DeltaBusiness June 2017
BEST OF THE BEST DR. R. GARY JONES NAMED AMED THE 2017 THOMAS HOMAS H. SCOTT AWARD A WARD WINNER
INSIDE: PROFILES OF THIS YEAR’S WINNERS
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COURTESY PHOTO
Thomas H. Scott started his company in 1939. It was known then as Scott Truck and Tractor and was an International Harvester distributor.
AWARDS PAY HOMAGE TO THOMAS’ LEGACY THE NEWS STAR
T
homas H. Scott was a trailblazer. The Mississippi native moved to Monroe in 1939 to start a retail distribution center for International Harvester that served the farmers of northeastern Louisiana with tractors and equipment for decades. Eventually his business expanded to include industrial machinery. And not just that. At times his company sold insurance, automobiles, logging equipment,and refrigeration equipment. It has provided sales, service, parts and lease and finance options to agricultural, construction, oil field, government and chemical industries. He was a community leader and a philanthropist. His story appears in this edition. More to the point, his
spirit lives in this edition and in the economy of northeastern Louisiana. For the eighth year, DeltaBusiness, The News-Star, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the University of Louisiana at Monroe's College of Business paid homage to Thomas' legacy with the presentation of the Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence. The nominations honor companies making significant contributions to the Ouachita Parish economy through capital improvements, expansion, job creation and community involvement. Nine companies were recognized with awards: Flying Tiger Brewery, Bank of Ruston, Neighbor's LLC., Hixson Automotive of Monroe, Dr. Gary Patrick Jones, Warehouse #1, ChefTaxi, BancorpSouth and Ouachita Independent Bank.
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June i Delta Business i 5
T.H. SCOTT AWARD
DR. GARY JONES WINS T.H. SCOTT AWARD THE NEWS STAR
I
n 2017, two businesses were truly standouts. Both are health care businesses that are the result of a visionary health care team led by Dr. Gary Jones. Over the past few years, these two companies have spent well over $100 million in capital investments to restore, renovate, and build new facilities, including the Vantage State Building and the Affinity Specialty Clinic. Dr. Gary Jones is one of the founders of Vantage Health Plan, Inc. and has served as Vantage’s CEO and Medical Director since the company was founded in 1994. Vantage is a Louisiana-based Health Maintenance Organization and is headquartered in Monroe with a satellite office in Shreveport. Affinity Health Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vantage Health Plan, is a physician group medical practice with clinics and staff who provide care from a pediatric level to home health, and everything in between. Others specialize in various areas that promote healthy lifestyle maintenance and
changes, such as: nutritional services, diabetic treatment and medication reviews. Over the past 23 years, these two businesses have become two of the leading employers in the region with over 1200 employees. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe and earned his Medical Degree from Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport. He completed his residency training at Louisiana State University Family Practice in Monroe. Dr. Jones is a Board Certified Family Physician with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Jones and his wife Sissie have been committed and dedicated to the restoration of Downtown Monroe. Through their inspiration, Vantage has purchased and renovated the Ouachita Bank Building, the Central Bank Building and the Virginia Hotel among others. For vision, investment and job creation, the 2017 Thomas H. Scott Award is presented to Dr. Gary Jones with Vantage Health Plan and Affinity Health Group.
6 i Delta Business i June 2017
MARGARET CROFT/THE NEWS-STAR, MARGARET CROFT/THE NEWS-STAR
Dr. Gary Jones stands in front of the Vantage Tower on DeSiard Street in downtown Monroe on Feb. 10. The Vantage Tower is the tallest building in northeast Louisiana.
SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD
BONNIE BOLDEN/THE NEWS-STAR
West Monroe businessman Tommy Neck is the owner of Chef Taxi, a business that delivers from various Twin City restaurants.
CHEF TAXI WINS SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP THE NEWS STAR
H
ave you ever been at home or working through lunch and are hungry for something other than pizza delivery? No problem, call Chef Taxi, a restaurant delivery service that delivers food throughout Ouachita Parish in
less than 60 minutes for the restaurant price and a $4.99 delivery charge (a little more in certain zip codes). Established in 2015 by Tommy and Amanda Neck with only a few employees, the business now has over forty employees, including drivers and dispatchers. The team keeps
deliveries rolling from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Chef Taxi now has almost thirty-five restaurant partners. The delivery service began in a small office on North 7th Street in West Monroe. Today, the business is located in a $500,000 state of the art office. It is lo-
cated at 3737 White’s Ferry Road in West Monroe. The company believes in giving back. Each month they host a fundraiser for a different non-profit. In addition, they support youth sports teams, First West and the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter. June i Delta Business i 7
SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY AWARD
HANNAH BALDWIN/NEWS STAR
Flying Tiger partners David Johnson, left, David Johnson, center, and Rob Brewer, right, pose for a portrait in the brewery's taproom in Monroe, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
BREWERY WINS SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY THE NEWS STAR
W
hat began as an interest in home brewing became a passion that lead to the opening of a craft brewery in downtown Monroe. James Simpson, Robert Brewer, David Johnson and Brooks Hamaker and a group of investors envisioned and opened Flying Tiger Brewery, a craft beer tap room,
complete with a beer garden and brew house. The brewery’s design is the work of Brewer and his wife Sara. They envisioned a first class facility that was welcoming and encouraged customers to relax and enjoy tasting beer. Simpson’s passion for brewing began in the 1990s following a trip to Texas. Later his wife gave him a gift of home brewing equip-
8 i Delta Business i June 2017
ment which allowed him to experiment with the creative beer making process. Simpson’s passion and talent for beer making was shared by Johnson and later Brewer, who was brought on board for his business and marketing expertise. To carry out large scale brewing, the group knew they needed a brewmaster who could oversee a larger
operation. They found Brooks Hamaker, who left Monroe following his graduation from high school. His experience included an eleven year stint as Vice President of Abita Beer. Later, he became a consultant for numerous breweries across the globe. When asked, Hamaker jumped at the opportunity to return to See BREWERY, Page 9
HANNAH BALDWIN/NEWS STAR
David Johnson is one of the partners at Flying Tiger, a brewery in Monroe, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
HANNAH BALDWIN/NEWS STAR
James Simpson, one of Flying Tiger's managing partners holds up an IPA for a portrait, in Monroe, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
Brewery Continued from Page 8
Monroe. Also assisting the four partners is Simpson’s sister Delia who is a Level One cicerone (a professional who works with beer). The name of the new Flying Tiger Brewery was proposed by Johnson. It is a tribute to the legendary Flying Tigers American Volunteer Group and General Claire Chennault, a Louisiana native. The
group flew the P40 Warhawk Flying Tiger plane and helped China win the Sino-Japanese War during World War II. It is the inspiration behind the Brewery’s logo. The flagship beers are Man at Arms Amber Ale, Burma Blonde Golden Lager, and Heroic Hops India Pale Ale. The brewery is open Wednesdays through Sundays and features food trucks and live music. Flying Tiger beer is also now available at Brookshire’s and Super 1, as
well as, numerous convenience stores, local restaurants and bars. The Brewery supports the Chennault Museum and hopes to teach younger generations who are not familiar with the Flying Tigers about their importance to WWII and to the Chinese. In addition, the partners are dedicated to investing in downtown Monroe and revitalization efforts. They participate in the art crawls and pub walks and are planning other events to help reinvigorate Monroe.
HANNAH BALDWIN/NEWS STAR
Robert Brewer is one of the managing partners of Flying Tiger, a brewery in Monroe, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
June i Delta Business i 9
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June i Delta Business i 11
LARGE BUSINESS CATEGORY AWARD
MARGARET CROFT/THE NEWS-STAR
Meryl Farr
NEIGHBOR’S WINS LARGE BUSINESS CATEGORY THE NEWS STAR
N
eighbor’s LLC, a strategic group of investors led by Meryl Kennedy Farr, purchased the assets of Pine Valley Foods, Inc. in 2016 for $750,000. Pine Valley was a leader in the fundraising industry selling quality locally produced and packaged products throughout the nation. By buying the business, Farr was able to retain
a strong group of talented employees. Farr and her team liked the straight forward business infrastructure that helped organizations achieve their financial goals. The Neighbors team is already planning an expansion of the facility to increase co-manufacturing, food service and retail business opportunities to ensure stable employment year-round. They also
12 i Delta Business i June 2017
plan to rebuild and replace existing manufacturing equipment and to improve production capabilities to facilitate baked goods. Farr is committed to sourcing locally whenever possible. Being involved and contributing to the community is important to her. Her first priority was to solidify Neighbors, LLC. She believes that there are real opportunities to expand premi-
um quality offerings beyond fundraising. She has already hired a food scientist to research new product lines and a sales executive to create new growth initiatives. Farr has a commitment to the community as demonstrated in the name of her business. She and her business support local organizations like United Way, the area chambers and area educational institutions.
COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AND PERSEVERANCE AWARD
COURTESY PHOTO
MARGARET CROFT/THE NEWS-STAR
Kevin Koh
L. J. Holland, BancorpSouth
BANCORPSOUTH, OIB WIN COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AND PERSEVERANCE AWARD THE NEWS STAR
B
ancorpSouth and Ouachita Independent BankThe announced merger between Ouachita Bancshares Corporation and BancorpSouth, Inc. combining Ouachita Independent Bank into BanCorpSouth has been delayed for sever-
al years while BancorpSouth, Inc. works through the merger process with regulators. Resolution is expected during 2017. In the meantime, it has been challenging for each bank to retain and attract new talent not knowing when the merger will take place and be complete. In
spite of the challenges, L.J. Holland and his staff and Kevin Koh and his staff have worked together in outstanding cooperation. While the wait must be frustrating at times, neither L. J. nor Kevin show any sign of impatience or fatigue. They attend each other’s
ribbon cuttings and support so many of the same organizations. The gracious and considerate demeanor displayed by both Kevin and L.J. is refreshing and for that the judges award both BancorpSouth and Ouachita Independent Bank the Cooperative Spirit and Perseverance Award. June i Delta Business i 13
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June i Delta Business i 15
MEDIUM BUSINESS CATEGORY AWARD
COURTESY PHOTO
Bill Hogan is the President and CEO of the Bank of Ruston.
BANK OF RUSTON WINS MEDIUM BUSINESS CATEGORY THE NEWS STAR
B
ank of Ruston was established in 1905 in Lincoln Parish as a federally chartered stock savings bank serving north central Louisiana. In 2017, Bank President and CEO Bill Hogan and his board decided to open a new location in Monroe. They located temporarily in Premier Plaza until a site
was identified on which to build a new facility. They chose a lot on Tower Drive and built a beautiful $2.8 million state of the art banking center in the heart of Monroe. The bank employs fifty people overall, with nine of that number located in Monroe. To head the Monroe facility, Bank of Ruston selected Jeremy Harrell to serve as Ouachi-
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ta Market President. Harrell is a University of Louisiana at Monroe graduate and has been in banking in Ouachita Parish for many years. As part of their mission to serve as a community bank, the staff and board members actively support and get involved in a wide array of organizations to make a difference in the communities they serve. The bank sup-
ports a many organizations including civic, education, the arts and law enforcement. Employees and bank board members serve on the boards of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, LABI, Louisiana Tech College of Business Advisory Board, the Monroe and RustonLincoln Chambers of Commerce and many others.
CORPORATE AWARD
COURTESY PHOTO
Dallas Hixson, Edley Hixson and Clint Hixson are the owners of Hixson Automotive, the winner of the Corporate Award.
HIXSON AUTOMOTIVE WINS CORPORATE AWARD THE NEWS STAR
H
ixson Automotive of Monroe was established in 1983 by the Hixson family at their location on Louisville Avenue. In 2017, the business built a new state of the art facility at 6300 Frontage Road in Monroe. The new Hixson Ford is in a 75,000 square foot facility that is double the size of the previous building. The company employs one hundred people at the Hixson
Ford facility and another twenty-five at the BMW facility on Louisville. Dallas Hixson, General Manager, COO and SEC oversees the day to day operations. He believes the new location will allow the business to better serve customers. His goal is not just to sell cars, but to develop life-long customers. He understands that it takes more than a beautiful facility to do that. In addition, the dealership
has to have great service and talented employees. The new facility has a quick service lane for routine maintenance, a larger shop for heavier repairs and a shop for heavy trucks. Customers waiting for repairs have two comfortable lounges in which to wait with access to charging ports and a full coffee bar. In the shop, technicians will be working in a more efficient and safe environment. The dealership also has
room for twice the number of vehicles and its location on Interstate 20 is a prime location for growth. The company sponsors the Golden Apple Award to recognize talented educators. A similar award, the Above and Beyond Award, recognizes first responders that have gone over and above the call of duty. The company also supports school supply drives, Ducks Unlimited and a host of other organizations. June i Delta Business i 17
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SPIRIT OF RESILIENCY AWARD
HANNAH BALDWIN/NEWS STAR
Warehouse No. 1 co-owners Jan Mason poses for a portrait at the restaurant in Monroe, Thursday, May 11, 2017
WAREHOUSE #1 WINS SPIRIT OF RESILIENCY THE NEWS STAR
W
arehouse #1 The restaurant was established in 1980 by Frances Mason, who found an old tin warehouse located at One Olive Street on the banks of the Ouachita River. The location was
good, but the facility, which was located behind the seawall, was overgrown from years of neglect. Serving as her own contractor, she restored the building for use as a restaurant. It took two years after opening before the restaurant had a month that broke even.
20 i Delta Business i June 2017
None the less, Mason continued to push forward. In 1989, Mason was recognized for her preservation efforts and the restaurant was featured in Louisiana Life. It seemed that things were on the upswing. However the great flood of 1991, significantly impacted
the business, which was underwater for seven weeks. With no flood or business interruption insurance, the days ahead were tough. Once the restaurant reopened, the public returned and business increased. See SPIRIT, Page 21
HANNAH BALDWIN/NEWS STAR
Warehouse No. 1 co-owners Dennis Clack, left, and Duane Humphries pose for portraits at the restaurant in Monroe, Thursday, May 11, 2017.
Spirit Continued from Page 20A
The business continued to thrive until 1996 when she died. Her two daughters Jan and Ann took over the business. Ann soon sold her interest to Duane Humphries and Jan and
Duane became partners. The restaurant sales continued to improve and in 2004 the business expanded to serve lunch. 2016 turned out to be another eventful year for the business. The first and second quarters were especially good and the restaurant seemed to be on a new plateau. However in
late July a fire broke out and caused significant smoke damage. After a three month complete renovation project and an investment of almost $100,000, the business reopened with a new fresh look. Over the years, the Mason family has certainly learned how to make lemonade out of lem-
ons. With Jan Mason’s generous spirit, the Warehouse #1 is a first stop for many nonprofits seeking donations. Mason also supports organizations like LABI, the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the Ouachita Riverfront Development Commission among many others. June i Delta Business i 21
Local Monroe Couple Invests in Historic District Jason and Jennifer Thomas share a passion for their community, its historical district and being a part of bringing Monroe’s Downtown Historic District back to life.The couple first began working together at John Rea Realty specializing as commercial and land agents. Over four years of focused hard work, Castle Hall on St. John Street became their first acquisition and Third Floor Properties, LLC was born. Leaving the traditional lifestyle most are accustomed to in suburban and neighborhood living, the Thomases quickly learned to appreciate the freedom and conveniences offered in Melody Olson’s RiverScape Condominiums.The original spark that was created by Olson’s renovations will be finished later this year when the Thomases complete the construction of the last of the unfinished condominium spaces in the building. In all, their goal is to create a community within a community; to have the ability to “eat, shop, play and stay” all within walking distance. Within the next 12 to 24 months, Monroe’s residents will have the opportunity to enjoy several new restaurant concepts, a coffee shop, a variety of retail spaces, 75 high-end condominiums with plenty of parking and a 24-hour private gym provided to anyone leasing from Third Floor Properties. Jason and Jennifer are very quick to acknowledge that they aren’t alone in this effort and are grateful for the wealth of experience and unmatched skill set offered in the “team behind the dream.”The group behind the Thomas’ effort is Michael Echols of Echo Build, Christie Echols of Echo Design, Clinton Downing of Clinton Whitney Downing Design,The Architecture Alliance Group, Michael Walpole Architect, LLC and Josh Taylor of J.Taylor Construction.
22 i Delta Business i June 2017
Castle Hall – 125 St John Street COMING SOON! 9 Luxury Condominiums 1 & 2 Bedroom Historical Features Modern Finishes
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June i Delta Business i 23
ABOUT THE AWARDS
AREA AWARDS NAMED AFTER TRAILBLAZING BUSINESSMAN STAFF REPORT NEWS@THENEWSSTAR.COM
T
he annual Thomas H. Scott Awards are named after Thomas H. Scott, the founder of Scott Cos., which is headquartered in Monroe. In 1939, Scott Truck and Tractor opened its doors with 10 employees, including founder Tom Scott and his wife, Mayme. Seventy-seven years later, the company, now called Scott Equipment, employs nearly 600 people. Scott was reared in Mississippi and attended Mississippi State University, where he earned a degree in agriculture engineering. After graduation, Scott moved to Shreveport, where he was employed with International Harvester. The Scotts moved to Monroe the year he opened Scott Truck and Tractor. Scott Equipment began as an International Harvester farm equipment and motor truck distributor. In 1965, the company became the northern Louisiana distributor for IH Construction Equipment. In 1974, Scott Equipment purchased General Equipment of South Louisiana. At times, the company has sold insurance, automobiles,
DACIA IDOM/THE NEWS-STAR, DACIA IDOM/THE NEWS-STAR
Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence have been given since 2010.
logging equipment and refrigeration equipment. It has provided sales, service, parts and lease and finance options to the farming, construction, oil field, government and chemical industries. In 2014, the company transferred ownership of its agricultural division to focus on construction equipment, material handling and cranes. Service has been at the
heart of the company since the beginning. In fact, in a company brochure printed 2000, a year before his death, Scott repeated that commitment. "People are important," he wrote. "Our No.1 goal has always been to serve the customer. Our business has been built on service to our customer and service to the communities in which we are located." Scott was partial to the
Baptist Children's home and children's hospitals and in 1964, Scott created the nonprofit Scott Foundation, which carries out a variety of initiatives every year. The foundation initially granted one-time $1,000 scholarships to students in 30 northern Louisiana parishes. Now, the program covers all of Louisiana and the southern half of Arkansas, providing more than 80 scholarships each year. Scott was the first president of the Monroe Jaycees, a charter member of Parkview Baptist Church and winner of the David Silverstein Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce created an awards program to honor companies, making significant contributions to the economy in Ouachita Parish through capital improvements, expansion, job creation and community involvement. It named the program Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence. The Scott Awards are presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce, The NewsStar and the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Business and Social Sciences.
PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS 2016 Winners Small Business Category: Griffin Funeral Home Medium Business Category: Acme Glass and Mirror Large Business Category: WellNecessities Corporate Business Category: Brookshire Grocery Com-
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pany The Thomas H. Scott Award: IBM Spirit of Caring: Helping Hands Pediatric Day Health Center Spirit of Community: The Center for Children and Families Spirit of Excellence: Bayou Dental Group
2015 Winners Small Business Category: Blake Wheelis Insurance Agency Medium Business Category: Interstate Hyundai Large Business Category: Southern Hospitality Services Corporate Business
Category: St. Francis Medical Center The Thomas H. Scott Award: CenturyLink Spirit of Community: Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union Spirit of Excellence: Affinity Health Group See WINNERS, Page 25
THE NEWS-STAR FILE PHOTO
CenturyLink was the 2010 winner of the TH Scott Award.
Winners
Spirit of Determination: Kingfish/Crawfish Junkie
Continued from Page 24
2013 Winners
Spirit of Enterprise: Sweet Lucy’s Bakery Spirit of Endurance: Sleepy Hollow Furniture
2014 Winners Small Business Category: Cheeks AirwWorx Medium Business Category: Holyfield Group Large Business Category: Belk Corporate Business Category: Mac’s Fresh Market Spirit of Community: University Health-Conway Spirit of Excellence: Comfort Suites Spirit of Enterprise: Robertson Produce
Small Business Category: UPS Store Medium Business Category: Diversity One Staffing Large Business Category: Centric Federal Credit Union Corporate Business Category: Glenwood Regional Medical Center Spirit of Community: Arrive In Style Spirit of Excellence: The Guest House Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Spirit of Distinction: Ready to Excel
2012 Winners Small Business Category: Gretchen Kovac Construction
Medium Business Category: Car Town of Monroe Large Business Category: InterMountain Management Corporate Business Category: Affinity Health Group and St. Francis Medical Center Spirit of Excellence: Huawei Technologies, USA Spirit of Distinction: Coast Professional, Inc.
2011 Winners Small Business Category: Southern Bancard Services Medium Business Category: Southern Hospitality Services Large Business Category: Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union Corporate Business Category: Brookshire Grocery Com-
pany Spirit of Excellence: Ouachita Independent Bank Spirit of Enterprise: Monroe Animal Health Services
2010 Winners Small Business Category: Kevin Woods Insurance Agency Medium Business Category: Coast Professional, Inc. Large Business Category: InterMountain Management Corporate Business Category: Gardner Denver Thomas The Thomas H. Scott Award: CenturyLink Spirit of Excellence: P & S Surgical Hospital Spirit of Enterprise: Gladys F. Smith Real Estate
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2017 THOMAS H. SCOTT AWARD NOMINEES Small Business Bestz Donuts was opened in 2016 by owner Sarom Doem with an investment of $17,500. The business supports area elementary schools and Victory Baptist Church. The business is located at 4150 Old Sterlington Road in Monroe. Corner Vet of Sterlington- The new clinic was opened by Dr. Nicole West in 2017 in Sterlington with four employees. The small animal hospital offers medical and boarding services to area residents. In the few short weeks they have been open, the clinic has garnered over 250 clients. Dr. West loves to share her passion for animals with elementary students and the business participates in local pet rescue events. The business is located at 101 Scott Drive in Sterlington. Curtis Tax Service, LLC was first opened in 2009 in Monroe by Curtis Stevenson. The business provides tax services, bookkeeping, estate and trust planning and other accounting services. In 2016, the business was devastated by the March floods. With the resulting damage occurring in the middle of tax season, Curtis had to open a second office to get back in business quickly. In addition, he invested $120,000 to repair his original office. Once the work was finished, Stevenson decided to keep the new location open, as well. He now has six employees between the two locations. He supports the C3 Car Club, the Black History Parade, and by providing backpacks and school supplies to area students. The business is located at 4443 Churchill Circle in Monroe. The Downs Law Firm was established in April 2005 in Bastrop. In February 2016, Ross Downs partnered with Katrina Jackson and worked out of her office on Kansas Lane. In 2017, the firm constructed a new facility on 165N with a capital investment of $800,000 and added six new
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EMERALD MCINTYRE
Dusty Teer and Cindy Smith of Dusty & Company.
jobs. The firm is engaged in various community service endeavors by providing school scholarships and supporting the Sickle Cell anemia Run/Walk-a-thon. The Firm is located at 4214 Sterlington Road. Dusty and CompanyThe store was opened in 2013 by Cindy Smith and Dusty Teer. The original part-time business consisted of clothing and accessories, which they would take to various locations, like the RiverMarket, and set up shop. By 2016, it was clear that a storefront was needed. The two owners, invested $50,000 to open a new location at 2201 Liberty Street in Monroe. Both Cindy and Dusty quit their jobs in order to devote their efforts full time to the store. Both are members of the Pilot Club of the Twin Cities and also support Geneva Academy, Relay for Life and Northeast Baptist School.
Eden Mediterranean Indian Bar and Grill, LLC was established on November 1, 2016 with a capital investment of $25,000. The company is owned by Amanda Scott and employs five people. She started the business from the ground -up and wanted to introduce new flavors to Monroe residents. The company took part in the Christmas Child operation, Dance for a Cure and St. Jude’s. The restaurant is located at 5120 DeSiard Street in Monroe. Holton Flooring & Interiors was established in 2010 by Micah Holton and employed eight people. Four years later the flooring and interior design firm expanded to add materials. As their business grew, they required a larger space. With an investment of $85,000, they moved to their current location at 1900 Lamy Lane, Suite A. The business now has ten employees. The company
sponsors several athletic teams and the Teen Challenge. Holton is already planning a new expansion, which will allow him to add two new employees. INFIT GYM was established in 2014 in Sterlington by owner Cesar Camacho. His mission is to help people lose weight and gain muscle by promoting positive, long lasting lifestyle changes rather than a seasonal craze. He invested $37,000 in 2017 to open a new location in Monroe. Camacho employs six people. The company contributes to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness and annual walk, Autism Awareness, Buddy Walk Down Syndrome Awareness, Meals on Wheels and many more. The company is located at 1816 Glenmar Avenue. Inter Mountain Renovation Consultants, LLC was established in 2010 and employs nine people. IRC opened a new office in 2016 with a capital investment of $350,000. The company offers a full range of property services for renovation projects for branded hotels. This includes the development of an operating budget and design plans for initial brand approval. IRC purchases all materials and keeps the client informed on the progress of the project. The employees support ULM and Louisiana Tech Alumni and United Way and the DeSiard Street Shelter and more. The business is located at 2360 Tower Drive, Suite 101 in Monroe. J & M Properties has one employee and made a $4 million capital investment in 2016. Mack Anderson and wife Jenni purchased property on Tower Drive and began construction of The Villages on Tower. They have thirteen office condominiums, each unit with multiple offices, a conference room, break room, and a reception area. This concept allows tenants to purSee NOMINEES, Page 27
Nominees Continued from Page 26
chase an individual suite if they desire. The construction was completed in October. They donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and serves as Youth Director and Sunday school teacher and they are a member of the Monroe Chamber. LAC Range opened in 2014 by W. Gardner Smith. In 2016, he opened The Woodshed Grill with three employees and volunteers and a capital investment of $400,000. The LAC Range is a public shooting sports facility offering clay target shooting, pistol and rifle ranges. They offer training and competitive shooting events to the public. The Woodshed grill offers a variety of sandwiches and seafood dishes by Chef Chase Smith. They volunteer with 4-H shooting sports teams, host benefits for individuals and organizations. The business is located 3032 Moore Road in Monroe. Mel’s Cajun Fried Chicken & Catfish was established in 2016 by Melvin Ardoin with six employees and a capital investment of $175,000. Mel has 40 plus years in the restaurant business. His goal is to provide a quality product, in a clean environment at a fair price. He and his wife Della support the Ouachita Parish High School Lions, provide discounts for senior citizens, Veterans and Law Enforcement officers. The company is located 340 Hwy 594 in Monroe. Monroe Auto Tag & Title, LLC is an authorized affiliate of the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles and was established in 2014. Following the March floods in 2016, the company had to be rebuilt with a capital investment of $35,000. The business has two employees. The company offers title transfers and issuing license plates for cars, trucks and trailers and more. The company sponsors haircuts and shampoos for at-risk youth at Cloyd’s
Barber College. The business is located at 1612 Garrett Road in Monroe. Patrick L. McGee, DDS employs five people and was established in 2015. The dental practice offers a state-of-the-art facility and continues to add new technology. The company contributes to Center for Children and Families and attends Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Dr. McGee is a member of the American Dental Association, the LA Dental Association, and President-Elect of the NELA Dental Association. The business is located at 2816 Armand Street in Monroe. Noble Promise was established in 2016 by Dr. Bakari Beckwith with a capital investment of $16,000. Noble Promise has two employees and is a faith based non-profit organization that is committed to helping others meet their personal goals in life. Their efforts have expanded to include families in Lincoln Parish and Franklin Parish. The company cohosts Coats for Christmas, haircuts to young men in school and piloted a literacy program to reduce the illiteracy rates affecting families in the region. The business is located at 2406 Ferrand Street in Monroe. North Louisiana Land & Title, LLC opened with a capital investment of $50,000 and two employees. The company is a law practice and title business with an office in Columbia and a new office in Monroe. Debbie Mixon serves as office manager for the company. The business donates to Caldwell Parish Schools, Mixon serves as Chairman of Caldwell Parish Zoning Commission, Superintendent of Sunday school at the Methodist Church in Columbia, Secretary of the Historic Preservation commission of Caldwell Parish and more. The business is located at 2551 Tower Drive, Unit 2 in Monroe. Pelican State Credit Union was established in 2016 in Ouachita Parish with a location inside University Health. Later that year Pelican State merged
with Monroe Credit Union and opened a second location at 2880 Louisville Avenue in Monroe. The move was necessary due to the March flood. The new office was renovated with an investment of $710,000. The new location employs four people. Pelican is a full service financial institution that has provided financial services for almost 60 years. The Louisiana Credit Union League and National Association of Credit unions have Honored Pelican for its lending practices. The business offers help with improving clients credit score, community financial literacy workshops, and volunteers donated school supplies and provided scholarship awards. Phirst Impression Menswear was established in 2017 by Keyonya Williams with an investment of $80,000. The haberdashery offers quality clothing at an affordable price to men of all ages. The business continues to grow with investments in technology and new product lines. The focus of the business is to help men be successful and to leave a lasting positive impression. The business supports Omega Psi Phi Talent Hunt, the Beta Club at Lakeshore Elementary and is implementing a mentoring program that emphasizes the importance of education and investing in college. The business is located at 7913 DeSiard Street, Unit E. Pleasant’s Compounding Pharmacy Amy and Jason Pleasant opened the pharmacy in 2016 as Mason’s Pharmacy closed their doors. With an investment of $100,000, they took over the operations and retained the staff from Mason’s. They continue the art of compounding to ensure that patients receive specialized medications designed to their specific need. In August, they moved from the location on Arkansas Road to 2991 Cypress Street in West Monroe. The Pleasants support Christ church in West Monroe back pack outreach, several West Ouachita Parish schools and
Christmas Adopt a Child program. Poise and Purpose Boutique was opened in 2016 by owner and operator Miranda Kelly to provide women with the right mix of clothing that fits and makes women feel confident and elegant. The business supports Breast Cancer Awareness programs and area fashion shows that empower confidence in young women. In addition, Miranda speaks to young girls in the classroom. She also donates items so that less fortunate girls can enjoy prom night. Her business is located at 101 D’arbonne Street in Monroe. Relee Properties, LLC was established in 2015 by David Sorrell with a $1 million investment. The mission of the company is to provide safe, affordable housing and office space for lease. Sorrell began with the purchase of nine new homes and one new office building. He supports the First United Methodist Church, Monroe Youth Baseball Association, Monroe Symphony, the Ouachita Business Alliance among others.
Medium Business Ascend Hospice Care, LLC was established in 2016 by Barry Hines to provide dignity, grace and hospice care to people in the last few months of their life. Hines built a successful team that has a compassion and understanding for patients and their families. The company participates in the Community Healthcare Education Network, CABLE, and the Alzheimer’s Association. The business has fourteen employees and is located at 4327 Sterlington Highway, Suite C in Monroe BancorpSouth Bank L.J. Holland serves as Market President for the financial institution that was first established in Ouachita Parish in 1991. The institution was established over 130 years ago and serves nine states, including Louisiana. In addition to traditional banking services, the See NOMINEES, Page 28 June i Delta Business i 27
Nominees Continued from Page 27
institution includes a mortgage and insurance company, their own credit card, trust/wealth management and other services. In 2017, they acquired a new branch located at the corner of Sterlington Road and Finks Hideaway in Monroe and moved their facility on Forsythe location to the new building. Their total employment is twenty-six. BancorpSouth is proud of their service to the community that includes supporting United Way, ULM Foundation and Athletic Foundation and on the boards of Sr. Francis Hospital, Red Cross, Home Builders, among others. Chef Taxi is a restaurant delivery service that delivers food throughout Ouachita Parish in less than 60 minutes. The business was established in 2015 by Tommy and Amanda Neck, with only a few employees in a small office on North 7th Street in West Monroe. Chef Taxi has over fifteen Restaurant Partners. In 2016, the business invested over $500,000 to relocate into a brand new 1,600 square foot state of the art office. It is located at 3737 White’s Ferry Road in West Monroe. The company believes in giving back. Each month they host a fundraiser for a different non-profit. In addition, they support youth sports teams, First West and the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter. Kilpatrick Funeral Home was founded in 1927 by E. N. and Effie Kilpatrick in Farmerville, Louisiana. The business is now located in four locations serving Ouachita, Lincoln and Union Parishes. It is still family owned and operated with Laura Kilpatrick Marchelos serving as President and Tex Kilpatrick serving as CFO. The business employs thirty-three people. In 2016, the facilities located in West Monroe were impacted by the March Floods, which required a four month reno28 i Delta Business i June 2017
vation to be back in business. The business is deeply involved in the community with Marchelos serving on the St. Francis Hospital Foundation and on the Origin Bank Advisory Board. Tex serves on the IberiaBank Advisory Board. They also support the Alzheimer’s Association, the Food Bank, the Monroe, West Monroe and Ruston Chambers and many other organizations. MOEbiz The business opened in 1923 under the name of Monroe Office Equipment by current owner Chap Breard’s grandfather. Chap’s father, Armand, ran the business from 1969 until the early 1990s. Over the past century, the business has evolved from selling typewriters and adding machines to servicing copiers, printers, and computer networks. In 2016, MOEbiz invested $450,000 to purchase an additional facility and add five new vehicles and delivery trucks. The company has twenty-eight employees that include general manager Ricki Sullivan, Director of MNS Darrin Denney, Controller Amy Beaver, Service Manager Matt Lawrence and Vice President of Sales Nicole Morgan. MOEbiz supports the North Louisiana Economic Partnership and the Ouachita Business Alliance. Southern Escape Room was established in 2016 by Kelle and Sydne Messer ( a mother/daughter duo) with an investment of over $115,000. Southern Escape is an interactive form of entertainment that helps to think outside the box. It is a live escape room where friends, families or business teams are locked in a themed room and have sixty minutes to escape by solving cryptic messages, puzzles and finding clues to progress through the game. The facility now has four themed rooms and thirteen part-time employees. The business supports 88.7 The Cross, several non-profits and provide discounts for military personnel. Southern Escape is located at 607 Louisville Avenue.
Sprig Designs was established in 2016 by Jonathan Sanson, owner. The photography business specializes in sports team photos, family photography and graduation pictures. Sanson and the business support the Wounded Warrior Foundation, St. Jude’s, Samaritan’s Purse, the East Side Recreation District, among other organizations. The business is located at 1748 Highway 134 in Monroe. Terri’s Tax Service, LLC was established in 2015 by LaTemka Williams as a mobile tax service. In 2017, the company expanded to a building in the City of Monroe located at 208 Cole Avenue, Suite A. Williams strives to provide professional tax preparation to residents in the area. The business has three employees. She and her staff will host tax seminars to help community members learn more about tax updates.
Large Business Category Copelands of New Orleans The restaurant, located at 3851 Pecanland Mall Drive, is owned by Alana and John Belton. In 2016, with an investment of over $1 million, the Beltons renovated the entire facility, which was completed in 2017. The couple, both attorneys, also own three Wingstop franchise stores in North Louisiana and a family owned real estate company. Copeland’s, a New Orleans Cuisine restaurant, employs seventythree full and part-time employees. The Beltons and the business support Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, the Strauss Theater and United Way. They also serve on the board of the Boys & Girls Club, the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber and the West Monroe High School Foundation. Bayou Media Group dba SQ’s on the River The restaurant, located at 201 Walnut Street was purchased by Brian Eskew in 2015. It is a full service restaurant owned by Brian and his brother Eric and his wife Katie. After buying the business, the Eskews set out to change the con-
cept with a new menu and upgrade the facility. With an investment of $425,000 they remodeled and repainted the building inside and out and added a new bar and five custom built fire pits on the patio. With the improvements, the Eskews were able to retain fifty full time jobs and twenty-two part time jobs. The Eskews are committed to Monroe, especially downtown Monroe. They support the Food Bank, the Downtown River Jam, the Monroe Chamber, PAWS of NELA and many other organizations. Warehouse #1 The restaurant was established in 1980 by Frances Mason to provide Monroe with a great selection of seafood. Originally, it was on old tin warehouse located at One Olive Street on the banks of the Ouachita River behind the seawall and overgrown from years of neglect. She had the courage and vision to renovate the building for an upscale restaurant. She was later joined by her daughter Jan, who owns and runs the facility today. Through the years, the business has endured floods and, more recently a fire. With an investment of almost $100,000, the business took advantage of the situation to renovate, upgrade and improve the facility. Over the years, Jan and her team have given countless donations to many nonprofits. They provide lunch on the first Monday of each month at Grace Place. In addition, they are members of LABI, the Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Monroe Chamber.
Corporate Business Affinity Health Group In 2017, with an investment of $25 million, Affinity Health Group unveiled the area’s newest facility-the Affinity Specialty Building. The 93,000 square foot facility is located at 2516 Broadmoor Boulevard in Monroe. The three story building is divided into fifteen medical suites with over 100 medical professionals. The facility also See NOMINEES, Page 29
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houses on-site CT-Scan and X-ray, a casting room, a nuclear medicine suite, cardiac stress test machine, a clinical laboratory, and three conference rooms. The health care business is committed to giving back to the community. They support a plethora of events and non-profits throughout the community, including the Dragon Boat races, the Memory Walk, the Shindig and many other organizations. Coast Professional, IncThe business first opened in 1976 as LA County Professional Services, Inc. based in Southern California and ultimately evolved into a multi-state organization operating as Coast Professional, Inc. with locations in Louisiana and New York. Coast Professional specializes in the recovery, collection, and resolution of student loans and receivables for public and private higher education institutions and the U.S. Department of Education. Beginning in 2007 with only twenty employees, Coast Professional has grown and currently employs over one hundred and twenty people in West Monroe on Expo Circle. In 2017, the office was redesigned, creating an additional workstations for new thirty-nine new employees. A few of the organizations the company supports are the Boys and Girls Club, Wish I Could Foundation, the March of Dimes, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Family Promise. Glenwood Regional Medical Center was established in 1962 at 503 McMillan Road in West Monroe. It is a 278 bed fully accredited, full service acute care community hospital. In 2006, IASIS Healthcare, LLC purchased the hospital and pledged to spend $30 million in capital improvements and technology over a span of five years. Today, Glenwood is spread out over a campus that includes
the Glenwood Medical Mall, Glenwood Regional Medical Center at North Monroe, a Family Practice Clinic at Sterlington and Glenwood Surgery Center. The hospital employees 842 people in highly skilled positions. In 2016, Glenwood invested $11 million to renovate and expand the Emergency Department. The project will be complete in June, 2017. The employees and staff at Glenwood support a wide array of non-profits, including Med Camps of Louisiana, United Way, the Twin City Ballet, the Children’s Coalition and many more. North Louisiana Orthopedic & Sports Medicine was first established in 1951 to provide state of the art medical care. Today, the company is led by Kevin Goldman, CEO. During the 1980s, the clinic operated out of a new office located on McMillan Road in West Monroe. Later an office was opened at the Physicians and Surgery Center on Grammont Street in Monroe. In 2004, an office in Ruston was added to assist patients in Lincoln Parish. The biggest change came in 2009, when the clinic moved to a new building at 1501 Louisville Avenue. More recently, the clinic has invested over $500,000 to add new equipment. What makes the Orthopedic Clinic so successful is the staff and the physician’s broad range of specialties. Those specialties include hand and foot reconstruction, sports medicine, spine surgery along with standard hip and knee replacements. In addition, each day the Clinic has an “on call” physician dedicated to the expedient treatment of patients having sustained an injury. In total, the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine clinic employs ninety–three full time and forty-three part time people. They support ULM, the Red Cross Bash, and area high schools. Ouachita Independent Bank the bank was established by Clyde White in 1997 with the goal of bringing local banking back to Ouachita Parish. Through-
out the subsequent twenty years, OIB has continued to grow and innovate. This year, OIB will surpass $500 million in its loan portfolio for the first time in its history. White currently serves as Chairman and Kevin Koh continues to lead the bank with a spirit of innovation and commitment to the community. Today, the bank has twelve locations across North Louisiana, including the new branch on Cypress Street in West Monroe, and one loan production office in Madison, Mississippi. The bank strives to attract the best people in banking with a total of 166 employees. The bank and its employees support numerous organizations throughout the region. Those include United Way, ULM, the Junior League, the Northeast Louisiana Economic Partnership and many others. Paramount Healthcare Consultants is a management company that provides consulting for long term care and assisted living facilities. The company is owned and operated by Dawne Smith, who has served as CEO since 2008. Smith also owns Walsworth and Company and MAD Properties Investments, LLC. Her businesses in Louisiana and Texas combined employ a total of 1200 people. In 2015/16 Smith made capital investments of over $1 million to renovate Delta Grande Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. In 2017, she purchased the old Hibernia Bank building on North 7th in West Monroe and invested $500,000 to renovate the facility for her corporate office. Smith is also a co investor in the historic Georgia Tucker school that will be transformed into a assisted living facility after a $4.5 million capital investment. Smith is a strong supporter of the community supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, the Food Bank, Downtown Revitalization and the Children’s Coalition among many others. St. Francis Medical Center is Northeast Louisiana’s only faith-based not-forprofit healthcare provider.
From its beginning in 1913 with 75 patient beds, St. Francis has grown to become Northeast Louisiana’s largest healthcare provider with 352 licensed beds. It is also one of the region’s largest employers with nearly 1,661 team members and has an annual payroll of approximately $124 million dollars. The hospital has two campuses offering various services, including the region’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The main campus in downtown Monroe and the St. Francis Community Health Center, which is located on Tower Drive in mid-town Monroe. In 2017, the hospital made capital investments of almost $12 million dollars in its various facilities and anticipates spending an additional $19 million in the next eighteen months. The hospital provided over $31 million dollars of unreimbursed charity care to the community. The leadership and staff at St. Francis support ULM, United Way and the Monroe Chamber. Vantage Health Plan is a Monroe based health maintenance organization formed by physicians who want to improve healthcare and help lower the cost healthcare costs. Dr. Gary Jones serves as President and Chief Medical Officer. Vantage’s membership has grown steadily over the past twenty years providing health coverage for more than 52,000 members and contracting with over 5,000 healthcare providers. In 2017, the company made a capital investment of over $20 million to restore and renovate the old Virginia Hotel. The six story building allows for public access to Vantage’s Marketing and Member Services departments. It also allows access to “the Rooftop Garden,” a beautiful event center. The company employs 570 employees. The HMO supports many organizations in the community, including ARCO, the American Heart Association, Monroe Renaissance and the Monroe Chamber.
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