Podcasts about greater baton rouge

Today With Brandon Barton: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit for another Bound by Business episode hosted by Jessica Harling. In today's episode, Jessica interviews Brandon Barton of K to Z Window Coverings based in Louisiana. Brandon is a a 25-year veteran of the window treatments industry who took over the family business from his grandparents—and currently works closely with his brother and his wife. He's here to share the lessons he's learned from working with family, overcoming challenges, and carrying on the legacy passed down to him. More About Brandon Barton K to Z Window Coverings is Louisiana-based company owned and operated by Brandon Barton, who was introduced into the window treatments industry by his grandparents. In 1998, Brandon opened his own business to service the Greater Baton Rouge area with custom window coverings, custom blinds, draperies, Plantation shutters, and interior window shades. Today, K to Z Window Coverings is an in-home company; Brandon brings all samples and products directly to YOU in the comfort of your own home. This not only provides you with convenience and a stress free environment, but it also allows you to visualize the sample in your own space! Connect with Brandon Barton Website Instagram More About Jessica Harling With unwavering conviction, Jessica Harling can break down complex decisions to simplify an action plan. Her dynamic problem-solving can confront potential obstacles proactively and energize any team, making others feel valued to achieve their ambitious company goals. She is the founder of Behind the Design, a People Operations company that enthusiastically collaborates with leadership to build dream teams! From recruiting to training and process development, their intuition for creating strong emotional connections discovers and nurtures rockstar talent with established streamlined processes that impact the company's bottom line. Connect with Jessica Harling Website Instagram  Facebook  What's new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn's Website LuAnn's Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources Mentioned This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design Exciting Windows! Panel: Ask Me Anything - Why I Joined, Why I Stay - December 12th

The push to unionize auto plants in the South appears to have lost momentum. This comes after a big loss in May when workers at a Mercedes factory rejected joining the United Auto Workers.Stephan Bisaha of the Gulf States Newsroom visited the UAW's campaign in Montgomery, Alabama to learn why it's so hard to unionize in the Deep South.Last week, the large core of the Artemis II moon rocket left an assembling facility in Michoud, Louisiana and headed for the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This is just the latest journey for the rocket, which is set to launch into space late next year.NASA engineer Chandler Sheuermann tells us about this upcoming mission to the moon, what will make the launch historic, and Louisiana's role in assembling the rocket. This weekend, hundreds of artists from across the country will work on a single project aimed at exploring how artists can help build healthier communities. Their aim is to explore how art can improve the overall health and well-being of communities. One of the participating locations in this nationwide project is in Baton Rouge. Mike Weary, artist-in-residence at the Arts Council for Greater Baton Rouge tells us about the city's involvement and what he sees in the relationship between art and health.----Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber; our contributing producers are Matt Bloom and Adam Vos; we receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon  and 7:00 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Gov. Jeff Landry signed a package of bills last week that will deregulate Louisiana's insurance market. They're part of Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple's plan to address the state's ongoing insurance crisis, he says by making Louisiana a more attractive place for insurers to do business. Critics say the policies weaken consumer protections and will increase rates. Sam Karlin, reporter with the Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, joins the show with a look at these new laws and the controversy. Carbon dioxide leaks are a growing concern across Louisiana. Energy companies here are quickly building out a new network of pipelines for carbon capture projects. Leaks from the pipelines are harmless when small. But in large doses, the colorless, odorless gas can cause drowsiness, suffocation and even death. Tristan Baurick, reporter for Vertie News, investigated a big leak that happened recently in the southwest Louisiana town of Sulfur in Calcasieu Parish. He joins the show to share more about what he found. The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge has a new leader. Jonathan Grimes has served as interim president and CEO since the January retirement of Renée Chatelain. Grimes will be formally introduced as the council's permanent head at their annual meeting this Thursday. He joins the show today to talk about what's happening in Baton Rouge's art scene and his vision for the community is moving forward. Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12 and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out ourpitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out ourlistener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In St. Bernard Parish, after years of decline, volunteers have started to restore part of Bayou Bienvenue's marsh. And the project relies on an unlikely hero: glass bottles. Halle Parker, WWNO/WRKF Coastal Desk reporter, has the story.  The International Downtown Association released a report comparing Baton Rouge with similar small-to-mid-sized cities. It found Baton Rouge's downtown saw 7% job growth over the past 5 years. Other Louisiana cities saw a decline during that same period. To go over the data and to tell us what it says about the city's health, Whitney Hoffman Sayal, executive director of Baton Rouge's Downtown Development District, joins the show. Renee Chatelain left her job as president and CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge earlier this year. Chatelain held the role for eight years, where she promoted arts and culture in the state's capitol. She joins the show to look forward at what the future holds for the city's art scene.  ___ Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber; our contributing producers are Matt Bloom and Adam Vos; we receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:00 pm. It's available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original Air Date: 3/17/24 — This April, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge kicks off the second session of its Talent Advancement Program (TAP) focusing on video production. Host Pam Bordelon talks with facilitator Chris Jeansonne and one of his featured instructors, Dierdré Peterson, who share what participants can expect to get out of the 10-week session.

Original Air Date: 9/2/21 - Creative Relief is an emergency preparedness and response program that addresses community needs through an artistic lens and resources to artists and arts organizations. Creative Relief is particularly designed to prepare the arts and culture sector to respond to and recover from a wide range of disasters. Today, we are joined by Renee Chatelain, the Executive Director of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, as she discusses what inspired the response program and what that means for different artists and organizations.

Original Air Date: 9/23/2021 - Today, AC23 continues their series highlighting the month-long Ebb and Flow Festival with Grant Benoit, the educator and public programs manager at the LSU Museum of Art, and Jonathan Grimes, Chief systems officer for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, as they discuss “The Boneyard”, the arts event that is being hosted by LSU's Museum of Art.

Over 100 years ago this month, Congress approved the act that would soon make prohibition the law of the land. While some Louisianans supported the so-called “noble experiment,” most were unhappy with the idea. Not only has the state long been home to carnival celebrations where alcohol plays a prominent role, but the location of New Orleans and Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River made them important port cities for alcohol shipping and distribution.Sam Hyde, professor of history and director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University, joins us for more on the history of prohibition, bootlegging and speakeasies in Louisiana. When you think of cajun music, you might think of an accordion, a fiddle or even a washboard. But some musicians have discovered a relationship between cajun and classical genres, and are incorporating that into their work. Mary Grace Ellerbee is a pianist from Zachary, La. and the inaugural recipient of the Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity award from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. She joins us to discuss the cajun and classical crossovers in her latest work, “Quatre Chansons Cadiennes.” Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12 and 7 pm. It's available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original Air Date: 7/22/2021 - The East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President, Sharron Weston-Broome initiated the Baton Rouge Poet Laureate program in partnership with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge in 2019. The program was created to celebrate Baton Rouge's rich culture and diversity. In this segment, AC23 is joined by the newly appointed Poet Laureate, Jonathan Mayers, as they speak on the history behind his unique interpretation of the arts.

John Walton is the News Director for NBC 33/Fox 44. The Southern University Alum (BA and MA in Broadcast Journalism) is currently the only Black person in that position in Greater Baton Rouge media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Mike Gennaro welcomes Luke Parks, an incredible young entrepreneur who is also a scholar and athlete and all around great human being.  Luke is the owner of Royal Treats, a business that sells frozen, ready-to-bake desserts in stores across Greater Baton Rouge.City Court Judge David Conachen says, “We're all going to be working for Luke Parks one day.” And we tend to agree. Luke's Royal Treats are frozen, ready-to-bake desserts developed from secret family recipes, are sold locally at Calvin's Bocage Market, Matherne's Supermarket in downtown Baton Rouge, LA, Matherne's Market at LSU, Boudin Shack, both Calandro's Supermarket locations in Baton Rouge, LA, both Ralph's Markets in Ascension Parish, Butcher Boy in Plaquemine, Butcher Boy in Donaldsonville, and H Mercantile in Clinton. Get your tea and pinky fingers out, we are going to dive into a Royal tradition with Luke Parks of Royal Treats, Tea Cake Cookie Dough.Support the show

As we've all heard, America is aging and the numbers are pretty startling. People 65 and older represented just 16% of the population in 2019. By 2040, they'll make up nearly one fourth of all Americans, and those numbers are expected to continue to climb. Part of the reason people are living longer is because of new technologies and innovations in the healthcare sector that are enabling providers to deliver more effective care in new and more efficient ways. It's a space full of challenges and opportunities - and local Baton Rouge entrepreneurs are on the front lines. Rachael Slaughter is President and co-owner of Orion Labotatories, a medical testing lab based in Baton Rouge that in just a few short years has become the largest independent lab in the state, processing some 600,000 patient samples a year. Rachael co-founded the company with her husband David Slaughter in 2017. Today, they're taking on industry giants like Quest and Lab Corps, with an in-house test menu, a dedicated team for specimen collection and an extensive courier network. Rachel has more than 15 years experience in the medical field – in fact, she was the one who got David into the business. In the years since it has grown to more than 80 employees, headquartered on Corporate Boulevard. Maria Yiannopoulos is founder and owner of Bon Jour Social and Leisure Center, a social club for seniors who are aging in place in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Bon Jour opened its doors in February 2023 and offers social life enrichment activities and a safe social outlet for seniors to meet and socialize in the aftermath of COVID. Maria was a guest on this show a few years ago when she was marketing director of a local assisted living facility. In the years since, a lot has changed and Maria has decided to out on her own with this unique and much needed niche service. Maria is a native of Baton Rouge, who spent her early childhood in Greece, and has extensive professional experience in assisted living communities, aging in place for seniors and helping individuals with disabilities gain independence through technologies and devices. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Brian Pavlich at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original Air Date: 9/10/23 - We do not sing because we are happy. We are happy because we sing.~William James. No truer words have ever been spoken, unless you consider the anonymous quote, A happy child is a child that sings. Those sentiments are part of the driving force behind Christian Vigé, founder and director of the Greater Baton Rouge Children's Choir. He sits down with host Pam Bordelon to talk about this exciting new opportunity for area songbirds from first grade and up. There's even a trip to Carnegie Hall on the horizon.

Louisiana is famous for many things – its Creole cuisine, bayous, alligators, and jazz scene are legendary. But, unbeknown to many, the state is also an agricultural powerhouse, the premier gateway for U.S. exports, and a hub for research and innovation. In this, the first of four episodes recorded on location, we share the story of sustainable Louisiana agriculture and trade, from the cotton fields and sugarcane rows to the crawfish ponds and the mighty Mississippi. To set the scene, we chat with Dr. Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, about the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, America's economic superhighway, and its pivotal role in agricultural trade. We hear how it continues to evolve and rise to the challenge of climate change, much like Louisiana's farmers who adapt and use the best available tools to protect their land for future generations. We also hear from USSA's David Green, who gives his perspective on USSA's Louisiana tour. Tune in now for a flavor of Louisiana and a unique insight into our experience visiting the state.  

Original Air Date: 1/8/2023 - On Jan. 12, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge celebrates its 50th anniversary at its annual MPAC gala. Host Pam Bordelon is joined by co-workers Vice President Jonathan Grimes and Philanthropy & Grants Officer Erin Douget to talk about the highlights from the past 50 years and share details on our upcoming ‘70s-themed celebration.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we hear about an upcoming cook-off event in Lafayette to benefit Team Gleason, an organization dedicated to improving life and providing technologies for ALS patients. Plus, we hear about an upcoming art exhibit that celebrates the life of a Baton Rouge native.   This Thursday, the Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette will host the second annual Fin Feather Fur Food Festival – or F5 – a cooking competition. The cook-off also serves to benefit Team Gleason, an organization committed to finding solutions for people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS. The organization was founded by Steve Gleason, former New Orleans Saints safety who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011.   But while Steve Gleason might be the name you recognize, the F5 cook-off actually all began with two good friends, Joe Bernard and Dale Clark. Upon Dale's diagnosis with ALS, they teamed up to host their first event last year, and now they're making this dream a reality for the second year in a row. They joined Team Gleason's director of development, Kearney Gay, to speak with Louisiana Considered's Alana Schreiber for more.    Derek Gordon, a Baton Rouge native, led an impressive arts career before returning to his hometown to serve with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. After his passing in 2012, his family approached the Arts Council about what to do with his substantial art collection.    Now, the Arts Council is displaying a selection of 50 works from that 500-work “Derek Gordon and Rodolfo Ramirez Collection.” The exhibition will begin tomorrow, April 27, with an opening reception on May 11th.   Lundyn Herring, curator of the exhibition, and Francine Ramirez, family of Derek Gordon and his late partner Rodolfo Ramirez-Rodriquez, join us to discuss the significance of this collection to the Baton Rouge arts community.    Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our digital editor is Katelyn Umholtz. Our engineers are Garrett Pittman and Aubry Procell.    You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 pm. It's available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts.    Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.   Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week (BREW) is a multi-day, multi-venue experience for entrepreneurs, inventors, investors, techies, creatives, foodies, and anyone with an interest in shaping our community.Host Mike Gennaro and Porch & Parish Editor Jen Gennaro welcome Na'Tisha Natt, Director of Marketing and Engagement at Nexus Louisiana and Narcisse Burchell, Programs and Events Manager to give you all of the details on BREW! Now in its 12th year,  BREW is back with an all-new festival-like experience to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in Greater Baton Rouge. Mark your calendars! Festivities kick off on Monday, May 1 with a family-friendly block party in Town Square and culminate with a live pitch competition with an investment prize totaling $100,000. Head to celebratebrew.com to learn more and register!Support the show

When your property is damaged in Baton Rouge, Paul Davis Restoration is ready to answer the call and assist businesses or families in getting back on their feet. The emergency technicians at Paul Davis Restoration are aware of precisely what is needed to repair and rebuild a property in order to return to its pre-loss state. This caliber of thorough competence is all a possibility through hiring the correct teams and using high-quality tools and technology. In this episode of Local Leaders the Podcast Jim Chapman sits down with Employees Alicia Jarreau and Christy Jarreau to discuss the VAST services available and the quality work you can expect from Paul Davis Restoration, as well as some great tips! #PaulDavisRestoration #LouisianaRestoration #BatonRouge #Podcast #Fire #Water #CrimescenecleanupPaul Davis of Greater Baton Rouge on the web: https://baton-rouge.pauldavis.comPaul Davis Restoration of Greater Baton Rouge on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pauldavisbatonrouge

The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge turns 50 this year, and they're holding a gala this Thursday to celebrate that milestone. President and CEO Renee Chatelain tells about the organization's 50 years of creative programming and community growth.  When Robert Carriker first moved to Louisiana, he spent his weekends exploring the backcountry for the state's tastiest boudin. That soon turned into a website guide, BoudainLink.com, followed by a boudin festival and most recently, a book! Carriker joined WRKF's Karen Henderson for more on the history and development of this Louisiana sausage delicacy. But first, the cities of Jackson, Mississippi and Birmingham, Alabama are no strangers to environmental concerns, and now environmental activists are working together to fight against years of pollution and contamination. The Gulf States' Newsroom's Danny McArthur tells us how and why Louisiana may be able to join forces with its neighbors to fight for a cleaner environment. Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our digital editor is Katelyn Umholtz. Our engineers are Garrett Pittman, Aubry Procell, and Thomas Walsh.  You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 pm. It's available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dianna R. Payton is the CEO of the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge. Dianna previously served as the Director of Community Investment for Capital Area United Way (CAUW). In this position, she oversaw the allocation of funds for 46 Community Partnership Agencies and 104 programs in the Capital Region. She also led the strategic development and execution of CAUW's first open-competitive Community Investment process in its 90-year history. ​Ms. Payton has managed non-profit programs and served as a grant writer for more than a decade at the local, state and national levels including serving as a Grants Consultant for Hanover Research an international research and grant writing firm in Washington, D.C. Prior to this, she gained extensive knowledge with the Louisiana Association for Community Action Partnerships (LACAP) as a Leveraging/Research Analyst where she was responsible for research, development and submittal of grant proposals for the association and its 42 membership Community Action Agencies. Ms. Payton also served as the Grants Administrator for the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), where she assisted eighteen Workforce Investment Boards with fostering strategic community relationships and identifying national practices to support individuals and companies impacted by massive layoffs such as the Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil spill, General Motors plant closure and Hurricane Gustav. Ms. Payton currently serves on the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority, Partners for Progress and Capital City Family Health Center Board of Directors and is a newly appointed member of LSU Libraries Advisory Committee. She is also an active member of Capital Area Network, the Mayor's My Brother's Keeper Steering Committee and participated as a 2015 MetroMorphosis Urban Leadership Development Initiative Fellow. Ms. Payton is also a 2008 graduate of Leadership Baton Rouge. To learn more about the work of the Foundation, please visit braf.org.

In Episode 25 of the HBA BuildCast, Rebecca Harris of HBA|GBR sits down with Allison Babin and Taylor Burtner with Manuel Builders. Listen in as Allison and Taylor share the story of Manuel Builders and more! Interested in learning more about Manuel Builders? Visit them on the web at https://manuelbuilders.com! In this Episode: :57 - Taylor's role at Manuel Builders 1:10 - Allison's role at Manuel Builders 1:29 - How Manuel Builders got started 2:10 - Grown outside of the Lafayette market and in to Greater Baton Rouge and Lake Charles 2:20 - Custom build on your own property 2:24 - Community division 2:40 - More about the Manuel Builders communities 3:15 - more about the Manuel Builders custom build on your own property 5:00 - The Manuel Builders Design Centers 5:45 - Staying up to date on the latest technologies and trends 6:30 - Homebuilding market 7:45 - HBA Year End Celebration - hbagbr.org/events 8:45 - The Manuel Builders culture 13:00 - Manuel Builders business model/marketing plan 13:56 - What sets Manuel Builders apart - Taylor 15:45 - Contractors' Continuing Education Day - hbagbr.org/events 16:30 - What sets Manuel Builders apart - Allison 18:42 - Best advice Taylor has been given 19:15 - Best advice Allison has been given 20:08 - Where can we find Manuel Builders in Greater Baton Rouge

The Biz: Good Works, ft. Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge by Louisiana Association of Business & Industry

Lynn Clark has been with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge since March of 2004. She was the Development Director for 4 ½ years and has had the responsibility of Executive Director of the affiliate since May of 2008.In both positions, Mrs. Clark has written and successfully managed grants of over several million dollars. She also has extensive experience managing HUD grants used to build a total of 34 Habitat homes and complete 35 critical home repairs and weatherizations on homes owned by individuals under 50% MFI.The affiliate has also experienced exponential growth having completed over 260 homes in the past 16 years, tripling the home inventory of the first 15 years of the affiliate.For more information about the work at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, don't forget to visit braf.org.

Host Kim Chapman and three very special guests from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge discuss how Habitat is helping families in our community fulfill their dreams of homeownership.Welcome to Money Matters, the podcast that focuses on how to use the money you have, make the money you need, and save the money you want – brought to you by Neighbors Federal Credit Union. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. 

Have you ever wondered who built the home you lived in? Why the decision was made to go with that counter top or even why the base boards look the way they do? If you have, this episode will share some light into an annual event our Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge does to provide potential home buyers with those exact answers. The annual parade of homes is one that allows individuals to attend and learn a lot more about a home than just the square footage and select trims that were used. This annual event provides an in depth look by meeting with the construction team and learning the ins and outs of each home being showcased. We were joined this week by CEO, Karen Zito, Direct of Marketing, Rebecca Harris & Board Member Angela Poirrier to discuss this upcoming event as well as everything the association does for the construction industry within our Baton Rouge community. If you are interested in this event, check out the link below for more information. Thank you for being a valued listener/viewer of the show, we truly appreciate you taking the time to check out our show. If you're enjoying the episodes and loving the guests, we'd be forever grateful if you'd take 2 seconds and click on that like, share & subscribe/follow button. It not only provides us with continued reach to showcase our great city, but also allows our guests to reach even more people for their brand. Sponsors: Gov't Taco, Falaya, Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge, Horizon Financial Group, Mallard Bay Outdoors & Currency Bank Vodcast Link: https://thepattygshow.com/ HBAGBR Website: https://hbagbr.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pattygshow/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pattygshow/support

We've talked a lot on this show about how businesses have adapted to the challenges created by the pandemic. But for nonprofit organizations, which sort of live in a constant state of responding to challenges - closing gaps and providing services to the community in any number of ways – the pandemic and post-pandemic has created its own set of obstacles and opportunities for growth and reinvention. Renee Chatelain is President of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, a nearly 50-year-old nonprofit that promotes cultural growth, economic development, and educational enhancement through the arts in and around the 11-parish Capital Region that it serves. As the Arts Council of the Capital City, the organization is a hub for information and resources benefiting organizations and residents statewide. Renee has been at the helm of the organization since 2015 and in that time has helped grow the Arts Council and lead it through its recent expansion and relocation. The new center opened in the fall of 2021, just as the community was emerging from the fourth surge of the Covid crisis, a time when many arts organizations were grappling with very real challenges to their sustainability. Thanks to the leadership and stewardship of Renee, Baton Rouge didn't lose any organizations to Covid. Chelsey Laborde Blankenship is a longtime board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana, an organization that, like the Arts Council is providing an invaluable service to the community. Actually, make that nine communities! In April 2021, the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge merged to become the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana in order to better serve some 20-thousand families in nine southeast Louisiana parishes. The organization provides out of school programs for boys and girls, including dynamic opportunities to promote the healthy lifestyles and academic success of its members. Chelsea spent four years at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge as its resource development and marketing associate before branching out and creating her own communications and marketing firm, CLB Consulting.  Out to Lunch Baton Rouge is recorded over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can see photos from this show by Erik Otts at our website. And check out more recent conversation about Baton Rouge arts and sciences with artist Rob Carpenter and PC OG Tim Rauls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode six of the Professional Builders Secrets podcast, our host, Bosco Anthony is joined by Robert Carroll, owner of Carroll Constructions based in Louisiana, United States. Throughout this episode, Robert shares his journey on growing his building company. Carroll Construction is a family owned residential construction company serving the Greater Baton Rouge area and surrounding parishes since 1992. In 2007, Robert joined the team and is now a Co-owner and full time builder/remodeler. With a degree in Construction Management from Louisiana State University, Robert brought new ideas to the company for energy efficiency and aging-in-place principles. Additionally he has made it possible for Carroll Construction to offer a personalised website for each of their customers that helps track the progress of construction. Tune in to the episode to hear Robert share the key milestones for Carroll Constructions and uncover tips for other builders who are on their journey to success. ABOUT ROBERT CARROLL Robert is a Co-owner of Carroll Constructions. In December, 2019, Robert received the Builder of the Year Award from the Louisiana Home Builders Association, the premiere organisation for the construction industry in the state. Connect with Robert: linkedin.com/in/edwardcarrollconstruction TIMELINE 1:03 About Robert and Carroll Construction. 2:00 How Robert got into construction. 4:09 Robert's initial struggles. 7:11 Robert's ‘ah-ha' moments. 11:55 Robert's transformation. 15:16 Robert's journey with APB. 17:58 Running a building company: Robert's loves and hates. 24:57 Robert's company today and in the future. 29:29 Why builders have to niche their company's. 34:21 Robert's advice to his younger self and other builders. 35:43 Robert's perspective: The future of residential construction. 40:50 What success looks like to Robert. LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE Carroll Constructions Website: besthomeinthesouth.com APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/ APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders Join the Professional Builders Secrets Facebook group for builders & connect with professional builders world-wide: facebook.com/groups/builderssecrets

As we were reminded during hurricane Ida, Louisiana is home to critical infrastructure that serves not only the region but the entire country. Ports and petrochemical plants line the Mississippi River from the Gulf past Baton Rouge. They are vital assets that keep life humming along, and in this digital age they are increasingly interconnected - and reliant on technology to function. Which means they – and we – are vulnerable to threats from cyber attacks. Very few people within a 500mile radius of downtown Baton Rouge know this more than Jeff Moulton. Jeff is President and CEO of Stephenson Technologies Corporation, a nonprofit applied research and development corporation that does cyber research and development, and also provides cybersecurity services for clients in the federal government, commercial and energy sectors. Jeff is also President and Chairman of the Board of a related entity, Stephenson Stellar Corporation, which helps provide next generation cybersecurity solutions for space systems. Jeff is doing a lot of cutting edge and highly classified work for some very impressive clients. He has in-depth experience within the intelligence communities assessing and defining corporate-level and globally deployable network security solutions. He also participates in numerous national and international cyber forums. For a bit of contextual background: Jeff is a native of Pennsylvania, who spent 24 years in the Air Force, before moving into his career in cybersecurity.  Jay Hardman is Executive Director of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. The port is located in Port Allen on the west side of the Mississippi River and sits at the junction of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at its northernmost point. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is the 8th largest in the world in terms of annual tonnage, and handles a variety of bulk and breakbulk cargoes for domestic and international markets in, primarily, the agricultural, forestry and petrochemical sectors. Jay has been with the port since 1999 and was named Executive Director in 2006. In his years at the helm he has overseen $45 million in infrastructure improvements, has been involved in enhancing port security measures, and designing and developing new economic development projects.  Out to Lunch Baton Rouge is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can see photos this show by Erick Otts at our website. And check out this lunchtime conversation about Baton Rouge's little known link to space and the mission to Mars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're getting to know Lauren Bercier, CEO and Co-Founder of Something Borrowed Blooms! Something Borrowed Blooms is a Louisiana-based, industry-leading Rent & Return Floral Boutique serving couples across North America. Lauren launched this rapidly growing business in 2015 with her cousin, Laken Swan, to modernize how brides plan and pay for their wedding flowers. Tens of thousands of brides across the US and Canada have trusted her company to provide the perfect flowers since the company's inception. SBB was chosen as the 2019 FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Bronze Prize Winner and was recently chosen as the grand prize winner for the IDEApitch at the 2021 New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week. If that wasn't enough, Lauren also sits on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge and Acadiana. We're excited to share with you her story on how she is going for GOLD!

From Natasha Marie Bridal's "About Me" Page. Natasha's life long dream has been to custom design wedding gowns, so for the first 7 years of Natasha Marie Bridal that is exactly what she did. From sketch to pattern to construction, she made a bride's dream of her perfect wedding gown a reality. But designing dresses is a very time consuming process, which made balancing family life and work a bit of a challenge. So she decided to rebrand Natasha Marie Bridal in to a bridal boutique. ​ The store is located in the historic Denham Springs Antique Village. We interlaced the idea of something old with something new in a newly renovated building originally built in the 1930's that still holds it's historic charm. We proudly serve brides in Livingston Parish, the Greater Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. Our quaint store provides a comfortable, easy going, atmosphere with top notch personable service. We have hand selected top quality designer gowns at bridal market, each of which is either completely customizable or comes in numerous fabric and color options. This way we are still able to offer our brides the opportunity to make their gown unique to them. We also carry pre-wedding event clothing and accessories perfect for the bride's engagement party, bridal shower and bachelorette party. ​ Natasha has 12+ years of experience in the bridal industry and 20 years of sewing experience. She has a Fashion Design Degree from LSU's Apparel Design program, has interned with New Orleans couturier designer Suzanne Perron St. Paul, completed a fashion field study in China, designed for former First Lady of Louisiana Supriya Jindal, and donated a custom red gown for the American Heart Association, Baton Rouge Chapter. We have a history of happy brides who have become friends over the process of their dress design. We vow to continue offering the same great service to our future brides. Jim Chapman of Local Leaders the Podcast goes in depth with Natasha Miller to discover who this business women is, outside of her business. What he discovered is a woman that never lost sight of who she was and has stayed rooted in her community and has the support of those around her. #BridalBoutique #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Bridal #LocalLeadersthePodcast #LivingstonParish A must watch episode of Local Leaders:The Podcast! Natasha Marie Bridal website: https://www.natashamariebridal.com Natasha Marie Bridal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatashaMarieBridal Vote for Natasha Marie Bridal Here! https://brparents.secondstreetapp.com/og/c990e7f6-c65d-4d69-b3fa-b180a99eef22/gallery/289444397 Filmed at Envision Podcast Studio Rentals Denham Springs www.envisionpodcaststudio.com LOCAL LEADERS THE PODCAST LINKS: Our Website: www.LocalLeadersThePodcast.com Our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalLeadersPodcast Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localleaderspodcast/ THANK YOU TO THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR THE SUPPORT! Denham Springs Fit Body Boot Camp: https://getfitdenhamsprings.com/getfitdenhamsprings359108991589553470388 Tricia Johnston Realtor : Latter & Blum https://triciajohnston.latter-blum.com Fit Blendz Denham Springs: https://fitblendz.revelup.com/weborder/?establishment=12 Planet Plant it Landscaping: https://ppitoday.com

Grant Benoit, the Educator and Public Programs Manager at the LSU Museum of Art, talks about "The Boneyard: The Ceramics Teaching Collection" and our Jonathan Grimes, Chief Systems Officer for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, talks about "Sunday in the Park".

Renee Chatelain, president and CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, discusses the Arts Council's Creative Relief program in the wake of Hurricane Ida.

We are so excited to kick off our Nonprofit Month with Renee Chatelain, President & CEO of Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge! We had so much fun chatting with Renee about the arts, as well as nonprofits in general. She is passionate, bold, and brilliant. We left this conversation feeling absolutely inspired. Thank you so much for joining us, Renee!Check out Arts Council: Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge (artsbr.org)Catch up on Louisiana Ladies on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!Follow Louisiana Ladies on Instagram and FacebookWanna chat? Email louisianaladiespodcast@gmail.com. 

Habitat for Humanity chapters around the country are struggling with high construction costs and a lack of volunteers. LNL['s Graham Ulkins spoke with Lynn Clark, Exec. Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/local-news-live-daily/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Wyatt became an entrepreneur at age 19, obtaining a license to sell real estate and purchasing a childcare center. Now, 21 years later, he lives to tell us about his amazing journey. His passion is to help others cast a vision for themselves about what's possible with the right relationships and mentors.His network and his own businesses serve as a resource that connect people to opportunities  after they find clarity about their future and discern what is needed to make it a reality.Wyatt is the owner of Kaizen Home Sales, and currently ranks in the Top Five in sales units and volume among nearly 4,000 real estate agents in the Greater Baton Rouge market.As CEO and Team Leader at the Keller Williams Greater Baton Rouge market center, Wyatt is instrumental in helping others build businesses in the real estate industry.He also owns a childcare center in Central, which serves nearly 150 children and employs some 30 employees.And, if that's not enough, Wyatt has become a podcaster, having acquired a well-known podcast called “The Mentee,” where he records conversations with his mentors and shares them with the world. Talk about global impact: his podcast is downloaded over 1,100 times each week and reaches listeners and viewers in over 90 countries!Wyatt and his wife Janae have three children -- Baylor, Emmy, and Maggie.

The very first interview on the very first episode of Smidgen was with Galen Iverstine of Iverstine Farms Butcher. Galen is back on this Season 3 finale episode of Smidgen to talk about what impact the last year had on his small business; what he learned as a rancher from the pandemic; and what customers are shopping for now at the meat counter. Galen and Anne Milneck, host of Smidgen and owner of Red Stick Spice Co. discuss the realities of shopping local—is “shop local” just a popular slogan or does it have real results for a community? Galen and Anne both had supply chain concerns when the pandemic lockdowns first were announced. If you’ve never really thought about how food gets to your local food provider, this part of the conversation will be enlightening and informative (really—if you’re thinking, “Uh, supply chain??” these two small business owners will give you new insights.) Finally, Anne uses one of her favorite items from Galen’s shop—the Iverstine chorizo—to make Cast Iron Chorizo Queso as she walks us through the recipe. Not too picante, but plenty flavorful, and mucho cheesy, Cast Iron Chorizo Queso is your next crowd pleaser or the perfect filling for tacos. Mentioned on the show: - ¡Que rico! Watch Anne prepare Cast Iron Chorizo Queso on Facebook Live. You can find the complete recipe over on the Red Stick Spice Co. blog. - Yes! Chili is a powder, but Chili Powder Blend is… well, a blend! Try any of the Red Stick Spice Co. chili varieties—from pleasantly warm to whoo-my-oh-my hot! - Anne is a big fan of the Butcher Bundles available at Iverstine’s. Galen mentioned the bundles briefly—take a peek and see if a Butcher Bundle is right for you. - Galen referenced a Freakonomics podcast episode about the supply chain that he thought was particularly good. Listen here. - Are you in the Greater Baton Rouge area (or do you plan to be?) Attend one of the Red Stick Spice Co. farm tours. One of the stops is Iverstine Farm. Learn more about our Farm, Food & Cooking Tour. - We are so excited for our C’est Si Bon subscription boxes! Get the goodness of Red Stick Spice Co. each month with a C’est Si Bon subscription—each box contains a curated tea in addition to a full size spice and a local product. Makes an amazing gift. C’est Si Bon! Listen to the episode for a Red Stick Spice Company discount code, special for you, our Smidgen listener. We loved bringing you this season of Smidgen. What would you like to hear about on a future episode? Did you have a favorite of Season 3? Let us know! Hit us up on any of the Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app.  Smidgen is the podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

In this episode of What's What BR, we talk with Rod Spilling of Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy.   Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy Started in 2007 and serves a wide range of students, half of their population is a traditional high school-bound diploma track and the other half of the population are what they call “pace classes” where they teach practical academic and community education for students with Neurodiversity.   Rod is a multimedia teacher and specialist and what he teaches, specifically, is a wide range of multimedia. From teaching creative computer applications, 3D, coding, the introduction of the computer, Essentially, if you can think of a computer-related item, he gets to teach the students on all levels at Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy.   Rod shares how they nurture what it is that makes each student unique and they find out what they like; The idea of not trying to fit the kid into the box, instead, adjust to the mold of the child, allows them to have a much more successful educational experience.

Fear, failure, anxiety and other negative emotions are inevitable, but we have the power to choose how we deal with them and to decide the course that our lives take. As Lacy Corcoran knows, it’s not necessarily an easy road to get to the point where we are in control of our own destiny, and she shares some of the main coaching practices and the books which helped her immensely on her personal growth journey. We discuss how Lacy transitioned from a burned-out, fearful working mom who felt like she could never be present, to someone who wakes up every morning excited about the day ahead of her. When she worked out what her values are and put measures into place to make sure that she was living in alignment with them, her life did a 180-degree turn and she now runs a very successful real estate brokerage while still managing to read her children a bedtime story every night. In today’s episode, you’ll also hear about the practice of counterbalancing, the importance of asking for help, and the most challenging elements of Lacy’s journey. If you are feeling unfulfilled, unsatisfied or unhappy, this episode will give you hope and will inspire you to change your life for the better!Key Points From This Episode:Changes in her life that inspired Lacy to begin her career in real estate. The award Lacy’s won during her first year working in a real estate brokerage.Challenges that Lacy experienced trying to maintain a balance between work life and family life with three children.How Chris’s coaching helped Lacy overcome her fear and open her own brokerage. Lacy’s current feelings about her job and her life, compared to her feelings a year ago. Examples of fears that used to have a lot of control of Lacy. The importance of setting your own standards and working out what makes you feel satisfied. Freedom that comes with being in control of your own thoughts. Learning how to make decisions that align with her values has helped Lacy immensely. The processes which Lacy followed in order to figure out her personal values. Patterns of behavior that Chris noticed Lacy was partaking in and how coaching assisted her in changing these.  Counterbalancing; what it means and how it looks in Lacy’s life.  Asking other people for help is not something that anyone should be afraid to do.What Lacy has found to be the most difficult part of her growth journey. Books that Lacy recommends, and where you can get in touch with her. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Lacy Corcoran on LinkedInCorcoran Chaos on InstagramLive in Greater Baton Rouge on InstagramCorcoran and Company Corcoran and Company on FacebookKeller Williams RealtyTony Robbins Unfinished BusinessGoodman CoachingChris GoodmanWork with Chris Here

In Episode 7 of the HBA BuildCast, join us as we explore the world of Home Technology with our Silver Industry Partners, Acadian Home Theater and Automation. Owners, Bryan Naquin and Jon Hunt, walk us through the technical options and customized experiences available to homeowners and remodelers today and how these innovators are helping Greater Baton Rouge compete with metropolitan cities around the country. Listen along to learn how Acadian adapted their customer service during the pandemic, the stages and process of integrating technology into your home, and how they're excited about being a part of the wave of change happening at the HBA!

It's the start of a new year! How do things look economically for industry in the Greater Baton Rouge area following the initial shock caused by the pandemic? What changes can we expect with the country's new administration? What does GBRIA have planned for 2021 in the areas of Safety, Workforce Development and Community engagement? Hear from Jessica Pranjic, Sr. Manager of Communications & Workforce Development, and Brandon Smith, Associate Director of Safety, Health & Security, as they give you a look into GBRIA's plans for 2021.

Join us on this episode to hear about the work of Bridge Builder Pastor Checkerz Williams. He is the founding pastor of Renew Church of Baton Rouge, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational missions-minded congregation that is making a difference! Bio Highlights of Checkerz Williams Married 24 years to his wife Nicole Father of 3 adult children - Left Corporate America – Bank Manager position after 16 years to pursue his calling to plant a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church that would look like heaven. Celebration Church in Laplace, LA – a church plant -Lead a congregation to transition from being 95% Caucasian, to a church that looked like the community with 14 different nationalities attending, as they baptized 247 people and grew from approximately 100 people to almost 400 people in weekly attendance over a 6 year period. 2017 ventured out to start another church plant – Renew Church in Baton Rouge, LA Launched Renew Church on March 4th, 2018 with 25 people and quickly grew to more than 100 in the first 18 months while baptizing 13 people. Checkers has been involved in multi-ethnic ministry and racial reconciliation work for 28 years since becoming a Christian at age 19. His passion to see God's "Kingdom come" and "will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" has driven him to lead a church that embodies the Greatest Commandments to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul" and "Love your neighbor as yourself," and the Great Commission to "Go and make disciples of ALL nations." For his work across racial lines in the Greater Baton Rouge area, Checkerz recently received the "Oaks of Righteousness" Award. Follow Renew Church: Website: renewchurchonline.org Facebook and Instagram: @renewchurchbr Acknowledgments The "Building the Bridge" Podcast is a production of The KINGDOM Group International, Inc., all rights reserved. KINGDOMGroup.co --- Music by Artist: Jorge Quinter, Track Information Title: 300 Violin Orchestra Genre: Orchestral YouTube of the artist: goo.gl/155iWH Music provided by Music Library: youtu.be/R4vNfzz8__s --- Production by MINE You Business Virtual Solutions MINEYoBiz.com Stay Connected to the KINGDOM Group To keep in touch with us, on social media platforms @kingdomgroupbr --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kingdomgroup/message

Chancelier "Xero" Skidmore talks to theater actress and director, Rebekah Rainey. She also the Director of Communications at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge!

John Gray is an award-winning music educator, musician and entrepreneur based out Baton Rouge, La. A proud alumnus of McKinley High School (c/o 98’) and the Southern University Music Department, Gray’s foundation began on the stadium fields as a member of both the McKinley High and Southern University marching bands and has manifested into an astonishing career in the realm of music education, independent artistry and music business. Under the mentorship of the late jazz great/Master Teacher, Alvin Batiste, Gray received his Associate of Arts in Jazz (01’) as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Performance (05’) from Southern University. In the decade that would follow his undergraduate studies, Gray has been named as The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Teacher of the Year (2013-2014), he has been the recipient of the Master Teacher Award at the Dunham School where he currently teaches, he has also been awarded The LINK’s Role Model of the Year award (in 2014), and also has been named as one of Louisiana Life Magazine’s Louisianians of The Year, as well as Arts Ambassador by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. He’s been named as one of the People to Watch in 2015 by The Drum Magazine, and a Top 40 Under 40 Black Entrepreneurs for 2014-2015. He has also received artist residency training through the renown Kennedy Center for the Arts and completed training at the Jazz @ Lincoln Center’s Directors Academy. He is a 2015 graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Class, and has been a TEDx speaker as well as a 99u speaker. John currently teaches full time at the Dunham School, and performs professionally with The JGrayJazz Trio, The Michael Foster Project, The Soul Jukeboxx, The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, and The Treme Brass Band. He also runs his own music company, Continuum Music, specializing in the recording, promotion, and booking of jazz artists and their music.If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.For show notes and past guests, please visit dougstonejazz.com/podcast-1Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the sponsor formDiscover Doug’s music: dougstonejazz.com/musicInstagram: instagram.com/dougstonejazzsaxophoneFacebook: facebook.com/dougstoneBoston Sax Shop

As summer 2020 has certainly shown through the Black Lives Matter protests and increased calls for community and national accountability when it comes to justice, the power of community investment has shown that when we invest in our neighbors, we invest in the health and safety of our communities. This mindset and practice inspired the team at YWCA Greater Baton Rouge to develop a Community Bail Fund to help-out members of their community who are arrested with nonviolent offenses after an incident of police brutality in their community. Through national attention from Colin Kaepernick and the Robert F. Kennedy Fund Know Your Rights Camp, YWCA Greater Baton Rouge has pushed the boundaries on what it means to be a community leader and partner in this nation’s quest for actionable justice. Listen in as Dianna Payton, CEO of YWCA Greater Baton Rouge and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA discuss the importance of community bailout funds, the transformational power of bailouts, and how local nonprofits can have impact on national discourse and lead the wave of change to dismantle systemic racism.  For more information on YWCA Greater Baton Rouge, be sure to follow them on Instagram @ywcagbr.

Verni Howard is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. C. F. Williams. She is a 1987 graduate of Caddo Magnet High School and furthered her studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. After earning a BS in Microbiology (1993) and a MPA (1997), Verni began the Commercial Banking Training program with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, GA. After more than 18-years of corporate and non-profit banking experience including Regions Bank, Whitney Bank and JPMorgan Chase, Verni became the new Executive Director of Providence House in December of 2015. In addition to a stellar banking career, she has served on 15 major boards of directors across the country including East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority Advisory Council, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge (In-coming President), Volunteers of America (Baton Rouge), Volunteers in Public Schools (Treasurer and President), Boys and Girls Club, Catholic Charities (Baton Rouge) and Downtown Development District. In 2011 she was nominated for the Outstanding Women in Business Award by Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge and in 2012 received the Volunteer Activist Award from the Emerge Center, an honor bestowed upon twelve outstanding volunteers across the city of Baton Rouge. In 2015 she was recognized for her outstanding achievements and was honored with an African American Achievement Award. Verni is a 2018 Virginia Shehee Influential Woman Award finalist and a 2018 Athena Award finalist. In 2017 Verni received the Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. She is a Paul Harris Fellow (Shreveport Rotary Club) and 2018 board member of the club. Verni is also a new member of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation’s board of director, Christus Highland Quality Committee, Choice Neighborhood Implementation Advisory Group, Bancorp South CRA Advisory Group and is an ex-officio member of the board of Providence House. Above all, she is committed to God, family and service to the community. Verni and her husband Don, have been married for 21-years. Together, they have the joy of parenting two fantastic children, Hannah Elizabeth (age 12) and Matthew Reed (age 9). She lives by the belief that we are our brother’s keeper. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/freeman-means-business/support

Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Executive Director, Renee Chatelain talks about what Creative Relief looks like in the midst of this historic and devastating pandemic. She talks about how the Arts Council has responded to this tremendous obstacle by connecting the arts sector to resources and collecting invaluable data on the impacts of Covid-19 on the arts in Louisiana.

Brian Morfitt and Mysti Byrnes of The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge talk about the annual juried art exhibition, Art Flow.

Sheldon sits down with the leader of the multi-genre group, The Michael Foster Project. Michael Foster talks about his life, career, love for music and much more. His work with his group has earned him recognition by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, La as their Arts Ambassador. The Michael Foster Project https://www.instagram.com/themichaelfosterproject/ https://www.facebook.com/MichaelFosterProject/ https://www.reverbnation.com/themichaelfosterproject

We're live with Devin Rose author of the book How to Become a Saint in These Dark Times, Michael Acaldo with Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Greater Baton Rouge monthly update

Mayor Broome in joined by co-host Dima Ghawi to interview Dianna Payton, President and CEO of the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge. This episode features insights into leadership and highlights efforts being made by the YWCA of Grater Baton Rouge to meet its mission of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women.

Art Routes is back! In coordination with The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and Astrid Solo Travel Advisor, Art Routes will be going to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Tucked in the eastern side of the state of Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende is a renowned art colony and is home to world-class galleries, sights, food and accommodations. The tour is set for June 1-7, 2018 and is sure to be an amazing, enriching experience. Listen to this show and discover if this trip is for you! The brochure for the tour from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge (via Dropbox) Chapel of Jimmy Ray Albert Coffee Archaeotours We love sharing the most innovative and informative content to get you out there solo. Astrid, your expert Solo Travel Advisor-- has an amazing packing list available for download. Get it at her website, AstridTravel.com. Follow Astrid on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or with your favorite podcast app. Just go solo!

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Kelli Smith is a native of Baton Rouge, LA, has been married for over six years and with her husband for over eleven years. She has several years experience working with adolescents, couples, and families in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Kelli has received numerous awards, honors, and recognition for her research on various health disparities in the United States, Brazil, and South Africa. She has been instrumental in developing and working with various non-profit community based agencies to promote healthy living, co-parenting, inmate rehabilitation, youth after school programs, and other outreach programs. Website: http://www.kellihsmith.com/

Kelli Smith is a native of Baton Rouge, LA, has been married for over six years and with her husband for over eleven years. She has several years experience working with adolescents, couples, and families in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Kelli has received numerous awards, honors, and recognition for her research on various health disparities in the United States, Brazil, and South Africa. She has been instrumental in developing and working with various non-profit community based agencies to promote healthy living, co-parenting, inmate rehabilitation, youth after school programs, and other outreach programs. Website: http://www.kellihsmith.com/