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Entrepreneur: Natalie Ourso, Chad and Heather Carter
DRIVEN BY PAIN
After serving in Iraq, Army veteran Natalie Ourso struggled with PTSD and found herself on a plethora of medications. Struggling with unwanted...
Executive Spotlight: Al Moreau III
Position: President/CEO and physical therapist
Company: Moreau Physical Therapy
Age: 44
Family: Wife, Charlotte, and three children: Ava Grace (16), Adrian (14) and Luke (11)
Hometown: Baton Rouge,...
Inside Lori Virdue’s vintage style shop
Lori Virdue’s love for vintage was born in her grandmother’s closet. Growing up, she lived with three siblings in her grandparents’ retro home in south...
Firsts in Five: Christine Lipsey
Firsts in Five poses five questions to South Louisiana women who were first in some aspect of their field or in the community.
With 37...
Entrepreneur: Renita Williams Thomas
BABY STEPS
Renita Williams Thomas always wanted to change the life of children. Feeling called to pursue a career in pediatrics, she returned to college...
Executive Spotlight: Tyler Gray
Position: President and general counsel
Company: Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association
Age: 37
Family: Wife, Sarah, and two children: Hutson (3) and Ella (2)
Hometown: Falls Church, Virginia
Education:...
Entrepreneur: ‘Cajun’ Dan Abraham
MILD BEGINNINGS
Having started multiple businesses over the years in a variety of industries—including insurance, restaurants, couponing, and marketing and home restoration—“Cajun” Dan Abraham considers...
Executive Spotlight: Robert Wise
Position: Owner and CEO
Company: ITinspired
Age: 39
Family: Wife, Michelle, and two children: Myra (5) and William (4)
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: Bachelor's degree from LSU, major in...
How I Got Started: Monique Scott-Spaulding of Jani-King
Monique Scott-Spaulding spent two full years researching before she decided what kind of business she wanted to run. Her venture, which she launched in...
Meredith Waguespack builds a brand
With a goal in mind of organically expanding her customer base, Meredith Waguespack—owner of the nine-year-old lifestyle T-shirt brand Sweet Baton Rouge—has tapped into...
Entrepreneur: Mike Juneau & Jason Engen
BLUEPRINT PLANS
Growing up in a family of developers, Mike Juneau fondly recalls trekking through construction sites alongside his father and aspiring to go into...
Executive Spotlight: Todd Foust
Position: Founder and CEO
Company: The Foust Group
Age: 51
Family: Wife, Stephanie, and four children: Madison, Caroline, Gabrielle and Andrew
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: Marketing degree from LSU
In the...
Franchisee: John Schexnaildre
Garage Experts of Baton Rouge
Port Allen
Based in Anaheim, California, Garage Experts began franchising in 2008 and has since expanded to more than 80 locations....
Entrepreneur: Damien Mitchell
EARLY SKETCHES
Growing up in Rayne, Damien Mitchell began making things at a young age, often things his parents wouldn’t buy him. When they wouldn’t...
Executive Spotlight: Bryan Naquin
Position: President and CEO
Company: Acadian Home Theater & Automation
Age: 42
Family: Wife, Stacey, and son, Cade (20)
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: Attended high school (didn't graduate)
In the...
Entrepreneur: Derrick and Tessa Holloway
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
In 2005, Tessa and Derrick Holloway were confronted with a not-so-uncommon problem: They needed to find an early childhood development center for their...
Executive Spotlight: Chris Van Pelt
Position: Owner
Company: M&M Glass Company
Age: 54
Family: Wife, Penny Van Pelt, and two children: Caleb and Madeline
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Education: Attended LSU
In the news:
Since its...
Entrepreneur: Andrea Leyerle
JUST A SPOONFUL
Nine years ago, Andrea Leyerle was a stay-at-home mother of three young children who was interested in living a more self-sufficient lifestyle....
Executive Spotlight: David Facey
Position: CEO and president
Company: SellSwipe Inc.
Age: 28
Family: Father of two, Naomi, 9, and Ahren, 5
Hometown: Chicago
Education: Baton Rouge Magnet High School; B.S. in Finance from...
Entrepreneur: Brenda Goff
SEEDS
Brenda Goff got her first taste of the garden industry while working at a local nursery for four years. While she enjoyed assisting amateur...
