BIZ. July 2013

8Toolsyou canuse today

Bossier Chamber of CommerceNewsletter Inside this Edition

JuLY 2013

DELIVERED TO BUSINESS LEADERS THROUGHOUT SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER

APPof the

MONTHPage 8

Fit forBusinessGoing from Workplace to Workout

2 Biz. Magazine • July 2013

The First Word

You have seen them all over the place, especially at events where Christians abound.They adorn the shirts of the "believers." And quite frankly, they look stupid to the restof the world. "Them" are those knock-offs of name brands with Christian logos andscriptures — from the John 3:16 made to look like the John Deere logo, to the words"Jesus Christ" written in the Coca-Cola font. Yes, we know He is the "Real Thing."

Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of cleverness. I am even a fan of parody. However, I am also arealist when it comes to marketing, and these things only appeal to "members of the club" forthe most part. I brought this up in our Life Group recently. I learned that many in our groupagreed with me. One 20-something even said, "it looks cheesy to others."

While sharing the Gospel is not necessarily a "marketing" function, there is marketing involved.When Christians put forth products in the name of Christ, we are essentially marketing on Hisbehalf. When we create knock-offs in His name, don't we cheapen His message?

The point was driven home to me while watching television. A Morningstar meatless pattiescommercial came on. The announcer kept going on and on about how it looks and tastes like agrilled hamburger.

The scene showed these patties on the grill, in a bun with lettuce and tomato, and being en-joyed by "happy" vegetarians. My first reaction was "ifbeing a vegetarian is so good, then why do they have to tryto make it look like meat?"

If being a Christian is so great (and it is, trust me) then whydo we feel the need to look like something else? Shouldn'twe be happy with our own identity?

Parody may get someone's attention for a moment, but it isjust that. How many Weird Al Yankovic albums do youown?

If you own one of these shirts, etc., you don't have to throwit away. Just realize that it is what it is. Be original. Be au-thentic. People can see through all that other stuff.

Telling Good NewsWhat if Jesus Christ workedin the Marketing Department?

David Specht Jr.President of Specht Newspapers, Inc.

Read his blog about leadership atwww.DavidASpecht.com

He may be reached via email [email protected].

July 2013 • Biz. Magazine 3


Contents

Volume 4, Number 4 | ©Copyright 2013 by Specht Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. BIZ. is published each month by Specht Newspapers, Inc.at 4250 Viking Drive, Bossier City, LA 71111. Telephone (318) 747-7900. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to bereliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

20Get your “Kix” on July 4thKix Brooks, fireworks and more at Fourthof July celebration

16HIgher Weight = Lower Pay?Weight-based discrimination consistently affectsevery aspect of employment from hiring to firing,promotions, pay allocation, career counseling anddiscipline.

23-26Bossier Chamber NewsletterWe are pleased to present the Bossier Chamber of CommerceMember Newsletter in this month’s edition.

3 Telling Good NewsWhat if Jesus Christ was working in the Marketing Department?

5 The Power of TEAMAccomplish more than you could alone

6 It’s Time for a ReviewTaking a look back at lessons of the past

11 Trying to Stick to a Fitness Plan?Social media can make fitness a little easier for professionals and patrons

13 Dancing with the Datethat Brought YouWhat you don’t know about customer loyalty can hurt you

31 Let Me See that Sushi RollExplore Korean food at Kabuki Sushi

Regulars

On the CoverPhysical fitness, and its impact on the workplaceis gaining momentum locally. Read how one localbusiness is incorpating fitness into its culture.See Page 14

BIZ. News OnlineThe BIZ. website at www.nwlabusiness.com is Shreveport-Bossier’shome for business news, updated as it happens. In addition, users cansign up for a free BIZ. Daily Report to keep up with BIZ. news from thecomfort of their Inbox.

Want to advertise? http://nwlabusiness.com/2013-advertising-kit/

4 Biz. Magazine • July 2013 July 2013 • Biz. Magazine 5

Win-Win Powertools

Iwas auditioning for the role of Sales Managerwith a company that didn’t have sales man-agers. They expected the general manager tocarry that load. I was facing the owner of thecompany as my GM was trying to sell him onthe value of having a person whose sole re-

sponsibility was focused on sales. The owner was-n’t buying it; he just wanted me to be asalesperson. The owner turned to me and essen-tially asked me to show him the money.

“I can sell more (and make you more money)through my efforts of training and coaching withmy sales team than I will ever accomplish by my-self.” I guess I was showing my courage….or was itmy naiveté? The owner just stared at me andturned the conversation to another topic. I madethe sale and became this company’s first everSales Manager.

My first step was to throw out the traditional“sales staff” and “sales manager” titles. The com-

pany’s new “Sales Team Leader” went to workbuilding a SALES TEAM.

What’s the difference? What is a team? The an-swers are found in what the team members thinkand believe. The more we talked about becominga team, the more it mattered. The answer wascoming from within each member. A team becamea driving force.

About every six months our sales meeting wouldbe on the subject of TEAM. Here’s some of whatthey told me their team meant:

We all pull in the same directionWe’re all for one and one for all (The Three Muske-teers) We listen to each otherWe care for each other and our clientsWe are focused “I’ve got your back!”We support each other

We’re happy to helpWe revel in each other’s successes“I’m here for you”“Rely on me”“We’ll win together”There’s more power when it is “us” than when it is“me”Ah-ha, I see the agenda for your next salesor staff meeting.

Accomplish more together than you could alone

Jerry FrentressSpeaker & Coach, Win-Win Power(ful)Tools for Sales, Service and EmployeeInterviewing. Website: www.WinWin-PowerTools.com.

Business Facebook:www.Facebook.com/WinWinPower-Tools . 453-6080 / Bossier City

I can sell more (and makeyou more money) throughmy efforts of training and

coaching with my sales teamthan I will ever accomplish

by myself

Tools You Can Use

When it comes to winning in Business, ithelps to have the right “tools” for the job.

ThePower

of‘TEAM’


Randy BrownAdvertising/Marketing Guru

He is the Advertising Director forBossier Newspaper Publishing Com-pany, Inc., publishers of the BossierPress-Tribune and BIZ. Magazine

Randy may be reached [email protected]

Marketing B-S (Bossier-Shreveport)

Over the past few editions, we have dis-cussed the Top Five reasons for sales rep-resentative failure. Our discussion hascentered around the central idea of help-ing sales managers in building their salesteam(s). As sales managers, we often find

ourselves repeatedly asking the question: whydo sales representatives fail? This column will bea culmination of our discussion on this topic. Thereasons for sales representative failure can bemany..some predictable...some not. In no particu-lar order, the Top Five reasons for sales represen-tative failure that we have discussed are:1.)Inadequate Training, 2.)Pursuing UnqualifiedProspects, 3.)Pursuing Only “The Big Elephant”accounts, 4.)Lack of Time Management and5.)Poor Attitude.

First of all, lets begin with a brief review andsummary. Inadequate Training: as author TomHopkins says, “you are your greatest asset. Putyour time, effort and money into training yourgreatest asset.” We should all strive for excel-lence. If we all want to be the very best that wecan be, then there is absolutely no excuse for not

training enough and not being properly pre-pared.

Next, Pursuing Unqualified Prospects. Don’twaste your precious and most valuable time pur-suing unqualified prospects. By spending thetime and effort necessary to properly qualifyyour customers, you will quickly see which cus-tomers to keep on your call list(s) and whichprospects to drop. Channel the time that you willsave by thoroughly “vetting” your prospectivecustomers. This can be a key step toward insur-ing your long term success as a sales representa-tive.

Pursuing The Big Elephant: As a sales representa-tive, if you are not consistently pursuing ac-counts of all types (big and small, new leads andnew opportunities), as opposed to just concen-trating solely upon the “Big Elephants,”then you’re are not going to meet your sales ob-jectives in the long run. These “Big Elephants” cannot be your total focusor else. Don’t let this happen to you.

Manage Your Time Wisely: Time management is abalancing act; a real skill upon which we all mustconstantly focus. Time management skills canhave a direct impact upon the quality of ourwork, our efficiency and our stress levels. Intoday’s economy, time management skills andspecific sales strategies related to how we useour time become even more important. Make apledge to work on your time management skillsno matter how good you already think you are.

Poor Attitude: In short, your attitude matters.Some would say that out of all of the things thatwe could possibly mention, your attitude mattersmost. Count me in that group. Without a great at-titude and outlook, you are not going to accom-plish much. We must all have a great attitude,believe in what we are doing and let others seethat our attitude is a part of us both inside andout.

This has been a meaningful and fun discussion. Icertainly got alot out of it and I hope that you didtoo.

It’s Time for a Review


Over the past few editions, we have dis-cussed the Top Five reasons for sales rep-resentative failure. Our discussion hascentered around the central idea of help-ing sales managers in building their salesteam(s). As sales managers, we often find

ourselves repeatedly asking the question: whydo sales representatives fail? This column will bea culmination of our discussion on this topic. Thereasons for sales representative failure can bemany..some predictable...some not. In no particu-lar order, the Top Five reasons for sales represen-tative failure that we have discussed are:1.)Inadequate Training, 2.)Pursuing UnqualifiedProspects, 3.)Pursuing Only “The Big Elephant”accounts, 4.)Lack of Time Management and5.)Poor Attitude.

First of all, lets begin with a brief review andsummary. Inadequate Training: as author TomHopkins says, “you are your greatest asset. Putyour time, effort and money into training yourgreatest asset.” We should all strive for excel-lence. If we all want to be the very best that wecan be, then there is absolutely no excuse for not

training enough and not being properly pre-pared.

Next, Pursuing Unqualified Prospects. Don’twaste your precious and most valuable time pur-suing unqualified prospects. By spending thetime and effort necessary to properly qualifyyour customers, you will quickly see which cus-tomers to keep on your call list(s) and whichprospects to drop. Channel the time that you willsave by thoroughly “vetting” your prospectivecustomers. This can be a key step toward insur-ing your long term success as a sales representa-tive.

Pursuing The Big Elephant: As a sales representa-tive, if you are not consistently pursuing ac-counts of all types (big and small, new leads andnew opportunities), as opposed to just concen-trating solely upon the “Big Elephants,”then you’re are not going to meet your sales ob-jectives in the long run. These “Big Elephants” cannot be your total focusor else. Don’t let this happen to you.

Manage Your Time Wisely: Time management is abalancing act; a real skill upon which we all mustconstantly focus. Time management skills canhave a direct impact upon the quality of ourwork, our efficiency and our stress levels. Intoday’s economy, time management skills andspecific sales strategies related to how we useour time become even more important. Make apledge to work on your time management skillsno matter how good you already think you are.

Poor Attitude: In short, your attitude matters.Some would say that out of all of the things thatwe could possibly mention, your attitude mattersmost. Count me in that group. Without a great at-titude and outlook, you are not going to accom-plish much. We must all have a great attitude,believe in what we are doing and let others seethat our attitude is a part of us both inside andout.

This has been a meaningful and fun discussion. Icertainly got alot out of it and I hope that you didtoo.

It’s like receiving a business book each month.

Don’t Miss a Single Issue!


Biz ToolsDo Something

The speed of business is ever increasing. The successful business leaderstays on top of the tools and information to help his company grow.

Books

What are we reading?Long known as a “must read” in business circles, Good to Great by Jim Collins hasstood the test of time. Collins uses real-world case studies to illustrate why somecompanies make the jump to greatness, while others just remain “good.” Readers willlearn how companies like Walgreens continue to thrive, and how principles such asthe “Hedgehog Concept” can be implemented in any size organization.

Good to Great will quickly become a staple on your bookshelf and you might evenbuy copies for friends and colleagues, both inside your organization and outside it.

For those looking for a practical guide to take their organization to a higher lever, then Good to Great istruly a “must read.”

What are they reading?

Inferno,Dan Brown

David “Rocky” Rockett

Crush It,Gary Vaynerchuk

Butch Bellah

The Catalyst Leader,Brad LomenickDavid Specht Jr.

Getting Things Done,David AllenRandy Brown

App of the MonthIn keeping with this month’s fitness theme, we present MyFitnessPal.

Losing weight isn't easy - we know. But with a membership to MyFitnessPal.com, you'll get the tools you need to successfullytake weight off - and keep it off. And best of all, everything on the site is 100% FREE.

Study after study has confirmed the benefits of keeping track of the food you eat and the activity you do. It's simple - the moreconsistently you track your food intake, the more likely you are to lose weight. That's why every successful weight managementprogram suggests that you keep a food diary and/or an activity log. MyFitnessPal helps by having a diary and database of foodsat your fingertips, wherever you are.

MyFitnessPal is available online at www.myfitnesspal.com along with an app for iPhone and Android.

Order the book here.


Books Listen Up

Worth Following

More Tools

Podcast of the MonthEntreLeadership By Dave Ramsey

Lessons from Dave Ramsey on business, team building and leader-ship. Hosted by Chris Hogan. Each episode features teaching fromDave along with guest interviews with some of today’s top leaders,such as Tony Hsieh, Simon Sinek and Dan Cathy.

Blog of the MonthIntentional Leadership with Michael Hyattmichaelhyatt.com

Michael Hyatt is the author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World (Thomas Nel-son). It is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller. Recently,Forbes magazine named me one of the Top 50 Social Media Influencers of 2013.

His personal blog is fo-cused on “intentionalleadership.” His mis-sion is to help you livewith more passion,work with greaterfocus, and lead withextraordinary influ-ence.

Michael writes on per-sonal development,leadership, productiv-ity, platform, and pub-lishing. On occasion,he writes about stuffthat doesn’t fit neatlyinto one of these cate-gories.

Michael’s goal is to create insightful, relevant content that you can put to work inyour personal and professional life. If you are in a position of leadership—or aspireto be—then this blog is for you.

Michael typically posts three to four times a week. To make sure you don’t miss hisnewest posts, you can subscribe via RSS or e-mail.

SOURCE: MICHAELHYATT.COM


6 2 2 0 E A S T

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & CONTINUING EDUCATION

OPMENT & CWORKFORCE DEVEL

6 2 2 0 E A S T

TIONAATIONONTINUING EDUCOPMENT & C

Amy KinnairdSocial Media Evangelist

She trains business owners and entre-preneurs how to use the latest mar-keting tools and techniques to attractand keep clients.

View Amy’s website at www.uncom-monsensemarketing.com.

Social media can make

fitness a little easier

for professionals and patrons


Whether you’re a fitness pro-fessional looking to ex-pand your business orjust want to eat better orfind the right exercises,social media is your new

best friend. Gone are the days ofpopping in a Jane Fonda VCR tape;move over paper workout journals,take a look at some new ways to get thejob done.

Let’s look at this from the fitness or nutritionprofessional side:

Create a series of videos demonstratingproper form and post them to YouTube and Facebook. You couldcharge a monthly fee for your expertise. The same thing applies tovideos on cooking or nutrition.

Create a private Facebook group for your clients. Use it for inspira-tion and education, as well as building your brand.

Fitblok.com – this is a cool new way to have your exercise classesdelivered. Join as a trainer, stream live classes for a nominal fee.You’ll get folks from all over the country taking your classes.

Start your blog. Write about everything in the health, nutrition andfitness world. Develop raving fans.

How about starting a podcast? This is very popu-lar right now. Share your advice on your topic,

whether it’s a 2 minute or a 20 minute spot.

On the flip side, as a user, here are somethings you can use to propel your fitnessjourney.

YouTube – you can find a video on anythingfrom making green smoothies to triceps exer-

cises you can do in a hotel.

Fitblok.com – for a dollar or two you can take a wide varietyof fitness classes from the convenience of your own iPad.

Water your body app – tracks your water consumption during theday. (There are lots of water apps besides this one.)

There are apps for every health and fitness related thing you canthink of. Check into MapMyRun or Pocket Yoga. Another site tocheck is MyFitnessPal.com or download their calorie tracker app.

Podcasts – there are an endless variety of podcasts on all thingsfitness and nutrition. Just Google and look for one!

Of course, let us not forget that you can leave technology behindand take a walk, venture out on your bike, or just enjoy the bountyat the Farmer’s Markets in the area. Unplugging is healthy, too!

Uncommon Sense Marketing

Amy KinnairdSocial Media Evangelist

She trains business owners and entre-preneurs how to use the latest mar-keting tools and techniques to attractand keep clients.

View Amy’s website at www.uncom-monsensemarketing.com.

Trying to Stick to a Fitness Plan?Let Your Friends and Followers Help

Social media can make

fitness a little easier

for professionals and patronsGone are the days of

popping in a Jane FondaVCR tape; move over

paper workout journals.


Many business owners today spend an inordinate amount of time trying to lure newcustomers to their business, when the heart and soul of their business is alreadythere—right under their nose. According to Forrester Research, it costs five timesmore to acquire new customers than it does to keep existing ones. FIVE times asmuch! I’d propose that instead of vying for new customers; focus your marketingefforts on satisfying the customers you already have. When you do so, you’ll re-

duce churn—and studies have shown that reducing churnby just 5% can increase profits by 25% and more.

Those are staggering numbers. And the great part is thatthese customers are already coming into your shop orbusiness every day—they’re the people you already know.

Did you know that 80% of future revenue will come from20% of existing customers and the probability of sellingto an existing customer is more than 50% higher than theprobability of selling to a new prospect? In this case a birdin the hand is worth 5 or 6 in the bush!

Perhaps the most powerful argument for knowing, reward-ing and marketing to your most loyal customers is theytend to be the most social and can become “ambassadors”for you when treated like they deserve. A social customerwill tell an average of 42 people about a good customerexperience—on the other hand, they will tell an average of53 people about a bad customer experience.

Do you have a loyalty program? Do you know who thesecustomers are and how to reward them? You need to learn.The future of your business depends on it.


Sales Power Tips

Butch BellahButch Bellah is a Sales, Business andPersonal Development Coach andSpeaker working to help businessesnot only survive, but THRIVE in today’seconomy. He has been named one ofthe Top 100 Sales Experts to follow onTwitter where you can follow him on athttp://www.twitter.com/salespower-tips or on his website at www.butch-bellah.com. Reach him at 337-384-9204or by email [email protected].

Dancing withthe date thatbrought youWhat you don’t know about customer loyalty can hurt you


Cover Story

Fit for

GoingfromWork

Time is essential in the workplace. Butwhen combined with a normal 9-to-5work schedule, or even later, and allthe pressures that accumulate day inand day out, it can be a hindrance onpersonal time.

Usually, one of the first things to go is gymtime. Finding a gig that won’t submarine yourexercise routine can be all but impossible.

Except it’s not.What if you could work for a company that

values fitness just as much as the bottomline? There are employers who value healthand fitness in their employees, offering accessto athletic facilities, rewards for being inshape, cafeterias stocked with healthy snacks,and preventive medical care so you can moni-tor your cholesterol and blood-pressure lev-els along with other hidden health hazards.

“Fitness and exercise in the workplace is ofsuper importance. At Holiday Lanes, we hopethat providing the resources to get fit, ourcrew will be happier and healthier. We areaiming to get better at what we do,” saidRobin Williams, marketing director and healthleader for Bossier City’s bowling center.

There are other businesses that know per-sonal fitness isn’t just good for an individual’swell-being but also for the bottom line. Studyafter study shows workplace fitness helps de-crease absenteeism, increases productivity,reduces turnover, and ultimately produces ahealthier workforce that requires significantlylower medical costs.

“We believe we will do better as a busi-ness and they do better as crew members andalso in their own personal lives,” saidWilliams.

The bowling center was recently added tothe list of Shreveport-Bossier businesses thatis a a certified American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Workplace.

Other businesses include the Caddo ParishSchool Board, Willis Knighton Health System,CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier, FirstBaptist Church School, LifeShare Blood Cen-ters, and Chesapeake Energy.

The program is part of the AHA’s effort toreduce obesity, cardiovascular disease, andstrokes in America. It offers access to programresources, including walking programs, mate-rials promoting company wellness to employ-ees, consultation on CPR/AED programs, andmore.

Holiday Lanes met the Gold Level require-ments by fulfilling criteria such as offeringemployees physical activity support, increas-ing healthy eating options at work and pro-

STORY BYSean Green

Businesses can benefit from emphasizing fitness

An Epidemic

Americans spend an average of47 hours per week at work. Thatis 164 hours more per year thana generation ago.

The number of sedentary jobsamong Americans has risen 83percent since 1950.


Cover Story

Fit for

GoingfromWork

PHOTOS BYAmanda Crane

moting a wellness culture. For a companythat promotes bowling as a fitness activity, itwas a no-brainer.

“As a facility that encourages the commu-nity to bowl for fun and fitness, we feel thatit’s important to model healthy behaviors. Bybecoming a certified fit workplace, it showsour commitment to healthy lifestyles andprovides support to our employees who maywish to improve their health,” said Williams.

Holiday Lanes specifically encouragesemployees to take stretch breaks or partici-pate in other physical activities during theday and will install a walking path. They alsoprovide full time employees with a free gymmembership and offers discounts that en-courage the purchase of healthy food and/orbeverages.

“If we can have an impact encouragingless or no smoking or to encourage healthyfood choices and normal body weights,everyone wins,” said Williams.

She notes that business owners who takean interest in improving their employees’health may also find that employees arelikely to show more interest in their jobs andtake more leadership in their duties.

“When an employee feels a genuine con-cern for their well-being, it pays off in manyways — higher self-esteem, improved energyand less stress are just a few of the ways thatcrew members benefit,” said Williams.

To become a certified Fit Workplace, startwith filling out an application atwww.ffc.heart.org.

Business

toWorkingOut

Business Benefits ofa Healthy Lifestyle

Think you’re too busy to care about yourpersonal fitness? Let me hit you with someknowledge* to get you to hit the weights (ortreadmill).

Fit employees are less likely to get sick —Reduced absenteeism and reduced healthcare expenditures are the result of a fit em-ployee base.

Fit employees have more energy — Thisenergy allows the employee to stay focusedon the task at hand, bringing the best of them-selves to each task.

Fit employees have more self-confidence— This self-confidence empowers the em-ployee to challenge themselves, and strive forhigher levels of achievement in the workplace.

Fit employees set and achieve goals — Ahealthy lifestyle often demands that an indi-vidual set and reach goals related to their fit-ness, developing a habit of staying true togoals and seeing them through to completion.

Fit employees tend to take on more leader-ship roles — The increased self-confidenceand knowledge of ability to see out goalsmeans they are more willing to lead others.

Fit employees tend to have better attitudes— This means a more positive attitude in theworkplace.

Fit employees are less stressed — Regularexercise releases physical and emotional ten-sions.

*PROVIDED BY SELFGROWTH.COM


Weight-based discriminationconsistently affects every as-pect of employment from hir-ing to firing, promotions, payallocation, career counselingand discipline.

Currently, 1 in 3 adults in America is clas-sified as obese. For adults, overweight andobesity ranges are determined by usingweight and height to calculate a numbercalled the "body mass index" (BMI). It isimportant to remember that although BMIcorrelates with the amount of body fat,BMI does not directly measure body fat.Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 orgreater.

According to the Journal Health Econom-ics, being obese could lower a woman'sannual earnings by as much as 6.2% anda man's by as much as 2.3%. A 2004study by Cornell University found that

when the average (158-163) whitewoman puts on an additional 64 pounds,her wages dropped by 9%.

In 2005, the United States spent an esti-mated $190 billion on obesity-relatedhealth care expenses. Direct costs of obe-sity are related to higher demands for sur-gery, drug intervention, and physicianvisits. Being obese can indirectly influ-ence the economy. Insurance premiumsare higher for obese employees and daysmissed from work are detrimental to em-ployers and result in lost wages for theemployee.

Better health is a worthwhile investment,with a great return. A well-implementedcollective workplace health promotionprogram can produce sizable changes inhealth risks and productivity.

Fitness Matters

Brianna LarsonPersonal Trainer/Instructor

She graduated from Centenary Collegeof Louisiana in 2007 with a B.S. inHealth and Exercise Science. She isrecognized by the American College ofSports Medicine as a Certified Healthand Fitness Specialist.

As a Personal Trainer, she has workedwith a wide variety of clientele. Lookfor additional health information andtips at her Facebook Page andYouTube Channel

Higher Weight= Lower Pay?



Briefly

Citizens National BankMakes News, Adds People

Citizens National Bank was chosen again as one of

the Top 200 Community Banks in the United States by

U.S. Banker in their annual rankings. U.S. Banker is a

national banking publication that ranks the Country’s

over 7,000 community banks nationally on a three-

year average of ROE (return on equity). Citizens Na-

tional Bank was listed in the TOP 200 healthiest

community banks in the nation coming in 69th in the

nation. This was the sixth consecutive year that Citi-

zens was ranked among the top banks in the United

States as we continue our role among the banking

leaders in Louisiana and the nation.

Citizens National Bank continues to stand strong and

secure providing confidence for banking and mort-

gage customers. Bank President Woody Schick said,

“Citizens National Bank was very pleased by the re-

port from U.S. Banker. This is a positive statement for

our employees and our customers. We will continue

to offer an impressive range of innovative products

for consumers and businesses and continue to pro-

vide financial resources our communities have come

to depend on. Our footprint now includes 15

branches in 5 Northwest Louisiana Parishes, a testa-

ment of our strength, growth and commitment to the

communities we serve.”

Cindy Aubrey, Theresa Stevensonand Jane Leone

Citizens National Bank, N.A. Bossier City has an-

nounced several promotions. Cindy Aubrey has been

named the Marketing/PR Officer and will be respon-

sible for marketing and advertising along with Bank

Expansion and Bank Branding. Cindy is a graduate of

University of Louisiana Monroe with a B.S. degree and

joined Citizens in May of 2011. She and her husband

Emlyn reside in Bossier City.

Theresa Stevenson has been promoted to Adminis-

tration Support Manager. She manages the Account

Administration that supports the Business Banking

Unit of Citizens. Theresa has been with the bank for

11 years and formerly served as Loan Administration

Supervisor for Commercial Loans and System Admin-

istrator for Commercial Loans and System Adminis-

trator for Decision Pro. Theresa has a degree in

Education from Louisiana Tech University and she

and her husband Mike live in Bossier City.

Jane Leone has been named the banks Community

Development Officer. Jane has previously served the


Briefly

bank as Vice President, Branch Executive of the Des-

oto Parish Branch. In this role Jane will be responsi-

ble for the banks effort to improve Community

Development working mainly in the area of Financial

Literacy and making sure CNB, N.A. is successful in

serving the 5 parishes where the bank has locations.

Jane and husband Joe are longtime residents of

Mansfield, LA.

“Each of these ladies are valuable assets to Citizens

National Bank and are vital in the continued growth

of the bank in the communities we serve. I am satis-

fied that these promotions will benefit our cus-

tomers and be strong assets for the bank now and in

the future, “ said Woody Schick, President and CEO of

Citizens National Bank, N.A.

Lyle JeansonneWoody Schick, President and CEO of Citizens National

Bank has announced that Lyle H. Jeansonne has

joined Citizens National Bank, N.A. as Executive Vice

President and Chief Credit Officer.

Jeansonne has over 30 years of professional experi-

ence in banking primarily in Credit. Prior to joining

Citizens National Bank he served as the Senior Credit

Officer with Hibernia and later Capital One Bank. Lyle

has a Bachelor of Science – Finance degree from the

University of New Orleans and an M.B.A. degree also

from University of New Orleans. He is Credit Risk Cer-

tified by the Risk Management Association.

Lyle and his wife Cindy are Shreveport residents and

are the parents of five children that range in age

from 25 years to 14 years. Cindy is the Assistant Prin-

cipal of Shreve Island Elementary School and is long

time educator and full time Mom. Both Lyle and

Cindy are very active in the community and their

churches. Lyle currently serves as Treasurer of the

Alliance for Education.

“We are pleased to have Lyle join our team. His broad

experience in banking, including his credit expertise,

will be an exceptional asset for the bank and its’ cus-

tomers,” said Schick.

Citizens National Bank, N.A. serves five Parishes in

Northwest, Louisiana through which it offers a variety

of services to individuals and businesses. Citizen’s

currently operates 15 branches in Bossier City,

Shreveport, Mansfield, Minden, Haughton, Homer,

Haynesville and Springhill.


NWLA Tourism

Get your ‘Kix’on the 4th of July

Kix Brooks, fireworks and more at Fourth of July celebration

Donecia PeaMedia Relations, Shreveport BossierConvention and Tourist Bureau.

She is a monthly contributor to Biz.Magazine.

She may be reached via email [email protected].

Fireworks, food and fun are always a win-ning combination for any Fourth of Julycelebration. And if you live in Shreveport-Bossier, the options are plentiful with themany events happening in the area, in-cluding the 5th Annual KTBS/KPXJ CW 21

Independence Day Festival at Riverview Park inShreveport.

This year’s star-studded lineup is sure to draw acrowd with award-winning country music legendand Shreveport native Kix Brooks, as well as areafavorites including the Brady Blade Band andWindstorm. The free event will kick off with theFarmer’s Market, 7 a.m. to noon at Festival Plaza indowntown Shreveport, where you can browse andshop from area vendors providing food and othergoods; and conclude with a stunning fireworksshow you won’t find anywhere else.

The event will also include a kiddie section, a RedRiver Flotilla, 2 to 5 p.m., and other family fun ac-tivities, all on Shreveport’s downtown riverfront. The excitement reaches across the river in BossierCity, where, newly renamed, The Outlets atLouisiana Boardwalk will host July 4th Family Fun

at the Boardwalk, featuring a day full of rovingclowns, face painters, sand art and more for thekids. Meanwhile, parents can also enjoy shoppingall day long with Sidewalk Sales. Plus, store hourswill be extended an extra hour to 10 p.m.

For those who can’t make it out to the riverfront,KTBS 3 will broadcast the Independence Day Fes-tival live on KTBS 3, KPXJ CW 21 and KTBS Digital3.3 channels. Visit their website at www.ktbs.comto see the complete itinerary, including lists ofprohibited items and water safety tips.

Visit The Outlets at Louisiana Boardwalk websiteat www.louisiana boardwalk.com for a completelist of outlet stores and other general information.Discover more area Fourth of July events andother happenings at www.ShreveportBossierFun-Guide.com. Subscribe to the Getaways e-newslet-ter at www.shreveport-bossier.org to receivemonthly updates on area attractions and events.

Check out the 2013 Visitors Guide online at visi-tors-guide.shreveport-bossier.org to learn moreabout area attractions.

Kix Brooks will be headlining the5th Annual KTBS/KPXJ CW 21 Inde-

pendence Day Festival at RiverviewPark in Shreveport.


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AdvoCare International Linda Serio RX Care Pharmacy

Angel Town Christian Learning Center EMedia Moments LLC Lori Lambert Photography S&D Fire Protection

Azalea Hall Forte & Tablada, Inc. Louisiana Film Prize

Blitz Tech Solutions General Dynamics Information Technology Maccentric, LLC Smoothie King

Bow Legged Cowboy Foundation Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, Inc. Nabors Completion & Production Services Stage 384

Burkhardt Insurance Agency Graph X Vision Northgate Alterations, LLC Texadelphia

CERT Johnson & Pace Inc. Posados Café Inc. Uptown Cheapskate

Cobalt Mortgage Kobus Technologies Quik Ship WINKZ

DOC Ready Mix, LLC Life Air Recue Red River Baptist Church Xtreme Tan & Tone, LLC

W 19th the Bossier Chamber received high marks of 4-Star Accreditation for our sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on

the community! Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective procedures and community involvement. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs and technology.

-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber is a huge compliment to not only the staff and leadership of the Bossier Chamber, it is a testament to the growth and innovative thinking

of our business community, local government officials, school

This year 26 teams participated in our Around the World in 18 Holes Tournament. We had food catered by a number of sponsors, which paid tribute to several

the game. The beautiful weather provided a great backdrop on the Stonebridge course; look for this event to grow and offer some great networking opportunities for your business in 2014! Congratulations

AEP SWEPCO and also a big thanks to our title sponsor, LifeAir Rescue.

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As a business owner, manager, employee, or community member, your time is valuable and it becomes necessary to connect with people who can listen to your concerns, understand how they affect your company and have a sincere interest in the growth of your business. That is why the Bossier Chamber makes it our priority to stay on the front lines of the political and legislative process at the federal, state, and local levels, we want to ensure that public policy decisions adequately

Bossier Chamber has worked to develop a skilled and competitive workforce to meet the needs of the 21st century. The demand for skilled workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in our regional economy continues to grow. The Chamber has recognized this need and believes BPCC could help in providing resources to meet those educational needs. A top priority of the chamber and our leadership is excellence in education from pre-k through higher education; a determined focus that consistently strives for quality workforce; the

of economic development. In order to keep our community competitive, we must invest in education the key to future growth in our economy. The Chamber took a leading role in advocating partnerships with LCTCS, state community colleges and chambers across the state for SB204 by Senator Adley community and

This bill will provide Bossier Parish Community College with $18.5 million for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) building. This new state of the art, high-tech multi-use facility will move us in the direction of being able to educate and train Louisiana citizens for great paying jobs in a 21st century workforce.

TLA/Business After Hours Thank you to our second quarter TLA hosts: Red River Motor Company, TownPlace Suites/Hampton Inn, Texas Roadhouse, Boomtown Casino, Gibsland Bank & Trust, and Le Rivage Apartments. New Teacher Luncheon This July, on the 31st, Bossier Chamber and our title sponsor Barksdale Federal Credit Union, will host a luncheon at Bella Amore Ballroom for the incoming educators in the Bossier parish school system to show them our support as they enter into a new school year. The event serves as an honorary luncheon, thanking each teacher for their hard work, patience and per-sistence in providing a quality education to our children. Nearly 200 people attend this event including new teachers, school

contact Jana Morgan at the Bossier Chamber for more information (318-746-0252).

Special Section

- Prod

uced in Partnership with the Bossier Chamber of Com

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11pm Rod will be randomly giving away ANOTHER twenty-five thousand dollars in cold hard cash! Every fifteen minutes, somebody playing in the hot spot is going to receive up to fifteen hundred dollars. Plus, Rod will even give the player next to you a hundred bucks cash.

more prizes and more winners all summer long. Every Friday now through August 23rd, win a share of up to $40,000 in cash and Bonus Rewards. Plus, on August 30th you could win up to ONEMILLION DOLLARS

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In April the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined forces with local chambers to put on a big initiative called Hiring Our Heroes.

this event, to the employers and all our local military families for coming out to the job fair. This year we had nearly 60 employers show up and set up booths. We had over 100 veteran job seekers register and attend the event with 150 resumes collected, over 80 interviews conducted, 35 provisional/conditional jobs offered and around 30 jobs firmly offered.

Involved including: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Office of the Mayor, Bossier City,

(DOL VETS), the Louisiana Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Louisiana Workforce Commission, NBC News, and other local partners.

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Special Section

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Veterans Job Fair



Louisiana is one of the most entre-preneurial states in nation. TheKauffman index, a leading indicatorof new business creation, showsLouisiana has 400 entrepreneursfor every 100,000 people - higher

than the national average. According toCNN Money which ranked the most entre-preneurial states in America, Louisianaranks ninth in the nation.

Our state and our region recognize the im-portance of nurturing our home grownbusinesses with high growth potential. Re-search shows that high growth companiescreate most of the new jobs. NorthLouisiana has a rich history of fosteringsuccessful, start-up companies, includingOscar-winning Moonbot Studios based inShreveport, La. The region’s pro-businessenvironment, low cost of doing business,

and great resources and programs thatsupport small businesses encourage en-trepreneurism.

One of the many small business programsavailable is Louisiana Economic Develop-ment’s (LED) Economic Gardening Initia-tive. North Louisiana EconomicPartnership (NLEP), a regional economicdevelopment marketing organization,partners with LED to identify companiesfor the program. It provides Louisiana-based, small businesses with the informa-tion they need to grow and succeed.

Through accelerated technical assistanceand research, an experienced economicgardening team will provide customizedservices, tailored to your business needs.Those services include reviewing corestrategies and niche markets; identifying

new business development opportunities;improving internet presence; and deter-mining how to best use technology toconnect with customers.

Due to the success of the program, thestate has expanded the Economic Garden-ing Initiative this year, doubling the num-ber of slots for eligible companies. Thefollowing North Louisiana companies par-ticipated in the program last year: MaximEvaporators, LLC; American ScreeningCorp.; Homeland Safety Systems- all fromShreveport; Acacia Industries in Keithville;American Rubber Products in Benton;Smiths South-Central Sales Company inSpringhill; AOSS Medical Supply, Inc. inMonroe; Jireh Plastics in Bastrop; and D&HWholesale Medical in Ruston.

To see if your small business qualifies forthe Economic Gardening Initiative, pleasecontact NLEP’s Vice President of BusinessDevelopment, Liz Pierre, at (318)677-2549 or email [email protected] . Theprogram has received very positive feed-back. Companies interviewed in exit sur-veys felt they had greatly benefited fromthe Economic Gardening Initiative, andthis program can help your business aswell.

From the Bossier Chamber

It is hard in a busy work envi-ronment to find the time tostay active and healthy.Therefore an effort has to bemade to combine our workand health together. By fol-

lowing some of these simplesteps, you can prevent the onsetof many health conditions, whichwill help to maintain both a pro-fessional and balanced, healthylifestyle.

Take A WalkWalking is one of the simplestways to stay fit and healthy.Walking can be as simple as tak-ing the stairs instead of the ele-vator during the day, or taking a ten minute walk to get your lunch. This form of exercise is alsogreat way to clear the mind, which will help you feel restored and reenergized.

Team Work OutsExercising is much more enjoyable and motivating when you have a team with you. Lunchtimeworkouts are a fun and engaging way to connect with your employees outside of the office.Make a day each week to exercise with your team members – it will boost team morale and re-duce the likelihood of you pulling out.

Focus On Your Posture & CoreNeck and shoulder strain generated from long hours at the computer is very common and canlead to postural issues. Focus on your posture and core when you are sitting at your desk. Hav-ing a good posture is a vital health component and will prevent many injuries in the future.Switch your usual seating arrangement to a Physio ball; this demands continuous change in

your posture which is a great way to increase your corestrength.

Stress LessWork can be very stressful on the brain and the body, andexercise is a great way to relieve stress on both of theseparts. A good way to feel more relaxed at work is to exer-cise before you start your working day. Yoga classes are agreat way to relax, or even taking five minutes to closeyour eyes and focus on your breathing can help decreasestress levels.

Find a health coach, trainer or dietitianHaving a specialist on your health journey is just as essen-tial to having an accountant on your financial planningjourney. They don’t do it for you, but they coach, adviseand problem solve with an expertise that you don’t have.

Additional information on this topic can be obtainedthrough Willis-Knighton Wellness Solutions by contactingJulie Hartley, RD, LDN, CHHC, Program Coordinatorat [email protected] or (318) 230-2627.

You Are Too BusyNot to ExerciseWays a workenvironmentcan encouragephysical fitness

Cliff BroussardWillis Knighton Bossier

Cliff is a member of the Board of Direc-tors of the Bossier Chamber of Com-merce.

On the Economic Development Front

Scott MartinezPresident, NLEP

He is a certified economic developer

and President of the North Louisiana

Economic Partnership, a nonprofit re-

gional economic development organi-

zation. Send comments to

[email protected].

EconomicGardening

NLEP program geared to help entrepreneursturn their ideas into viable ventures


From the Bossier Chamber

It is hard in a busy work envi-ronment to find the time tostay active and healthy.Therefore an effort has to bemade to combine our workand health together. By fol-

lowing some of these simplesteps, you can prevent the onsetof many health conditions, whichwill help to maintain both a pro-fessional and balanced, healthylifestyle.

Take A WalkWalking is one of the simplestways to stay fit and healthy.Walking can be as simple as tak-ing the stairs instead of the ele-vator during the day, or taking a ten minute walk to get your lunch. This form of exercise is alsogreat way to clear the mind, which will help you feel restored and reenergized.

Team Work OutsExercising is much more enjoyable and motivating when you have a team with you. Lunchtimeworkouts are a fun and engaging way to connect with your employees outside of the office.Make a day each week to exercise with your team members – it will boost team morale and re-duce the likelihood of you pulling out.

Focus On Your Posture & CoreNeck and shoulder strain generated from long hours at the computer is very common and canlead to postural issues. Focus on your posture and core when you are sitting at your desk. Hav-ing a good posture is a vital health component and will prevent many injuries in the future.Switch your usual seating arrangement to a Physio ball; this demands continuous change in

your posture which is a great way to increase your corestrength.

Stress LessWork can be very stressful on the brain and the body, andexercise is a great way to relieve stress on both of theseparts. A good way to feel more relaxed at work is to exer-cise before you start your working day. Yoga classes are agreat way to relax, or even taking five minutes to closeyour eyes and focus on your breathing can help decreasestress levels.

Find a health coach, trainer or dietitianHaving a specialist on your health journey is just as essen-tial to having an accountant on your financial planningjourney. They don’t do it for you, but they coach, adviseand problem solve with an expertise that you don’t have.

Additional information on this topic can be obtainedthrough Willis-Knighton Wellness Solutions by contactingJulie Hartley, RD, LDN, CHHC, Program Coordinatorat [email protected] or (318) 230-2627.

You Are Too BusyNot to ExerciseWays a workenvironmentcan encouragephysical fitness

Cliff BroussardWillis Knighton Bossier

Cliff is a member of the Board of Direc-tors of the Bossier Chamber of Com-merce.


Chris JayPublic Relations and Social MediaManager, Shreveport Bossier Conven-tion and Tourist Bureau. He is amonthly contributor to Biz. Magazine.


Bibmbap.


Chris JayPublic Relations and Social MediaManager, Shreveport Bossier Conven-tion and Tourist Bureau. He is amonthly contributor to Biz. Magazine.


Lunch Break

Bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish with aname that is as fun to say aloud as thedish itself is to eat, is just one of a dozenor so Korean options on the menu atKabuki Sushi and Roll, located just northof Shed Road on Airline Drive in Bossier

City.

While sushi composes the majority of the menu,a couple of pages in the back are dedicated toKorean dishes that include the fantastic dolsotbibimbap ($13.99-$15.99), a steaming-hot stonebowl packed with rice, kimchi vegetables, bul-gogi-style beef, shrimp, seaweed salad, peppers,onions, spices and even a fried egg. One of thedelightful things about this dish is that ingredi-ents on the bottom of the incredibly hot bowlare continuing to cook as you eat. By the timeyou reach the bottom, these ingredients havecaramelized into a delicious reward for finishingthe meal.

Other Korean menu items, many of which arenew to the Shreveport-Bossier food scene, in-clude japchae ($15.99), bulgogi ($14.99), abraised monkfish entree for two called agujjim($33.99 for two), yukgaejang ($16.99) and aSouth Korean buckwheat noodle dish I’m dyingto try called nang momil ($14.99).

While an endless variety of Americanized, deep-fried sushi rolls with clever names and decadentsauces may be tempting, I’d encourage diners toapproach the Kabuki menu as if reading a Japan-ese Manga-style comic book: start with the lasttwo pages and read from right to left.

Kabuki Sushi and Roll is open, Monday throughThursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m; Friday and Saturday, 11a.m.-9:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Sun-day.

Let Me See That Sushi Roll

Explore Korean Food at Kabuki Sushi

Bibmbap.

Chris Jay reviews local food every Tuesday at www.20x49.com.


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BIZ. July 2013