Executive Spotlight: Scot Guidry
Position: Manager and principal
Company: Derbes Falgoust Commercial Real Estate
Age: 54
Family: Wife, Sandy, and two children, Berton and Hadley
Hometown: Baton Rouge
Education: LSU
In the news:
In January, commercial real...
Entrepreneur: Paul and Michael Mladenka
PREP WORK
Paul Mladenka has been around food preparation since he was tall enough to stand at the kitchen counter with his mom. “Being in...
Executive Spotlight: Scott Taylor
Position: President and COO
Company: Walk-On's Enterprises
Age: 55
Family: Wife, Michelle, and two children: Clay (15) and Savannah (13)
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Education: Bachelor's degree in technical writing/English from...
Entrepreneur: Trent Luecke and Chris Fairley
ATHLETIC AMBITIONS
For as long as he can remember, Chris Fairley has always been involved in something athletic. From playing collegiate soccer and serving in...
Executive Spotlight: Shawn Usher
Position: President and CEO
Company: Sparkhound
Age: 50
Family: Wife, Jennifer, and four children: James, Mary Elizabeth and Aimee
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: LSU; bachelor's degree in Quantitative Business Analysis...
Entrepreneur: Jeff Herman
SWEET EPIPHANY
A Sunday morning sweet tooth in 2011 turned Jeff Herman from an aspiring entrepreneur into a purveyor of some of Baton Rouge’s most...
Executive Spotlight: Brian Nizzo
Position: Vice president-Chief lending officer
Company: First American Bank
Age: 35
Family: Wife, Brittney, and two daughters: Caroline, 9, and Lucy, 4
Hometown: Donaldsonville, Louisiana
Education: Marketing and banking degrees from...
Entrepreneur: Clyde Bass
GOING ELECTRIC
Clyde Bass has been lighting up restaurants, movie sets and businesses in the Baton Rouge area for nearly a decade. As the owner...
Executive Spotlight: Trey Beall
Position: President
Company: Gulf Coast Office Products
Age: 52
Family: Wife, Shelly, and two daughters, Brianna and Londyn
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: Bachelor's degree from LSU (general studies major, psychology minor)
In...
Executive Spotlight: Pelican State Credit Union Vice President Michelle Ford
In October, Michelle Ford was promoted to vice president of human resources. She’s been with Pelican State Credit Union for 13 years, and most...
Entrepreneur: Anne McCanless
AMBIENT AMBITIONS
For Anne McCanless, creativity and individuality are the secrets to a happy home. As an interior design consultant, McCanless strives to create spaces...
Executive Spotlight: Michelle Ford
Position: Vice president of human resources
Company: Pelican State Credit Union
Age: 45
Family: Husband, Wade, and three children: London (26), Chase (26) and Noah (18)
Hometown: Watson
Education: Studied nursing...
Executive Spotlight Q&A: Kellen Mathews
Photography by Don Kadair
Kellen Mathews
Position: Partner in charge
Company: Adams and Reese
Age: 36
Family: Wife, Mikki, and 5-month-old son, Morgan
Hometown: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Education: Undergraduate in political science at...
Pay it Forward: Curtis O’Neil
Though his Line 4 Line program, a north Baton Rouge barber
is providing boys free haircuts, reading lessons and a mentor.
On the first Monday of...
Entrepreneur: Russell Davis
COMPANY Eliza Restaurant & Bar; JED’s Local Po-boys
POSITION Owner
LOCATION 7970 Jefferson Hwy.; 672 Jefferson Hwy.
WHAT THEY DO Contemporary Creole fare and Southern favorites
NEXT GOALS Open two additional independent...
Entrepreneur: Chavanne Cazayoux Debetaz
Photography by Brian Baiamonte
COMPANY Cazayoux Creative
POSITION Founder and CEO
WHAT THEY DO Traditional and online marketing, specializing in copywriting
NEXT GOALS Expand client base
WORLD OF WORDS
Chavanne Cazayoux Debataz has always...
Entrepreneur: Shane Morrison
Photography by Brian Baiamonte
COMPANY Shane Morrison Companies
POSITION CEO
WHAT THEY DO Real estate development, restaurant management and family entertainment.
ADDRESS 16851 Jefferson Hwy., Suite 9A
NEXT GOALS Provide opportunities for employees to...
Executive Spotlight Q&A: Bob Barton
Photography by Don Kadair
Bob Barton
Position: Managing Partner
Company: Taylor Porter
Age: 49
Family: Wife, Kellie, and three children: Sam (21), Kate (20) and Anne (17)
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: Undergraduate...
Executive Spotlight Q&A: Genevieve Silverman
Photography by Don Kadair
Genevieve Silverman
Position: President and CEO
Company: Research Park Corporation
Age: 43
Family: Husband, Philip, and children, Lucy and Walter
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education: Bachelor of Arts, History...
Entrepreneur: Emily Guidroz
Photography by Brian Baiamonte
COMPANY Giggles
POSITION Owner
WHAT THEY DO Specialty toys and candy
ADDRESS 8201 Village Plaza Court, suite 1
NEXT GOALS Continue elevating the customer experience and open additional locations
LEARNING CURVE
For...