June 2009 - Shreveport Chamber Of Commerce!

Publication of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
400 Edwards Street, Shreveport, LA 71101
318.677.2500 * www.shreveportchamber.org
Live. Work. Play. Stay.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
"There's nothing to do here." This statement seems to come from many mouths in Shreveport—perhaps even your
own from time to time. But is it true? After years of wandering and living in Orange County, San Antonio, London
and Washington, DC I'm here to tell you that phrase is found in every city worldwide. I guess it's that old 'grass is
always greener' scenario. Shreveport has the same things to offer as any other metropolitan area—you just have
to be aware of the opportunities around you. Traveling Broadway shows, opera, ballet, multiple local theaters,
live music, free art museums, local boutiques, amazing restaurants, a lake, river and many beautiful parks are just
a few of the amenities we should all take full advantage of.
Samantha Page Smith
Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
LSU Health Sciences Center
What’s on your mind? Submit to [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS
YPI Night in the SYBOX!
Thursday, June 25
5:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.
FOOD * BEER & WINE * SYBOX VIEW
RSVP BY JUNE 19
$5 admission
Call 677.2505 or email
[email protected]
“SPARE” A NIGHT WITH YPI
Thursday, July 9
6:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Network while you bowl!
$15 fee includes:
Food, soft drinks, lane fees, bowling shoes,
and 2 games!
RSVP by JULY 1st
Call 318.429.2123 or email
[email protected]
UNDERSTAND that any reservation constitutes
payment. No shows will be billed.
40
UNDER
40
PLANS
UNDERWAY—The Greater
Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and CityLife Magazine will
present the 40 Under 40 Gala and Awards Banquet on Friday,
December 4, 2009. Committee Chairman, Taylor Robertson of
Heard, McElroy and Vestal, stated, “I am very excited and
optimistic about the 2009 40 Under 40 Gala. The committee is
working extremely hard on new and innovative ideas that
promise a fun event for all who attend.”
Nominations for the 2009 40 Under 40 are being
accepted now. If you or a coworker excel in both their
professional and philanthropic lives, nominate them today!
Deadline for nominations will close July 31, NO EXCEPTIONS!
Applications available online at www.shreveportchamber.org/
ypi or contact Andy Buffington at 318-677-2526 for a
nomination form.
Terms and conditions for 40 Under 40: Those persons
nominated in year’s past, but not yet honored, will be
considered in the current year pool of nominees along with new
nominations. Understand that all selections are based on current
information submitted by the nominated individual. A letter is
sent to inform the individual of their responsibility to submit or
update their information for consideration.
Terms and conditions for Young Professional of the
Year: Current year honorees and past 40 Under 40 honorees,
excluding prior YP of the Year recipients, are considered for
this title. A letter is sent to prompt past honorees to update their
information for consideration.
QUESTIONS? Call 318.677.2526
ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT— The House for Hope
fundraiser will provide money for Community
Renewal to build a new Friendship House in the
inner-city neighborhood of Queensborough. The
Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana
built the house in The Haven, a beautifully planned
and gated community behind the LSUS campus,
with access to the Red River. Visit www.houseforhope.us/e107/
index.php for full details! Buy your ticket and give back today!
2009 Executive
Committee
Chairman
Tammy Rhodes
Adecco Employment Services
Chair-Elect
Jeff Everson
Senator Mary Landrieu’s Office
Communications Chair
Christy Canady
Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
Co-Chair
Donecia Pea
Shreveport-Times Gannett
Finance Chair
Taylor Robertson
Heard, McElroy, & Vestal
Co-Chair
Amanda Amos
RBM LLP
Membership Chair
Stacy Waters
U.L. Coleman Cos.
Co-Chair
Eric Neal
RBM LLP
Comm. Outreach Chair
Crystal Allen Dallas
United Way of NWLA
Immediate Past Chair
Kim Dunman
Heard, McElroy, & Vestal
Members At Large:
Jerry Edwards
Blanchard, Walker, O'Quinn, & R.
Michael Berlin
Coldwell Banker Commercial
Shannon Dixon
Sam’s Town Casino
Tyler Speckman
Chase Bank
Kyle McInnis
Cook, Yancey, King & Galloway
Kristen Gary
Highland Clinic
Shreveport Chamber Liaison
Andy Buffington
Lunch and Learn pg. 3
Artmob pg. 4
Stacy Waters Reports: Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Brulée Bananas and Rum Sauce YPI SPOTLIGHT!
Interested in being spotlighted? Send your
information to [email protected]
Charlotte V. Jones
Deputy Center Director
Shreveport Job Corps Center
“I think the Young
Professional Initiative
mission is great, and as
young people move to
Shreveport, it is a great
opportunity to get out
and network. As the city
continues to grow and
attract people to move
here, groups like YPI are
needed. I think the after
hours networking events
are great, and l look
forward to attending
more soon!”
Career Path
Case Manager in foster care and later a Job Placement Specialist
for former inmates in Tennessee. Started work at the Job Corps
when they opened in Memphis, TN. Jones transferred to Grand
Rapids, MI, in 2003 after completing the Job Corps Executive
Management Program. Moved to Shreveport in December 2004
and was promoted to the Deputy Center Director in March of
2007. Job Corps is the most challenging and rewarding job Jones
says she has held.
Education
B.S. in Psychology from Jackson State
University in Jackson, MS, 1992
M.S. in Management from Minot State
University in Minot, ND, 2006
Interest and Hobbies
Assisting “at promise’’
youth reach their full
potential, reading,
shopping and spending
time with my two
children, Kelton (13)
and Karmyn (9).
MENTOR TEENS IN THE
C O M M U N I T Y —
Community
Renewal
International is making an
effort to team up young
professionals with young
teens in the community. If
you would like to engage
with these teens and help shape their future,
contact
Angie
White
by
emailing
[email protected] or call 318-677-2559. The
mentor meetings are being held now until late
June from 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.
As a woman, I must confess, some of my favorite foods are desserts. On this occasion, with one of my dearest friends, we skipped dinner entirely and headed straight for dessert and cocktails. After agonizing over choosing just one mouth‐
watering delectable at Bistro 6301, we decided on the Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Brulée Bananas and Rum Sauce. Truthfully, I can’t say enough about how delightfully comfortable this dessert is. It’s gentle and sweet; it’s buttery, gooey and hot; and it seductively melts in your mouth. Pair this with a glass of 2006 Jackson Triggs Vidal Icewine and prepare yourself for the perfect end to angelic cheer! As for Chef Andre’ Grosz, this sweet course highlights just how gracious and clever he is. I recommend a night like this for close friends to enjoy all of the above, coupled with the impeccable service of the staff at Bistro 6301. Navigating the Current Economy:
held May 26th at Centenary College
reported by Christy Canady
Panel from left: Angie White, Dr. David Hoaas, and Dennis Taylor. An experienced panel at the YPI Lunch and Learn “Navigating the Current
Economy” dispelled the myths of a poor local economy and suboptimal job
opportunities in the Shreveport-Bossier City community. Panel members were
Angie White, Vice President of Workforce Marketing at Northwest Louisiana
Economic Development Foundation and YPI member, Dr. David Hoaas, Professor of
Economics and Associate Provost of Centenary College, and Dennis Taylor,
Director of Career Services at Centenary College.
White opened the discussion with a reflection on the sentiments young graduates
often express, frustration with the trouble they have finding jobs that suit them.
Many of us can identify with those feelings. But wait! White followed that
statement up with a truth YPI members were glad to hear.
Left: Chris Lavan of Centenary and Sonna Frierson of Cloverdale Apartments. “Employers actually have a hard time finding employees,” White proclaimed. She
said employers have trouble finding enough qualified employees because they
primarily rely only on word of mouth when they hire. As a result, few job seekers
learn about the opportunities and are not able to apply.
Dr. Hoaas confirmed the idea companies often do not market jobs heavily because
of the great expense. Management does not want to spend a lot of cash when they
hire employees, and it is cheaper and easier to ask current employees for
referrals.
How can a job seeker get a referral? The panel said it is important to network and
make connections in your area of interest. Looking for chances to network? Local
opportunities to network abound: Young Professionals Initiative (YPI), Young
Lawyers, Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, Shreveport-Bossier
Advertising Federation, Techx20, Shreveport Medical Society, and many Chamber
of Commerce functions like the Bossier Chamber’s Last Appointment Business
Networking & Prospecting Mixer.
Left: Saige Wilhite, Centenary ; Jennifer Pearson, Centenary; Jamie Johnson, Goodwill. Dennis Taylor recommended job seekers, restless employees and aspiring
professionals constantly increase their value. Young professionals should acquire
new skills, volunteer for projects and dress for the next level.
YPs acquire new skills when they advance their education, obtain professional
certification or learn new software programs. Companies may have trimmed costs
during the recession, so be prepared to invest in yourself and spend a little money
to increase your value.
Angie White, NLEDF and Valorie Stafford, Willstaff. Left: Tyler Speckman, Tommy Eskew, Caroline Newell of JP Morgan Chase Bank. Left: Lauren Hannon, Emily Holmes, Keri Colvin, Chris Solomon, Michael Fulco of Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLP (3)
Artmob@artspace
(1)
(2)
(4)
(9)
(8)
(7)
(5)
YP’s recently met at COOLSPACE
Lounge overlooking Texas Street at
artspace on May 21, 2009.
YP’s
networked over freshly made mojito’s,
Cuban pulled pork sandwiches,
homemade guacamole with chips and
Cuban salsa, and fresh fruit
parfaits...all while enjoying the new
Cuban Art Exhibition!
Clockwise from top left: (1) Taylor
Robertson, Erica Thomas, Tammy
Rhodes, Stacy Waters, Nicole Simien,
Donecia Pea. (2) Brandy Sams and Kyle
Moore. (3) Concoction Bartender of
artspace. (4) Christy Canady, Stacy
Waters, John Grindley, Jennifer
Pearson, Jessica Philbrook, Jamie
Johnson. (5) Tayna Shelton, Valorie
Stafford, Shannon Dixon. (6)Jessica
Philbrook, Philip Breuer, Angie
Costakis, Mark Crawford. (7) Amanda
and Tyler Speckman, Lauren Stinson. (8)
Erica Thomas and Nicole Simien. (9)
Doug and Lauren Stinson, Amanda and
Tyler Speckman.
(6)