CityLife Women On The Rise - May 2014

CityLife
LA 71101. Phone (318) 222-0409. Fax (318) 222-1725. CityLife, at the discretion of the publisher, reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising. No portion of the publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products and/or services.

Editor’s Note
Her name is Carolyn Moore. A lot of her clients seek her out for executive coaching but a twist of fate brought us together. In an effort to change the direction and offer a new side of our signature Women in Business section, we chose to link together a story about executive training with women in the business community.

The Gift of Motherhood
The morning passed. No breakfast in bed. No card waiting for me. Then came lunch. No fancy brunch. No special treat to speak of. By this point, I was fuming. All I had inside of me was screaming, “Thank me!” Asking for thanks does not have quite the same effect as when it is freely given, but I did it anyway.

Immersion
“clearinghouse for African-American visual and performing artists in northwest Louisiana,” according to our local visitor center. The center hosts exhibits, workshops, art classes, theater and cultural dance classes, lectures and poetry expressions. The society was founded in 1974, and the cultural center is located at 3806 Linwood Ave.

Sugar, Spice, everything nice
Nothing says spring is here more than the beautiful colors of the azaleas in bloom around Shreveport-Bossier City. Not only are the flowers in bloom, so is my dear friend Kristen, who is expecting her first baby in June.

Peer Pressure
At 4 or 5, a child may ask for expensive shoes because they see others wearing a certain type of shoe. Your 9- or 10-year-old daughter may want to get her ears pierced because her friend has already gotten her ears pierced. Your teen wants to stay out later than you allow because everyone else is doing it.

Crawfish and ‘purple Jesus’
Festival season is in full swing, which means foodlovers will have plenty of great opportunities to eat decadent Louisiana fare. Many area festivals are known for their food offerings, from the authentic Mexican street food of Cinco de Mayo Fiesta to the hot boiled crawfish of Mudbug Madness.

RE/MAX Real Estate Services
300 Benton Road | Bossier City, LA 71111 318-752-2700 | Fax: 318-746-4402.

MEET YOUR RE/MAX SALES TEAM
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The Principal with Passion
Mary Johnson Harris, principal of South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Shreveport, is a local professional who thrives both in and out of the work world. Recently, she represented teachers before Congress. Harris is a woman who is following her passion – and doing it with grace and class.

The Council’s Founding Member
Virginia Chevalier Cook is a passionate woman who values the arts – and made sure that others around her had the chance do the same by founding the Bossier Arts Council. A loving wife, mother and a talented artist with a big heart, Cook helped shape art in Bossier City for generations to come.

SOUTH SHREVEPORT DENTAL
“Traditionally, crowns are prepared in two visits. The first visit includes a round of anesthesia, preparation of the tooth to be restored, and a wet impression which notoriously doesn’t happen to taste like grandma’s famous pecan pie.

‘Elemonade’ Homelessness
First-grader at Evangel Christian Academy, Alyssa Hagedorn, is setting up a lemonade stand May 3, National Lemonade Day, in the parking lot of Remington College with hopes to donate her earnings to three local homeless shelters: The Hub: Urban Ministries, Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission and HOPE for the Homeless.

THE LEADERSHIP MODEL
“CHRISTUS Health, which is based in Dallas, had a talent management program and if you were selected as a high performer with potential, you would be in their talent management program and have a coach for a year,” Moore said..

DOCTOR’S LAB Donna Poimboeuf
“I went into the health field because it always came naturally to me, it was interesting, and there was security in it,” she said.”I was originally pre-med, but decided though I liked the idea of being in the medical field, I wanted to stay more behind the scenes.

CANATELLA INTERIORS Brandy Canatella-Thompson
Canatella-Thompson was blessed to know at a young age how she would spend her professional career. “I’ve known since I was 16 that this is what I wanted to do,” she said. She has owned Canatella Interiors with her mother Debbie for over 13 years.

LEARNINGRX Donesa Walker
For Donesa Walker, owner of LearningRx and Homeschool Helpers, education has always been a calling versus a job. “I’m a preacher’s kid, and I truly believe it’s God’s design that I’m doing what I’m doing. I believe it’s my mission field and my calling to reach out and help other people with learning issues no matter what their age,” she said.

MOM’S 2 BEE Cheryl Evans
Cheryl Evans, owner of Mom’s 2 Bee, always had a knack for sewing. “When I graduated from high school, I bought an embroidery machine and started doing a little embroidering on the side. When I found out the demand, I couldn’t keep up with it. I now have three commercial embroidery machines.

ROPER ELECTRIC Jennifer Roper
Although officially she has been with Roper Electric since 1997, she worked for her father every summer since middle school. She says “I started off helping my father wire houses. In 1997, I began working in the office. Bookkeeping, scheduling service work, learning how to estimate jobs, contract law, etc.

REMAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES Barbara Kornrumph
Barbara Kornrumph, a Shreveport native, has been a Realtor for 15 years. She aims to put customer’s needs and goals first by giving them reliable, professional advice. She also promises to communicate with her clients and to always be punctual.

CENTER FOR HAND SURGERY Michelle R. Ritter, MD
Dr. Michelle Ritter, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery. She attended Thomas More College for her undergraduate degrees, majoring in mathematics and philosophy.

ERIN LEIGH Waddell Garrett
For Erin Leigh Waddell Garrett, her career path was always set in her mind. “I always knew I was going to law school, it was just always a plan. I don’t know that I thought I’d be a lawyer, but I did intend on being a judge,” she said.

TOY FAIR Julie Baskind Bryan
Founded in 1951 by Joy Goldberg Baskind, Toy Fair has delighted children and adults alike for over 63 years. Passed down from Joy to son Bobby and daughter Barbara, the store thrived under Barbara’s operation.

COLDWELL BANKER Ali Smith
Realtor Ali Smith knows the house buying market from every angle. After graduating from Northwestern State University. Smith worked as a loan processor for a local mortgage company. After discovering that her passion was found in interacting with customers, she made the transition to real estate with Coldwell Banker Gosslee in 2013.

LITTLE BLACK DRESS BOUTIQUE Kimberly & Alexandra Harris
The mother/daughter team of Kimberly and Alexandra Harris opened LBD in the Glenwood Tearoom on Line Avenue back in March. For Kimberly, fashion has always been a passion in her life. “I’ve lived in Shreveport most of my adult life. My husband is a physician here and I’ve been a stay at home mom and ran my husband’s practice for 20 years.

THE WOMEN of Holiday Lanes
Jessica Lowe Hall, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, is a Shreveport native and a graduate of LSUS with B.A. in Communications. In her current role, Jessica acts as the spokesperson for United Way, and is responsible for branding, advertising, publicity, strategic communication, social media, and event planning for the organization.

SHREVEPORT METROPOLITAN BALLET
If you’re looking for a stylish new wardrobe and an expert to help you find that fabulous new outfit, look no further than Shreveport native Shanna Scurlock and her women’s boutique, Pretenses. Scurlock opened Pretenses in the Pierremont Mall in March of 2013 after a life-long love of fashion and helping people look their best.

UNITED WAY Jessica Lowe Hall and Lynn Nelson Stevens
Three former dancers are honoring the past of one of Shreveport’s oldest arts organizations while keeping a firm eye on the future. The Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet (SMB), founded in 1973, recently completed a season-long celebration of its 40th Anniversary.

PRETENSES BOUTIQUE AND MORE Shanna Scurlock
Terri Schaffner of Active Recovery in Shreveport is a true testament to the power of the words “Change your thinking, change your life” – the motto for her counseling business. “I feel like I’m redeeming some of the things I may have done in my past that weren’t so great.

SHREVEPORT DANCE ACADEMY Kendra Meiki
During the past decade, Kendra Meiki has established herself as a prominent member of the Shreveport-Bossier City arts and business communities. Kendra is Owner/Director of Shreveport Dance Academy (SDA), a well-respected dance training facility in southeast Shreveport.

BROWN BUILDERS INC. Kristen Brown
Most people dream of building a legacy; for Kristen Brown of Brown Builders Inc., that is part of her everyday business. Established in 1971, Brown Builders specializes in constructing facilities for hospitality, healthcare, multi-family, industrial, community and commercial purposes.

SUGAR FREE APPS Suzan Sugar
If technology is the new frontier, then Suzan Sugar is the captain of one of the most cutting edge ships around. Sugar is CEO and Director of Mobile Marketing for Sugar Free Apps, and she immediately set sail with this new technology when she saw the potential.

W’S STEAKHOUSE LeeAnne Wallbaum
When LeeAnne Wallbaum and her husband Billy decided to open W’s Steakhouse in Shreveport, they were relatively new to the restaurant world. “My husband is a fishing guide in Venice, south of New Orleans, and I worked with eye doctors, so this was all new to us!” she said.

SUPERIOR SPA Kim Le
With over 10 years of experience in the nail business, Kim opened her business doors in 2010. She chose the name Superior Spa “because I wanted my customers to feel that they would get the ‘best of the best’ service; to treat them like kings and queens – with superior service,” Kim said.

REMAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES Crystal Ray
Crystal Ray grew up in Shreveport-Bossier City as the third of five girls in her family, and is the daughter of a retired Air Force father. She’s also the proud mother of one son who is a senior in college. Ray received her Master’s in Human Services Administration from LSUS and has always had a passion to help people.

STATE FARM Katrina Thomas Robinson
Katrina Robinson is one of those blessed women who found her career path early in life. In 1994, she graduated from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas with a degree in Business Administration.

SHREVEPORT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Helen Godfrey Smith
Helen Godfrey Smith has found a career that allows the best of her strengths and ideas to be implemented and grow. As President/CEO of Shreveport Federal Credit Union, Godfrey Smith has grown the company to unimagined success, and has used that position to better the local and regional communities.

DIXIE PAPER COMPANY INC. Paige Horn
Paige Horn, Operations Manager for Dixie Paper Company Inc., didn’t begin her career wanting to be a part of the family business. “I graduated from Baylor 2007 with a major in marketing and minor in interior design. My goal at the time was to go into the publishing industry, and I especially liked the idea of working for a regional magazine,” she said.

CONNIE & V. CROSS JEWELERS Connie Thurmond
Connie Thurmond, co-owner of Connie & V. Cross Jewelers in Bossier City, grew up with a love of jewelry. “As a little girl, I loved jewelry, and I still do. I love to wear it, I love to own it, and I love to see it”. “The jewelry business is truly a passion of mine,” she said.

LAMB SPECIALTY ADVERTISING Paula Bates
Being CEO of Lamb Specialty Advertising, Paula Bates has a passion for promoting local businesses. Lamb Specialty Advertising is an advertising specialty products company that offers promotional products, premiums, corporate apparel and gifts and awards.

LANG & BLACKWOOD ORTHODONTICS Dr. Morgan Trahant-Lang
Being the first and only female Orthodontist in Northwestern Louisiana has been exciting for Dr. Morgan Trahant Lang. Her journey here has been a long one, but well worth it. She is a native of Natchitoches, Louisiana, a graduate of LSU School of Dentistry and completed her Orthodontic Residency in Washington, DC.

REMAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES Shelley Crow-Liles
Shelley Crow-Liles; a graduate of Texas Woman’s University, with a BFA in Advertising, relocated to Shreveport, LA in 2001 after working in the music industry in Nashville, TN for several years.

CLOSETS IN ORDER, INC. Deneé Locke
Closets In Order is a locally owned and operated by Deneé Locke. She founded Closets In Order in 2003 as a result of her passion for organization and knowing that the closet is usually the most neglected room in the home when it comes to design detail.

HARPERTECH SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT REPAIR Laura Harper
Since 2009, HarperTech Specialty Equipment Repair, LLC, locally owned and operated by Eric and Laura Harper, has been providing Equipment Planned Maintenance and Repair Services to customers in the ArkLaTex and East Texas regions. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding customer service at an affordable price.

APERIO SALON Casey Boyett
Casey Boyett, co-owner of Aperio Salon and Day Spa in Shreveport, is able to combine business and family in the best way possible. She and her mother, Janet Boyett, own and operate Aperio Salon together, which Casey counts as a blessing in her life. “My mentor is my mom.

MONJUNIS Emily Murrell Gates
Monjunis Italian Cafe and Grocery has been a Shreveport-Bossier favorite since it opened in 1986. For General Manager Emily Murrell Gates, however, Monjunis has been an instrumental part of her life. “I was born and raised in Shreveport, and started working at Monjunis when I was 16,” she said.

JADED Jessica Williamson
My name is Jessica Williamson and I am the proud owner of Jaded the Boutique in Bossier City, LA. I graduated from LSUS in 2008 with a Psychology degree with a Business minor. I am married to Cliff Williamson and we have a precious 22 month old son, Ashton.

SALON 90210
Growing up in Orange County, CA, Nicci Hardeman initially had aspirations of entering into the field of science, but along her path discovered an affinity for hair styling. She says “I started cutting hair for extra money, and just found a comfort zone.

LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT Dr. Jennifer Woerner
There isn’t a day that I don’t get out of bed wanting to be at work”, she said. Dr. Woerner is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport where she helps train young surgeons.

RINCHUSO’S PLUMBING Sharon Rinchuso Vines
Sharon Rinchuso Vines, manager and co-owner of Rinchuso’s Plumbing and Heating Inc., is part of a 34-year family tradition of quality service and professional expertise.

LEARNING EXPRESS Holly Witte
Learning Express carries unique toys and provides excellent customer service for their customers. “We offer many perks such as free gift wrapping, complimentary personalization, a VIP program and curb-side gift pick up for those extra busy days.

REMAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES Beth Van Zandt
Beth Van Zandt has been a top producing Realtor for over 30 years. She has a proven track record of representing both buyers and sellers in Bossier, Shreveport and the surrounding areas. She has an outstanding commitment to her clients to provide excellent representation with experience and knowledge to back up that commitment.

CAREER TECHNICAL COLLEGE Shannon Warren
year with Career Technical College and Delta Career Education. I started at our Monroe campus in 2004 as an adjunct English instructor, and I was promoted to Director of Education and moved to the Shreveport campus in 2007.” she explained.

FANCY PANTZ AND MOORE Michelle Moore
Michelle Moore has turned a passion for designer items into a boutique in Shreveport that caters to those who share her passion - and on a budget to boot. Her store, Fancy Pantz and Moore sells all types of high-end resale clothing and accessory items.

BOSSIER ARTS COUNCIL Robin Jones
The Bossier Arts Council is dedicated to promoting, supporting, and providing cultural events and programming in order to enhance the quality of life and to develop a cultural identify for Bossier Parish. A huge part of that commitment is enhancing our programming through educational activities.

REALTOR/BROKER/NOTARY Chaunta Mero
Chaunta Mero became a real estate agent in 2006, and in 2008 became an independent real estate broker working for herself. “As an independent real estate broker selling homes in Shreveport/Bossier I’m able to provide ala carte services to my clients depending on their needs.

JANEY MACEY & ASSOCIATES Janey Macey
For many parents of children with special needs, it is common to feel isolated and ill-equipped to handle the responsibilities they face. Janey Macey and her team of trained specialists offer parents in our area the resources they need to facilitate their child’s growth and development.

BOYD FAMILY DENTISTRY McKenzy Boyd
Dr. Boyd first came to Louisiana from her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska to earn her B.S. in Biology from LSU. After finishing her dental training in Wisconsin and beginning her practice in South Dakota, Dr. Boyd made the permanent move down south to bring her passion for oral healthcare to Shreveport.

MARISCOS LA JABITA Eda Rodriguez
Eda Rodriguez and her family own a mexican seafood restaurant, a meat market and a bakery in Bossier City, Louisiana. With a passion for life Eda works hard every day with her husband Luis Orozco taking care of four children and three businesses.

FLOWER POWER Cathy Zahn
Cathy Zahn, owner of Flower Power in Shreveport, grew up watching her mother run her own small business. It was a time when not many women were forging into owning businesses, and it inspired Cathy to follow in her footsteps.

Lady at Lunch
Miss Heart of Pilot, Chelsi Hefner, shows some style at Sevendipity Cafe, located at 3030 Creswell Avenue in Shreveport. Hefner will compete in the Miss Louisiana pageant June 26 at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe. Hefner works with the Miss America Organization and is an advocate for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Living in Zen
to them at a subconscious level. One might at first feel that if a friend gave this item to you that you are feeling ungrateful, but once it is gone, you will realize you don’t miss it at all. Now, I am not suggesting throwing everything from the past away.

‘60 Minutes of Amazing’
Maranto said campers range from seniors to teens to marathon runners from beginner to advance fitness levels. “We have runners and marathoners who have come to us and their marathon times shortened,” Maranto said. She said the in Week 1 of the camp, campers typically take a timed fitness test, which is repeated in Week 4.

Fit with Five
The sun is shining, and the long wait to pull out that swimsuit is finally over. Before you slip on that itty, bitty polka dot bikini and head to the beach and the endless summer of pool parties, fit five easy exercises into your workout plan..

AGENDA
raises funds for academic scholarships benefiting Hispanic students throughout the Ark- La-Tex. The event features food, live entertainment, the Chihuahua Challenge, Mexican dance troupes, a custom car show and more. Free until 5 p.m., $5 after 5 p.m. 10 a.

MAY [AGENDA]
MAY 1-4: “THE GAME’S AFOOT,” Comedy in which an acclaimed 1930s actor employs the persona of Sherlock Holmes that he made famous on stage when a real murder takes place. $17 adults, $15 seniors, students and active military. 8 p.m. May 1-3; 2 p.m. May 4. Shreveport Little Theatre, 812 Margaret Place, Shreveport.

Pink Party toasts to turning 21
What started as a party hosted by a core group of friends 21 years ago, has turned into one of the most anticipated fundraisers each spring in Shreveport-Bossier City. The Pink Party will be held May 3 at the Convention Center, promising a night of fun for a $10 door donation to Easter Seals.

Want to go?
Easter Seals provides exceptional services to ensure that people living with autism and other disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. Website: www.louisiana.easterseals.com.

HERBAL ESSENCE
has sprung, and many of us have the urge to plant a garden, but not everyone has the space. An herb garden is the perfect choice for a space-inhibited green thumb. Indoor or outdoor, herbs are beautiful plants that will grow with little effort year round providing a continuous payoff of great fragrances, but most importantly, great flavors.

Shopping List
2 pork tenderloins 1 bunch fresh parsley 1 package fresh sage 2 packages fresh rosemary 1 package fresh thyme 1 package fresh tarragon Lavender flowers Lemon zest 5 cloves garlic 1/2 cup plain bread crumb 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.

Plantation Ball
Twenty-two youth were presented at the Plantation Ball on April 4 at the Scottish Rite Temple. Those presented come from generations of planters. One presentee’s great-great-grandmother was the first woman allowed to vote in Claiborne Parish.

Cotillion
Holiday In Dixie Cotillion held the 66th anniversary April 11 at the newly remodeled Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. This year’s theme was “The Crown and the Stag: A Highland Royal Hunt.” The curtain rose to unveiling the hunting lodge-themed stage and Rex LXVI, William Harrison Smith, who then greeted the crowd.

CORK
One could hear the clink of wine glasses April 5 in Festival Plaza as the Red River Revel presented their annual fundraiser CORK. This was the ninth year for wine tasting event which featured for more than 130 different wines. Chiantis Restaurant, Texas Street Tavern and Eldorado Casino’s Vintage Steakhouse served up delicious snacks.

Christmas in the sky
Everyone saw green on St. Patrick’s Day March 17 at the Christmas in the Sky Theme Announcement Party, which was hosted at The Riverside Warehouse. The theme has always been a highly guarded secret until the announcement party when the Shreveport Regional Arts Council puts on an elaborate production for the big reveal.