Grindley’s move to Straight Up Technologies will be to another edgy corporate environment, not unlike Cohab in some ways. SUT accesses and solves problems in the field for businesses and their events, including such clients as Google, SalesForce, NBA, the British Open and film director Michael Bay.

Today, though, Puckett is one of 15 graduates of a pilot, computer-coding course called HackerForge, a course created by the Shreveport-based Twin Engine Labs and Cohab, the small business-centric nonprofit in downtown Shreveport. And by all accounts, Puckett is no longer a slouch at computers.

“All of the organizations who applied were very well represented and it was a hard decision,” Gentry said. “However, we felt like our vision and mission was very closely aligned with Cohab’s, and that is why they were chosen to be our 2015 Philanthropy of the Year.