Coffee Stir
PJ’s Big Plans
+ PG. 72
World t rade’s n ew direction Small Business Goes Global PG. 66
5
tips for crisis management pg. 48
Caitlin Cain, CEO of the World Trade Center of New Orleans
Turning the page
Inside The New Orleans Advocate’s New Office pg. 80
september 2017
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Publisher Todd Matherne
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde Managing Editor Kimberley Singletary Art Director Sarah George Web Editor Kelly Massicot Assoc. Multimedia News Editor Leslie T. Snadowsky
Contributors Andrew Canulette, Julia Carcamo, Michelle Jackson, Pamela Marquis, Ashley McLellan, Allison Plyer, Chris Price, Kim Roberts, Jessica Rosgaard, Jennifer Gibson Schecter, Poppy Tooker, Keith Twitchell, Melanie Warner Spencer
Advertising Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan (504) 830-7215 Colleen@BizNewOrleans.com Sales Manager Maegan O’Brien (504) 830-7219 Maegan@BizNewOrleans.com Senior Account Executive Caitlin Sistrunk (504) 830-7252 Caitlin@BizNewOrleans.com Senior Account Executive Carly Goldman (504) 830-7225 Carly@BizNewOrleans.com
Marketing Director of Marketing & Events Cheryl Lemoine Event Coordinator Whitney Weathers Digital Media Associate Mallary Matherne For event information, call (504) 830-7264
Production Production Manager Jessica DeBold Traffic Coordinator Topher Balfer Production Designers Monique DiPietro, Demi Schaffer, Molly Tullier
Administration Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President Errol Laborde Office Manager Mallary Matherne Distribution Manager John Holzer Subscription Manager Brittanie Bryant For subscriptions, call (504) 830-7231 AABP 2016 Award of Excellence Bronze: Best Feature Layout 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 Biz New Orleans is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380. Subscription rate: one year $24.95, two year $39.95, three year $49.95 — foreign rates vary call for pricing. Postage paid at Metairie, LA, and additional mailing entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Biz New Orleans, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright 2016 Biz New Orleans. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark Biz New Orleans is registered. Biz New Orleans is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork, even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Biz New Orleans are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or owner.
10 Biz September 2017
features top stories this month
66
72
Caitlin Cain
PJ’s Keeps Things Hot
The World Trade Center’s new CEO is leading efforts to educate and advocate for trade.
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans has a lot to celebrate as it looks to move into a new niche.
contents August 2017 | Volume 3 | Issue 11
16 | Editor’s note School Is In 18 | publisher’s note Three Cheers 22 | Calendar 24 | industry news 26 | recent openings 28 | Events
40 | sports It Doesn’t Add Up: Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to play football.
42 | entertainment
34 | nola by the numbers
Good News and Bad News: The new Louisiana Coastal Master Plan will bring jobs, but maybe only for a short time.
52 | banking & finance Setting the Standard: A look at the new fiduciary standard and what it means for your finances.
Bringing It Home: A
56 | real estate & construction
new law aims to draw the business side of music to Louisiana.
Stormwater Solutions: What are
44 | entrepreneurship
in the biz
perspectives
Camelback Rises Above: A local startup receives national recognition for its company culture.
local businesses and homebuilders doing to handle the flow?
60 | insurance Beating a Breach: Insurance industry professionals weigh in on what cyber insurance does, and does not do, and what you can expect to pay.
Community News: The Advocate’s swanky St. Charles Avenue offices focus on newsgathering, technology, history, convenience and community.
Camo Couture: A New Orleans native re-envisions hunting
Tone Deaf: What to
apparel for women with Saint Hugh.
do when an email exchange goes horribly awry.
90 | making a match: businesses and nonprofits Saving the Lake: Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation provides plenty of opportunities for companies to help protect a vital resource for our region.
One Constant: Antoine’s waiter Sterling Constant is a golden figure in the industry.
96 | on the job Final Hits: The Big Easy Rollergirls
38 | tourism
48 | marketing
Hit the Pavement:
Crisis Management:
14 Biz September 2017
80 | great workspaces
86 | why didn’t i think of that?
46 | etiquette
36 | dining
Mobile website A Closer Walk uses today’s technology to tell yesterday’s stories.
from the lens
If something went wrong, would your company shine or serve as a warning to others?
64 | guest viewpoint
on the cover
The Sweet Spot: We need to
Caitlin Cain, CEO of the World Trade Center of New Orleans
capitalize on our strengths, which include New Orleans’ Workforce.
Photograph by Greg Miles
BizNewOrleans.com 15
Editor’s Note
On the Web
Beyond the magazine But wait, there’s more! Visit BizNewOrleans.com to watch videos from this month’s issue, including:
School Is In
I
t’s September, which means parents across the Southeast are rejoicing in the start of another school year. The kids? Maybe not so much. But for our cover person this month, Caitlin Cain, school is always in session. Since accepting the position of CEO of the World Trade Center of New Orleans earlier this year, Cain has been leading the organization that serves as the trusted source for Louisiana export data and whose Trade Services Department provides valuable trade-specific research, consulting and education to members and non-members alike all year long. Speaking of learning, there’s a lot to learn about in this issue, including things like how the fiduciary standard could affect your finances — especially if you invest with a broker-dealer — and how a new law called the Louisiana Music Industry Investment Act is seeking to provide local musicians with the resources and support they need to monetize their talent, while providing Louisiana with a new stream of income. We’re also excited to have Allison Plyer with the Data Center return for their quarterly column with insight on how we can ensure the jobs created by the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan can have real staying power. Following a summer that unfortunately was not lacking in both natural and man-made challenges, we also look at things like how local professionals are working to divert stormwater, what to do in a company crisis, how to handle a bad email exchange and how Southeast Louisiana as a region can capitalize on the strengths of our local workforce. As always, if there’s something, or someone, you’d like to learn more about, please let us know. Happy Reading,
Kimberley@BizNewOrleans.com
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Historic New Orleans Collection Tricentennial Press Conference Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Gregor Trumel, Consul General of France in New Orleans, were just a few of the speakers at the Historic New Orleans Collection’s (HNOC) tricentennial press conference July 24. Nungesser announced plans for a foundation to enable the state to use state parks and lands to finance grants for cultural recreation and tourism. Along with a new exhibition on the first decades of New Orleans’ history, the HNOC will open a new campus in 2018 at 520 Royal St.
BizNewOrleans.com 17
Publisher’s Note
Three Cheers
T
hirty years ago, in 1987, the leadership in Jefferson Parish had the foresight to create a separate economic driver to survive changes in administrations and lead business activity and growth throughout the parish. During this time frame, with JEDCO’s leadership, Jefferson Parish has had a very impressive and consistent source of business prosperity and retention. This month, the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission ( JEDCO) celebrates its 30th anniversary. Jerry Bologna ( JEDCO’s president and CEO) and his award-winning staff continue to move Jefferson forward. The strategic plan of the Jefferson EDGE is powerful, and JEDCO remains relevant in this changing business climate with its strategic workforce solutions, mission to help businesses on tax incentive programs and so much more. JEDCO continues to stay out front in the community with the JEDCO Challenge and by teaming up with the Jefferson Chamber on the Prosper Jefferson program. Visit JEDCO.org for more details. Personally, Jerry Bologna is a great friend. As I have grown in my business career so has Jerry, from his early days of retention calls, to his leadership of JEDCO today. The business community could not ask for a more dedicated, hard working leader of JEDCO for the next 30 years. Happy anniversary JEDCO! Todd Matherne
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Meet the Sales Team
Maegan O’Brien Sales Manager (504) 830-7219 Maegan@BizNewOrleans.com
Caitlin Sistrunk Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7252 Caitlin@BizNewOrleans.com
Carly Goldman Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7225 Carly@BizNewOrleans.com
Colleen Monaghan Vice President of Sales (504) 830-7215 Colleen@BizNewOrleans.com
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Calendar
September 6,7,8
21
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Washington Fly-In 2017 Washington, D.C. JeffersonChamber.org
AMA New Orleans Presentation on Measuring Audience Engagement with Ryan McGarry, head neuroscientist and VP of research for Sparkneuro 4:30 p.m. Location T.B.A. AMANewOrleans.com
7 B2B Health Forum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hyatt Regency New Orleans 601 Loyola Ave. BCBSLA.com
7 New Orleans Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Alliance 5 to 7 p.m. 346 Blu at Fairfield Inn & Suites 346 Baronne St. NewOrleansChamber.org
8&9 Farm & Table NOLA Ernest N. Morial Convention Center FarmandTableNOLA.com
10 Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Tour de Jefferson and LIVEWELL Fest 2017 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lafreniere Park TourdeJefferson.org
13 St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce B2B Networking 8 to 9 a.m. Chamber Office 610 Hollycrest Blvd., Covington StTammanyChamber.org
13 New Orleans Chamber of Commerce September Power Breakfast Sponsored by Fidelity Bank 1515 Poydras St., 5th Floor Auditorium NewOrleansChamber.org
14 ABWA New Orleans 3rd Annual Women CAN Drive Conference Featuring Microsoft Executive, Diane Boettcher 12 to 7 p.m. NOLA Motorsports Park 11075 Nicolle Blvd., Avondale ABWANewOrleans.org
14 St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce State of the Louisiana Healthcare 7:30 to 9 a.m. Location T.B.D. StTammanyChamber.org
22 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana 2017 Excelencia Gala 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans 614 Canal St. HCCL.biz
22 Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Business & Breakfast 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport 2829 Williams Blvd., Kenner JeffersonChamber.org
27 Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Prosper Jefferson Seminar Series: Cyber Security 9 to 10:30 a.m. JEDCO Conference Center 700 Churchill Pkwy., Avondale JeffersonChamber.org
28 St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce Starting and Financing Your Business Idea: SBDC Sponsored Seminar 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce 610 Hollycrest Blvd., Covington StTammanyChamber.org
28 Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals: How to Be a Grown-Up: Keeping it 100 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Forum 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie JeffersonChamber.org
29 New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurs’ Organization Present 3rd Quarter Luncheon with Jack Daly 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sheraton New Orleans Hotel 500 Canal St. NewOrleansChamber.org
For a more complete list of events visit BizNewOrleans.com. We’d love to include your business-related event in next month’s calendar. Please email details to Editorial@BizNewOrleans.com.
22 Biz September 2017
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The Central Business District’s most dynamic community gathering place, Public Service is a casual-yet-sophisticated restaurant which respects the civic spirit of the former New Orleans Public Service Inc. With a menu that honors the Gulf Coast’s hard-working fishermen and farmers, enjoy contemporary cuisine in an open-display kitchen highlighted by a modern raw bar and open-flame rotisserie.
Serenade your senses at New Orleans Social House! Unwind to the tunes of live local musicians while enjoying our exquisite vino, craft cocktails, and progressive culinary creations. As a new concept in the historic Warehouse District of New Orleans, NOSH combines the fun of a music venue, the cuisine of a worldly new restaurant, and the beverages of a high end craft cocktail and wine bar, encapsulating the true essence of a “good time.” From a friendly outing, to a work meet and greet, to a date night, NOSH transforms a social house into a home for all.
Riccobono’s Peppermill Restaurant
CellarDoor
3524 Severn Ave., Metairie • (504) 455-2266 riccobonospeppermill.com
916 Lafayette St • (504) 265-8392 cellardoornola.com
For over 40 years the Riccobono family has been serving classic New Orleans and Italian fare to locals and visitors alike. Timeless classics like Shrimp Creole, Trout Amandine, Veal Parmigiana, Oysters Riccobono and much more. Consistently rated as one of the top dining destinations of Metairie. Private dining facilities available for meetings and events. Join us for a meal to remember. Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
CellarDoor, located in one of the oldest remaining houses in downtown New Orleans, is a hidden gem tucked away in the heart of the CBD offering contemporary Louisiana cuisine and craft cocktails. In addition to delicious food and innovative drinks, the ambiance is vintage and romantic with warm and friendly service. Now open for lunch Monday - Friday featuring happy hour priced cocktails! Don’t forget about the outdoor seating in our beautiful courtyard. BizNewOrleans.com 23
Industry News
HEALTH
2017’s Best & Worst States for Health Care Health Care in Louisiana (1=Best; 25=Avg.): 44th Avg. Monthly Insurance Premium 25th Physicians per Capita 50th Dentists per Capita 34th Physician MedicareAcceptance Rate 43rd Percent of Insured Adults Aged 18 to 64 22nd Percent of Insured Children Aged 0 to 17 43rd Percent of Adults with No Dental Visit in Past Year
FOOD
Farm & Table NOLA Returns The South’s premier conference and festival highlighting locally sourced food, Farm & Table NOLA, will take place Sept. 8 and 9. The event starts with a one-day conference, The Experience, which will bring consumers, chefs, grocers, nutritionists and farmers together to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for open discussions and handson demonstrations. The following day is a festival called The Jamboree, a free, family-fun event with food, music, tastings, cooking demonstrations and more.
20th Percent of Medical Residents Retained Source: WalletHub
RECOGNITION
LABI Wins National Award for Research and Communications The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) won the Governmental Research Association’s 2017 Most Effective Education Award for its campaign entitled “Louisiana Business Tax Policy: Research, Awareness, and Advocacy.” The award was presented July 18 in Salt Lake City.
24 Biz September 2017
PORT
Port NOLA Launches Roundtables As part of its business outreach initiative, The Port of New Orleans has launched a series of roundtable discussions to promote service opportunities to local and small architectural and engineering companies. Two roundtables have been held so far, with more than a dozen companies participating, and more are in the planning stage. “Our goal is to engage local and small business in the region and create awareness of opportunities to bid with the Port, said Tiffany Carter, Port NOLA director of procurement. For more information about doing business with Port NOLA, visit portno.com/procurement.
It was an honor to be chosen for this trip and take all of the work we do for emergency preparedness at East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH) and train some of our fellow EMTs in Israel. We learned from our shared experiences in emergency planning and I am going to be able to bring back some of those lessons to help better our community back home.
EJGH Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supervisor, Mike Guillot, along with several other local medical and emergency health care professionals from New Orleans, traveled to Israel Aug. 5-12 as part of an initiative by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans to introduce local medical personnel to Israeli emergency response practices.
BizNewOrleans.com 25
Recent Openings
Neville Development The former George O. Mondy Elementary school, (named for the first African American firefighter in New Orleans) located at the corner of St. Philip and N. Tonti streets in the Seventh Ward, has been successfully converted into 35 apartments for seniors by Neville Development. The building was abandoned after Hurricane Katrina and features the work of designbuild team Palmisano Contractors and HCI Design Architecture.
Tulane Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center The first clinic of its kind in Louisiana, Tulane Health System opened the Tulane Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children in Metairie in July. The new center places multiple professionals — including a pediatric gastroenterologist, nurse coordinator, dietician, psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker — together in one setting in order to care for every aspect of inflammatory bowel disease, which affects as many as 80,000 children in the U.S.
ARTESIA Apartment Homes Located at the entrance of the Estates of Watercross, near the new Pinnacle Nord du Lac shopping center in Covington, ARTESIA Apartment Homes are now leasing one and two-bedroom apartments. A new community by 1st Lake Properties, ARTESIA includes a community walking path, 24-hour fitness center, a gated pet park and a pool with private cabanas, tanning ledges and poolside food delivery.
COMING SOON
LABI to Move Statewide Headquarters
The Ruby Slipper Café New Orleans-based breakfast and brunch restaurant, The Ruby Slipper Café, celebrated the grand opening of its eighth location at Acadian Village (3535 Perkins Rd., Suite 375) in Baton Rouge on July 26. The family-owned and operated business also runs five locations in New Orleans, one in Pensacola, Florida and one in Orange Beach, Alabama.
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On August 2, the Louisiana Association of Business Industry (LABI) announced the sale of the office building at 3113 Valley Creek Dr. in Baton Rouge that has served as the organization’s statewide headquarters since 1983. The organization has a purchase agreement in place for the building and land at 500 Main Street in downtown Baton Rouge, citing a desire to be closer to legislative policymakers. Beginning Sept 1, LABI will be located on the 11th floor of the Chase South Tower until the relocation is complete.
COMING SOON
Michael R. Boh Center for Child Development Ochsner Hospital for Children has announced plans for the Michael R. Boh Center for Child Development. Set to open in early 2018, the center will offer care to children with neuro-muscular or physical disabilities and neuro-cognitive, behavioral and communicationrelated conditions including autism. Nearly 20 percent of all children in Louisiana have special healthcare needs, one in six has a developmental disability and one in 68 has autism.
BizNewOrleans.com 27
Events 1
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St. Bernard Chamber & St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation Emerge Summit “The Millennials - A Celebration of a Generation”
Urban League of Louisiana Inaugural Women In Construction Convening (WICC) Thursday, July 20 | New Orleans Jazz Market
Friday, July 14 | Ace Hotel New Orleans
Young professionals from across the country came together at this event, which celebrated the most influential members of the millenial generation in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.
The Urban League of Louisiana’s Women’s Business Resource Center (WBRC) held its inaugural Women In Construction Convening: The Art and Science of Collaboration event, which included a panel of four WBRC clients who spoke about the value of leveraging partnership relationships.
1. Jackie Abston, Danielle Martin and Kristen Machado 2. Kristen Preau (Jambalaya Girl) 3. Joseph Washington, Marshe Washington, Charissa Brim and Gage Brim
1. Iam Tucker, Nicky Chokran, Danah Malone, Renee Landrieu and Christine Barnhill 2. Amber Peebles 3. Sombra Williams, Kristi Mirambell, Angelica Rivera and Klassi Duncan
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photographs by cheryl gerber
BizNewOrleans.com 29
Events 1
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2
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Century 21 SELA’s 1st Annual CAP Event (Co-op Appreciation Party)
Expedia New Orleans Market Showcase “Better Together”
Wednesday, July 26 | The Cannery
Thursday, August 10, 2017 | Sheraton New Orleans
Created as a way to thank agents in the Metro New Orleans area who assisted Century 21 SELA agents with property sales over the past year, this first annual event also raised funds to assist Unity of GNO with its fight against homelessness.
Hotel professionals came together at this annual event to review global trends, learn about product updates and technology optimization and network.
1. Joe Varuso, Malinda Gauthreaux, Meda Hemelt and Karl Mildenberger 2. Peter Ricchiuti 3. Vance Ott and Tammy Randles
1. Gina Shuford, Beth Ann Coleman and Richard Henderson 2. Scott Walker 3. Ted Bogan, Brenda Kobach, Heidi Darby and Christie Crawford
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photographs by cheryl gerber
BizNewOrleans.com 31
in the biz Biz columnists speak out
NOLA BY THE NUMBERS • DINING • TOURISM • SPORTS • ENTERTAINMENT • ENTREPRENEURSHIP • ETIQUETTE • MARKETING
entrepreneurship
Camelback Rises Above Coaching, capital and connections — third year startup Camelback Ventures provides it all to underrepresented entrepreneurs. More on page 44
In the Biz nola by the n u mbers
Good News and Bad News The new Louisiana Coastal Master Plan will bring jobs, but maybe only for a short time.
Allison Plyer is chief demographer of The Data Center in New Orleans. Dr. Plyer is author of The New Orleans Index series, developed in collaboration with the Brookings Institution to track the region’s progress toward prosperity, and she leads The Data Center’s research on the development of the water management cluster in Southeast Louisiana as published in The Coastal Index series.
By allison plyer
N
ow that the state Legislature has approved the 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, many are touting the plethora of jobs that will be created by its implementation. There is no doubt that with more than $8 billion from BP the execution of the master plan will generate thousands of jobs at a variety of skill levels. However, as it stands these jobs will not be sustained once the BP settlement funding runs out in 15 years. One of the ways these jobs might continue is if the industry becomes a self-sustaining cluster. To do so, Louisiana must not only develop scientific preeminence in the field of flood risk reduction, but also commercialize that science. From geotextiles, to oyster reefs, to massive civil engineering projects, to watershed monitoring and management, to new ways of managing subsidence — there are likely dozens of innovations in flood risk reduction that could be developed and marketed to bring in revenue from national and global markets that will soon face these challenges. Leaders must commit to a comprehensive set of long-term strategies to develop supports for this cluster — supports that have proven critical in the formation of every cluster that is driving today’s prosperous regional economies. According to data in our recently released Coastal Index 2017, the dearth of educated workforce in Southeast Louisiana will continue to be an obstacle
34 Biz September 2017
to growing the cluster. Businesses will need to both attract workers from elsewhere via higher wages and build the skills of the local workforce to fully staff these projects. The state has demonstrated little appetite for investing in higher education, so businesses may not be able to rely on public institutions to supply a skilled workforce. The comprehensive plan to grow this cluster should include innovative private sector solutions that recognize this reality. Public-private partnerships, such as the recent effort to streamline federal permitting around environmental reviews for restoration projects, can help to address uncertainties created by regulations that stymie private industry’s ability to invest in workforce development.
The comprehensive plan should also include strategies that grow Louisiana businesses. Government agencies that award water management contracts can support this effort by “unbundling” contracts into smaller amounts prior to the proposal stage. This will help more Louisiana firms successfully compete for projects. Many practices are already in place to boost the use of Louisiana firms as subcontractors to large companies that win water management contracts. Importantly, data on the dollars that actually flowed to subcontractors should be published to ensure that the proposed local share is being met. Essential to the comprehensive plan will be strategies for commercializing Louisiana’s cutting-edge science for
reducing future flood risk. Academic institutions must begin to see the scholarship that happens within their walls as a prime source of innovation needed to spur economic growth in the region. Scientists should work directly with entrepreneurs and local companies who can help them commercialize their inventions. Incubators have flourished postKatrina, and “pitch” contests are frequent. Incubators could host “reverse pitches” in which larger water management companies pitch their needs to startups, thereby generating new ventures closely related to larger companies — a dynamic that will be key to the water management cluster’s formation. With growing pools of funding in New Orleans and major research institutions in Baton Rouge, strategies are needed to connect investors with inventors. Clusters take years to develop, and therefore efforts toward building a water management cluster in Southeast Louisiana must be sustained. Done well, Southeast Louisiana can truly turn its biggest challenge into its greatest opportunity. n
photograph DAVID KIDD/GOVERNING. Flight provided by SouthWings.org
BizNewOrleans.com 35
In the Biz d i n i ng
One Constant Antoine’s waiter Sterling Constant is a golden figure in the industry. By Poppy Tooker A native New Orleanian, Poppy Tooker has spent her life devoted to the cultural essence that food brings to Louisiana, a topic she explores weekly on her NPR-affiliated radio show, Louisiana Eats! From farmers markets to the homes and restaurants where our culinary traditions are revered and renewed, Poppy lends the voice of an insider to interested readers everywhere.
A
ccording to businessdictionary.com, social capital is defined as the “stock of a community’s good will and trust acquired over the years.” According to Harvard Business School, social capital has been on the decline since at least the 1970s. I would argue that New Orleans is an exception. Here, waiters like Antoine’s Sterling Constant have invested a lifetime of service, stockpiling the social capital of hospitality on which the city runs. In 1967, at the tender age of 16, Constant was offered a job working in the kitchen at Antoine’s. He learned the ropes from the old guard, training alongside cooks who kept the recipes in their heads in true apprentice fashion. After five years, Constant asked if he could move into the dining room and was given the opportunity. “I went out and bought a black suit and showed up the next day, ready for work,” he says. After five more years as a dining room apprentice, Constant became a full-fledged waiter, a job he’s proudly held ever since. When Constant started, many waiters couldn’t read or write, but displayed incredible mental acuity. The menus were memorized, and each order committed to memory before being called out into the busy kitchen. “But first,” Constant says, “you have to be sure to get their drink orders delivered, then everyone will be happy. “The customers adopt you as part of their family,” he says, adding that he’s watched generations grow up, and in some cases is the first to hear of a pending engagement.
36 Biz September 2017
“A young man will call and “You look at the number of say, ‘I’m going to propose at reservations,” he says. “If there’s Sterling dinner, Sterling, can you help 800 reservations on the books, Constant me?’” Constant smiles as he at Antoine’s you multiply that by three, then describes delivering a special Restaurant. take into account the extras used appetizer encased in a glass dome, in service by the waiters, and of garnished with a sparkling diamond ring. course the napkins for the bread baskets.” Often, if a favorite waiter isn’t avail- That’s a lot of napkins! able when a reservation is made, patrons For many years, Constant also selected will choose another night to dine at the apprentices who would be trained the restaurant. To them the service is to carry on the service in Antoine’s as essential to the experience as the dining rooms. The most important food itself. traits he sought in applicants were Aside from his work on the floor, “neatness and personality.” Amazingly, Constant has had a hand in many of many apprentices worked their way the administrative parts of making through college at Antoine’s only to the dining room run smoothly. For return to work in the dining rooms years he’s ordered the linens every day, upon graduation. Today, you’ll also find computing the astronomical number waiters like Ricky Laviolette serving of napkins needed. alongside Constant. After a career on
the New Orleans police force, Laviolette retired to work at Antoine’s. Constant regards his job as “a business within a business.” He’s an entrepreneur who recognizes the value of the fine service and hospitality he provides — something for which he’s been richly rewarded. “It’s a good career, an honorable career,” he reflects. CEO Rick Blount, part of the fifth generation to carry on the Antoine’s family tradition, believes the most important element to the restaurant’s successful continuity is hospitality. Last summer, the Antoine’s family hosted a party to celebrate Constant’s 50 years of service. “Over 300 people showed up on a rainy Sunday afternoon to thank Sterling for the lifetime of hospitality he has given them,” Blount says. If the social capital that Sterling Constant has earned in those 50 years were to be measured, the value would certainly exceed his weight in gold. n
Catch Poppy Tooker on her radio show, Louisiana Eats! Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on WWNO 89.9 FM.
photograph by jeffery johnston
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BizNewOrleans.com 37
In The Biz to u ri sm
Hit the Pavement Mobile website A Closer Walk uses today’s technology to tell yesterday’s stories. By Jennifer Gibson Schecter
Jennifer Gibson Schecter
A
s a tourism columnist, I am frequently asked for travel advice. The thing I say the most (besides “tip generously”) is to plan as much walking as you can into your trip. For visitors to New Orleans, this is especially true. The character of our city and the characters who inhabit it are best encountered on foot. On this front, I’m happy to report that two of my favorite things have now come together. A Closer Walk (ACW) is a mobile-optimized website that tells the story of New Orleans’ musical and cultural history. The project is a collaboration of WWOZ, the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation, Bent Media, ePrime Media and Randy Fertel. Thirty-four genres of music are represented on the interactive site, with locations mapped throughout the city for self-generated tours. “This project is a natural extension of WWOZ’s mission to be a worldwide voice, archive and flag-bearer of New Orleans culture and musical heritage,” said Arthur Cohen, director of content at WWOZ and acting general manager during the project’s execution. “’OZ has always looked to use new technology to help people, whether natives or tourists, experience and understand the roots of our region’s music and culture. The beauty of A Closer Walk is that it has value as a walking tour, an armchair tour or a learning tool. Its audio, film, photos and links let you go deeper when you want.” ACW was launched in June and Cohen said the response has already been enthusiastic. The initial rollout
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was once a tourist in New Orleans herself and is now proud to call NOLA home. She also writes the Wednesday Tourism Blog on BizNewOrleans.com.
documentary filmmaker, researcher, writer and owner of e/Prime Media. “Aimee Bussells, project manager, Jordan Hirsch, who finalized the whole edit ultimately, and myself tried to provide an experience that could bring a farflung audience closer to our New Orleans insiders’ sense of place, but also renew a local’s fascination with our musical heritage. I think we really accomplished that.” The site is incredibly easy and fun to use. Whether on a smart phone or computer, you’ll be entertained for hours. Places can be filtered not only by musical genre, but also by neighborhood, role, time period and location type. You want to find a funeral home started in the 19th century that buried and second focused on locals as the primary commu“All music in New Orleans is related lined countless jazz, brass band and nity served but now tourists are taking and connected by traditions,” he said. funk musicians? They got that. advantage, both while they’re in New “Neighborhoods continue to create music Perhaps my favorite, though, is the Orleans and even when they return across multiple generations. It’s been Lagniappe section, where culturally home. interesting plotting out those locations. influential dances get their own pages. With so many entities at the produc- We’ve barely scratched the surface.” Something that continues to set New tion table, there was some deliberating Currently there are 79 different loca- Orleans apart from other U.S. cities is around what to call the site. tions on the site, each with its own the prevalence of dancing at live music “Ultimately, the great Mahalia Jackson carefully curated page that includes shows, events and down the street. hymn was chosen,” said Brad Brewster, history and images, and often song Though the days of the quadrille are founder and president of Bent Media clips and videos. The goal is to reach long past, elements of many old dances and board member for the Ponderosa 300 locations for NOLA’s Tricentennial. can still be seen today. A dissertation Stomp Foundation. “The amount of information and could surely be written on the seductive Brewster said the team is especially research we did at all levels of the connections of the tango and the twerk. proud that the website includes multiple development was deep and rich,” said Explore A Closer Walk for yourself genres. Kevin McCaffrey, award-winning at acloserwalknola.com. n
BizNewOrleans.com 39
In The Biz sports
It Doesn’t Add Up Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to play football. By chris price
Chris Price is an awardwinning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football. Price also authors the Friday Sports Column at BizNewOrleans.com.
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s football season kicks off this month, I’ve really missed the tales that former Saints color commentater “Hokie” Gajan would share. A native Southeastern Louisianian, Hokie played at Baker High School and LSU before being drafted by New Orleans in 1981. He played for five years until injuries to both knees forced the running back to move to the staff as a talent scout. By the time he got to the radio booth, Hokie knew the franchise in and out. His downhome accent and cadence accentuated his knowledge, and fans loved to hear the stories he spun. But Gajan’s body revealed truths that his mouth couldn’t. His hands and fingers were bent and crooked; his knuckles bulging, knobby and arthritic. And his poor knees. Hokie was diagnosed with liposarcoma, a rare cancer, in fall 2015. He passed the following spring. I remembered Hokie and his hands this summer, when news broke of NFL and NBA free agent contract signings. The numbers were jarring — not just the size — but who was being shown the money. In June, Derek Carr became the highest-paid player in the NFL, with an average salary at $25 million per year, when he signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension with the Oakland Raiders. Not too shabby, but still $17.5 million less than the NBA’s highest- paid player, James Harden, who in July signed a four-year, $170 million deal worth $42.5 million annually. Within days of Harden’s deal, New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday inked a $126 million deal that will pay him $25.2 million a year.
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Sporttrac.com, an online sports team and player contract resource, reports Holiday will be the second highest-paid Pelican behind Anthony Davis, who averages $25.43 million a year. For comparison, quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints highest-paid player, will make $24.25 million this season. I love football. I watch on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and sometimes Thursdays. The New Orleans Saints are, easily, my favorite team, and my respect for the NFL is immense. But I feel there is trouble on the horizon. With $14 billion in annual revenue, the NFL is the richest sports league in the world. The NBA earned $8 billion in revenue in the same period. But more than 20 NBA players will have average
yearly contracts worth more than $25 million when the season tips off this fall and not all of them are among the association’s elite players. Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, for example, is entering the second year of a five-year $152.6 million deal ($30.52 million a year/average) and has never been an NBA All-Star. The NBA is benefiting from the influx of its nine-year, $24 billion national television deal with ESPN and Turner Sports. The deal, which started last season, is worth three times the previous TV agreement and pushed the salary cap up 34 percent, according to NBC Sports. While players in both the NFL and NBA receive about half of the revenue
under the terms of their respective collective bargaining agreements, basketball teams have 15 players compared to 53 on a football team plus any dead salary cap money for players who were cut. Even though the NBA makes less than half of the NFL, a smaller pool means more money for the limited few. The larger player pool in the NFL means less money on average individually. The NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement was reached in 2011 and runs through the 2020 season. Unlike the NBA and Major League Baseball, NFL contracts are not guaranteed. Changing that will be very contentious. There are already whispers that it will take a player strike and possibly losing a season for owners to consider making the change. But expect players to demand more come 2021. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he wants to make the NFL a $25 billion league within the next decade. A year without income is a lot to ask of the nearly 2,000 players and their families, but the league is also asking a hell of a lot of its players. These players will, and should, demand and deserve more for the abuse they endure, as well as taking on potential threats to their future health and well-being. It doesn’t make sense to risk so much for less pay, especially when many leave football with bodies and, more recently, minds as gnarly as Hokie’s hands. n
ILLUSTRATION by Ian Cotita Cavu Media
BizNewOrleans.com 41
In The Biz enterta i nment
Bringing It Home A new law aims to draw the business side of music to Louisiana. By Kim Singletary
Kimberley Singletary is the managing editor of Biz New Orleans magazine. A 20-year Southern California veteran, she has been surrounded by the film industry for most of her life.
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ouisiana has music. In fact, we’re a state filled with talent that includes a dynamic history of creating our own sound — unlike anything seen or heard anywhere else in the world. Visitors travel here from every city on the planet just to hear that sound played inside the surroundings that created it. Yes, we have music, and it’s plentiful and incredible. What we don’t have — and this is surprising, frankly — is a thriving music industry. Many, however, are hopeful that’s going to change thanks to a law Governor Edwards signed on July 17. The new law is called the Louisiana Music Industry Investment Act and it’s designed to support the state’s music industry through a series of tax credits crafted to lure and support music related companies and projects to the state. “Our biggest problem is that we need more infrastructure,” says Jay Weigel, a native New Orleanian who has worked as a composer and producer for more than 30 years. For the past 10 years, Weigel has made his living scoring music for film and TV. “I’m not talking physical infrastructure, but more business infrastructure like legal services and management companies.” Weigel says these services are currently something musicians have to leave the state to get, throwing out a list of names of local musicians that left to California or Nashville to progress in their career. “Look at Harold Batiste,” he says. “He moved to L.A. and produced the first Dr. John record. There was no Dr. John before that. That was a character created with Harold and it wasn’t done here where it should have been.”
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The new act represents an expansion of the existing sound recording tax credit created in 2005 which industry insiders felt was missing the mark. “For a local artist to take advantage of a tax credit for recording in the state they had to first pay either $2,500 or $5,000 as an application fee, depending on the amount of qualified expenditures,” explains Reid Wick, senior membership and project manager of Recording Academy, an organization that worked with Louisiana Economic Development to create the legislation and drum up support for it with other organizations like the American Federation of Musicians, Local 174-496 and the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans. “For many musicians that was understandably too high of an upfront cost and people stopped using the program.”
(Top) Seated: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards; Standing left to right: Recording Academy board members Sean Ardoin, Tim Kappel, Jay Weigel, Rep. Walt Leger, Kim Dodd (Leger’s legislative analyst), Recording Academy Sr. Membership & Project Manager Reid Wick and Recording Academy Trustee Ken Shepherd. (Bottom Left) Reid Wick (Bottom Right) Jay Weigel
The program offers an 18 percent tax credit to out of state investors who spend in excess of $15,000 and 18 percent to in-state residents who spend in excess of $5,000. The cap on the program has been $2.16 million a year, something Wick says has never come close to being used. “We’ve been maybe hitting half the cap so we decided to create a way to spend our money more wisely.”
In addition to lowering the application fee for those requesting a tax credit for recording in Louisiana to a sliding scale, with productions of $15,000 or less requiring only a $500 application fee, the new act also earmarks half the cap for a 10 to 15 percent payroll tax incentive intended to lure music-related businesses to the state. For companies that create fewer than 10 jobs — each with a minimum salary of $35,000 — the credit is 10 percent of payroll expenses. For 10 or more jobs, that rate raises to 15 percent. “Look at what’s happening with the group The Revivalists,” Wick says. “They have a No. 1 hit and they’re on tour right now. They’re from here but their management, agent and label are all out of state. That’s money we’re losing, and that’s what we’re hoping to change by incentivizing those kind of services to come here.” While Wick says he would love to get incentives someday back up to 25 percent, overall he’s very happy with the bill and what it could mean for the state. “We’ve had a music scene here for 300 years but we’ve never had industry come be around it,” he adds. “There’s a gigantic opportunity here for growth, to put money in our pockets like we’ve never seen before.” To view the new bill in its entirety, visit legiscan.com/LA/bill/HB646/2017 n
BizNewOrleans.com 43
In The Biz entrepreneu rsh i p
Camelback Rises Above A local startup receives national recognition for its company culture. By keith twitchell
Keith Twitchell spent 16 years running his own business before becoming president of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. He has observed, supported and participated in entrepreneurial ventures at the street, neighborhood, nonprofit, micro- and macro-business levels.
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enius is equally distributed; opportunity is not.” This universal truth — and the desire to address it — is the premise behind a local enterprise called Camelback Ventures that focuses on developing entrepreneurs. In just its third full year of existence, Camelback has served more than 30 individuals, and been recognized nationally for its own success. “The motivation for me was to create a place and a platform for entrepreneurs who are often on the sideline but who should be on the field,” explained Camelback founder and CEO Aaron Walker. A lawyer and teacher in previous career incarnations, Walker observed that not only is it a lot more difficult for entrepreneurs of color to get access to resources they need, but also “a lot of times their ideas are in service of communities of color.” Camelback responds to these inequities by providing coaching, capital and connections to under-represented entrepreneurs. The primary mechanism used to tackle these issues is a The firm’s name comes from fellowship program where the an innovation developed by free Aaron focus is on entrepreneurs whose people of color following the Civil Walker, business vision includes a social War. With land inside the city CEO of benefit component, especially Camelback limited, this community began Ventures those related to education. adding second stories to the back “Education entrepreneurship is parts of their shotgun homes, an a top priority for us, especially in New architectural style known as a “camelback” Orleans,” said Walker. Examples of that is still visible and popular in New ventures Camelback has supported in Orleans today. Camelback Ventures saw this field include Brothers Empowered in this an inspiring example of using to Teach, which seeks to increase the ingenuity to lift up communities both number of African-American male literally and figuratively. teachers in public schools, and Rooted The organization’s own ingenuity Schools, whose objective is to prepare was recognized this past May with a students in public schools for careers Gusto Extra Mile Award, presented to in digital media. small businesses that make extra efforts
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to treat their employees well. From a pool of some 40,000 small businesses, Camelback was one of only 11 winners selected nationwide. “The most valuable asset we have is our people,” noted Walker. “As a startup, we had to be creative as to how we go above and beyond for them.” In addition to individual respect and a good working environment, Camelback gives its employees one five-hour workday per week, freeing employees to run personal errands, see doctors, or simply have a little extra time to enjoy life. “It’s not about how much time people work but the quality of that time,”
Walker said. “Many of our employees report feeling extra energized when they come in the next day.” While the Gusto award was appreciated, clearly what energizes Walker is the opportunity to strengthen individuals and communities frequently struggling to catch up. The organization’s intersection of education and entrepreneurship provides an ideal focal point for this. The Camelback Fellowship program lasts six months and focuses on both the entrepreneur and the venture itself. Virtually all participants are women and/or people of color, and virtually all are launching enterprises that seek to improve education and economic opportunity in their local communities and cities. There are few societal problems that will not be at least partly solved by better education and wider economic opportunity. Linking these in an entrepreneurial setting provides opportunities of many kinds — an ingenious approach that those post-Civil War creative thinkers would certainly appreciate here in the 21st century. For more information on the Camelback Fellowship program, visit CamelbackVentures.org n
photo by Harlin Miller for Camelback Ventures
BizNewOrleans.com 45
In The Biz et i q u ette
Tone Deaf What to do when an email exchange goes horribly awry. By Melanie Warner Spencer
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e’ve all been on the receiving end of what we perceive as an impolite email. Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot with the sender. Maybe the person on the other end is having a bad day. It’s also possible that we did something to offend the other person and they are lashing out (rightfully or not). Whether or not the reason is justifiable, a snappish message can still come as a surprise and leave us stewing and wondering how to respond, if at all. It’s different for every situation, but most of the time I recommend a good old fashioned clearing of the air. This month, I’m sharing what I did after encountering a seemingly hostile exchange that if not handled properly, would have ruined the project at hand. After meeting a source during an event I was covering, I followed up via email to get the ball rolling on a formal interview. Our communication seemed to break down with every click of the send button. Having only met the source in person once, I didn’t know much about his personality, so it was difficult to discern his tone (an ongoing issue when it comes to electronic communication), but my gut told me something was wrong and if I didn’t find out what, my article was going to suffer for it. Finally, I responded, “It seems as if we got off on the wrong foot. I’m not sure what I did to offend you, but if you’d feel comfortable telling me, perhaps we can hit the reset button and start fresh.” Within five minutes, he called me, confessed that he recently had a very bad experience with a reporter at another publication (for the record, it was not a New Orleans outlet) and
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Melanie Warner Spencer is
editor of New Orleans Bride and New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles and managing editor of Louisiana Life and Acadiana Profile. Spencer’s ever-expanding library of etiquette books is rivaled only by her ever-ready stash of blank thank-you notes. Submit business etiquette questions to Melanie@MyNewOrleans.com.
expressed his fears about the slant of the piece, as well as worries that I would get something wrong or misquote him. My response was to tell him I was sorry he had such a bad experience and that I understood his standoffishness. I then took the time to again review the scope of the piece and to explain my reporting, writing and fact-checking process. This was all he needed to hear and we were off and running on what ended up being a fantastic interview. The key points in my response to him were to acknowledge that there was a problem (or that I perceived one); to
illustrate that I heard, understood and empathized with his situation; and to curb his fears and anxieties. Perception is the million-dollar word when it comes to email (and text messaging). Because we aren’t always able to determine the sender’s tone of voice, see their facial expression or view body language indicators that we would during a face-to-face conversation, we sometimes think someone is being rude, passive aggressive or intentionally short with us when that may not be the case. That’s why it’s important to carefully evaluate the situation before inquiring
about whether or not the sender has a problem (in general, or specifically with you). If you aren’t sure, review the exchange with a trustworthy friend or colleague. Confide in a person who can be impartial and able to keep the information confidential. If they agree that there is clearly a problem, call or email the sender and again, try to clear the air. In some cases it might be better to call so the person on the other end of the conversation can at least hear your tone of voice. If you are feeling particularly sensitive and it’s not urgent, consider letting it go overnight until you can respond in a calm and non-defensive manner. Also, as always, try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and look at it from their perspective. We all have the desire to be liked, but at the end of the day, you can’t please 100 percent of the people 100 percent of the time. If you’ve done everything within your power and still can’t make headway, it might be time to move on and accept it. My guess is, however, that if you are honest and approach the other person on the end of the email chain with humility and humanity, your working relationship will be all the better for it and you might also end up having a good laugh over the miscommunication. n
BizNewOrleans.com 47
In The Biz market i ng
Crisis Management If something went wrong, would your company shine or serve as a warning to others? Julia Carcamo is president
By Julia carcamo
and chief brand strategist at J Carcamo & Associates, specializing in brand and marketing strategy. She is also the co-founder of espNOLA, a Hispanic marketing and engagement agency. Learn more at jcarcamoassociates.com and espnola.com.
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t’s hurricane season for us in the Gulf South, and while this time of year is about preparing your home and family for a natural disaster, it’s also a good time to think about preparing your business for a crisis. Disaster can strike in an instant — an act of God, a sudden failure of a system, or heaven forbid, an act by someone not fully in control of their senses. No one wants an emergency on their hands, but I’ve seen far too many instances of ill-prepared companies, as well as some who handled a crisis in a way that became a standard. In both instances, there were valuable lessons to be learned.
Be accountable. Whatever the cause of the crisis — weather, mechanical breakdowns or technology — you must be prepared to be accountable. The No. 1 reason a crisis spirals out of control is because someone stepped into the spotlight and shifted the blame. As New Orleanians, we all had a front row seat when the Gulf oil spill was made worse and worse by each soundbite on the news. Respond quickly or the public will. Long gone are the days when the public was notified of a “problem” according to the news cycle. Today’s news is instant and in the palm of practically everyone on the planet — and everyone is a reporter. Good or bad, news spreads lightning quick, and sometimes by reporters who may
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not take the time to fact check. The telephone game has been taken to new and incredible heights. Understand who your customers are, and who they could be. A company typically knows who its core customers are and often tailor their marketing to appeal to them. However, in a crisis your customer could be anyone. You must consider who you may be pushing away with your response. Prepare everyone. Having a “spokesperson” is now somewhat of an archaic ideal. Even if you have experts come
Like many businesses, we were illprepared for the one-two Katrina/Rita punch. Although we had a so-called crisis communication plan in place, changes in technology subsequently forced us to make huge changes to the plan. Hurricane season became an annual reminder to review and adjust, and our plans were developed for many worst case scenarios. Planning gives you the opportunity to identify corporate and vendor partners and allows you to put certain things into a queue you hope to never use. Anthony Mackenzie, director of digital marketing for Eldorado Resorts, has years of experience doing just that. “We develop templates to say we’re in to train a handful (or fewer) people closed, we’ll be opening and we’re now to be the talking heads on the news, open well in advance of any need,” he today’s news is coming from Twitter says. “When a storm starts brewing and Facebook long before the start of in the Gulf of Mexico, our properties the 5 p.m. newscast. Your social media can start to get details in line and get team is now the “official source.” It is communications set up so that when even more important now that these the time comes — and we hope it never staff members have a pipeline to the does — they can attend to the safety correct information and that they be of guests, employees and the properempowered to act and respond quickly, ties while we take care of the digital and with accuracy and empathy. communications at the corporate office.” He says that adding employees in Continually prepare and improve remote locations to your social media your response. Years ago, I worked accounts and information flow can for a casino operator with a couple of become a crucial piece in the commulocations in Louisiana and Mississippi. nications puzzle. n
illustration by jane sanders
BizNewOrleans.com 49
perspectives hot topics in southeast Louisiana industries
banking & finance • REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION • insurance • GUEST VIEWPOINT
real estate & construction
Stormwater Solutions What are local businesses and homebuilders doing to handle the flow? More on page 56
Perspectives banki ng & fi nance
Setting the Standard A look at the new fiduciary standard and what it means for your finances.
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HOW TO TALK TO YOUR ADVISOR
By Jessica Rossgaard
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n June 9, the Department of Labor implemented a new rule for financial advising called the fiduciary standard. And while the wonky term may make your eyes glaze over, understanding what it means is critical to your financial health.
So you want to have a conversation with your investment advisor but don’t know where to start? Here are a few questions that you should be asking:
Broker-Dealers vs. Registered Investment Advisors When it comes to your retirement accounts, there are two kinds of advisors: broker-dealers, and registered investment advisors (RIA). Each one is able to manage your financial investments, but they’re compensated, and regulated, differently. Registered investment advisors have what’s called a “fiduciary duty” — the highest standard of care — that requires them to act in their clients’ best interests. Seems pretty straightforward, right? They’re working for you, and thus should make the best decisions for your financial investments on your behalf. “I’d like to believe most people in the financial area are going to be honest that they’re going to treat the client first,” says George Young, partner at Villere and Company, an investment managing firm founded in New recommendations that are “suitable” to the Orleans in 1911. client’s personal situation, but not necesRIAs are registered with the Securities and sarily in their client’s best interest. Not as Exchange Commission (SEC), which shows straightforward. that they meet certain federal requirements. David Soliman, managing partner at RIAs work on a fee-only compensation Faubourg Private Wealth, a firm with offices in structure, which means they earn a percentage Metairie, Old Gretna, Larose and Mandeville, of your account, a flat retainer or an hourly explains the suitability standard this way: rate. This plan helps eliminate a conflict of “It’s kind of like needing a phone and going interest because the registered investment into an Apple store. Somehow or another, advisor earns his or her salary based on how regardless of what kind of phone you need, well your investments perform. you’re walking out of that store with an Broker-dealers, on the other hand, operate Apple phone.” under a “suitability standard” – considered Broker-dealers earn a commission-based less onerous than the fiduciary standard, it salary, which means they get paid based on means broker-dealers must make investment how many sales they make, or they get paid
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Is your advisor a fiduciary? What credentials and licensing does your advisor carry? How — and how much — will you be compensating your advisor? What is the total cost to your portfolio with the underlying expenses in each investment?
for investing your money in certain accounts, for instance a mutual fund that might not be the best investment choice for you, but pays your broker-dealer a higher commission. Often these fees are passed on to the client. “Every fund, by definition, has an expense ratio; it costs something, nobody’s doing it for free,” says Young. “Passive funds have the lowest expense rates, they’re something like seven basis points.” One basis point equals one-one hundredth of a percent. That fund is a replication of a passive index, which requires less maintenance by the investment advisor. “If you buy an active mutual fund it’s going to have a sales load — which is allowable by the SEC and broker-dealers have to be
What are your fees covering? Full financial planning or just investment management? Who is managing your portfolio and making the investment decisions? How is your advisor selecting investment vehicles in your portfolio? Do you have an investment policy statement and a written financial plan?
BizNewOrleans.com 53
up front about this — but a lot of these can be 5 percent sales loads, and a lot of customers just aren’t aware that that’s what they’re being charged.” The Obama administration estimated that these compensation fees cost retirement investors up to $17 billion a year, so they developed the new standard — under Department of Labor regulations — to protect workers’ retirement accounts. “The Department of Labor is, of course, worried about the workforce and making sure they have enough money to retire,” explains Young. “So they said, ‘Wouldn’t it be a great idea to put clients first?’”
have to demonstrate that they’ve taken steps to enforce the new rule. “The compliance department at a broker-dealer will say, ‘You now need to document why you chose this fund versus another fund’, which is a real burden on
“We’ve already seen it delayed a couple of times here, we’ve seen it watered down a bit more than what we were initially expecting, and honestly there’s some doubt of whether the rule will even go into effect in its current form,” says Soliman.
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REVIEWING YOUR COMPANY’S 401(k) OFFERINGS A lot of business owners will periodically review aspects of their operations – everything from suppliers and internet providers to trash pickup. But David Soliman, managing partner at Faubourg Private Wealth, says companies rarely review their benefits.
Implementation and Compliance It would be bad business for someone in the investment world to come out and say, “No, we don’t think we should be forced to act in our clients’ best interests,” so the question isn’t if brokers will comply, but how. The federal government issued the rule saying anyone managing retirement accounts must act in a fiduciary manner, but they didn’t explain how to do it, and the requirements are a little bit vague. The main requirements for advisors under the fiduciary standard are: maintain impartial conduct standards, keep the the individual broker-dealer,” says Young. client’s best interest at heart, and receive “But that would be a way that they could only reasonable compensation. Further, justify choosing a particular fund, because advisors can’t make misleading statements it was in the client’s best interest that there to their clients, and must make sure there’s was reasonable compensation.” no conflict of interest. Regardless of compliance and enforce“We’re seeing a wide amount of response ment, Young thinks there will still be from all across the industry,” says Soliman. hidden fees passed on to investors. “Advisors that have been acting in a fiduciary “That’s the reality of the situation,” Young capacity have been ahead of this rule says. “It’s an aggressive business: anytime really for years. It’s not something that there’s a lot of money at stake, people are we’re finding we have to make a lot of going to figure out a way to keep making adjustments to how we’re doing business.” that money and make more.” The bigger impact is on broker-dealers. In order to continue managing retirement The Future of the Fiduciary accounts, firms will have to figure out a Standard way to change their compensation and fee structures so they can be in compliance. But even after all of that, the future of “In a lot of ways these rules have been the fiduciary standard is unclear. President kind of a wake-up call to the industry,” Trump has said that he intends to undo says Soliman. “This is kind of making a many reforms that were made under the lot of broker-dealers and a lot of advisory Obama administration. In February, Trump firms reevaluate what kind of business they directed Labor Secretary Alex Acosta to want to be in and what kind of advisors review the rule to determine whether they want to have under their purview.” it would adversely affect the ability of The SEC routinely does audits of invest- Americans to gain access to retirement ment firms to make sure that there are information and investment advice. The ethical policies in place, and that firms challenge delayed implementation, and are aware of any new regulations — like full enforcement provisions have been the fiduciary standard. Companies would postponed until January 1, 2018.
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“Some of these rule changes have come out in the 401(k) space as far as the reasonableness of fees, how are the underlying investments selected, how often are you benchmarking your plan to make sure that the fees are reasonable and that your service providers are actually doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”
“Its difficult for broker-dealers, and advisory firms in general, to build their practices to ensure you’re complying with the rule when you’re not sure what the rule is going to ultimately look like six months from now.” “It’s kind of toothless right now,” Young adds.
What It Means for Consumers If you’re already investing with a registered investment advisor, don’t expect much to change in the way your assets are handled, or the fees you pay. But if you’re investing with a broker-dealer, this is a good time to have a conversation about whether they’re holding your account to the fiduciary standard, if they’re putting your best interests in your portfolios, and to really understand what your advisor is doing for you. “Second to only physical health, financial health is going to be one of the biggest concerns people have,” Soliman says. “If you didn’t understand your diagnosis from your doctor you would ask more questions. If you didn’t trust the information you were getting from your doctor you would ask more questions. Why should your financial advisor be different?” n
Soliman suggests business owners that offer 401(k) plans should review their plans – starting with these questions: How prepared are you for a Department of Labor audit of your 401(k)/retirement plan? What is your process for benchmarking your plan? How often do you benchmark you plan? Does your advisor provide financial education to your participants? What are the fees you are paying for each component of your plan? What is your process for changing the funds within your plan? Do you have a retirement plan committee? Do you have an investment policy statement? Is your advisor providing 3(38) or 3(21) Fiduciary services to the plan? What retirement plan specific designations has your advisor earned? When is the last time you revisited your plan design?
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Perspectives R E A L ES TAT E & CO N S T RU C T I O N
Stormwater Solutions What are local businesses and homebuilders doing to handle the flow? By Andrew Canulette
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hen the New Orleans City Council adopted a Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) in 2015, it overhauled the zoning rules that had been in place in New Orleans since the beginning of Gerald Ford’s presidency. Article 23 of the new CZO deals with stormwater management, and in a city that faces the fairly consistent threat of flooding from not only tropical weather but also routine rain events (as we’ve recently been reminded) stormwater is quite a big deal. The rules state that a stormwater and landscaping plan for almost all new development (including some residential builds) must be in place before the permitting process can begin. Larger parking facilities came under particular scrutiny, as owners are now required to “capture, filter, infiltrate or store the first 1.25 inches of stormwater” shed from those largely concrete and asphalt structures. The hope is to minimize runoff, which not only would reduce the load on the city’s often overburdened drainage system, but also be more eco-friendly. Parking lots made of permeable surfaces, as well as adjacent green spaces to retain subsurface water, are among methodologies seen as better solutions than simply forcing stormwater into the nearest drain and funneling it toward Lake Pontchartrain. “Sometimes we are required, or it is best practice, to build retaining walls out of concrete that will surround an entire property to help drainage, and stop drainage from going onto a neighboring property,” says Zachary Tyson, co-owner of Tyson Construction. “We have built these retaining walls quite a bit, especially on infill-type lots where existing homes are surrounding a property.” Tyson says his company has also been installing more subsurface drainage designed to take water from the rear and sides of a property out to the street.
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A Group Effort
New Orleans’ Love/ Hate Relationship with Water Being surrounded by water brought the city great prosperity at times throughout its history, but the same water has washed through town many times and brought destruction with it. Today, there are likely more organizations dealing in some way with water resources, movement,
and protection than in the city’s 299-year history. Groups like The Data Center, The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, the Urban Conservancy and more are uniquely connected to the way we look at water — as much as the Crescent City is uniquely connected to the water that has buoyed it (and swamped it) since its inception. The groups each figure to play a major role in the direction of future water movement projects in the area, said Urban Conservancy Executive Director Dana Ennes. “New Orleans is a super-charged hub of activity right now,” Ennes said, referring to the groups. “Water is
a resource. It’s an amenity. People around the world would kill for the amount of water we have here. We have to work with it to help ourselves.” Ennes pointed to a recent agreement between the Baton Rouge-based Water Institute of the Gulf and Netherlands-based Deltares to work together on coastal erosion and better water resource management in south Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards noted at a press conference announcing the agreement that such collaborations will not only be an asset to protecting Louisiana’s coast, but also will be a source of lucrative jobs in water management industries.
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(Top) Dana Eness from Urban Conservancy and (Bottom) Christina Buras of LCIA speaking at an LCIA workshop on the CZO held June 22 at the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Building
Best Practices
Parkway Bakery Stands Out A shining example of good stormwater management is the rain-absorbing parking lot Parkway Bakery owner Jay Nix had installed two years ago at his popular eatery in the Bayou St. John neighborhood. Flooding was a problem in the lot, and the pervious surface in place now not only fixed that, but is also easier on the city’s drainage systems and on the environment. Nix earned applause from all corners for his decision. “That’s a freemarket solution to the problem,” said Nicholas Peddle, marketing and communications manager with the Louisiana Construction and Industry Association. “We need more champions in the business community like that to point to the work and say ‘This is why I did it, and I’m happy I did,’” said Dana Ennes of the New Orleansbased Urban Conservancy.
The CZO meant new opportunities for area contractors, architects and landscapers, but it also raised questions with those groups and some business owners. How much would the pervious surfaces cost and how would the new CZO rules apply to a 300-year old city where tightly-packed business corridors are part of the charm? To help address some of the potential, as well as potential concerns, the Louisiana Construction and Industry Association began a series of workshops to inform its members of the CZO. The latest in that series was held June 22 at the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Building on the lakefront. Some 50 LCIA members in various business fields attended the workshop and a dozen presenters (including various city agencies and local industry leaders) took part as well. Urban Conservancy and StayLocal co-hosted the event, which also focused on the recent paradigm shift toward green infrastructure
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and building practices, along with materials used in that type of construction and the growing demand for such projects. For the 4,000 contractors and associated business persons who are LCIA members, the CZO could stoke an entirely new wave of contract work in the Crescent City. LCIA leaders want to put members at the vanguard of the expected shift toward green growth. “We connect our members with resources,” said Nicholas Peddle, marketing and communications director with the LCIA. “In this workshop, we put them with a host of city departments and other contractors and developers to learn about the problems the city faces with stormwater and what the solutions can be. Those connections are invaluable.” Sean Killeen, co-owner of Demoran Construction says he is at City Hall every day working on projects that involve the new standard. “To be honest, we as a city were a little bit behind the curve in terms of this kind of
requirement,” he says, “so it’s new to all of us and there’s a bit of a learning curve. But we’re working together to get done what we need to get done.” New Orleans’ approach to stormwater management has been the same for most of the city’s existence — move water off homes and businesses as quickly as possible and into the drainage system. The idea now is seen by some as antiquated and is recognized as counterproductive to maintain healthy groundwater supplies and overall water quality. The culprit is concrete and water’s inability to permeate its surface. Alternative permeable surfaces greatly reduce negative effects of run-off, and with the addition of green spaces that act as natural stormwater retention areas, there is aesthetic value in the new approach, as well. Tyson says his company has been doing some work in crushed limestone in lieu of concrete or grass. “I think this is more of an aesthetic and lower maintenance choice versus grass,” he says, “but the limestone is permeable so that does help with water absorbing into the ground more as well.” Not all LCIA members have embraced the new ideas. One contractor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said products used for green infrastructure are more expensive, though some business owners and contractors disagree. The contractor said the CZO is cumbersome and not always employed in the best manner, pointing to one project in which an owner outside the levee system was being required to install pervious concrete in an addition to his property. “The cost of construction has been going up in general in the past two or three years, and that was before this took effect,” says Killeen. “Labor costs are up about 10 to 12 percent, and so are the costs on materials. But when you’re building, you write that cost into the project and you get the work done.” Both Peddle and LCIA Assistant Director Christina Buras acknowledged that there is “more work to be done” to spread the word about the possible windfall available to contractors, builders, and landscape architects who have the know-how to dream big inside the green infrastructure. “This is a totally new concept here and we’re bringing it out into the forefront,” Buras said. “This last meeting was not a quiet one. There were a lot of people asking questions and exchanging ideas. In the end, that’s going to be good for everyone.” “I think it will be neutral,” Killeen says. “Not sure it’s going to help us, but don’t think it will hurt us. I’m for it. We’re in the business of building and rebuilding the city. If it’s good for the city, then it helps us all.”n
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Perspectives i nsu rance
Beating a Breach Insurance industry professionals weigh in on what cyber insurance does, and does not do, and what you can expect to pay. By Kim Roberts
A
data breach can be costly in many ways; in addition to losing important documents and information and damaging hardware and software, it can seriously damage a company’s reputation and put their customers and/or employees at risk. In today’s volatile cyber environment, cyber insurance can be a smart precaution for any size business. “Really anyone who owns a computer and conducts business on it — from a lawyer to a manufacturing company — should take a look at its insurance,” said Jeff Howard, vice president of Gillis, Ellis & Baker Insurance. “It’s not just the attack itself, it’s the ransomware, where someone is holding your data hostage through encryption and demanding money to release it to you. You literally have to think about every email you send today.” The cost of cyber insurance is relative to the coverage provided. “A business could spend around $2,000 to $100,000 a year based on the size and complexity of the business,” Howard said, adding that the cost could be just a drop in the bucket compared to a loss. “A recent study found that it costs business owners about $200 per record breached — that can really add up if you consider how many records/ contacts are in your database.” Howard cautions businesses not to just add cyber insurance to their existing liability insurance, but instead to look at purchasing it as a stand-alone policy in order to assure the best, most comprehensive coverage. “We have been offering cyber insurance for five years now, it has taken a little while for it to take off,” he said. “Now, we are getting more clients asking for it and we are cautioning current clients and prospects to look again at their coverage to make sure cyber aspects
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are covered. In three to five years I expect it to be as important as property insurance.” IBM Security and the Ponemon Institute recently announced the results of their 2017 Cost of Data Breach Study, which found that the average total cost experienced by organizations over the past year increased from $7.01 million to $7.35 million. To date, 572 U.S. organizations have participated in the benchmarking process since the inception of this research. The number of breached records per incident this year ranged from 5,563 to 99,500. The average number of breached records was 28,512. As technology continues to evolve, becoming more complex and sophisticated, so do the threats that businesses face. As a result, every business and organization needs to be armed and ready with some form of cyber liability insurance.
Underinsured and Undercovered Currently, about 50 percent of U.S. firms do not have cyber risk insurance and 27 percent of U.S. executives say their firms have no plans to take out cyber insurance, even though 61 percent of them expect cyber breaches to increase in the next year. Among those that have insurance, only 16 percent said they have cybersecurity insurance that covers all risks.
In the past couple of years, data breaches have resulted in major fines and legal fees — not to mention heartaches and headaches — for a discount retail chain, one of the nation’s largest banks, a well-known health insurer, an entertainment network and the federal government. But it’s not just large organizations that are susceptible to being hacked or getting a virus. According to Insurance Journal Magazine, about 55 percent of all small businesses have experienced a data breach and 53 percent have had multiple breaches. “Cyber insurance is a specialized insurance product designed to financially shield businesses and individuals from many of the risks posed by our ever-changing digital society,” said Jason Lewis, vice president of Noah W. Lewis and Associates, a New Orleans-based insurance services company.
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in organizations of 2,500 or fewer employees and 30 difficult for people to know how to properly notify Most notably, but not exclusively, cyber and privacy percent in organizations of fewer than 250 employees. their customers of a breach.” policies cover a business’s liability for a data breach Ryan Daul, producer at Gretna-based Daul “Like most insurance, cyber insurance is there to in which the firm’s customers’ personal information, Insurance Agency, says that cyber insurance started make you whole after the attack,” Daul said. “It does such as Social Security or credit card numbers, is becoming more mainstream in the mid-1990s. not protect against the attack, but it does provide the exposed or stolen by someone who has gained access “I think Y2K also brought attention to tech risks,” notification assistance, business interruption coverage to the firm’s electronic network. he said. “In the early 2000s, notification laws were and pays for claims that otherwise would be paid by The policies cover a variety of expenses associated enacted and network security policies were being the business owner. Some policies do provide risk with data breaches, including: notification costs, credit management and assistance with hardening your monitoring, costs to defend claims by state regulators, purchased by larger entities to protect against computer viruses. Regulations continued to grow, including the system, but that’s really more value added. It’s offered fines and penalties, and loss resulting from identity HIPAA rule. Breaches are continuing to happen and by almost all of the major insurance providers. It’s theft. In addition, cyber and privacy policies cover still relatively new and all of the carriers liability arising from website media are trying to grab a piece of the market. content, as well as property exposures Once carriers start to drop out of the from: business interruption, data loss/ market, I’m sure coverage will become destruction, computer fraud, funds more restrictive and prices will increase.” transfer loss and cyber extortion. Really anyone who owns a computer “Additionally, it’s going to be virtually But isn’t this kind of insurance just impossible for the insurance industry to for companies that handle a lot of and conducts business on it — from a continue to respond to an exposure with personal information and financials? Not lawyer to a manufacturing company such a high degree of loss,” he added. according to Harry Kelleher, president — should take a look at its insurance. “I think it is unfair that the business of Harahan-based insurance agency owners are held responsible for a hack Harry Kelleher and Company Inc. Jeff Howard, vice president of Gillis, Ellis & Baker Insurance regardless of the precautions that are “In the year 2017, most, if not all taken. We’ve seen that it is virtually businesses should have a cyber policy,” impossible to stop a hacker that wants to advised Kelleher. “Just because a business get into a system. Possibly, a legislative does not fall under a high-risk area, does change is in order to protect business not mean they don’t have exposure to I think people are finally starting to understand that owners that take proper steps to protect their data.” loss…Billions of records are stored on the systems everyone has the potential for a data breach and a “Cyber insurance has migrated from the niche of all types of businesses, many of which contain need for privacy liability.” space and is quickly becoming a mainline product personal information including birth dates, Social Daul added that cyber insurance is not just reactive, for many insurance companies,” Lewis said. “The Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other large, established insurance companies are leading the personal or identifying information. This information, but unlike most insurance, it’s also active. “In the event of a suspected breach, upon noti- field in developing and introducing cyber insurance if made known, could not only be embarrassing, but fication the insurance carrier will send out a team products. The space represents a massive opportunity could be used by unscrupulous individuals to create of experts to identify if a breach occurred, to what for insurers as we are constantly uncovering more false identities, steal funds, and even hold business extent it occurred, and then advise the insured on risks and exposures presented by our increasing data for ransom.” online activities.” n It’s not just the big companies that are at risk, either. the notification requirements. The notification requirements are extremely complicated at this Kelleher added that according to Travelers Insurance time. Without experts or legal advice, it would be Company, 31 percent of all breaches have occurred
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Perspectives g u est V I E W P O I N T
The Sweet Spot We need to capitalize on our strengths, which include New Orleans’ workforce. By Michelle D. Jackson illustration by André Jolicoeur
F
ifteen years as a military wife has taught me a lot about change. The deafening sound of moving trucks backing up to my front door, strangers packing away my personal belongings and the struggle to assimilate into new communities, weather conditions and unique cultures are aspects of every readjustment period I’ve had. Despite the uncertainty, each city I arrive in presents new opportunities of personal and professional growth. In 2016, my family relocated to New Orleans. Like many, we’d watched as the Big Easy — one of the South’s most celebrated cities — struggled to overcome the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and a sorrowful aftermath painted, most vividly, with images of crime and poverty. But unlike these depictions, what we discovered upon arrival was a city as strong and fearless as a phoenix rising from the ashes. What we found were parishes working to solidify their government’s efforts to attract new residents, fight crime and welcome tourists back to the area. To our surprise, New Orleans wasn’t a wilted rose, but a city blossoming like lilies in a field. Within a few months of engaging the business community and connecting with good people — born and raised on the sweetness of powdery beignets and spicy seasonings — I realized that, unlike so many moves I endured, this one had a sweet spot. After 17 years in economic development, I’ve seen the interworking of business, workforce and city revitalization. For years I worked as a public policy writer and executive-level director in many capacities for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), which followed a lengthy stint in shopping center management and real estate development in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.
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In cities like Baltimore, educational What I enjoyed most about my work, as institutions and federal facilities like Johns well as our relocations, is discovering what makes each city’s business community thrive. Hopkins University and the National Security What I learned along the way is that the Agency (NSA) spur new business creation, economic engine in every city R&D opportunities and job I’ve lived in — every city in growth. In municipalities this country — is the training, like Pittsburgh (the last city This city’s sweet spot is attraction and retention of a I lived in before relocating to highly skilled workforce. New Orleans), I saw up-close its culture and vibrancy The strength and diversity and personal the negative — two things that of a city’s workforce define impact of steel industry job cannot be duplicated or the fortification of the local losses, as well as the growth emulated by anyone. economy. High paying jobs of the tech start-up ecosystem symbolize growth and sustainspinning out of Carnegie ability. The existence of corpoMellon University and the rate headquarters, research University of Pittsburgh. and development universities and emerging Here, in a city most known for its billionstartups are springboards to filling personal dollar tourism and hospitality industry, and professional coffers with the resources sustainability of the workforce continues to needed to revitalize communities. be a driving force after Katrina. Despite a
New Orleans has a long way to go, recent Brookings Institute economic but the road to get there should be indicators report that ranks Greater paved by sustainable industries that take New Orleans’ growth at the bottom advantage of skills honed within the for economic prosperity in comparison region. Retaining oil and gas as a major to other cities, New Orleans/Metairie economic force is critical, but the infuranked 69th and 56th (out of 100) in sion of resources into our educational economic growth, higher than the institutions, startup companies and the metropolitan area. In light of the city’s attraction of corporate headquarters large investments in new hotels and will help revitalize the local economy. residential real estate, the growth in Good cities are built around good New Orleans/Metairie is the result of capital-intensive advanced industries. people. New Orleans is filled with hardworking citizens who are as dedicated After only a few months working to building a strong workforce as any as the strategic marketing and public relations consultant for Delta Personnel, in major cities across the U.S. Limiting how we characterize a city’s progress a 49-year-old staffing solutions agency solely to crime rates and per household in Metairie, I saw firsthand how the hard incomes suffocates the real potential work of local talent in areas pertinent an area has to offer. This city’s sweet to the tourism and hospitality industry continues to create economic opportuni- spot is its culture and vibrancy — two things that cannot be duplicated or ties for New Orleans. emulated by anyone. In 2016, a third of Delta Personnel’s How we see our city will impact billable hours went toward filling posihow the world sees us. From my view, tions in the hospitality and tourism the city’s growth looks promising — as industry, while the firm continues promising as watching the cybersecuto see an increase in the need to fill rity industry spur high-paying jobs in management-level and administrative Baltimore or the healthcare industry positions. cultivate innovative jobs in Pittsburgh. No one tells the city’s story better than workforce development profes- New Orleans has an opportunity to build on the growth of the tourism sionals. Within the confines of HR and hospitality industry, to nurture a departments and staffing agencies is healthcare ecosystem and to be a major where recruiters are attracting, training player in new technology development and retaining talent that allows the $7 billion tourism industry to prosper. — a key job creator in the innovation economy. Cities like New Orleans prove that The steps we take must be intentional workers with creative and traditional and strategic, maintaining our unique skills can still provide talent that is culture while preparing workers for essential to business growth. the future workforce is a goal worth But New Orleans is also making fighting for. n its mark on the professional services and tech start-up community. In 2017, Smartassett named New Orleans the No. 1 growth in tech city and No. 5 for women in tech. In 2015, according to The Data Center, New Orleans led the U.S. with 64 percent higher than average startupsper-capita. And based on New Orleans’ May Economic Summary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the city has seen a year-to-year increase in education and healthcare employment. Michelle Jackson is the owner The tourism and hospitality industry of PR Solutions, LLC of Louisiana, a strategic marketing and corporate continues to be a major economic driver event planning consulting firm; in New Orleans, but future growth founder of the i.Invest National Youth will lie in specialized research and Entrepreneur Business Competition and executive director of LifeSkills technology — major driving forces Foundation, a 501 c3 organization for cities ranking at the top of the dedicated to advocating for youth entrepreneurship. economic prosperity chart.
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Small Business
is
Huge When it comes to international trade, it’s all about small business, says CEO Caitlin Cain, who’s leading the World Trade Center of New Orleans’ efforts to educate and advocate for the future. By Keith Twitchell Photogr aphs by Greg Miles
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a
s a dual United States-Canadian citizen, Caitlin Cain has long looked at life through a global lens. This perspective, backed by previous career stops as regional advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration and director of economic development for the Regional Planning Commission, have helped lead to her current role as the recentlyappointed CEO of the World Trade Center of New Orleans. Given the vital but inconsistent place international business has had in the long-term economic history of New Orleans, the region and the state, Cain’s role is an important one. There are many competing interests engaged in the import/export world, and the WTC has to succeed as the one place where different agendas can come together to create a unified vision and voice. Fortunately, Cain has navigated tricky waters throughout her career, working frequently at regional and even multi-state levels. She has been recognized for her successes with awards such as Women of the Year in City Business, Star of the Southwest from the Economic Development Administration, and was nominated as a Fulbright candidate as part of the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars. Cain took time out from a recent vacation to speak with Biz New Orleans from a rooftop in Marblehead, Massachusetts about the challenges of steering international trade in New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana.
Q: How would you describe the roles, responsibilities and purpose of the World Trade Center? A: The World Trade Center is similar to a membership-based organization such as a chamber of commerce. It functions as an education and advocacy organization that represents our membership on international trade issues. We advocate on behalf of our membership on policy initiatives, programs of importance to the international trade community, projects of regional significance, and we provide education services to our members on a variety of international trade issues and initiatives. Q: What attracted you to this position? A: I’ve spent my entire professional life in economic development and urban planning in a variety of different functions, working at the local level to regional, state and global level, and through all those years I’ve worked with the business community, particularly the small and medium-sized business community. The World Trade Center offers the opportunity to really represent the business community in a way that has global significance, which is incredibly appealing to me as a kind of a global-esque Canadian-U.S. citizen interested in global affairs. From my last position working with more regulatory international issues, this was a great marriage of global policy issues and small business entrepreneurship. Q: How does that background in economic development and urban planning serve you in this role? A: I’d like to think that I can understand where the business community is coming from in terms of what’s needed to grow their businesses in a way that recognizes what’s happening at the local front and also what’s happening on the global platform. The World Trade Center is uniquely positioned to respond to both of those. It’s a statewide organization representing statewide membership, but it’s one that understands and has the ability to pivot to what’s happening on a global platform, and to provide information to our membership about what’s trending globally and what businesses need to think about as they try to create export-import markets.
Q: How would you describe the overall state of international trade in our region? A: International trade is incredibly significant to Louisiana and to New Orleans in particular. We were founded on trade and we possess this culture of trade. There are so many different faces of international trade, and that’s one of the challenges within such a diverse membership organization as the WTC — recognizing all those different faces of trade. But trade is a huge job generator for Louisiana. There are over 74,000 jobs related to international trade in Louisiana, and 85 percent of those businesses that are exporting in Louisiana are small businesses. So trade is big business for the state of Louisiana. Q: How has trade changed in Southeast Louisiana since Katrina and/or the last few years? A: We’ve seen an evolution in the different types of trade. I think a great example of that is the liquid national gas sector. The WTC worked to spearhead the Louisiana Energy Export Association (LEEA) — a coalition of the LNG (Louisiana natural gas) exporters — throughout the state of Louisiana. We already have seen a significant shift to Louisiana exporting natural gas globally. LEEA represents an investment of over $60 billion in the state of Louisiana. They represent really
good-paying jobs — 20,000 construction jobs, 1,500 permanent jobs that represent the future of the export industry for Louisiana. It’s a story of resurrection and energy. Our membership at the World Trade Center has ticked up significantly since January, and I attribute that to a lot of people being interested in international trade and wanting to engage in it more. Q: You are the oldest trade center in the country. How many are there total, and how do you compare to some of the other ones? A: There are over 300 world trade centers globally, and the WTC of New Orleans is part of that global network. Each world trade center is very different. The majority are involved in real estate acquisition, education and advocacy. New Orleans is a little different because we lost our real estate arm with the development of the World Trade Center building as the Four Seasons. What we have done is really pivoted to focus more on education and advocacy. We’re seeing that play out with the formation of new associations like the LEEA and we’re getting involved in much more pronounced educational programs, like educating our membership about NAFTA reauthorization. There’s also the emergence of Trade Week, which we are rolling out in November. Trade Week is a giant celebration of our culture of trade and will
Louisiana’s Top 5 Export Markets (Millions of U.S. Dollars)
no. 4 netherlands - $2,586
no. 5 japan - $2,008
no. 3 canada - $2,680
no. 2 mexico - $5,686
no. 1 China - $7,981
culminate in our annual black tie dinner, where we’ll be giving out awards to small businesses involved in international trade, along with our Gene Schreiber Award to our quintessential diplomat in international trade and our young and emerging leaders award. That will be October 30 through November 3. One of the other programs I want to highlight is our partnership network, which includes the Louisiana Consular Corps that represents over 56 countries from around the world. It’s an incredibly rich network of expertise and awareness for folks that are interested in international affairs. We also have our network of other chambers like the Hispanic Chamber, the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council, and all these other international organizations that feed into this culture of trade. So much of the work of the World Trade Center, especially now, is to create purposeful collisions of these organizations. Q: How are you positioning Southeast Louisiana in international trade? A: I think Southeast Louisiana, and Louisiana in general, has positioned itself. The LNG community is a great example of this. Louisiana will see itself as a global leader in LNG exports over the next eight to 10 years. We’ll be the third-largest exporter of LNG on the global stage, so Louisiana really already has global position, and that’s very significant also for the other importers and exporters that make up international trade. International trade in our region is also composed of the technology field — our entire maritime industry, our freight forwarders, our shippers, those folks that are exporting spices and food and beverage and a number of specialty products, all of these people represent trade. Q: How are we impacted by federal government policy on trade and on international relations in general? A: That’s a large question. The most important federal policy issue would be the reauthorization of NAFTA. This is kind of looking at NAFTA 2.0 through the Louisiana lens. There are a number of issues that are part of the reauthorization
Top 5 Export Categories (Millions of U.S. Dollars)
16,432 Agricultural Products
14,012 Petroleum & Coal Products
7,947 Chemicals
3,597 Processed Foods
1,963 Oil and Gas
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Louisiana’s Exports Support Jobs and Businesses
100,425
155,428
2009
2015
Jobs Supported by Louisiana Goods Exports Up by 55 thousand jobs since 2009
155,428
U.S. jobs supported by goods exports from Louisiana in 2015
91%
of these jobs were supported by manufactured goods exports
3,310
small and medium-sized (SME) goods exporters in Louisiana in 2014
SMEs account for
85%
of Louisiana goods exporters...
... and
35%
of known
Louisiana goods export value
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that we are looking at from the WTC’s perspective, and those would include looking at resolution agreements, the buy-American clause, the potential for a more protectionist mentality on imports from Canada and Mexico, and what that means for our businesses that are trying to export their respective goods. Q: Do you think New Orleans will ever regain its status as “the gateway to Latin America?” A: I think New Orleans will regain its status as being the gateway to trade, but I don’t think looking at just one gateway is necessarily the right perspective. We are a global society and our products are going all over the world. Yes, we have key trading partners that the majority of our goods are exported to, but when we look at how we should be positioning ourselves, I think it’s important that we be a leader on the global platform. We see this through our LNG exports that are going all over the world. Yes, to Latin America, but also to Europe and Asia. A number of our other exporters are trading all over the world. So we have certain products that we definitely trade to Mexico, or Canada, or Japan, like our petrochemicals and our resins and our commodities, but as we grow a culture of international trade, it’s important that we consider all the different markets for our products. Q: Do you see any specific opportunities that we should be capitalizing on? A: I think the biggest opportunity for us is to treat trade as an economic development sector. We need to understand how significant international trade is to the economic development not just of New
Orleans, but to the state of Louisiana. That includes foreign direct investment. We have a number of FDI companies that have invested in Louisiana. International trade has all these tentacles that are really important to understand, because they are related to job creation not just through FDI, but through the supplier network, the value added opportunities. There is no more resilient business than a global business, so if you are going to be a very resilient business, especially in the state of Louisiana, where you’re subjected to man-made and natural disasters, you have to have a global platform. Q: What are our greatest strengths as a player in international trade? A: Our culture, our history and our natural features. We have that Mississippi River that links us to the global marketplace. We actually feed the global population as a result of the Mississippi River. All those commodities come down from the Midwestern states and go into the Port of South Louisiana, and they’re shipped out all over the world. When we talk about projects that are significant to international trade, the dredging of the Mississippi River isn’t just important to New Orleans or to Louisiana, it’s important to the world. We are feeding the entire world through that river. Q: What are our biggest challenges? A: I would say maintaining the logistical supply chain, like dredging the river, along with transportation projects such as highways and railways and ensuring that they’re as non-disruptive as possible. Transportation planning is very important, looking at public-private partnerships for multi-modal opportunities
save the date Louisiana International Trade Week October 30 November 3 The week-long programming includes topics like: energy opportunities doing business in Indian country public-private partnerships tourism and destination healthcare digitization and global tech opportunities
The week ends the Louisiana International Trade Jubilee & Awards Nov. 3. For more information, visit WTCNO.org
between the ports, the railways and various transportation hubs. Ensuring that we have a lot of direct access to the airways, which we’ve seen some great successes with recently with British Airways and Copa Airlines. Ensuring that all those logistical hubs are seamlessly integrated is very important to the international trade community. Q: What role does small business play in trade? A: A big role. Eighty-five percent of our exporters in the state of Louisiana are small businesses — those with under 200 full-time employees — so small business is big business in Louisiana. Making sure that small businesses get technical assistance, education and the access to capital that they need to succeed is incredibly important, and that’s why the World Trade Center is significant in terms of a node of access to advocacy, awareness, education and our technical assistance providers. Q: How do up-and-coming New Orleans entrepreneurs begin to get involved with international trade? A: Become a member of the World Trade Center! The World Trade Center works with a number of partner agencies, including the Small Business Administration and Idea Village, along with less traditional partners and the banking community — all of these are part of the World Trade Center network. So if a small business is interested in learning a little bit more about what trade means and how they can get involved, the World Trade Center is a great front door to answer a lot of those questions.
Favorites Favorite book? There are so many great reads, but some of my favorites include Beautiful Ruins, Life of Pi and Where the Wild Things Are. Favorite TV Show? I don't really watch TV (Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon being the exception), but I am a Netflix binge
watcher. My most recent round of sleep deprivation was attributed to viewing Narco and Turn. Who do you look up to? Those who persevere no matter the hardship and still maintain a great sense of humor, joy and kindness.
Best life Advice? Live joyfully and with intention, not with fear. Biggest life lesson learned? I was on a 10-day trek/climb and was both emotionally and physically spent from the journey. My back ached from the weight of the pack, my legs felt like
jello and, at a point where I seriously questioned my ability to keep going, a random fellow explorer stopped on the trail, looked at me with raised 'sticks' and stated: "All you can do in life is to keep sticking it (referencing trekking poles). You can't always see the
path forward, but eventually you'll arrive.” I did. The view was absolutely stunning. Hobbies? Travel and exploring remote or less traversed areas; trekking; tennis and/or any outdoor activity/ sport. Enjoying wine and cheese, a great
book and fabulous friendships. Daily habits? 6 a.m. Yoga (okay, maybe not daily), a long walk, a good laugh, doing something/anything creative.
and people who don’t move on a moving sidewalk.
Pet peeve(s)? Early morning leaf blowers, knick-knacks, the state of my daughter’s bedroom
What are you most looking forward to in the next year? Another trekking adventure and simply enjoying life with my daughter and my friends and family.
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k e ep i ng thi ngs hot A p p r o a c h i n g 1 0 0 l o c at i o n s a n d 4 0 y e a r s i n b u s i n e s s , PJ ’ s C o f f e e o f N e w O r l e a n s g e t s a n e w l o o k a n d p r e pa r e s t o j u m p i n t o c u s t o m c o f f e e .
by C h r i s P r i c e with select photographs by S a r a E s s e x B r a d l e y
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New Orleans is notoriously antichain store — unless, of course, the business is one of our own. Out of a single Uptown shop, PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans made its name starting in the late 1970s with its hot coffees, original cold brew iced coffee, organic teas and freshly baked pastries. As specialty coffee shops spread to every street corner, PJ’s became a local institution. From the original store — opened on Maple Street in the Carrollton neighborhood in September 1978 — locations of “PJ's Coffee & Tea Co.,” as it was originally known, spread throughout the Greater New Orleans area with company-owned shops. PJ’s founder, Phyllis Jordan, (hence the initials) developed a special cold-drip brewing process that has since grown in popularity, with several businesses adopting her technique into their own offerings. Jordan, a pioneer in the modern coffee industry, believed offering the best coffee beans — sourcing only the top one percent of Arabica beans for her brews — along with superior bean-roasting techniques made for a more delicious flavor. But it was the development of a special cold-drip process that protects the flavor and strength of the beans, while producing a coffee that is two-thirds less acidic, that was the store’s original claim to fame. PJ's opened its first franchise in Mandeville in 1989. From there, stores opened in Hammond and Picayune, Mississippi. Atlanta-based Raving Brands bought the company in 2002, and then sold it in 2008 to brothers, Paul, Steven and Scott Ballard of New Orleans Brew. New Orleans Brew then evolved into Ballard Brands, whose portfolio also includes WOW Café: American Grill & Wingery, The Original City Diner and Boardhouse Serious Sandwiches. This fall, the company expects to open its 100th store. As part of the preparation for this milestone, a new brand identity has been unveiled, including an updated logo and a signature décor for its shops. The company will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2018. “Our vision is all about delivering the New Orleans passion for eating, drinking and living to the world,” said Peter Boylan, president of Ballard Brands, PJ’s parent company. “Before the end of the year, we’ll have 100 stores open and operating. We wanted to make sure the brand properly articulated the story of craftsmanship. This coffee has soul in it. That’s what makes PJ’s different.”
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C U STO M Offerings For those who prefer to shop online rather than going into a PJ’s location or grocery store, PJ’s is building an e-commerce platform that will allow customers to select their preferred beans from a particular geographic region, have them roasted to a desired flavor and delivered to their door. “You’ll have the ability to interact with our roast master in order to deliver a product to your desired specifications,” said Peter Boylan, president of Ballard Brands, PJ’s parent company. “It allows folks to say, ‘I’d really like to have five pounds of an Ethiopian with a medium roast.’ We’ll roast those in small batches at our facility in the Marigny based on the order of folks looking for that premium product.”
Farm to Cup PJ’s partnership with a Honduran coffee farm is changing lives. One of the ma jor trends in contemporary coffee production is to not only directly source the highest quality coffee beans at the peak of freshness, but to do so while making a difference in the farming community where the beans are grown. PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans is part of this movement. PJ’s imports coffee from farms around the world, but the relationship the company has developed with El Terrerito Farm to produce and nurture Arabica coffee plants is special. “We’ve partnered with them to purchase all of the coffee off of that farm,” said Peter Boylan, president of Ballard Brands, PJ’s parent company. Boylan knows El Terrerito’s owner, Al Lopez, from previous restaurant-related business dealings when Sara Lee and PepsiCo employed Lopez. Upon retiring, Lopez bought 225 acres in the Copan Region of Honduras, a four-hour car ride southwest of San Pedro Sula, in the mountains near the border with Guatemala. Coffee grown at El Terrerito has a bright, lightly fruity taste profile that doesn’t linger, says PJ’s roastmaster, Felton Jones, Jr. “By adopting El Terrerito Farm in Honduras, PJ’s Coffee is committed to doing business in ways that are good for the planet and each other,” Jones said. “Not only are we serving a great cup of Honduran coffee to customers, we’re developing programs to ensure the quality of life of Honduran farmers is improved.” Boylan said farm workers at El Terrerito are paid a higher wage than average coffee workers in the
region, and are also better able sustain their families through the farm’s tilapia pond, herd of cows and goats, chickens and mango grove. El Terrerito Farm Supervisor Marcial Rivera is among those that have benefitted from the farm’s relationship with PJ’s. Rivera grew up picking coffee with his mother and siblings during school breaks. Harvesting beans provided funds for the kids’ school supplies and clothing. The oldest of nine brothers and sisters, Rivera dropped out of school after sixth grade to help support his family by working as a mechanic. He soon found, however, that this work didn’t provide the income to sustain himself, much less his family. Eventually, Rivera met Lopez, the owner of El Terrerito and was given a job. After five years on the farm, he says he is working “the right way,” while earning enough to provide for his family. “I cannot express my gratitude to the farm owner, Mr. Adelmo Lopez, who calls me and introduces me as his ‘partner,’” Rivera said. “We do everything different here — we care for the environment, the streams, the trees, the birds and other animals (no hunting is allowed), the soil and each and every coffee tree. I can testify that we are on the right track, and I am proud to make my living working in El Terrerito Farm. I have helped myself and my family. My wife and kids have a much better life now. I believe I can help many other families that work in El Terrerito Farm and this makes me feel very proud every single day.”
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New Looks In August, PJ’s debuted its new branding with the opening of franchisee Aubrey Miller’s Garden District shop at the intersection of Magazine Street and Jackson Avenue. It features PJ’s newly enhanced, upscale, modern interior design paired with a little New Orleans flair. The store represents the new brand standard for all PJ’s locations, with renovations to established shops beginning later this year. “We’re trying to differentiate ourselves,” said Peter Boylan, president of Ballard Brands, PJ’s parent company. “We want to quickly articulate to our guests that this is a premium brand. The brand persona is that PJ’s was born and raised in New Orleans, and we want to make sure that we deliver a little bit of that New Orleans passion everywhere we go. “We’re looking for folks who appreciate an excellent cup of coffee and appreciate the hospitable experience they’re going to have in one of our stores and the craftsmanship that goes into producing each beverage — from the time it is farmed, to when it gets to our facility on North Peters in the Marigny, where it is roasted, bagged and delivered to each store.” The Garden District shop also debuted the company’s new logo, its first design change in more than a decade. Gone is the purple and red logo with the black letters and swirly serifs. The new PJ’s image, created by New Orleans-based Moroch Partners, has a more streamlined look in purple and white that features a tightly kerned, short-serifed P and J with a coffee mug cradled in the curve of the J. According to its designers, the logo’s
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rich purple color embodies the soul of Louisiana and has ties to New Orleans icons, including Mardi Gras and the former K&B drug stores. Brad Hunter, a partner at Bond Moroch, said the company worked with PJ’s through the first half of 2017 on a brand truth process to determine the company’s defining characteristics, its customers and brand persona before developing brand identification and logos, as well as how it will be presented to the public. “We wanted to make the new logo about coffee,” Hunter said. “A great part of the logo is when the customer discovers the design element of the coffee cup in the J. It’s very cool. It’s like the arrow in the FedEx logo. Once you see it, you’ll never not see it again. It reinforces the message that this is about a great cup of coffee, something that should be appreciated.”
New L o c at i o n s The majority of PJ’s stores are in or near Louisiana, but the brand has an ambitious growth plan. Already in seven states — including California and a newly opened shop in Miami Beach, Florida — PJ’s is discussing expansion to Colorado and Northern Virginia, as well as adding to its international locations in Vietnam with additional stores in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. “We’ve got a pretty aggressive strategy,” said Peter Boylan, president of Ballard Brands, PJ’s parent company. “Look at it like spokes on a wheel — you’ve got New Orleans as the hub, and we’re taking the brand and expanding it out with a spoke toward Houston, a spoke toward Dallas, toward Denver, St. Louis, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Building those markets out is one of the big opportunities. “The future is about expanding the brand strategically throughout the United States,” he added, “as well as targeted international markets where premium coffee is appreciated and valued.”
Buying In Coffee talk with new PJ’s franchisees
Of the 100 stores PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans expects to have open by the end of the year, only 14 will be owned by the corporation. “We’re a franchise business,” said Peter Boylan, president of Ballard Brands, PJ’s parent company. “It gives people the opportunity to own their own business associated with a brand that cares.” PJ’s has set an aggressive growth strategy. The company is already looking to reach 150 stores, as it spreads across the South, West, and internationally in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Among PJ’s newest franchise owners are Kyra and Jermale Sam, who are set to open a store in Pearland, Texas. Kyra Sam managed franchises of PJ’s and Smoothie King in New Orleans when she was younger and said it was always her goal to have her own store. When Jermale, an anesthesiologist, took a position in Texas, the couple began looking at franchise opportunities. “We decided on PJ's because we love the taste of the coffee,” Kyra Sam said. “Where we live they don't have many coffee shops, so we decided why not bring a taste of New Orleans coffee to Pearland? Our hope is that people enjoy the flavor and the ambience of the new look of the store that PJ's is rolling out.” Once the Pearland store is established, the Sams plan to open other locations in south Houston. “We are looking forward to this journey with the PJ's brand and serving the Houston market,” she said.
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from the lens Southeast louisiana businesses in full color
GREAT WORKSPACES • WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT? • MAKING A MATCH • ON THE JOB
making a match
Love for the Lake Companies can partner with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation to help protect our waters. More on page 90
From the Lens great workspaces
Community News The Advocate’s swanky St. Charles Avenue offices focus on newsgathering, technology, history, convenience and community. By Melanie Warner Spencer Photos by Sara Essex Bradley
D
espite this being 2017 and things such as smoking and drinking being frowned upon in the workplace, when most of us think of a newspaper newsroom we get the mental image of a smoky space filled with reporters talking fast and typing faster over the din of chatter, ringing phones, typewriters and slamming doors. While The Advocate, along with other newspapers, no longer employs the use of typewriters or allows smoking in the newsroom, there is a nod to this homage of newspapers past in the lobby of the paper’s new Central Business District offices. In the reception area, visitors are greeted by a retro cigarette machine sculpture by Memphis artist Kim Wilson. The sculpture is not only a fitting reminder of the long-gone days of smoking in offices and newsrooms, but also, in terms of design, appropriate to the architecture of the building. The Advocate is housed in a circa-1949, midcentury modern building designed A library of by notable Louisiana firm recent issues of Curtis and Davis Architects, The Advocate is known by many for the housed against an exposed Angola State Prison, the brick wall Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the space and the recently-restored between sales and marketing main branch of the New and the newsroom. Orleans Public Library in Mid-City. The former Klein Motors car dealership and later Michaul’s Cajun Dance Hall, became the home of The Advocate early this year. The space is designed to grow along with the newspaper and serve as a gathering place for the community. “The building itself is three times bigger than we needed,” says CEO John Georges.
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The spiral staircase in the lobby and reception area is a standout feature in the restored and expanded building. It leads to the upstairs reception and terrace areas, as well as one of several conference rooms.
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A retro cigarette machine sculpture by Memphis artist Kim Wilson offers a nod to the days of smokey newsrooms. Managing Editor Martha Carr says it is her favorite element of design in the building. It is in the lobby and reception area, which, along with the other spaces in the building, can be rented out by nonprofits and other community groups for events.
“We bought it with a different need in mind and my wife Dathel suggested, ‘Why don’t we put The Advocate here and we can put our offices here?’” Upon entering the building, visitors can hang a right into the lobby and reception area, which filters into the newsroom, or go straight past a mural of City Park toward the assembly hall. The front of the building facing St. Charles Avenue features an expanse of glass windows, as does a wall separating that area from the newsroom, allowing passersby to see straight through where the reporters and editors are doing their work. “It’s important to me that my reporters remember to remain in service to this
community in all of its horribleness and wonderfulness,” says Martha Carr, managing editor. “It’s important to ride the streetcar and walk up to Lee Circle and watch the monument come down. You don’t want to be too comfortable. Being an accessible, visible part of the community was something we were all hoping to establish.” The layout of the newsroom is traditional, with low-slung cubicles and reporters with similar beats grouped together, but large-scale murals depicting the history of newspapers in New Orleans, as well as exposed brick and a variety of lighting — rather than just fluorescent — distinguish it from its counterparts.
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Configuration of the newsroom space was based on historic photos of a New Orleans newsroom that no longer exists.
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A mural depicting much of the newspaper history in New Orleans spans the length of the newsroom. Work tables in the space between the newsroom and sales and marketing departments offer one of many spaces for meetings or to have a change of scenery while working on a story. City Park is center stage in the hall leading to the 20,000-squre-foot building’s primary event space, the Assembly Hall, which has a capacity of 481 occupants.
at a glance
The new orleans Advocate Address: 840 St. Charles Ave. Office completed: January 2017 Architect: Original design by Curtis and Davis Architects; Restoration by Tore Wallin and John Dalton Interior Designer: Jeanne Barousse and Dathel Coleman Georges Square footage: 20,000 Main goal: To create convenient and technologically forward newsroom and sales and marketing offices for the newspaper and a community gathering space Standout Feature: The midcentury modern design and balcony overlooking St. Charles Avenue
Carr says the configuration of the space was based on historic photos of a New Orleans newsroom that no longer exists. In the photo, there were wooden desks with lamps hung above each one. Carr shared the photos with Dathel Colemen Georges, who, along with interior designer Jeanne Barousse, designed the space. A row of vintage-style copper pendant lamps runs along the left-hand wall of the room, as a nod to the past and that long ago shuttered newspaper depicted in the photo. A low, removable barrier separates the sales and marketing departments from the newsroom. High-top work tables are situated near shelving against the exposed brick wall in the back, right hand side of the room. Recent copies of the paper are stored on the shelves. Monitors with a constant stream of news, and others showing web traffic numbers for stories and blogs, are placed throughout the room. An area in the right front of the room is outfitted with video equipment for broadcasting, with offices and conference rooms lining the perimeter, as well as restrooms and a break room. Georges and Carr both say everything was designed with convenience in mind, so ground level parking — along with access to the break room and restrooms from the newsroom — were top priorities. Natural light and a variety of spaces to work, read or take a break were also important. “They can have coffee, lunch or read on the outdoor deck,” says Georges about the second floor terrace. “It’s accessible to everyone in the company. A coffee shop is still in the works.” The event spaces include the terrace; an open reception area on the second floor (and its conference room); plus the downstairs assembly hall, lobby and reception area; and the parking lot, which can be tented off and used as an outdoor space. Collectively, the indoor spaces can accommodate up to 1,500 people and outside holds 1,000 or more. State-of-the-art fiber optic video conferencing capabilities make it easy to work closely with the Baton Rouge, St. Tammany and soon-to-launch Washington D.C. bureaus and TV partners. With all of the technology, highdesign, amenities and convenience however, there is an overarching notion that sticks with Carr who says, “If anything, a beautiful workspace makes you feel appreciated.” Georges is enthusiastic about the building’s potential. “The newspaper can be an intimidating environment,” he says. “We are surrounded by a lot of public space. There will be corporate events. There will be nonprofit events, and we’ll have our events. It’s a little bit of everything.”n BizNewOrleans.com 85
From the Lens why d i dn ’ t i th i nk of that ?
Camo Couture A New Orleans native reenvisions hunting apparel for women with Saint Hugh. By Ashley McLellan Portrait by romero & romero
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aint Hugh’s outdoor sports apparel provides a trendy take on a booming niche market — women hunters and outdoors enthusiasts. While each piece is specifically engineered for the needs of female hunters, the materials and designs are classic and comfortable enough to make the transition from the marsh to the Marigny, and beyond.
A family tradition inspires new ideas Launched in 2016 by New Orleans native Emily Degan, the company’s premise is that one should look good as well as feel good, especially when engaging in your favorite pastime. Saint Hugh’s sales back up that point, with customers from across the Gulf South and $10,000 in sales in the company’s first six months. Saint Hugh was a finalist at this year’s New Orleans Entrepreneur Week’s Big Idea, as well as Owner New Orleans Fashion Week Emily Degan wears Saint and multiple Coastal Fashion Hugh’s bestselling item, Week exhibitions. For Degan, hunting is a the Shooter’s Vest, in family tradition that quickly marsh herringbone. became her own personal favorite pastime and business inspiration. “I was born and raised in New Orleans, and grew up hunting with my dad in Delacroix,” she said. “It was always a struggle to find hunting and camouflage that looked good and made me feel good.” Soon a fashion-inspired idea was born. “The big trend in hunting is to take the best-selling men’s camouflage, make it pink, and size it down. I’ve always had the idea to start my own company to provide women with hunting fashion,” she said. While Degan started envisioning her dream at a young age, she began to build upon her
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ideas while studying at Notre Dame. She graduated with a degree in accounting, is a licensed CPA and worked for two years in mergers and acquisitions at Deloitte in Chicago. Her move back to New Orleans was with one focus in mind: launching Saint Hugh. Degan is currently both the brain and brawn of the one-woman enterprise, but she has eyes on building her employee base right here at home. “[We have] just one New Orleans employee — me. We’re in the process of building an ambassador program to reach students at college campuses across the South,” Degan said. “Our first line was cut and sewn in Los Angeles, but we were thrilled to work with a local design and development house in the creation of a few upcoming products.”
Functional and fashionable Saint Hugh’s line of women’s clothing features a shooting jacket and vest — both sport a camouflage pattern that is more reminiscent of classic herringbone than Army regulation — along with moisture-wicking leggings, pullovers, tees and more. Hers is a functional and fashionable take on outdoor sportswear. “Most camo is not fashion-forward,” Degan noted. “I wanted something more stylish. Our marsh herringbone design was created so that women could wear it while hunting, or also wear it as street wear. I wanted it to have multiple uses, and I wanted it to appeal to non-hunters as well. Our most popular item is the Shooter’s Vest, I think because it is so versatile, and you can wear it longer through the season [as it warms up]. It’s definitely my favorite.” A full year in development, Saint Hugh’s unique camouflage pattern mimics the colors of the Louisiana swamp, a process Degan took charge of. “I took thousands of photos of the marsh throughout the 2015 to 2016 hunting season. Those were the inspiration behind the pattern. I wanted it to be something that would work as camouflage, but also be attractive as apparel as well.” Through a process of photo layering, editing and hand drawing, the resultant cotton duck fabric is both soft and form-fitting.
Women hunters on the rise Designed exclusively for women outdoor enthusiasts, Saint Hugh pieces are designed to be comfortable, fashionable and cool enough to transition from the outdoors to everyday wear.
According to Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Education Program Manager Eric Shanks, the number of hunting licenses sold to women hunters has taken a sharp increase in the past five years, from roughly 18,650 in 2011 to 24,400 in 2016. According to Shanks, the reason for the growth is multifaceted. “It may be a combination of multiple factors,” he said, “including, but not limited to: increased firearm ownership/use among women nationwide, more people (including women) seeing hunting as a good way to
obtain healthy and local food, families seeking outdoor activities they can enjoy together, increased social acceptance and desire for fathers to take their daughters hunting, increased marketing by the outdoor industry to women, and more outdoor/hunting TV shows featuring women as the host or co-host.” While style is important to the marketing and success of Saint Hugh and in reaching a new population of women hunters, Degan also wanted to design pieces that would address and meet the special physical needs of women. “Female hunters need more specific product features,” she said. “Women’s collarbones tend to be more prominent, and we tend to bruise
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more easily. Because of that, we incorporated the right technology in the padding of our shooting jacket and vest.” The Shooter’s Jacket and Shooter’s Vest both feature compressive 3-D spacer fabric, which provides protection without being bulky. The knit fabrics used in the company’s Trapper’s Tights are also designed with our local climate specifically in mind, engineered to be cool and breathable in humid conditions. Future designs reflect the additional needs and wishes Degan heard from hunters on a recent tour of the Southeast. “I traveled extensively throughout the Southeast and talked to a lot of women,” she said. “Two of the most asked-about things were waterproof material and bird bags [used to collect duck and birds when hunting], so we are in the process of developing a waterproof jacket with a detachable bird bag.”
A growing community While hunting is still traditionally a maledominated sport, Degan said it can also be an empowering pastime that women are now starting to discover. Saint Hugh’s designs and company philosophy provide a reflection of those ideals of confidence. “I thought that if a non-hunter liked my apparel, then it would take away some of the stigma that hunting is just for men,” she said. so that women can communicate with other “There was definitely some empowerment women that have some of their same hunting thought behind it.” interests. Hunting can be a very solitary Hunting can provide plenty of alone activity. I love being in nature by myself, but it can make it hard to find others time with nature, but it is a solitary sport and the practice can that have the same interests as me.” It was always become isolating, according to Saint Hugh apparel is currently a struggle to Degan, who incorporated social available for purchase through its find hunting media outreach in her company’s website, with a rapidly growing approach, through both her online and camouflage group of pop-up markets and blog and community connecfollowers. that looked tion corkboard for other female “We have done a series of good and made pop-up hunters to share ideas, experiences, shops, both locally and me feel good. resources and more. across the country. Anyone inter“I post about once a week on ested in stopping by should like the blog during hunting season,” she said. “I us on Facebook and sign up for emails to get have a ‘find and connect’ area of the website notified when we pop by them.” n
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Did you know?
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation, the last nationwide census to be conducted: 13.7 million Americans identified themselves as hunters, with $33.7 billion spent on hunting expenditures per year, including hunting-related travel, equipment and licensing.
classes
(Far left) Kids’ tees and onesies, which initially sold out in one week, allow customers to share their excitement for the sport. (Left) Women’s pullovers are made with specially designed fabric that is soft and breathable, with the Louisiana humidity and warm weather in mind.
WomenOriented Outdoors Classes in Louisiana The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries encourages the growth of outdoor activities and sports for all, and provides programs specific for women looking to learn more. BOW (Becoming an Outdoors Woman) BOW is a women-only weekend retreat with classes, mostly tailored to beginners, that provides lessons on a variety of outdoor topics. For those interested in hunting, participants can practice turkey hunting, firearm skill training, fly-fishing and more. Non-hunters may choose from activities such as canoeing, outdoor photography, ecology and backpacking. The weekends are open to all women, ages 18 years and older, interested in learning more or experiencing nature. There is a fee of $200 for the weekend, and scholarships are offered. wlf.louisiana. gov/becoming-outdoorswoman Mother/Child FUN (Families Understanding Nature) Camp FUN Camp provides a unique weekend camping experience for moms and their children (there’s also a Father/Child Camp geared specifically for dads). Activities include: archery, shooting, fishing, canoeing, camping, compass reading and ecology. Children must be age 10 to 13. Registration is $50 per adult/child, with an additional $25 charge for each additional child. wlf.louisiana.gov/page/ fun-camp
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From the Lens maki ng a match: b u s i nesses and nonprofi ts
Saving the Lake Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation provides plenty of opportunities for companies to help protect a vital resource in our region. By Pamela Marquis Photos by cheryl gerber
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ouisiana is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, wildlife and ecosystems that offer employment and recreational delight for a large percentage of the population… It’s why many call Louisiana home.” Randy Waesche, president of wealth advisory firm Resource Management, is also a longtime board member of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBM), a cause he’s been championing almost back to the organization’s inception. In 1989, a report to the Greater New Orleans Expressway Committee entitled “To Restore Lake Pontchartrain” highlighted the ecological damage being caused by pollution. That report became the rallying point for a citizen-led effort that resulted in the formation of the foundation. The Pontchartrain Basin — a 10,000-squaremile watershed that includes 16 Louisiana parishes and four Mississippi counties — encompasses 22 essential habitats. The basin’s LPBF topography ranges from rolling Executive woodlands in the north to Director coastal marshes in the south, Kristi Trail grew up with the 630-square-mile Lake enjoying lake Pontchartrain as its centerpiece. activities. The basin is known for its bayous, tranquil swamps and lush hardwood forests, which provide essential habitats for countless species of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and plants. Its underwater grass beds constitute the lake’s most productive underwater habitat and provide shelter and food for juvenile fish and shellfish.
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THE BASICS
LPBF Mission To restore and preserve the Pontchartrain Basin for the benefit of this and future generations Website saveourlake.org Location New Canal Lighthouse at 8001 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans Annual Budget $2.5 million
All of this is critical to the lake’s annual multimillion-dollar fishing industry. Since its inception, LPBF and its partners have restored many of the waterways and habitats of the Pontchartrain Basin so they are once again a resource for recreational opportunities. “The foundation has taken on the mantle of responsibility to be the guardian and steward of our natural resources,” said Waesche. “Quietly, but effectively, the LPBF, through its talented staff and volunteers, has improved the environmental quality of the region and educated the citizens about responsible use of this important resource.” LPBF Executive Director Kristi Trail happily counts herself among the Louisianians who grew up on Lake Pontchartrain’s levees and enjoyed boating and fishing in its waters. “My love for the lake inspired me to be a lifelong environmentalist,” she said.
A Good Match
FOR COMPANIES WHO… Care about the health of our environment, including those with ties to fishing or water issues.
Companies who volunteer with LPBF can make a hands-on difference.
Ongoing Partnerships LPBF is a member of the Mississippi River Delta Coalition, a coalition of Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Together, we are working to rebuild coastal Louisiana’s nationally significant landscape to protect people, wildlife and jobs. LPBF is also a member of the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission, whose mission is to create a comprehensive and balanced environmental education initiative to solve statewide environmental problems.
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results
SUCCESS STORIES SUCCESS OF SERVICES
During the 2016/2017 planting season, 24,600 trees were planted on the Maurepas Landbridge, resulting in 127 acres of swamp restoration. Since 2013 — in partnership with Restore the Earth Foundation and with the help of many dedicated community volunteers — many swamp tree plantings have been completed.
Over the years, LPBF has cooperated with parishes, communities, and partners in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to accomplish many profound achievements, including:
50,000 + swamp tree plantings where large-scale coastal restoration is occurring.
Contact Dr. Theryn Henkel at theryn@ saveourlake.org for dates and locations of upcoming tree plantings. Swamp and marsh plantings are also planned.
Led the cleanup and removal of Lake Pontchartrain and three basin rivers from the Impaired Waterbodies List while partnering with the community to promote and encourage the lake as a clean, recreational resource
10,000 + youth and adults educated per year at the New Canal Lighthouse and Education Center Partnering with the Red Cross to teach thousands how to swim
17 + years of data on water quality in the basin provided by LPBF Creating a “School of Marsh” outdoor classroom at Bayou St. John
Trail believes that LPBF’s success depends they’ve restored part of the levee on Bayou St. largely on the dedication and talents of thousands John and Lakeshore Drive and replaced part of volunteers and many of its valuable business of a dyke that had washed away. They’ve also New Canal Lighthouse partners. cleaned up areas along the lakeshore and nearby now operates “We have so many huge supporters: Gulf communities. Last year more than 400 volunteers as Lake Coast Bank and Trust, Regions Bank and Cox to Pontchartrain participated in Spring Sweep, collecting nearly Basin 8,000 pounds of trash across 36 miles. name a few,” Trail said. “We are a good match for Foundation’s companies who want to further STEM (science, “Volunteerism is integral to Entergy’s mission. New Canal Lighthouse technology, engineering and math) education It’s just one of the ways we power life,” said Ann Museum and in the Greater New Orleans area, and for those Johnson, customer service representative with Education Center who have a passion for coastal sustainability and Entergy Louisiana. “We believe that giving back storm protection in the state.” to the communities where we live and work will Entergy Louisiana is another one of LPBF’s valuable enhance the vitality and quality of life in those areas that business partners. Once a year during an event called are, in large part, responsible for our success. We recognize Spring Sweep, volunteers from Entergy and LPBF work the importance of turning good intentions into positive together on a variety of improvement projects. Together, action. It’s not only good business, it’s also simply the
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The historic New Canal Lighthouse at West End on Lakeshore Drive was severely damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. In September 2012, the reconstruction of the lighthouse was completed. The building incorporates original wood from the 1890 lighthouse that stood on the site and now operates as Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation’s New Canal Lighthouse Museum and Education Center. HMS Architects developed the plans, which are an accurate reproduction of the original lighthouse. The general contractor for the project was Certified Construction Professionals.
right thing to do. After all, we live here too, and our customers are our neighbors.” Trail believes that LPBF is one of the greatest examples of how a group of dedicated citizens, government officials, educators, businesses and other stakeholders can bring a vital natural resource back to life. “I want to continue the legacy of this great work with our water quality, coastal restoration, education and outreach, and public recreational access programs,” she said. “I envision our entire community splashing around in the lake.” n
The foundation has taken on the mantle of responsibility to be the guardian and steward of our natural resources.
Ways your company can partner with LPBF Host a gathering or event at LPBF’s New Canal Lighthouse Sponsor a fundraising event Provide volunteers to help with plantings, events or educational opportunities Current Needs Contractor garbage bags (new in box) Gardening gloves Drinks for volunteers (new in package, like bottled water, Gatorade, etc.)
Big Picture
UPCOMING EVENTS Fundraising Event Lights at the Lake — Dec. 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the New Canal Lighthouse and Education Center. The event includes pictures with Santa, the Christmas Boat Parade, caroling and food and libations. Volunteer Event On Saturday, Sept. 16, LPBF will hold its 28th annual Beach Sweep presented by Toyota, a day designated to clean up around the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. Volunteers will care for the areas that drain the Pontchartrain Basin by cleaning curbs, ditches and storm drains on city streets and rural roadways. Storm drain markers will also be placed on drains in Orleans and Jefferson parishes in order to help prevent flooding and protect Lake Pontchartrain. For more information, contact the education department at (504) 836-2238 or joannh@saveourlake.org.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Ace and the Louisiana Open Housing Act, which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. For more information, call the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-273-5718.
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From the Lens ON THE JOB
Final Hits Photo by allen boudreaux
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n August 12, New Orleans’ Big Easy Rollergirls wrapped up their 11th season with a two-game day at UNO Lakefront Arena. The Big Easy's Second Line team took on the Gulf Coast Rollergirls of Lake Charles, followed by the AllStars’ continuation of their sibling rivalry with the New Orleans Brass Roller Derby. One of the fastest growing sports in the world, roller derby is played by approximately 1,250 amateur leagues worldwide. The 2017 World Roller Games Roller Derby Championships are being held this month, Sept. 2-4, in Nanjing, China. Competitors include Japan, Spain, Australia and the U.S. n BigEasyRollergirls.com
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