BIZ Magazine - June 2014

A Decade of Innovation Lisa Johnson Celebrates 10 Years

BIZ. Tools Podcast

From Moving Cheese to Firing a Customer June 2014

THE POWER OF PROPER TRAINING Teresa Allen’s

A New Era Recent ‘Wins’ in Economic Development a Result of New Direction in Educating the Workforce

20 Years of Service Training BIZ. Spotlight

Get Your Learning On BIZ. Tools

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Biz. Magazine • June 2014

The First Word

There are plenty of places to find cheap (even free) books to improve your business and leadership skills

A

s Jerry Frentress and I were recording the BIZ. Tools Podcast this past month, (The Book Club Episode) I wondered if it was fair to recommend books, even challenge our listeners to read more books. After all, some of the books I have purchased in the past cost in the neighborhood of $40 or more. For a young EntreLeader, that can get expensive.

Surely there were better options than simply running to the book store (or Amazon) and paying the full retail price. I was correct. Here are three low/no-cost options to make the business book budget go further.

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Amazon and Barnes & Noble But wait Dave, didn’t you say Amazon was expensive? I said buying books at “full retailâ€? could be expensive. Amazon has many economical options for books. For instance, did you know that many popular books are oered for the Kindle at a discounted rate from time to time? The same goes for the Barnes & Noble Nook. In fact I was able to purchase “Platformâ€? by Michael Hyatt for just $5.00 for the Nook. No Kindle or Nook? No worries, you can use your iPad and download the Apps for free.

If “real� books are your choice, however, these guys can help you out as well. There are used options via 3rd party sellers that might fit the bill. Be aware of shipping charges, though. You might spend more for delivery than the book.

Used Book Stores In my city, there are a few used books stores. I have found a ton of value in them. Some oer only a 50 percent discount on the face value. If you are buying a $50 book, it’s still $25. However, there is one book store that sells all hardbacks for $4.99, and softcovers for $3.99. I actually bought copies of “Who Moved My Cheese,â€? a book I recommended on the podcast, for less than $20 total. I gave a copy to each member of my leadership team.

The nice part about used book stores, is they are still somewhat organized. Their books are grouped largely by subject, making finding that elusive business/leadership book easier. If you are willing to dig a little, thrift stores like Goodwill are a great value. In our area, most books are 99 cents to $1.99. I found a copy of Jim Collins’ “Good to Great� at a Goodwill and snapped it up, even though I have a copy on my iPad. The downside comes when you find no treasure during the hunt.

The Local Library This oft-forgotten resource is truly a diamond in the rough. Organized by the Dewey Decimal System, the local library can guide you right to the section you need. Technologically savvy EntreLeaders can even search many libraries online before venturing to their local branch.

Many libraries contain the newest bestsellers, along with some of the “classics.� The first time I read Good to Great was a copy from the Library. (I have since bought many copies.)

While the check out time may force you to read quicker than you like, it also aords you the ability to try several books without investing your hard earned dollars.

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A Caveat on “Free� Books

David Specht Jr. President of Specht Newspapers, Inc. Read his blog about leadership at www.DavidASpecht.com He may be reached via email at dspecht@bossierpress.com.

There are many free e-books out there, and many of them are good. However, remember that you “get what you pay for.� Some e-books are tools to help build the credibility of bloggers, speakers, etc. and they contain a wealth of great information. In fact, I will have a free e-book of my own coming out soon. But others are simply works that didn’t cut the muster to become published. It is truly a “buyer beware� scenario. Use good judgment, and you may find a diamond or two.

In retrospect, there is really no excuse not to read. It is one of the best (and most aordable) investments someone can make in themselves and their business. It is truly as simple as making it a priority.

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June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

3

Contents 31

Lunch Break Fried Eggplant at Pita de’ Novo a flavor masterpiece

On the Cover

29

Taking a Passion for Service to the World Teresa Allen celebrates 20 years of Common Sense Solutions

New industries continue to announce their decisions to locale in the ShreveportBossier market. One reason for the upswing is the continuing effort to educate a quality workforce.

30 A Decade of Innovation

Lisa Johnson marks 10 years as Bossier Chamber President/CEO

BIZ. News Online

The BIZ. website at www.bizmagsb.com is ShreveportBossier’s home for business news, updated as it happens. In addition, users can sign up for a free BIZ. Daily Report to keep up with BIZ. news from the comfort of their Inbox.

Regulars 3

No More Excuses

5

Sharpen Your Skills

6

Second Degree Worth a Look

11

The Power of Proper Training

13

Brain Connection

24

Dave On Small Business

Want to advertise? http://bizmagsb.com/adrates/ Volume 5, Number 3 | ©Copyright 2014 by Specht Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. BIZ. is published each month by Specht Newspapers, Inc. at 4250 Viking Drive, Bossier City, LA 71111. Telephone (318) 747-7900. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

4

Biz. Magazine • June 2014

There are plenty of places to find cheap (even free) books to improve your business and leadership skills

Education is one of the first tools you need for success

Executive MBA has provided a wealth of knowledge, benefits

Reach your goals quicker by training yourself, you team

Learning new things can be initially overwhelming, but are beneficial

Starting Small

Tools You Can Use When it comes to winning in Business, it helps to have the right “tools” for the job.

Win-Win Powertools

Sharpen Your Skills Education is one of the first tools you need for success

I

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Abraham Lincoln

On my way back to Shreveport/Bossier, it was time to refill my Franklin Planner at the Franklin store in Dallas, Texas. With my purchase, the salesman passed me a free cassette of Steven Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. The tape/book is filled with great advice and another sharpening was recommended. The 7th Habit® is “Sharpen the Saw”. Covey writes about sharpening ourselves physically, emotionally, spiritually and educationally.

Wow! What common sense. Before President Lincoln was going to “chop” he had to spend (invest) some time preparing for the job.

In both cases, the author states that the tool needs and even requires sharpening BEFORE it is put to work.

t was a beautiful day in Washington, D.C. My wife was in a seminar and I was in the role of the “spouse”. While I was enjoying the sights, I visited a shop that specialized in quotes from presidents emblazoned on plaques.

One quote from Abraham Lincoln drew me in to the point that I had to have it.

The message for me was clear. Lincoln and Covey were talking about me and you, not just the tools we use. Do we sharpen ourselves through education, training, practice, study and reading?

One more “sharpening” message came my way and I have shared it with you in a previous edition of BIZ.

Jerry Frentress Speaker & Coach, Win-Win Power(ful) Tools for Sales, Service and Employee Interviewing. Website: www.WinWinPowerTools.com.

Business Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WinWinPowerTools . 453-6080 / Bossier City

It’s an impressive photo of a hand (in my mind) holding pencils. One pencil is sharpened to a find point.

As soon as I saw the photo, I knew which pencil I wanted to be and perceived as. How about you?

Jerry

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

5

Marketing B-S (Bossier-Shreveport)

Second Degree Worth a Look Executive MBA has provided a wealth of knowledge, benefits

T

Randy Brown

Advertising/Marketing Guru He is the Advertising Director for Bossier Newspaper Publishing Company, Inc., publishers of the Bossier Press-Tribune and BIZ. Magazine Randy may be reached at rbrown@bossierpress.com

his edition of BIZ focuses on education.

By one definition, education is: “the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession.” I have been most fortunate in obtaining two university level educational degrees. My second degree, an M.B.A., has served me well beyond my expectations. Earlier this month, I celebrated the 20th anniversary of my M.BA. graduation. Much has changed in the past 20 years (mainly in the form of technology and communication), but one thing that has remained constant is the daily influence that obtaining this second degree has had on my personal life, my career and my ability to impact and serve others.

Why me? While obtaining my undergraduate de-

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Biz. Magazine • June 2014

gree, I never considered achieving anything more. I figured that I had my hands full and would be doing great if I could just graduate.

Then, Marketing 312 happened, a course in advertising taught by a very demanding professor with legendary research project demands. These demands caused a procrastinating college junior to work 36 consecutive hours in order to produce a 37 page research project. Upon submitting this project to the professor, he replied "ok Brown, who do you think you are, somebody who is ready for graduate school?" Thus, a seed was planted.

I waited five years before researching and finding a local Executive M.B.A. program that fit with my family business responsibilities. Then, I decided to go for the M.B.A. In order to fulfill a part of the application requirements, I had to procure signatures and recommendations from two of my undergraduate professors. Of course, it was a "no brainier" as to who I was going to for the first recommendation. You guessed it, my professor from Marketing 312. He was delighted to oblige and he really helped me with the entire application process.

As I was leaving his office, I had a slight sense of déjà vu when he said "Ok Brown, you really are going to do this. You are ready. Good for you and good luck!"

Yes, I did it! I have never had a single regret. My second degree has served me well beyond what mere words can properly express. No, it is not that you remember every single thing that you studied or that become some encyclopedia or book worm know-it-all. Rather, it is the entire experience, the discipline and the learning from others (the professors and most importantly for me, the shared learning experiences with classmates).

So, as a business owner or leader, if you are considering earning a second degree and especially an M.B.A., regardless of your undergraduate degree background and regardless of your age (it is it is never too late, by the way), I strongly urge you to go for it! You will never regret it!

ONE COMMUNITY ONE COMMITMENT Deep Roots Make A Difference FOR A CENTURY, COOK YANCEY KING & GALLOWAY has been a part of this community.

We’re invested in Shreveport-Bossier, and even though we serve clients across the nation, it all comes down to where we started-right here.

As the largest law firm based in North Louisiana, we have a strong tradition of loyalty, client retention, and success.

BERNARD S. JOHNSON, President

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

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Biz Tools

T

Books No Excuses for Not Reading

Working With People

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni once again offers a leadership fable that is as enthralling and instructive as his first two best-selling books, The Five Temptations of a CEO and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive.

Kathryn Petersen, Decision Tech's CEO, faces the ultimate leadership crisis: Uniting a team in such disarray that it threatens to bring down the entire company. Will she succeed? Will she be fired? Will the company fail? Lencioni's utterly gripping tale serves as a timeless reminder that leadership requires as much courage as it does insight.

Adversaries Into Allies Bob Burg

Dale Carnegie

Faced with the task of persuading someone to do what we want, most of us expect, and often encounter, resistance. We see the other person as an adversary and often resort to coercion or manipulation in order to get our way. But while this approach might at times bring us short-term results, it leaves people with a bad feeling about themselves and about us. At that point, our relationship with the person is weakened and our influence dramatically decreased.

There is a better way.

App of the Month iTunes U

The iTunes U app gives you access to complete courses from leading universities and other schools — plus the world’s largest digital catalog of free education content — right on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Whether you’re majoring in molecular biology at a university, taking Spanish in high school, or just interested in European history, you now have a valuable tool to help you learn anytime, anywhere.

8

Biz. Magazine • June 2014

How to Win Friends & Influence People For more than sixty years the rock-solid, time-tested advice in this book has carried thousands of now famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.

Now this previously revised and updated bestseller is available in trade paperback for the first time to help you achieve your maximum potential throughout the next century!

Do Something The speed of business is ever increasing. The successful business leader stays on top of the tools and information to help his company grow.

Listen Up

Podcast of the Month The UnPodcast: The Business Podcast For the Fed-Up. Experts are constantly telling us what we need to be doing to improve our businesses. Hundreds of books/shows in the market are filled with advice. But how can you filter out all of the bad advice, misinformation, and misuse of business tools that is out there? None of us needs another list of what we should be doing. “TheUnPodcast” tells you what not to do first, so we can discuss what you really need to do to succeed in the new world of business marketing. Easy to digest, easy to avoid. Includes real-life examples along with tips and guidance on experts, human resources, marketing/branding, networking (in person and online), public relations, and customer service.

On the BIZ. Tools Podcast This Month: Self Education Plus, much more!

Last Month BIZ Tools Book Club Customer Service is King Listen to the BIZ. Tools Podcast at: boztoolspodcast.com

#WorthFollowing @JerryFrentress @salespowertips @leaderchat @garyvee @jonacuff

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

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Put us to work for you.

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p

While we’ve never created killer ink, we have worked with Louisiana businesses for over 25 years. Offering free training programs like QuickBooks TM , online marketing, and safety education, LCI provides great service and expert guidance to local businesses in just about every field. :: lciwc.com :: 985-612-1230 10 Biz. Magazine • June 2014

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UnCommon Sense Marketing

The Power of Proper Training Reach your goals quicker by training yourself, your team

I

f you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind! You already know that staying ahead of your competition to deliver the best solution requires growing your team’s skills and knowledge. Your employees may not have all the skills you need them to have. It would be unlikely that they would!

Whether it’s learning how to use a piece of software or how to be a team player, there’s usually a never ending list of training needs for your business. If only your people could directly hook up to the Internet to get the information they need!

Amy Kinnaird

Marketing Strategist Trainer and Speaker With over 35 years experience in marketing and training, Amy helps business owners put together the right plan. If you struggle with your marketing and don’t know where to start…

If what you used to do for marketing isn’t working anymore…If it’s time to get clear about your business and come up with a good plan…call Amy at 318-795-0520 or visit her website: www.UnCommonSenseMarketing.com

So in lieu of that whole Vulcan mind-meld thing, your next best option is getting the right people in to train. You might have some resources already in your business. Are they capable of putting the strategy and plan together to help all of your executives and staff members? Do they have the skills to train on everything you want or need to train on?

Here’s the rub. You may not know your training needs. You may just know that you have some gaps. A good trainer will come in and ask you and your team a lot of questions. They know that

Whether it’s learning how to use a piece of software or how to be a team player, there’s usually a never ending list of training needs for your business

magazine and thumb through the ads. You’re bound to come across several options of individuals or companies who offer training services. Or find them at your next conference.

The American Society for Training and Development (now becoming the Association for Talent Development) has a local chapter filled with all kinds of trainers and great resources.

www.ASTDNLA.org Go to LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter and search around, or ask some of your social media friends for recommendations.

sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees, so they are there to get the big picture and help you with the obvious, and maybe not so obvious.

They can fill the gaps.

Where do you look for training solutions?

Your industry associations probably have good contacts for training. Pick up the latest journal or

After you’ve identified some possible companies or individuals, you should check them out. Ask for a free consultation and contact their references.

Does this person resonate with you? Visit their website, check out their social media, look for videos of them in action, read their blogs, and subscribe to their newsletter.

A trainer can be a long term partner in your success. Move forward!

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

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12 Biz. Magazine • June 2014

Business Development

File Photo

Brain Connection Learning new things can be initially overwhelming, but is beneficial

Have you ever been introduced to new information that was so overwhelming your head ached?

I found a truly fascinating presentation on teachingcollegemath.com, which made it easy to understand how our brains physically change when we learn something new.

Our brain cells (neurons) grow dendrites (fibers) when we learn something new, or even write about, talk about, or practice something. Dendrites take time to grow, which is why most of us don’t have very good short-term memory. If you learn something new and don’t practice it, studies show you will likely only remember 30% within 24 hours. But, if you practice again within 24 hours, you’re likely to remember 80%.

So, when you are reading about new management styles, or going to conferences to learn the latest about your industry, it’s very important to engage in - or practice - what you are learning immediately. The presentation noted that if you watch someone solving math problems, you grow dendrites for listening or watching. But if you actually work to solve the problem, you grow dendrites for solving! When I read that, I got a wrinkle in my brain for sure.

The more we practice something, the stronger our dendrites and their connections (synapses) become, enabling faster communication between neurons. Studies even show that our brains will physically get larger in the areas that are used the most. An article on SharpBrains.com cited a London study that found taxi cab drivers had larger hippocampi than bus drivers, because bus drivers followed set routes, but cab drivers use vast and detailed spatial information to navigate the streets.

Another intriguing point was that dendrites can only grow off matter that is already there. We can only learn new skills by connecting them to knowledge we already have. It definitely makes me think about on-the-job training, and whether a “trial by fire” has more or less merit than giving employees scaled training that matches their experience.

Jill Macchiaverna Jill is Publicity Chair, Business Development Connection for the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Business Development Connection has several offerings planned throughout the year to help your dendrites grow. Our June luncheon will be about using Technology in Business, and in July we’ll hear from some new local education officials about the connection between education and industry in our community. Check out shreveportchamber.com/bus-devconnect for the latest on dates and programs.

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

13

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On the playing field or financial field team matters. That’s why when it came time for me to pick a bank, I chose GBT. The great team at GBT helped me pick the accounts and services that fit my needs. And they’ll continue to help as my needs grow and change.

From the friendly service to the wide range of products, this is one special team.

And I know a little something about special teams.

GBT. THAT’S MY BANK.

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14 Biz. Magazine • June 2014

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STORY BY Sean Green

Cover Story

PHOTO BY Amanda Crane

Education Priorities = Economic Development

Educating the workforce key to landing new industry

Y

ears of investment with no returns can cause a lot of anxious nights. Monetary investments are one thing, but imagining the development of a new industry by educating students, all the way up from elementary level to college, is a massive undertaking with a lot of moving parts.

Sewing those seeds are difficult enough, but keeping the faith in the mission can be even harder.

But earlier this year, that very investment paid off.

The Cyber Innovation Center saw their belief in a future tech workforce come good when Computer Sciences Corporation announced their intent to locate at the CIC's Cyber Research Park.

The February announcement that CSC would move into a new 116,000 sq. ft. facility with 800 employees illustrated the importance of investing in workforce education when it can be a game changer for the face of industry.

“One of the things that lured CSC here was our level of talent and ability to create talent to meet their needs. Any employer looking to relocate is concerned with the availability of skilled talents and that is a strength here,” said Bossier Parish Community College Chancellor Dr. Jim Henderson The CIC began developing educational programs with the goal of organically growing a workforce to support a cyber technology industry.

“Everything we’ve done is to achieve the goal of growing own cyber workforce,” said Cazes. “Our job is to educate our students. If we don’t have jobs waiting on them, then shame on us.”

A multifaceted effort was undertaken to work with university and college partners to address the formal academic pathway, as well as developing curriculum at the K-12 level.

Among other entities, the university pathway was embraced by Louisiana Tech and Bossier Parish Community Col-

lege. BPCC created a cyber technology degree in 2008 and Louisiana Tech has built their cyber engineering degree program.

“We are a national center of academic excellence designated by the Department of Homeland Security, we’re one of only 13 colleges in the nation,” said Henderson. “We saw a defense related need with our proximity to Barksdale Air Force Base and the Air Force’s role in cyber security, and with our presence in the Cyber Research Park we want to grow a STEM workforce because future of this area’s economy sits on building this new industry.”

In middle and high schools, CIC has developed NICERC (National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center) to engage students in new way, one that includes physics, advanced math, engineering and science, and cyber literacy.

“The thought process is these classes are being taught every day, so let’s provide teachers with the resources to reach those students in an entirely new way,” said Cazes.

He said the local schools have been valuable, supportive test sites.

“If we come up with an idea they’re giving us an environment to help mold it and that’s huge. It’s progressive and allows us to advance our program and give their students a new opportunity,” said Cazes.

The CIC is also rolling out Cyber Discovery nationally through the Department of Homeland Security. They also support other nationally recognized programs by sponsoring schools teams to compete in the Shell EcoMarathon and the Science Olympiad as well as being a regional host site for the Mini-urban Challenge.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If they’re a cyber patriot program, we will support it,” Cazes noted.

He said the effort to create this extensive, thorough educational program is made easier by having good partners and

staff.

“We’re blessed to have really good partners. They’re outside the box thinkers and we have the ‘What do we have to get it done?’ attitude,” said Cazes.

“To do what we’re trying to do is a constant grind. As we’re getting outside our own community, there’s a lot of dynamics and cultures we have to account for and right now we’re looking for like minded people who want to change how they engage their students.”

With CSC locating in the National Cyber Research Park, Cazes is “unbelievably positive” and feels the effort has been worth it.

“I feel fulfilled with the types of things we’re doing in classrooms. With CSC choosing Bossier, it’s bringing it full circle. We have a major employer locating here for these students to move to after completing their education and it’s closing the circle.”

Henderson said BPCC’s goal is to stay on the cutting edge when it comes to certifications and meeting the needs of employers.

“The beauty of STEM fields is that it’s not static, it’s constantly changing and we’re blessed to have leadership and faculty that are reinventing themselves in the latest research out there to make sure our educational product is ahead of the curve.”

However, Cazes noted this is not a stopping point, only the tip of the iceberg.

“I’m really competitive and I’m never satisfied. I want the next 800 jobs,” he said. “I see this as a catalyst for growth in our educational programs. Now parents are going to see this in the news and it’s going to create more energy and awareness from them.”

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

15

The Future Workforce

A New Age in the SBC Cyber workforce taking shape with new addition to Cyber research Park

A

growing cyber-workforce in North

pansion of a sustainable knowledge-based

a new way while creating hands-on, project-dri-

Louisiana is taking shape as CSC moves

workforce throughout the region that can meet

ven learning environments.

into the National Cyber Research Park

the growing needs of the government,

(NCRP) in Bossier City. CSC, a global

industry, and academia. CIC has been working

Students are more engaged and excited about

leader in next-generation information

toward this goal through its National Integrated

the material when they are given the creative

technology services and solutions, an-

Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC).

freedom to explore, design, and build.

Integrated Technology Center, along with 800

NICERC supports the mission of CIC through the

NICERC’s curriculum threads include STEM: Ex-

technology jobs, in the NCRP.

development of formal and informal science,

plore, Discover, Apply; Cyber Literacy; Cyber

technology, engineering, and mathematics

Science; Physics; and Advanced Math for Engi-

This means big things for local graduates and for

(STEM) educational opportunities for K-12 teach-

neering & Sciences. Content related to these

Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), whose long

ers and students. The overarching goal of the

courses is available to educators through profes-

time mission has been the development and ex-

programs and curriculum is to reach students in

sional development workshops that introduce

nounced in February that it would be locating its

GB Cazes

Assistant Director/Vice President, Cyber Innovation Center

W e’re a dding a p ool We’re adding pool at o ur n ew o ffice! our new office!

Yep, Yep, you you read read tthat hat correctly. correctly.

The and The pool pool is is in in our our foyer foyer a nd ffor or all all to to enjoy. enjoy.

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We We print print a lot lot of of large large format format jobs jobs and can print on huge off materials. a nd c an p rint o nah uge vvariety ariet y o materials.

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teachers to the curriculum and the embedded projects.

Baltimore, Portland State University, and the University of Central Arkansas. In addition, Colorado School of Mines and Eastern Michi-

NICERC also provides informal STEM learning

gan University will also participate in a series

opportunities, including the Regional Au-

of workshops as they prepare for roll-out in

tonomous Robotics Circuit (RARC) and Cyber

the summer of 2015.

Discovery. RARC allows 4-12th grade students to compete in a series of robotics and

The CIC is an economic development engine

liberal arts challenges throughout the aca-

for the region. In order to achieve our goals,

demic year. In the 2013-2014 school year,

we understand and appreciate the impor-

the competition grew to over 1,000 partici-

tance of developing a skilled STEM/Cyber

pants.

workforce. We have set out to grow our workforce in a manner that’s systemic and sus-

As Paul Spivey, NICERC’s Deputy Director,

tainable while working to attract the jobs

said, “With the support of our partners, Sci-

which will be future landing spots for our

Port, the City of Bossier, and Bossier Parish

students.

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Schools, RARC offers a tremendous opportunity for students to apply what they learn in

Having CSC choose Bossier City has vali-

the classroom in a fun, interactive way.” This

dated the work that CIC and NICERC are

summer CIC is continuing its national roll-out

doing. We have a major employer locating

of Cyber Discovery through a grant provided

here where students can begin their careers

by the Department of Homeland Security.

after completing their education. Everything is coming full circle.

The expansion to two new locations will

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Louisiana Tech University, the University of

Business news you can’t wait to read.

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Workforce Development

The Ongoing Value of Continuing Education Current workforce can benefit from many local offferings in education

T

here are four factors that drive the demand for continuing education by the current workforce. One is requirements of particular industries that certified professionals must fulfill to maintain their certification or professional license, for example continuing medical education for healthcare professionals. The second is the desire for promotion, either within your company or within your chosen profession. The third is the increased use of technology in nearly every type of business, as well as the rate of adoption of new technology. The fourth is that during the most recent recession, existing employees were asked to assume more job duties and take on greater responsibility as companies found themselves financially unable to fill open positions or create new ones.

The first two factors requiring continuing education make identification of relevant programs and the decision of whether to embark upon them fairly simple for the employee. It is often required to keep your professional designation current and generally trade groups affiliated with a particular profession will make its members aware of required training and where it is offered.

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The third factor can be a bit more challenging as employees are increasingly expected to go outside the traditional skills training required by their job to learn technologies that may be new to their company or position. For example, industries that are not traditionally thought of as requiring computer knowledge to be employed by them, such as energy exploration and production, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and the military, are increasingly requiring it of employees (and these industries coincidentally play a leading role in the Northwest Louisiana economy). Social media is now a driving force in talent recruitment and forcing the human resources field to create new professional development training to keep HR employees up to date.

In some cases employers will provide training on new software systems to their existing employees, but not all do and employees often must seek outside training to stay competitive for their jobs or to seek promotion. Many of these IT skill sets can be gained by taking short-term courses at local colleges and universities through Continuing Education departments. Employees should always ask if their company will reimburse them if they successfully complete a course that is relevant to their position.

The fourth factor is probably the hardest for employees to address because extra job duties are often accompanied by more hours on the job, making it harder to seek outside training.

The growing availability of online education programs could be a good solution for workers that find it hard to make it to the classroom because of work schedules. Most all colleges and universities in the area offer a number of courses and degree programs online. Recently, both LSU Shreveport and Louisiana Tech University introduced e-MBA programs designed for working professionals. Centenary College offers an Executive MBA that holds classes in the evenings to accommodate students’ work schedules.

Northwestern State University and Grambling State University have extensive lists of both undergrad and graduate online degree programs available. Bossier Parish Community College offers an online Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Technology that could qualify a job seeker for one of the 800 jobs that will be available with Computer Sciences Corporation at their new Bossier City Technology Center. Southern University at Shreveport offers an online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology to support the extensive health care industry in Shreveport-Bossier.

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Angie White Angie White is Senior Vice President at the North Louisiana Economic Partnership, www.nlep.org.

No matter what your reasons are for seeking continuing education, there are many options for Northwest Louisiana residents. Summer registration is starting soon at most schools, so don’t wait to be forced into learning new skills for your job, or at worst find yourself looking for a new job because you did not keep yourself relevant to your employer.

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

19

NWLA Tourism

STORY BY Chris Jay

Photo Courtesy of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau

Never Stop Learning

Tourism attractions can attend quarterly seminars

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he Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau is the official destination marketing organization of Caddo and Bossier Parishes. Opportunities provided to area tourism partners through the bureau include website listings, cooperative advertising programs, promotional opportunities and more.

In addition to these services, the bureau offers tourism partners – from museums and festivals to restaurants and hotels – a variety of educational programs and opportunities.

From large workshops to one-on-one counsel and hands-on training, these educational programs are among the most valuable services offered by the bureau.

On a quarterly basis, the bureau partners with the Shreveport-Bossier Attractions Associa-

20 Biz. Magazine • June 2014

tour.

tion – a group made up of representatives of area tourist attractions – to present free, educational seminars on a variety of topics.

Whether outlining the basics of developing a marketing plan or delving into the complex world of media buying, these half-day courses are intended to strengthen area attractions, especially non-profit organizations that often lack the resources of a for-profit business.

Partners who require additional assistance outside of the quarterly seminars may arrange for one-on-one tutoring on such topics as social media, marketing and public relations. With the assistance of bureau staff, area festivals, museums and tourist attractions have learned to write and distribute press releases, build Facebook pages, organize and conduct media events and more.

“These quarterly seminars are offered so that area tourism partners can learn new skills that they need in order to be successful,” said Julia Foley, president of the ShreveportBossier Attractions Association. “When our local museums, restaurants and hotels do better, our area as a whole does a better job of attracting tourists.”

In 2013, Cpt. Sandy Jackson, owner and operator of the Spirit of the Red River Cruise in downtown Shreveport, requested the Bureau’s assistance in coordinating a media day to celebrate the opening of his riverboat tour season. Local television stations and other media outlets gathered to take the tour, generating a great deal of media exposure for the

“I worked with the bureau to organize a media day because I didn’t know how to go about doing that on my own,” Jackson said.

“Television stations, news and radio all came out and helped kick-off my tour season. I couldn’t have asked for a better partnership.”

The best way for businesses to be aware of upcoming educational programs being offered by the bureau is by joining the bureau’s mailing lists. To join the bureau’s mailing lists, contact Natalie Roberson, visitor service specialist, at (318) 226-8884. For more information on educational programs and other services offered by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, visit www.shreveport-bossier.org/partners.

Higher Education

Aligning with Employers Bossier Parish Community College is a consumer-driven enterprise In Reclaiming the American Dream: A Report from the 21st-Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges calls for institutional transformation of community colleges. This includes refocusing the community/technical college mission and redefining institutional roles to meet 21st-century education and employment needs. A highly educated population is fundamental to economic growth and to a vibrant democracy.

Community/technical colleges can help reclaim the American dream by responding to challenges, but it will require dramatic redesign of institutions, their missions, and students’ educational experiences.

Jim Henderson, PhD Chancellor, Bossier Parish Community College

Luckily, we have a community college which has made that transformation. For nearly 50 years, Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) has provided access to quality post-secondary edu-

B R O W N

cation for our community. More recently, by creating programs aligned with career opportunities and employer demands in our regional economy, we have created a truly consumer-driven enterprise. As a result, BPCC has been a national leader in enrollment growth for the past four years. Since 2008-09, our enrollment has risen by over 80%, and the number of graduates we produce annually has nearly doubled.

The key driver of that growth is an institutional culture of market responsiveness. The programs we have created and expanded are closely aligned with needs and opportunities in this regional economy. In layman’s terms, these programs lead to jobs, jobs that lead to a higher quality of life for our graduates and give our employers a talent-based competitive advantage.

One result of these efforts is clearly visible to those traveling I-20 near the BPCC campus. The

Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technologies will dramatically enhance our ability to develop world-class talent in key economic sectors. Created in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, and local and parish government, this center will allow us to recruit and train 675 workers to operate Benteler Steel Tube’s $900 million manufacturing facility at the Port of Shreveport/Bossier. In addition, the Center will provide capacity to develop a highly skilled workforce for the expanding manufacturing, energy, and construction sectors.

Growth and responsiveness are not easy even when resources are plentiful. One of the most remarkable aspects of the BPCC story is that our advances have occurred while state support for our operations has dropped from 75% to 25%, the largest shift in resource mix in the nation.

The institutional transformation that has occurred during such difficult times is a testament to the dedication and resilience of BPCC’s faculty and staff, and because of them, I am confident we will be able to create the workforce of tomorrow.

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22 Biz. Magazine • June 2014

From the Bossier Chamber

The Power of One

Self education can help job seekers, employee engagement, other areas

J

im Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living, self-education will make you a fortune.” In today’s economy, with the need for a better educated workforce in the news daily, maybe self-education deserves a second look. Courses in self-improvement and personal development are everywhere, but do they offer value to prospective employers? A recent survey by Gallup clearly shows they do. In this study, Gallup found that workers who received training in soft skills showed improved employee engagement. Engaged employees had productivity rates 22% higher than non-engaged employees and had 41% fewer quality incidents. Engaged employees also earned 141% more, were absent less, and had a 90% better growth trend, and a turnover rate as much as 65% lower than their non-engaged counterparts.

Job seekers can greatly improve their chances of placement in many ways. The most basic skill of all is the ability to read well and comprehend. Reading is a skill that can be developed and improved with practice. Sadly, 58% of Americans never read a single book after finishing their formal education.

In contrast, people listed in Who’s Who read an average of 20 books per year. Just 10 pages read each night at bedtime would equate to over 18 books per year of 200 pages each. “Automobile University,” as Zig Ziglar described it, meant listening to positive, informative material while you are in your car.

A study by the University of Southern California found that if you live in a metropolitan area and commute 12 miles to work, over a three year period, listening to educational recordings as you drive would provide you the equivalent of a two year college degree.

Other methods of self-improvement include continuing education courses offered my most colleges, including many courses offered online, at night, or on weekends, making them convenient for those who are already employed. Courses are available to improve your small business or learn basic bookkeeping. Personal development classes such as Building the Best You, or Goal Setting and Achieving, teach skills that make anyone a better person and a better employee. The Internet provides unlimited opportunities, but caution should be exercised since there are countless scams offered and much inaccurate information with little regulation or control.

The public library is a vastly underutilized treasure chest of knowledge in today’s society. Author Ray Bradbury told an interviewer, “I spent three days a week for ten years educating myself in the public library, and it’s better than college. People should educate themselves. You can get a complete education for no money. At the end of ten years, I had read every book in the library and I’d written a thousand stories.”

Ziglar said, ‘You can finish school, and you can even make it easy, but you never finish your education.” Employers of the 21st century must continue to provide, and employees must pursue, life-long education in order to remain competitive in the fast-paced and changing world in which we live.

Carl Qualls

Carl Qualls is a Ziglar Legacy Certified trainer and owner of Quality Training.

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Dave Says — On Business Starting Small Dear Dave, I have no debt except for my house, and I have eight months of expenses in my emergency fund. I’d like to slowly start an online business while working my regular job, but even though I’m in pretty good financial shape, I don’t have much money left at the end of the month. How can I start my business without borrowing the money?

Kayley Dear Kayley, It’s simple. You start and run your business with cash. That should be a guideline for every entrepreneur. You’d be surprised how much cash will pile up over time, even if you save just a little bit each month.

Plus, you may have more money on hand than you think to get your idea started. Right now, you’re a little heavy on your emergency fund. I recommend people have three to six months of expenses set aside for emergencies. You could back your emergency fund down to five or six months of expenses and move the extra over to an account designated to getting your business off the ground. After that, you grow it a little bit each month until you have enough to open your doors.

The big thing, Kayley, is don’t be afraid to start small. Some of the best and most successful companies in this country started as cottage industries or micro-businesses. I started my company on a card table in my living room, and there’s nothing wrong with that kind of beginning.

It’s easier and safer in a lot of ways, and it doesn’t take a lot of money. So, I love your wisdom in wanting to start slowly online while keeping your full-time job.

My advice would be to take about two months of expenses out of your emergency fund and move it to a little business account. Then watch your budget and think carefully about your spending. You’re already a person who’s in control of her money, so I think you’ll do a good job growing this business.

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—Dave

Setting up a small business emergency fund Dear Dave, How do you set up an emergency fund for a small business?

Eric Dear Eric, In business, we would name it a little bit differently. Instead of an emergency fund, we’d call it “retained earnings,” but it’s still the same thing. Retained earnings serve several purposes. They could act as an emergency fund, or they could be used to expand the business and launch a new product line. You could also use retained earnings to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace. This means you could buy out a competitor or buy up additional inventory at a great price.

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All businesses have cash needs to stay open and keep moving forward. Your retained earnings could easily be a pretty large account. Of course, you can keep them in a simple business account. That’s not a big deal. But in terms of the amount of retained earnings, I wouldn’t be in panic mode if I didn’t have three to six months of expenses like with an emergency fund in personal finance. That could be a lot of cash, but then you’d be acting as your own credit line too.

That’s how I would do it, Eric. Open an account, call it retained earnings and let that one big chunk of liquidity (that big pile of cash) serve several of your business needs—including the need to stay out of debt!

—Dave

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25

Business Etiquette

The Sight Skills?

Education is but one consideration during the hiring process

T

he Millennial Generation is the largest and most highly educated generation. Of the generations in the workplace, they also have the highest percentage of unemployment in nearly four decades, according to the Pew Research Center. On a separate thought, even with the high quantity of applicants, many job openings remain vacant because companies are having difficulty finding qualified people. There is a gap here that warrants further investigation. That disconnect is a great topic for another day.

Today’s discussion is what some companies are doing to obtain and retain qualified employees despite the scarcity of qualified applicants.

Partner with local colleges and universities. Our local community college is a creative leader in providing education programs tailored to the business community’s needs.

Hire for aptitude and train for skills. A highly experienced employee with a negative attitude, unwilling to change, or get along with others is a bad hire. Choose candidates that will fit your company culture, with a natural tendency for cooperation and friendliness. Determine the skill sets your employees need and provide training and accountability in those areas.

Use pre-employment personality assessments. Some are inexpensive, others are costly to administer. If they save you from making a bad hire, they are well worth the price. These tests can also prevent hiring someone likely to leave within a few years and wasting your training dollars on them.

Use LinkedIn to locate candidates. This social media site is considered more professional than others and enables communication with your connections and research ability of potential candidates.

Learn employee motivators. Hint: salary is not at the top of the list. Find out what keeps your staff interested in their work and what they value most in life. For example, many Millennials want to be good parents. If your workforce values this, bring a lunch-time speaker to discuss parenting skills and trends. Compared to the cost of replacing workers, this is exceedingly inexpensive.

Teri Haynes Owner of Business Interactions, LLC Employee trainer and business etiquette coach www.BusinessInteractions.Net

26 Biz. Magazine • June 2014

The previous education model was: go to school, earn a degree, get a job in your field. Done. Not anymore! Students over 25 years old make up nearly 47% of some colleges’ attendees. Professionals are returning to school for advanced degrees, new certifications, or simply to enrich their lives. Providing education, whether training employees on new required skills or sending high potential employees back to college, is as necessary to success as a business plan. What is your business’s education plan?

Economic Development

The Power of Partnerships

Through collaborative efforts, north Louisiana garnered some big economic development wins

T

he first quarter of this year has outpaced all previous quarters in both activity and wins!

North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) successfully completed five new projects which could potentially generate 625 new jobs and $44.5 million in capital investment.

Building on this momentum, 2014 could prove to be a record breaking year for the region. North Louisiana celebrated three big projects with public announcements this quarter. On February 3, 2014, Fibrebond announced a $2.5 million dollar expansion of its Minden operations, creating 460 new direct and indirect jobs. A week later, Lube-Tech announced it would invest $16 million to manufacture lubrication fluids at a former GM supplier building, creating 280 new direct and indirect jobs. On March 31st, IntegriCo Composites announced it will invest $20 million to establish a manufacturing facility near Springhill that will produce transportation infrastructure components, creating 300 new jobs.

NLEP is also helping CSC recruit an 800-person technology workforce after the company announced in February it would build an Integrated Technology Center at the National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City. The Cyber Innovation Center, which anchors the research park, spearheaded this economic development project, which greatly expands the technology sector in North Louisiana and opens up infinite possibilities for our region.

These achievements are shining examples of the true power of partnership- a collaboration between NLEP, its state and local partners and the164 investors who contribute leadership, resources and financial support to expand the economic opportunities for our region. That trust and investment in NLEP paid off with big dividends for North Louisiana. In the last four years, NLEP has helped 49 companies locate or expand here. These employers have created more than 6,600 jobs and $1.6 billion in capital investment.

As a nonprofit economic development organization, North Louisiana Economic Partnership relies on investments from companies, individuals, foundations, and municipalities to fund our mission. Without investors, NLEP would not be able to help recruit these great companies to North Louisiana. We would not be able to market our region to the world. We would not be able to assist new or existing employers with recruiting the qualified workforce they need to grow and expand here. None of these activities would be possible without the men and women who have invested in the future of North Louisiana.

Scott Martinez President, NLEP He is a certified economic developer and President of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership, a nonprofit regional economic development organization. Send comments to feedback@nlep.org.

As with any win, there’s always a “twelfth man” who makes the victories possible. Collectively they are NLEP’s Board of Directors and investors, whose guidance, leadership and support have enabled our organization to succeed. I want to thank these people for their faith, trust, governance and confidence in North Louisiana Economic Partnership. This is the power of partnership at work, building new opportunities for the next generation in North Louisiana. Call 6772508 or visit nlep.org and click on Invest in NLEP to join our partnership.

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

27

@ CoHab

Start me up

Entrepreneurial contest carries $50,000 grand prize

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hat could $50,000 do for your business? The Louisiana Start Up Prize will find out when it awards that prize to a local entrepreneur with an amazing start up idea. The Louisiana Startup Prize was launched in the vein of the wildly popular Louisiana Film and Music Prizes by Gregory Kallenberg founder of The Louisiana Film/Music Prizes and John Grindley of Cohab.

The unique concept will combine entrepreneurial education with the intensity of a competition. The Startup Prize’s main goal is to develop better entrepreneurs, connect them with investors and help create an entrepreneurial culture in northwest Louisiana.

The Startup Prize will host two Qualifying Events on June 6 and July 18 — $50 per event or $75 for both — at Cohab. Each startup will be required to attend at least one weekend-long qualifier to be eligible for the $50,000 Grand Prize. During the Qualifiers, startup teams will connect with experts, educators, mentors, and coaches who will help them build great ideas into strong businesses.

These events present a major opportunity to learn, pivot, and grow a startup. Even if an entrant doesn't win the prize, the education and connection to investors and mentors is available to take his or her idea to the next level.

The top concepts will be selected to

present their startup ideas during the Startup Prize Weekend Sept. 18-20.

The finalists will present their concepts to the Startup Prize’s “Board of Directors,” who will choose a winner. The Board of Directors will also have the opportunity to invest in these final projects.

The opportunity to make connections and learn from some of the best minds in business as well as get your idea off the ground is there, but applicants still need to register and show off their great business ideas. To register, visit http://www.lastartupprize.com/.

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BIZ Spotlight

Taking a Passion for Service to the World Teresa Allen celebrates 20 years of Common Sense Solutions

A

sk Teresa Allen how someone from Shreveport becomes an internationally recognized keynote speaker and business author and she will tell you it was a long and winding road. “I started giving customer service and sales seminars for the local financial industry. We started with a few dozen attendees and then calls started coming in asking if I could do the programs for other organizations in the region.”

Soon hundreds were signing up. As her programs continued to rise in popularity, Teresa decided to strike out on her own in 1994. She was immediately asked to speak at a national banking conference. The spin from that one event led to training for financial institutions across the U.S. One of her most memorable engagements was keynoting the National Institute of Service Excellence Conference in Barbados. The three featured speakers were Teresa Allen, Roland Martin of CNN, and Diana Bell, former head of Customer Experience for Hewlett Packard.

In 2002 Teresa wrote her book, “Common Sense Service: Close Encounters on the Front Lines.” The book is a compilation of true customer service encounters, each having a strong service lesson.

“My goal is for readers and meeting participants to become as obsessed as I am about observing what those serving us are doing wrong and right. What turns you on or off in a service encounter is the very same thing that will annoy or delight your own customers.”

Last year the audio version of her book was recorded

by Young Professionals Entertainment studio in Shreveport. Over 10,000 printed and audio copies of Common Sense Service are in the hands of business professionals across the U.S. and abroad. Teresa notes that one of the great things about being based in Shreveport is that people really care about each other’s success in our business community. This is particularly important when you are a solopreneur navigating the sometimes rocky road of business alone.

“When I say every type of business needs to hear a customer service message I mean it… I actually did a program a few years ago for the International Pet Cemetery and Crematory Association, and that was a spin off from the Funeral Service Business Forum!”

Although she travels far and wide, Teresa loves sharing ideas right here at home. Recently she has launched a fun series of teambuilding programs.

“You can’t serve others if you aren’t in sync with your co-workers!” Allen states emphatically.

What does Teresa love the most about her interesting career?

“I am truly blessed. Every day I get to meet fascinating new people, learn about a new industry, and share success strategies that impact the bottom line profitability of the organization.”

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

29

BIZ. Newz

A Decade of Innovation Lisa Johnson marks 10 years as Bossier Chamber President/CEO

O

ver the past decade, Bossier Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Johnson has seen Bossier innovate. “Enhancements have continued to move Bossier from the sleepy bedroom community of yesteryear to a growing, prosperous community of technology, education, medical and retail to name a few. We have seen the development of the Cyber Innovation Center, record breaking growth at Bossier Parish Community College, healthcare enhancements and the development of the Louisiana Boardwalk, Villaggio, Sterling Shopping Center and more,” said Johnson.

June marks 10 years since the lifelong Bossier resident took over guiding the chamber and turning it into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce four-star accredited organization it is today, representing over 900 businesses and over 60,000 employees on both sides of the river.

“I knew that it was a membership organization and it’s about building relationships. That was the easy part. Being that I am a native of Bossier City, graduate of Bossier High, and live in Bossier Parish, understanding the role of a chamber of commerce as the local champion was another easy task for me. I always knew that I would stay home and find a way to help improve our community for our future leaders,” Johnson said.

As she quickly discovered, the Chamber’s role in the community is ever-evolving. In order to meet Bossier’s needs, the Chamber has formed partnerships, told their story and shared the results.

“Having a tourism background, I primarily worked with one specific industry, so there was a learning curve as I stepped into my role at the Chamber,” Johnson explained. “We serve many audiences — visitors, aspiring entrepreneurs, established businesses, and government at all levels — we must be confident in the referrals given for proper connections and to have knowledge of current/future planning; it gives the client a sense of partnership within the community.”

That ability to form partnerships not only helps the Chamber help their partners, but it is a crucial element of the modern business world for their partners themselves.

“Everything we do in life is about the relationships we have with others, it is no different for a business. The Bossier Chamber prides itself in relationship building from the staff level through our leadership to members at large. It is our responsibility to share information, educate and refer through opportunities, partnerships, advocacy and innovation,” she

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said Johnson and her staff’s efforts to foster those relationships for members have paid dividends — membership has grown 34% and their programs have grown 152%. The Chamber has been named a Top 25 Military Friendly Chamber of Commerce with “Vetrepreneur Magazine” and the Chamber championed the creation of the Military Child Transition Consultant for military Connected Children for Bossier Parish schools.

“Under my management, with the support of the great leaders around our board table, we had a strategic plan in place to grow the Chamber. The first was to look internally and enhance the way we communicate with our members. Secondly, we looked at the membership to understand who they are and why are they a part of the Bossier Chamber. Over the last 10 years, we have focused on listening and delivering return on investment for our members.”

For the next decade of leadership, Johnson says Bossier’s obstacles are also opportunities.

“With growth comes change, with change comes challenges. During the next 10 years, Bossier residents and business owners should look for continued growth of education, technology, government, medical, and oil and gas industries,” she said. “We are poised to position ourselves as the next great place to live, work and play.”

And the Chamber will be out on the front lines of development by championing the advantages and opportunities in Bossier with their “Bossier Innovates” campaign.

“We are sending the message that we are willing to take a risk and make it happen. The pinwheel in our logo represents forward constant movement of right angles that engage one another for a common goal,” Johnson explained.

Looking back, she views her 10 years with Chamber as “rewarding.”

“My position at the chamber has allowed me to be a role model for other women in the community. I have had the opportunity to share my experiences in the corporate world with many new graduates over the years and encourage them to do the same,” Johnson said. “I have been blessed over the last 10 years with a staff that shares the same passion I do for Bossier-Shreveport and our business community. A successful leader surrounds themselves with great people, so to all the staff/team members over the last 10 years, thank you for making me and the Chamber look good.”

Lunch Break

Chris Jay reviews local food every Tuesday at www.20x49.com.

Eat Your Vegetables Fried Eggplant at Pita de’ Novo a flavor masterpiece If you should find yourself with an eggplant, you could do a lot worse than slice it up and fry it.

From Sicilian to Cajun, lots of the world’s great food cultures have figured this out. My in-laws pan fry thick slices of eggplant and cover them in Cajun seasoning, and the results are delicious.

But the crispy, sweet and spicy fried eggplant served up at Pita de’ Novo (8510 Youree Drive, Shreveport) may be the best I’ve ever had. Heavily battered and fried, drizzled with a garlic and cilantro sauce and served with a cup of roasted red pepper dip, this dish takes an innocent, healthy vegetable and introduces it to a life of crime.

Chris Jay Public Relations and Social Media Manager, Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. He is a monthly contributor to Biz. Magazine.

He may be reached via email at cjay@sbctb.org.

The final product could easily be something you’d find on a State Fair midway: crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and decadent fun to eat. A platter ($7.99) includes about six large eggplant discs; smaller servings are available as an appetizer ($3.99) and sandwich ($5.99).

Pita de Novo opened recently in a small storefront near LSU Shreveport.

Atmosphere is extremely casual – food is served

on paper plates. For the most part, the menu is what you’d expect to find at any number of Greek and Lebanese restaurants: gyros, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, spinach pies, etc.

Gyro towers spin slowly on vertical roasters be-

hind the counter. The gyro meat – a 20% lamb, 80% beef mix, according to the manager – is yummy as well, but it’ll be hard for me not to order a bunch of fried eggplant any time I visit.

That way, at least, I can pretend that I’m eating healthy.

June 2014 • Biz. Magazine

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