spaniel, Beau.

Bedtime reading with my 2-year-old son, Tice.

Hobbies?

Seeking out adventures big and small with my wife, Lynn, who loves me enough to put up with my adventurousness.

Who do you look up to?

My mom. As a public-school teacher, busy caregiver for her parents, and single parent to me, she still always made time for a neighbor, friend or stranger in need. She’s lived her life for others and taught me to do the same.

Pet peeve(s)?

Roger Goodell, Bill Vinovich, Nickell Robey-Coleman

Best advice ever received?

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Biggest life lesson learned?

Everything is a phase. If it’s good, it won’t last, so you should enjoy it. If it’s bad, it won’t last and you should learn from it.

But don’t miss out on what every season teaches and be grateful for what each has to offer.

Favorite TV Show? “Black Mirror,” but I can usually only watch one episode before switching to something more lighthearted. And I’ve learned the hard way never to watch it before bed.

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Bringing 60 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

The Southern Food and Beverage M u s e u m i s u s i n g i ts k i t c h e n a n d connections to feed a growing appetite for entrepreneurship i n N e w O r l e a n s , w h i l e a ls o lo o k i n g a t n e w v e n t u r e s i ts e l f.

Business Table to the

By Rebecca Friedman photos by cheryl gerber

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W

hen Liz Williams went to museums, she always saw the same gap.

While there always seemed to be displays of things like spearheads and clay pots from hunter-gatherer societies and the embellished bone china of nobility, there was never anything that chronicled the eating habits of everyday people — things like kitchen implements, recipe collections and restaurant menus.

And what better city to make this dream a reality than New Orleans?

In 2004, with the help of some like-minded colleagues, Williams co-founded the National Food and Beverage Foundation (NatFAB).

In 2008, the organization launched the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB), which began as a series of pop-up exhibits at the Riverwalk (now known as The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk) before moving to its current space on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in 2013.

In the decade since its founding, SoFAB has built an extensive collection of culinary artifacts and memorabilia designed to educate visitors about the South’s unique culinary traditions (there’s even a section on the history of Popeyes). The museum is also home to the New Orleans collection of the Museum of the American Cocktail, La Galerie de l’Absinthe, the Rouses Culinary Innovation Center by Jenn-Air (a state-of-the-art commissary kitchen), and the John & Bonnie Boyd Hospitality and Culinary Library.

Within SoFAB’s walls, visitors can learn how Texas’ barbecue differs from North Carolina’s, explore the rise and fall (and rise again) of absinthe, and read correspondence from Julia Child about her visits to Galatoire’s in the 1970s. What many don’t know, however, is that SoFAB brings more to the table than impressive exhibits.

A

Test Kitchen for Talent In recent years, SoFAB’s mission has grown from simply documenting the South’s culinary history to serving as a vibrant showcase for the region’s evolving talents and tastes.

A glance through SoFAB’s event calendar finds a full plate of programming for all ages — from cooking classes for kids to weekly demonstrations by visiting chefs to lectures and informational sessions – all helping illustrate and support the South’s diverse culinary traditions, past and present.

“We wound up filling a niche that we didn’t even realize was there,” says Williams.

That’s not the only niche SoFAB grew to fill. Given the entrepreneurial nature of the culinary industry (every recipe, restaurant and product starts out as someone’s dream), SoFAB has embraced its role as a breeding ground for new talent, helping would-be chefs

62 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

and culinary entrepreneurs explore their ideas and learn about the industry through SoFAB’s broad network of professional connections, as well as its physical space – especially the kitchen.

Williams believes SoFAB’s unique resources can play a vital role in helping entrepreneurs.

“What we offer entrepreneurs is not abstract,” she says.

“This is about your business, how our kitchen can help your business, how our staff can help your business.”

In recent years, SoFAB’s hands-on approach to professional development has helped kickstart the careers of a cupcake baker, jam maker, Senegalese chef and many more, demonstrating the diversity of a regional culinary tradition that’s evolved far beyond hot sauce and gumbo.

H

or a bakery because your banana bread is the best they’ve ever had. First you have to get people to taste it!”

So, what’s a talented person with a tasty product to do? According to Williams, the key is developing focus and discipline to underpin the enthusiasm.

“I have found that the thing that works best is for somebody to have to explain their idea to a skeptic,” she says. “If you can convince the negative person because of your rational approach that this is going to be a success, they’ll be your biggest supporter because they’ve been convinced. That’s the best way to get that focus.”

A measured approach to growth also helps.

“People sometimes want to get big right away and succeed overnight,” says Williams. “Have a plan. Write it down. Sometimes it means you grow more slowly, but it means you’re more stable as you grow. You can learn how to read a spreadsheet, you can get a good lawyer who’s going to help you obey the food laws, but for you to say, ‘I’m going to be disciplined about this and make this work’ – that’s the hardest thing.”

elping Entrepreneurs Develop a Recipe for Success SoFAB has focused its efforts on early-stage entrepreneurs and chefs just beginning to explore an idea.

“We want people to get so successful that we’re not big enough for them,” says Williams. “That’s really the way we see ourselves. We are the beginning. We also know that oom for Plenty of Cooks in the Kitchen In there are many places in town, whether it’s Propeller or a city obsessed with entrepreneurship, there are one of the small-business development centers, where you many options for people looking for startup can learn how to read a spreadsheet, about generalized assistance.

In addition to incubators and accelerators like Propeller, marketing, logo building... We don’t need to teach that.”

Instead, SoFAB focuses on what they do best: connecting Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business has just launched entrepreneurs with professional networks and afford- a program in entrepreneurial hospitality. But Williams able, high-quality kitchen and event space [see sidebar]. believes there is more than enough room for all – and Through the museum’s Paul C.P. McIlhenny Culinary that collaboration is important.

Entrepreneurship Program, SoFAB hosts regular sessions For Williams, that might mean participating in where a group of grocery buyers might evaluate new Propeller’s review process for food-related entrepreneur product ideas, or where established culinary entrepreneurs applicants, or accepting invitations to speak at events like (such as Kristen Preau, aka Jambalaya Girl) share their the Barpreneurs Power Lunch. experiences in building a brand.

“I try to cooperate with everybody who’s doing things “We have created a reputation,” says Williams. “It’s easier because I truly believe rising tides float all boats, she says, for a place like a Rouses Market to bring their buyers to a “and we want to have a robust industry here.” session here rather than having them pick up the phone orging a New Museum Model The SoFAB for every [aspiring product developer] who has a quesmodel has caught on far beyond the South. The tion. It’s a way for them to get the word out about what American Alliance of Museums’ Center for the they need and is something important that we can offer.”

Williams believes that these kinds of informational Future of Museums has called SoFAB the first “national, sessions are some of the most valuable services SoFAB distributed” museum.

“They have given what we’re doing a name,” says Williams. provides to people considering a culinary venture, even “There isn’t one monolithic place about American food, when the information steers them away from an idea. but regional places connected by this network of specialty “We’ve had a lot of people come out of those sessions museums.” and say, ‘I don’t want to do it. I’m so glad I came to this In 2018, NatFAB opened the Pacific Food and Beverage because it saved me lot of money and time.’ And other Museum in Los Angeles, with other regional hubs in the people get more excited and say, ‘Yes, that’s what I want to do!’ Then we can direct them to Propeller or other works. Williams’ expertise in this unique niche is recognized business development programs.” worldwide. She is frequently invited to speak to groups about her experience with food museums, most recently And unlike some other programs in the area, SoFAB’s to a consortium of universities in France. entrepreneurship sessions are open to anyone – there is no application process or cohort of entrepreneurs moving Here in New Orleans, SoFAB’s mission continues to through a structured program. The flexibility is designed expand. The facility is a draw for visitors and locals alike, to make it easier for an entrepreneur to explore an idea and Williams and her team strive to create an exciting range of programming that not only showcases the food in its early stages without any commitment. culture of New Orleans and the South, but connects it to dvice for Aspiring Culinary Entrepreneurs the wider world by hosting visiting chefs from a broad Over the years, Williams has seen scores of entre- range of cultures – from Canada to Saudi Arabia. preneurs succeed and fail, and she feels those What’s next on the menu for SoFAB? In the near future, experiences have taught her what can make or break an the museum will unveil an outdoor space to help visitors explore Southern-style outdoor cooking (e.g., boiling enterprise.

“The thing we see the most is somebody who really crawfish and smoking meat). Williams also dreams of cooks well but thinks they’ll make it on taste alone,” creating a space to display photographs of New Orleans says Williams. “Just because your friends think it’s the food and possibly a children’s gallery. best barbecue sauce they’ve ever tasted doesn’t mean “We’re very ambitious,” says Williams. “We’re always it’s going to sell. You’ve got to be rational and approach trying to get bigger and better and have more and better programming. Our eyes are probably bigger than our your idea in the most businesslike way. It’s not enough stomachs.” for everybody to tell you you should open a reastaurant

R

F

A

Supporting Culinary Entrepreneurs Through the Paul C.P. McIlhenny Culinary Entrepreneurship Program, SoFAB offers a range of services to support budding entrepreneurs. The program is endowed by a grant from the family of Paul McIlhenny, the late president and CEO of McIlhenny Company, the Louisiana-based maker of Tabasco brand products.

The program includes: Quarterly informational programs to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with industry resources and expertise; A monthly program with the New Orleans chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, an organization of professional women leaders across the food, beverage and hospitality industries, to share their expertise with local entrepreneurs; Below-market hourly rate for leasing SoFAB’s certified commercial kitchen (the Rouses Culinary Innovation Center by Jenn-Air). The low rate of $25/hour helps make the kitchen accessible to people who aren’t prepared to make a big investment for a cooking space; The Paul McIlhenny Culinary Entrepreneurism Scholarship, awarded to one applicant each year, this scholarship underwrites the use of SoFAB’s commissary kitchen for one year (and at a deep discount for the following year), helping to ease startup costs for a new business owner or culinary professional. It also links the recipient to industry contacts through SoFAB’s extensive network; Access to the SoFAB gift shop as a sales channel for products developed by culinary entrepreneurs; Use of museum space for cooking demos, classes and pop-up dinners hosted by culinary entrepreneurs and aspiring chefs; Marketing support through the museum newsletter and other media outreach by SoFAB staff; and Support to students through summer and semester-long internships; “Mentor Conversations” between food and beverage professionals (e.g., food journalists, photographers, executives in manufacturing and processing facilities); cooking and baking competitions (e.g., the Big Top Cake Competition) and access to research materials in the John & Bonnie Boyd Hospitality & Culinary Library.

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64 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

Southe ast louisiana businesses in full color

from the lens GREAT WORKSPACES / WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT? / MAKING A MATCH / ON THE JOB

Three New Orleanians are leading an effort to bring clean water to the world.

From The Lens g r e at w o r k s pac e s

Until February, passionate Greater New

Orleans-area golfers committed to the game had to travel to Houston, Nashville or Atlanta to reach the nearest Club Champion, premium clubfitter, builder and retailer.

Now, players need only drive to Metairie for their drivers (and every other club in the bag). The new 2,600-square-foot company specializes in helping golfers gain yards off the tee and lower their scores by fitting their clubs to their specific swing.

Additionally, the two-person staff is just as committed to the game as the customers.

“We believe in what we do,” says Matt McKown, master fitter, master club builder and former professional golfer. “Working in golf isn’t something you decide to do because it’s a hobby. It’s a passion. You don’t just stumble into it.”

Fittings are by appointment only and customers get one-on-one attention from McKown and his other teammate (who was still undergoing training at press time and

Acing It Club Champion in Metairie helps local golfers find their perfect fitting club.

by Melanie Warner Spencer photos by sara essex bradley

66 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

The SAM PuttLab putting green is just inside the door at Club Champion. The nationwide premium clubfitter, builder and retailer opened a 2,600-square-foot location in Metairie in February. Until now, local golfers had to travel to Houston or Nashville to reach the closest one.

The store is by appointment only and makes more than 35,000 PGA Tour-quality, custom clubs available for customers.

Club Champion is brand-agnostic, which means golfers can get any PGA Tour-quality clubs for customers. If they don’t stock the clubs you want, they will find a way to get them for you.

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The Metairie location has two TrackMan Indoor Golf Simulator bays, as well as a full build shop, for re-gripping, re-shafting, repairing and rebuilding clubs.

Matt McKown, master fitter and master club builder, says the next 12 months will be spent growing the company’s customer base and brand, while also educating golfers on the importance of a custom fit and how much it can change their game.

At A Glance

Club Champion Location

2020 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie Date of opening

February 2019 Size

2,600 square feet Number of Employees

2

Person in Charge

Matt McKown, master fitter, master club builder

68 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

“We believe in what we do. Working in golf isn’t something you decide to do because it’s a hobby.

It’s a passion. You don’t just stumble into it.”

Matt McKown, master fitter, master club builder and former professional golfer

not yet working on-site) for approximately three hours, or however long it takes to discern the proper fit.

The Veterans Boulevard location includes the Sam PuttLab putting green, two TrackMan Indoor Golf Simulator bays and the full-build shop, for re-re-gripping, re-shafting, repair and rebuilding.

The company is brand-agnostic, which means golfers can get any PGA Tour-quality clubs for customers. For example, it is the largest dealer in the country of Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) clubs. But the company’s brand agnosticism runs deep. If they don’t stock the clubs you want, they will find a way to get them for you.

“For us, there are 35,000 options,” says McKown. “It’s a tour van in store form.”

McKown says he appreciates the company’s appointment model, because it gives him the opportunity to build relationships with customers and give them the attention they need to get the correct fit.

Over the next 12 months, McKown says the company’s biggest challenges are growing its customer base, growing the brand and educating golfers in the region about the importance of a custom fit.

“New Orleans is a totally different golf market,” he says. “One of the biggest differences is you have your local focus courses, but after that you have to go to Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Mobile, Alabama. Our potential customer base is spread out.”

Because of the small space, focused attention and commitment to quality, McKown says customers are willing to drive two or three hours.

“I don’t have to wait on some manufacturer’s timeline,” says McKown. “We’re a big company, but it still feels kind of like a mom-and-pop store, because you build that relationship. We’re very much a family. For me, to work here, it’s great.

I believe in it.” n

From The Lens w h y d i d n ’ t i t h i n k o f t h at ?

Stocking the Shelves A new STEM Library Lab is providing local schools with essential tools to prepare youth for in-demand careers.

by Ashley McLellan photos by sara essex bradley

Did You Know?

STEM Careers Remain Among Most Lucrative Job Paths Employment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations has grown

79 percent

since 1990, from 9.7 million to 17.3 million, outpacing overall U.S. job growth.

Careers i n ST E M f ie l d s ( s c ie n c e ,

technology, engineering and math) have been lauded for years as the path to the best jobs with the best pay, but when New Orleans math and science teacher Todd Wackerman tried to encourage students to enter these fields, he found he lacked the funding and correct equipment. And he was not alone.

Student interest in STEM fields is there, said Louisiana State Superintendent John White who, in an Oct. 11, 2018 press release noted that “More than half of Louisiana students are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields, but only 10 percent meet the benchmark demonstrating their readiness for math and science coursework in college.”

But what about the resources to encourage learning? How do we cover that gap?

Frustrated and determined to do something to create more access to equipment needed for labs and content to encourage these students, Wackerman left the classroom in 2016 with a vision.

The idea for the STEM Library Lab was born.

Launched in October 2018 on the campus of Bricolage Academy (a charter school on Esplanade Avenue that serves pre-K through sixth grade), the 750-square-foot STEM Library Lab has almost every item an educator might need, and then some.

“The library houses [around] $100,000 in science, technology, engineering and math classroom equipment, and runs the gamut of your imagination,” Wackerman said.

“From a suitcase full of primate skulls, to beakers, stopwatches and scales, to models and rock collections, to flashlights and

70 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

hula hoops. At the same time, if a school needs something we don’t have, we will work with them to identify alternatives or search within our network to find it.”

Modeled after a standard lending library, teachers can check out various items as needed, with the list of members growing each month. The library currently serves 12 local schools, impacting more than 3,500 students.

“Membership is open to any local school or organization,” Wackerman said. “Once a school signs up, borrowers can place reservations online, or visit the library and browse the shelves in person, which is certainly more fun. The registration and orientation process is simple, and currently we have more inventory than we have members, so we’re excited to recruit new borrowers for this school year or next.”

Wackerman said that funding for the STEM Library Lab so far has come from local family and corporate foundations that have provided both startupmoney and covered operating expenses while the lab builds out its sustainable earned-revenue model through memberships.

“Schools buy an annual membership which provides all teachers unlimited access to our complete equipment inventory, as well as our workshops and support services which ensure teachers have all the tools they need to develop great hands-on lessons,” said Wackerman. “We also have reserve funding for just-in-time purchases if teachers need items we don’t currently stock, ensuring that schools will have access to anything they may need throughout the year.”

Among those with some college education, the typical full-time, year-round STEM worker earns

$54,745

while a similarly educated nonSTEM worker earns $40,505 — 26 percent less.

The median earnings of nonSTEM workers with a professional or doctoral degree trail their STEM counterparts by

24 percent.

Among collegeeducated workers employed fulltime, the median earnings for those who have a STEM college major are

$81,011

compared with $60,828 for other college majors.

Source: January 2018 Pew research report

The STEM Lending Library, located at Bricolage Academy on Esplanade Avenue, is a 750-square-foot space stocked with science supplies, classroom equipment and resources for educators across the city.

The average cost of an annual membership is between $2,000-$3,000, though partial scholarships may be available based on school need. The amount of a membership is based on the grades served at a school and its total number of students.

A chart detailing the pricing is located on the organization’s website.

In addition to finding equipment, Wackerman said members also receive assistance in how to use it.

“It is truly a community-driven space,” he said. “As of right now, students don’t actually visit the library, but the photos and verbal testimonial we’ve seen demonstrates that from pre-K through high school, access to quality active learning is allowing students to have meaningful new experiences with STEM.” While the library’s shelves are packed with supplies, anticipating an educator’s exact needs is impossible. Wackerman

said the library has worked out a plan to respond to those needs on demand.

“We reserved a portion of our funds for on-demand requests,” he said. “When a teacher walked in and needed box fans, or pulse oximeters, though they weren’t on the shelves yet, we ordered them and three days later they were in classrooms.

Now any other teacher is welcome to benefit from them as well. Of course, there are some larger specialty items like

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Additional Resources

STEM Summer Camps, Classes and More

The following organizations also offer STEM instruction to New Orleans youth.

The STEM Lending Library is helmed by Todd Wackerman, who helped launch the venture this past October. For a membership fee, educators can take advantage of the lending library’s collection of equipment, as well as a series of events, resource swaps and lectures designed to help and inspire teachers in STEM.

Electric Girls – A

nonprofit that provides after-school, weekend and summer camp opportunities aimed at developing leadership and technical STEM skills in girls ages 5 to 14. ElectricGirls.org

STEM Nola – Provides

STEM Saturdays, teacher enrichment and summer camps and is available to all those interested in developing STEM experience across communities and underserved areas.

STEMNola.com

Core Element – Offers

vital STEM teacher training, as well as student programs such as robotics, summer camp, LEGO building leagues and more. Core4Kids.org

Tulane University K-12 STEM Education Outreach – Tulane

School of Science and Engineering offers community outreach by Tulane faculty and students through programs such as GIST (Girls in STEM at Tulane) and BATS (Boys in STEM at Tulane) which provides mentorship for fifth- through seventh-graders.

The program also produces the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair, open to students in sixth through 12th grades, and more. www2.tulane.edu/ sse/outreach/k12education.cfm

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a Flir Camera for environmental science, or engineering tools like Vex Robotics kits, which are still on our wish list.”

Besides Wackerman, who serves as founder and director, the library is staffed by two full-time employees, librarian Allie Cooper and outreach coordinator Michaela Slosar. Both rent out supplies and assist with the lab’s regular events like, “Communities of Practice,” an opportunity for teachers to connect and share with other professionals and teachers, “Office Hours with Experts” sessions, which provide critical inside information on a variety of STEM professional topics, “Educator Open House events,” and “Teacher Supply Swaps.”

The STEM Library Lab has met with a generous and appreciative response from teachers across the city.

“Seeing has truly been believing,” Wackerman said. “STEM Library Lab was built as an answer to a problem voiced by our local New Orleans teachers: not having the resources they needed to implement hands-on science learning. If a K-8 school wanted to buy everything recommended for their school by Fischer Scientific, they’d spend over $110,000 — $65,000 for high school.”

Wackerman’s goal with the STEM Library Lab is partly to inspire New Orleans students to fill the region’s career opportunities from within.

“STEM literacy and STEM-specific careers are booming in New Orleans and across Louisiana, but we’re currently importing talent from out-of-state for these engaging, high-wage jobs,” he said. “But more importantly, the types of thinking and problem solving involved with high-quality STEM instruction is not just developmentally critical, it’s also simply more fun for everyone involved.” n

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From The Lens m a k i n g a m atc h: b us i n e s s e s a n d n o n pr o f i ts

Life in Every Drop New Orleanians are reaching out to provide clean water to the world through LearnToLive.

by Pamela Marquis

To many of us, a glass of crystal-clear

water is an ordinary thing. We offer it to a guest in our homes, we bring one to our children as we tuck them in at night.

We can simply walk to a faucet, turn it on and water magically appears.

But to others around the world, who walk miles to get a few gallons, suffer painful stomach cramps from drinking dirty water or who die way too young from preventable diseases, potable water is a luxury.

A single human being needs 80 to 100 gallons of water per day for drinking, washing and sanitation. However, according to Unicef, nearly 900 million do not have access to water. As a result, 30,000 children under age 5 die from diarrhea and other water-, sanitation- and hygiene-related diseases every day, and many more suffer and are weakened by illness.

Since 2011, LearnToLive (LTL), a nonprofit based in New Orleans, has been joining with communities worldwide to improve quality of life through healthcare, health education and access to clean water.

The organization was started by Yanti Turang, a New Orleans transplant from Australia who decided she wanted to use her skills as a registered nurse to not only help people but also inspire them to be better and live healthier and longer lives.

She looked to her family for inspiration.

“My father and his family are from North Sulawesi, Indonesia,” she said. “I often visited this region during my childhood and recognized from an early age the stark difference between their living conditions and the ones I had growing up in Australia.”

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North Sulawesi was characterized by rampant poverty, limited healthcare and virtually no form of sustainable clean water or sanitation.

“I’ve seen young men and women die from easily preventable or treatable conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stomach ulcers,” she said. “Moreover, I’ve seen others live their lives with untreated conditions without knowledge of small behavior changes that could help sustain a healthy lifestyle. So many of my family members were dying prematurely from preventable diseases. It made me realize I wanted to do something to change that.”

In 2012, Turang took a team of 24 medical, engineering and public health professionals to North Sulawesi.

“We saw nearly 700 patients from four different villages and created a rainwater catchment system for one community,” explained Turang in a letter posted on the organization’s website. “We return to these villages each year and provide basic healthcare. In addition, LTL helped build two additional rainwater catchment systems with plans to build another in 2015. Since 2012, we’ve seen over 2,000 patients and in 2014, LTL began developing the infrastructure for a community based mental healthcare service.”

Native Australianturned-New Orleanian Yanti Tulang (center) founded LearnToLive in 2011, inspired by a desire to use her skills as a registered nurse to help people around the world live healthier, longer lives.

The key team for LTL is actually three New Orleans residents. Turang works with international program director Rachel Witwer, a public health specialist originally from Washington D.C., and research and evaluation director Iben McCormickRicket, who moved from the Northeast to pursue a degree in epidemiology from Tulane University. The three women now work with a global network of partners, volunteers and local leaders, offering programming in Indonesia, Laos and Kenya.

LTL recently traveled to Najile, a dusty and drought prone town in remote West Kajiado County in Kenya, to develop local partnerships, as well as assess feasibility for future LTL programming in the area.

LTL relies on a global network of volunteers, including doctors, nurses, birth attendants and community health educators, to work in communities in Indonesia, Laos and Kenya.

by the numbers

SUCCESS OF SERVICES Program Priorities: Primary and Emergent Healthcare, Health Education, Capacity Building, Water Access and Global Citizenship.

LearnToLive:

5,310

people helped worldwide Works in three countries: Indonesia, Laos and Kenya In 2017: Worked with

39

volunteers who put in

9,504

volunteer hours In Indonesia

1001

patients received health services such as pediatrics and dental In Laos

120

Phoukoud District High School seniors and Xai Village community members participated in interactive reproductive health education sessions

“After discussions with community combining building and construction of members and local leaders, water access water systems with clinics and healthcare, clearly revealed itself as the was a unique approach. It’s also priority need once again,” a great way to teach medical said Turang. “So, we provided students and help perpetuate A Good Match in them global citizenship and instructional training for adult FOR members of the community on compassion.”

COMPANIES how to clean, operate and mainThe organization recruits WHO… tain the system and facilitated volunteers on social media plathave or would community meetings where forms but Turang said the best like to have a the community set its ground recruitment tool is still word of more global mouth. LTL is always looking for rules for management and use reach regarding clinicians, pharmacists, builders, of the water system.” healthcare and LTL also provides training and architects and interpreters. education capacity building opportunities Besides New Orleans, volunteers for a wide range of healthcare come from all over the world, providers, from doctors and including Indonesia, Australia, nurses, to traditional birth attendants and Scotland, Laos, England and Mexico. community health educators.

“I’m proud to say that 80 percent of The organization also outfits clinics with our volunteers return the next year to necessary equipment, such as ultrasounds, serve again.” and then offers clinicians intensive training Two summers ago, Isaac Watson set on how to use these tools in their practices. out on a journey that would change his In order to make all of this possible, life and broaden his understanding of the LTL relies heavily on a global network world. He volunteered a summer helping of volunteers, program partners and Learn To Live. community leaders.

“It was so eye opening,” he said. “I Arwen Podesta, a New Orleans-based was in a place that was years behind in adult psychiatrist, has been passionate medical care and technology. And with just about LTL for five years and serves on its our being there, you could feel we were board of directors. making a huge difference in their lives.”

“As a physician in private practice, I He remembers one incident clearly. don’t have the global reach to change “We traveled an hour and half from things,” she said. “I thought that LTL, by our base and then another hour by boat

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Top to Bottom: LTL International Program Director, Rachel Witwer; Water Project Designer, Elizabeth Chen; and Founder/ Executive Director, Yanti Turang.

until we came to a very remote village.

They had no resources at all. There was a woman, who was maybe 35 years old, and who maybe had a week to live. She had pneumonia. I wasn’t part of the medical team. I was there for miscellaneous jobs and heavy lifting, so I was asked to carry her to the boat. I knew then I was part of something important. I was part of the team that ultimately saved her life and the lives of so many others. I was 19 years old and this experience took volunteering to a whole new level.”

Watson is currently studying advertising

“I’m proud to say that 80 percent of our volunteers return the next year to serve again.”

Yanti Turang, LearnToLive Founder/Executive Director

THE BASICS

learn to live Mission

LearnToLive joins with communities worldwide to improve quality of life through healthcare, health education, and access to clean water while building global citizens and future leaders in healthcare.

Contact

938 Lafayette St. (504) 475-8033 learntoliveglobal.org Annual Budget

$320,000

Current Need

Financial support Gala attendees Volunteers Basic wound dressings

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at the University of Texas. He’s stayed in touch with the staff at LTL and is planning to volunteer another summer in the near future.

“It’s made me feel grateful for all I have here to be a part of this effort.”

A large part of LTL’s funding comes from grants and corporate donations, but a good amount of funding comes from individual donors, people who want to be a small part of big change for the better.

“I am proud that LTL has seen thousands of patients to date in Indonesia and together with local healthcare workers have mobile clinics in some of the most remote communities in Indonesia.”

LTL is intentionally a small organization so that it can keep operational expenses lean and in turn devote the majority of its funds to programming costs, such as medication, building materials, clinic supplies and interpreters.

“Even after six years of navigating the global health arena, we feel there is still so much to learn,” Turang said in LTL’s annual report. “Through our successes, and to be honest, also our missteps, we have been able to gain valuable insights and develop the resilience needed to operate in a field where, despite the reward, our work can often feel overwhelming. With this resilience, we will continue to move forward and broaden our impact.” n

Major Fundraising Event Act Global-Party Local is LTL’s gala and major fundraiser. It’s scheduled for Friday, April 5, at The Cellar on St. Louis Street.

James Beard Award-winning chef Sue Zemanick will provide culinary treats with an Indonesian flair.

Musical wonders Alexis and the Samurai, and special guests Boyfriend, will supply the entertainment.

Tickets are $120 each online at tickettailor.com/ events/learntolive

how to help

What Your Company Can Do Let LTL address your employees to promote the organization Spread the word about the organization Buy a table at a fundraising event

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Ace and the Louisiana Open Housing Act, which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. For more information, call the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-273-5718.

78 / Biz New Orleans / march 2019

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From The Lens ON T HE J OB

Louis Is On the Move!

Riverboat Louis Armstrong heads to New Orleans this spring.

Currently in its final stages of

renovations, the 3,000-passenger Riverboat Louis Armstrong is set to become New Orleans’ newest event venue and home to Sunday Louis Armstrong gospel jazz brunches.

At four decks high — one of the largest riverboats in the region — it is owned by Hospitality Enterprises, owner of the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours and City Sightseeing Busses.

On Jan. 28, the riverboat’s main decal was installed at Buck Kreihs Repair on the Westbank. The decal reaches approximately 27.5 feet high and just over 32 feet wide.

To follow the journey of Riverboat Louis Armstrong, search for the boat on social media or visit BigEasy.com. n

Photo credit: Hospitality Enterprises/BigEasy.com

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