Small Business Profiles

Ernesto Schweikert, III of KGLA-DT Telemundo 42 New Orleans, uses Spanishlanguage broadcasting to shine a light on the Hispanic community.

By Dylan Evers Hawkins

Ernesto Schweikert, III, a native of Guatemala, comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. However, he never anticipated being at the helm of New Orleans’ KGLA Radio Tropical 1540AM, let alone KGLA-DT Telemundo 42 New Orleans, the only full-power Spanish-language TV channel in New Orleans.

“It’s in my genes,” Schweikert says. “My whole family are entrepreneurs, but I’m a broadcaster by coincidence! I had my own tour-guide business for the Latino community visiting New Orleans, and we advertised on the radio station.”

When he eventually heard that Radio Tropical was being sold, Schweikert decided to buy it. “I wanted to preserve the only Spanish-language station in the area, because I saw its value to the community.”

In 2005, Schweikert decided to stay in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, operating Radio Tropical using only a small generator. He fielded over a thousand calls each day, providing vital information, urging people to evacuate and finding help for those who needed transportation.

Those efforts led to a moment Schweikert says he will never forget. He describes seeing footage of a woman in her 80s, her house flooded, using a small radio by the window to reach his channel for updates during the storm. Seeing that image, Schweikert says he realized the impact his station was making on the community. “I said, ‘Wow. Now I am really proud.’”

For their heroic diligence broadcasting during the storm, Schweikert and the staff of Radio Tropical received the The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award, as well as other accolades. This recognition, combined with Schweikert’s dedication, prompted investors to support the creation of KGLA-DT Telemundo 42 New Orleans.

“They said that if I can do this much with a little daytime radio station, I could do a lot with a TV station,” says Schwikert.

In December 2007, KGLA-DT went live, providing local news in Spanish as well as entertainment programming. By that time, the Hispanic population in New Orleans had doubled during rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and the fledgling station was an immediate success.

Today, Schweikert is CEO and general manager of MayaVision, Inc., also known as KGLA-DT, Telemundo 42 New Orleansand Radio Tropical KGLA 1540AM. Both the TV and radio stations have been highly successful, providing the thriving Hispanic community with music, news, entertainment and Saints games broadcast in Spanish.

Schweikert says Hispanic businesses have also found great success by advertising on the stations, and he is always eager to be a resource for other Hispanic professionals. That support only stands to grow, as KGLA-DT completed a $4.8 million overhaul and refresh of their TV Broadcast Center in 2021. Their new main transmitter, new back-up transmitter, transmission line, antenna and tower enhancements will help them reach an additional 1.5 million people in 12 parishes and two counties in Mississippi. Schweikert also encourages other Hispanic entrepreneurs to take advantage of another prime resource in the region: the HCCL.

“I am proud to be part of the HCCL,” says Schweikert. “The Chamber shows people how to become more productive in their business ambitions. They open a lot of doors that we cannot open. And during the pandemic, they’ve done a lot for the community, providing many of these resources online.”

The pandemic has left no community untouched by tragedy, and last year, KGLA-DT lost two wonderful and highly-valued members of its team. That loss is still felt today, but Schweikert and his team seek to honor those they lost by becoming an even stronger beacon of hope. Soon, KGLA-DT plans to expand their service to the Hispanic community by bringing Telemundo to Baton Rouge.

“The community is growing, and we’re excited to continue growing with them,” Schweikert says. “We may not have the resources that big companies have, but we have the passion. The things that seem impossible to do, we make them possible.”

FAMILY, FUN, AND FOOD

How Los Jefes Grill became a community staple in the heart of Metairie

By Dylan Evers Hawkins

In 2016, Los Jefes Grill was born from humble beginnings with only a handful of employees and a strong desire to succeed. That it endures today as a thriving business is due to the creativity and resilience of founder Oscar Chimal, who credits his work ethic to his family.

“My motivation to become an entrepreneur stems from my family’s sacrifices to get me here,” says Chimal. “I was born and raised in Mexico and migrated to the US at the age of 11. My journey and obstacles that were overcome continue to motivate me each day as an entrepreneur.”

It’s this very background that has kept Los Jefes on course as the business grew, never compromising the recipes, techniques and standards Chimal learned growing up.

“Los Jefes has stayed true to our original authentic Mexican cuisine concept,” Chimal says. “We use fresh ingredients, keep our original homemade flavors and create a family-friendly environment.”

Since its opening, Los Jefes has grown to a staff of 50, hosts an annual Cinco De Mayo festival, a Taco Eating Contest and other events that have established the business as a go-to in Metairie. Like many businesses last year, Los Jefes had to pivot amid pandemic restrictions, offering take-out instead of its usual dine-in experiences. But Chimal saw this moment as an opportunity to give back, and by tapping into his natural creativity, he found ways to reach and engage with the community to keep business running smoothly.

“We take pride in the work we do in the community,” Chimal says. “These relationships are key in scaling and growing the business. During the pandemic, we gave away hundreds of free burritos to healthcare workers at major hospitals.”

Others noticed Chimal’s proactive approach to honoring frontline workers, and Los Jefes soon partnered with other brands and companies who wanted to sponsor his efforts. Building relationships has always been key for the restaurant’s success, such as Los Jefes’ enduring relationship with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana. And by securing so many new and supportive partnerships, Los Jefes was able to host its most elaborate Cinco De Mayo event in May 2021. There, Chimal’s passion, resilience and ingenuity were on full display.

“This year was the restaurant’s biggest and most successful Cinco de Mayo event yet,” Chimal says. “We featured all-you-can-eat tacos, vendors, live bands, family activities and our headliner celebrity, DJ Mannie Fresh. We had giveaways and sponsors such as Diamonds Direct, Avion Tequila, Entergy, Geico, Fidelity Bank and more.”

Chimal isn’t just concerned with big picture events and initiatives, either. He is always ready to roll up his sleeves to support his staff, taking each new challenge in stride, delegating responsibilities and keeping top-tier quality as his main focus. From kitchen dynamics to marketing and branding, each of these alone can be a full-time job, but Chimal believes they’re all vital for success.

“I refuse to be complacent,” he says. “I am always building valuable relationships with vendors, customers and influencers.”

Chimal’s refusal to settle for ordinary results is what makes Los Jefes so consistently innovative and unique. In 2020, the restaurant received multiple Top Taco awards for many of its specialty recipes, including “Barbacoa Taco” and “Guava margarita.”

“Fresh ideas and creativity are very important in captivating our customers,” Chimal says. “Our creativity allows us to grow the brand each year!”

With this mindset, the future is bright for Los Jefes. In the Fall, patrons will be able to compete in their taco-eating contest, with the chance to win free tacos for a year. And Chimal has plans to make future Cinco De Mayo Fests even bigger to foster a more tight-knit and supportive community.

“My vision is to have all Fat City businesses participate to attract people from other cities,” Chimal says. “I believe Fat City is a very unique area that everyone should know about.”

Painting with a Twist owner Johanna Natale on the rewards of picking up a paintbrush — and doing what you love.

By Dylan Evers Hawkins

Before she became franchise owner of three Painting with a Twist locations, Johanna Natale was already a believer in the power of art.

“I loved going to Painting with a Twist,” she says. “I went by myself, I went with friends. I still have my first painting!”

So, when Natale’s family moved from Houston back to Metairie in 2018, the pivot from a corporate job to franchise-owner felt natural. On the heels of several years of work as an account and sales executive, Natale began researching the “paint and sip” industry and noticed that three Painting with a Twist locations—Baton Rouge, Metairie, and Gretna—were available for purchase.

Originally conceived in Mandeville in 2007 by Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney, Painting with a Twist offers an experience to relax, unwind and be creative. It has since expanded to over 300 franchise locations across the nation.

“I wanted to be involved with something that brought joy to the community,” Natale says. “It made perfect sense for me, not only because Painting with a Twist is the leader of the paint and sip industry, but also this was where they were founded.”

Natale says the entrepreneurial spirit runs in her family. She was just two years old when her parents migrated from Honduras to the Greater New Orleans area, where Natale’s mother soon became the owner of a Hispanic grocery store. Watching her mother persevere in a new environment taught Natale a valuable lesson about finding and sticking with a passion.

“My mother was a small business owner,” Natale says. “She owned Kenner Supermarket, at the time one of only a few Hispanic grocery stores in the whole of metro New Orleans. We noticed that she liked what she did, and we definitely inherited an entrepreneurial spark from her that runs in the family. My sister owns her own business, and I majored in business. It’s a lot easier to go to work when you find something you’re passionate about.”

Becoming a business owner was a smooth transition for Natale, who spent years studying and gaining real-world experience before setting out on her own ventures. She constantly feeds creative energy into her business, expanding offerings and activities to share the healing power of art with as many people as possible. In addition to classes, Painting with a Twist hosts birthday parties, baby showers, date nights, girls’ night out, team-building experiences and programs for kids.

“Most of our customers have never picked up a paintbrush,” Natale says. “They’re there for the experience.”

For Natale, knowing that people are creating lifelong memories is one of the most rewarding aspects of the business. In 2020, when people couldn’t take in-person classes due to the pandemic, she and her team found a different way to create the experience. “Twist at Home” was born.

“The kit includes materials and step-by-step video instructions,” Natale says. “It took off! People love it. We started doing virtual classes. Companies wanted to continue team-building, even though they couldn’t get together in-person.”

The morale boost was in high demand, and Natale says virtual classes have been able to reach vulnerable members of the community. “We did a virtual event for kids who are cancer patients. It was so rewarding! It was a niche we didn’t realize existed, and we’re definitely going to continue offering these events.”

Lifting spirits is part of the mission of Painting with a Twist, which Natale believes made harnessing and sharing the power of art even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Natale also found tremendous comfort and support in her partnership with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, and she cites President Mayra Pineda as a source of inspiration and guidance through difficult times.

“Once I found out that Mayra was leading the HCCL, I knew I wanted to be a member,” Natale says. “I knew Mayra would represent the needs of Hispanic-owned businesses in legislation, and I was also certain that she would find many resources and opportunities to help make our businesses succeed. The Chamber allows you to meet other business owners in order to support and patronize each other’s businesses.”

Even as the world eases back into normalcy, Natale says she’ll continue working to reach more and more people who could use a little light in their days.

“Painting with a Twist was born during a catastrophic time, right after Hurricane Katrina,” Natale says. “And luckily, during this dark time, we’re able to lighten spirits as well. Sometimes an opportunity presents itself, not dressed the way you think it should be.”

IN CONVERSATION: Cornelio Pacheco, President & Owner of AccounTax Business Group, LLC

AccounTax Business Group is a full-service accounting firm dedicated to giving new and established businesses the keys to success. Their wide range of services include everything from QuickBooks training, setup and troubleshooting to tax preparation, planning, filing and audit representation. As a Hispanic business owner, President Cornelio Pacheco is dedicated to supporting and scaling minority-owned businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. Here, he speaks with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana about his inspirations, professional journey and advice for budding professionals.

How did AccounTax get started? The company formally started after Hurricane Katrina, in January 2006. As we know, there was a massive closure of businesses, including the place where I was working at the time, and I forced myself to look for business opportunities. We started from a space in my own home. Subsequently, we have grown until this moment, where we have nine employees and two offices, one in New Orleans and one in Baton Rouge.

What is the team culture at AccounTax, and how has your staff grown since opening? We started as a one-man company. We are always looking to grow, and the team has had new additions. We function as a good team, almost like a family, where everyone does their job, and together we find the best way to work and help each other out. That is one of the things that identify us as a company. We have a very positive work environment, where each person, from their individuality, contributes something different to the team.

What motivated you to become an entrepreneur? Did you always know you want to own your own business? Life keeps changing. With Katrina, the conditions of the city and the state of Louisiana changed, and many people, like me, lost their jobs. I was forced to find strategies to be able to do what I like, so, resorting to creativity, I decided to start a small business. Having my own company was always a dream. I always knew it was something I was going to do in the future. The pandemic brought hardships to many industries last year. Did AccounTax encounter any challenges, and if so, how did you address them? For my company, the pandemic was a great opportunity to grow. With all the changes and all the assistance that companies needed in order to survive, for example, government financial aid programs, we were able to become a key piece between the governments, the companies and individuals. People who didn’t do their taxes had the need to do so in order to apply for financial aid. We had a privileged place during this pandemic where we became a bridge and managed to help many people, and at the same time, we managed to grow.

What achievement are you most proud of? What makes me most proud is being able to give people a job and help them grow. To know that we are a pillar in the community, where around eight families have a stable job, where they can learn and be happy. Also, I’m proud to see my community grow; to see the companies that have trusted us to help them with their process become bigger, more stable and better positioned is just amazing.

What is your vision for Accountax Business Group’s future? Being able to continue opening more stores in other cities, that clearly implies being able to employ more people. To continue helping people who need it, and to be allowed to continue doing what we have been doing up to now.

What does a typical day at AccounTax look like? There is always fresh coffee. The working day varies; it depends on what month it is. In December, we usually have more time for recreation, to get to know each other and to have fun. In tax season, which begins in January and usually ends in April, we move faster. Everyone is focused on what they have to do, and we do it well. In the same way, we all assume the responsibility to do our job in the best way, but also to have fun while we do it. A job is a big part our lives, so we try to have fun What advice do you have for young people who want to become entrepreneurs? GO FOR IT! Having your own business is the best thing you can do. I am your number one fan, and I will support you along the way. We are here to help the Hispanic community, and we always want to share the information we have with the community. We also have the privilege of being able to provide guidance in two languages and to provide advice to Spanish-speaking people. So the language barrier is never going to be a problem with us. If someone has a dream or a vision, I will try and help people make it come true.