After a 41-year career in Broadcast Television, James Smith, vice president and general manager of KSLA TV, announced his retirement. Sandy Breland, group vice president for Raycom Media, the company that owns KSLA-TV, said, “James started his career as a reporter and photographer and has always had a passion for local news, upholding the highest standards and ethics. He has led KSLA’s growth in the Ark La Tex with the station being an important and dominant force in the community.” Smith began his career as a reporter at the CBS Television Station in Corpus Christi, Texas after graduating from the University of Texas. He taught Journalism at Texas A&M University and was an award winning News Director and Anchorman at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Prior to coming to KSLA-TV, Smith was vice president and general manager at WWAY-TV in Wilmington, NC. Smith will remain on the job until March 31 when he and his wife Kathy will move to their hometown of San Antonio, Texas.
The Business Development Connection of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce is seeking help in recognizing outstanding individuals or businesses who are making a difference in the community. Nominations for the Annual Minority Business Opportunity Awards are being accepted. The location for this year’s event is still to be determined. The categories and qualifications are:
Top Business Professional of the Year: A minority individual who consistently exemplifies the highest standard of professional excellence; reputation/performance on the job is that of a respected leader or example to his/her colleagues; has a record of accomplishments and dedicates his/her time to providing service to the community.
Small Business Owner of the Year: A minority individual, who owns, operates and bears the principal responsibility for operating a small business (less than 50). Partners may be nominated as a team provided the number of individuals in the team does not exceed four.
Emerging Business of the Year: A new minority-owned business (one to three years) that is poised for future growth and has carved a niche for itself in the business community. Business of the Year: An established business that employs 50 or more that creates opportunities for minority-owned businesses and/or minority individuals and has a strong philanthropic commitment to the community. (Note: This category does not have to be a minority-owned business), Nominees must be members of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.
Chad Still of Minden has been elected as a member of the board of directors of Richland State Bank, according to an announcement by Jerome Vascocu, CEO of RSB. This marks the first time in the bank’s history to have a Minden resident as a board member. Richland has been operating a full-service branch in Minden for the past 15 years.
The Louisiana Startup Prize launched its third year to a packed house of entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors at Rhino Coffee. Team Startup Prize joined Gregory Kallenberg, founder and executive director of Louisiana Startup Prize, to ring the ceremonial bell and open up registration for “The Most Amazing Entrepreneurial Competition on the Planet.” After an incredibly successful second year, Kallenberg announced that they are adding more national investors to the Investor Judge group and will bring in some special keynotes to speak at the Startup Prize 2016 Qualifying Events. Louisiana Startup Prize 2015 shattered records within the 82 startups participating in the competition. Out of those 82 startups, 38 percent were female representatives and 31 percent were minority business owners. “We were incredibly proud of the diversity and the level of our entrepreneurs and startups,” Kallenberg said. “This year, we hope to attract even more startups and help them evolve and grow and, eventually, connect them with investor dollars.”
