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SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

PUBLISHER’S NOTE |

SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT ON: 10

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STAYING SAFE ONLINE

Computer Sales & Services offers tips for home and work

12

PUNCHING ON

14

COMFORT IN THE COMMUNITY

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IN EVERY ISSUE:

RISK MANAGEMENT

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Punch Gymnastics brings their gym online

08 18

Ice cream shops deliver enterprising solutions, flavors

GOING REMOTE...FOR GOOD

Rushing Media makes the move to stay working remote

OIL AND GAS UPDATE

LA parish lawsuits vs. oil & gas companies will remain in state court

GOVERNMENT UPDATE A Fair and Honest Judiciary

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing EDITORIAL Mary Ditch EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Drew Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Keely Diebold CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CREATIVE Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

FROM THE TOP

Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Deanne Ratliff DIRECTOR OF SALES

Sye Broussard

Headlines and accolades

ADVERTISING Beth Tabor

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Michelle Ortego

CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: editor@bayoubusinessmonthly.com

OVERCOMING THE RISKS

S

eptember is here, and man, does it look different! Usually, our kids have been in school for a month by now and are itching for that three-day Labor Day weekend. This year, our public schools will just be letting in after Labor Day. During press week for this magazine, our online newspaper The Times of Houma-Thibodaux reported numerous changes to fall sports, including seasons being canceled and games being played without fans. The only consistent thing is change.

This month, our spotlight focus is on Risk Management. We take a closer look at cyber security in the new age of remote work and online classes. Protection is key when it comes to safety online.

We also have several stories with a feature focus on Overcoming the Risks. Locally, many of our businesses have turned to creative solutions to help keep their doors open and employees on staff.

Two of Houma’s most well-loved, longstanding ice cream establishments knew they had to stay open to give the community a place to which they could turn to find comfort in such uncertain times. Staying open required some thinking outside the box, but it’s a challenge that Zack’s Frozen Yogurt and Scarlet Scoop happily accepted.

Staying active was important to members of our community too. To serve their athletes, Punch Gymnastics moved its

Sales: sales@rushing-media.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly.

operations entirely online when its physical location was forced to close when the stay-at-home order was put into place.

Throughout their digital operations, the priority was always to keep athletes engaged with their training.

Our other story is a personal one for me. It’s our company’s story of how we have moved our operations away from a physical space, and made the shift to remote work. Since March, we have operated entirely remotely, continuing to produce three monthly publications, one weekly publication and daily online news coverage apart from a physical office. It’s been amazing to see how well our staff has adapted and thrived in this new work atmosphere. I hope our story inspires you to make some changes in your own business to be better prepared for any future shutdowns, from hurricanes to pandemics.

This issue’s shift to Overcoming the Risks was an amazing topic to cover. I am encouraged to see the enterprising solutions local businesses have come up with to continue to be a major factor in our economy. Let’s keep working together to support our local businesses.

•

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OIL & GAS |

STAFF REPORT

SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

LOUISIANA PARISH LAWSUITS VS. OIL AND GAS COMPANIES

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Oil companies facing lawsuits from parishes that blame them for coastal wetlands loss in Louisiana lost an attempt in mid-August to move the suits to federal court.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a decision keeping the suits in state court, where the six coastal parishes want them tried.

Gifford Briggs, President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA) and Lori Leblanc, Interim President of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA) issued the following joint statement in response to the order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

“To be clear, the Fifth Circuit’s decision issued today has no bearing on the facts of the case nor the merits of the issues raised by the defendants in the litigation. Whether these cases move forward in federal court or state court, we will continue to defend against the meritless cases and show why the lawsuits do nothing for Louisiana’s coast.

These unnecessary and abusive lawsuits continue to be counterproductive to our state, and any effort to restore and protect our coastline. The hundreds of defendants in these suits, made up of thousands of Louisiana families and employees, will continue to do their part in providing reliable energy, economic opportunity, and actual, tangible results for our state’s precious coast. In fact, largely as a result of the industry’s ongoing investments and continued commitment, CPRA will have more projects under construction this year than ever before in our state’s history.”

In 2013 the parishes of Plaquemines and Jefferson filed 28 separate lawsuits, 21 in Plaquemines and seven in Jefferson, against over 100 oil companies alleging claims for restoration and damages

arising from the violation of coastal use permits, or arising from the failure to obtain a permit when required, the latter being the most prevalent. Altogether, by 2019, seven parishes filed suit. Those suits, filed in state courts, were moved to federal court, due to claims that certain federal laws regarding jurisdiction were in play.

In these lawsuits, the state is an active party because, under the interpretation of coastal law advanced by attorneys for the plaintiffs, the standing to bring an action is equal among all potential parties.

The complex web of case-law relating to these issues of jurisdiction is daunting, especially to laymen.

The question of whether the cases would remain in federal court – an outcome preferred by the oil companies – or be moved to state courts, an outcome preferred by attorneys for the parishes, was key. Until that decision was made, the cases were on hold.

SENATE BILL 440 FAILS TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE In the legislature this session, a bill, SB440, authored by Senator Mike Fesi, sought to nullify Louisiana parish lawsuits against oil companies. The bill ultimately failed as the session came to a close without making it to final passage.

“Unfortunately, the shortened session created a timing issue,” Gifford Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, and Tyler Gray, president and general counsel of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we look forward to continuing the conversation on ending these meritless lawsuits and bringing our oil and gas workforce home.”

SB440 passed the Senate narrowly

on May 20 and won approval in the House Natural Resources Committee after being amended. The committee voted to add amendments by Rep. Philip Devillier, R-Eunice, that would give the Department of Natural Resources, and Attorney General Jeff Landry sole discretion over the lawsuits instead of the parishes. Opponents say that neither the Natural Resources Department nor the Attorney General’s office have the money to cover the full cost of the lawsuits. Last week, the department estimated the cost of each of the 42 cases at about $4.3 million, or an aggregate of over $180 million. Due to those numbers, SB440 had to pass another legislative step, the House Appropriations Committee.

Advocates of the bill say it requires the money that the parishes would have spent on the lawsuits to go to coastal restoration efforts. Many local voices traveled to Baton Rouge this summer to speak in committee in favor of the bill.

“If we’re going to believe that these lawsuits are about restoring our coasts, then we need to put the money where our coast needs to be restored,” Archie Chaisson, Lafourche parish President, said in support of the bill.

Terrebonne Parish officials have held a position against bringing lawsuits against oil field companies.

Last summer, the Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce penned a letter to the Secretary of the State of Louisiana Department of Natural Resources explaining their position.

In part, the letter read: “The HoumaTerrebonne Chamber of Commerce, with approximately 650 members, ranks coastal restoration and protection as one of our top concerns for Terrebonne Parish. along with a strong, vibrant economy Although coastal restoration and

protection are urgently needed to shield our businesses and economy, filing suit against the oil and gas industry, an industry that drives the economy of Louisiana and unquestionably drives the economy of Terrebonne Parish, is not the way to solve our coastal problems.

In 2016 the citizens and the elected representatives of Terrebonne Parish took a clear stance on the issue of filing lawsuits against the oil and gas industry. Our Parish President and elected council passed ordinances refusing to participate in this movement.

Additionally, our business community and the 650 members of the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce also took formal action to oppose any such suits.

The majority of Terrebonne Parish is owned by the same companies these suits and damage assessments will be brought upon. More importantly, these same companies have been leaders of the efforts to restore the coast for many decades. They have contributed land, money and resources to the execution of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan.

Louisiana and Terrebonne Parish will not benefit from the results of these lawsuits: rather, such litigation will suppress the amazing progress that is being made.

Our economy and our coast depend on the cooperation of business and the environment. We cannot have one without the other. The litigation being facilitated by your recent measures will stymie economic growth and will reduce the same tax revenue that we depend upon to do this important coastal work.

Such revenue is long-term, and the only constant funding dedicated to the preservation of our coast. The damages you are investigating will only benefit the attorneys that are seeking the damages.”

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SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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GOVERNMENT UPDATE | BY BO STAPLES

E

SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

A FAIR AND HONEST

JUDICIARY

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ver since middle school civics, that quadrennial Tuesday is etched in your subconscious calendar.

Presidential Election Day. So you’re already well aware that on November 3, we’ll all head to the polls and decide if President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden will live in the White House for the next four years. But aside from that most pressing decision, most Louisianans are rightfully focused on other, more prescient factors: getting back to work, school reopening, or if they’ll be able to watch a game in person, in Tiger Stadium this fall.

Given all that is happening in the world right now, getting voters to pay attention to this fall’s “down-ballot” races is not an easy task. Sure, there will be a partisan battle in the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, a Democrat. Meanwhile over in the House, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham is retiring after three terms, and his chief of staff, Luke Letlow, is vying against Rep. Lance Harris and seven other candidates for the open seat in Northeast Louisiana. Several other incumbent Congressmen have attracted minor challengers, but none are likely to change the trajectory of power, policy or playing fields in Louisiana politics.

That is, until we get to the judiciary.

November 3 provides Louisianans with a tremendous opportunity to change our state’s future and reshape our critical third branch of government; our judiciary. We’ll be casting ballots for two new justices on the Louisiana Supreme Court, four judges to sit on the benches of the Courts of Appeal, and more than 50 local District Court judges. Because Louisiana sees its highest voter turnout in a Presidential Election, and this amount of state judicial races only lines up with the contest to be commander-in-chief every 12 years, you’ll have the largest amount of citizens voting for judges that we’ve seen since 2008. It appears our country is facing new unrest and questions of

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civil liberties at every turn. What better way to steady the ship of state than to empower fair-minded, transparent jurists to apply our laws and rule on the most pressing issues of our time?

Now, if you don’t know much about the judiciary, have no fear, you’re not alone.

The judiciary is the single branch of government that the average citizen only has to deal with when they have a major problem, so the vast majority of voters have no idea who their elected judges even are. To help better educate the public, LABI’s Louisiana Free Enterprise Institute has created LouisianaJudiciary.com, an online resource for the public to explore the judiciary from their local district on up to the state Supreme Court.

We want voters to get to know their judges and understand their courts and complex district lines a bit better.

The state’s marquee judicial race is in Northeast Louisiana, where voters will fill the unexpired term of retiring Justice Marcus Clark (R-West Monroe) in the Fourth District’s Supreme Court seat. This election district covers 20 parishes across Northeast and Central Louisiana, with population centers in Monroe, Alexandria, and Ruston. The election is an intra-party contest between Judge Jay McCallum (R-Farmerville) of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, and Judge Shannon Gremillion (R-Alexandria) of the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. The winner will serve the remaining six years of Clark’s term.

Judge McCallum, who has been endorsed by LABI’s NorthPAC, is not a political newcomer, having won his first election to the Legislature in 1991 at age 31. He also served as a prosecutor in both Union and Lincoln Parishes, and has served the last 18 years as both a District Judge and in his current position on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal. Judge Gremillion has held his seat on the Third Circuit for 12 years, after winning an incredibly close race to succeed his father, Judge Glenn Gremillion. Prior to his tenure on the bench, Gremillion spent 13 years as a practicing attorney.

Several open seats on the Courts of Appeal have led to four competitive races around the state in the Shreveport, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and the River Parishes region. These judges are a crucial part of the legal process, able to affirm or overturn a judgement made by a District Court. The tremendous power of judicial review must not be overlooked, for no matter how many good bills become law in the Legislature and are signed by the Governor, all it takes is one decision from an activist judge to invalidate that law and tie the state up in costly litigation.

Every single District Judge in Louisiana is up for re-election this fall. At the close of qualifying, and with ballot challenges still being fought, voters are looking at roughly 55 contested district races around the state where we will get at least 40 first-time judges on the district bench. Not to mention, many more city court and other local judges in communities across the state. We hope these newly elected judges will join with current reform-minded judges to help move our judiciary towards a more transparent and efficient judicial system. Look for our PACs to take an active role in supporting reform-minded textualists to benches across the state as we continue our push for legal reform.

On November 3, Louisiana voters are not just going to just pick a President and a U.S. Senator, we also will have an incredible opportunity to determine the direction of our state’s judiciary for years to come. Let’s pull back the secrecy that has shrouded the third branch of government for decades and embrace the ideas of honesty, fairness and transparency that our state deserves.

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FROM THE TOP |

QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK: WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Being an attorney, I get to help those in need. Attorneys are stereotyped in a negative light, but we contribute a lot of nobility to society. I’ve stopped unlawful evictions, obtained justice in court for those who have been wronged, and once successfully secured the safe return of an urn containing the ashes of a widow’s late husband after she was evicted and forced to move her family into a shelter.

Conducting real estate closings, I am fortunate to help people realize their dream of buying a home. At the closing, it’s always rewarding to see the excitement on a new homeowner’s face. As a business attorney, I assist companies with a wide array of legal needs to ensure long term success for the company and the families of the employees who depend on the company for their livelihoods.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST? My job is high stress and high stakes. Being able to remain calm and level headed when someone’s life is on the line is vital. A lot of times when I meet with clients I am not only acting in my capacity as their attorney but as their counselor. It didn’t take long into my career before I started saying there should be a psychology class in law school.

Sometimes clients just need to vent and be reassured you are going to fight for them.

Sadly, a lot of clients have never had anyone in their corner. We are a voice for them.

HOW CAN BROUSSARD AND DOVE HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES?

SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

SYE BROUSSARD MANAGING PARTNER AT BROUSSARD & DOVE, APLC

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My wife/law partner and I both have our Masters in Business Administration and manage several businesses. This provides us invaluable insight from not only a legal perspective, but a business one. We are a local law firm here for local businesses. It amazes me how many times I hear of businesses going to out of town firms for their legal needs without searching locally. They end up paying twice the local hourly rate and the local economy losses that money forever. Now more than ever local businesses need to support one another! Save yourself the drive and money and ensure your dollars are being reinvested back into our local economy. We are a charitable company and routinely donate to local schools, organizations, and charities.

We have handled numerous business transactions involving startup companies, contract negotiations, financing, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate deals.

Unfortunately, business transactions do not always go as planned and companies give us a call to handle a wide array of litigation involving breach of contract, fraud, unpaid invoices and more. We take the time to really understand a business and its needs. We look at every business as a lifetime client; not another file to close out and move on.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AS A CAREER? I always dreamed of playing in the World Cup as a child. I was one of three boys to a single mom who was THE 80’s soccer mom. We would drive all over the state and into Texas playing tournaments on the weekends. Sometimes our games would be in different cities. Now I have children of my own and have no clue how she did it. But like she always said, “We’re on an adventure.”

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WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST JOB?

One of my first jobs was in high school picking up golf balls on a driving range. And yes, I have gotten hit before. Right as I was walking into the caged cart a golf ball hit me right in-between the shoulder blades. I’m certain people would aim for me as I was driving.

WHAT TIME TO DO YOU WAKE UP AND HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?

After I wake up, my wife and I wake up the kids. Some days they are easier to get up than others, but then again I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Putting them to bed and waking them up is quality time I cherish. I’ve always been a forward thinker and know that I’ll miss these little moments later in life.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT?

My family is everything to me. They are my motivation to work hard and live a giving life helping others. I couldn’t imagine a world without them. I am truly blessed.

Music is another must have in my life. My mother and her family are musically inclined. A lot of them had perfect pitch and could play several instruments. I have fond memories growing up listening to them play music from Patsy Cline to The Beatles to Hank Williams, Sr. When I was younger, most of my free time was spent training or playing soccer. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I bought a Beatles song book at a local music shop and taught myself how to play the guitar. I’ve played ever since. It’s a great release that truly captivates me.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME?

I’ve always had a passion for fishing. Growing up I would borrow my cousin’s boat just to get out on the water. 80 percent of the time it would break down on me, but I’d always ask to take it again. My wife quickly realized this obsession and gave me the greenlight to finally buy my first boat before we bought a house. True love right there!

I try to take my kids as often as I can. I think I already got them hooked. At just 5 and 3 years old, they’ve already been 60 miles offshore blue water fishing. They are constantly asking me to take them. My son says he wants to work at Falgout Canal Marina in Dularge when he grows up.

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Favorite vacation spot? I’m a beach bum at heart. What can I say?

How do you take your coffee?

Little cream, no sugar.

Chocolate or vanilla ice cream? Vanilla with chopped up Oreo cookies.

Pen or pencil? Pen. I’m left handed so the pencil smears :( Early bird or night owl? My wife will say night owl but I think I’m transitioning more into an early bird the older I get.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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SPOTLIGHT ON: RISK MANAGEMENT |

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STAYING SAFE SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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he novel coronavirus altered virtually every aspect of our daily routine and changed life as we knew it.

Businesses, in particular, had to rethink and reshape how to be productive in a world that started calling for less physical human interaction.

Thus, they went virtual -- moving files, meetings and transactions, among other business needs, to online platforms.

As the nearly endless sea of data on the internet rapidly expanded due to COVID-19, the need for cybersecurity grew as well.

According to CRN, more than 3.2 million records were exposed in the 10 biggest data breaches in the first half of 2020, with eight of the top 10 breaches occurring at medical or healthcare organizations.

“You got more people working from home and connecting to the office resources from their personal computers. So, those personal computers need to make sure that they have the same kind of security that they have at the office,” said Ed Spoon, Internet Services Manager at Houma’s Computer Sales & Services (CSS).

Spoon said the best way to connect to the office from the home is to use a virtual private network, or VPN. “It’s an encrypted connection directly to your office. So you’re not going over the open internet to a TeamViewer or GoToMeeting or something like that,” he explained. “That secures it and encrypts it before you start connecting to anything.”

Email security is vital as well, as the world has seen major companies lose millions due to leaked emails, and on top of that, and perhaps more importantly, expose the data of millions of customers, leaving them susceptible to identity theft and fraud.

“The first thing to do is get your password changed, if you can. If they’ve taken it completely, then you may not be able to do that,” Spoon advised if an employee’s email is hacked. “If you cannot, contact the provider... and see if they can shut it down. In the meantime, either with another company account or create a new account, let your most important contacts know that that address is no longer valid.”

“Get a professional involved to look at the computer to see if there’s any other compromise or just to make sure that it gets completely cleaned and disinfected,” he added.

Spoon also recommended turning on two-factor authentication and having a strong password to take some preventive measure against hacking.

The virtual meeting platform Zoom has been prone to cyber attacks, with hackers “zoombombing” -- interrupting meetings to project graphic content or interjecting with other nuisances. Spoon said having up-todate protection and strong passwords can help prevent those situations.

CSS, located at 1162 Barrow St. in Houma, is an authorized reseller for HP and Xerox. Their experts can configure and repair networks, and CSS also offers managed IT services and internet solutions “We’ve been doing it for a longtime...We have probably close to 100 years of experience combined with our technicians,” Spoon said. “We have the experience and know-how.”

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BAYOU BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2020 MONTHLY | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

“PUNCHING” ON 12

W

hen COVID-19 put a halt on in-person gymnastics lessons, one Houma gym managed to keep “punching” on with the help of a digitally-centered age.

Owned by Wayne and Jessica Punch, Punch Gymnastics describes its mission as helping children to discover their strength while having fun in the process.

That’s why when business had to be altered in response to COVID-19, Jessica knew it was important for the

gym to uphold that mission for its families and students.

“For us, the biggest thing was how we were going to stay committed to our families and to our athletes. We try to progress our athletes in a way that they are always learning, so for us, our biggest concern was trying to find a way, even though it would probably be an unorthodox way, of continuing our mission,” Jessica said.

Punch Gymnastics moved its operations

entirely online while its physical location was forced to close when the stay-athome order was put into place. Jessica said that classes at the gym are separated by age groups, so each group was given scheduled days and times during the week as to when their classes were set to take place through video call services like Zoom.

“We were still working. I still had my coaches working, and that was good because even though they weren’t

BY KEELY DIEBOLD

working as many hours, it was good for them to be able to keep working some hours,” Jessica said.

The gym’s coaches also wanted to provide alternate options for athletes who were not available during their classes’ scheduled Zoom times, so coaches and athletes began making videos to share with other students.

Toward the end of the stay-at-home order, Punch Gymnastics coaches started the process of recording socially-distant

“What I’ve learned from them is that they just want to do what they love, so that means that if it has to be different, they’ll take it...It’s really shown me the resiliency of kids and that they’re able to adapt.”

— Jessica Punch

it. It’s one of those things you really have to stay up on,” Jessica said.

The gym reopened its doors on a limited basis in May when Louisiana moved to Phase 1 of the COVID-19 reopening plan.

For the athletes who began to return to in-person lessons, Jessica said the opportunity to continue training while they were away paid off, as they did not have to re-gain any flexibility or strength.

Now, the gym is operating under new health and safety guidelines put into place to protect athletes and coaches from the spread of the virus. Employees are required to wear masks, surfaces are sanitized in between use, temperature checks are taken as students arrive and parents are required to drop children off in a car pickup line outside, instead of entering the gym.

The gym is still offering some online classes, but Jessica is happy to see athletes back together in the gym, participating in the sport they love. She said she believes there is a lot for them to learn from their experience over the last few months.

“I think it said that we’re willing to make things work and maybe to look at things from a different angle,” Jessica said.

“What I’ve learned from them is that they just want to do what they love, so that means that if it has to be different, they’ll take it...

It’s really shown me the resiliency of kids and that they’re able to adapt.”

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at-home workout videos at the gym.

Additionally, Jessica said she would send workout plans to athletes, who would complete the workouts and record videos doing them. Punch Gymnastics would then share those videos for other athletes to view and practice at their convenience.

“With the Zoom classes, you have to come...when the class is offered, but let’s say that time doesn’t work for you or whatever. We wanted to come in and have another way to be able to teach the kids... so they were able to learn on their own time,” Jessica said.

Throughout their digital operations, Jessica said the priority was always to keep athletes engaged with their training.

“It definitely meant that we would have to do online gymnastics and still have our athletes of the month and still find ways to reach everybody,” Jessica said. “We were a little nervous about that but...we just really wanted to find a way to keep our kids learning.”

Jessica said it meant a lot to see Punch’s athletes have the chance to continue doing what they loved to do, even from a distance.

In particular, she feels like it was an opportunity for the students to capitalize on furthering aspects of their training that they may not have worked on as intensely before, such as strengthening and flexibility.

“It meant a lot for our kids to be able to stay strong. Gymnastics is not one of those sports where you can take a week or two off and then come back and not feel

13

COMFORT IN THE COMMUNITY ICE CREAM SHOPS DELIVER ENTERPRISING SOLUTIONS, FLAVORS

SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

W

14

BY KEELY DIEBOLD

hen bad days happen, people have a habit of turning to sources of familiarity to find comfort.

That familiarity can come in many forms, and, sometimes, it comes in the form of America’s favorite dessert: ice cream.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to close doors to schools, offices and businesses back in March, people looked for a sense of normalcy more than ever in the weeks and months that followed.

That’s why two of Houma’s most well-loved, longstanding ice cream establishments knew they had to stay open to give the community a place to which they could turn to find comfort in such uncertain times.

Staying open required some thinking outside the box, but it’s a challenge that Zack’s Frozen Yogurt and Scarlet Scoop happily accepted. Months into the pandemic now, both businesses are grateful for the opportunity to be a place of comfort and normalcy for the Houma community.

ZACK’S FROZEN YOGURT

“The first couple of weeks [were] a

big blur,” Zack’s owner Joe Boudreaux said.

When the stay-at-home order became inevitable months ago, Boudreaux said the Zack’s team wanted to respond how they always do in situations: by being proactive instead of reactive. Right away, the business sought a plan of action for keeping its doors open while serving customers safely.

Boudreaux said the business immediately purchased plexiglass partitions to place in front of the registers, and sneeze guards were already installed over the ice cream. In addition, the shops were at an advantage by not offering selfservice or table service.

The business also implemented a mask mandate to increase health protocols on top of its sanitation measures that had long been in place.

Both Zack’s locations had to operate differently, as the W. Park Ave. location features a drive thru, while the St. Charles St. location does not. The W. Park location closed the front of its store and served customers solely through the drive thru.

The St. Charles location removed all of its chairs and tables, allowing for takeout only.

The company leaned heavily on its partnerships with Waitr and Grubhub to serve customers who did not feel comfortable coming to the locations themselves. At the St. Charles location in particular, options for call-ahead orders and curbside pickup were also offered.

Boudreaux said his priority from the start was to keep Zack’s open, both to serve customers and to make sure his team stayed employed. Since the pandemic began, he said the company hasn’t laid off a single employee.

“Number one was keeping the doors open. Between both stores, I’d say I’ve got

15 people employed, and I said, ‘I have to keep these people employed. I have to keep my team making money. People still have to eat,’” Boudreaux said. “It was always [about] keeping our doors open to serve our customers, to serve our team.”

General Manager Kristine Zvirzdinis said that navigating new sanitation protocols and guidelines from state and federal governments has been a challenge, but being able to continue to serve customers has been a rewarding experience.

On top of health and safety measures, Zack’s found creative ways to spread little extra joy to the community.

Its biggest seller came in the form of “family packs” that were added to the business’s lineup of offerings toward the beginning of the pandemic. The packs, which cost $20 each, include two quarts of either ice cream or frozen yogurt, two waffle cones or waffle bowls and two cups of toppings.

Zack’s also sought ways during this time to give back to the community.

Boudreaux reached out to Hershey’s, the company’s dealer, to ask for a donation of products, which Zack’s gave away to first responders. With the leftover products, Zack’s found a way to offer encouragement to other local establishments.

“I said let’s just ride around to restaurants and businesses and just drop it off to them to say, ‘Hey, hang in there,’” Boudreaux said. “My team at Zack’s, they just wrote little encouraging notes. ‘Hey, we’re in this together.’ ‘You guys are doing a great job.’ ‘We love you’...I loaded a freezer into my trailer and we just drove around town.”

Zvirzdinis, who worked at Zack’s as a teenager, knows firsthand the role that Zack’s has had in her life. She said it’s special to see that same impact on other people’s lives.

“To see how important Zack’s is to the community because of the amount of people that continue to come to Zack’s, even with everything going on, just is heartwarming. It feels good to know that you’re a part of something that people love so much,” Zvirzdinis said.

With 37 years of existence in the community, Boudreaux said that people need Zack’s to be a source of normalcy in their lives during such challenging times.

At the end of the day, he believes the business has accomplished that purpose.

“When a customer comes in, they may be fighting a battle you know nothing about,” Boudreaux said. “Treat that customer like this is the highlight of their day because it very well might be.

Nobody just wanders into Zack’s - Zack’s is a destination. They’re coming here for a reason, and they’re coming here because they want to feel better...We have to keep a sense of normalcy.”

SCARLET SCOOP

In its 51 years of existence, Scarlet Scoop had experienced just about everything except a pandemic. “[For] 43 years, I’ve owned the store.

couldn’t get at Jazz Fest. We made them in the store, and we played the Jazz Fest music because it was being broadcast over the radio, so it was a real hit that people got a taste of Jazz Fest those two weekends in the store,” Nelson said.

Scarlet Scoop has become a popular after-school snack location for nearby schools, like St. Matthew’s Episcopal School and St. Francis de Sales Catholic School. With schools beginning to reopen, Nelson said he’s especially excited about seeing the children back in the shop once again.

“That’ll be special to have them all back in the store after school, in their uniforms and all. They’ve all grown up...I waited on their parents when they were in those khaki uniforms, and so now they’re bringing their kids back into the store, so it is special for them all to come back in after school and get their treat.”

For Nelson, a silver lining during the last few months is that business has stayed consistent, which he attributes to the comfort that people find in ice cream.

Nelson, who started working at Scarlet Scoop at age 14 and has owned it since age 17, said it’s an honor to know that the shop is a place that is loved by so many people in the community and has been a source of comfort over the last few months. He said it has taken a long time and a great deal of hard work to get the shop to that point, but the reward has been special.

“It’s home for a lot of people. They feel comfortable there. They were brought there as a kid. Now, they bring their children, or they were brought there by their grandparents. Everybody knows the store,” Nelson said. “There’s a fear going on, and it’s natural to go to a place that makes you feel comfortable - that nothing has changed, and that’s the reason why we’ve been so busy.”

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In that time, I have seen it all: hurricanes and oil spills and 9/11 and everything like that, so this was something totally different,” owner Bryan Nelson said.

“With a hurricane, you know when the electricity goes out, eventually it will come back on...With this, none of us still really kind of know what the steps [are] to totally coming back.”

Every week since the start of the pandemic has seemed to bring something new, Nelson said.

The shop began its response to COVID-19 by removing seating from inside the shop and turning to takeout, curbside pickup, phone orders and deliveries to serve customers.

While the shop already had extensive cleaning measures in place, Nelson said the pandemic brought an added level of sanitation protocols, with the regular disinfection of counters, handles and other surfaces. In addition, employees and customers are required to wear masks at all times.

Creating specialty flavors that coincide with local events has become a beloved tradition for Scarlet Scoop and its customers. For example, the shop introduced a highly-popular “Oil Spill” flavor following the BP oil spill of 2010.

As the pandemic continued on, the business took that tradition to the next level.

“Whenever something happens, people always ask, ‘So, what ice cream are you going to make for this?’ So, of course, we had to make a ‘C-19’ for this event,” Nelson said.

The “C-19” features Butterfingers, Oreo cookies and a chocolate swirl to resemble a virus, Nelson said.

Other speciality flavors were created to pay tribute to beloved festivals that were cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

For example, the shop took popular desserts served at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and turned them into ice cream flavors, which were served on the weekends the festival was set to take place. The flavors included a Mango Freeze sorbet inspired by Jazz Fest’s famous Mango Freeze, a Beignet Praline ice cream inspired by the festival’s praline beignets and a Brennan’s Bananas Foster ice cream.

“We did the things that you

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GOING REMOTE... FOR GOOD!

SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Amber Duplantis

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BY KEELY DIEBOLD

F

or a company that has been set in its ways for a significant time, it would be an understatement to say that the idea of transitioning to a remote work format can be overwhelming.

Uncertainty arises over how processes and communication will work if employees are not in one location, what expectations will be placed on employees who are not working in a continuously-supervised setting and the cost associated with moving toward remote operations.

Oftentimes, it takes a leap of faith to make such a transition. Sometimes, it takes a pandemic.

When the threat of COVID-19 began to close schools indefinitely back

in March, businesses were forced to search for a response to the new, albeit temporary, reality that employees would have to take care of school-age children while continuing to work.

For Rushing Media, LLC., a response was unknowingly in the works well before it was needed and, along the way, became a long-term movement.

“We had set ourselves up unknowingly to be ready for it but just hadn’t pulled the trigger, and the COVID shutdowns forced us to pull the trigger, and it just worked pretty seamlessly,” owner Brian Rushing said.

Since March, Rushing Media has operated entirely remotely, continuing to produce three monthly publications, one

weekly publication and daily online news coverage apart from a physical office.

Brian attributes the transition to steps that were already being made toward creating a more flexible work environment for the company.

“We kind of realized over time that we wanted employees to have some more flexibility, but because of having a physical file server in the building and difficulties and costs involved with remote access to that server, it was just something that always got put on the back burner,” Brian said.

When the server, which housed all of the company’s necessary files for operation, began to fail last December, Rushing Media saw an opportunity to

begin moving toward remote work.

Files were transitioned to Google’s G Suite, an online, cloud-based collaboration tool for businesses, to allow for remote access. From there, the company decided to deploy Google Chromebooks to several employees, a process that was nearing completion as schools shut down.

The Chromebooks work hand-in-hand with the G Suite, but they also prevent files from being lost if a device crashes, Brian said. All Chromebook settings and files are saved to a cloud, so if one breaks, a new Chromebook can be set up quickly with exactly the same settings.

“I think that was the other part of the deal. Solid laptops that had all of the capabilities to do all of this stuff are fairly

here to stay for the company moving forward.

Selling the building was a big step for the company, as Brian’s parents built it roughly 30 years ago. However, it was a necessary one.

Part of the decision was financial, Brian said, as such an expensive, large building space was no longer needed for Rushing Media’s future.

The other part was a statement to the company’s employees that it is committed to giving them a more flexible lifestyle— that an eight-to-five office schedule is not required, and there would be no going back to that way of operating.

“I wanted more flexibility for me and my family than the eight-to-five day gives us, so why wouldn’t my employees want that same flexibility?” Brian said. “I saw employees taking lunches with their kids, or getting work done at night so that they could take a long weekend, and I saw how much more productive people were being with that flexibility to work when they wanted and when they had time so that they could also have a life that did not revolve around this eight-to-five work schedule.”

Brian said the company’s success in transitioning to remote operations was rooted in asking employees what they would need in order to seamlessly work from home. It all boiled down to two main components: a cloud-based file storage system and a business-focused communication tool.

Transitioning to remote work was a big step, but it is a step of which Brian believes all businesses are capable in some way. Ultimately, he encourages business owners to begin looking toward implementing systems that allow for remote operations.

After all, the day may come again where such a transition is necessary.

“Whether you plan to work remotely 100 percent or not, you need to set up your business so that employees have the option... There will probably come a time when an employee will need that option, and you should be prepared for that,” Brian said. “Even if it’s for a temporary solution, you should be prepared for remote work, and the tools are there in almost every industry to make that happen.”

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expensive, and we’re a small company,” Brian said. “When we started doing some research and realizing that decentlyequipped Chromebooks could be had for less than $400 each, it was a no-brainer to start buying those and getting them in the hands of employees.”

Meanwhile, the company turned to video conferencing services like Google Hangouts and RingCentral for team meetings.

The company had already solved any remote communication issues with the use of Slack, a business-focused platform that allows for the creation of topic-centered groups and channels for streamlining communication. “You have to have some kind of business-designed messaging system that allows you to transfer files between employees, transfer documents and keep conversations in a topic-specific conversation place. Without that, it’s just mayhem. Email and text are very poor ways to communicate about projects in a business environment,” Brian said.

The final piece of the puzzle in moving toward remote work was solving the company’s on-site, server-based ad scheduling and billing system. With a failing server, Brian said the company had to find a way to transition that process to a cloud system as well.

The answer was Workamajig, a webbased project management system that employees can access from wherever they are and use to collaborate on projects remotely.

“So many companies have these legacy systems that are ancient, and they just don’t move because it’s hard, and at some point you’ve got to do the hard things to make it easier for your business to grow,” Brian said.

The months of implementing new systems and processes that led up to the pandemic ultimately made the decision to allow employees, most of whom have young children, to work from home a doable solution.

What was once a COVID-19 response, though, has now become Rushing Media’s future.

In June, the company announced that the decision was made to sell its longtime office location on West Park Avenue and rent a smaller office elsewhere in Houma.

The smaller space will serve as a “home” for Rushing Media, but remote work is

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MOVERS & SHAKERS | HEADLINES & ACCOLADES

SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

THIBODAUX REGIONAL OPENS INNOVATIVE ACUITY ADAPTABLE CRITICAL CARE UNIT

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Thibodaux Regional Health System is proud to announce that their new 30-bed acuity adaptable Critical Care Unit (CCU) is now open. This innovative, leading edge patient care unit is the only one of its kind in Louisiana.

When the coronavirus pandemic began in early March, public health officials forecast a surge in the number of expected COVID-19 patients. As the region’s healthcare leader, Thibodaux Regional was proactive and responded to this sense of urgency and need by investing in the technology, people, processes, facilities, equipment and supplies needed to create a new, state of the art Critical Care Unit.

“We are the only five star hospital in Louisiana and a top quality care provider by national standards, but we want to continue to improve,” said Greg Stock, CEO, Thibodaux Regional. “This innovative Critical Care Unit will result in better clinical quality, lower costs, and an improved patient experience—all of which we already excel in.”

The new CCU was designed and constructed to function as an acuity adaptable unit, which is an evidencedbased patient care model that allows the patient to remain in the same room

while the level of care provided changes from intensive care (Level I) to step down (Level II) as the patient’s condition warrants. This innovative care model enables highly qualified and trained staff to provide seamless comprehensive care.

Featuring state of the art technology such as remote monitoring systems, physicians and staff are able to view patients’ vital signs and EKG rhythms in real time. Each patient room has bedside monitoring that is also linked with the medical record as an added safety measure for medication administration and documentation.

The Unit has private rooms with plenty of natural lighting and the option to close doors and blinds, allowing for greater privacy once a patient no longer requires constant monitoring. Dedicated negative pressure rooms are available for COVID patients.

“We are excited to open the new unit and bring this innovative patient care model to our region,” says Stock.

“The new 30-bed unit provides not only significant additional capacity, but when combined with advanced process improvement and expert staff and physicians, results in the best possible patient care.”

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NICHOLLS ALUM NAMED NEW UNIVERSITY POLICE CHIEF Lt. Alexander Barnes (BA ‘09, AS ‘09) has been named chief of University Police at Nicholls State University effective immediately.

The New Orleans native is a 16-year law enforcement veteran and got his start as a campus student officer as a student at Nicholls. His career also includes five years with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Since 2018, Chief Barnes had served as lieutenant and assistant director for police operations with University Police.

“As a student at Nicholls, this was always a long-term goal of mine,” Chief Barnes said. “My team and I are excited to engage our students in positive interactions that will develop an open line of communication. Only through understanding, cooperation and partnering with not only our local agencies, but the entire university community can we continue to do great things. It is important to remember that University Police is part of a larger whole. As part of that whole, we

also have a role in the development of our students that goes beyond that of basic law enforcement.”

A committee that included Nicholls faculty, staff and the local law enforcement community oversaw the search to replace Craig Jacuzzo, who joined the university criminal justice faculty this Fall after 16 years as University Police chief.

“From the beginning of this process, we have been impressed by Lt. Barnes’ passion for law enforcement, his affection for Nicholls and his vision for the department,” said Terry Braud, vice president for finance and administration.

“It is my pleasure to welcome him to the role and I’m confident he will represent this university in the best way.”

Barnes is a member of the Nicholls Hall of Fame, and is a former Student Government Association President, Nicholls NAACP President and Mr. Nicholls 2008.

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BAYOU INDUSTRIAL GROUP AWARDS $24,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL STUDENTS Bayou Industrial Group (BIG) awarded $24,000 in college scholarships to ten local students this summer as part of the business organization’s continued commitment to higher education and workforce development in our Bayou Region.

“Bayou Industrial Group’s annual scholarship program is a keystone of our group’s mission and we are very pleased to be able to support local students attending Nicholls State University and Fletcher Technical Community College, especially during today’s challenging times,” said President Lori LeBlanc. “Since 2015, this organization has awarded an amazing $99,500 in scholarships thanks to the generosity of our BIG members and successful fundraising efforts.”

This year, four scholarships were awarded to local high school graduates in Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary Parishes for enrollment at Fletcher Technical Community College, and six scholarships were awarded for enrollment at Nicholls State University.

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Nicholls State University Athletics is pleased to announce that former assistant coach and businessman Trey Boucvalt is the donor behind the largest gift in the institution’s history for The Boucvalt Family Athletic Complex.

Announced June 2019, the $2.52 million donation will help fund the expansion of Barker Hall. The renovations will build a football operations center and expand the current site into the south end zone of John L. Guidry Stadium. The total project, which will benefit all 17 athletics programs, costs $6.5 million.

“On behalf of myself, the department and the university, we cannot thank Trey enough for his generosity,” said Jonathan Terrell, director of athletics. “This donation to Nicholls Athletics and our football program will be appreciated and admired for years to come. Present and future student-athletes will experience top-level facilities, fit for them to perform at the championship level they have in previous seasons. We will continuously strive to make Trey, his family, and all of Nicholls nation proud to be a Colonel.”

Boucvalt was born and raised in South Louisiana. He has always had strong ties to the Bayou Region and Nicholls State University. Boucvalt was an assistant football coach at Nicholls from 2001 to 2005.He is married to the former Brandi Fryoux for 23 years. They have two children, Lex, 16, and Ori, 15.

Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune said,

“Trey Boucvalt is a leading businessman in several industries and his passion for education can be seen in his philanthropic efforts around the state. At Nicholls, he is a gamechanger and we are honored to have him involved with Nicholls. While many people worked toward this goal, I would like to thank Matt Roan and Coach Tim Rebowe in particular for their work to establish the relationships that made this donation possible. I would also like to recognize the great work of Senator Norby Chabert, whose tireless efforts on behalf of Nicholls State University and its faculty, staff, students and student athletes has transformed the academic, cultural, and athletic landscapes on this campus.”

Boucvalt’s commitment to building the complex came after Coach Tim Rebowe built a successful foundation for the program. His goal for the facility is to impact the current student-athletes, future recruits and change the way fans watch games.

He is the founder and chief executive officer of several companies that include environmental emergency response and management services, real estate investments and oilfield labor consulting.

“I am so fortunate to call Trey Boucvalt a friend, and am beyond thankful for his leadership, generosity and support,” said Matt Roan, former athletic director.

“Trey and his family are absolute game changers. The momentum of the Nicholls football program, athletics department

and university is great, and I hope this special gift will be the first of many to help continue fulfilling the limitless potential of such a special place. This is an all-time great project for Colonel Athletics and Nicholls State University, and one in which I’m very proud to have played a part.”

The football program, which shares space with baseball and athletics administration, will move into the football operations center. The Boucvalt Family Athletic Complex will also include a new locker room, players’ lounge, team meeting room with stadium-style seating, training room, equipment room, coaches’ and staff offices, position and group meeting rooms, catering kitchen and showcase lobby.

The team room will also function as a game day club seating area, which will produce revenue for the benefit of all 17 programs. This will also allow the current footprint to be repurposed and revitalized for several other programs and functions.

Construction for the facility is anticipated to be complete by the 2021 football season.

The architect group for the project is Weimer Gros Flores, based in Thibodaux.

Phase II design will begin once construction begins, and will include a new indoor practice facility, again benefiting all 17 Colonel programs. It will tie into the newly renovated Chabert Hall, the strength and conditioning and nutrition center of Colonel Athletics.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

BIG scholarship recipients are: • Angel Bergeron, a graduate of Ellender High School • Tylor Mayon, a graduate of Morgan City High School • Huy Nguyen, a graduate of Terrebonne High School • Kelci Benoit, a graduate of E D White Catholic High School • Mickie Thibodaux, a graduate of Thibodaux High School • Jess Pierce, a graduate of South Lafourche High School • Saadi Thibodaux, a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School • Aaliyah Write, a graduate of South Terrebonne High School • Brandon Bergeron, a graduate of Terrebonne High School • Alivia Vizier, a graduate of South Lafourche High School.

BUSINESSMAN TREY BOUCVALT NAMED FOR LARGEST GIFT IN NICHOLLS’ HISTORY

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