It's Baton Rouge: Out To Lunch

Louisiana s nickname is Sportsman s Paradise, not only because of the affinity locals here have for hunting, fishing and water sports, but because of the lush natural landscape and warm climate that make those sports possible It s the same factors that have given birth to two local entrepreneurs. Edward Daniel is the owner of Daniel Outdoors. It s an online company that sells hunting, fishing and shooting products over the internet. The company s success, up against giants like Amazon and other major retailers, is impressive by any standards but all the more so because Edward is just a sophomore in college. Or was until he recently decided to take a long break. Stephanie met Edward two years ago when he was just a senior in high school and was running his first company, making duck blinds, and put him on the over of the Baton Rouge Business Report. He s come a long way since then and has plans to go a lot further. Nicole Waguespack is president of Martin Ecosystems. It s an environmental tech company that man

Our Cajun Creole heritage in south Louisiana is famous all over the world. People come here for food, music, and historic architecture they can t get anywhere else. And for those who can t get here, or who want a taste of Louisiana once they get back home, we have some crafty entrepreneurs who have figured out how to capture our local culture, bottle it or box it and export it to folks outside Louisiana. Troy Primeaux is the co owner of Primo s Peppers. It s a company that grows several varieties of organic hot peppers which it then sells to specialty food manufacturers not only in south Louisiana but across the country for use in products like hot sauces, spice blends and, even, coffees. Primo s also uses its peppers in its own line, Farmer s Daughter pepper jellies, made by Troy s wife and business partner, Kara Farmer. If you re part of the international cult of pepperheads, which is quite a sizeable group, you will recognize Troy or at least his name as the grower of The Primo, the world s hottest pepper.

We all know the internet and the many mobile platforms it has given birth to are changing the way we do business. Still, it s always amazing to learn about some new company or tech start up that is using the latest technology to solve a problem that you didn t even know existed. Stephanie s guests on this episode of Out to Lunch include two Baton Rouge companies that are doing just that. Courtney Sparkman s company, OfficerReports.com, creates affordable and easy to use software that helps security guard companies better manage their operations, better service their current contracts, and win new business. This is one of those things you ve probably never thought of, unless you re in the security business, which Courtney was. Over the years Courtney saw all sorts of ways that technology could make it easier for security officers in the field to do their jobs and for the owners of such companies to keep tabs on their employees. Now, Officer Reports proprietary software is being sold to security firms both loca

When it comes to high tech innovations, sometimes it s not so much a matter of what a new technology can make happen, it s what it can prevent from happening. Today, we have two guests whose companies have come up with innovations that have exciting applications in preventing real world destruction by things like corrosion and fire. Plank Road Technologies is a joint venture that is not based on Plank Road. It s actually located in the LSU Innovation Park business incubator. Plank Road Technologies combines two patented technologies that enable everything from military assets to motor vehicles to lithium ion batteries to be safely transported in air tight, vacuum packed bags. The company s technology holds exciting potential for the military and NASA, and currently has deals in the works. Jeff Garfinkle is the president of Plank Road Technologies. Mitchell Montanio has come up with a better way to put out fires. detect and prevent fires. and he is the xxx of Hot Shot Sprinklers. The company s patent pending t

Someone famously said that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. While travel can be very expensive, no one can deny that getting out and exploring new lands enhances the human experience and does, indeed, enrich the soul. It can also enrich those who make a living in the travel industry. The travel industry has changed a lot over the last 20 years, as the Internet has diminished the need for traditional travel agents. But the digital economy has also opened up all sorts of new opportunities for the DIY traveler who blogs, and shares advice with fellow travelers. Case in point Astrid Clements. Astrid first set out on her own to see the world at the age of 19, when she traveled solo to Germany. In the years since, her adventures have brought her around the globe, to five continents and countless countries. In 2015, Astrid decided to turn her passion into a profession with the launch of Astrid Solo Travel Advisor. It s a web base business that offers advice on everything a solo traveler needs

As the way we do business evolves over time, so do the tools we use. Today, products and services that didn t exist 20 or 30 years ago are indispensable parts of our companies and commerce. That s particularly true in the digital economy. "Word of mouth" has a whole new meaning. And power. Like, for example, Yelp. Yelp is the go to public forum for online reviews, recommendations, and warnings about thousands of business in dozens of categories in cities throughout the U.S. The service was founded in 2004, when online commerce was still in its relative infancy, and today Yelp averages some 90 million unique views per month on its combined app and website. Yelpers have written some 102 million reviews over the past 12 years and the number keeps growing. Rebecca Whyte is the local Yelp manager in Baton Rouge. Another relatively new business service is executive coaching. It s only been around since the late 1980s, and in the decades since has grown to become an indispensable tool for company executives, who fac

Did you ever wonder who scored that perfect 100th percentile on the A.C.T. Meet Craig Gehring. Craig is a Baton Rouge native who got a perfect score on his ACT and has turned his genius, test taking ability into one of the fastest growing companies in the area. Mastery Prep started out preparing individual students for the ACT and in just a few short years it has created an entire brand of test prep materials for a variety of standardized tests that is being used in school districts across the country. While Mastery Prep is helping to improve minds in the Baton Rouge area, Emma Kruger is doing something equally impressive turning back the hands of time. At the Metabolic and Anti Aging Center of Louisiana Emma specialize in the emerging field of metabolic and regenerative medicine, which involves a variety of treatment measures and lifestyle changes. If you re impressed by reversing time and getting a perfect score on your ACT, you probably don t think it s possible for a Baton Rouge business person to top tha

Baton Rouge may not be the first place you think of in connection with high fashion. But there s one notable exception Haspel. It s the company that invented the seersucker suit more than a century ago. Today Haspel continues to redefine that classic staple of the southern wardrobe, while also designing some of the trendiest and most sought after looks for fashion conscious gentlemen. Laurie Aaronson is President of Haspel, and the granddaughter of the company s founder, Joseph Haspel. While Haspel has a long and venerable tradition in the fashion world, an upstart company with a focus on footwear is also starting to gain notice. The company is Sorority Inspired Sandals and, as its name implies, its makes stylish sandals that bear the logos of Greek organizations. The products are becoming a must have item for sororities throughout the SEC and S.I.S is hatching plans to sell beyond the sorority sisters. Dene Mathies, along with her daughter, is co founder of Sorority Inspired Sandals. Richard Hanley doesn t h

Fifteen years ago, no had heard of an app. They didn t exist. Today, there are more than 1.6 million of them available to download on your smart phone or tablet. And new ones are being designed every day. Apps are an integral part of commerce and communication in our digital age, and here in Baton Rouge we have companies not only using cutting edge apps to improve their business, but designing them as well. Amy Phillips is Creative Director at Teknarus, a full service technology company located in the Louisiana Technology Park. Teknarus specializes in custom software services, security services, and infrastructure services which means they do things like design apps. Amy is the person who oversees the design and user interface for all app, software and website projects. Apps are not all about whizz bang sexiness. Their utility is as ubiquitous as bread and butter and today they re used in business for thngs as prosaic as figuring out a mortgage. Commerce Title is Baton Rouge s largest locally owned title comp

Nearly 50 of Louisiana s land mass is covered by forest. That s a whopping 14 million acres of tress. And these tress aren t just sitting there beautifying the countryside, they re hard at work. The forestry industry in Louisiana is the state s second largest employer. And there s a huge private sector in the world of woods as well. Warren Peters has built a career around tending to Louisiana s forest lands. His 20 year old company, Peters Forest Resources, provides all phases of forest management, from reforestation to harvest supervision. The company also does large inventories, mappings, financial analysis, appraisals, ecological studies and provides brokerage services. If you re a city dweller you might not think much about this, but it s big business based right here in the center of Baton Rouge. While Louisiana is rich in forest lands, it is also resplendent with semi tropical trees, plants, flowers and fruits. Jeb Barber spends his days taming and cultivating this natural beauty and bringing it to home

In South Louisiana folks often say we we don t eat to live, we live to eat. Stephanie s guests on this edition of Out to Lunch have taken that Louisiana passion for food and turned it into business enterprises. Ryan McNeil is the founder and co owner of Fresh Kitchen, a growing company that sells freshly prepared, prepackaged and healthful meals from two Baton Rouge locations. Fresh Kitchen has only been in business for a little over one year and already it is expanding, with plans to open still more stores in the future. Erin Nugent is co founder of Five Seaons. Kicking off with the publication of their eponymous cookbook, Erin and her company have a plan for world domination built around seasonal food availability and a 5th season for those evergreen recipes for all seasons. If things go according to the business plan you ll be able to say you heard it here first. Malcom Young is Baton Rouge s Pied Piper of Salsa his loyal foodie fans follow his Malco s Magnificent Salsa to the Saturday morning Red Stick Fa

Sight, sound and tatse are three of our five senses. They re also the raison d ewtre of three very different Baton Rouge businesses. SoundIf you spent any time by the pool or at the beach this summer you might have encountered products made by Audio Bomb. The Baton Rouge company makes portable, waterproof, inexpensive, audio equipment. And it keeps coming out with ever cooler products in ever ever cuter little packages. They re even diversifying into an interesting sector tech loaded non electronics. designed for the poolside niche market. Ned Pearson is the creator of these cool acquatic products. Sight and SoundRenee Vidrine is President and CEO at Lighthouse Louisiana, a social enterprise company that creates opportunities for both the hearing and visually impaired through education, social support, advocacy, and most sognificantly, employment. Lighthouse puts its clients to work in its paper cup maufacturing facility in Baton Rouge. This is not some sort of feel god charity. Lighthouse s paper cups are a

We may have heat and mosquitos in Baton Rouge, but we re also blessed to have beautiful surroundings and lush greenery everywhere. Much of the old growth and verdant landscaping is a natural part of the flora and fauna here in south Louisiana, but much of it is cultivated through hard work and attention to detail. Mitch Mayes is the owner of Louisiana Nursery, which was established by Mitch s father more than 33 years ago and today has three thriving locations around Baton Rouge. Louisiana Nursery specializes in gardening, lawncare and outdoor living and recently introduced three climate controlled greenhouses at its Perkins Road location. Allison Guidroz is co owner of Fullness Organic Farm, which grows fresh, organic produce on a half acre plot that was the site of the Old Longwood Plantation off Nicholson Drive near Gardere Lane. Allison and her husband, Grant, grow seasonal vegetables, which they sell at the Red Stick Farmer s Market, as well as to local restaurants and even online. This conversation will

Baton Rouge has a bustling economy and plenty of entrepreneurs with great ideas, but baton Rouge doesn t have an ecosystem for entrepreneurs. Whether it s a culture, a lack of capital, or a little of both, Stephanie s guets on Out to Lunch each have a unique perspective on what it will take to build a better ecosystem for entrepreneurs. Byron Clayton is President and CEO of the Research Park Corporation, which created and operates the Louisiana Technology Park, a business incubator here in Baton Rouge that recently rebranded as Nexus. Byron comes from Cleveland Ohio, where he had extensive experience in the entrepreneurial sector. Since coming to Louisiana in early 2015, he s been making some changes to the way business at the business incubator is done. Louis Freeman ia president and CEO of Innovation Catalyst, a nonprofit venture development organization created by the RPC that Byron Clayton heads. Innovation Catalyst provides startup money to fledgling businesses through its nonprofit Catalyst Fund, and is

Hansel Harlan has taken the hook fanged scourge of Louisiana s disappearing wetlands and turned it into a dog s best friend. Hansel is the co founder of Marsh Dog, creators of doggy treats in the form of biscuits and jerky, made out of nutria. If you think giving your dog nutria treats is a little unusual, meet Niki Hansen. Niki can give your pet a lot more than a unique dog biscuit. Niki is the founder of a company with an almost accurate name, Impossible Innovations, that makes what she calls "veterinary prosthetics" fake legs for animals, from goats to horses and of course including your dog. While this may be the first you re hearing about pets wearing prosthetics it s more than likely not the first you ve heard of the many ways you can pamper your pet. Here in Baton Rouge, Michael Hackett is your pet pampering person of record. Michael co owns two locations of Petz Plaza with his wife and father, and a third location, not family member is on the way. Stephanie Riegel hosts the guaranteed most fascinating

One thing you hear a lot from people who come to Baton Rouge after having been a way for awhile is how different it is. How much the city has grown, improved, and special mention is most often made about the rebirth of downtown and revitalization in other up and coming neighborhoods. All this redevelopment didn t happen by accident. There has been a lot of planning over the past 25 years to bring not only downtown, but areas like Mid City, the Perkins Road overpass area, and Old Goodwood back to life. Stephanie s guests on Out to Lunch have been at the forefront of this effort. Davis Rhorer is the executive director of the Downtown Development District, a post he has held since the organization was founded in 1987. Davis has overseen the implementation of two major land use plans for downtown, Plan Baton Rouge and Plan Baton Rouge II. Davis has been a tireless advocate for the city s historic center during the development of signature projects like the Shaw Center for the Arts and the IBM complex, the Third S

Whether you live in Baton Rouge, work in Baton Rouge or just pass through Baton Rouge every now and then, you have experienced the Capital Region s notorious gridlock. Baton Rouge ranks among the very worst mid sized cities in the nation for traffic congestion. Business leaders last year in a Chamber survey listed traffic as the single biggest problem facing Baton Rouge. The issue commanded a lot of attention last year during the governor s race and there has been a lot of talk about what could and should be done. But will anything happen On this edition of Out to Lunch Stephanie talks with three of the Capital Region s most seasoned experts on this subject. They each have a unique perspective on this overwhelming problem and have all put a lot of thought into how to solve it. Scott Kirkpatrick, an attorney and lobbyist with Roedel Parsons, cut his teeth in the offices of former U.S Sen. John Breaux, former Congressman Richard Baker, and former Gov. Kathleen Blanco. With his government affairs background, Sco

In the age of Internet shopping, retail is an increasingly difficult way to make a living. When shoppers don t care if you re local and, no matter where they live, want current fashion and accessories at a fair price, how does a local business compete Scott Berg says it starts with service. Scott has other strategies too, and proven successes to back them up. Scott is Baton Rouge Market President of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry including a Pandora franchise in the Mall of Louisiana. Scott was just a two year old when his father, Lee Michael Berg, opened the first Lee Michaels in Cortana Mall in 1978. Today Scott and his dad work closely together, and Scott s 12 year old has some design ideas of her own. Scott s daughter could learn clothing design and manufacture with Andrea Eastin. Andrea s company, Fair Fit, is a boutique fashion design studio with classes that teach people of all ages and both genders to sew, design and customize our own clothing. You might be surprised to learn that a good number of Baton Ro

Many of us have a creative streak, or like to think we do, but for most of us it remains an outlet, a hobby. Some of us, though, have the courage and the determination to turn our creative passion into a business enterprise even if only a small one. It can be a dream come true, though it s not without its challenges. Judy Whitney Davis is a Baton Rouge native and a woman of many passions and talents, including motivational speaking and delivering singing tours of historic homes. She is one of those living the dream. In 2012, she took another of her interests soap making and launched The Inner Goddess Soaps which specializes in customed scented soaps and has expanded into bath bombs, bath fizzies, salt soaks, and candles to order. Inner Goddess Soaps is also one of the few body product companies that sells at animation and comic conventions. Judy Whitney Davis is a true Baton Rouge original. An inspiring business woman who gets knocked down, koncked back, but never knocked out. If things get really bad, she si

In 2000, an LSU engineering professor named Kevin Kelly got an idea to build compact, efficient heat exchangers that would help engines perform better. Today, Mezzo is one of the leading companies in the country in the area of micro tube heat exchanger technology, and the company s products are used in dozens of applications and across industries from aerospace to oil and gas to, believe it or not, high performance auto racing. It s not the kind of technology you think of when you think of Louisiana, which is what makes the story of Mezzo such a great one. On this edition of Out to Lunch Mezzo co founder and company President Kevin Kelly tells host Stephanie Riegel about the growth of Mezzo and the market for its products. Mezzo got its start in the Bon Carre business incubator more than a decade ago. Another impressive Baton Rouge tech company that also started out in an incubator the LSU business and technology center is CAP Technologies. The company is providing an invaluable service to big industry and to