Biz New Orleans July 2015 by Renaissance Publishing

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Editor’s Note

Cheers! O

n a hot summer day, there’s nothing like cooling off with a nice cocktail — and there will be no shortage of those here in the Crescent City as we welcome the world’s premier cocktail festival, Tales of the Cocktail, July 15-19. While the festival itself is designed for industry professionals — over 18,000 of which attended last year’s festivities — we took a look at how this 13-year-old event has boosted New Orleans’ economy, not just in the summer, but all year long. And speaking of a summer boost, the metropolitan area continues to be a travel destination, not just for tourists, but for those looking to tie the knot. In 2014, nuptial spending in the New Orleans area reached over $228 million. This month’s wedding feature takes a look at who’s cashing in, and by how much. This summer also holds a poignant milestone for the city as we mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina next month. Since I moved to New Orleans four years ago I’ve heard a lot of stories and been asked countless times if I was “here when it happened.” I wasn’t. What I know of the city has been largely the renaissance, and since I’ve been fortunate enough to join Biz New Orleans I’ve heard nothing but good news from professionals in virtually every industry sector — along with a few new ones, like tech and film. I’ve seen the accolades role in —“No. 1 for Business Climate,” “Top 10 City in the World,” “Fastest Growing Airport in the USA,” “No. 1 New Brainpower City.” I hear it all the time, as horrible as Katrina was, it was the impetus we needed. It’s made us better, stronger. Then I went and visited Burnell and Keasha Cotlon. I drove down to the Lower 9th Ward on a hot Thursday afternoon in June and I saw for myself that the recovery has boundaries, and that for thousands like the Cotlons, Katrina is still very much alive. As we go to mark this decade of regrowth and rebirth, I invite you to read about the Lower 9th Ward Market — a business that exists only because one couple decided to risk everything they had for their community. They’re out there everyday, creating hope, and they could use all the help they can get.

Happy reading,

Kimberley@BizNewOrleans.com

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

JUly 2015 | volume 1 | issue 10

Publisher Todd Matherne Editorial Editor-in-chief Errol Laborde Managing Editor Kimberley Singletary Art Director Antoine Passelac Photographer Cheryl Gerber Web Editor Kelly Massicot Assoc. Multimedia News Editor Leslie T. Snadowsky Contributors Suzanne Ferrara, Carolyn Heneghan, Pamela Marquis, Amanda Orr, Jason Perry, Chris Price, Peter Reichard, Judi Russell, Jennifer Gibson Schecter, Erin Shaw, Melanie Spencer, Keith Twitchell, Bonnie Warren advertising Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan Sales Manager Maegan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien Maegan@BizNewOrleans.com (504) 830-7219 Account Executive Caitlin Sistrunk Caitlin@BizNewOrleans.com (504) 830-7252 PRODUCTION Production/Web Manager Staci McCarty Production Designers Ali Sullivan, Monique DiPietro, Claire Geary Traffic Coordinator Jessica Debold administration Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President Errol Laborde Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan Director of Marketing & Events Cheryl Lemoine Administrative Assistant Denise Dean Distribution Manager John Holzer Subscriptions Manager Sara Kelemencky

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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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 2015 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. 6

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Contents

Features

From the Lens

36 Tales of the Cocktail

70 Great Offices

This five-day industry gathering provides a

much-needed boost to the summer economy.

80 Why Didn’t I Think of That?

44 Summer Lovin’

It’s wedding season, and business is good.

The Lower 9th Ward has its first grocery store since Hurricane Katrina.

88 Behind the Scenes

Betsie Gambel, president of Gambel Communications

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Jolie & Elizabeth

On the Cover Mid-City bar Twelve Mile Limit (500 S. Telemachus St.) promotes a relaxed atmosphere of cocktails, barbecue and cupcakes. Pictured here is owner T. Cole Newton pouring a flaming cocktail called the Blue Blazer. Photo by Greg Miles.

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Contents

Columns

Perspectives

News

18 Dining Biz

52 Banking

16 Calendar

Dining out beats dining in for the first time.

20 Tourism Biz

Essence Fest showcases entrepreneurs.

22 Sports Biz

A look at the future of Garrett Grayson

24 Film Biz

Pitch Perfect duet pays big for Louisiana

26 Entrepreneur Biz

Negative posts: How do you respond?

28 Biz Etiquette

Recommending a friend: Do you or donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you?

30 Tech Biz

TV is not what it once was.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Banks battle to keep things personal.

Upcoming events not to miss

56 Law

32 Biz Bits

60 Healthcare & Assisted Living

74 Biz Person of the Month

How do firms attract and retain talent?

The booming business of memory care.

66 Guest Viewpoint

Heart healthy habits that pay off.

Industry news

Q&A with Dr. Nick Mueller, president and CEO of The National WW II Museum

86 Around Town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Events

Industry gatherings

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Publisher’s Note

First Milestones

year ago this month we announced the launch of our Biz Network. We also began publicly planning for our website, BizNewOrleans.com, which debuted in September, and our magazine, Biz New Orleans, which debuted in October 2014. During this first year, we have expanded our scope to include videos, events and partnerships with some great businesses to enhance our coverage throughout Greater New Orleans. Among its many events, the Biz Network hosts a monthly publisher’s roundtable luncheon, where we invite a dozen or so area business owners and leaders to come discuss current business issues with our Biz team. Hotel Monteleone’s Criollo Restaurant does an excellent job hosting this each month and has become one of our great partners. If you are looking for a location to have your next lunch, please give Criollo a call (504) 681-4444. You will not be disappointed. If you would like to join us at one of these open forum discussion publisher’s roundtables, please drop me a note at Todd@BizNewOrleans.com. Also, look for our upcoming Strictly Biz Night event at Cadillac of New Orleans on July 15. For more information, go to StrictlyBizNight.com. Have a great summer and get ready for the fall. Todd Matherne

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Meet the Sales Staff Colleen Monaghan Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan is a seventh-generation New Orleanian and member of the Mayflower Society, who loves her city with a passion. She is a UNO alum who has more than 30 years of experience in both publishing and the nonprofit sector. Colleen enjoys art collecting, traveling the world and living life to its fullest. She has been known to organize fabulous events, both for herself and many charities in the New Orleans and San Francisco areas. You can reach Colleen at (504) 830-7215 or Colleen@BizNewOrleans.com.

Maegan O’Brien Sales Manager, Biz New Orleans Maegan O’Brien was born in New Orleans and raised on the Northshore in Mandeville, La. She graduated from Louisiana State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in finance, but marketing and advertising are her true callings. She currently lives in Old Metairie and loves traveling, wining and dining, and spending time with family and great friends. You can reach Maegan at (504) 830-7219 or Maegan@BizNewOrleans.com.

Caitlin Sistrunk Account Executive, Biz New Orleans Caitlin Sistrunk was born in New Orleans and raised in Covington, La. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. While attending LSU, Caitlin fell in love with both marketing and advertising. She is ecstatic to begin her career as a sales associate with our new magazine. Caitlin loves painting, hanging with friends and cooking. You can reach Caitlin at (504) 830-7252 or Caitlin@BizNewOrleans.com.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Calendar July 15 - 19

Friday, July 24

Tales of the Cocktail World’s premier cocktail festival designed for industry professionals Various downtown New Orleans locations TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Wednesday, July 15

Jefferson Chamber Business & Breakfast 7:45 – 9:30 a.m. Doubletree Hilton New Orleans 2150 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Kenner JeffersonChamber.org.

Wednesday, July 29

Strictly Biz Night Monthly networking event by Biz New Orleans that brings local business leaders to your venue 6 – 8 p.m. Cadillac of New Orleans 3100 Lime St., Metairie Invitation only. For questions and to RSVP, contact Sara Kelemencky at Sara@MyNewOrleans.com.

Prosper Jefferson: Human Resources 9 – 10:30 a.m. East Bank Regional Library, Jefferson Room 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie Register at www.jedco.org

Thursday, July 30 Thursday, July 16

New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce Biz to Biz Breakfast and Trade Fair Keynote Speaker: Clifton Taulbert 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hyatt Regency 601 Loyola Ave., New Orleans NORBChamber.org.

4th Annual Jefferson Chamber Grand Prix 5 – 9 p.m. NOLA Motorsports Park 11075 Nicolle Blvd., Avondale JeffersonChamber.org.

Thursday, July 16

Saturday, August 8

The NOLA Know-How, What I Made with Lemons Five innovative local business leaders give short, TED style talks on the topic “What I Made with Lemons.” Speakers include Liz Shephard of LifeCity, Blake Haney of Dirty Coast Press, Richard Pomes of RapJab and Brooke Boudreaux of Circle Food Store 5 – 8 p.m. Eiffel Society 2040 St. Charles Ave. StayLocal.org.

Friday, July 17

NOLA Marketplace Expo 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lakeside Shopping Center WGNO.com.

August 20-21 2015 LABI Workers’ Comp Conference L’Auberge Casino 777 L’Auberge Ave., Baton Rouge LABI.org

St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce New Member Orientation 8 – 9 a.m. Chamber Office 610 Hollycrest Blvd., Covington StTammanyChamber.org

We’d love to include your business-related event in next month’s calendar. Please email details to Editorial@BizNewOrleans.com.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Dining Biz According to the National Restaurant Association, dining out consumed only about 25 percent of the food dollar in 1955. Today, it’s more than 50 percent.

Dinner is Served – But Not at Home This past May, for the first time in history, U.S. restaurant sales exceeded grocery store sales.

Peter Reichard is a native New Orleanian who has written about the life and times of the city for more than 20 years, including as a former newspaper editor and business journalist.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

ccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans spent more money eating out in May than they did buying groceries. This has never before been the case. At the dawn of the modern restaurant, 200-plus years ago, restaurants served a comparatively narrow audience. Early patrons might have been anemic — visiting the “restore”-ant, as translated from the French, for a restorative herbal soup. Or they might have been travelers — staying at an inn and relying on the food it served for sustenance. There were also the drinkers — girding their systems against the booze at the local pub, cafe or tavern — and then of course, there were

the pitiful bachelors, unable to fend for themselves. Gradually, restaurants became places to go for special occasions — where old friends reunited and new friendships formed. They became places where retired couples chatted about the children they raised, where growing families escaped their daily routine and where young couples took the first steps toward creating their own families. Restaurants set the stage for many of the most enjoyable hours in a life well-lived. Restaurants still play all of these roles, and have added a few new ones — serving as both backdrops for business people to make pitches and work through deals, and havens for

employees looking to disconnect from the work day grind or take working lunches. They’re where fatigued families forgo the hassle of a home-cooked meal at the end of a long day. Over the years, restaurants have become a destination not just for special occasions, but for everyday life. In the process, they’ve become the landing pad for a good chunk of America’s disposable income. The National Restaurant Association projects that in 2015, patrons will spend about $709 billion in American restaurants. Even though the spending growth has slowed in recent years, that’s nearly double what patrons spent in the year 2000 in inflation-adjusted dollars. Several factors may have combined to spur restaurant sales ahead of grocery sales during the past several months. Included among them is the recent drop in gas prices — providing more disposable income — paired with the rise of big box stores that tend to keep grocery prices low. But the longer-term trend predates any of those factors. In 1985, it was still a big deal for a family to go out to dinner. You sat down at home and ate your red beans and rice, your meatballs and spaghetti or your pork chops and peas, and that was that. You ate out when somebody graduated from high school…maybe. Thirty years before that, it was even more of a rarity. According to the National Restaurant Association, dining out consumed only about 25 percent of the food dollar in 1955. Today, it’s more than 50 percent. Americans are spending a lot of time (and money) in restaurants. This is a significant economic shift — a significant cultural shift. The implications could fill a book. But for now, I’ll just take a look at the dessert menu. n Photo Thinkstock

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Tourism Biz

Essence Fest Empowers Entrepreneurs Startups and star power collide at this year’s festival.

C Jennifer Gibson Schecter was

once a tourist in New Orleans herself and is now proud to call NOLA home. Prior to New Orleans, she wrote for publications in the Midwest and New York City. She advises travelers to ask their cab/pedicab/ gondola driver for their favorite restaurant and taking a chance.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

elebrating July 4 isn’t just about grilling and fireworks. In New Orleans, it’s about Essence Festival. The annual weekend organized by Essence Magazine, a groundbreaking publication created specifically for African-American women, this year includes can’t-miss entertainers like Mary J. Blige, Usher and Kevin Hart, along with motivational speakers such as Donna Brazile and Deepak Chopra. The festival takes place July 2-5 at two primary locations in Downtown New Orleans. During the day, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center hosts empowerment seminars and a marketplace featuring art and items from across the African diaspora. In the

evenings, concerts take over the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, both on the main stage and in four additional “super lounges,” featuring DJs and other acts. Now in its 21st year, Essence Festival has become a critical part of New Orleans’ annual festival calendar. While the living may be easy here in the summertime, tourism tends to slow down. Essence Fest brings visitors from across the country each July, which is good news for our hospitality and tourism industry. Each year Essence features partner hotels on its festival website. One such partnership is with Valentino New Orleans Hotels, which manages five different properties, including Hotel St. Marie and the Place d’Armes Hotel. “We hold room blocks at each property in

partnership with Essence Fest,” says the reservations manager for both hotels, Lenny Labrousse. “The Festival helps the hotel industry for hotel rates and occupancy by being a solid, sold-out event every year.” By drawing over 500,000 attendees, the festival creates other opportunities as well. One local organization that seized upon the weekend’s potential is PowerMoves.NOLA. Run as an initiative of the New Orleans Startup Fund, the nonprofit focuses on diversifying the entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystems in cities and ensuring there are more founders of color who are growing and running high-tech and high-growth businesses. PowerMoves.NOLA will stage its second national conference at the convention center alongside the festival. “We provide Essence with entrepreneurial content for their festivalgoers, who are focused on small business,” says Earl Robinson, CEO of PowerMoves.NOLA and the New Orleans Startup Fund. “In turn, they provide us with a wonderful platform and access to their audience.” Robinson says last year Essence allowed PowerMoves.NOLA to hold a Power Pitch Competition on the main stage. This year they’ll do the same, awarding cash prizes and providing opportunities for minorityfounded startups to meet with potential investors and mentors, including Carla Harris, vice chairman of Morgan Stanley, who will MC the pitch competition. Robinson notes that it is this type of synergy that helps small businesses get the attention they need. “Being linked to a large, national event gives us a large platform and a large voice so that entrepreneurs of color, African-American women especially, hear that voice. We want to make sure that NOLA is thought of as a city of entrepreneurs and startups, in addition to entertainment and food. The alignment is perfect.”n Photo Cheryl Gerber

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Sports Biz

Saints’ Succession Garrett Grayson will be the apprentice to the maestro Drew Brees this year, but the team could be his in 2016.

T chris price is an award-winning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

he first time he met Drew Brees, the Saints’ thirdround draft pick, Garrett Grayson, described himself as “a deer in headlights.” Meeting the hero who brought a Super Bowl win to New Orleans can be overwhelming, especially when you’ve been positioned to take over his job. Brees has nothing to worry about this year. Without injury, he is expected to be under center for all of the team’s games this season. But it may be his last. Time is ticking ever faster on the 36-year-old quarterback’s career, and a huge ballooning contract is bearing down on him like an unblocked middle linebacker. This year, Brees will earn a total of $26.4 million, up 43 percent from the $18.4 he earned last year. His “dead cap” allotment — the amount the team is charged toward their league-mandated salary cap, should he no longer be with them — is $33.55 million. In 2016, he’ll add another $1 million to his salary, bringing it to $27.4 million, but his dead cap hit drops to $7.4 million. For

comparison, Grayson — who is expected to be the team’s thirdstring quarterback — will make approximately $435,000 his rookie year. What does it mean? That all depends on the parties involved, and those who would like to be involved. The Saints and Brees could agree to an extension that would reduce his cap hit and keep him in New Orleans until he retires. The Saints could trade Brees after this season to a team like the Jets or the Bills, who feel they are a quarterback away from contending for a Super Bowl title. Or they could do nothing, which is highly doubtful, allowing him to become

an unrestricted free agent in 2017. The good news is Brees is in place this year, which should allow Grayson time to adjust to life in the NFL and learn head coach Sean Payton’s system under a master technician and perennial Pro Bowler. While the third-round pick the Saints used to get Grayson could have been used to get another defensive pass rusher or offensive lineman, the Saints brain trust has an eye on the future. In the lead-up to the draft, experts compared Grayson to Brees, saying despite his 6’2” build, Grayson is accurate, and his throwing mechanics and proper weight transfer allow him to drive the ball to his receiver. He started 35 games at Colorado State, and his production improved each season. “He throws with anticipation, which is rare for a college quarterback these days,” said NFL.com draft expert Mike Mayock. “He won’t overwhelm with his physical traits, but I think the whole is better than the composite parts. He has a game similar to Drew Brees.” For the past couple of years there was speculation that the Saints would draft Brees’ heir apparent, and for years they didn’t pick a worthy successor. Last year, Brees said he felt like he could play until he’s 40. I’d like to see the greatest Saint retire in New Orleans, but maybe a trade after this season would be beneficial. In this day and age, a team can be built into a champion or be dismantled overnight. In Seattle, Russell Wilson proved a QB doesn’t need age or experience to guide his team to the Super Bowl and win it. Thankfully (hopefully), Saints fans won’t have to worry about succession just yet. But it’s coming. Let’s hope it’s affable, that we don’t see a dropoff in results, and instead witness the beginning of a new foundation for many championship runs to come. n

Drew Brees’ 5-Year Contract Financials Year

Base Salary

Signing Bonus

Workout Bonus

Cap Hit

Dead Cap

2012

$3,000,000

$7,400,000

$10,400,000

$40,000,000

2013

$9,750,000

$7,400,000

$250,000

$17,400,000

$29,600,000

2014

$10,750,000

$7,400,000

$250,000

$18,400,000

$22,225,000

2015

$18,750,000

$7,400,000

$250,000

$26,400,000

$33,550,000

2016

$19,750,000

$7,400,000

$250,000

$27,400,000

$7,400,000

2017

Unrestricted Free Agent Photo AP Images Ben Liebenberg

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Film Biz Actress Elizabeth Banks (left) produced “Pitch Perfect” and produced and directed for the sequel. Both films were shot in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Made the Perfect Pitch The Pitch Perfect franchise has been a big win for the state.

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 and is thrilled to be covering its emersion in her newly adopted home.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

s I got off the phone with Scott Niemeyer, a partner with Gold Circle Entertainment, he was heading out to meet with a Chinese investor for his latest venture — Deep South Studios, a proposed $63.5 million movie studio complex set on 35 acres in Algiers. Niemeyer says the estimated $3.1 million in tax breaks approved for the project in January have really spurred him on. “We’ve cleared the first 17 or 18 acres, and the capital raise is underway,” he says of what has been called one of the biggest investments in the local film industry to date. “We’re going to create the largest digital media and studio back lot in the area. I hope to be up and running in about 18 to 24 months. In the meantime, Niemeyer’s other venture, Gold Circle Entertainment, has been busy making millions. Its latest hit, “Pitch Perfect 2”, opened May

15. Within days, it earned the crown of biggest movie-musical opening in history, surpassing the original title’s numbers ($115.4 million) in only five days. Worldwide sales as of mid-June have reached over $250 million. But Gold Circle isn’t the only one making millions off the “Pitch Perfect” duet. Thanks to a big push by Niemeyer, a native New Orleanian, both films were shot entirely in Baton Rouge, including locations at Louisiana State University, the Baton Rouge River Center, Baton Rouge Community College, Old Louisiana Governor’s Mansion, Baton Rouge Magnet School and Southern University. In total, both productions spent a combined $40 million in the state while filming, employed almost 800 resident workers and purchased over 7,000 nights at hotel rooms. “That $40-plus million, that was spent over months, not

years,” Niemeyer says. “The state saw an immediate economic boost.” Niemeyer says the decision to film “Pitch Perfect” in southeast Louisiana was mostly selfish. “I’m from here, so of course I was looking for a good chance to come home,” he says, adding that the movie was not the first Gold Circle title to film in Louisiana. “That was ‘The Badge,’ a film we did with Billy Bob Thornton and Patricia Arquette in 2002,” he says. “Then there was ‘Sunny,’ Nick Cage’s directorial debut, and ‘Haunting in Georgia’ in 2010.” Returning to Louisiana for the second “Pitch Perfect” production, Niemeyer says, was an easy decision. “We didn’t want to have to reinvent things,” he says. “We wanted to come back to return to the same locations for the second film, and they welcomed us back. The hospitality of southeast Louisiana and the state in general is always a motivator. The charm and welcoming demeanor here can catch people off-guard sometimes, I think — in a positive way, of course.” And then of course there are the incentives, which, not surprisingly, Niemeyer favors, adding that he personally has been active at the state level to help preserve them. “Cash on cash, the return is what it is,” he says. But while the economic benefit analysis is a bit more theoretical, the theory has suggested year over year, that the multiplier is at least five times the stated expenditures.” Not only has the film industry been an economic engine for the state, Niemeyer says the nature of the business makes it a perfect fit. “It’s a green industry that also fits squarely within the cultural landscape of the state — one that is both creative and happens to have a unique history that’s really embraced arts and culture…I can tell you, people are really aware of the state as a worldwide entertainment brand. Look at the visibility and recognition we’ve received — in terms of Louisiana locations, characters and stories.” So, can Louisiana expect a “Pitch Perfect 3”? “I wouldn’t doubt it,” he laughs. “I definitely wouldn’t bet against it.” n Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Entrepreneur Biz Don’t Stuff the Ballot Box New business owners may be tempted to try to artificially accumulate a lot of positive social media reviews and comments quickly. Not a good idea. Sites like Facebook and Yelp are increasingly sophisticated in the way they track the source of posts on their sites. If you attempt to puff up your reviews yourself, you will almost certainly get caught, and you may get kicked off the site. Having a group of your friends do this for you may still leave an online trail back to you, with similarly bad results. Even if you don’t get caught, perceptive readers will still probably see through the ruse. Too many positive reviews in too short a time — and fake ones at that — will not appear legitimate. What was true for the first Stone Age entrepreneur back in the mists of time is still true in today’s information age: A good product or service, backed by good customer management, will lead to a successful business. The good reviews will follow on their own.

Incoming! Negative social media posts can cause real damage to your business. Here’s how to respond.

S 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 macrobusiness levels.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

ocial media offers new businesses unprecedented opportunities to reach customers quickly and affordably. However, like just about everything else on the Internet, it can be a doubleedged sword. How you respond to the inevitable negative posts and reviews can be a defining moment for your enterprise. Rule No. 1: never, ever counterattack. No matter how brilliant, witty or richly deserved, you will harm your reputation and your business by going on the defensive. When the negative comment appears, the first question to ask, and answer honestly, is, does the comment have some truth in it? If yes, respond in three steps: 1. Fix the problem. 2. If you can, contact the customer (via the phone number they provided for a dinner reser-

vation or appointment, for example), respond directly, thank him/her for bringing the matter to your attention and explain what you have done to remedy it. Extend an invitation to come back, on the house. Your ideal outcome is that the complainer files another post describing how responsive you were. 3. Regardless of the above, post a response yourself with thanks and your remedy. If the negative comment is truly unjustified, things get a bit more complex. First, if it is one bad comment among many good ones, it probably won’t influence anyone. In a strange way it can even add credibility to the positive reviews. Unless it is a serious charge, let it be. Next, consider the nature of the complaint. If it is trivial, absurd or irrelevant, that will be apparent to most readers. You should probably ignore it. Ditto

if it is obviously really angry or vicious but not really plausible. A few deep breaths and a glass of wine may help in this situation. If it is something out of your control, a brief response stating so (and possibly why) is almost certainly sufficient. If the comment is plausible but not true, see if it can be resolved privately, if you have the customer’s contact information. If you can’t reach the customer, or that approach doesn’t work out, then a response stating your case may be in order. It is best not to reject the complaint outright; instead, clearly and simply explain the circumstances. Be positive. After you draft your post, walk away for a few minutes, and if possible, have someone else review it too. Above all, do not get into an extended dialogue if the original complainer rejects your response. You’ve stated your case, case closed. Or as Mark Twin famously said, “Never argue with a fool. People may not be able to tell the difference.” n

Photo Thinkstock

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Biz Etiquette

A Friend In Need Be careful when recommending friends and acquaintances to an employer.

I Melanie Warner Spencer is editor of

New Orleans Bride Magazine. Her writing has appeared in the Austin American-Statesman, the Houston Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune and Reuters. Spencer’s ever-expanding library of etiquette books is rivaled only by her everready stash of blank thank-you notes. Submit business etiquette questions to Melanie@ MyNewOrleans.com.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

t’s likely that you or someone you know is job hunting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in January Louisiana’s unemployment rate was the third-highest in the United States at 7 percent (the national rate at the time was 5.7 percent). It has since dropped to 6.6 percent as of April (with a national rate of 5.4 for the same time period). Earlier this year, I offered tips for requesting references and recommendations from colleagues and friends. Now let’s consider the etiquette guidelines for being the person on the other end of the request. What’s the best way to recommend a friend or colleague for a job? The Polite Decline Over the years, I have encountered people who flat out refuse to recommend friends for jobs. If you’ve decided to make it a hard and fast rule — I’m reminded here of the idiom “neither a borrower nor a lender be” — make

it across the board, and neither a recommendation requestor nor a recommender be. If asked, be honest with your friend and let them know that you are happy to keep them apprised of any openings with your firm, but you make it a rule not to recommend friends to your employer. The Pass Along If that level of directness feels uncomfortable, or you genuinely want to do more, Peggy Post recommends giving the friend’s resume to the hiring or human resources manager with a brief and noncommittal note. State that you don’t know if their experience is a fit for the position, but you’ve attached their resume for consideration. The rest is out of your hands, and you can graciously inform your friend of that fact. Above All, Be Truthful For those happy to oblige and wanting to help as much as possible, there are several

points to consider. At the risk of stating the obvious, do not recommend a person who is not qualified for the job. Remember throughout the process that this person’s performance, or lack thereof, could (and likely will) ultimately be associated with you. For the same reason, don’t overstate or embellish the person’s skills or experience. If you have never worked with the individual, be honest with the hiring manager. Consider saying something like, “I’ve known Jill for 12 years, and while we’ve never worked together, on a personal level she has always acted with integrity, she genuinely cares about her work, and she has always been prompt and reliable.” It’s true that personal and business attributes don’t always translate, but often the same traits convey across the board, and again, it’ll be up to the manager to decide if he or she wants to proceed. Weigh all the Factors Even if you have worked directly with a friend, it’s important to consider where he or she is in their life. Those going through major life events, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, health issues or a big move might not be at their best, so tread lightly with recommendations, while at the same time being mindful of their privacy. This might be a good time to take Post’s advice and issue a noncommittal referral to your employer. Don’t Hold Back If you have worked directly with the friend and are confident in their skills, experience, work ethic and ability to fit in with your company’s culture, it’s OK to give a glowing recommendation. Just be aware that if things don’t work out, it could put a strain on your relationship. Be prepared for honest, direct communication with that person. Helping a friend get a job — much like loaning them money — is a generous act that could have an unhappy ending. Then again, it might be the beginning of a great working relationship and a new or fresh start for your pal — plus, a practically guaranteed thank you cocktail at the next after-work happy hour. n Photo Thinkstock

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Columns | Technology

What Is TV? The answer’s not so simple anymore.

L Jason MICHAEL Perry is Director of

the Drupal Practice for Fig Leaf Software. May I borrow your HBO Go account? I’m behind on GoT and Silicon Valley. You can tweet those credentials to @jasonmperry or email them to me at me@ jasonmichaelperry.com. (Thanks in advance)

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

eave it to technology to make once-clear things quite blurry. Think about it: What is a TV? Is Netflix TV? Is HBO Go or HBO Now on a tablet TV? Hulu on a smartphone, is that TV? What really counts as TV these days? For TV stations, many battling dropping ratings, online viewership is becoming a huge problem, to the point that people leaving traditional television have a name — cord cutters. Cord cutters are subscribers of Cox or other broadband providers that decide to opt out of the many TV services and only subscribe to broadband or high speed Internet. In 2014, many broadband providers saw Internet users eclipse TV subscribers. This line between broadband access and TV services is a central theme to the FCC’s sweeping Net Neutrality regulations. Businesses like Netflix or YouTube fear that broadband companies have an

implied incentive to degrade their services. This makes sense. Why should Cox or AT&T freely allow its users to view Netflix videos while a whole product line slowly dies on the vine? Broadcasters and cable providers haven’t sat dormant. Years ago, many joined together to launch Hulu, a service that offered a free, and now paid, alternative to traditional television. Using Hulu, you can watch a limited number of episodes from some broadcasters the day after they air. Hulu had early success, but many broadcasters invested in the organization’s future see it as the red-headed stepchild — not quite equal. This is something that continues to plague Hulu’s ability to expand its services and compete in a fast-changing market. With this new world of TV options also comes increasingly complex rules. Some movies

and shows appear almost instantly on Netflix, some broadcasters air shows with Hulu, some offer access through their website. These practices can confuse viewers, especially now that those same companies offer apps that stream shows in real time or after they air. The rules on when content appears, and the requirements to view it, can be quite daunting. Technology companies are greatly aware that how we view TV is changing. Yahoo purchased the rights for season 6 of the popular show “Community,” Netflix has gone out on its own and developed a growing collection of original programming, including “Orange is the New Black” and “House of Cards,” with Amazon quick on its heels. These changes, while interesting, continue to complicate things. This future forecasts a world that requires many separate subscriptions to services from Yahoo, Amazon, Google, Hulu, Apple, and maybe even Microsoft just to have our standard ability to channel flip or keep up on the latest exciting show. Toss in HBO’s new standalone HBO Now service and the potential costs quickly make you raise an eyebrow. Local TV is an especially tough market. As these cord cutters grow in strength, local TV weakens. Local stations depend on cable networks — through lucrative deals — to broadcast their content. In the new web world of news, where will we find local news or other local content? In 2014 we saw the end to weekend cartoons, why? Because kids, and parents, have so aggressively moved to alternate methods to watch TV that broadcasters gave up on the content. These days, kid-targeted networks like Nickelodeon and Disney are finding numbers greatly reduced; however, the viewership of their content backlog on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu remains strong. So, what exactly is TV these days? Eh, what does it matter? I think we all know how we see it today is unlikely to be how we see it tomorrow. n Photo Thinkstock

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Biz Bits - Industry News Around town It is an honor and a privilege to work with our university partners at our new, state-of-the-art, academic medical center, opening August 2015. Thanks to the support of our State’s leadership, UMC New Orleans is poised to serve as the training facility for the next generation of healthcare professionals in Louisiana while providing comprehensive, quality and compassionate care to all who need it. - Gregory C. Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. The newly-approved state budget includes funding for University Medical Center New Orleans, home of the Rev. Avery C. Alexander Academic Research Hospital.

$50,000 Filmmakers Grant Announced Create Louisiana — an ongoing effort to support and develop the creative industries of Louisiana and showcase their cultural, economic and social contributions to the state — has announced the campaign’s first project, the 2016 Create Louisiana Filmmakers Grant, in partnership with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) and the New Orleans Film Society. The $50,000 grant is being offered through a partnership between Create Louisiana, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the New Orleans Film Society, with the first year being sponsored by Deep South Studios. The grant will be used by a local filmmaking team to create a short film project to be completed within 12 months of receiving the award. The finished project will screen at the 2016 New Orleans Film Festival. Applications open in August and can be found at CreateLouisiana.com. Finalists will be announced in October.

WalletHub Names New Orleans 13th Best City for Staycations In a study of the 100 most populated U.S. cities, New Orleans was named among the top for staycations. The following is how the city ranked in terms of various amenities. Staycationing in New Orleans (1=Best; 50=Avg.) 21st – Number of Swimming Pools per 100,000 Residents 51st – Number of Tennis Courts per 100,000 Residents 15th – Number of Zoos & Aquariums per 100,000 Residents 1st – Number of Museums per 100,000 Residents 7th – Number of Spas per 100,000 Residents 1st – Number of Nightlife Options per 100,000 Residents 50th – Cost of a Movie Ticket 1st – Number of Shopping Centers per 100,000 Residents 3rd – Number of Cultural Attractions (Theater & Concerts) per 100,000 Residents 32

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Hotel Monteleone Makes TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame The Hotel Monteleone was recently named to Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame after winning the website’s Travelers Award Certificate of Excellence for the fifth year in a row. The hotel is one of 8,000 honorees that earned the new designation. In addition, the hotel’s Criollo Restaurant — celebrating its third anniversary this summer — was awarded the gold medal for seafood in the hot category at this past May’s New Orleans Wine and Food Experience’s Fleur de Lis Awards.

New Orleans to Host Major League Gaming World Finals Following an eight month effort by Greater New Orleans Inc., the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the New Orleans Business Alliance, Major League Gaming (MLG), the longest-running eSports league in the world, has announced that New Orleans will host the MLG World Finals October 16-18. It will be the MLG’s 100th live event. According to GNO Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht, the event will “help solidify Greater New Orleans’ reputation as the fastest growing software market in America.” The three day competition will feature the world’s best players of gaming titles such as “Dota 2” and “Call of Duty.” Teams will compete for over $500,000 in prize money.

Recent Opening

Arnaud’s Restaurant Hosting Bastille Day Fete In honor of its French heritage, Arnaud’s Restaurant in the French Quarter will celebrate Bastille Day (French independence day) with a Bastille Day Fete July 14 at 7 p.m. in Arnaud’s Creole Cottage. Guests of the event will enjoy fresh twists on Arnaud’s classics along with wines from Wines Unlimited. A specialty cocktail created by Chris Hannah of Arnaud’s French 75 Bar will also be featured. The cost of the dinner is $100 per person, which includes tax and gratuity. To make reservations and view the menu, call (504) 423-5433 or visit ArnaudsRestaurant.com.

Poydras Home and NOMA Partner for Artful Minds New Orleans retirement community Poydras Home has partnered with the New Orleans Museum of Art to create an Aging Art Enrichment Pilot Program called Artful Minds at NOMA. The program provides guided museum tours twice a month to individuals with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The program will be the first of its kind in the south and is part of a growing international movement to use the arts to assist with cognitive functioning. Artful Minds will be held from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. July 7, July 21, August 4 and August 18.

Arhaus Enters South Market District On June 26, Arhaus, a purveyor of handmade furnishings, opened the doors to its first-ever store in Louisiana at the newly-developed South Market District in Downtown New Orleans. The 15,453 square-foot single-story space, located in “The Park” building at 939 Girod Street, brought the Cleveland-based retailer’s store count in the U.S. to 57. Customers are invited to Arhaus’ grand opening party, Thursday, July 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with the chance to win one of three Arhaus Gift Cards. To RSVP, visit www.facebook.com/Arhaus.

We’d love to include your business-related news in next month’s Biz Bits. Please email details to Editorial@BizNewOrleans.com. BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Close your next deal at one of these business-friendly bistros.

Trenasse

Heritage Grill by Ralph Brennan

444 St. Charles Avenue, inside the InterContinental | (504) 680-7000 Trenasse.com

111 Veterans Blvd., Metairie | (504) 934-4900 HeritageGrillMetairie.com

A store front restaurant located in the heart of the New Orleans CBD in the InterContinental Hotel, Trenasse’s collaborating chefs focus on Gulf Coast cuisine with a South Louisiana flair. Valet parking, comfortable outdoor seating and a fresh oyster bar surely creates a masterful dining experience.

Ralph Brennan’s Heritage Grill is Metairie’s go-to power lunch spot for mixing mid-day business with pleasure. Located inside Heritage Plaza office tower, it’s easily accessible from Metairie, mid-city and downtown. Free Parking and wifi, daily specials, comfortable seating, seamless service and Ralph Brennan hospitality.

Criollo

Bayona

214 Royal St., New Orleans| (504) 681-4444 CriolloNola.com

430 Dauphine St., New Orleans | (504) 525-4455 Bayona.com

Criollo Restaurant, located in the heart of the French Quarter, features a menu that highlights the blended flavors and cultures of New Orleans. Criollo’s ingredient-driven, seasonal menu is designed to offer creative dishes inspired by culinary traditions and an appreciation of today’s contemporary tastes. The open kitchen creates an air of excitement as patrons can watch the chefs creating culinary masterpieces.

Located in a romantic Creole cottage in historic French Quarter. Chef Susan Spicer, winner of the James Beard Award, prepares her nationally acclaimed contemporary cuisine which has given Bayona the distraction of being one of the “Top Tables of America.”

Behind the Booze

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Far beyond an excuse to enjoy a good drink, Tales of the Cocktail continues to have a welcome effect on the New Orleans economy. By Carolyn Heneghan

etween July 15-19, New Orleans will be inundated with spirits professionals, bartenders and distillers for what has become known as the world’s premier cocktail festival — Tales of the Cocktail. Founded by Ann Tuennerman in 2002, the first event was small — about 10 well-known mixologists venturing to the Crescent City in September. Today, with five full days encompassing over 200 events — including seminars, networking events and tastings — and attracting over 18,000 attendees from around the globe last year, Tales has morphed into a welcome bonanza for the New Orleans hospitality industry. Last year’s event generated $12.8 million for the New Orleans economy and an additional $1 million in state and local tax revenue. Tuennerman says it’s also been an invaluable way to spread the word about the city’s famous cocktail culture. “What do you think about when you come to New Orleans? Dining and drinking. But there wasn’t anything that showcased that,” says Tuennerman. “Tales of the Cocktail was really meant to tell those cocktail stories, the ones nobody really knew at the time. Maybe they had heard of the Sazerac or Ramos Gin Fizz but had no idea about all the spirits, the cocktails, things like the brandy crossed over, the first use of citrus in a cocktail — all these great stories. That’s why I think New Orleans is the perfect backdrop for an event like Tales of the Cocktail.”

How the Alcohol Industry Benefits The timing of the event — a month when high temperatures tend to create a lull in tourism and visitor spending — was a deliberate move, Tuennerman says, to bring some extra cash to the city when it’s most needed. In drawing thousands of industry professionals to the city, local bars and restaurants naturally see a bump in revenue, as do suppliers and retailers. The event also benefits local bartenders, who might be tempted to leave the city during the slow summer months. Tuennerman explains that alcohol brands from outside the state or country commonly hire New Orleans bartenders to work at their events. Angie Koehlar, co-owner of the bar Erin Rose, is among the local businesspeople that looks forward to and is grateful to,Tales for the business it drives each year.

“Tales is one of the best weeks of the year for us, almost bigger than Mardi Gras, and Mardi Gras is huge,” she says. “It gets us through a lot, for example, if we have repairs to make or we have to get through a really rough summer. It means everything to us.” Neal Bodenheimer, founder and partner of Cure Collective (the group behind local cocktail bars Cure and Bellocq and cocktail bar/ restaurant combo Cane & Table) says the event benefits not just individual businesses, but the New Orleans alcohol industry as a whole. “If you think of any business that deals with beverages, Tales has not just a business effect, it has a cultural effect,” says. “For one week a year, we are the epicenter of cocktail culture thanks to the foremost cocktail culture event in the world. You can’t even quantify the impact that that’s had on the beverage culture of New Orleans.”

Tales of the Cocktail founder Ann Tuennerman poses with Jeff Berry, owner of Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, who decided to open his tiki-themed bar and restaurant in New Orleans after attending the event in 2005. Photo by Greg Miles

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Networking Part of the major impact Tales has on the local alcohol industry is the networking opportunities the events provide. It is here where Bodenheimer says his partnership, Cure Collective, was formed, at a “Spirited Dinner” at the now defunct Stella!. “You can end up meeting or working with someone that you really wouldn’t get the opportunity to otherwise,” says Bodenheimer. “Ann [Tuennerman]’s done a nice job of keeping an eye on that. Maybe Tales is scaled up and there’s not the intimacy that there once was, but you create these intimate environments and events.” In addition to partnerships, alcohol industry suppliers can find themselves with a new source of leads for sales thanks to various events and services at Tales each year. “What I tell bitters makers is, yes, we want to sell your bitters as much as possible, but what Tales affords you here is the opportunity to interact with thousands of mixologists and professional people from all over the world,” says James Wilson, bookseller at Octavia Books, among the venues hosting Tales events. “That’s what the idea is. It’s not that I’m going to sell cases and cases of your bitters during Tales, but people can sample all these bitters. I have bartenders that come in and buy hundreds of dollars’ worth of bitters, and they take them home and play around with them to see which ones they like for their recipes.” This year, seminars include topics such as, “Cocktail Photography

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

101,” “Discovering the Flavors of Cognac,”“How to Go Broke: Opening a Bar” and “Building and Apprenticing Your Team.” From dissecting individual cocktails to how to break into the U.S. liquor market — every aspect of the industry gets its fair shake. Other events, like “Spirited Dinners,” challenge restaurants and bartenders to work together to pair cocktails with dishes from local restaurants. For “Dynamic Duos,” local and out-of-town bartenders are coupled to create an evening of uniquely blended menus and bartending skills. While Tales has typically included a “Restaurant Week,” (when various local restaurants serve fixed-price menus and the cocktails that complement them) new for this year is the “Breakfast Club,” more intimate gatherings of alcohol industry experts held at the Hotel Monteleone’s Criollo Restaurant.

Residual Impact For local businesses, particularly in the alcohol industry, the effects of Tales can stretch long past the last cocktail. “What’s amazing at Tales is, the amount of people you get in front of that you can capture a sale from down the road,” says Emily Marquis Vanlandingham, CEO of Locally Preserved. Vandlandingham, whose company creates locally sourced jams, jellies and preserves, along with syrups that can be used for cocktails, says the event has definitely bumped sales. “We see the trickle effect throughout the year,” she says. “We hear

Photos by Cheryl Gerber

and we see sales based on people saying, ‘Oh, I tasted this’ or ‘I learned about this at Tales.’ They might come here for the event and then go home, and then they might come back and order a syrup online with a note that says, ‘Had you at Tales, thanks so much.’” Tuennerman says the same benefit applies to event venues. “We really try to have events at places that I want people to see that maybe they haven’t thought of,” she says. “These might be places people aren’t going to go to on their own, but if you lead them there, they’re completely blown away by the event and the venue, which brings business to the venues as well, present and future.” New Orleans-centric products —such as those made with locally sourced ingredients or themed after local dishes — tend to do well. “Tales is a huge international event, so [attendees] really get to experience the flavors,” says Scot Mattox, founder and CEO of local bitters crafter, El Guapo Bitters. “They get to take them home and share that in some kind of a form, whether it be a martini or something else where people in their home market may have never been here or tasted how amazing it is.”

Beyond the Cocktail Just as a local music festival does more than bolster the New Orleans music scene, Tales has a positive impact on industries beyond bars and cocktail purveyors. This even includes local shops, such as for Tales’ list of “Shop Local” vendors this year, which will

Photos by Cheryl Gerber

offer discounts to conference attendees. “It goes to the entire community,” Mattox says. “There are thousands and thousands of people who come in from out of town, so it’s a huge event for the city as a whole.” “The Tales crew, they’re very passionate about New Orleans,” says Koehlar. “They’re passionate about what New Orleans has to offer — the bars, the food, the music, the people. They interact on all levels, and it is phenomenal. Tales brings forth an appreciation for all things New Orleans. It sets a standard, and if all of us are able to put forth the hard work to keep up those standards within our own businesses, it will translate into success beyond our measure.” Jeff Berry, co-owner of Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, a tiki-style bar and restaurant, says Tales is bringing New Orleans recognition that is long overdue. “People take the city seriously as a world-class cocktail destination now,” he says. “And the irony is New Orleans has always had its own indigenous cocktails it’s been making for 100, 150 years. It’s amazing that the city never really got its due respect. But now that the 21st century craft cocktail world has descended on the city, to see not only the classic indigenous drinks but also how we’re doing world-class modern cocktails now, it’s got to be good for tourism, for local purveyors and the whole hospitality scene.” n

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

TOTC Spotlight

Photo by Shannon Sturgis

A closer look at some of the local businesses participating in this year’s Tales of the Cocktail, July 15-19.

Locally Preserved

Keife and Co.

Cocktail & Sons

Founded as Feed Me Eat Pretty five years ago, Locally Preserved is an all-natural foodmanufacturing firm in New Orleans and maker of fruit syrups, simple syrups, seedless jams, jellies and other preserves, including the popular Strawberry Lavender and Spicy Peach varieties. Currently, Locally Preserved sources seasonal ingredients from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama only. This year for Tales of the Cocktail, Locally Preserved is collaborating with local producers for a non-alcoholic tasting room, which will feature everything that can be used to make cocktails sourced locally. The company will also offer a special Talesflavored syrup for sale in the Octavia Books store along with four additional flavors.

Wine, spirits and specialty foods retailer Keife and Co. is a downtown spirits industry institution carrying the specialty spirits, wine, accessories and cocktail accoutrement brands and bartenders need during Tales each year. This year is the company’s fifth as a “Preferred Vendor” for the event. Keife and Co. often takes care of locals and third parties who are looking for specialty, harder-to-find items, such as certain bitters and syrups, to either use at their events or take home. Outside of the holiday season, Keife and Co. sees its best business of the year during Tales. According to owner John Keife, “We’re always excited when July comes around.”

Launched in January after a successful Kickstarter campaign in late 2014, Cocktail and Sons creates all-natural handcrafted syrups for classic cocktails and sodas. Cocktail and Sons will make its Tales debut this year by participating in a variety of events and tastings at different stores in the CBD/French Quarter area, including a “Meet the Makers” time slot on opening day. At the same time, founder Max Messier can also be found toting his medicine bag full of syrups, such as Honeysuckle & Peppercorn and Mint & Lemon Verbena, to drum up business for the young but fast-growing company. “Tales is going to be huge,” says Messier.

El Guapo Bitters Founder and CEO Scot Mattox was a bartender making the bitters recipes for the bar where he worked until Ann Tuennerman, founder of Tales of the Cocktail, encouraged him to pursue a business and debut his products at the event. After three years, El Guapo Bitters is best known for the innovative flavors that represent New Orleans in specialty cocktails. Two of the company’s most popular flavors are the “Gumbo” bitters, which joins together “the trinity,” with the flavors of mirlitons, lemon, thyme. Mattox says it is particularly popular for use in a simple gin or vodka martini. The “Crawfish Boil” bitters, on the other hand, is ideally suited for a Sazerac. It was reverse-engineered from the distinct, secret crawfish boil recipe from J&J Seafood on the Westbank. This year, El Guapo is introducing an exclusive Louisiana bitters pack for Tales that will include the Gumbo and Crawfish Boil bitters as well as the highly popular Chicory Pecan and Summer Berry varieties. Thanks to Tales, Mattox says his company generally does double the business in July that it does during June and August. 40

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Cure Collective Under the umbrella of Cure Collective are local bars Cure, Bellocq and Cane & Table. Founder and partner Neal Bodenheimer says all three of his businesses enjoy their busiest week of the year during Tales. “Not only do we see an increase in volume of interested guests coming through,” he says, “but they’re our exact demographic — people into craft cocktails and boutique spirits. So, from that perspective, it’s amazing for us.” Every year, the bars put together special menus for each party they host, but this year they’ll be merging their specialty menus with traditional offerings available year-round.

Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 One of the newest additions to the New Orleans bar industry scene, the French Quarter tiki bar Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 was directly inspired by Tales of the Cocktail. It was during a “Spirited Dinner” at the event in 2005, that cocktail book author and tiki drink expert Jeff Berry, co-owner with his wife Annene Kaye, fell in love with New Orleans and decided to open the bar/restaurant. “Our first six months being open in this town have been amazing,” Berry says. “The local press has been great, and Esquire just called us one of the best bars in the country. It really is because of Tales. I don’t know that we would have ever moved here, that we would have ever opened this place.” This year, Tales attendees will be invited to enjoy Berry’s TOTC Swizzle, a cocktail tailormade for the event. Instead of hosting events at the bar, Berry will be fielding an influx of bar patrons, signing his latest book at the Octavia Books store and participating in two seminars, “Drinks of World War II and “Rum in the 21st Century.”

Octavia Books During Tales of the Cocktail, local bookseller Octavia Books runs a “Bookstore & Bitters Market” out of the former bag room just off the Hotel Monteleone lobby — the heart of the Tales of the Cocktail events. The store carries a multitude of cocktail and hospitalityrelated books, as well as a selection of bitters that this year will include 300 varieties from approximately 35 different local and international vendors. The store has been selling bitters for about four years, and they now comprise about one-third of the store’s business during the event. Every hour on the hour, Octavia Books hosts “Shots of Inspiration,” where authors and bitters makers are featured at a table outside the store. Attendees have the chance to talk to the masters about their books and products for that hour. If they want to taste the bitters, a tasting area is set up in the back.

Erin Rose Located 25 feet off Bourbon St, Erin Rose is an Irish pub-style bar that is all New Orleans with a distinctly Irish lineage. Each year at Tales, the bar hosts “The Final Shot” — held on the last day of the conference, the event serves as a wrap party, offering attendees the chance to enjoy one last drink before they head home. Instead of sporting the specialty cocktail menu like many other bars during Tales, Erin Rose takes a more laidback approach to what it offers attendees. “When they’re done for the day, they’re done, and they just need something to settle them down and not have to process what they’re drinking or how they created it differently or if they need to go create something,” says Angie Koehlar, co-owner of Erin Rose with her husband Troy. “With us, they can just ‘be.’”

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Photo by Cheryl Gerber and Greg Miles

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Putting a Price on Love BY pamela marquis

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Summer means weddings, and the peak of a $228-million-a-year industry in metropolitan New Orleans.

n November 13, Noele Marie Forstall Jones will marry the love of her life, Paul La Rosa III. Engaged last August, she began planning her wedding in October. Her first wedding was small — with only 50 guests, she planned it in just two weeks. This time she wants something much more elaborate. “This is a new relationship, a new love,” she says. “It deserves to be celebrated.” Jones is far from alone in her desires, and it is that longing — for the perfect dress, the perfect setting, food, flowers and music — that fuels a $58 billion a year industry, employing nearly 800,000 people. According to The Wedding Report, an industry data tracker, those figures are only going to go up. By 2020, wedding expenditures are estimated to reach $61.8 billion.

The National Picture Two-and-a-half-million weddings take place in the United States every year. According to the latest study from TheKnot.com, a wedding website that targets brides and features local wedding vendors, nationwide, couples spent an average of $31,213 on their big day last year — up more than 4 percent from $29,858 in 2013. Comprising almost half a couple’s budget is the cost of the venue, with an average price of $14,006. The second priciest item is typically the engagement ring, with an average of $5,855 spent, followed by the wedding ring at $3,587. The average catering price per guest nationally is $68.

New Orleans Numbers According to a 2014 study done by The Wedding Report, New Orleans hosts almost 9,100 weddings a year. The average New Orleans wedding will cost $25,148, with total annual sales reaching over $228.7 million. In New Orleans, brides can choose from a wide variety of venues: museums, fivestar restaurants, gardens and ballrooms. The Balcony Ballroom, owned by the Van Vrancken family, offers everything to stage the perfect wedding. “I am a wedding architect,” says Vanessa Van Zrancken, owner. “I grew up in this business. We have 41 years of experience, and we can design the whole wedding — from linens to music.” The Wedding Report states that last year between location and event rentals, sales in New Orleans totaled more than $37 million. The average location cost was $3,604.

Consultation Janie Glade is the managing partner of Old.New.Blue. Her business handles all types of event planning but is best known for producing high-end weddings with price tags that can reach $300,000. According to the Wedding Report, last year 246 weddings held in the New Orleans area spent more than $100,000. Glade has been in the event-planning business since 1989. She started doing more weddings in 1998 and has built her business into a successful six-figure

In 2014, the New Orleans metropolitan area hosted almost 9,100 weddings, with average expenditures of over $25,000 per event. Photo José L. García

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

endeavor. In 2014, the average cost nationally for a basic day-of wedding planner was between $1,488 to $2,000. In New Orleans, it was $923. “I do day-of-wedding service but I can also help create the vision and work with the bride for anywhere between three months to two years,” Glade says. “The average is 18 months, from signing the contract to waving goodbye at the reception.”

Catering Nationwide, catering makes up 25.6 percent of wedding industry spending. In 2015, the average cost of wedding catering is estimated at between $47 to $71 per guest. In New Orleans, couples spent an average of $4,785 on food and $2,392 on bar service — representing over $46.7 million in total spending in 2014 alone. The average cost of a wedding cake in New Orleans is $423 and brings in a little more than $3 million to the local economy.

Destination Weddings One of the fastest growing trends for marriage planners and couples is destination weddings, which account for approximately 1 in 10 weddings by U.S. couples. Louisiana ranked 20th in the country in 2012 and 26th in 2013 for destination weddings. As a popular tourist destination — among the “Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Destinations in the U.S.” by TripAdvisor. com in March 2015 — it’s not surprising that New Orleans is also becoming a popular wedding destination. “Many of our weddings, around 35 percent, are from out of town,” says Van Vrancken. “Some choose to have a destination wedding here because they just love New Orleans, and many of our couples met here during their college years.” While New Orleans still ranks far behind states like Florida and California, local industry professionals say destination weddings remain a growing focus. This may be in part because while they typically include a smaller guest list — 116 for destination weddings vs. 136 for an average wedding — couples tend to spend an average of 7.4 percent more on destination nuptials. Rev. Tony Talavera, who manages the French Quarter Wedding Chapel, has hosted more than 13,000 weddings in his 15 years working in the 800-square-foot chapel. In 2007 he started a movement and ended in a proclamation naming New Orleans the “Romance Capital of the World.” 46

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“Right now we are 40th as a choice for a destination wedding,” he says. “We’re fighting to be first. About 10 percent of our weddings at the chapel are destination weddings.”

License, Please One of the reasons Talavera believes we struggle in the destination category is because the time required to get a wedding license in the state. He says this can be blamed on Storyville, our infamous turn-of-the-century red-light district, and the popularity for sailors to come into a

From the elaborate (Balcony Ballroom, top) to the unique (French Quarter Wedding Chapel, bottom), New Orleans offers a wide array of wedding venues.

Top Months for Weddings in New Orleans in 2014 n

June (1,000 weddings)

(tie) May and October (991)

March (901)

April (810)

Photos courtesy of Balcony Ballroom ad Cheryl Gerber

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

port and marry before moving on, leaving a girl in every port. As a result, he says, an ordinance came into effect. “If one wishes to marry in New Orleans, you must apply for the marriage license 72 hours before the legal ceremony,” Talavera says. “I’ve worked tirelessly to change this outdated ordinance, so that traveling couples and local elopers alike can act upon their romantic spontaneity and budgets, and marry with ease.” The price of a marriage license is $27.50, and by statute $12.50 of this fee goes to the Family Violence Trust Fund.

for commitment ceremonies, which average close to weddings at $23,776 per event. According to WeddingWire Network, 86 percent of wedding professionals surveyed said they plan on serving samesex couples. For the wedding professionals who serve this segment, it pays to get the word out. Seventy-two percent of samesex couples says they specifically look for vendors with LGBT-inclusive language, and 69 percent seek vendors with LGBTinclusive photos in marketing. Locally, Gov. Bobby Jindal’s executive order to enact the Marriage and Conscience Act, which prohibits the state from punishing businesses who do not want to cater gay weddings, may have an impact on this growing segment of the wedding industry. Rev. Charles R. Cross of Wonderful Weddings of New Orleans says he has seen LGBT clients decline in recent years. “Three years ago, about 10 percent of my business was life partners doing commitment ceremonies,” he says. “But because couples can go to states that have legalized gay marriage now, that side of my business has declined.”

Same Sex Spending

Insurance

Currently, same sex marriage is legal in 37 states, not including Louisiana. Nationwide, gay and lesbian buying power has been estimated at $830 billion, according to Witeck Communications. This spending influx is having a positive impact on the wedding industry. Each year LGBT marriages account for approximately $259 million in wedding spending nationwide. In 2011, the first year same-sex marriage was recognized in New York City, the city received a bump in local revenues from wedding spending to the tune of $16 million. Spending in Louisiana still remains high

Just like with every other large life expenditure — houses, cars, trips — brides and grooms can buy wedding insurance. Disasters can strike wedding days with anything from cold feet to stolen gifts to a damaged gown. According to The Knot.com, a basic insurance policy that covers the cost of the loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits usually costs anywhere between $155 and $550, depending on the amount of coverage requested.General liability insurance, which covers up to $1 million for accidents, costs around $185.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Wedding in New Orleans Metro (2014) n

Number of Weddings.......................9,096

Average wedding cost.................$25,148

Total Sales 2014..................$228,746,208

The following is the average amount spent by couples in New Orleans in 2014 on wedding essentials. n

Wedding dress...............................$1,222

Tuxedo..............................................$204

Full Service Wedding Planner.......$3,298

Month of Wedding Direction..........$1,234

Day of Coordinator...........................$923

Event Location...............................$3,604

Event Food Service........................$4,785

Event Bar Service..........................$2,392

Event Rentals.................................$1,727

DJ......................................................$698

Live Band.......................................$1,642

Flower arrangements........................$464

Centerpieces.....................................$335

Wedding Favors................................$230

Invitations & Reply Cards.................$234

Engagement Ring..........................$3,300

Wedding Bands.............................$1,184

Wedding Photographer.................$1,633

Wedding Videographer..................$1,050

Wedding Cake..................................$423

Rehearsal Dinner..............................$570 Source: TheWeddingReport.com

Beyond the numbers During her work with thousands of engaged couples, Glade says that in the midst of helping her clients navigate topics like photographers getting aerial shots from drones and finding the perfect blend for a Japanese/Jewish wedding, she always offers one important bit of advice. “You should never go into debt for your wedding,” she says. “Don’t get caught up in the hype. The object is to create a beautiful memory. Try to remember that this celebration should be about your love. You need to honor what you are doing.” n

Photo Depositphotos

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Perspectives A closer look at hot topics in three southeast Louisiana industries

52 Banking

& Finance

56 Law

60 Heathcare

& Assisted Living BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Perspectives | Banking & Finance

Losing Touch In the online age, both banks and borrowers can benefit from a little face time. By Erin Shaw

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

Photo Thinkstock

efore the invention of the ATM, Americans had to take frequent trips to their bank branch in order to deposit checks, take out cash, and even check their account balances. At least once-a-week visits were commonplace. But by the early 2000s, with the advent of online banking, banks started to move customers away from the branch and toward a digital platform. “I graduated from UNO in 1996 and wrote a paper about how, at that time, banks were trying to keep people out of the branch,” says Brice Howard, vice president of commercial loans at Fidelity Bank. “Everything was going electronic, and customers were being incentivized not to go into the branch. The big retail banks were even charging people to come into a bank and cash a check in person. They didn’t have to have as many tellers or as many physical locations; all the banks were trying to get lean and that’s where they were trying to make their margin. For 15 years we tried to keep people out of the branch, and now we’re trying to figure out how to get people back in. We realized you can’t cross-sell someone that you don’t see, or talk to.”

“Most people underestimate the value of having an established relationship with the bank they want to borrow from.” – Todd McDonald, Vice President of Strategic Management at Liberty Bank and Trust “Unless a person runs a business and they want to have a relationship with a business banker, most people don’t want to come into a bank branch,” Howard says. “In the past we had coffee stands in the branch, television screens, couches, just to try and create an experience for people, and it didn’t really work.” A two-way street While community banks work to find a way to lure customers into the branch, potential borrowers may find that having BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

a relationship with their bank could help increase their chances of being funded when it comes to applying for a loan. “With big multinational banks, all business banking lending practices have moved to a scoring system,” Howard says. “So personal relationships don’t even come into play for them. As the regulatory environment intensifies, I think small community banks are really excelling because they’re providing an alternative for people who don’t fit the fancy risk models of a larger bank, and I think the smaller community banks rely more on those personal relationships.” Getting Personal Whether there’s a personal relationship between a bank and a potential borrower before a lending process begins, the basics for obtaining a loan remain the same. “All banks go through a standard application process,” says Todd McDonald, vice president of strategic management at Liberty Bank and Trust. “For small business loans, it all boils down to a business’ debt service coverage ratio and collateral value. Businesses will request an amount, but we have to be sure that they can afford the request that they’re making. In banking you can actually hurt the client if you give them too much, too little, or if you structure the deal wrong.” What makes a borrower look good? First, the higher the debt service coverage ratio — ratio of cash available for debt servicing to interest, principal and lease payments — the better. Of course, strong financials and a solid business plan don’t hurt. While most potential borrowers might think their tax returns and credit score are the most important part of having their applications approved, going above and beyond by providing the bank with additional documents and plans can help the bank feel more at ease when approving the loan. “You need to make the banker comfortable that you as the borrower have a plan for the proceeds, that you are capable of successfully executing the plan, have the cash f low to pay back the loan, and that you are ethical and trustworthy,” says Claude Silverman, CPA with Ericksen Krentel & Laporte. “Having accurate financial statements prepared on a current basis or even better, an audit, review or compilation report prepared

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

by an Independent CPA in addition to presenting a clear and concise business plan that outlines the anticipated use of loan proceeds, helps banks gain trust. Providing operating cash f low forecasts to show your banker how the loan will be paid back over time helps as well.” While some things are the same no matter where you go, it’s always best for borrowers to look first to a familiar face. “Most people underestimate the value of having an established relationship with the bank they want to borrow from,” McDonald says. “If you have multiple deposits coming into a personal checking and savings, or a history of not bouncing checks, it shows the bank that you are a good choice to do business with.” Size Matters The face-to-face connection is where smaller banks can have an advantage with customers, and borrowers can reap the benefits. While large banks operate on the highly standardized scoring system to approve loans, smaller community banks are often willing to make exceptions for borrowers who don’t quite fit the ideal mold. “We’re able to make decisions quickly and locally,” says David Crumhorn, chairman, president and CEO of Heritage Bank of St. Tammany. “You can walk in and see the chairman and CEO of the bank without too much of a problem.”

“That’s really what little banks are good at; they are all about relationships.” – David Crumhorn, chairman, president and CEO of Heritage Bank of St. Tammany When it comes to a home loan, Crumhorn says his bank has a competitive advantage. “We make decisions here, and we hold most of our loans in portfolio, so it gives us the ability to be more f lexible in our underwriting,” he says. “We can often get loans made and kept on the books that many other mortgage companies who sell their loans into the secondary market can’t, since those are very standardized. Crumhorn says that if a borrower doesn’t fit a bank’s underwriting standards, they have no avenue to help you. “Whereas if you’re with us, and our board of directors determines that you’re a good risk, we will still make the loan.” In this way smaller banks are able to help individuals and businesses that might not qualify with a larger multinational bank, and they’re able to compete in a competitive market. “That’s really what little banks are good at; they are all about relationships,”

Photo Thinkstock

Crumhorn says. “We can’t afford Samuel L. Jackson saying, ‘What’s in your wallet?’ We have to make personal relationships, and we have to make you feel at home when you walk in the bank. But at the same time, we still have to have the digital features that big banks have, but we also have to make it very personal.” Even those who work in the banking industry tend to appreciate a personal relationship along with the quick and gratifying digital conveniences to which today’s bank client has become so accustomed. “When it comes to my own desires from a bank I’m with, I want a relationship with my banker,” says Hunter Hill, president of the New Orleans market for Iberia Bank. “I think that’s so important. I’ve seen businesses that are in a rough patch and typically those that have a good relationship with their bank have an easier time … the bank is willing to work with them, as opposed to a borrower that maybe wasn’t as keen on building a relationship with the bank, and was just looking for the cheapest loan, or lowest interest rate. If and when they need their bank to stand beside them during a hard time, even though the bank most likely would, it’s much harder.” As the market continues to change, however, more and more banks are being merged into larger conglomerates. “I’m a small bank advocate,” Hill says.

Photo Thinkstock

“They’re so important to the community and to the market, but they’re struggling to compete. I predict a lot more mergers and acquisitions in the coming years, and I think that’s unfortunate.” Customers still want the convenience of ATMs and mobile banking, though. “Unless a person runs a business and they want to have a relationship with a business banker, most people don’t want to come into a bank branch,” says Howard. “In the past we had coffee stands in the branch, television screens, couches, just to try and create an experience for people, and it didn’t really work.” To find and keep customers, some banks use community events to put themselves out in front of the right audience. “We try to make our bank very visible,” says Hill. “We try to partner up with charities and events, whether it’s Jazz Fest, or another local event that people in New Orleans identify with. Our goal is to support and be out there. As for our business-owner clients, if they don’t want to come into the branch or don’t need to, we go to them.” n

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Perspectives | Law

Legal Eagles How local law firms go about attracting, and retaining, good talent. By AMANDA ORR

he New Orleans’ legal environment is unlike any other in the country. A large, thriving port city, it also features a high concentration of employment in oilfields, chemical plants, refineries, liquid natural gas facilities and offshore rigs, which translates to an everpresent risk for industrial accidents, class action lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims. “We have seen the nature of legal work in our region change dramatically,” says Alan Yacoubian, managing partner of local firm Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse. “This area was inundated 10 years ago with Hurricane Katrina claims and litigation, and now we are seeing a major increase in construction projects and the development of business activity in this region that represents areas of growth for lawyers.” According to a recently released economic impact study by Dr. Loren Scott, companies within the Port of South Louisiana jurisdiction spent $7.2 billion in capital projects between 2009 and 2013, and announcements have been made for potential expansions and new firms at the port from 2015 to 2020, amounting to $12.8 billion in new expenditures. This massive influx of money, jobs and facilities into South Louisiana not just in these fields, but a wide variety of job sectors, has makes it more critical for law firms to attract and retain attorneys who 56

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can navigate Louisiana’s unique and complex legal system. However, prestige and pay scale are no longer the only components legal professionals take into account when considering employment at a firm. “Historically there has been a pattern of lawyers arriving at the office early in the morning and working late into the night, but law firms realize that candidates have different priorities and would like to have a life outside of work,” says Sarka Fagan, assistant dean for career development at Tulane Law School. “Those considerations are taken into account before new graduates accept an offer from a law firm.” While some firms offer part-time positions, non-partnership tracks and lower thresholds for billable hours, Fagan says that putting in the time to develop skill and professional instincts is still crucial for an attorney’s success. “It’s the practice of law,” she says. “You do need to work, and the more you do, in theory at least, the better you’ll get.” Firm culture is another trait that job seekers are evaluating when as they seek employment. Culture compatibility, such as the level of formality within a law firm and availability of long-term partners, are some of the characteristics that candidates observe. On the flip side, law firms want lawyers that are driven to build long-term, successful careers and become a respected member within their established community of lawyers. Photo Thinkstock

“Local firms realize there’s more to getting top talent than collecting resumes with high GPAs,” Fagan says. The abundance of job-seeking attorneys means that law firms don’t have to pound the pavement by attending every law school recruiting event during hiring season. “We advertise on the LSU Law School career site, but due to our 100 percent focus on tax resolution, attorneys who know they want to work in this area of law tend to seek us out,” says Cary Bryson, attorney with Bryson Law Firm out of Baton Rouge. “We also proactively network open positions amongst attorneys who have the skills we know will work well with our tax resolution clients.”

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“We’re willing to sit down and talk to any good attorney that’s looking to join a larger firm,” – Lawrence Chehardy, Managing General Partner, Chehardy Sherman Williams Bryson says the firm has a strong dedication to maintaining an attorney’s work/life balance. “We believe faith and family are of utmost importance,” he says. “We make sure staff members make time for vacation, we celebrate milestones with them — from crawfish boils to ice cream socials — and we help them grow their skills. Recently our staff did a two-day concentrated training with Bob McKinsey, a renowned tax resolution attorney/enrolled agent.” Lawrence Chehardy, managing general partner with Chehardy Sherman Williams, says lawyers with several years of experience usually seek out his firm because of its reputation in the legal community and the extensive areas of practice. “We’re a large firm that’s able to do a lot of different work with a lot of different clients, and we get attorneys who are in a practice area where they need more support and want to work at a larger firm that is more conducive to growing their practice,” Chehardy says. The firm often invites law clerks to stay on after their clerkship is complete and once they pass the bar. “We’re willing to sit down and talk to any good attorney that’s looking to join a larger firm,” Chehardy says. The formula has worked well; Chehardy says there is very little turnover of the attorneys and staff at his firm. One administrative assistant recently retired after 40 years of working for the same lawyer. “She started working for him basically after he got out of law school and stayed with him for the rest of her career,” Chehardy says.

Photo courtesy of Chehardy Sherman Williams

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

He believes that the longevity of careers at his firm can be attributed to the culture of mentorship and support. “I think we have a good work environment, which is paramount. Lawyers who work here have found that they can represent a client and do their job in a good, supportive atmosphere. Our newer and younger employees work closely with more established attorneys and receive training that way. Law school teaches students the law, a law firm teaches them how to be lawyers. It’s a critical component in a new lawyer’s career to be able to work closely with established and experienced attorneys,” Chehardy says. Yacoubian says that word of mouth and having a solid professional reputation are ideal ways to attract and keep top talent. He adds that lawyers at his firm are seen as an energetic, accessible group with the ability to practice in a broad cross section of the law.

“We really don’t distinguish between law schools. The law school doesn’t determine the quality of the person,” – Alan Yacoubian of Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse “I like to meet with a wide range of job candidates because you never know,” he says. “Some of our best hires have come from someone suggesting I give them a call.” A firm’s profile can be raised in the legal community by the professional titles key partners hold and the clients they represent. For example, Yacoubian is general counsel for the Louisiana Restaurant Association and Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana. Like many other firms, Yacoubian’s also attracts potential candidates through a law clerk recruiting program and via his firm’s presence and reputation in court. “Some of our attorneys come from the judicial system. After gaining experience as law clerks and exposure to our attorneys and how we work, they approach us when they look to move into the private practice,” Yacoubian says. The firm, he says, does not favor one law school over another during recruiting season. “We really don’t distinguish between law schools. All four schools [in Louisiana] have qualified candidates that we’re interested in meeting. The law school doesn’t determine the quality of the person,” he says. Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse offers three months’ paid parental leave and pays for all or part of every employee’s health insurance. Yacoubian says paid leave is crucial for the success of his firm. “It allows families to develop and grow while offering job security,” he says. “Our firm is dedicated to creating opportunities for lawyers who are committed to the practice of law. At the same time, the legal profession is not for the faint of heart. It’s critical in any career that you love what you do.” 58

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Julie Prechter, director of attorney recruiting and professional development for Jones Walker LLP, says the firm enjoys higher than average retention rates.

“We have found over the years that our best associate attorneys are the ones we have the most experience with— the ones who started here as law clerks.” – Patricia LeBlanc of leblanc Partners “We focus on the professional development of our lawyers throughout their career,” she says. “Recently, we re-launched a formal mentoring program. The firm conducts marketing and business development training for our lawyers and offers monthly skills-based training courses within our specific practices.” Jones Walker currently handles work in more than 30 areas of practice and several additional subspecialties — from admiralty and maritime to venture capital and emerging companies. “The firm’s practice needs vary,” she says, “so we are always on the lookout for great attorneys.” With fewer positions to fill, smaller firms may depend on talent observation rather than heavy recruiting activities. “We are not a big firm, so when we make a hire, it is a big investment for us and we need to be fairly confident that the person we are bringing in will suit from a personality perspective as well as work ethic,” says Patricia LeBlanc, partner with LeBlanc Partners. “We have found over the years that our best associate attorneys are the ones we have the most experience with — the ones who started here as law clerks. Clerking gives us the opportunity to get to know potential associates and see if there could be a good fit. This has enabled us to keep turnover down. Our associate attorneys generally do stay for five years or longer.” Judicial clerkships abound in New Orleans due to the presence of federal and state court systems located within the city. “They bring an extra year of experience, organization and legal writing, which is valuable,” LeBlanc says. LeBlanc’s retention strategy is similar to other firms — allow attorneys flexibility to flourish in their personal and professional lives. “We have found that young associate attorneys are focused on jobs which will give them as much experience as possible and will also be flexible in terms of their personal schedules or family situations. That is the advantage to working in a firm like this one. You get experience on a variety of issues. We also can be much more accommodating in terms of schedules,” LeBlanc says. n

Photos courtesy Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse and Leblanc Partners

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Perspectives | Heathcare & Assisted Living

Answering the Call With Alzheimer’s rates climbing, local senior care providers are adapting to meet the need. By JUDI RUSSELL

ccording to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.3 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s. By 2025, that number is expected to grow to 7.1 million. As the country’s population ages, the need for senior living facilities that can handle “memory care” has also increased, causing many owners of nursing homes and assisted living communities to adapt their facilities to accommodate this need. Some integrate memory care residents into their existing homes, while others have created homes dedicated solely to people with varying degrees of memory problems. The idea is to offer a variety of lifestyles, so families can find the one that best fits their loved one’s needs. As we age, a certain amount of forgetfulness is normal, says Dr. David Houghton, chief of Ochsner Medical Center’s Division of Movement and Memory Disorders in the Department of Neurology. 60

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“Forgetting a name, misplacing your keys, repeating a story, are all relatively appropriate with aging,” he says, adding that the issue becomes more concerning when the individual begins having problems because he or she forgets so often. Mood changes, such as depression or irritability, can accompany this conditio, called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People experiencing serious dementia have difficulty carrying out the activities of daily living: driving, writing a check, buying groceries, etc. At this stage, people may need 24-hour care, either at home or in a facility. “Some sort of safety net is really the key,” Dr. Houghton says. Although the care must be safe and reliable, it’s important to look for two other characteristics, he says: compassion and understanding.

Photo Courtesy of Beau Provence

Alzheimer’s Numbers On the Rise In the U.S.: n

Currently, approximately 5.3 million people age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. By 2025, this number is projected to grow to 7.1 million.

In Louisiana: n

Approximately 82,000 people 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease.

By 2020, that number is projected to be 92,000.

By 2050, it is expected to rise to 110,000. Source: Alzheimer’s Association

Maison Grace at The Trace Senior Community The Trace Senior Community in Covington recently opened a $3 million building called Maison Grace that is dedicated to memory care. Executive Director Richard Totorico says all 24 rooms are occupied, some with people whose family members relocated to the north shore from New Orleans and wanted their loved ones nearby. Maison Grace offers activities seven days a week and has an activity director trained to help those with dementia. Residents also interact with residents in The Trace’s independent and assisted living sections. Most importantly, family members are welcome around the clock. “We have family members that we kind of adopt,” Totorico says. “We include them in the team.” The Trace also offers support groups: Interacting with aging parents with memory disorders “can be frustrating and overwhelming for a family member,” he says. Some residents enjoy going out for meals or visits with family members, Totorico says. The Trace also invites nearby schoolchildren to come over in their costumes and trick-or-treat, and asks high school marching bands to entertain during Carnival. Because memory problems can cause people to become agitated and anxious, staff at Maison Grace are taught to reorient residents with the routine as often as necessary. “Some need reorienting every day, some just certain days,” Totorico says. Each person’s plan of care is reviewed and modified as often as needed.

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s Alec Lundberg is chief operating officer of St. Margaret’s, a faith-based nonprofit that includes memory care at its two nursing homes, St. Margaret’s at Mercy and St. Luke’s, on the Westbank. He says families often come to him after a scary episode (a stove left on, someone getting lost) forces them to face the fact that their loved one can no longer be alone at home. He can reassure them that at St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s, people with Alzheimer’s or dementia will be treated as individuals. “You’ve got to have a staff that is very patient,” he says. “It’s a daily effort.” Families sometimes express guilt at moving an aging parent to a home, Lundberg says. But finding and paying for in-home care can become too much for many people, and some don’t like the idea of having strangers in their homes. Both St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s are open to family members 24/7, Lundberg says, and he encourages family members to visit as often as possible. “The best care people receive is when families are very involved,” he says. “We want people to feel cared for and not abandoned.” There’s a lot of competition in New Orleans for staff members at care facilities, Lundberg says. He looks for people who are warm, welcoming and pleasant. The right attitude can eliminate pushback from residents who are confused or frightened. Peristyle Residences Locals Jason Hemel and Sean Arrillaga both have experience working in senior living, and both were struck by how many people who are fairly healthy physically end up in nursing homes if they have problems with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The pair decided to try a new model, creating Peristyle Residences in 2011. Peristyle has five typically one-story, one-family homes in residential neighborhoods, with a sixth under contract. Each home has been modified to include all the safety features needed for seniors, such as doorways wide enough for wheelchairs. Up to eight residents live in each home, with caregivers around the clock and supervision by a RN wellness coordinator. The idea has proved to be popular, Arrillaga says; thanks to word of mouth, the homes reached 100 percent occupancy in one year.

TOP: Westbank nursing home St Margaret’s encourages family participation by providing access to residents 24-hours a day. MIDDLE & BOTTOM: Peristyle Residences are former single family homes that have been modified to house up to eight residents. All five residences are currently at 100 percent capacity. 62

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Photo Cheryl Gerber and courtesy of Peristyle Residences

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

The two say families like the idea that their loved ones are living in a real home, with no elevator or front desk. Families are encouraged to decorate the bedrooms with familiar objects, and staff members carry out lots of small-group or one-on-one activities, such as playing cards or talking about the past. “It all keeps memories vivid,” Arrillaga says. Hemel says the homes emphasize maintaining a calm, easygoing environment, with lots of the same activities residents enjoyed doing back home. For example, caregivers bring planter boxes on wheels into shady spots so those who enjoy gardening can still work in the dirt. Residents aren’t kept on a strict schedule; they have lots of choice in when and what they eat. Music and pet therapy are available, but Hemel says sometimes the best therapy is just conversation. “You’ll see that it brightens their day,” he says. Beau Provence David Schonberg has made a career of developing a variety of senior residences. Like Hemel and Arrillaga, he felt that people who needed memory care could still participate in a quality lifestyle. Schonberg recently opened Beau Provence, a 46-unit memory care home in Mandeville. The home is divided into two communities; Schonberg believes that smaller units foster friendships and allow residents and their families to get to know each other better. Beau Provence uses the Warchol Best-Abilities Care Model, a system of care for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia that centers on making the most of the abilities people still have as they move through the stages of the disease. “We want people to perform at the best of their abilities,” Schonberg says. “We develop a program centered around what that person can do.” Instead of restraining those who like to wander, for example, caregivers make sure they have lots of opportunities to take walks. 64

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Beau Provence, a 46-unit memory care home in Mandeville, uses a model of care designed to help those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia make the most of their abilities as they progress through their disease.

Note: Major medical health insurance doesn’t cover the costs of long term care. Separate long term care insurance may be used to pay for these expenses, whether in a nursing home, skilled care facility, or in a private home. It’s a good idea to discuss coverages with an insurance professional to get a policy that addresses your needs and concerns.

If residents become angry or agitated, staff members are trained to find out the best ways to defuse the situation. Sometimes playing music or looking at family pictures can calm people down, while others find caring for a pet soothing. “It’s different for everybody,” Schonberg says. These methods are a big improvement from ones used in the past, which included housing dementia patients in lockdown units. “Lots of times, people think there is nothing left,” he says. “We believe there’s still a lot of things left. (People with memory problems) can laugh, smile, dance, still enjoy what they can. They can still be happy.” Although Alzheimer’s and dementia are debilitating diseases, those coping with them needn’t always suffer, he says. n

Photo Courtesy of Beau Provence

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BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Guest Viewpoint

Heart Health Pays Want to lower health care costs? It’s time to get employees moving. Thomas H. Grimstad, M.D. Is the presi-

dent / CEO of the American Heart Association. Dr. Grimstad also became the fourth physician to lead LAMMICO (Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company) in the company’s 32-year history when he was appointed president/CEO on January 1, 2008. He previously served as senior vice president of underwriting from 2005 through 2007, and has been a member of LAMMICO’s board of directors since 1998.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

he American Heart Association has launched an ambitious movement to create a culture of healthy eating and physical activity throughout the country. We’re putting our plan into action where most Americans spend a lot of time: at work. It’s a long-term commitment. And we’re passionate about it. But the more we learn about heart disease and stroke, the more we understand what a huge difference physical activity and healthy eating can make. The bad news is that as a nation, heart disease and stroke are killing us. In Louisiana alone, we lose over 10,000 people a year to these two diseases. And, 70 percent of us don’t get enough exercise. We don’t have time. We’re not motivated. We’re full of excuses. Our eating habits aren’t much better. Every day, the average American eats more than double the recommended limit of 1,500 milligrams of sodium. This is not only bad for individuals. It also hurts employers.

At least 25 percent of healthcare costs for workers are the result of poor diet and lack of exercise. Those are things we can fix. The good news is all it takes is 30 minutes of exercise a day to put someone on the path to a stronger, healthier life. And a longer life. Studies indicate employees can gain about two hours of life expectancy for each hour of regular exercise. Heart health gets a boost, stroke risk drops, and blood pressure and bad cholesterol stay under control. That can make everyone feel better. Employers also gain from a healthy workforce. Reducing just one health risk increases a person’s productivity by 9 percent and reduces absenteeism by 2 percent. In fact, every dollar spent on a worksite wellness program nets employers $3 to $15 in benefits. The key to workplace wellness is buyin from leadership. Get your top-level executives involved to help get your wellness

Employers with on-site health and well programs get a lot in return: n

Healthcare costs decrease by 20 to 55 percent

Short-term sick leave drops by 6 to 32 percent

Long-term sick leave drops by 2 to 52 percent

movement started. Ask these leaders to set the pace by launching the program with a four-week challenge. Workplace wellness is twofold. It has to come from the leadership and the employees. If you provide the resources, your employees will respond. Here are a few simple steps to get started on the path to a healthier workplace: 5 Ways to Create a Healthier Workplace n Map out a 1-mile walking path on-site. Providing a mapped-out route encourages staff to participate. n Revamp your vending machines with healthier alternatives. Swap out sugar sweetened beverages for healthier alternatives like water, juice and milk. Ask your supplier for details. n Host a CPR training for your team. This can be a great teambuilding activity and can potentially save a life in an emergency. n Remove salt shakers from break- and lunchrooms. This simple act reminds employees that sodium consumption is at an all-time high. Offer other flavor options in the break room such as dried herbs and lemon juice. n Offer lunch-and-learns on healthy topics to promote wellness. Invite speakers to talk on subjects such as diet, exercise and preventive screenings to keep wellness top of mind for your team.

5 Ways to Be a Healthier Employee n Take a walk on your lunch break. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can help improve overall health. n Increase your activity in simple ways. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator and park farthest from the door in the parking lot. These extra steps can help to increase your movement and promotes an active lifestyle. n Pack your lunch in advance to avoid hasty decisions when hungry. Don’t succumb to an unhealthy lunch choice because you didn’t have time to plan a healthy meal. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the day. Focus on high-protein, low-calorie foods to keep you fuller longer. n Wear a pedometer to track your steps during the day. With the goal of 10,000 steps per day, a pedometer can help you keep track of your progress. n Take advantage of any workplace wellness offerings by your company. There are most likely resources that your company offers that you are not aware of. Ask your superviser or human resources department what is available to you.

The American Heart Association has free resources available including a Workplace Wellness Toolkit, a Food and Beverage Guide, and materials that you can use to boost your companies wellness program. If your company is currently participating in workplace wellness, consider applying for the American Heart Association’s Fit Friendly Worksite Awards and get recognition for investing in the health of your employees. Get more information and tips on workplace wellness at Heart.org. n BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

PUBLISHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office at 1-800-273-5718.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

L U X U R Y

R E A L

E S T A T E

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Great Offices

A GOOD GAMBEL By Bonnie Warren | Photography by Cheryl Gerber

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

A behind the scenes look at the workspace shared by public relations maven Betsie Gambel and her â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gambel Girls.â&#x20AC;?

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

etsie Gambel’s office is a marvel of efficiency. Located on the second floor of an upscale Metairie Road shopping center, the 10 women of Gambel Communications work computer to computer in just 1,000 square feet. Even so, Gambel says she’s not looking to expand anytime soon, noting that her firm is operating at full capacity,. “We love the space so much that we are reluctant to move. Besides, because of the nature of our public relations work, we are rarely all in the office at the same time, except for our Monday-morning staffbrainstorming meetings.” “You must be a team player when you work in tight quarters,” she adds. The floor plan is divided into three main spaces — a reception/office area, a second office/copy station, and Gambel’s office and conference room. A compact kitchen was added two years the company moved in; Gambel’s father, architect Sellers Meric of the New Orleans architectural firm Cimini and Meric, designed it. “My father also guided me with the furniture selection,” she says. “I grew up in an award-winning house in Lakewood South that my father designed in the 1960s. It was a clutter-free home that really set the tone for my love of neatness. I feel very comfortable in this space, which I consider a work environment that is conducive to productive collaboration.” What drew her to Metairie Road? “After working 10 years in French Quarter and Central Business District offices, I wanted a convenient location where parking was easily accessible,’ she says. “When I walked into this space for the first time and experienced the light, airy feeling and high ceilings, I immediately knew it was perfect for Gambel Communications. I actually began the company in 2009 from my home just five minutes away, but in less than a month I was looking for a bigger space for my rapidly growing staff.” “We fondly refer to our all-female staff as ‘The Gambel Girls,” Gambel continues. “We don’t think of our office as crowded — rather it is an open work environment that is conducive to ‘group think.’” This “group think” is constantly called upon for the public relations firm’s prestigious clients, which include such industry heavyweights as the Hotel Monteleone, Preservation Resource Center, the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region, and the New Orleans Ballet Association. “The Historic New Orleans Collection is our oldest client, and they feel like a close family member,” Gambel says. A graduate of Ecole Classique School, where she says she loved the challenging curriculum of four years of Latin and six years

1 2

of French, Gambel has a degree in sociology from Sweet Briar College and has done graduate work in education and marketing at Tulane University, Loyola University and the University of New Orleans. The firm’s many accolades and awards garnered over its six-year existence, include Gambel’s personal awards. “The honor I am most proud to display is my 2013 national award for being named the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Women in Business Champion of the Year,” she says. “I was also honored as the first woman from Louisiana to be inducted into the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Hall of Fame.” Gambel was also named the Jefferson

Chamber Women Business Champion of the Year and is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Scholar. “This honor rounded out my business skills and opened many doors for me, including being a Goldman Sachs monthly business blogger for the Huffington Post,” she says. Along the way, the public relations purveyor has always found time for community service. ”We recently created a nonprofit division of the company to focus on non-traditional, yet complementary, public relations and marketing services tailored to nonprofits,” she explains. “The cornerstone of our agency is being an integral part of the community we serve. We are involved in many civic and philanthropic organizations at all levels, from leadership

3 5

1: Lindsey R. Andry works in the reception area, which features a glass table with many of the awards acquired by the public relations firm. 2: The compact three-room office of Gambel Communications accommodates the staff of 10; including, left to right, Christine Rigamer, Veronica Ridgley, Amy Boyd Collins and Gretchen Hirt. 3: Gambel’s father, Sellers Meric, a well-known New Orleans architect, designed the small kitchen that was added in the hallway. 4: A painting by New Orleans artist Dr. Rise Ochsner has a place of honor over the glass topped conference table. 5: In operation only six years, the firm has garnered multiple awards, including one honoring Gambel as United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Women in Business Champion of the Year in 2013.

positions to ‘boots on the ground.’ My personal service includes serving on the board of directors for the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute and the Clarion Herald Advisory Board.” For Gambel, staying productive while working within space constraints necessarily involves making a strong effort to tackle office clutter. “We have made great inroads in a paperless transition to fewer file cabinets — almost everything is electronically saved,” she says. Even the “news line” display on the stairway when you first enter the building is kept edited with neatness in mind. “Our news line is an interesting introduction to our work,” she says. “It’s a wall that features coverage we have received for our clients or events we have been a part of — from the recent Give NOLA Day and New Orleans Ballet Association’s features, to the program for the You Night fundraiser where I was the honored speaker. We even have the ‘Bodacious Bra,’ based on ‘Guys and Dolls,’ which we contributed to FestiGals last year. We loved it so much, we were the high bidder at the auction so it could have a permanent place on the news line wall.” There is one place the no clutter rule does not apply, and that is the space Gambel has allotted for family photographs. She keeps photos of her two sons — Gregory and his wife, Krista, and their 8-year-old twins, Collin and William, who live in Philadelphia, and her younger son, Meric, and his wife, Page, and their 1-year-old daughter, Emily, who live in Greenville, South Carolina, just behind her desk. “I cherish my family photos and they have a special place of honor near me,” Gambel says. n

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Q&A - Biz Person of the Month

In the U.S. Freedom Pavillion: The Boeing Center, iconic warbirds soar above military machinery

The Future of Our Past As the National World War II Museum reaches its 15th year, President Nick Mueller, Ph.D., prepares for a new generation. By Suzanne Ferrara - Photos by Cheryl gerber

“Y

ou see, it all started in the mid-’90s with two good friends having a glass of sherry in the backyard,” smiles Dr. Nick Mueller, as he reminisces about the humble beginnings of one of New Orleans’ most popular tourist attractions — the National World War II Museum.

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

It was Mueller’s close friendship with historian and author Stephen Ambrose that gave birth to the idea of preserving a critical historical era right here in New Orleans. Ambrose’s collection of oral histories and artifacts from World War II veterans needed a home that would be accessible to visitors from all across the world.

Final Mission: The USS Tang Submarine Experience inside The Boeing Center recreates the interiors of the most successful submarine in World War II.

While Ambrose wanted to put the museum – formerly known as The National D-Day Museum -- at the UNO Research and Technology Park, 10 years and $30 million later, the museum instead ended up in its own location in the city’s Warehouse District. “That’s the best decision we ever made,” Mueller says. Back in the late ’90s, Mueller, now the museum’s president, was in charge of raising the dollars and opening its doors. “We missed several deadlines and went broke a couple of times, but we finally opened June 6, 2000,” he recalls. “Nothing in my imagination ever thought I would be building a $300 million museum.” Celebrating its 15th year this year, the World War II Museum is busier than ever — preparing for a new generation and embarking on a $325 million expansion. BIZ: So running the National World War II Museum wasn’t on your bucket list 20 years ago?

No, but I guess I have myself to blame for that. Once you have a vision and idea, I guess you have to find the resources to acquire those funds to make it all happen. So I had to learn how to do it, and I did a little bit of it at UNO in terms of grants and some fundraising. And of course, Stephen Ambrose was there to help develop this

museum, even though it’s a separate non-profit and not a university museum. I guess the CEO and president is the go-to person of any nonprofit in terms of fundraising. Learning to do it basically amounts to talking to people and hoping that you can get people to understand the passion and vision. You want funders to get connected to it... to want to be a part of it. BIZ: What has been the biggest reward for you and success for the museum?

The most wonderful emotional reward is to see World War II veterans come into this museum and feel proud of their contributions and sacrifices for this country. When you hear them talk about their experiences with their families... it just doesn’t get any better than that. Every time it happens, it feels like the first time. They feel grateful that a group of Americans in New Orleans and around the country, plus the state and federal governments, have worked hard to preserve their history. The second most rewarding thing is we now have almost 300 employees and we are exporting education programs to students in schools and universities around the world, which has an impact on saving the history of World War II. We are also using the power BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

of the Internet — along with a great staff of educators and researchers — to bring stories to life. These stories will be told forever. BIZ: How difficult is it to get funding?

It is always difficult. We have a great board of national trustees: 30 percent of them are local and the other 60 percent are from around the country, so I don’t do this alone. We have a great board and development staff. About half of the $245 million raised has come from the private sector, and about $25 to $55 million came from the state, and $33 million from Congress. The funds don’t all come at the same pace. You feel fortunate when one kicks in, even if the other one does not. But we manage to keep it going, and we have two pavilions left to build that we need to raise money for. BIZ: Who are your biggest private funders?

“Boysie” and Joy Bollinger gave us the largest gift in this museum of $20 million this year. Those funds will build the Canopy of Peace plus other projects, and some of the funds are going into our educational endowment. The next largest donation we received was from the Boeing Corp., which gave $15 million five years ago and helped fund the United States Freedom Pavilion at the Boeing Center. It houses the B-17 and six other iconic warbirds of World War II. Teddy Solomon and the Solomon family gave us $5 million for the Solomon Victory Theater; Jim Barksdale gave a $5.5 milliondollar gift back in 2003 to support the construction of the final phase of the Battle Barksdale Parade Ground. Several other anonymous donors are supporting the Home Front exhibit and the Liberation Pavilion. Most of the gifts are in the $500,000-to-$2 million range. BIZ: Where are you with your expansion project?

We’re building a parking garage this year with 450 spaces. We have $30 million worth of construction going on this year in different parts of the campus. We started raising funds this past year for two pavilions that have yet to be constructed — the Liberation Pavilion and The Hall of Democracy, which are about $30 million each. We are also talking to developers about TOP: Battle of the Bulge exhibit. MIDDLE: This year’s $30 million in construction includes a 450-spot parking expansion. BOTTOM: The John E. Kushner Restoration Pavillion, a 14,000 square-foot facility where visitors can witness the restoration of various WWII artifacts, including boats and military equipment. 76

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

financing the construction of a hotel and conference center next to the parking garage. The most immediate thing is the opening of the Road to Tokyo exhibit, which will happen this December. All of these are permanent exhibits that carry the narrative of World War II from the beginning to the end. When will the Hall of Democracy and Liberation Pavilion be completed? We are hoping to complete the funding and start construction on both of them in 2017, with completion in 2018 or 2019. We are behind schedule because Katrina set us back a few years. We had hoped to be finished by now. BIZ: What does this expansion mean in terms of size?

It will quadruple the size of the original D-Day Museum — from 70,000 square feet to 300,000 square feet. It seems there’s an urgency to complete the work. Yes, there has been a sense of urgency from the beginning because, when we started, no one in Congress or the country was worried about a museum to honor the sacrifice and heroism of those who served in World War II on the home front and the battlefront. That 78

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

war preserved our way of life, our freedom and our democracy. It is urgent we get this done now because we only have about 1 million of those 16 million veterans still living. We said from the beginning, 25 years ago, we have to finish this museum while there are veterans still alive to visit. BIZ: What is the biggest challenge facing the museum today?

We need to raise another $100 million to finish the museum. The second-biggest challenge is to build the blueprint for the education outreach research capacity in the coming years. Once all the brick-andmortar is done, we have to look at how to serve schools across the country. It’s going to take money and time. We have to build a virtual pavilion with intellectual resources and technological engines that can export our content around the world. That challenge will never go away, and we have to keep getting better at it. BIZ: How much have visitor numbers expanded?

There have been 4 million visitors since we opened and we’ll hit 5 million in a year or so. Eighty-five percent are from outside the state. Initially, we had about 300,000 come through

The museum serves as a popular location for fundraisers and other social events.

our doors during first few years, but we went down to almost zero with Katrina. We’ve bounced back in a big way, though, plus many millions more are coming to us via social media and online. We are currently ranked No. 4 in the United States by TripAdvisor for most popular museum in the country, with the Smithsonian (National Gallery of Art) behind us and (other) big art museums in front of us. BIZ: Where do you think the National WWII Museum will be in 10 years?

I am sure the museum will be increasing its impact on visitors, students and young future generations. We will be teaching teachers and having resources and materials that will be in classrooms all across America, as well as participating in partnerships with universities and providing conferences and travel programs on military history for teachers and students all over Europe. I’m confident that the story of World War II will be of great fascination to Americans and people from all over the world — not just in 10 years, but a century from now. n

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Why Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I Think of That? | Creative Businesses Taking Hold in Southeast Louisiana

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

At the Lower 9th Ward Market, hope is still alive. By Kim Singletary - Photography cheryl gerber

here’s nothing fancy about the Lower 9th Ward Market. A dark brown, one-story building adorned with hand-painted signs, it sits alone amid empty lots in an area of New Orleans where the memories of Hurricane Katrina hang thick as the summer air. Even the small adjacent parking lot remains in ruins — just one of the countless reminders of the devastation that occurred almost 10 years ago.

Stepping into the store, visitors are greeted by a wide array of items arranged in three aisles along handmade shelves and milk crates. A small rack by the register holds various children’s clothing items, while a table adorned in a cheery balloon-patterned plastic tablecloth holds big white plastic bowls, each bearing a small collection of fruits and vegetables. There’s no central air conditioning, but a small A/C unit hums along a side wall.

Keasha and Burnell Cotlon — the force behind the Lower 9th Ward Market (above), the area’s first grocery store post-Katrina. The market also includes a barber shop and sweet shop.

“We’ve got everything here,” beams owner Burnell Cotlon, “from dog sweaters to diapers, flashlights to fresh fruit. It’s really more of a general store than your typical grocery store.” It’s true, the Lower 9th Ward Market is not your typical grocery store — there are no grocery carts, no electronic belts moving items along — but for the people of this neighborhood, it’s all they have, and it’s enough to give them hope.

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Eat Local This Month! The Recirculating Farms Coalition will be participating in the “Eat Local Challenge,” which challenges participants to eat locally for the entire month of June. To honor the event, the organization will host an Eat Local Dinner June 18 at its community garden (1750 Carondelet Street). The entire menu will be composed of local foods and ingredients. For more information, visit recirculatingfarms.org.

“I’ve had people come in here and burst into tears,” Cotlon says. “They’re just so grateful to finally have somewhere to go to get the things they need. Ten years later, we’re still the only store this side of Claiborne.” Cotlon remembers returning home after the storm. “There was never a question we were going to return -- this is our home,” he says. “But when we came back, there was nothing much to come back to.” In an area where many live without a car, relying solely on public transportation, just getting a gallon of milk could take half the day. “The nearest grocery store was the Walmart in Chalmette, and it took three buses to get there,” he says, “so my wife, Keasha, used to drive around picking up the elderly in the area and drive them back and forth.” Years later, nothing had changed. “It’s been one of those things,” he says. “The big-box stores say there aren’t enough people to support them opening a store, but then the people can’t come back if there’s nowhere for them to get goods and services,” he says. “It’s a real catch-22.” Five years ago, he says, he’d had enough. “Somebody had to do something, and I guess we were those somebodys,” he laughs. Never having even worked in a grocery store — Cotlon spent 12 years as an MP in the Army before managing a McDonald’s and Family Dollar Store — he decided to gamble his entire life savings on a dilapidated building just around the block from his home. “You should have seen this place,” he says. “It was a real mess. But it’s 6,000 square feet, and it’s zoned for three stories. There’s room enough to do whatever we want.” But first, there was a lot of hard labor, most of which Cotlon did with his own two hands. 82

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

The three-aisled grocery store includes a mix of perishable and non-perishable foods, along with simple housewares, clothing, toys and hardware. “It’s more like a general store,” says owner Burnell Cotlon.

“I couldn’t afford to pay someone to remove the damaged roof, so I had to do it myself,” he says. “Everyday I’d be up there, sunup to sundown. Keasha would throw water and food up to me to keep me going.” In 2013, volunteers from Marquette University decided to join in the effort, with a group of students working over the course of a week, putting up Sheetrock, painting, anything Cotlon needed. “They just kept returning, about every five or six months,” he says. “It was incredible.” A wall just off the grocery area bears handwritten messages from past students. “In a world that is filled with despair, you guys are the light,” says one. “Thank you for being a ray of hope,” says another. Finally, in June 2013, Cotlon’s dream for the Lower 9th Ward Market began with the opening of the Cross the Canal Beauty and Barber Shop in the same building. The shop currently employs three people, including a women’s stylist, who started in late May. “It’s really done well,” Colton says with obvious pride. In April 2014, the second segment of the Lower 9th Ward Market was ready for business – Galvez Goodies — which Cotlon refers to simply as the sweet shop. The small window in the middle of the building invites locals to enjoy poor-boys, french fries, hot dogs or frozen cups. “We’ve had people come here from as far out as Algiers to get a snowball,” he says. “They tell us how happy they are to see what we’re doing here.” After about seven months running the sweet shop — and doing odd jobs around the neighborhood to pick up some extra cash — Cotlon finally earned enough money to open his grocery store. Without the benefit of a single government grant or a dime of Katrina

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

money, the first grocery store in the Lower 9th Ward opened at 2036 Caffin Avenue opened November 15, 2014. “Looking back, I can see that we were completely crazy,” he laughs. “I guess we’re still crazy today, but it’s all been worth it. Cotlon says he buys his wares from local discounters like Costco, Sam’s Club and Restaurant Depot. “I do a small 20 percent markup to pay for my employees and keep the lights on, but that’s all,” he says. “I want it to be affordable.” Thanks to the area’s food desert status, he says finding locally grown produce has been easier than he anticipated. “A lot of people started growing things after Katrina in their backyards, out of necessity, so of course we try to buy from them whenever we can.” Cotlon says his inventory is constantly expanding, driven by consumer demand. He points to a sign near the register that reads, “If you don’t see it, ask for it.” “I tell people that all the time,” he says. “We’re here to give them what they need.” Although all three of the market’s businesses operate the same hours — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday — Cotlon says the grocery store often keeps him onsite until past 10 p.m. “People just keep coming in needing things,” he says, “and I guess I can’t say no.” From the beginning, he says, the threat of crime was always there, noting he used to spend nights sleeping on a bench inside the sweet shop to keep an eye on things. “We haven’t had a single issue,” he says, smiling. “Even the hardcore gangster thugs will come by and call out, “Burnell, you OK?” They see

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

The 6,000 square-foot market includes Galvez Goodies, a sweet shop that sells snack items, Cross the Canal Beauty and Barber Shop, and a grocery store/general store.

what we’re doing here and they’re happy about it. It’s a convenience for them as well. We truly have the support of the whole community. The support is definitely there, but the funding has been slow to follow. In late April, the Cotlons took home first place at PitchNOLA: Living Well, a pitch competition sponsored by Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation. The win came with a $5,000 grant that enabled Colton to buy a small refrigerator to store perishables like meat, fruit, cheese and milk and a bounce house for the neighborhood kids. Every little bit helps, says Colton, who remains fixed on the future. “I know people look at this place and they see one story, but I see three, he says, adding that the next step will be to renovate the second story, where he envisions a self-service laundry and a notary public. “It’s all money,” he says. “We just don’t have it — yet.” What he does have, finally, he says, is Internet. “We just got it,” he says, “because we finally got approval to start accepting EBT — food stamps. People have been asking and asking, and now we can finally say yes.” No, it may not be fancy, but the Lower 9th Ward Market is getting the job done, thanks to the tireless work of one local couple willing to take a chance when no one else would. “As we said in the Army, anything is plenty,” he say. “I can’t stand complaining. There’s always an answer.” n

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Events ABWA Crescent City Connections

Simmons & White Sales Seminar

May 14, 2015

May 19, 2015

Ralph Brennanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heritage Grill

East Jefferson Parish Library

The monthly meeting of the Crescent City chapter of the American Business Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association featured Erica Olsen of Speak Simple, who gave her insight on public speaking.

Management consulting firm Simmons & White held an afternoon seminar focused on enhancing sales and marketing efforts. Speakers included Brian Greffenius with Sandler Sales, Chris Cassagne with Louisiana Economic Development and Mark Lewis with Simmons & White.

3 1. Melissa Willis, Marigny Demauriac and Jessica Talbot 2. Erica Olsen 3. Raven Bass, Wendy Dolan and Stephanie Borrello

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com

1. Brian Greffenius, Mark S. Lewis, Scott Uffman and Christopher P. Cassagne 2. Mark S. Lewis

Photos by Cheryl Gerber

2015 Expedia Regional Travel Expo

Louisiana Energy Conference

May 28, 2015

June 10, 2015

Hyatt French Quarter

Westin Canal Place New Orleans

Travel giant Expedia hosted an annual look at the health of the local hotel market.

The Lousiana Energy Conference featured two full days of panels that addressed domestic and international issues facing the industry.

1. Kerrison Thorpe, Amanda Holdbrook and Heather Hourigan 2. Ted Bogan 3. Tawanda Brown, Jane Tebbe Shute, Ryan Hale, Alex Wellinghoff and Cathy Argao Photos by Cheryl Gerber

1. Rachel Racz, Anthony Socci and Janet Rasmussen 2. Todd A. Hornbeck 3. Stephen Landry, Jerry Eumont and Ron Montalbano

BizNewOrleans.com July 2015

Behind the Scenes

Jolie & Elizabeth Designers Sarah Elizabeth Dewey (left) and Jolie Bensen Hamilton are the brains behind Jolie & Elizabeth, a contemporary womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing company that opened in New Orleans in 2010. Within their first year of business, the women were named among the Top 100 Entrepreneurs in America by the White House. As of September 2014, Jolie & Elizabeth had manufactured 10,000 dresses at their manufacturing facility in New Orleans. All of their creations are American made â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the majority in Louisiana. Constantly hard at work at their showroom/office at 903 Upperline Street, Jolie & Elizabeth will soon be releasing its fall and Mardi Gras collections for 2015. JolieandElizabeth.com

Photo by Jeff Johnston 88

July 2015 BizNewOrleans.com