BusinessReport.com

The Chinese proverb says a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So I guess our journey at Business Report began with a single issue 25 years ago. It’s been an adventure ever since, and we share it in this issue.

Last week, an executive noted our anniversary and asked me, “Did you ever imagine this?”

I thought about that question for a second and drifted back 25 years ago to June 1982, when we first set up shop. At 26 years old, with just our editor, David Dodson, and myself sharing a single office as the only full-time employees, no. I can’t say I imagined a company of 50 people producing multiple titles, events and online products. In fact, at the time, David and I were just trying to figure out how we would get the first issue published in the next three months and follow it up with another one 30 days later.

We did believe a regional business publication covering the Capital Area was a good idea and a niche not being served. But not everyone agreed. As we know, in Baton Rouge change often comes slowly. Many residents believe we have all we need and new ideas are not always welcome. “Why change things? We are doing just fine,” is the attitude. They don’t realize that “new” could be better—but you must take a risk. (I believe we are seeing some signs of that changing, but we must encourage it.)

There were those in 1982 who told us Baton Rouge didn’t need another publication. Others told us we would run out of business stories to cover. But there were some who encouraged and supported us from our first issue and first year—and we are grateful they took a chance.

I remember going to see the late Chuck McCoy, CEO of Louisiana National Bank (which became Premier Bank, then Bank One and now Chase Bank). I wanted to tell him about the idea and get his feedback. As a young man, sitting in front of this powerful executive, a pillar in the community, I nervously explained the new concept. He loved it. McCoy was an innovator and a risk-taker. He told me he would make sure all of his managers read the new Business Report.

His encouragement fueled this young entrepreneur and made me realize, “This isn’t a crazy idea. It can work.” About a year before he passed away, I had the pleasure of taking Mr. McCoy to lunch to recount that story and thank him again for his encouragement.

Ironically, one of those who said, “Don’t do it,” is now an avid Business Report reader. That is why entrepreneurs must sometimes tune out the naysayers, for they can lack vision. The critics see the future through a rearview mirror. You sometimes have to follow your dream and risk it. We need more entrepreneurs—and more cheerleaders and mentors who will encourage them. Business Report is just one example of what can happen when we do.

Noticing the trends

Find a comfortable chair, grab your favorite beverage and take an hour or more to read through the 268 pages of this 25th anniversary edition that catalog the business people, places and events over the past 25 years.

There are some telling signs as you go back—and I’m not referring to the hair styles or clothing. I don’t know if they will be that surprising to folks given the times and the fact that Baton Rouge is a conservative Southern town. Looking through the photos and the cover stories, I noticed how the business leaders and CEOs were almost all older, white males. Things started to change a bit in the 1990s, and they have continued to change since 2000. I looked at photos of old roundtable discussions we conducted (all white, male participants) and compared them to the roundtable in this issue (page 123). The diversity today is dramatic. Fact is, it enhanced and improved the discussion and perspectives of the 2007 event. It was different—and it was better.

While we as a publication might say we reflected the situation that existed in the 1980s (almost every business CEO was a white male), we take responsibility for not leading the way sooner and giving a platform to other views and perspectives. We could have all benefited from the dialogue and diversity of opinions.

The status quo is slow to change. It is hard for some to give up their seat at the table and make room for others. But for our community to grow and change, we must enlarge the table—or remove some folks from their seats.

In addition to our coverage of business, Business Report (and now 225 and Daily Report) will continue to bring issues to the forefront we believe our community must address if we are to become a vibrant and prosperous metropolitan city. Like our “elephant in the room” cover story earlier this year, it is not always comfortable to read, but it is something we must deal with openly and respectfully. That is the way we will grow as a community.

Changing times

As you peruse these pages, you will also notice some aerial photos and the tremendous growth and development they show. I remember when Siegen Lane was just a two-lane road out of town. Now it is seven lanes and in the thick of commerce. Back then, most of Bluebonnet belonged to Jimmy Swaggart, and South Sherwood Forest Boulevard was the “golden mile.” There was no Burbank, and Corporate Boulevard didn’t go through to Jefferson Highway. Ruby’s had the “Big Bertha,” the best burger in town, all the car dealers were on Florida Boulevard and Scenic and Plank roads—and Goudchaux’s was the place to shop. Central wasn’t a city yet and Santa Maria or The Bluffs didn’t exist.

You might call it déjà vu, but I remember when Bon Marché first became a mall, then all but closed—and now it has been reborn as Bon Carré and houses the headquarters for Cox Communications and the Technology Park. I have also watched our downtown, which used to be the spot on Friday evenings for dinner at the Piccadilly Cafeteria on Third Street, followed by a movie, all but die—and then come full circle to where it is the spot again for Friday and Saturday nights, entertaining thousands with music, food and theater, housing hundreds in two hotels and new housing on the way.

There are new projects going up all over the Capital Region, from Port Allen to Denham Springs and Zachary to Gonzales. Take a look at the renderings of some of the projects under construction or set to begin soon at the bottom of my column (pages 12 & 14).It is an exciting time—and these are just a few of the changes, with more to come.

“Man of the quarter-century”

If there was such an award for the person who has had the most dramatic impact on the community in the last 25 years by exhibiting vision, leadership, innovation and results, it would have to go to John Davies of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

John and Linda Davies moved to our community in 1988. His ideas and action changed the landscape, improved the quality of life and enlarged the scope of our thinking. He has also gathered the resources to impact our area by growing the foundation’s assets from $5 million when he arrived to $540 million at the end of 2006. That’s a factor of more than 100 times, making BRAF one of the top community foundations in America.

The results of his leadership speak for themselves, though he seldom gets the credit. He is a pioneer and risk-taker and deserves the credit.

Hope for the future

For 20 years, I have fought for reform in our state and still believe that we need strong, honest and ethical leaders with a vision for the future to change our state’s image and prepare us for a “flat world.” But we have assets right under our noses that are our best hope to compete in a global economy. With higher education key to a knowledge-based economy, we are very fortunate to have the state’s flagship, LSU, along with Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College.

But for 20 years, we have had the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, which is world-class—and often neglected locally and by the state. That is a shame. Established with a generous gift of $120 million by C.B. “Doc” Pennington, it sat dormant for two years until Gov. Buddy Roemer was elected, and he and Milton Womack got it open. In 1990, it had state appropriations of $5 million, encompassed 247,000 square feet and had a handful of staff. Today, the center has 587,000 square feet of space, housing 185 scientists and 450 staff. The annual state appropriation is now $17 million out of total revenues of $61 million, including research grants.

With the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s help, Pennington hopes to get capital outlay funds for a new clinical research building that would add 87,000 square feet. There are also future plans for a genomics and molecular biology complex of 340,000 square feet, which would house 60 additional scientists and 500 support staff. Pennington is a jewel and now the largest academically based nutritional research center and has the largest concentration of obesity research scientists in the world. It deserves everyone’s support now and in the future.

Recognizing the past team

When you survive in business for 25 years you have the pleasure to work with a lot of talented people. That has been my experience, and I appreciate the contribution of each of the employees who have worked with me. Some are still in town, and others now live across the country.

The editor is always a key player in a newspaper, and we have won more than 100 awards (national, state and local) in our 25 years, including the 2006 Gold Award from the Alliance of Area Business Publications for “Best Business Newspaper in America” (judged by the Columbia School of Journalism at the University of Missouri), under the leadership of our current executive editor, JR Ball.

I want to acknowledge our previous editors: founding editor David Dodson (see his guest column on page 139), Jeff Cowart, Lanny Keller, Paulette Senior and Randy McClain as well as interim editors Kelly King Alexander and Carolyn Pione.

Photography has always been one of our strengths, and we have won numerous awards. Three photographers did most of our work starting in 1982, first with David Trufant and then with Marie Constantin and David Wood. The two Davids moved out of state, but Marie continues to dazzle us. The early covers that weren’t photographs were often original art done by Lary Loupe and John Carambat, and our design and production was done by Lunar Graphics. We appreciate their work.

I must also recognize a few other key players through the years at Business Report who contributed much to our success and my sanity: Mary Johnson (general manager), Carl Blyskal (general manager), Mike Eckstein (board member); Pud’n Waller (my executive assistant), Mary Ann Willet (sales manager), Amy Stephens (sales manager), Debi Brand (sales manager), Doug Woolfolk (sales manager), Liz Moise (sale manager), Hollen Brown (sales), Pat Hanchey (sales), Mukul Verma (web editor), Jeanne Martin (design editor) and Paulette Persac (business manager).

I would also like to thank John Maginnis and Jodie Cado, my partners in Baton Rouge Enterprise, which preceded and launched Business Report. They taught me much.

A Herculean effort

We knew publishing a 25th anniversary issue would be a substantial effort, with so much to include from the past quarter-century of business in the Capital Region. Despite the 268 pages, we couldn’t include everything or everyone. But our staff did get a lot in—and I want to applaud and thank our entire team for an excellent issue that caps 25 years of publishing. (See our team photos on pages 262 and 263.) I had hoped for something very special for our readers, and our team has made me proud. I am confident you, our readers, will appreciate their work here.

I also want to thank every company that participated in and supported this special issue—as well as those who have supported us for the past 25 years. Also, to the many freelancers and vendors who we work with year after year, thank you for being a part of our team. Baton Rouge has been very good to us, and we are grateful. Thank you.

Final point of personal privilege

Since we’re celebrating the milestone of our 25th anniversary, I must not end without acknowledging certain people who have made the journey with me. (I have noted a number of them above.)

One lesson I have learned well in 25 years is that no one gets through life or succeeds in business alone. Like the story of the turtle on top of the fence post, he had to have help to get there. I am grateful for a lot of help. But my No. 1 supporter has been my wife, Teeta, who has been by my side every step of the way. There might not be a Business Report if it was not for her. Her love and support in the good times and bad got me through.

Then there is my dad, who went to be with the Lord in January 2006. I watched my dad invest in the lives of young men as a mentor. He was my mentor—and hero—but he took time for many to encourage them and assist in their careers. As busy as he was, he made time for others. My dad was an incredible man and a great example, as well as my partner in starting the Business Report.

I have been fortunate to have other mentors who have invested in my life as well. Those include the late Milton Womack, who was a special individual and a very generous one, and former governor Buddy Roemer, who might be the smartest man I have known and continues to be a very close friend.

As for those that support and encourage me, I am very lucky. My family—my awesome wife, Teeta; my amazing mom, Dot; my two wonderful daughters, Jeanne and Elizabeth, my brother and sister and their spouses; my mother-in-law, Janice, and my in-laws—have always been in my corner. My family is my inspiration.

Then there are those at Business Report who are like family: my incredible partner Julio and his wife, Sherry; my executive assistant, Tara; our vice presidents, JR Ball and Kelly Hurtado; and all of our talented team of managers and staff who are committed to excellence. You motivate me and make it fun.

I am fortunate to have many dear friends whose support I cherish. And to my critics, I still love you—and thanks for reading.

After 25 years, I can say I have been blessed and must thank my savior, Jesus. He is my source and strength, and for anything I have accomplished—I give Him the glory.

Here’s to the next 25 years. We’re looking forward to it.