Companies sought for free 2019 CEO program
Local businessman touts efficiencies learned
Applications are being accepted through March 30 in the Bayou Region for the CEO Roundtable program. It brings together key decision makers 10 times a year to collaborate in a trusted environment to grow their businesses.
The free program, presented by Louisiana Economic Development, will begin meeting in July at Fletcher Technical Community College on La. 311. It offers peer-to-peer learning through discussion, interaction and sharing of experiences with qualified facilitators, expert guest speakers and connections to various small business resources.
“I highly recommend it, especially for those who think they don’t have time to do it,” said Jason Bergeron, partner of Technology Professionals in Houma. “The efficiencies and information you pick up in peer-to-peer conversations pay for time invested. You’re able to take information from each session and apply it to increased earning potential of your company immediately.”
To qualify, applicants must be a CEO, business owner or key decision maker in a company that has between 5 and 100 employees, approximate annual revenue between $600,000-$50,000,000 and the potential to serve customers outside the local area. High-growth potential companies will be given additional consideration.
For more information or to apply, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com/CEO-Roundtables or contact Darrell Johnson at 225-342-4680 or Darrell.johnson2@la.gov. Questions can also be directed to Katherine Theriot at Terrebonne Economic Development at 985-873-6890.
Fletcher to build new career center
Fletcher Technical Community College is taking steps to build a $5 million career center building on its main campus in Schriever with the help of a local organization.
The South Central Industrial Association announced last month it was donating $60,000 to the school to build the ACT 360 Career Center.
“The SCIA donation was the last piece of the puzzle in raising the 12 percent of the matching funds to proceed with certifying the match for bond sales at the state level,” Fletcher Chancellor Kristine Strickland said.
The $5.1 million complex will be paid for through bond sales and a $600,0000 match.
“The Career Center will provide career assessment, whether you are age 18 or 55. It will be a site for industry interviews and job placement. It will also house many community agencies, including workforce commission, to learn about training opportunities and job opportunities,” Strickland said.
Depending on the date of a bond sale, Strickland said, she hopes construction on the center will begin in the near future.
SCIA’s donation is part of the organization’s mission to provide resources for local industry, including a focus on education of the workforce and job training, the organization said.
“This falls very much in line with our mission of proactively developing solutions focused on improving the business climate and quality of life in our region,” said Chett Chiasson, SCIA executive vice president and Lafourche Port Commission executive director.
SCIA also made other donations last year, including those to the Morganza Action Coalition, the La. 1 Coalition, Restore or Retreat and Nicholls State University.
Staff Writer Julia Arenstam can be reached at 448-7636 or julia.arenstam@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliaArenstam.
SUNO SURVEY
Researchers from Southern University of New Orleans are seeking local businesses’ input about what programs or assistance have helped business recover quickly in prior flooding events, or what ideas you have that could help your business (or others) return to productivity quickly in future floods. They plan to compile the suggestions to help shape future policies and programs.
Please fill out the questionnaire, scan and email to ktheriot@tpeda.org for submission to SUNO. You are encouraged to add a page for further suggestions.
Congratulations to two Houma companies for being recognized on Inc.com's 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies list -- 5-year-old Pelican Waste & Debris, LLC ranked #318 and JJR Construction ranked #1824! Also a shout out to Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar as the Baton Rouge-based company with a Houma location made the list as well (#1756).
Our opinion: Diversifying Economy is Difficult but Worthwhile
Efforts to diversify the local economy – shifting its overwhelming focus from oil and gas to other, varied industries – have proven largely futile.
But there is every reason to continue this worthwhile, long-term goal that would remove some local workers’ dependency on a mostly robust but cyclical industry.
The oil and gas slowdown that has cost so many thousands of local workers their jobs is yet another reminder that no matter how lucrative oil and gas can be, depending too much on any one sector of the economy holds certain risks.
So it’s good to see the push for diversification continuing.
“Take a sector with an existing strength and within that identify a specialty. If you invest heavily into technology, you end up with a new specialty within that industry,” Terrebonne Economic Development Authority CEO Matt Rookard said. “Then you can look at applying that to other industries.”
He used as an example an attempt to use the Houma-Terrebonne Airport as a hub for unmanned aircraft, which could eventually expand into use in coastal restoration or storm damage assessment.
“These things don’t exist as we sit here today, but if you can deploy that technology, there’s opportunity to create them,” Rookard said.
Although it’s a good example, it is but one way TEDA and others are trying to open up the local economy to new companies and ventures that might eventually produce the kind of diversity other areas enjoy.
While the oil and gas industry has been a valuable local partner for workers and businesses, having all the region’s eggs in one industrial basket makes us more vulnerable to the fluctuations in that market.
The more our area can cultivate other industries, the better we can insulate ourselves against the slowdowns that are inevitable in every portion of the economy.
We have proven time and again that our workers and our local companies are incredibly useful to the oilfield industry. These same workers and others would contribute mightily to any industry in which they have training and education and in which there are employment opportunities available.
We don’t lose anything by trying to grow more and different opportunities for our workers and the many others who rely on the local economy. But failing to do so would be a terrible lack of planning and preparation.
Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper, not of any individual.
DailyComet.com
Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute
The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors offers small and emerging construction businesses critical information about construction management and how to prepare for the Business Law parts of the contractors state licensing exam.
Registration begins December 4, 2017 with last day to register for class on January 26, 2018.
Certified Line Worker Training Program offered at Fletcher & Delgado
The Certified Line Worker Training Program that is available at Fletcher Technical Community College and Delgado Community College will provide the necessary foundation for you to begin your line worker career as a helper/apprentice for an electric utility company.
Mr. Clarence Williams completes his term on TEDA's Board of Directors
CLARENCE WILLIAMS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2007-2017
TEDA's Board President, Mr. Chad Hebert, shows appreciation to Mr. Clarence Williams for his time served on the Board of Directors. Thank you Mr. Williams for your generous commitment of time, support and inspiration to TEDA.
LED'S STEP GRANT OFFERS TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR OFFSHORE EUROPE - SEPTEMBER 5-8, 2017 - ABERDEEN, U.K.
About Offshore Europe 2017
Offshore Europe features over 56,000 attendees and offers Louisiana companies an opportunity to engage directly with international market leaders and innovative technology companies. As Europe’s leading energy and petroleum event, the conference attracts global audiences of engineers, technical specialists and industry leaders. The 2017 conference will be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Center and is organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
STEP Grant Opportunity
LED’s STEP Grant will offer travel expense reimbursements of up to 75 percent for new-to-export companies and up to 50 percent for market-expansion companies, for total assistance of up to $2,500 per company for attending Offshore Europe.
Learn more about utilizing the STEP Grant for Offshore Europe by clicking here or by calling
Sheba Person-Whitley - Senior International Trade Manager
International Commerce Division - Louisiana Economic Development
T 225.342.2537
C 225.772.2981
Sheba.Person@la.gov
617 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute - Classes starting Soon
Registration begins June 26, 2017 and last day to register for class will be September 11, 2017.
The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors offers small and emerging construction Businesses critical information about construction management and how to prepare for the Business Law parts of the contractors state licensing exam.
Business Dreams become reality for mom
For Nicole Reding, a native of Cut Off, opening a vintage re-sale clothing store in downtown Houma had been a dream she had been working toward for more than two years as she collected inventory at her home and struggled to find a location for her business.
Tulane to honor Buquet and Gleason as Entrepreneurs of the Year
Business executive J.J. Buquet, left, and ALS activist Steve Gleason, right, will be honored as Tulane University’s 2017 Entrepreneurs of the Year at the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards Gala on April 20 at the Audubon Tea Room. . (Buquet photo courtesy of the Buquet family; Gleason photo by Jackson Hill)
SBDC Success Story - Martial Art Studio
Nathan Parfait, owner of Martial Art Studio, came to the SBDC to seek assistance with his loan package. Nathan worked with the SBDC to do the financial projections and loan packaging that resulted in capital formation of $145,135 ($130,135 Loan and $15,000 Owner Investment). Since Martial Arts Studio has received funding, they have expanded their program to an After School and Summer Camp program, and increased their sales by $96,000. The business has also added a program for when kids are out of school (School Year camps). Overall Martial Arts Studio has impacted the local economy by adding 1 Full Time and 6 Part Time employees. During the summer Martial Arts Studio employed 20 Part Time employees for the summer camp.
This year they are opening their 2nd location in Thibodaux. The company is looking to hire another Full Time and 4 Part Time Employees. Parfait says, "When this location gets moving and we have a solid growth like the Houma location, we will open a third location in either Raceland or Morgan City."
Martial Art Studio
130 Alliance Court, Houma
www.martialartstudio.net
985-772-1861