Biz Talks

Having trouble getting your dog to and from doggie daycare? Does your pooch need a ride to the groomer, but you’ve got a conflict? Now there’s an app for that. Native New Orleanian Troy Bergeron has parlayed his background in logistics and transportation into a new venture — Doggie Bus. After just over a year in business, the company is already expanding nationally. How does it all work? Bergeron shares all the details on this week’s Biz Talks.

After a little more than 10 years in business, Haptech, Inc. has found its stride — earning millions in military contracts. Founder and CEO Kyle Monti explains his innovative technology, how the video game industry helped get the company where it needed to be, as well as what’s up next and how locals can join his team.

Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Lakeside Shopping Center is working hard to stay young — welcoming two new stores, with another on the way. Lakeside’s General Manager Lisa Manzella, and Marketing Director Erin Graham share all the latest news (including what went into hosting 2,000 people for Jefferson Parish’s Bicentennial Ball) and discuss the surprising lessons the mall learned from the pandemic.  

BONUS! To see highlights from the Bicentennial Ball click here:https://www.lakesideshopping.com/lakeside_65

On June 9, the announcement went out that Gov. Landry had signed SB 232 into law, officially establishing Act 44 — a major update to the state’s film incentive program. What exactly does this act do and why is the industry excited? Jason Waggenspack, co-founder and CEO of The Ranch Film Studios and president of Film Louisiana, shares his insight.

Flynn Zaiger is the CEO of Online Optimism, a digital marketing agency that has been aiding small businesses in the region for 13 years. In this week’s episode, he shares how his company uses AI, the biggest misunderstandings people have about AI, and his top tips and suggestions for easily using this new technology to enhance your business.

A new “Top 250” study found that 88% of the top 250 conventions in the country will meet in only 20 cities and New Orleans tops the list at number three, behind only San Diego and Orlando. Stephanie Turner, SVP of convention sales and strategies for New Orleans & Co. explains how this industry works, how competition has changed post-Covid and how New Orleans is positioned for the future.

Almost 100,000 people in the Greater New Orleans region suddenly lost power on a perfectly sunny day on Sunday, May 25.  Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable energy, explains why this shouldn’t have happened, what questions still need to be answered and what changes we all should be pushing for now.

There are a lot of things on the chopping block with President Trump’s big bill, not the least of which is funding for women’s business centers throughout the country. Klassi Duncan, VP of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Urban League of Louisiana — which operates two women’s business centers in the region – explains what this loss would mean to Louisiana and shares the 30-second act you can do now to fight back. 

Send a letter to your state representatives by clicking here: https://awbc.org/supportwbcs/

Today, Tuesday, May 20, is Early Care and Education Day at the Capitol, and among those organizations in Baton Rouge today fighting for the importance of funding for this need is the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, which just released some sobering new data on single mothers in the region. UWSELA President and CEO Michael Williamson joins us again on the podcast to share the latest findings, as well as what his organization is doing to fight for the nearly one-third of working Southeast Louisiana households that can’t afford basic necessities.

The opioid epidemic is not just exacerbating our issues with crime, homelessness and public health, it’s also harming our next generation — a warning that local entrepreneur Cammy Livingston is trying to spread by cofounding Generation O: The National Organization for Opioid-Exposed Children, a national nonprofit led by foster/adoptive moms across the U.S. to advocate for kids impacted by the opioid crisis. She explains more about why you haven’t heard about this problem and what her organization is doing now to change that.