Profile

Executive Spotlight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...
Michelle Ford Executive Spotlight

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...