Learn how to power up your team Clay Matchett went from being one of the youngest full-time football coaches in the NFL to founding one of the most successful healthcare consulting firms in the Gulf Coast. Today, Matchett is a life coach who helps others accomplish their dreams.   Matchett on Wednesday will share the skills and knowledge that helped him reach the NFL and found two profitable and dynamic companies, MV-Health and Justice Health Solutions. MV-Health provides expertise and guidance in regulatory compliance for clinics and hospitals. Justice Healthcare Solutions focuses on helping correctional facilities provide quality healthcare and implement stringent cost-controls by utilizing cutting-edge technology.   His presentation “Powering Up Your Team Through Self-Discipline” will be from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday at the CLEDA offices, 900 Fourth St., Suite 300, downtown Alexandria. Register now for this free event.   Machett's presentation targets all members of a business. "It doesn’t matter what type of career you are pursuing, it doesn’t matter where you are at on the org chart, it doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are. You are going to be internally challenged for external results." He will emphasize the importance of mastering the fundamentals in order to pave the way for success. “In any sport, when you start off practice, you almost always start with the fundamentals. You do the little things that become repetition. And life is the same way. When you do little things consistently, it becomes natural to you, so now you can focus on the bigger things and maximize who you are."

Want to build a better business? ONTRAPORT president tells you how ONTRAPORT President Lena Requist visited Alexandria to share the techniques she used to help her business grow 5,000 percent in just three years. Her leadership landed the organization at #102 on the Inc. 500 (fastest growing companies in America), and #96 on Forbes' list of America's Most Promising Companies. She said all business practices are the same, regardless of what type of company you have. When building your business, focus on your vision, your strategy, your leadership and your operations. Watch the videos, or read on for her techniques for building a better business:   A clear vision ensures you and your employees are headed toward the right goal. “Most entrepreneurs don’t have a clear vision. Or they have something up in their head but never articulated it. Write down your vision ... so everyone around you knows where you are headed. Vision really helps everybody, including you, know what direction you’re headed. When you are focused, you move forward faster.”   Strategy is figuring out the best path. “What is the best path for me to take? What are the milestones that you’re going to hit in order to get to that main vision at the end? I recommend you make a vision of ultimately where you want to be – the perfect end result – and over the next three years what are the major accomplishments you would need to achieve to move in that direction.”   Focus on Leadership and Operations. “Leadership is getting the right people to do the right work. ... Operations is moving forward efficiently, not wasting time, having people doing the skills they are actually good at, including yourself.”   Learn how to delegate. “Delegation is a skill that takes time and effort to learn over time. When you delegate, the first thing you should know is you are still 100 percent responsible for it, no matter what. It’s still your task to do.”   Set up clear tasks for your employees “Set up the assignment. Explain the why behind the assignment. This is such a crucial step. Explain why the task is important, why it matters to them and why it matters to you. If you explain the why, you’ll have a better chance of the work coming back better quality.”   Fully explain the process. “Provide examples of past assignments so they know what it looks like. Set clear, agreed-upon deadlines. Set a halfway point, and let them help with the deadlines. When someone commits to something, they will bend over backwards to keep their commitment.”   Provide oversight. “The oversight on tasks is that midway check-in. Especially the first few times around, say specifically what needs to change. What are the results you are trying to achieve with this task. If someone has the time and I’ve given them the opportunity, they will put in the effort and really think through something that’s quality. Give them some feedback and say change this and why. Don’t say ‘I’ll do it myself.’ This is about you learning to delegate." On people management. "As the leader of your organization, you’re going to have to manage people. And this is every entrepreneur’s worst nightmare. If bad managers are like bullies, good managers are the exact opposite. They listen to people, they acknowledge them, they give feedback." Provide clarity. "I have found time and again that when things go wrong or mistakes happen, I wasn’t clear enough. I didn’t create clarity. So prepare to say the same thing 100 different ways. Set expectations. Everything that you might think of as obvious is not obvious. Remember, there’s no Employee 101 and you’re going to have to do it again and again and again and again."   If an employee repeatedly breaks a clear rule. "Everyone who works for you, I assume they are adults. They are rational humans who are making decisions for themselves. Everyone makes choices all day long. After you talked to them twice about a particular situation and it happens again, it is a clear choice on their part, and it has nothing to do with you. Most of the time they wanted to be fired. It’s a choice."   Schedule one-on-one meetings with your employees. “This is one of my favorite tools to set up for clarity and remove conflict and upset in the office. This is their meeting. If they have questions, I can create clarity for them. If they have complaints, I can create clarity for them. I hear what’s going on in other departments all the time. It’s a super valuable time for their learning and growing. It’s the most valuable meeting you can have in your organization."

Have you heard? Ugly Mug Marketing CEO Wayne Mullins has been selected to speak at this year’s ONTRApalooza, named by Forbes Magazine as one of their “Must Attend Conferences for Entrepreneurs.” ONTRApalooza is the premier business-building conference for decision-makers, small business owners, dedicated entrepreneurs, and those driven to make a difference. This three-day event will be held in Santa Barbara, California, Oct. 12-14. Mullins will be sharing the stage with Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix; Sophia Amoruso, Nasty Gal founder and executive chairman; and Neil Patel, co-founder of Crazy Egg and Hello Bar. The topic: The Top 10 Marketing Hacks You Must Do in 2017. This will be Mullins' sixth ONTRApalooza to attend; his first as a presenter. Asked what he expects to get out of this year's summit, he said: "Charlie 'Tremendous' Jones once said, 'In five years you'll be the exact same person you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet.' I'm looking forward to being around people who bring a different perspective to my business, people willing to tell me the things I need to hear, but don't necessarily want to hear."

Manchac Technologies is getting accolades in Washington, D.C. The Alexandria company known for its pharmacy robots was recognized as a "Small Business of the Week" during a session of Congress this summer, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for open government globally and uses technology to make government more accountable to all. The recognition is in the Congressional Record. U.S. Senator David Vitter recognized Manchac "as Small Business of the Week for their commitment to help improve the quality and accuracy of pharmacies in Louisiana and across the country. ... Thank you for your commitment to driving innovation and productivity for pharmacies over Louisiana and around the country." Read the full text in the Congressional Record.

Lena Requist, president of ONTRAPORT, will be in Alexandria on Thursday, July 21, to share the strategies and techniques she used to help her business grow 5,000 percent in just three years. Her leadership landed the organization at #102 on the Inc. 500 (fastest growing companies in America), and #96 on Forbes' list of America's Most Promising Companies.   The “Building a Better Business” workshop will be in the Hearn Stage of the Kress Theater in downtown Alexandria. Register now for this free event funded by the USDA and The Rapides Foundation.   Business Acceleration System Executive Director Gary Perkins credits Ugly Mug Marketing’s Wayne Mullins with bringing Requist to Alexandria for this rare appearance. “We would never have been able to get her if we didn't have that personal connection. So we are very lucky to have her.”   Mullins and Requist are part of a small mastermind group of entrepreneurs from Romania, Australia, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Michigan, California and Virginia. “Lena is passionate about helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses” by putting systems and processes in place, Mullins said. “I shared with her about the great work Gary was doing with BAS and explained how much of an impact her strategies and ideas would make here in Cenla.”   Register now for this rare opportunity.

Coding course opens career opportunities for Cenla residents Rose Tolentino didn’t know a thing about computer coding when she got a scholarship to take the five-week code [IT] training class in Alexandria last month. Now, the single mother of three who used to work as certified nursing assistant is on the path to a career in software program development.   CLEDA, the Central Louisiana Economic Devleopment Alliance, offered scholarships worth $500 each for adults to attend the class. The code [IT] curriculum, designed by a prestigious Silicon-Valley firm, is for people with little or no coding experience and introduces the fundamentals of JavaScript, HTML and CSS. After completion, participants may apply for an advanced immersion course this fall that will prepare them for careers as full-stack software engineers.   The interest for code [IT] was so high that CLEDA plans to offer it again in January. Details will be posted on the CLEDA events page. The first class had 20 participants, the limit, and there’s already a waiting list, said instructor Ben Stewart.   The class was intense. It was held three hours a night, four nights a week for a total of five weeks. Students ranged from recent high school graduates to older professionals looking for career changes. “It was fast-paced and very technical at times, but I felt that overall the class was well received. There were definitely several students who did extremely well. That made me proud to see,” Stewart said.   CLEDA’s goal is to create a greater demand for programmers in Central Louisiana. “By providing access to affordable, effective, expedited training in coding, we are not only empowering individuals to improve their own lives, but we are developing a workforce for a growing industry here in Central Louisiana, an industry whose most significant challenge to growth is a lack of trained workers,” said Jim Clinton, CLEDA president and CEO.  Tolentino, a Pitkin resident, considers herself extremely lucky to have been offered a scholarship for the first class. In fact, she almost didn’t apply. After her 18-year-old son, Christian, was accepted, Tolentino decided to see if she could get in so they could ride together.   “I was really scared when I first started. I had never been in this field whatsoever. But this class took someone like me who had no previous knowledge of coding or programming to be able to do some web designs using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I can actually make a web page,” she said. “I give Mr. Stewart credit for that. He did everything step by step for us, he baby stepped us.”   Tolentino, 36, now plans to take the advanced class that will lead to a full-time career in computers. “CLEDA has opened up a new world for me. I honestly didn’t think I could do all of this. It boosted my self-esteem. But now I can continue this and be a full-stack software engineer.”

How do you attract 'A players' to your business? Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ and author of "How to Hire the Best: The Rural Small Business Owner’s Ultimate Guide to Attracting Top-Performing Employees," spoke to a group of Central Louisiana business owners at a May event hosted by CLEDA. In her presentation, Starling shared how to hire and attract “A players,” and explained why it’s important to weed out the “warm bodies” in your small business. View her full presentation on the Business Acceleration System YouTube channel, or read her words here:   Keeping ‘warm bodies’ on the payroll is detrimental to your business. "We business owners have a dominate discourse when it comes to employees. (We say) ‘All the good ones leave,’ ‘What’s wrong with this generation? They don’t want to work.’ ‘I can’t compete with larger companies to pay the wages they pay, so I can’t get the good employees.’ Those beliefs all lead to one conclusion: 'I better hang on to every warm body that I’ve got in my business because I don’t want to be the one doing all the work again.' But that belief is horrible for us as small business owners. You just can’t afford it."   The problem with keeping warm bodies on the payroll. "Unhappy, disengaged employees spend only about 40 percent of their time on task. So in other words, they are showing up to work with you five days a week, but you’re getting two days of work out of them. You don’t want to fire people. But I think it’s a good thing when business owners say, 'Enough, I’m not going to tolerate these warm bodies any more. I’m done with it.'"   What is a top-performing employee really worth? "One top-performing employee will do the work of nine to 12 of your C or D players. It’s no longer a quantity game; it’s a quality game. You need fewer employees when you have ‘A players’ on your payroll. You just need to know how to find the good ones and keep them. It will pay off tremendously."   Move from a staff of warm bodies to a few top performers by letting your employees know their expectations and hold them to strong accountability. "When you start doing this, the warm bodies get out."   Begin “hiring up” with every new hire. "And quit settling for the best of the people who show up and do an interview with you."   Traditional hiring practices don’t work. Instead of waiting until you have an opening, maintain a full pipeline of top-performing perspective applicants. "Top performing employees are never unemployed. So when you’re posting an ad you are pulling from people who aren’t ‘A players’ likely. Your job is to start networking to connect with top-quality people so when you have an open position you already have a network of people. Place this strategy on same level as business development."   What is an ‘A player’? "They are your most valuable employees. They have great attitudes, they always seek to work smarter, they take initiative, they go the extra mile, you can trust them to get the job done, they are good communicators and they work well in a team environment to accomplish goals."   Why is it so hard to find ‘A players’? "Regardless of where you are located, only 10 percent of the population are ‘A players.’ That means 90 percent of the people who are applying for work with you are not ‘A players.’ The good news is “A players” tend to associate with each other."   What is one characteristic of an ‘A player’ that can’t be taught on the job and isn’t listed on a resume?  "Resourcefulness. That’s the distinguishing characteristic of an 'A player.' You cannot train someone to be resourceful. The only people who can train A-player qualities are parents. These are things you learn in your childhood."   Then how do you determine if a job candidate is resourceful? "You determine it through reference checks and interviews. Ask them to share an example of a situation in which they did not have the tools to do their job. Ask them: ‘How did you handle that situation?’ That question gets at resourcefulness."   Top-performing employees tend to hang out with other “A players.” Tap into their network. "The gossip chain in our small town is highly effective. We want to get the gossip chain working for you in a positive direction. We want to start positioning your business as an employer of choice for your ideal employees."   To position your business as an employer of choice, start off by asking your top-performing employees why they like working for you. Hint: it’s usually more than the paycheck. "Take them to lunch one on one and ask ‘What do you like most about your job with us?’ This gives you clues to the intangible perks that you are offering that you probably don’t even know you are offering. As small business owners we are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of employees that larger corporations never can because the larger corporations have policies that have to be implemented as a blanket for every single employee. They can’t make exceptions. But as a small business owner, you can do things to accommodate your employees."   Get your ‘A players’ to recruit other ‘A players’ for you. "Have an employee referral incentive program in your business (where you) reward your best employees for sending applicants and contacts your way."

Coding course provides baseline training for careers in software development The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance is offering 15 scholarships worth $500 each for Central Louisiana residents who want to attend the first session of code[IT], a five-week crash course introducing software program development. Classes will be from 6-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays from June 1 through July 7. Students receive 60 hours of hands-on, interactive training which will prepare them for careers in software development. The code[IT] curriculum, designed by a prestigious Silicon-Valley firm, introduces the fundamentals of JavaScript, HTML and CSS and requires no coding experience or training. After completion of the code[IT] training, participants may apply for a 3-month immersion course which prepares individuals for careers as full-stack software engineers. Scholarship applications are available at www.cenla.org/codeIT. Register and learn more at www.codeit2016.eventbrite.com. “Coding careers, the jobs focused on software programming, offer an incredible opportunity for individuals to improve their earning power and quality of life,” said Jim Clinton, Executive Director of CLEDA.  “By providing access to affordable, effective, expedited training in coding, we are not only empowering individuals to improve their own lives, but we are developing a workforce for a growing industry here in Central Louisiana, an industry whose most significant challenge to growth is a lack of trained workers.” The training includes an introduction to the fundamentals of computing, HTML, CSS, and Java Script. CLEDA is making the training available for $995; those who receive the $500 scholarship offered by CLEDA will be able to register for $495. Applicants should be at least 18 years old or have a high school diploma or GED. Participants will be required to bring a laptop with a wireless connection, running Windows 10 and using Chrome or Firefox as the browser.

Ice House Entrepreneurship Program building business owners in Central Louisiana.

Ice House entrepreneur training develops small business owners Jackie Bronson always dreamed about starting her own business, but never knew how to get started. After attending the free Ice House Entrepreneurship Training program offered by Business Acceleration System, she proudly calls herself a business owner.   “I always thought I had to have a lot of money, but I learned that I can start with what I have,” said Bronson, who recently picked up fresh business cards for her new business, Jackie’s Personal Organizer. “I found out there are people out there who are willing to help you, but you just have to take the first step.”   The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is designed for people with limited resources who have dreams of owning a successful business, said BAS Executive Director Gary Perkins. Built for rigor and relevance, this highly interactive training enables participants to learn from the first-hand experience of successful, unlikely entrepreneurs. The course is based on the book “Who Owns the Ice House?” and developed by the Kaufman Foundation. It is being brought to Central Louisiana thanks to a grant from Capital One and the City of Alexandria. The goal behind the program is to create 50 new businesses in Central Louisiana, Perkins said.   BAS has held three Ice House sessions to date. The next will be in June. To be eligible, applicants must meet the income requirements and be selected by a panel of judges. Click the link to register. In the class, Perkins shows entrepreneurs how to get started with limited resources by “bootstratpping” their way into business. This concept is what encouraged Bronson and other participants to make the jump into business. Pam Hardy discovered she didn't need a big budget to start her dream business, Intimates by SK. She built a small website and set up free social media accounts to get started and attract customers to her company, a monthly subscription box service for women. "It forces you to think outside the box to promote your business," she said. "Gary gave us a lot of information to pinpoint what our customers actually need and want. Customer service is a big thing. You have to value them and make sure you come through above and beyond what you promise," she said. "I really enjoyed the course. I'm still doing the groundwork for Intimates by SK, but I’m hoping to send the first box out in the next couple of months."

Workshop offers '3 Simple Steps to Hiring Your Next Top Performer' Do you dread hiring employees? Have you regretted some of your hiring decisions? In a free workshop scheduled for May 25, Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ reveals three simple, yet highly effective, steps to hiring superstar employees. "When you know how to attract top-performing employees, your payroll goes from being an expense to being an investment," she said. Top performing employees are never unemployed, so it’s beneficial for a small business owner to build a pipeline of potential employees. “You have to think like a marketer to start attracting employees to your business. You always have to be networking, and when you are out there networking, you need to talk about the type of person you are looking to hire,” Starling said. Any small business owner who has been frustrated with previous hiring decisions or who is ready to start hiring is encouraged to attend. Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Location: CLEDA office, 900 Fourth St., Suite 300, Alexandria Register Now! Starling is the author of "How to Hire the Best: The Rural Small Business Owner’s Ultimate Guide to Attracting Top-Performing Employees." She conducts extensive interviews with successful owners to uncover the best hiring practices for small businesses. The strategies she teaches work consistently across industries, even for business owners who have struggled for years being understaffed.  Starling uses a unique blend of psychology and proven, easy-to-apply business systems to transform small businesses into highly profitable, great places to work. Employee problems can be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for any business owner.  With her background in psychology, and years of driving profit in small businesses, Starling knows what it takes to find, keep and get exceptional performance out of your biggest investment -- your employees. Register now!

'100 Days Showcase' concludes community maker project Central Louisiana residents will show off the good stuff they’ve been making for the past 100 days at a special event scheduled for Friday, May 13. The event brings Central Louisiana’s first-ever "100 Days of Making" challenge to a close.   The challenge invited residents to commit to 100 days of making anything they want with the goal of igniting a spark in the Central Louisiana makers’ community. The challenge was connected by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and driven by all the makers in the region.   Residents embraced the challenge by quilting, painting, drawing, writing, sculpting, soap making and more, with far more people participating than organizers imagined. Around 150 individual makers and manufacturers showed off their creations in the Tribe of Maker Mornings Facebook page, and countless others quietly joined the challenge on their own.   The ending celebration will be held at the Hearn Stage in downtown Alexandria from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13. In addition to showcasing projects that makers have undertaken over the past 100 days, the event will feature food, drinks, music and a “Maker Mob” where makers will use available materials to make things as a community.   “We’re encouraging all of our makers to sign up. This is their chance to shine and to show off whatever they have been working on since we started the challenge on February 1,” said John Cotton Dean, CLEDA’s Director of Regional Innovation. To see what individuals and manufacturers have been making, check out the #100DaysCenla, #100DaysofMaking and #WeMakeGoodStuff hashtags on Facebook and Instagram.   Register for the 100 Days Showcase event.   Inspirational speaker Les Brown inspires a packed audience at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center to have the right mindset for success. "Through entrepreneurship, you can transform your life, you can transform a community." Watch his March 1, 2016, presentation here!

Les Brown event launches Ice House entrepreneur training Business Acceleration System and CLEDA are offering a four-part training series for Central Louisiana residents who want to start or grow a business this year but have limited resources to get started.   The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is designed for low to moderate income individuals, said BAS Executive Director Gary Perkins. “Some of the most successful entrepreneurs are people who were ‘unlikely entrepreneurs’ with little resources when they started out.”   Built for rigor and relevance, this highly interactive training enables participants to learn from the first-hand experience of successful, unlikely entrepreneurs. The course is based on the book “Who Owns the Ice House?” and developed by the Kaufman Foundation. It is being brought to Central Louisiana thanks to a grant from Capital One and the City of Alexandria. The goal behind the program is to create 50 new businesses in Central Louisiana, Perkins said.   This free, four-week program will be offered March 17, March 24, March 31 and April 7 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the CLEDA office, 900 Fourth St., Alexandria. A similar program is beginning in Natchitoches on Saturday, March 12.   To be eligible, applicants must meet the income requirements and be selected by a panel of judges. Click the link to register.   CLEDA announced the launch of the Ice House opportunity at a packed-house presentation by motivational speaker Les Brown. Brown’s personal story is an example of achieving success if you have the right mindset for it.   “People have to be creative, they have to be resourceful, and they have to create collaborative achievement-driven supportive relationships in order to make their dreams become reality,” Brown said. Read the full story.

Ugly Mug Marketing owner Wayne Mullins (left) visits with client Michael Levine, a prominent Hollywood publicist. Levine nominated Ugly Mug for a Best of Los Angeles award.

Central Louisiana firm wins Best of Los Angeles award Central Louisiana’s Ugly Mug Marketing snagged an accolade that would make most Los Angeles marketing firms jealous. Ugly Mug received The Best of Los Angeles Award for Best Web Marketing Company of 2015.   How did a Central Louisiana company win an unsolicited award reserved for “the most buzz-worthy people, places, and things in LA?”   One of Ugly Mug’s clients is Hollywood publicist Michael Levine, who nominated Ugly Mug for this prestigious award. Levine’s clients have included Michael Jackson, Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Cameron Diaz, Nike and others. It’s an honor that Ugly Mug owner Wayne Mullins takes in stride.   “Although we are honored to have received The Best of Los Angeles Award - Best Web Marketing Firm 2015, awards are not what we're about at Ugly Mug Marketing. We are about delivering results for our clients – no matter what,” he said. “Sadly, most in our industry (web design and marketing) are more concerned about tooting their own horns, and making themselves look good – and less concerned with delivering results for their clients. The Best of Los Angeles Award happened as a result of doing exactly that – delivering results for our clients in the Los Angeles area. We never have and never will enter ourselves into one of the hundreds of ‘design award’ contests that exist. We believe doing so would shift our focus from delivering results to trying to win awards.”   Mullins started Ugly Mug in January 2009. Although he and his five employees work out of an office in downtown Alexandria, Ugly Mug serves web clients in nine different countries. In addition, their information and training products attract clients from 22 countries throughout the world.   “There’s nothing preventing a Central Louisiana entrepreneur from succeeding. And to take it one step further, if you say there’s something preventing you from succeeding in Central Louisiana, it’s likely an excuse,” he said.   Mullins encourages new businesses to seek the coaching, mentoring and other services that Business Acceleration System provides. BAS offers these services free of charge. “The accountability, the advice the guidance, the skill development have all been crucial to our growth and success,” he said. “It’s like having my own board of advisors or board of directors to help make sure I’m on the right path.”

Central Louisiana’s 100 Days of Making challenge is in full swing, with the region’s makers creating and sharing a wide variety of projects like pottery, poetry, artwork and quilting. “I just absolutely love the energy that has happened as a result of this challenge,” said David A. Crain, a three-decade career creator who owns DAC Creative Solutions.   The challenge began February 1 with Central Louisiana residents invited to commit to 100 days of making whatever they want. The challenge is connected by CLEDA, but driven by all the makers in Central Louisiana with the goal of igniting a spark in the local makers community. “100 Days of Making is a celebration of making, both the made thing and the process of making,” said CLEDA President Jim Clinton. “More than anything else, we want everyone in Central Louisiana to connect to the idea of making and to be proud to be part of a region of makers.”   So far, as is evidenced by the Tribe of Maker Mornings Facebook group, the project has been a success. “I’m delighted to see how many people have joined in on this challenge and are showcasing the work they are known for,” Crain said. “I’m also very delighted to find out how many makers there are out there that we didn’t know. It’s inspiring to see.”   Many makers are changing and adapting their creative goals as the challenge continues. Said one maker: “I initially started this project planning to crochet 100 things. I have discovered that this is unrealistic for me, because my maker interests extend far beyond crocheting. So my new goal is to just make, and document the making!”   It's not too late to start making! Post about your own progress and see what others are doing by joining The Tribe of Maker Mornings Facebook group. ‪#100DaysCenla ‪#100DaysofMaking ‪#WeMakeGoodStuff

See the 100 Days of Making launch event.

100 Days of Making launches Jan. 19

 

What could you make in 100 days? What are you passionate about? Join 100 Days of Making, where Central Louisiana residents will track, chronicle and celebrate things made in our region during this historic 100-day period.

100 Days of Making will launch at the fifth installment of Maker Mornings, set for 7:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, in the Hearn Stage of the Kress Theatre, downtown Alexandria. Clink the link to register.

“100 Days of Making is a celebration of making, both the made thing and the process of making,” said Jim Clinton, CEO and President of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “More than anything else, we want everyone in Central Louisiana to connect to the idea of making and to be proud to be part of a region of makers.”

For the past year, CLEDA has convened Maker Mornings events to bring together artists, designers, writers, musicians, artisans, welders, woodworkers, and manufacturers. CLEDA believes that the act of making has great dignity whether it occurs in a laboratory, a factory, an office, a classroom, a workshop, an atelier or at a kitchen table. “100 Days of Making has tremendous potential for igniting a spark in local makers unlike anything experienced here before,” said David A. Crain, a three-decade career creator who owns DAC Creative Solutions.

The 100 Days of Making challenge is connected by CLEDA, but driven by all of the makers in Central Louisiana. “Central Louisiana is full of makers, and 100 Days of Making will help shine a light on the creativity driving our region forward,” said John Cotton Dean, Director of Regional Innovation for CLEDA.

Learn more about Maker Mornings and the 100 Days of Making by visiting the movements Facebook page. Participants will be sharing their progress by uploading photos at #100dayscenla on Instagram and Facebook.

Alexandria company takes cyber security into virtual reality

Alexandria-based Ingalls Information Security developed a cool way to fight and defend against computer hackers that has captured attention worldwide. In fact, just days after the company unveiled its cutting-edge iNSITE technology at the annual Black Hat hacker conference in Las Vegas last fall, the BBC featured it in a report on cyber security. View the BBC story.

“We built this tool that lets you see in cyberspace,” said Jason Ingalls, founder and CEO. “It takes a bunch of data, compresses it down and presents it in a way that is easier to analyze than staring at a spreadsheet. We built it so you can use it with virtual reality. You put this thing on your head and you’re there. You are in the network. It’s really compelling, and it looks really cool.”

iNSITE uses virtual reality to give cyber security analysts the ability to see the network they are defending in real-time or near-real-time. It creates virtual reality maps that aim to reveal security breaches in cyber space.

Ingalls Information Security is a specialized, computer security company with a mission to prevent and respond to data security breaches. With 12 employees, Ingalls said he has the best and most creative people in the industry and can identify areas that companies should focus on to enhance their level of security and awareness.

Ingalls, a Hicks native, is working with the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance to encourage students to consider careers in the ever-growing cyber security industry – something that can be achieved without having to leave Central Louisiana.

“I want people around town to have a better opportunity to be able to do what I think we are lucky to be able to do. There are a million job openings in cyber security right now. It’s a huge industry,” he said. “In today’s remote worker economy, all I need for you to do is connect to our servers and know your job. It’s just a question of can you get the education and experience you need to be effective. And the answer to that is, you can do that just as well in Louisiana as you can in San Francisco today.”

Spotlight on: Rise and Shine Letterpress

In the News

Congratulations to SolScapes founder Iviana Stewart, the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce’s Small Businessperson of the Year for 2015. SolScapes joined BAS in late 2011.
See the Town Talk story on her accomplishment.

Reserve your spot now

Maker Mornings explores innovative methods to age-old challenges through a variety of creative disciplines. Research shows that infusion of intentional creative disciplines within an organization greatly increases productivity and the bottom line. Maker Mornings is a one-of-a-kind community that will appeal to and benefit a broad spectrum of people.

Join us for the next Maker Mornings on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Hearn Stage, 1101 Third St., downtown Alexandria. Register now.

The Maker Morning series gives local entrepreneurs a chance to gather to share their creativity and innovations. Don’t forget to like the Maker Mornings Facebook page.

Learn business tips in ‘Tool Talk’ series

Grab a lunch and join your colleagues for “Tool Talk,” a new, twice-monthly series that offers practical and easily implemented tools to help you grow your businesses.

Business Acceleration System, a program of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, invites entrepreneurs to these 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. sessions, which will be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at Outlaw’s Catfish House & Grill, 2049 N. Mall Drive, Alexandria.

“People who own and run businesses will be surprised at how much more they will get done each day with the simple tips learned in these sessions,” said BAS Director Gary Perkins. The series is sponsored by CLEDA and funded by The Rapides Foundation.

Registration for “Tool Talk” is encouraged. Sessions will be from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Arrive early to buy your lunch and be ready for class. To register for “Tool Talk” or for a listing of other BAS classes, visit whybas.org/event.

LOUISIANA FOOD FELLOWS PROGRAM SEEKING APPLICANTS

Applications are being accepted for the first-ever Louisiana Food Fellows program, a unique opportunity for people who want to take on leadership roles in the local foods movement.

Participants will attend four evening workshop beginning Sept. 17 that will develop their skills and increase their understanding of the local foods system. After completing the training, Louisiana Food Fellows will be qualified to lead local foods movements in their communities, Central Louisiana and beyond.

“This statewide program is a first of its kind in the nation. We’re looking for an elite group of people who truly want to make a difference and take on leadership roles,” said John Cotton Dean, Director of Regional Innovation for the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Participants will learn how to turn their motivation into action by gaining the resources needed to help drive local food policy and ultimately increase people’s access to food that is produced and grown locally.”

Class size is limited to 20 for this elite group. Participants will attend four, three-hour sessions taught by nationally recognized experts. Workshop topics include an overview of the food system, grassroots organization, food policy development and next steps.

Follow the link to apply now. Applications are due on Sept. 4. Classes will be Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 15 and Oct. 29 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. each day. All classes will be in Alexandria. Louisiana Food Fellows is funded by a philanthropic investment from Keller Enterprises, LLC.

‘Exploring Your Small Business Dream’ goes to Winnfield

A four-part training series beginning Sept. 10 will help Winn Parish residents take their dreams of starting a business to reality. “Exploring Your Small Business Dream” is a free, four-part training series sponsored by the City of Winnfield and StartCentral, a program of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and funded by The Rapides Foundation.

Sessions will be held in the Winn Parish Library from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 10, Sept. 24, Oct. 8 and Oct. 22. Topics include testing and validating your business idea, setting up your business, managing cash flow and other finances, navigating the startup process, branding and marketing and setting up your business. Session topics are Defining the Dream; Financing the Dream; Marketing the Dream and Making the Dream a Reality.

To register or to search other courses offered by StartCentral, a CLEDA program for beginning entrepreneurs, visit StartCentral.org.

Join us June 30 for BAS Quarterly Series

Central Louisiana entrepreneur Glenda Stock will offer tips and tools business owners can use to create a culture of communication within their companies. 

The workshop will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, in the Hearn Stage of the Kress Theatre, downtown Alexandria. It is offered free of charge by Business Acceleration System, a program for local entrepreneurs funded by The Rapides Foundation and administered by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

The workshop is geared toward business owners, managers, team leaders or front-line employees, and it is part of the BAS Quarterly Series, Executive Director Gary Perkins said. Reserve a seat for this free event.

Before owning five McDonald’s restaurants in the Alexandria market, Glenda had an 18-year-career with Delta Airlines. Her last position was a regional manager in Delta’s Corporate Headquarters, where she was responsible for six call centers numbering over 6,000 employees. She is currently a producer at On-Point Talk TV, a one-hour television show that premiered May 1 on Fox 48. SourceCode talked with Glenda about her upcoming workshop, career and importance of creating a “culture of communication” in business.

What is the importance of establishing open lines of communication with all of your employees?

“The failure to communicate at all levels within our workplace is the number one reason that many companies fail. People by and large want to meet the job expectations that are established for them, but sometimes we do a poor job articulating those expectations.”

What are some practical tools that you plan to present to business owners who attend the workshop?

One particular exercise will help you to identify your personality type. It’s an exercise you can easily take back to your workplace and have your employees take, so that you can understand their differences. Understanding differences about your employees will let you know the types of communication that you need to put in place to make sure your messages are being heard.”

You made a successful career in Central Louisiana. What was your reason for locating here after your long career in bigger cities with Delta Airlines?

“My husband and I deliberately chose an area the size of Central Louisiana because we wanted to be able to make a difference in our community while being able to build our business. We turned what some people might view as small-town limitations into a win-win for us.”

Maker Community momentum builds in Central Louisiana

 

Great things are happening in Central Louisiana’s “Maker Community.” CLEDA recently announced it is purchasing equipment to be used in the area’s first MakerSpace for entrepreneurs. This startup equipment and MakerSpace workshops for adults are funded in part by a grant from the Coughlin-Saunders Foundation.

The MakerSpace lab will offer 3-D printers, computers, software and other equipment for business people to use to expand their creativity. It will include meeting rooms for adult education classes and workshops on topics such as 3-D design and software coding. These free courses will be provided by CLEDA and BAS. Details on the lab’s location will be announced at a later date.

“We make good stuff in Central Louisiana, and our maker community continues to explore innovative methods through a variety of creative disciplines,” CLEDA President Jim Clinton said. “Creativity drives innovation, and innovation drives the economy.”

More ways our Maker Community is growing:

• Business Acceleration System is expanding its capacity to help entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs.
• The Rapides Parish Library recently received a grant to purchase two MakerBot 3-D printers, making it the first library in the area to offer 3D printing to the public.
• The Maker Morning series will continue, giving local entrepreneurs a chance to gather to share their creativity and innovations. Stay tuned by liking the Maker Mornings Facebook page.
• The Central Louisiana Technical Community College has partnered with Red Sticks Robotics to host several robotics summer camps in its Alexandria, Cottonport, Ferriday, Jena, Leesville, Oakdale and Winnfield campuses. These free camps are offered to students in grades 9-12.
• The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts and CLEDA are sponsoring the Young Entrepreneurs Program next week in the Natchitoches campus. This program offers 14 young entrepreneurs the opportunity to take part in a week of guided inspiration, practical information and fun.

A partnership between Bill Lewis Lures and mechanical engineering seniors at Louisiana Tech exceeded the expectations of Company President Wes Higgins. The students designed a new painting platform that significantly raised the production quota of the company’s legendary Rat-L-Trap lure.“We’re very thrilled about this recent development and want to share the news,” Higgins said. “We continue to find ways to get the job done here in the USA and Central Louisiana.”The company took advantage of the university’s program that partners teams of senior-level students with companies who could use some engineering expertise. The partnership is featured in Louisiana Sportsmen. Read the story.

Manchac Technologies was among the four companies honored by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce for earning national and international recognitions. Local companies honored for global impactFour locally owned companies are proving that Central Louisiana is producing the best and brightest the world has to offer. The companies all recently earned awards reserved for the top in their industries.

 

Hayes Companies, Manchac Technologies and Crest Industries subsidiary DIS-TRAN™ Packaged Substations will each represent Central Louisiana in early June when they accept the prestigious Manufacturing Leadership Awards from Frost & Sullivan’s Manufacturing Leadership Council. Now in its eleventh year, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards honor companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. “In a world of intensifying global competition and accelerating, technology-driven change, recipients of the ML Awards have distinguished themselves by embracing breakthrough innovation and enabling their companies to anticipate and respond to customers with unmatched agility,” the council wrote.

Meanwhile, Bill Lewis Outdoors was one of only 20 companies selected out of 25,000 applicants to receive the JP Morgan Chase Mission Main Streets Grants Award.

All four companies chose to remain in Central Louisiana but have proven that they are able to compete globally. How do they do it?

“In order to compete globally, you have to have a company that has the highest quality worker and the highest quality program, and that’s what we are seeking,” said Hayes Companies President/CEO James Hayes. “We have a good pool of employees in Central Louisiana. Do we have enough? No, but we have good people in the area. They are hard workers.”

Central Louisiana companies are providing in-house training to bring their employees to the next level. In addition, partnerships between the business and higher education communities are intended to increase the number of qualified employees for available jobs in the area.

The four prestigious awards also benefit the entire Central Louisiana business community and economy. “It proves that Central Louisiana is a great place to grow your business,” said Gary Perkins, executive director of the Business Acceleration System.

See more photos from the event honoring these companies by liking the CLEDA Facebook page.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 28, and join us for the next “Maker Mornings” event. “Maker Mornings” was created by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance to bring our makers together and unlock their creative potential. “We want to encourage more people to make good stuff and build a creative maker community in Central Louisiana,” said Jim Clinton, CLEDA’s president and CEO.The event will be at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, May 28, at the Hearn Stage in the Kress Theater at Third and Johnston streets, downtown Alexandria. Stay tuned by liking the Maker Mornings Facebook page.

 

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Enhancesoft employees Karen Moreau Vincent, Peter Rotich (center) and Jared Hancock recently spent a week at Austin’s South by Southwest Festival.

Austin retreat stirs creativity at Alexandria software company

Enhancesoft founder and CEO Peter Rotich found a unique way to stir more creativity in his employees: a week at Austin’s South by Southwest festival to soak up the energy and mingle with some of the most creative and innovative minds in the world.

South by Southwest is a set of film, interactive and music festivals and conferences that take place each March. Employees of Enhancesoft, a software development company located in downtown Alexandria, attended the film and interactive tracks for a week. SXSW Interactive focuses on emerging technology, which earned the festival a reputation as a breeding ground for new ideas and creative technologies, and a perfect way for Enhancesoft employees to stimulate their creativity, Rotich said.

“It was a cool experience. It was great for us to get away and meet up with fellow entrepreneurs and IT folks,” he said.

The week away from the office aligns with the message of Central Louisiana’s “Maker Mornings” community. Launched earlier this year by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Maker Mornings encourages companies to “make good stuff” by exploring innovative methods. Research shows that the infusion of intentional creative disciplines within an organization can increase productivity and the bottom line.

Rotich said taking his two employees to Austin for the week was well worth it, and he plans on having company retreats every year. He has since hired two more employees and is currently hiring.

“We had a good time, and we came back with a different perspective. We came back thinking we are in a better position to grow as a company,” he said. “The deal for us is having employees being creative and having the ability to come up with ideas. It was an eye-opener for me and overall a good experience.”

Face it. We make good stuff in Central Louisiana. We make art, music, poetry, software, crops and food. We make railcars, tools, power, soap, plywood and even robots.The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance knows this, and created the “Maker Mornings” community to bring our makers together and unlock their creative potential. “What we do here in Central Louisiana is make things. With Maker Mornings, we want to encourage more people to make good stuff and build a creative maker community in Central Louisiana,” said Jim Clinton, CLEDA’s president and CEO.Maker Mornings events will be held quarterly. The aim is to get our makers together to explore innovative methods to age-old challenges through a variety of creative disciplines. Research shows that the infusion of intentional creative disciplines within an organization greatly increases productivity — and the bottom line. Join the community by liking the Maker Mornings Facebook page.

Todd Henry: ‘It’s not what you know, it’s what you do that matters’

Best-selling author and creative innovator Todd Henry brought his energy and inspiration to Central Louisiana last month for the region’s first-ever Maker Mornings event. Reminding local entrepreneurs that “75 percent of creative professionals report they aren’t living up to their potential,” Henry offered methods for stimulating the creative process to ensure positive results.

“Great work results when you stop doing only what you know you can do and instead begin pursuing what you believe you might be able to do with a little focused effort,” he said.

Below are some of his suggestions for stirring the creative process to become “prolific, brilliant and healthy:”

Articulate and define the work expected of your creative team by explaining in detail the problem you are trying to solve. “Your mind is wired to solve problems, not concepts.”

Cluster your work by adjacency. “Look for blocks of time in your day to do highly conceptual work.” Use these blocks of time wisely and without distractions.

Build relationships with other creative people, including your own team and people you respect and admire. “Get together and ask them, ‘What are you working on right now? What can we help you with? What’s inspiring you right now?’”

Encourage dissent and foster discontent in your office. “Healthy teams fight, they argue, but they fight about ideas. You want people bringing different opinions. Keep pushing them to get better.”

Defend your team to the death. “If you sell them out one time, you are toast. You are done.”

Be clear with your team, “even when you are uncertain.”

Practice pruning so that you work on the best opportunities for your business. “We are terrible at removing things that might be good, but are not really great things that we need to be focused on. So when we say yes to everything, we are really saying yes to nothing.”

Fill your head with inspiring stimuli. “What are you putting into your head to inspire you? Experience the world through a different lens.”

Treat your time like an investment. “Create an ‘idea time’ for you and your employees, and dedicate this time to generate ideas. “

Follow the link to see slides from Henry’s presentation, and check out the cool downloads, including The Accidental Creative Guide.

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Congratulations to Alexandria’s very own Bill Lewis Outdoors for being awarded $150,000 in the Mission Main Street Grants Program from JP Morgan Chase. Bill Lewis Outdoors, which manufactures the Rat-L-Trap fishing lure, was one of only 20 companies selected for this nationwide program, and the only one from Central Louisiana.Company president Wes Higgins called the selection “a huge honor for us,” and noted it was vote of confidence “knowing there were 25,000 applicants and just 20 selected.”The Mission Main Street Grants program is part of Chase’s commitment to helping small businesses thrive. The winners were selected by a diverse team of small-business experts. Higgins said the grant money will be used to launch a new product and to develop a “fishing park” in Alexandria. Read about Bill Lewis Outdoors and the other Mission Main Street Grants recipients.

Business Acceleration System welcomes Mike Wolff to its team

BAS is pleased to welcome Mike Wolff to the business coaching team. Mike is vice president of economic development for the Natchitoches Community Alliance. With 26 years experience in the forest products industry with Weyerhaeuser, he brings a wealth of business experience to new role as BAS business coach.

His work experience includes plant engineer, project manager, production manager and plant manager at the Natchitoches plant. He also was general manager while overseeing the financial, manufacturing, maintenance, capital projects and customer service operations at the Weyerhaeuser Natchitoches and Simsboro engineered lumber manufacturing operations. Mike joined the BAS team in November.

“I enjoy the passion, energy and creativity that strongly defines entrepreneurs. I look forward to supporting their efforts in this role as we grow the Central Louisiana economy,” he said.

Are you looking for free business coaching? Take the next step and contact BAS.

Foodapalooza

Have you registered for the Third Annual Foodapalooza? This year’s event will be February 26-28 and promises to be bigger and better than ever. Foodapalooza celebrates Central Louisiana’s local food and farms, and it features a variety of learning and resource sharing opportunities. “Our goal is to celebrate local foods, share resources and inspire others to make changes in their own community,” said John Cotton Dean, regional food systems planner for the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. Events will be held in The Rapides Foundation Building in downtown Alexandria. Click the link to register.

In the News

 

Make sure to check-out this month’s Cenla Focus for the great overview of Central Louisiana’s local food movement!

Manchac reaches another milestone

Central Louisiana’s Manchac Technologies recently sold its 200th DOSIS prescription-filling robot, making it the largest long-term care pharmacy automation provider in the country and paving the way for future expansion.

The milestone is significant for the startup that opened its doors in 2006, said Randall Murphy, vice president and co-founder. It also proves that you don’t have to leave Central Louisiana to have a successful technology company.

“This will open up the door to get into those facilities that we couldn’t get into before because we weren’t big enough,” Murphy said. “This milestone tells the industry that we are here to stay.”

Manchac developed the DOSIS robot to help pharmacies keep up with prescription demands, compliance regulations and patient safety. It automates the dispensing process by filling, sealing and patient labeling into the desired packaging. DOSIS (DOH-sis) is based on a Greek word meaning “to dispense medication.”

DOSIS robots are now in 38 states across the country. With 45 employees, Manchac builds the DOSIS product in its 12,000-square-foot- operation in the Central Louisiana Business Incubator in Alexandria.

“It just goes to show you, and we said this a long time ago, that with technology today you don’t have to be located in Silicon Valley to do a technical startup,” Murphy said. “We do everything ourselves. We have every aspect of the business in one house. So don’t let location stop you from being successful.”

Business Acceleration System Executive Director Gary Perkins said BAS clients like Manchac prove that Central Louisiana is ripe for entrepreneurship. “Manchac’s continued growth is yet another example of how entrepreneurs are making a big contribution to the region’s economy,” he said.

Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance President and CEO Jim Clinton described the role of CLEDA, BAS and the Central Louisiana Business Incubator in helping companies like Manchac succeed. “In entrepreneurship policy work, there are frequent references to ‘entrepreneurial ecosystems.’ The term is misleading, however, in that it implies a planned, balanced system. In fact, entrepreneurs create disruption, not balance. Manchac is successful because it is a disruptive technology. Our job as supporters and instigators of entrepreneurial activity is to provide a landscape (technical support, mentors, incubators, seed funds, etc.) that enables entrepreneurial companies like Manchac to disrupt the marketplace in positive ways.”

Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and three local higher education institutions have formed a partnership designed to create and sustain economic development opportunities by addressing the region’s workforce needs.The Central Louisiana Education-Business Alliance between CLEDA, Louisiana State University of Alexandria, Northwestern State Universityand the Central Louisiana Technical Community College was announced last month at the Summit for the Future of Higher Education.“Our goal is to create a lasting framework for building institutional capacity and excellence so that we can continuously improve our educational outcomes in the region,” said Wayne Denley, CLEDA’s Vice President of Knowledge Platforms.  “Through a regular exchange of ideas, assessing the needs of employers, and focusing curriculums to meet those needs, we will have a positive impact on the quality of our workforce, making us more competitive and able to support an even stronger economy.”Jim Clinton, CLEDA president and CEO, said a partnership between the business and academic communities will help to close workforce gaps and boost Central Louisiana’s economic efforts. “At the local, state and national levels, higher education faces a life-threatening battle for resources. LSUA, NSU and CLTCC are Central Louisiana’s primary assets for creating a knowledge economy. By working together, and with the active engagement of the business community, these institutions will have a much better chance of succeeding. Their success can result in a more diverse economy for the region with higher paying jobs and more profitable companies.”

 

NSU President-elect Dr. Jim Henderson said, “More than ever before, economic growth depends on the availability of developed talent. The alliance will enable us to align the efforts of employers and educators in support of this regional economy, creating a true competitive advantage.”

The alliance builds on the conversation started in 2008 when The Rapides Foundation released the report “Beyond High School: What Will it Take to Build Cenla’s Next Workforce?” The report recognized that the future of Central Louisiana’s economy will be decided by the knowledge and skills of its workforce, and it encouraged business, government and education leaders to develop effective education and training opportunities.

Start the new year right 

Are you an entrepreneur who wants to grow your business and increase your revenues in 2015? Don’t do it alone. The Business Acceleration System could be just what you need. BAS provides one-on-one coaching, continuous learning opportunities, expert help and peer interaction – all for free. Funding from The Rapides Foundation and the state Office of Community Development makes our work possible.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, complete the short survey and we’ll contact you shortly.

Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of the nationally recognized Zingerman’s Community of Business, returned to Central Louisiana last month to share his leadership and management tips with local entrepreneurs. His presentations were as encouraging, thought-provoking and energizing as ever.

Buy local for the holidays

Montgomery Animal Hospital is ringing in the holidays in a special way this year — by focusing on supporting locally owned, small businesses. Owners Chris and Laura Thomson are buying all employee and corporate gifts from local businesses, and they have challenged their staff and doctors to do the same. The Thomsons say the entire team has joined the commitment.

Looking for a theme for your gift exchange?  Join Montgomery Animal Hospital by challenging your staff to buy local!

‘Coffee With a Coach’ expands to Natchitoches

Facing a challenge starting a business or in your business? Schedule an hour and coffee with a BAS-certified coach.  This program is now available in Alexandria and Natchitoches. Click the link to sign up for a free session.

Want these sessions in your community?Email Gary at gperkins@cenla.org.

Zingerman’s leadership training coming to Alexandria on Nov. 11

The co-founder of the nationally recognized Zingerman’s Community of Businesses returns to Alexandria on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to share his leadership and management tips with Central Louisiana entrepreneurs.

Ari Weinzweig will lead two sessions – Four Levels of Leadership for High-Growth Entrepreneurs and Leadership for High-Growth Entrepreneurs – that are being offered free of charge by the Business Acceleration System, a program for local entrepreneurs funded by The Rapides Foundation and the Office of Community Development – Disaster Recovery Unit, and administered by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Ari has been a very popular presenter, and we are looking forward to his new seminars, which are based on his new book,” said BAS Executive Director Gary Perkins.
 

Both sessions will be held in the Hearn Stage of the Kress Theatre, located in The Rapides Foundation Building. The morning session is from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the afternoon session runs from 1-3 p.m. Register now.

Weinzweig and his business partner Paul Saginaw started Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1982 with a $20,000 bank loan, a staff of two and a small selection of specialty foods and a relatively short sandwich menu. Today, Zingerman’s is an Ann Arbor institution with more than 500,000 visitors every year. Twelve years after opening the partners wrote a long-term vision for the organization, which led to the creation of a collection of businesses called Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. The collection includes ZingTrain, which shares Zingerman’s expertise through seminars and customized workshops.

Weinzweig said the morning session will focus on the different stages of leadership and why it’s important for leaders to adapt their leadership style as their business grows. “What happens to most startup entrepreneurs is that we are used to the startup stage, which is great at the startup stage, but as you grow that same style becomes increasingly ineffective. It’s like if you were great with little children, but if you keep parenting that same way when they are 12, it’s not going to go that great and at 18, it’s going to be a nightmare.”

The afternoon session will focus on “managing ourselves, how to lead the life you want to lead and how to make your life more productive,” he said. 

Space is limited, so register now for this free event.

 

Derral Eves: ‘Video is mandatory in your business’

YouTube-certified consultant Derral Eves told Central Louisiana entrepreneurs about the power of creating and sharing videos in order to succeed in business. One of the few people in the world to be officially certified as a YouTube Certified Consultant in “Audience Growth,” Eves has worked with Adobe Software, NBC, Redbull, American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Studio C and BYUtv, and he has helped some of the biggest YouTube Channels, including The Piano Guys. Eves travels the world to teach business owners how to better create an online presence.

Eves shared his tips with Central Louisiana entrepreneurs in October. His message:

Don’t underestimate the power of videos when marketing your business:
“Today, 82 million Americans are going to watch 1.6 billion videos this month. If people want to know something, they go to Google or YouTube. YouTube is transforming the way we consume information. You have some major opportunity here.”

Understand that today’s audience is hyper-engaged, highly connected and craves two-way communication:
“This is something that a lot of businesses don’t understand. If someone ticks me off at a restaurant, I’ll write a bad review on Yelp. Focus your attention on customer service, not on the competition.”
 

For the biggest impact, create an engaging video that your audience will want to share with their friends.
“Watching is one thing, but sharing it is completely separate.”
 

When creating a video, grab people’s attention in the first 3-7 seconds:
“In an email, that’s your subject line.”
 

Create a Facebook page to spread the word about your business:
“You have to create a community, and that community is people who are loyal to you and who love your stuff. This is a community of people who are going to help you succeed.”

Don’t underestimate the power of Facebook:
“Every 60 seconds, 293,000 statuses are updated and 4.75 billion pieces of content are shared daily.”
 

After you create a company Facebook page, invite your friends and encourage them to invite theirs:
“You want actual people who like your content. You want true friends to help you promote it.”

Engage with your audience, and don’t always have sales as your goal:
“Consistency is what you have to do, and you have to do it strategically so it’s natural.”
 

The presentation was funded by The Rapides Foundation and the state Office of Community Development – Disaster Recovery Unit. 

Want more information? Check out Derral’s marketing tips and YouTube channel.

Have you signed up for these upcoming events?

Summit on the Future of Higher Education in Central Louisiana
Monday, November 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Alexandria Convention Hall
The single most important factor for success in economic development today is the skill and knowledge level of our workforce. Please join the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance to focus on the current and future workforce needs for Central Louisiana and how we can best meet those needs.

How to Develop a High-Performance Company
Wednesday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
CLEDA Offices
Want to learn practical tools for significantly improving performance in your company?  Trained as a black belt in Six Sigma, Melissa Flurry will share keys to creating a high-performance company. This two part intensive workshop will help managers, executives and entrepreneurs who wish to develop the critical skills required to address inefficiencies in business processes and to improve overall organizational performance. Part 2 of this series is on Dec. 11.

Create a Vision for Success
Thursday, December 4, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
CLEDA Offices
Leann Murphy will introduce the power of visioning and how to create a written Vision of Success for your business. Not only will you learn how to create a powerful vision, you will walk out with a draft of your vision statement.

Cultivating a High-Performance Culture
Thursday December 11, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
CLEDA Offices
Trained as a black belt in Six Sigma, Melissa Flurry will share keys to creating a High-Performance Culture. Learn how to engage your team in significantly improving performance in your company to implement the tools introduced in Part 1 (on Nov. 20).

SolScapes earns recognition

 

SolScapes, a Hispanic woman-owned small business based in Lecompte, has been featured on ISNetworld for its exceptional compliance with new operational and safety methods. It’s an honor sole owner and BAS client Iviana Stewart finds humbling.

“This is a worldwide third party certifier that a majority of the electrical power companies and oil and gas industries use,” she said. “I found it a major honor because I am a small company compared to my competitors. They honor you and feature you when they see that you are consistently working with them, the Hiring Clients in ISNetworld, and you go above and beyond by using their tools.”

Licensed in heavy construction, SolScapes specializes in site preparation of right-of-way, storm recovery, cleanup, tree trimming and removal, and facilitating the rebuilding of powerlines for all the utility companies. Stewart has been in business over 20 years, and joined BAS in late 2011. Since then, SolScapes has grown from 6 employees to 26, “and I’m getting ready to double that size.”

“The BAS coaches are constantly assisting me. Anything I am looking for, whether it’s networking or software, they are there to help me,” she said. “They are all kind of like partners but I don’t see them that way anymore. I see them like family.”

As a member of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Stewart has been invited to the White House to speak on behalf of legislation for women and minority-owned businesses. The date of the White House visit has not been set.

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Jack Daly: ‘Selling is the transfer of trust’

 

Sales expert Jack Daly built six companies from scratch into national firms. He has more than 30 years of experience, and now travels the world to share his expertise in sales and sales management. He told Central Louisiana entrepreneurs, “When you care more about the customer than you do about the sell, you will sell more than anyone else out there.”

Daly shared his practical sales advice at the BAS Quarterly Speakers Series in August. Among his tips for success:

Create a “bucket list” of what you want to do with your company.
“Sports teams are run better than most businesses. They wouldn’t think about putting their players on the field without a game plan. Where’s your playbook? What is it that you are following?”

Differentiate yourself from your competitor.
“People do business with people, not companies. I work really hard on my sales calls to find out what I have in common with my prospects. People do business with people they like.”

Learn how to generate more business with less work by concentrating on high-payoff activities. (Daly has seven personal assistants and no employees)
“If you don’t have an assistant, you are one. You want to work on high-payoff activities. Every single person in this room should know what their hourly rate is. How you spend your time is how you spend your money. Come up with a list of things you can bill to someone else.”

Model the masters
“Interview successful people and learn from them.”

Ask questions and listen to your prospective clients. Help them to buy.
“People do not want to be sold. None of us like someone trying to sell us something. I tell salespeople to quit selling. No one likes it. Help them to buy. Help them with their needs, help them with their opportunities, help them with their problems.

Build relationships with key people in your business. If they trust you, they will send business your way.
“Sometimes your very best customers will never buy or use your services, but will send you customers.”

Identify the high-opportunity accounts and call on them more frequently.
“Here’s one of the things we’re finding with top salespeople. They tend to call on less people and they do more business. The key is they call on the right people.”

Be prepared before you go on a sales call.
“The best sales people are canned. There’s hardly anything that goes on in a sales call that couldn’t be anticipated before one’s arrival.”

Daly’s book, “Hyper Sales Growth,” can be purchased on his website.

The BAS Quarterly Speakers Series is funded by The Rapides Foundation and the state Office of Community Development – Disaster Recovery Unit.

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USDA grant to fund food study

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded CLEDA a $42,500 Rural Business Enterprise Grant that will be used to further research how to best aggregate, process and distribute local food throughout Central Louisiana.

The grant-funded study will examine a variety of ways to improve the region’s local food infrastructure. An example of potential infrastructure is a food hub, which would operate as a central aggregation and distribution facility to connect local producers with wholesalers and local institutions. CLEDA President and CEO Jim Clinton the USDA grant funding “a chance to totally reinvent the rural economy in Central Louisiana.” CLEDA hopes the study is complete by the end of the year.

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Sign up for our events

Have you signed up for our September events? Click the links below to sign up.

Simple Numbers with Greg Crabtree
Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, American Red Cross Building
Take the mystery out of small business finance with this no-frills seminar to understanding the numbers that will guide your business out of any financial black hole. Crabtree’s down-to-earth discussion will highlight the most common financial errors committed by small businesses, and how to avoid them.

CLEDA Quarterly Innovation Luncheon
Monday, Sept. 22, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alexandria Convention Hall
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Stuart Rosenfeld, a widely recognized writer, researcher and scholar in a variety of economic development and education-related areas. Rosenfeld has over 30 years of work experience in public policy research and analysis.

Discover Your Leadership Style through Emergenetics on SEPT 16
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., CLEDA Offices
Emergenetics is rooted in the concept that who you are today is the emergence of your behavior, genetic makeup and life experiences. Get your personalized profile free, provided by BAS, to learn how to maximize your Leadership Style.

5 Dynamics for High Performance Leadership presented by Karen Gordon
Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon, CLEDA Offices
Transform your leadership with this valuable methodology used by Google, SAP, Humana and other Fortune 500 orgs. Discover personal work preferences and what inspires you, improve team collaboration, and develop a strengths-based culture. This three-hour workshop includes a 5 Dynamics profile and one-year online tools. Limited to entrepreneurs with 10 or more employees.

Build Your Team & Synergy for Your Business!
Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., CLEDA Offices
Understanding & Building Team Synergy: From the newest startup to the most established corporation, finding and developing a strong team is critical to success. Invite your partner, team and employees to register with you for this interactive workshop. Receive a free assessment for each participant to help you identify team strengths and abilities.

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In the News

Cheneyville’s Grade A Crawfish receives USDA grant

Crest Industries to acquire Precision Cutting Specialties, build $5 million facility in Eunice