• BRF Announces New Board Officers, Member

The 2022 BRF board of directors announces new leadership to include: Chairman Terry E. Moore; Vice President/Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Past Chairman Lennis S. Elston, CPA; Vice- Chairman Graham A. Walker, President and CEO, Fibrebond; and Secretary/Treasurer Grady Morrison, CPA, senior vice president, HUB Insurance Services.

Additionally, former board member Curtis R. Joseph Jr., partner at Winchell & Joseph, L.L.C., has rejoined the board, replacing retiring Arthur G. Thompson.

• Lewis Named Executive Director of Revel

Red River Revel Inc. has introduced Logan Lewis as the new executive director. Red River Revel Inc. is the 501c3 non-profit organization that brings annual events to Northwest Louisiana, including Red River Revel Arts Festival, CORK: A Red River Revel Wine Event, the Shreveport Farmers’ Market and Shreveport BREW. Lewis brings several years of event, marketing and fundraising experience to the organization.

Logan Lewis formerly worked with the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. Serving as the bowl’s director of marketing and membership since 2016, Logan’s primary focus was the development of sponsorship and fundraising and oversight of the marketing plan and strategy. He had key influence in two title sponsor searches for the bowl and has grown the membership by 20 percent.

• Bossier Chamber Announces Honorees, Winners

The Bossier Chamber of Commerce recently honored top business and community leaders at the 74th Annual Meeting. The event kicked off with a cocktail hour, sponsored by Butler Snow, followed by hundreds gathering for the annual meeting at the Bossier Civic Center, presented by Barksdale Federal Credit Union.

The Chamber celebrated the previous year’s successes and shared plans for the year ahead. Outgoing Chairman Barry Regula, general manager of Margaritaville Resort Casino, passed the reins to 2022 Chairman Eric Barkley, district director for CenterPoint Energy.

Patrick Gullatt was named Bossier Chamber’s 2021 Business Person of the Year for his work in growing Barksdale Federal Credit Union as CEO and their continued work in the community.

Dillas Quesadillas was named Bossier Chamber’s 2021 Small Business of the Year for adding two new locations and 100 jobs to the local economy in 2021 and giving away more than $100,000 to community organizations.

Cyber Innovation Center was named Bossier Chamber’s 2021 Business of the Year for their continued return on investment in the community, helping secure $154.5 million in new business sales for the region, $148.2 million in new household earnings in the two-parish region, and 2,651 permanent jobs in the region.

• Griggs Enterprise Fund Established

The Office of Fair Share has partnered with Griggs Enterprise Inc. to establish a loan program for Fair Share clients that have been awarded contracts with the city of Shreveport. Griggs Enterprise Inc. is contributing $30,000 to the program. Loans for eligible participants will range from $250 - $500 for 30-60 days. The funds must be used for insurance and/or bonding purchases, and participants must be certified by the Office of Fair Share. A second phase of the program will begin this summer, and applicants will be eligible to receive loans of up to $15,000 with a payback period of 180 days. Interested applicants can call Jonathan Reynolds with Carter Federal Credit Union at (318) 688-3620.

• Minority Business Opportunity Awards

The Business Development Connection (BDC) of the Greater Shreveport Chamber will recognize outstanding minority individuals or businesses who are making a difference in our community and is now accepting nominations for the Annual Minority Business Opportunity Awards. As defined by BDC, a minority for the purposes of these categories includes not only racial minorities, but also includes gender and ethnicity – i.e., women, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, etc.

Note: Nominees must be chamber investors. If a nominee is not a chamber investor, they will be allowed to join before submitting their application for consideration.

Award categories include:

• Top Business Professionla of the Year

• Emerging Business of the Year

• Small Business Owner of the Year

• Non-profit Professional of the year.

Nomination deadline is March 24. Nominate at https://shreveportchamber.org/events/mboa/mboanominations/.

• YMCA: Why We Should Care About Shreveport-Bossier

On Feb. 24, from 5:30-7 p.m., the BHP YMCA will host a panel discussion in its gymnasium with four active members of the community. The panelists are W. Clinton (Bubba) Rasberry Jr., Sylvia Goodman, Councilman John Nickelson and Dr. Wanda Thomas. The discussion will focus on philanthropy, volunteerism, and why it is important to give back to one’s community. The panel discussion is a new initiative for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana. The YMCA of Northwest Louisiana plans to organize several community-focused discussions over the next year. The panel discussion is free and open to the public. The final 30 minutes of the panel will involve a question-and-answer opportunity between the panelists and the attending public.

• United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) announces four new members joining its 2022 board of directors

The new members include Suyi Georgewill, Cintas Corporation; Thomas O’Brien, Raymond James; Ron Stamps, Ron Christopher Stamps, LLC, Special Assistant District Attorney for Caddo Parish and special counsel to the city of Shreveport; and Mary Webber, OMNI, L&R Human Resource Consulting, LLC.

Darrin Dixon, director of the Shreveport Small Business at Southern University at Shreveport, is returning for his second year on the board and has been appointed board chair. Don Olsen, a retiree from Hunt, Guillot & Assoc., LLC, is returning as vice-chair of the Operation of Excellence Committee. John Tuggle, executive director at Shreve Memorial Library, is returning as vice-chair of the Impact Committee.

UWNWLA’s board is committed and dedicated to carrying out UWNWLA’s mission through strategic planning, engaging in fundraising initiatives, and monitoring and approving the organization’s budget. In addition, members actively promote UWNWLA as an organization ambassador, advocate and community representative.

• Hammond Named President and CEO of VOA

Volunteers of America North Louisiana, a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to helping the most vulnerable reach their full potential, welcomes a new leader. After an extensive regional search, the board of directors has selected Carolyn Hammond as president and chief executive officer.

As president and CEO, Hammond will oversee one of the largest human services providers in the area. The organization comprises 375 full-time and part-time employees who serve approximately 6,500 men, women and children annually. Volunteers of America North Louisiana provides an array of programs to change the lives of those in need, including formerly homeless veterans, children and families living in poverty, individuals with disabilities, low-income seniors and those in need of safe, affordable housing.

Hammond’s career with Volunteers of America begin in the Northeast Division Office over 12 years ago. Carolyn served as the division director for eight years.

Hammond earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Louisiana Tech University.

• Cardinaux Wealth Advisors Earns Award

Cardinaux Wealth Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, has earned the 2021 Ameriprise Client Experience Award.

The company was honored with this award because it consistently delivers personalized, goal-based advice and exceptional client service. Award recipients earned an overall client satisfaction rating equal to or greater than 4.9 out of 5.0* and maintained stellar business results.

For more information, please contact Lauren Matthews at (318) 861-3521 or visit the Ameriprise office at 738 N. Ashley Ridge Loop, Shreveport, LA 71106.