This week, Sept. 20 and 21, the Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South) will host their annual WE Summit Awards and Scholarship Gala at the Roosevelt Hotel. Who is the WBEC South and why should women owned businesses get certified with them? President and CEO Phala Mire shares all the details and benefits on this week’s podcast. 

Sean Mulligan, program and events coordinator for the Idea Village, talks about the nonprofit’s new music business accelerator, designed to support entrepreneurs seeking to solve problems or create new opportunities in the music industry.

With Louisiana facing more than 600 wildfires just in August, Biz talks with disaster recovery company First Onsite Property Restoration general manager Steven Latham about the business of disasters. What are the biggest threats facing Louisiana businesses near these fires and what can a company like this do to help?  

That’s how owner Renee Melchiode describes the experience at Exchange Pickleball & Bar, which opened August 8 behind the Walmart on Tchoupitoulas Street. In this week's episode, hear the story of how they city's only marriage of the fastest growing sport in the nation with food and beverage offerings came to be in New Orleans. 

Hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects are lowering Louisiana residents’ risks, yet the state continues to see premiums rise. Chip Kline, former chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, says the opposite should be happening. On this week’s episode, he talks about the connection between insurance and the environment. Kline will be one of the featured speakers at the annual Economic & Real Estate Forecast Symposium hosted by the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors on Oct. 5. At the event, experts in real estate, insurance and finance will tackle the theme “Adapting to Unpredictability.”

Last week, Caesars Superdome officials unveiled a portion of the major renovations planned for the Caesars Superdome in advance of Super Bowl LIX in 2025. Mike Hoss, media relations manager for the project, talks about how the changes in the Dome will make game day more convenient and entertaining for fans. Since he’s also the Saints radio play-by-play announcer, he shares his thoughts on the upcoming season.

The United Way of Southeast Louisiana has just introduced a new program that aims to be a game-changer for the African-American small business community in Southeast Louisiana. Thriving African-American Small Business Initiative (TAASB) seeks to boost the profit potential and resilience of Black-owned businesses and help close the racial wealth gap in the region. For all the details, Biz talks to Chiquita Lattimore, senior VP of community impact and financial capability.

Dillard University President Dr. Rochelle Ford’s first-year achievements include infrastructure improvements, a fundraising boost and changes designed to support faculty and staff culture. Now she’s overseeing the construction of a $40 million residence hall near campus. It’s part of her plan to transform the iconic HBCU into a “living, learning, serving communiversity.”

There’s a lot going on at Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement, including two big new master’s degree opportunities and a new partnership with another local university. Ilianna Kwaske, associate dean for academic affairs and senior professor practice, shares all the details on this week’s podcast. 

This week's guest is Geoffrey Meeker, founder and owner of French Truck Coffee. The business began in 2009 in his laundry room and it has now grown to encompass 10 shops with two more on the way. Over the last decade and a half, Meeker has had to become a coffee expert and a pro at scaling and managing a business through extreme weather events, the pandemic and all the challenges that come with life in New Orleans.