16 top professionals share their inside success
A certain number of qualities are the make-up of an effective American businessman including integrity, honesty, self-reliance, vision, perseverance, personal fortitude and leadership to name a few. These qualities paired with a competitive nature, a creative mind, and a hint of sophisticated charm lead businessmen to success.
Throughout history, leaders have shared these qualities and the businessmen of Shreveport-Bossier City are no different. Although their expertise and experiences vary, the men featured throughout this special section are the ones on top, pushing to make our community a better place to live.
These men are innovators equipped with the ability to forge an idea into a reality.
Indeed, the following businessman included need not only have the qualities carried over from past generations of leaders but those of a visionary who can transform an industry using technologies and tools previously unimagined.
In this issue of Forum, we look to the male businessmen in our community to see what this kind of thinking can achieve.
Our “Men in Business” are prime examples of 21st-century leaders, men who follow the wisdom of past generations as well as forge ahead confidently in a new era of technological innovation and inspired thinking.
GIUSEPPE BRUCIA
Ristorante Giuseppe 4800 Line Ave. Bldg. A Shreveport, LA 71106 (318) 869-4548
Ristorante Giuseppe provides food so authentically Italian, dining there is like a little getaway without leaving Shreveport.
A true family affair, Ristorante Giuseppe is owned by Chef Giuseppe Brucia, who brings over 50 years of culinary experience to the tables in his beautiful, elegant restaurant space. Managed by his son Gio and daughter-in-law Natalie, the close family ties only add to the restaurant’s warmth and authentic feel.
Opened in 2006, the restaurant is a combination of vintage Italian fare from Chef Giuseppe’s childhood in Palermo, Sicily and restaurant training in Milan, along with influences from his time working in restaurants in France, Germany and Switzerland. This adds different layers of flavor to the food, as well as unexpected dishes presented.
Ristorante Giuseppe’s prides themselves on making everything in house, including the butter, the pasta, the gelato – they even have an inhouse butcher. All sauces are made to order so they’re as fresh as possible. While offering classic Italian dishes such as traditional appetizers of meats and cheeses and perfect pasta dishes like the house special, the Spinach Tagliolini, they also offer unexpected menu items, like their carefully crafted soufflés. The only restaurant in town to serve a soufflé, each seasonal flavor is made with a hint of liqueur and more than a hint of decadence.
Giuseppe’s boasts an impressive wine list, as well as delicious specialty cocktails. Winner of the 2012 Artini competition, they are always creating new beverages for their clients to sample, during their happy hour at 4-7 pm, Monday through Saturday. They also offer live music in their relaxed lounge room on Friday and Saturday nights.
Ristorante Giuseppe loves the community aspect of their business, and offers many ways for their guests to feel at home – from their special occasion menus, such as Father’s Day, to their “Kids Nights” the first Monday of every month, a special night for families; the kids gather in a large dining room to eat spaghetti, watch movies and make crafts, and the parents can sneak in a little alone time in another dining area.
With excellent, attentive staff and authentic Italian cuisine, Ristorante Giuseppe is the perfect place for a family dinner, a romantic date night or just a night on the town with friends. As Chef Giuseppe says “Our food is great, our staff is friendly, our wines are unique...and your bill at the end will not cause your heart to palpitate!”
Steve Tucker
Head Coach, Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks PO Box 1805 | Shreveport, LA 71166 318-734-9827 | info@abamavericks.com
Steve Tucker has been coaching the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks American Basketball Association (ABA) team
since 2007, and he says that working with the team and the team’s owner, Jerry Nelson, Jr., has provided some of the best years of his coaching career. Tucker led the team to an undefeated season last year (34-0), and to three consecutive national championships, ps, building on a resume of his own that includes an overall coaching record of 663 wins and 292 losses, a head coaching record of 586 wins and 251 losses, being named Coach of the Year 10 times and winning 14 League and Conference Championships overall during his career, which started when he was named head coach at Phillips College at just 22 years old.
A native of Long Beach, Mississippi, Tucker came from a military family and a meticulously-run household where he learned values such as discipline and planning. He carried those values into his professional life, along with a commitment to communication and follow –through in all areas.
“Those two things complement each other,” he says. “You have to do what you say you’ll do. That leads to success and building bridges with the staff, the players and everyone around you. It’s how you build your organization on and off the court.”
Besides winning championships on professional, collegiate and international levels, Tucker has toured Europe and Asia while coaching, led teams to NCAA, NAIA, & NJCAA National Championship Tournaments, and is the only head coach to have coached in 7 pro basketball leagues.
Originally from North Carolina, Tucker was raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, and still calls himself a Choctaw.
“I started this career in 1980, and I’ve just been working hard at it and doing it as long as I can remember. I enjoy what I do. I’m passionate about it. You have to be. That inspires others and makes them more enthusiastic.”
Since the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks moved from Southeast Texas and with Tucker at the helm, they have laid claim to the first undefeated season in the history of the ABA, and have won the last sixty consecutive games.
A couple of years ago, the team almost moved to Toronto, Canada and to a different league, but after taking some time off, decided to stay in the ABA and move to Shreveport-Bossier in 2013.
“It was a great decision and we’ve been off and running since,” Tucker says. “We’ve been highly successful here, we have a lot of great players and people in administration, and Jerry is a fantastic owner. I enjoy working with him on a daily basis. He has a great work ethic, and I’ve learned more from him than anyone in my professional life. Sometimes you just have to roll your sleeves up and go to work. There aren’t a lot of millionaires that will do that, but Jerry still goes to work 12 hours a day to make Maverick International one of most successful oil pipe fitting companies in the world, and to help this team be the best it can be.
Tucker just turned 57 and has been married to the game his whole life, and even more so since having a health scare last November.
“My beliefs, my work ethic and my great faith in God carried me through,” he says. “He spared my life and gave me another opportunity. We have two lives, I think—the one we learn with and the one we live with afterwards. I’m on my second one, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
Peter Flowers
Criminal Law 101 Milam Street Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 424-1111
Peter Flowers has been practicing law in the state of Louisiana for 30 years. During this time , he has become one of North Louisiana’s formost criminal defense lawyers. In addition to his practice he has been heavily involved in local, state and national law organizations connected to his chosen field. A partial list of the organizations Mr. Flowers has been affiliated with, including several in which he has served in the capacity of either Board Member or President are The Shreveport Bar Association (SBA), the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA), the American Bar Association (ABA). The Louisiana Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers (LACDL) The Criminal Defense Bar Association of N.W. Louisiana (CDBA), the Captain of the Lawyers Krewe of Justinian, and the Caddo Parish Indigent Defenders Board.
Mr. Flowers is a Shreveport native graduating from C.E. Byrd High school in 1974 where he was the president of the student body. He attended The university of Minnesota in Minneapolis but eventually received his degree in Southern Literature from Louisiana Tech in 1978. He attended law school at Loyola University in New Orleans and graduated with a Juris Doctorate in Law in 1983. During Mr. Flowers tenure as an attorney he has been admitted to the practice of law in city, state and Federal courts. He has also been admitted to practice to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans and the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C. since 1992.
Mr. Flowers as a veteran defense trial attorney has tried many serious and high profile cases. He is currently a partner in the firm of Flowers and Long llc, where he practices with this his partner of over ten years, Mrs. Kelly Long. When asked about being involved in the practice of criminal law Mr. Flowers replied that “ all people are entitled to the blessings offered to the citizens of this country. It is a mistake to prejudge a person based on something that he or she may be accused of. Even persons accused of the most heinous crimes many times have rational reasons or legal defenses for their actions and are sometimes completely innocent of wrongdoing. The only way to find out is through hard work and investigation on both sides. Without that, there can be no confidence in the system or the verdicts that it produces. If both the prosecution and defense do their jobs well, the better chance there is for a meaningful resolution. I am proud to be part of that process.”
Ronnie Remedies
Shreveport Limousine, LLC 1200 Marshall St, Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 603-9100 www.shreveportlimousine.com
Shreveport Limousine is a limousine and luxury sedan service that provides service for weddings, special events and engagements, corporate travel and celebrities. It is owned by Ronnie Remedies, president, who actually started his career as a Shreveport Firefighter.
Remedies opened Shreveport Limousine in 2001 as a home-based business in his spare time and after 10 years left firefighting to focus full-time on the company.
The company has what some folks might consider one of the more enviable positions in the city: working with the film and entertainment industry to transport celebrities around Shreveport- Bossier City during film shoots. Remedies can’t talk about it, though.
“They love us because we’re professionals, start to finish, and the employees are under strict privacy agreements and can’t talk about anything regarding our clients,” he said.
“The film industry loves Shreveport Limousine because they have very highprofile actors that use their services, and the team always maintains a high level of confidentiality,” Arlena Acree, director of film, media and entertainment for the City of Shreveport Film Office, said.
After 13 years, Remedies is proud of the fact that Shreveport Limousine has gotten to the stage of being a generational company working with clients who have been with him since they were young, from birthday parties to weddings and more.
“Working in the service industry and in my years working with patients as a firefighter taught me a lot about how to treat people,” Remedies said. “I’m probably my toughest critic; I want to give customers what I would expect from a business, and more value than they anticipate. If you offer great service, the business will follow.”
Eight years ago Ronnie began Twin Oak Investments to buy and sell residential properties. Since then, it has transformed into a commercial real estate development and management firm. In 2008, he developed the Northwood Shopping Center, the largest retail center north of I-220 in Shreveport. Next, they began an Urban Development project in downtown Shreveport, purchasing 8 acres in a severely blighted area, with 2 large, 100+ year old buildings, using local and state historic tax incentives. The neighborhood has been returned to it’s original beauty and the buildings have been restored. Twin Oak Investments owns and manages about 80,000 square feet of commercial real estate and is currently working on new project.
Remedies is a very active member of the community in numerous civic organizations. He is the President -Elect of the North Shreveport Business Association, Vice President of the Chief Executives Organization, and member of the Committee of 100. In 2012 he was elected to the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana, later that year he was also elected to represent the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL. In December of 2013, he was appointed by the Caddo Parish Commission to serve a 6 year term on the Caddo-Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission.
Scott Roebuck
Sevendipity 3030 Creswell Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104 (318) 828-2510 www.sevendipitycafe.com
Scott Roebuck, an IT professional by trade, is proof of what happens when one goes for their dreams.
After getting bit by the cooking bug, Roebuck and his wife Lizz opened Sevendipity Café, a local favorite, in August 2010. He serves there today as co-owner and chef. Since then, Sevendipity Café has received many praises and was nominated in multiple competitions for best restaurant.
But Roebuck keeps it real. “I don’t place a great deal of emphasis on that kind of thing (awards),” said Roebuck. “The greatest reward I could ever hope for is to teach my children that the only limits they have are the ones they place on themselves. If they want it bad enough and they put in the work, then they have no limits.”
Sevendipity Café is currently located at 3030 Creswell in Shreveport, after a recent move from 420 Marshall Street in downtown Shreveport. “We originally opened our restaurant in August of 2011, but after a few short years outgrew our space that we loved so much,” said Roebuck. “In March 2014, we relocated the business to 3030 Creswell Avenue in the Highland neighborhood.”
Roebuck handles the kitchen and the business side of the café, which means he conceptualizes menu offerings, develops recipes, and works with the talented kitchen staff on everything from prep to plating. “At Sevendipity Café, we genuinely make everything from scratch,” said Roebuck. “Our homemade bread, for example, is the only bread that you’ll find in our restaurant—there are no commercial, mass-produced buns or bread of that kind here.”
Roebuck is regularly inspired by his wife and his children, and is dedicated to providing a better life for them. “When I moved to Shreveport four years ago, I couldn’t find work. Lizz supported all of us for eight months bartending three days a week. She never complained one time, just smiled and said it would all work itself out,” said Roebuck. “She is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. We called the restaurant Sevendipity because there are seven of us. Every time I say or hear the name of the café, it reminds me of those eight months that is the reason for what I do—our family.”
Roebuck hopes to take a family vacation sometime soon, as well as grow his business into a second and maybe even a third location over the next several years. “Of course, we’ll only do that if we can maintain the standards of quality that we’ve worked so hard to establish,” said Roebuck. “But, at the end of the day, I just have one goal and that is to take care of my family.”
For Roebuck, taking care of his family sometimes involves taking risks. “Sometimes you have to take risks in order to move forward, and you have to do things that may look ridiculous or crazy to outsiders,” he said.
For example, Roebuck recently spent hundreds of hours developing the latest addition to their menu—the creauxnut. “It’s a pastry that is part doughnut and part croissant.” Similar pastries called cronuts are already hugely popular across the US. “We at Sevendipity are the first Louisiana restaurant to serve anything like it,” said Roebuck. “They’re incredibly time-intensive and difficult to make, and I must have made 200 or more test batches before perfecting the recipe. That’s a huge investment of time, resources and money, but it paid off! We sold 1,000 creauxnuts within four days of adding them to the menu.”
Being able to work side-by-side with his wife is Roebuck’s favorite part of his job. “Working daily with Lizz is by far the best job perk I’ve ever had,” said Roebuck.
He also credits a lot of his success to his father, Tom Postell. “The work ethics and values my dad instilled in me when I was young are a very large part of who I am now,” said Roebuck. “If I turn out to be 1% of the man he is, then I will be better than most. He taught me that life is yours for the taking, you just have to make that choice and put in the work.”
Roebuck also likes to encourage other men to go for their goals. “Just go for it,” said Roebuck. “Whether that means taking the plunge to open a restaurant with no prior knowledge of the restaurant industry, or creating the creauxnut, just do it! But you can’t over-think things. If you spend all of your time worrying what’ll happen if you fail, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.”
Visit Sevendipity Café online at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Sevendipity-Cafe/228326197197147 http://www.sevendipitycafe.com/
Joseph Guin
Joseph Guin Salon 711 Texas Street Shreveport, Louisiana 71101 (318) 865-2525 www.josephguinsalon.com
Joseph Guin of Joseph Guin Salon is one of those lucky people who knew at a young age what he was going to do as a career. “This June I will have dressed hair for 14 years. I started this pretty young - I’m 35 and never thought this would be what would carry my livelihood through. I never thought hairdressing could take me as far as it has. If you’re driven it can take you as far as you want to go.”
Guin’s experience and drive lead him to become a salon owner after working at only two other locations. “I took the professionalism and skill I learned in the first salon, and the warmth and hospitality I learned from the other salon and I created my own environment that I felt like emulated those two.”
Guin spent six years on Line Avenue and decided he wanted to stir things up. “My time on Line really helped build my business. I was feeling stagnant, however, I knew my little strip mall had taken me as far as I could go. I could have stayed there and been perfectly content, but that’s not really who I am. I will promise to myself that I’m never going to take on another project, I’m never going to do this - and two days later I’m taking on another one.”
The project he chose was to renovate a 115 year old building on Texas Street and turn it into a sanctuary for his clients. Not only did he move his business, he began a project that became a love letter to downtown Shreveport. “To remove virtue from what we did downtown, we were really just looking for a really cool place to create a unique salon. When you add virtue to the salon it became a complete, downtown Shreveport historical restoration project,” Guin said. “That wasn’t our intention at the beginning, but we got so much attention in that department from the different powers that be in the city that we shifted gears and realized the gravity of what we were doing.”
The renovation project wasn’t a one-man endeavor by any means. “We had a great deal of help - we had clients helping, we had employees helping, we had city officials helping, we had First United Methodist helping and the DDA. They are working so hard to help restore downtown,” he said. “Knowing we were one of the few who did it first and got to see this progression in downtown gives me an immense sense of pride.” he said. “I’m so incredibly grateful. It couldn’t have gone any better.”
The Joseph Guin Salon has 8 stylists for all your hair care needs, a massage therapist to work out the knots, and an esthetician to keep your skin glowing. “I’ve watched their business grow - everybody in here is busy. The entire place is just moving, and to have watched that happen is just super cool,” he said. Guin’s right-hand man is salon director and stylist Jeremy Johnson, who helps Guin set the high standard for customer service that Joseph Guin Salon provides their clients. “There are no egos in this building - the only star in the salon sits in the chair. I can’t say enough good things about the group, we have become a work family,” said Guin. “Jeremy has played a substantial role in the structure of the salon. He is very business minded, very business oriented and very artistic. We work so excellently together - he is part of the backbone and I’m part of the heart. When we come together we can really accomplish some pretty amazing things. With the support team we have I feel like we can do anything.”
The Joseph Guin Salon is the official salon for NBC 6, providing cut, color and styles for their on-air personalities. They also carry Kevin Murphy hair care products, and Guin is a Gold Key educator for them - having been trained all over the world and providing education on the products and trends across the U.S.
Despite his successes, Guin has stayed grounded throughout his career. “As your business grows, and more people are saying your name, I think it’s important to remain humble and stay service oriented. I take a great deal of pride in that. We don’t just cut and color hair, we alter people’s perceptions of themselves. We make people feel better about who they are, and we take it very seriously and treat it as gently as we can.”
David Alvis
Silverstar Smokehouse 1201 Dixie Overland Rd Bossier City, LA 71111 (318) 752-3633
Almost twenty years ago, a good friend gave entrepreneur David Alvis the loan that launched his first restaurant. The only interest his friend requested was a promise that Alvis would find success, and that when he did, Alvis would lend someone else a helping hand. That was a promise Alvis would make good on.
Over the years, Alvis has crafted a restaurant concept that continues to evolve, and his brand has become synonymous with delicious food and a great time.
Alvis got his start in the restaurant industry right out of the gate – at fifteen years old, his first job was at a Texas Dairy Queen. At that point, Alvis had no idea he would end up in the restaurant business, but he says, “I always knew I’d work for myself.” In 1997, he opened his first restaurant, and has since developed a diverse group of successful eateries. Alvis launched Texas Street Steakhouse in 2005 – this datenight ready Steakhouse is preparing for a remodel in the next year, and Alvis looks forward to giving the Steakhouse his signature stylish look and updating the menu to give guests new favorites to go with their famed steak and crowdpleasing au gratin potatoes.
Silver Star Smokehouse originally opened in 2007, and quickly garnered a reputation for great BBQ and premier catering service. In 2011, Alvis transformed a run-down cookhouse into what Silver Star is today, a stylish take on classic cowboy chic. Taking the former walk-up style joint to upscale Smokehouse in just 88 days, Alvis created a warm environment with just enough luxury to keep that classic Steakhouse feel, without taking away the down home comfort reflected in their BBQ roots. Leather seating, rich wooden tables and beams, custom chandeliers and carefully selected art are all part of Alvis’s own aesthetic for private dining in the Longhorn Room - he selects and styles each area personally, hitting just the right notes to combine country and city seamlessly. Silver Star now occupies an expansive space which houses seating for 500, and features a main dining area, main bar, two private dining rooms with fireplaces and private bars, and a party room with outside access. With plenty of room for any local event, the restaurant stays packed thanks to their growing status as the best BBQ in town. Silver Star is also known for its bright, friendly service crew; many staffers have been with Alvis for five or more years, and their banter and teamwork add a layer of comfort to the experience. Alvis boasts, “I have the greatest staff in the world”, and his customers seem to agree.
Having perfected the art of BBQ and steakhouse through Silver Star and Texas Street Steakhouse, Alvis expanded his restaurant empire to include Kelly’s Place, a catfish joint, in 2011. He also opened The Venue, a private catering facility that hosts private parties, corporate events, etc. Alvis also never forgot to pay the “interest” on his start-up loan - he is currently collaborating with the owner of Out in the Boondocks restaurant in Blanchard to bring their customers the best in taste and service.
In 2013 Alvis began the second phase of his vision for the Silver Star property; what started as a patio and stage area adjacent to the current restaurant has quickly evolved into an impressive venue in it’s own right. The Stage has taken on a stunning life of its own, and now features a large, professionally outfitted stage, 5 stage-side cabanas, two outdoor bar areas and a second-story VIP viewing lounge. This venue is primed to host concerts, weddings, parties, corporate events, crawfish boils; the possibilities are endless.
The VIP lounge is truly a work of art; seated 27 feet above the main venue area, attendees are treated to impressive sound and visual features which give them an on-stage quality to the experience, with amenities like flat screen televisions with direct access to the stage, bottle service, heating and air conditioning, and a crowd-free environment. As one comes to expect from Alvis, every detail is coordinated and thoughtful; from the technical considerations of sound delay to the ability to throw open the windows to let in a summer breeze, each element is carefully executed to be the best.
The stage-side cabanas feature a courtside view of the events with some nice perks. These roped-off enclosures feature cushioned seating and high top tables, flat screen televisions, and cocktail service. Already so popular that they are being reserved up to 6 months at a time, Alvis plans to build 6 more cabanas on a second story of the main restaurant.
The stage itself is a beautiful structure constructed completely from steel and beautified with 100-year old pine columns. Crafted to meet every need of professional musicians, the space is outfitted with state of the art sound equipment and lighting, and has a corresponding enclosed sound room and outdoor board area. The space also houses a “green room”, a private lounge for performers to retreat with Alvis’s signature mix of comfort and sophistication in décor. This room is also perfect for a bridal room in the case of a wedding at The Stage.
The main area in front of the stage showcases a beautiful fireplace flanked with lighted waterfall fountains – a gorgeous centerpiece to an event or reception. Ever a detail man, Alvis has chosen 100-year –old pine posts to surround the outdoor enclosure, and certain areas feature antique shutters and remnants from local homes, adding to the character of the space.
As The Stage has reached completion, artists are already flocking to perform to crowds of more than seven hundred. Acts such as Cole Vosbury, Jana Kramer, Cody Canada & The Departed, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Johnny Lee and Colt Ford have already visited the venue to strong turnouts.
Now that The Stage is ready to rock and roll, Alvis is already dreaming up the next phase for his exciting property. Plans include transforming a large lot behind The Stage into a space for larger concerts, with an estimated capacity of 4 to 5 thousand, and turning an adjacent barn into the concession stand for this stadium area.
Alvis is known for dreaming big, and as evidenced by his group of successful dining and entertainment ventures, his passion has paid off. But he is not done dreaming yet; as he says, “You never know what we may do; you can be assured – we are always thinking about the next big thing!”
Kyle Thomas
Kyle Thomas Insurance Agency, LLC 831 Kings Hwy Ste 120 Shreveport, LA 71104 Kyle@ktiagency.net (318) 226-3188
Kyle Thomas, owner of Thomas Insurance Agency, LLC learned the value of a hard work ethics at a young age as he worked while putting himself through school. While in school Kyle met his future wife; yes, he married his high school sweetheart! “I had the wonderful pleasure of marrying my high school sweetheart, Katherine Grieder Thomas”, he said. They raise three beautiful children and are proud to reside here in Shreveport.
Kyle graduated from C.E. Byrd High School and from their went on to graduate from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA.
Kyle has been a licensed insurance producer in Louisiana since 2005. He was employed by Allstate Insurance from May of 2005 until March of 2011 where he continued to learn about the value of not only a good product but how important customer service is to a business. In March of 2011 Kyle opened his own Independent Agency which he currently owns and operates. It is such a privilege to be able to assist individuals and business owners with the proper planning when purchasing protection needed today for their homes and automobiles as well as commercial insurance quotes”, he said. The other part of his business he enjoys is being able to assist couples and even individuals of the importance of life insurance.
“Kyle Thomas Insurance Services, LLC is not just your local insurance company but an extension of my customers”, stated Kyle. Thomas stated his favorite part of his business has always been his customers. He enjoys meeting new people and being able to maintain customers he has had since he opened.
For more information on Kyle Thomas Insurance Agency, LLC call (318) 226-3188.
Bruce Willson
United Way of NW Louisiana 820 Jordan St., Ste 370 Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 677-2504 www.unitedwaynwla.org
Dr. Bruce Willson, President and CEO of the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, was born in Paris, France, while his father was stationed nearby as a pilot in the United States Air Force.
In the years that have followed he has lived in Brazil, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. He met his wife KK, when they were in the 7th grade.Married for 37 years, they are the proud parents of a married son and two married daughters and two grandsons. Bruce graduated from Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Louisiana Tech University, a Master of Theology degree in Hebrew and Old Testament Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.
He is a Certified Fund Raising Professional and an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, serving as the Immediate Past President of the North Louisiana Chapter. Prior to becoming a part of the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, he worked as the Assistant Dean for Development in the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech University.
Bruce assumed his position as President & CEO in April of 2008. He has assembled an outstanding staff and helped the agency refine its mission and strategy. The net effect of this work has resulted in renewed enthusiasm internally which has spread to the community at large for the work of United Way.
A Rotarian since 1993, Bruce has served as President of the Rotary Club of Nacogdoches, Texas and the Rotary Club of Ruston, Louisiana. He is a Past District Governor of Rotary District 6190 and currently a member of the Rotary Club of Shreveport, Louisiana.
One of his personal mottos is, “If not me, then who? And, if not now, then when?”
Dale Spoor
Southland Printing 213 Airport Dr, Shreveport, LA 71107 (318) 221-8662 www.southlandprinting.com
I started working at Southland in 1981 shortly after finishing high school, it was an entry level job training as a rewinder operator. I would also do odd jobs around the plant and got the title of company carpenter, not sure how that happened. At that time there was about 20 employees and three ticket presses. In the early eighties we purchased our first Flexographic printing press and this was my new assignment, it was a challenge due to the fact that no employees here had any experience running a Flexo press. Through trial and error and then some technical training I was able to master this machine. During this time the parking industry technology was changing to barcode and magnetic stripe technology. I helped develop this manufacturing process and the company experienced phenomenal growth over the next 20 years.
As the company grew and we developed more products I became the Flexographic pressroom manager and would do research and development for new products.
Eventually we purchased 11 more presses to keep up with demand. We now manufacture product for all 50 states and 49 foreign countries. For the past few years I have been the production manager over seeing all the manufacturing and maintenance operations. I still help develop new products and procedures to keep us at the forefront of the industry.
I have been married to my wife Elise for 28 years and have three grown children. As the children were growing up we did a lot of camping and those values have been instilled in them as well. I don’t have any particular hobby but enjoy anything outdoors especially if it has to do with water.
Last year we got Scuba certified and that was really neat. We made a dive trip in Florida and will make another one soon. I like to tinker and work with my hands and would one day like to own an older custom car.
I didn’t really look for a certain job when I was younger and when I started here I had no idea about printing. I sort of grew up here and have learned through the years that there is a science behind everything and that is a challenge for me that I like, every day is different. My job has changed through the years from running machinery to a position focused on people and relationships. I get great satisfaction in seeing a young person come to work here and being given an opportunity to make something for themselves and family. I have seen many young guys grow into just wonderful family men.
If you treat people fair and respect them its not hard to motivate people to do great things. Southland Printing is a family owned business and I really appreciate all the opportunities I have been offered here. The company constantly strives to be the best in the industry and employees that work here do the same.
Ernest Palmisano
Ernest’s Orleans Restaurant 1601 Spring Street Shreveport, LA 318-226-1325 www.ernestorleans.com
Angelo Ernest Palmisano Jr... King of the hill .....cheers to the next side of the generation of the legendary Ernest’s Orleans restaurant ...the man and his food at the top of the hill where many have been... Movie stars, miss America, local dignitaries, best of all “the finest” of our Shreveport people. With deep roots of New Orleans through the veins of his father Angelo Ernest Palmisano Sr, Chef Ernest, the young man behind the stoves creating those extraordinary Sicilian - creole dishes now 25 years later is getting ready to turn the page on old world charm and tradition. Chef Ernest is now looking forward to serving the finest alongside his queen of hearts as he calls her Tina Marie Palmisano of Jester’s Catering & mobile foods.
Chef Ernest has great plans of sharing the old world traditions which seem so far removed these days to the younger generations to come. He has exciting plans of utilizing new technology to bring the Italian / creole traditions and cuisine into the lives of our millennial generation. Chef ’s blood runs deep with loyalty to his guests, this town, his community, his restaurant family, and his animals. He was once his father’s student, but he is now the teacher who can help pass on the blissful old world charm from yesteryears... In a way that’s so much more than just going to eat food. It is Chef Ernest’s loyal service that he is known for. He will be bringing more new technology into this so he can reach out farther to share his love with new online ordering systems, mobile websites, guest loyalty programs, and new ways to bring Ernest’s to his customers.
There will always be tradition to Ernest’s Orleans Restaurant but adding to that foundation will be the Ernest’s gourmet to go which are affordable catering packages that can be ordered by the pans . Just pick them up, serve them, and voila! You have a party and Ernest’s in your home. Chef will also be marketing to our young professionals that have families, children and work. Responsibilities that keep customers from being able to make it out to have a dining experience but would love to have good food to enjoy at home. This is Chef ’s city paying homage to him for 25 years of service and loyalty in the restaurant business and his community.... This is where he is headed as he turns the page to a new world bringing rich values and traditions as he crosses the threshold. Chef is committed and excited about bringing old world Sicilian Tradition into the new world!
For the past 25 years Chef Ernest Palmisano Jr. has been a giving chef and servant to his guests, a caring husband and father, an understanding and approach able boss and a culinary and charitable force that has become legendary in Shreveport Bossier.
Bill Fleming
Fleming Landscape & Irrigation, Inc.
7301 St Vincent Ave, Shreveport, LA 71106 (318) 219-2550 www.fleminglandscapeandirrigation.net
Bill Fleming, owner of Fleming Landscape and Irrigation Inc., learned the value of a hard work ethic at a young age. “I started working for my father’s irrigation business during the summer of 1974. At 12 years old, I stocked fittings and kept the warehouse clean, “ he said. “At 15 years old I ran an irrigation installation crew until I graduated from college in 1985.” Those early years of working with his father lead him to open his own business. “I started my own irrigation business (Fleming Irrigation) in 2004. In 2009, I added my landscape division, and changed the name to Fleming Landscape & Irrigation, Inc,” said Fleming.
Fleming Landscape & Irrigation is a landscape and irrigation design build firm. They specialize in residential and large scale commercial work in Louisiana, and Texas. It was a natural fit for Fleming to add the landscape side to his already thriving irrigation business. “Our main business was always large residential and large commercial irrigation, but I have also been a licensed landscape contractor for nearly 25 years. I never really practiced though because I was always in with all the contractors in town,” explained Fleming. “In 2009 we started the landscaping division which has pretty much doubled our business. We have an in-house architect, project managers - we do anything you can think of landscape-wise. Parks, patios, outdoor kitchens - from residential to large scale commercial,” he said. “For over forty years, we worked with most every landscape company in Shreveport, which was both positive and negative. The positives are obvious, more sales opportunities, solid working relationships, etc… The negatives are that as a business you are always waiting and dependent on others to finish work before you can start your work. Being more efficient and in control of our work load and schedules are the main reasons I started my landscape division,” he said. “It’s been a seamless jump for us.”
Fleming Landscape & Irrigation has become a generational business, as Fleming’s son Patrick is now part of the team. “Patrick is 21 and has been around the family business and decided to start helping me out. When we started the landscape business it was a perfect fit for him, and he is a project manager for me now. I worked with my dad for 30 years, and it’s great having Patrick working with me,” Fleming said.
Fleming and his wife Somar have been married for 28 years and have four children; Anthony, 27, Heather, 24, Patrick, 21 and Morgan, 17. He has been a member of the Eastridge Country Club for 27 years, and is a member of the congregation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church. In his spare time, Fleming loves to play golf.
As a seasoned business owner, Fleming offers up some sage advice to anyone thinking of opening their own business. “My advice would be to know your product or services well. Learn every aspect of the business, and be able to provide the services yourself, before relying on others. Learn what you’re true costs of doing business are, and understand how these costs relate to your ability to make a profit,” he said. “Be prepared to work hard!” Fleming Landscape & Irrigation is a labor of love for Fleming, who is grateful to the clients who have got him where he is today. “My favorite part of my business has always been my customers. Meeting new people and keeping up with customers I’ve had for years has been fun.”
For more information on Fleming Landscape & Irrigation, Inc. call (318) 219-2550 or visit their website at www.fleminglandscapeandirrigation.net.
